SERIES TONE

“The Shonku Diaries - the series” is an animated comedy/ adventure/ science fiction series– kids with exceptional ability to face the weird and strange in constant wonderment, exuberation and humor in extraordinary circumstances. The series is A “Twilight Zone” meets “Indiana Jones” meets “Through the Looking Glass”.

Professor Shonku’s inventions add to the fun. They are somewhere in-between high tech and Rube Goldberg:

--like the Shonku Breakfast Maker – a complicated apparatus created to prepare breakfast – starting with a mechanical hand that retrieves the eggs under the chicken, to the ball that runs down a maze and falls – turning on the burner, to the device that bumps the stove causing the frying pan to pop into the air flipping the eggs, to another ball going thru a maze that starts the toaster, and ending with a bell that rings signifying breakfast is ready.

--Or the Shonku plane—an aircraft without wings that can traverse any storm, and take off from any terrain thanks to the unique landing gear – a pair of metal legs that can telescope to any height with feet and running shoes that accelerate running over bumpy surfaces when take-off is required.

The situations range from the bizarre – like a large Chinese Dragon springing to life,

To the unworldly – like battling alien fish at the deep depths of the ocean,

From the silly – like a Lake Monster who loves balls,

To the dangerous - like when a mad scientist shrinks the kids into miniatures and holds them hostage…

It is international in scope and subject matter, and yes, even outer and inner dimensional……With geography and scientific facts sprinkled in…

Some Characters that will be introduced in the Series :

NEWTON

Is Shonku’s cat – brave, curious, independent but loving – and in every respect, a member of the family. His 6th sense comes in handy and the group respects him and pays attention when he perceives something is not right—a living breathing warning “device”…and cuddly too. He loves chasing mice, or lizards, or anything else that wiggles or runs.

QUARK

A mechanical bird made of metal—Introduced in the first episode. He comes in handy on their adventures with his ability to fly, translate 150 languages, and calculate complicated mathematical equations. Newton is constantly chasing after him, never fully appreciating that he isn’t a real bird. Shonku enjoys chatting with him in his lab.

JUNIOR AVI

Not adventurous, or daring, or smart. Just an average 12 year old kid, a bit over weight, a bit sweaty, with common intelligence and a love of safety, security and food! He admires Melody from afar (the beautiful older girl) but would be mortified if she ever knew how he felt.

He hangs out with Mo to be near Melody, but also because he admires Mo’s adventurous spirit…. That is until Mo ropes him into some creepy, dangerous or bizarre adventure – then he wishes he had never met him…. But, he is gullible and easily manipulated and always comes back around. He is like his father in that Avi senior, also dislikes adventure and loves comfort. Avi is also very superstitious and carry’s a good luck charm everywhere he goes.

Some of the best comedic moments in the series come from Avi’s fear and disbelief of the circumstances Mo gets him into, like rafting down a river of piranhas biting at his butt; or when he tries to impress Melody but instead gets a wedgie from a mischievous ghost! Aghhh!!!

Following are six synopses of the 40 Story Series that will follow
‘THE SHONKU DIARIES - A UNICORN ADVENTURE’ :

• Brain Sucking Botanicals (based on “Professor Shonku and the Mysterious Island)

  Shonku takes the kids out on his new and improved Shonku-plane after he and Melody have repeated dreams of a mysterious colorful island. Caught in the “devil’s triangle” they are lost and land on the island that appeared in their dreams. The plant life seems to suck all the intelligence out of the Professor and Melody, leaving them with the aptitude of toddlers. It is now up to them to save the day, if they can get past the giant man eating plants!

• The Mysterious Box (based on “Professor Shonku and the Box from Bagdad”)

  Melody is entered in her first Inventors Contest and Professor Shonku is being honored at that same international event in Turkey. There they meet an unusual older man who takes them to a secret cave where a puzzle box has laid for 5,000 years. Although tricky and risky, they must solve the puzzle to open the box that is said to show the amazing inventions that existed long before the birth of Christ and have been lost through the ages.

• The Chinese Dragon (based on “Professor Shonku and Chee Ching”)

  Professor Shonku takes the kids to China for the Chinese New Year parade and celebration. They all admire the enormous Chinese Dragon in the parade, and then attend a magic show. Upon returning home, the Chinese magician shows up to weave some fantastic magic that none of them will soon forget…or will they?

• The Crow Feat (based on “Corvus”)

  Avi, studies up on birds to impress Melody, but instead, ends up working with Shonku to train an average black crow to write and understand. Once this amazing feat is published, a spoiled wealthy man tries to buy the bird, but Avi loves him and won’t sell. The bird is kidnapped and manages to send a written message to Avi. Shonku and the kids go on a perilous journey to reunite them.

• The African Adventure (based on “Professor Shonku & the Gorillas”)

  Shonku and the kids travel to Africa where they collect samples of flora & fauna for natural medical research. They become lost in the jungle and find evidence of a zoologist that disappeared 6 months before. Looking for a way out, they stumble onto the missing scientist and the reason all the jungle animals have been running away in fear.

• Close Encounter Under the Sea (based on “Professor Shonku and the Radiant Fish”)

  When Shonku and the kids take the Shonku-sub into the depths of the sea to find a sunken treasure ship – they have a close encounter of the aquatic kind with glowing alien fish! They must learn to communicate before the fish destroy their sub…provided that the giant squid doesn’t destroy them first!