WHEEL SQUAD

Wheel Squad M6 Metropole, RAI and France Animation

Original title: Wheel Squad Author: Olivier Dehors Characters: Akim Souab, Jessica, Bob Gueye, Johnny Pilleu, Emilie Production: M6, RAI, France Animation CountryFrance, United States

Year: 2000 Broadcast in Italy: 2011 Gender: Sports / Adventure Episodes: 39 Duration: 22 minutes Recommended age: Children from 6 to 12 years old

Wheel Squad is an animated TV series of French origin produced by M6 Metropole, RAI and France Animation. In Italy its vision is possible on the canal Rai gulp, from Monday to Friday at 08:50, 09:15, 16:35 and 22:15. Born in the distant 2000, this series revolves around the adventures of a group of close friends, united to each other by the enormous passion for all those sports that involve having to remain in balance on wheels or wheels, therefore bikes, skates, roller blades and more. The group is made up of Akim, Jessica, Johnny and Bob, who live their city to the full every day, roaming around everywhere, without ever taking serious risks, since one of the messages that the authors intend to convey is that of safety. , which is clear from the numerous protections that the boys wear every time they move on two or more wheels. The drawings are vaguely sketchy, sometimes giving more importance to the details of the city than to those of the characters. After having seen even just one episode, however, it is easy to understand that the intent is to give greater importance to the dialogues, to the friendship relationship and also to respect for the environment that surrounds us. Especially the latter issue is addressed repeatedly, and especially when the boys find themselves facing a group of thugs and some unscrupulous entrepreneurs.

Wheel Squad M6 Metropole, RAI and France Animation

Respect for the environment in which one lives, and above all the struggle to protect it, are perfectly epitomized in the episode "Jurassic Imbroglio", in which the whole community is awakened with a start by what appears to be an earthquake. . Once out of their homes, the citizens realize that it is a construction site in the city center that has resumed its activities. The works literally shake the surrounding houses, and infuriate all the locals, who protest and think about organizing a petition. Despite them, this action would take a long time, both to complete it and to obtain concrete results, all to the advantage of the entrepreneur Enzo, who already plans succulent earnings. The right idea comes to the young protagonists, who ignore the warnings of adults and decide to recreate false dinosaur fossils, to be disseminated in the construction site, in order to interrupt the construction of the underground tunnels for cars. The plan seems to work, and also attracts journalists, but Enzo immediately goes there and reveals the trick. In the end, having sneaked into the construction site, the young protagonists discover what is hidden there. Hidden under mountains of concrete are the remains of an ancient Roman domus, which Enzo did everything to keep hidden. His plan, however, is destined to go up in smoke, and the jobs to be short-lived. The group again succeeded in its intent this time, showing the public how team play can bring excellent results in the end. Furthermore, beyond the pure and simple fun, all the episodes also aim to instill pills of school culture, such as the quick and simple notions on the typical structure of a Roman domus pitted underground by the children.

A great number, therefore, able to enthuse young to unconventional sport, or at least relatively uncommon in Italy, and above all never to bore through continuous action that dominates the betting and the music in the background and never slow a sound that is always alive and powerful.

Jessica and Akim M6 Metropole, RAI and France Animation

Characters:

Jessica she is the only girl in the group. She lives alone with her mother and her kitten. She is very tall and has long red hair. Spending a lot of time with her male friends, she became very similar to them in ways. Reckless and courageous, she is not afraid of anything, or almost anything, as she is afraid of revealing her fact for Akim.

Akim it is the other member of the group (along with Jessica), who knows how to move on skates. He is very tall, with black hair and eyes. He is certainly the bravest and most reckless of the four, and never misses a chance to get into some trouble.

Bob is a young boy of African American origin, has shaved hair and always wears special sunglasses placed over his head. He lives in a small apartment with his mother and his little brother Tom, with whom he has a very good relationship, although the little one often tries to intrude on group meetings, which makes Bob nervous. He does not know how to rollerblade or skate, but he is very good on his mountain bike, and with this he always manages to remain glued to his friends, during their quick and acrobatic rides around the city. He almost always tries to convince the rest of the group not to engage in too absurd or risky "missions", proving to be the least reckless of the gang. But when the game is over, he never backs down.

Johnny he is the only one of the group to use the skateboard. He is not very tall, like Bob, and has short blonde hair. He is a very extroverted boy with a decidedly accentuated artistic character, and it is this propensity that often makes him propose bizarre ideas, like when he saw fit to interrupt work on a construction site by recreating the footprint of a dinosaur.

Jessica and Akim M6 Metropole, RAI and France Animation

Emilie is the daughter of the owner of the World-Mart. She is a friend of the four protagonists, even if she is not really part of the group, above all because her style cannot be defined by the street as that of the others, and she does not get along very well with Jessica. As the episodes go by, however, she will be seen more linked to a particular member of the gang, Bob, with whom it seems there may be more than just a friendship.

But not all boys in town are like Akim, Jessica, Bob and Johnny. In fact, the streets of this invented metropolis also roam Snakes. It is a group of thugs led by the leader Willy, the cruellest of the group, even if his head certainly does not hide this great intellect. To represent the arms of this gang instead there are Cactus ed Alex, two fools who do whatever Willy tells them to do. They represent a real comic couple, since one has to deal with continuous and absurd allergies and the other with a heart that is not exactly like a lion. The encounters - clashes with this other group of wheel lovers and the Wheel Squad (name of the group of protagonists) are not limited to the streets of the city, however. In fact, when there is the possibility to take part in a real tournament, everyone decides to register, and for the occasion a fourth component will also be added to the Snakes.

One of the most important places within the city is the large World-Mart shopping center, which belongs to Emilie's stepfather, Mr. Rotter, who is a good man and a very good father, but who has sadly chosen as the manager of his the evil Enzo department store.

Enzo he is certainly the cruellest and most unscrupulous character that this children's series knows. He's a big man with short brown hair. Always wear dark sunglasses, a yellow jacket and a red bow tie. He is perpetually surrounded by at least a couple of loyal henchmen, perhaps even more incapable than Cactus and Alex, with a squat physique and a ridiculous egg-head, who do whatever is ordered to them, even if they often find themselves messing around, making their master terribly angry. Enzo controls everything that happens in the city, always looking for new ways, dishonest, to be able to make money and earn easy money. He is hated by all the inhabitants of the city, but the only ones who manage to blow up every plan on time are the members of the Wheel Squad who, regardless of danger, protect their city.

All characters and images are copyright M6 Metropole, RAI and France Animation and of the right holders. they are used here for cognitive and informative purposes.