History Series / JohnnyAndTheSprites

The series began as a set of five animated shorts aired every so often Creator/DisneyChannel's Playhouse Disney block. These segments proved so popular that the program was greenlit for a full series. The new series brought a greatly expanded set portraying the Sprites' home of Grotto's Grove, as well as new characters. Three new Sprites were added, Water Sprite Lily, Earth Sprite Root and a wise old Sprite named Sage, puppeteered and voiced by Tartaglia. Additionally, a character named Gwen, portrayed by Natalie Venetia Belcon, was brought on as a friend for Johnny who paid semi-regular visits. The second season of the full series saw a further expansion to the set, as well as a seminal change to the program when Gwen was allowed to finally meet the Sprites for the first time and both she and Johnny gained the ability to visit Grotto's Grove. The presumed final episode of the series was aired on April 19, 2008 and the program disappeared from U.S. airwaves, though both a music album and DVD were released. Repeats of the program began airing on the 24/7 Disney Junior network in 2012.

* DescendedCreator: Johnny is performed by show's creator John Tartaglia.

Tartaglia has since moved on to other projects, such as the musicals of ''Theatre/BeautyAndTheBeast'' and ''[[Theatre/ShrekTheMusical Shrek]]'' , and much later on, creating ''WesternAnimation/SplashAndBubbles''. All this while remaining a longtime performer on ''Series/SesameStreet'' and becoming the new performer of Gobo Fraggle on ''Series/FraggleRockBackToTheRock''. Co-creator Louise Gikow also has a long association with Franchise/TheMuppets, including writing a number of ''WesternAnimation/MuppetBabies1984'' and ''Series/FraggleRock'' children's books and contributing to ''Muppet Magazine''.

Tartaglia has since moved on to other projects, such as the musicals of ''Theatre/BeautyAndTheBeast'' and ''WesternAnimation/{{Shrek}}'' , and much later on, creating ''WesternAnimation/SplashAndBubbles''. All this while remaining a longtime performer on ''Series/SesameStreet'' and becoming the new performer of Gobo Fraggle on ''Series/FraggleRockBackToTheRock''. Co-creator Louise Gikow also has a long association with Franchise/TheMuppets, including writing a number of ''WesternAnimation/MuppetBabies1984'' and ''Series/FraggleRock'' children's books and contributing to ''Muppet Magazine''.

* FiveManBand: In the full version series, we have:
** TheHero: Johnny.
** TheLancer: Gwen.
** TheSmartGuy: Basil.
** TheBigGirl: Ginger.
** TheHeart: Lily.
** TagalongKid: Root.
** BigGood: Sage.
** SixthRanger: Seymour.
** TeamPet: The Fuzzies.

The series began as a set of five animated shorts aired every so often Creator/DisneyChannel's Playhouse Disney block. These segments proved so popular that the program was greenlit for a full series. The new series brought a greatly expanded set portraying the Sprites' home of Grotto's Grove, as well as new characters. Three new Sprites were added, Water Sprite Lily, Earth Sprite Root and a wise old Sprite named Sage, puppeteered and voiced by Tartaglia. Additionally, a character named Gwen, portrayed by Natalie Venetia Belcon, was brought on as a friend for Johnny who paid semi-regular visits. The second season of the full series saw a further expansion to the set, as well as a seminal change to the program when Gwen was allowed to finally meet the Sprites for the first time and both she and Johnny gained the ability to visit Grotto's Grove. The presumed final episode of the series was aired on April 19, 2008 and the program disappeared from U.S. airwaves, though both a music album and DVD were released. Repeats of the program began airing on the 24/7 Disney Junior network in 2012. Tartaglia has since moved on to other projects, such as the musicals of ''Theatre/BeautyAndTheBeast'' and ''WesternAnimation/{{Shrek}}'' , and much later on, creating ''WesternAnimation/SplashAndBubbles''. All this while remaining a longtime performer on ''Series/SesameStreet'' and becoming the new performer of Gobo Fraggle on ''Series/FraggleRockBackToTheRock''. Co-creator Louise Gikow also has a long association with Franchise/TheMuppets, including writing a number of ''WesternAnimation/MuppetBabies1984'' and ''Series/FraggleRock'' children's books and contributing to ''Muppet Magazine''.

The series began as a set of five animated shorts aired every so often Creator/DisneyChannel's Playhouse Disney block. These segments proved so popular that the program was greenlit for a full series. The new series brought a greatly expanded set portraying the Sprites' home of Grotto's Grove, as well as new characters. Three new Sprites were added, Water Sprite Lily, Earth Sprite Root and a wise old Sprite named Sage, puppeteered and voiced by Tartaglia. Additionally, a character named Gwen, portrayed by Natalie Venetia Belcon, was brought on as a friend for Johnny who paid semi-regular visits. The second season of the full series saw a further expansion to the set, as well as a seminal change to the program when Gwen was allowed to finally meet the Sprites for the first time and both she and Johnny gained the ability to visit Grotto's Grove. The presumed final episode of the series was aired on April 19, 2008 and the program disappeared from U.S. airwaves, though both a music album and DVD were released. Repeats of the program began airing on the 24/7 Disney Junior network in 2012. Tartaglia has since moved on to other projects, such as the musicals of ''Theatre/BeautyAndTheBeast'' and ''WesternAnimation/{{Shrek}}'' , and much later on, creating ''WesternAnimation/SplashAndBubbles''. All this while remaining a longtime performer on ''Series/SesameStreet'' and becoming the new performer of [[Series/FraggleRock Gobo Fraggle]]. Co-creator Louise Gikow also has a long association with Franchise/TheMuppets, including writing a number of ''WesternAnimation/MuppetBabies'' and ''Fraggle Rock'' children's books and contributing to ''Muppet Magazine''.

** TheChick: Lily.

** TheSmartGuy: Basil.

** SixthRanger: Seymour.

The series began as a set of five animated shorts aired every so often Creator/DisneyChannel's Playhouse Disney block. These segments proved so popular that the program was greenlit for a full series. The new series brought a greatly expanded set portraying the Sprites' home of Grotto's Grove, as well as new characters. Three new Sprites were added, Water Sprite Lily, Earth Sprite Root and a wise old Sprite named Sage, puppeteered and voiced by Tartaglia. Additionally, a character named Gwen, portrayed by Natalie Venetia Belcon, was brought on as a friend for Johnny who paid semi-regular visits. The second season of the full series saw a further expansion to the set, as well as a seminal change to the program when Gwen was allowed to finally meet the Sprites for the first time and both she and Johnny gained the ability to visit Grotto's Grove. The presumed final episode of the series was aired on April 19, 2008 and the program disappeared from U.S. airwaves, though both a music album and DVD were released. Repeats of the program began airing on the 24/7 Disney Junior network in 2012. Tartaglia has since moved on to other projects, such as the musicals of ''Theatre/BeautyAndTheBeast'' and ''WesternAnimation/{{Shrek}}'' , and much later on, creating ''WesternAnimation/SplashAndBubbles'' .

-->'''Lily''': Pretty soon, she'll be flying home in her hot chocolate air balloon.
-->'''Basil''': That won't work.
-->'''Lily''': Yes, it will.
-->'''Basil''': No, it won't.
-->'''Lily''': Yes, it will.
-->'''Basil''': I'm afraid that won't work out at all.
-->'''Lily''': And why not?
-->'''Basil''': Because she's too big and that balloon's too small.
-->'''Lily''': Oh, good point.