Ella Bella Bingo is a pre-school animated television series, co-produced by Singapore-based August Media Holdings and Norway's Kool Produktion AS. The show revolves around the adventures of a 5-year-old girl named Ella, who lives in Sunshine Gardens, along with her family and friends.
The first 27 episodes of Ella Bella Bingo (previously known as Sunshine Kathy) were screened on NRK from 2010 until 2011.
The character was originally created in 2009 by illustrator Tom Petter Hansen, and the series was developed the same year by Hansen, scriptwriter Trond Morten K. Venaasen and producer Frank Mosvold. In 2011, the show was then redeveloped and re-designed by Jyotirmoy Saha of August Media Holdings.
As of 2014, 105 episodes of Ella Bella Bingo have been produced. The series, as of 2026, has been sold in more than 20 countries, including Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Singapore, Indonesia, Taiwan, Turkey, Bangladesh, and all the Middle Eastern and North African countries.
Background Ella Bella Bingo is targeted at pre-school children. It follows the adventures of happy-go-lucky Ella and her friends. The series is a warm humorous mix of fun and laughter. Each 7-minute episode is about how Ella uses her boundless creativity, infectious enthusiasm, and a never-give-up attitude to solve everyday problems in innovative ways.
Ella Bella Bingo is directed by the Emmy-nominated and BAFTA winner Ginger Gibbons and scripted by the acclaimed writer Sam Barlow.
Plot Ella is a regular 5-year-old girl who lives with her dad, friends, and neighbours in an apartment block called Sunshine Gardens. Ella and her friends often find themselves in sticky situations (known as "Uh-oh, what a pickle!" moments). Ella's "Bingo" moments invariably involve the participation of the entire Sunshine Garden gang. Ella's neighbours are her extended family.
Characters Henry is Ella's best friend. Henry and Ella are like yin and yang, as they complement each other, yet are very different in their outlooks. A confessed science geek, Henry finds Ella's company exhilarating. Ella's dad is an illustrator and like many single parents, he is busy doing a lot of things, but he always makes sure that he has time from Ella. Lisa and Lottie are a little older than Ella, and they live on the floor above Henry. Lisa and Lottie are identical twins and yet are very different from one another. Lottie's passion is singing, while Lisa is a gymnast. Mrs. Berg is Ella's elderly neighbour. Mr. Jackson is the caretaker of Sunshine Gardens. A good-natured helper to others, his job is to keep the building running, which he does, despite his forgetful nature, and the bemusement of the other adults.
Episodes Season 1 (2011) Original air date: 1 December 2011 (NRK Super) #English titleDirectorWritten by101"Dog Trouble"Anton Hannibal & Robert DepuisTrond Morten K. Venaasen102"The Fabulous Fruitcake"Anton HannibalTrond Morten K. Venaasen103"The New Bed"Tom Petter Hansen & Frank MosvoldTrond Morten K. Venaasen104"The Pink Umbrella"Anton HannibalSusan Kim105"The Proud Duckling"Tom Petter Hansen & Frank MosvoldTrond Morten K. Venaasen106"The Garden Gnome"Tom Petter Hansen & Frank MosvoldTrond Morten K. Venaasen107"Father´s Day"Anton Hannibal & Robert DepuisSusan Kim108"The Great Race Day"Tom Petter Hansen & Frank MosvoldTrond Morten K. Venaasen109"Trick or Treat!"Anton HannibalSusan Kim110"Shooting Star"Tom Petter Hansen & Frank MosvoldTrond Morten K. Venaasen111"My Valentine"Anton Hannibal & Robert DepuisTrond Morten K. Venaasen112"Everything is fun"Tom Petter Hansen & Frank MosvoldTrond Morten K. Venaasen113"The Picnic Celebration"Robert DepuisSusan Kim114"The Beautiful Princess"Tom Petter Hansen and Frank MosvoldTrond Morten K. Venaasen115"The Exciting Camping Trip"Tom Petter Hansen and Frank MosvoldTrond Morten K. Venaasen116"The Slumber Party"Anton Hannibal and Robert DepuisTrond Morten K. Venaasen117"On Two Wheels"Anton Hannibal and Robert DepuisSusan Kim118"Happy Birthday, Papa"Anton HannibalSusan Kim119"Johansen's Surprise"Anton HannibalSusan Kim120"The Whimsical Doctor"Robert DepuisTrond Morten K. Venaasen121"Blowing in the Wind"Anton HannibalTrond Morten K. Venaasen122"The Sandcastle Competition"Anton Hannibal and Robert DepuisTrond Morten K. Venaasen123"The Fun Marching Band"Tom Petter Hansen and Frank MosvoldTrond Morten K. Venaasen124"The Busy Bee"Robert DepuisTrond Morten K. Venaasen125"The Important Messenger"Tom Petter Hansen and Frank MosvoldTrond Morten K. Venaasen126"The Fantastic Snowman"Anton HannibalTrond Morten K. Venaasen
Season 2 (2013) Original air date: 21 December 2013 (NRK Super) #English titleDirectorWritten by201"Chicken Dance"Ginger GibbonsSam Barlow202"Helping Hands"Ginger GibbonsSam Barlow203"Hide & See"Ginger GibbonsRachel Dawson204"The Big Storm"Ginger GibbonsLisa Ackhurst205"Bubble Trouble"Ginger GibbonsGillian Corderoy206"Hocus Pocus"Ginger GibbonsAndy Bernhardt207"The Fat Cat"Ginger GibbonsJames Mason208"Seeing Stars"Ginger GibbonsRachel Dawson209"Boat Race"Ginger GibbonsJames Mason210"Wet & Wild"Ginger GibbonsSam Barlow211"Splashing About"Ginger GibbonsJames Mason212"The New Zoo"Ginger GibbonsGillian Corderoy213"The Letter"Ginger GibbonsAndy Bernhardt214"Butterflies Flutter By"Ginger GibbonsRachel Dawson215"Dinosaur Roar!"Ginger GibbonsSam Barlow216"Hidden Treasure"Ginger GibbonsJames Mason217"The Story Teller"Ginger GibbonsSam Barlow218"Go Kart Go"Ginger GibbonsGillian Corderoy219"On The Trail"Ginger GibbonsLaura Beaumont & Paul Larson220"Small Is All"Ginger GibbonsAndy Bernhardt221"Tatty Teddy"Ginger GibbonsLisa Ackhurst222"Taking the Cake"Ginger GibbonsJames Mason223"Orange Aid"Ginger GibbonsLaura Beaumont & Paul Larson224"Growing Up"Ginger GibbonsRachel Dawson225"Circus Surprise"Ginger GibbonsSam Barlow226"Pirate Princess Puppy"Ginger GibbonsSam Barlow
Season 3 (2014) Original air date: 4 December 2014 (NRK Super) #English titleDirectorWritten by301"Best friends"Ginger GibbonsGillian Corderoy302"Flying Friends"Ginger GibbonsLizzie Ennever303"Talent Club"Ginger GibbonsLisa Akhurst304"Gone with the wind"Ginger GibbonsJames Mason305"The best of sunshine Gardens"Ginger GibbonsDenise Cassar306"Doctor, Doctor!"Ginger GibbonsLisa Akhurst307"Keep fit"Ginger GibbonsSam Barlow308"Sing Along"Ginger GibbonsDenise Cassar309"Sunshine Ski Jump"Ginger GibbonsLisa Akhurst310"The Yellow Plumed warbler"Ginger GibbonsSam Barlow311"Backing band"Ginger GibbonsGillian Corderoy312"Big Bash"Ginger GibbonsLisa Akhurst313"Football"Ginger GibbonsLizzie Ennever314"Scarecrow"Ginger GibbonsDenise Cassar315"Tropical Trouble"Ginger GibbonsSam Barlow316"Art From The Heart"Ginger GibbonsLisa Akhurst317"Camp Out"Ginger GibbonsDenise Cassar318"Cowboy Movie"Ginger GibbonsSam Barlow319"Space Hopper"Ginger GibbonsLizzie Ennever320"Tallest Tower"Ginger GibbonsJames Mason321"Big Day Out"Ginger GibbonsSean Carson322"Little Visitor"Ginger GibbonsLisa Akhurst323"Hobby Horse"Ginger GibbonsDenise Cassar324"Missing Tools"Ginger GibbonsJames Mason325"Shrinking Play"Ginger GibbonsLisa Akhurst326"Tutti Ftuity"Ginger GibbonsSam Barlow327"Batty Bats"Ginger GibbonsGiles New & Keiron Self328"Rocket Boy"Ginger GibbonsSam Barlow329"Bingo Robot"Ginger GibbonsGillian Corderoy330"Tiny Town"Ginger GibbonsSean Carson331"Going Walkie Talkie"Ginger GibbonsSean Carson332"Magic Wand"Ginger GibbonsLizzie Ennever333"Pixie Patrol"Ginger GibbonsSean Carson334"Boomerang"Ginger GibbonsLizzie Ennever335"Dance Routine"Ginger GibbonsDenise Casser336"Silly Goat"Ginger GibbonsGillian Corderoy337"Jokers Wild"Ginger GibbonsSean Carson338"Troll Puppets"Ginger GibbonsSam Barlow339"Basement Monster"Ginger GibbonsDenise Casser340"Wheelbarrow Race"Ginger GibbonsSean Carson341"Baby Sitters"Ginger GibbonsSam Barlow342"Christmas Tree"Ginger GibbonsGillian Corderoy343"Pie And Seek"Ginger GibbonsLisa Akhurst344"Beast of Sunshine Gardens"Ginger GibbonsSam Barlow345"Deep Sea Adventure"Ginger GibbonsSimon Nicholson346"Double Trouble"Ginger GibbonsLizzie Ennever347"Boing Boing"Ginger GibbonsSean Carson348"Santa's On His Way"Ginger GibbonsDavid Freedman349"Eggy Surprise"Ginger GibbonsLisa Akhurst350"On Guard"Ginger GibbonsSam Barlow351"Fun In The Snow"Ginger GibbonsSam Barlow & Sean Carson352"Old Betsy"Ginger GibbonsSean Carson
Broadcast Ella Bella Bingo is broadcast on Scandinavian channels such as NRK, DR and SVT, on Okto channel in Singapore, TG4 in Ireland, Kidu.Co in Turkey, DaaiTV in Indonesia, Good TV in Taiwan, Hop TV in Israel, Duronto TV in Bangladesh, and on the Al Jazeera network across the MENA countries.
Film
Ella Bella Bingo was adapted into a 75-minute eponymous feature film which was released on 24 January 2020. In the film, Ella Bella and Henry are best friends with a plan of making a circus together, but when cool kid Johnny arrives in Sunshine Gardens he becomes Henry's new best friend, making Ella jealous and jeopardising the circus. It was a commercial success, grossing $981,814 against a budget of NOK 1,350,000 ($164,213), and received mixed to positive reviews from critics.
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