Deer Squad

Summary

Deer Squad (Chinese: 无敌鹿战队; pinyin: Wúdí Lù Zhànduì) is a Chinese animated children's television series produced by iQIYI in Beijing. The show started out as a series of shorts on China Central Television.[1] The first episode of the full series premiered on iQIYI's video platform on July 15, 2020. The series is about four deer characters (Kai, Lola, Rammy, and Bobbi). The show made its premiere in the US on January 25, 2021.[2]

Deer Squad
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese無敵鹿戰隊
Simplified Chinese无敌鹿战队
Literal meaningInvincible Deer Team
GenrePreschool
Science fiction
Adventure
Fantasy
Directed by
  • Zhigang Wang
  • Dexiang Lu
Presented byYu Gong
Theme music composerScore Draw Music
ComposerScore Draw Music
Country of originChina
Original languageChinese
No. of seasons3
No. of episodes60
Production
Producers
  • Yiming Qie
  • Fang Xue
  • Dan Xiang
  • Eva Lam
Production companyBeijing iQIYI Science & Technology Co., Ltd.
Original release
NetworkiQIYI (China)
Nickelodeon (Worldwide)
ReleaseJuly 15, 2020 (2020-07-15) –
present

The show was first announced under the title Deer Run.[3] Nickelodeon has overseas broadcasting rights to the show.[4] The second season was released on January 14, 2022.[5]

On September 20, 2022, iQIYI has announced that a third season will be released on the second quarter of 2023.[6] On July 29, 2023, the third season released on August 4, 2023.[7]

According to Xiaoxuan Yang, vice president of iQIYI, Deer Squad ranked in the top five children's shows launched on the iQIYI service in 2020.[8]

Premise edit

Kai, Lola, Rammy, and Bobbi are anthropomorphic four deer friends who reside in a boat-shaped home in the forest. The forest where their home is also has a park where people from a nearby city hang out. Whenever there is trouble in the forest or city, the deer friends, when within proximity of each other, can go into superhero mode, and use their powers to save the day.

Characters edit

 
The character designs from the earlier short series (left two images) vs. the full show (right).

Deer Squad members edit

  • Kai (voiced by Brody Allen (Season 1) and Sascha Yurchak (Season 2-present) in English) is the yellow deer who is the leader of the Deer Squad and the group's tech wizard. He has water powers and a hovercraft.
  • Lola (voiced by Juliet Rusche (Season 1-2) and Raeleigh Jett (Season 3-present) in English) is the pink deer who can grow plants on anything, and a car that can fly.
  • Rammy (voiced by Holden Thomas (Season 1-2) and Lincoln Kipp (Season 3-present) in English) is the big red deer who has heat powers and a race car that is able to convert into a robotic horse which is able to leap high.
  • Bobbi (voiced by Connor Elias Andrade in English) is the small green deer who has earth powers. He also has the ability to understand babbling animals and likes making desserts.
  • Jade (voiced by Azury-Hardy Jones in English) is the blue deer who was first introduced in season 2 as the newest member of the team. She has crystal powers and a drill cart with a crystal driller and three boosters. She is also a crystal expert and knows all about gemstones.
  • Wufu is a purple and yellow butterfly who is Jade's companion, and was also introduced in season 2. He doesn't talk but can whisper to Jade's ear so she can understand what he is saying.

Recurring edit

  • Sir Steel (voiced by Doug Erholtz in English) is a conceited wealthy entrepreneur who comes up with various plans either for profit or to simply provide himself with convenience even if it means causing problems in the city or wilderness which he does not seem to mind or realize. Though not entirely bald (he has a small hook of hair at the very top), Sir Steel wears a wig which is seen coming off sometimes. He is also the main antagonist of the series.
  • Professor Scratch (voiced by Julie Maddalena Kliewer in English) is Sir Steel's personal scientist.
  • Muffin is Sir Steel's pet poodle. Sir Steel is quite protective of her.
  • Ian (voiced by Mr. Lawrence in English) is a white duck who is a friend of the Deer Squad. He likes keeping the park in order, and would sometimes dispatch the Deer Squad with his tuba when he notices trouble. He also has ducklings to care for.
  • Tina (voiced by Samantha Hahn in English) is a green turtle who is also a friend of the Deer Squad. She has three children.
  • Fifi and Sasha (both voiced by Andie Mechanic in English) are two swans.
  • Ricardo (voiced by Jaiden Cannatelli in English) is a helium-voiced squirrel who likes to play pranks. He has an affinity for his tail which he named Ramona.
  • Catherine (voiced by Gabby Clarke in English) is a young and heartfelt-looking female crocodile who resides in a place called The Sewer.

Episodes edit

Season 1 (2021) edit

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byStoryboard byOriginal air dateUS viewers
(millions)
11"Goodnight Central Forest/Steelzilla"UnknownUnknownTBAJanuary 25, 2021 (2021-01-25)0.30[9]
Sir Steel sends giant sunglasses to block the sun from shining in the city so he can stay in bed for as long as he want.
Fed up of being overlooked because of the heroes' popularity, Sir Steel goes into the streets to parade a large balloon of himself.
22"Save the Bees/Duck Dilemma"UnknownUnknownTBAJanuary 26, 2021 (2021-01-26)0.21[10]
The Deer Squad rescues a swarm of bees who are being kept in Sir Steel's building to make nectar.
Kai builds a robot duck to lead a group of ducklings. But when Lola accidentally showers water on it, the robot duck goes wonky and starts corrupting various devices in the city.
33"Catfish Capers/Bubble Debacle"UnknownUnknownTBAJanuary 27, 2021 (2021-01-27)0.23[11]
Sir Steel aims to take the huge catfish from the lake in the forest to put in his aquarium. The Deer Squad would not allow the fish to be taken because it is believed that its absence would greatly affect the forest.
To clean his dog and even the forest, Sir Steel puts out a bubble machine which scares and later carries away the creatures.
44"Kai Express/Ducknado"UnknownUnknownTBAJanuary 28, 2021 (2021-01-28)0.26[12]
Kai links his vehicle with those of the other Deer Squad members to carry his animal friends across the woods.
Sir Steel tries to showcase a high-tech hairdryer, but his operating mistake creates a tornado with ducks that causes mayhem in the city and forest.
55"Donut Panic/I Scream"UnknownUnknownTBAJanuary 29, 2021 (2021-01-29)0.39[13]
Because the woods tourists are more interested in donuts, Sir Steel uses a ray gun to conjure giant rolling donuts which, however, scare them away.
Kai builds an ice cream dispenser to compensate for eating Lola's ice cream earlier, and goes on to serve the woods tourists.
66"Deep Blue Boo Boo/Stuck Together"UnknownUnknownTBAFebruary 1, 2021 (2021-02-01)0.24[14]
Sir Steel disposes gel plastic by dumping it in the lake. The plastic sticks onto various things, including the giant fish.
Sir Steel gets his hand covered in Bobbi's toffee, and gets stuck to Lola. Muffin gets into his robot, and causes trouble in the city.
77"Meteor Mayhem/Dance of Destruction"UnknownUnknownTBAFebruary 2, 2021 (2021-02-02)0.29[15]
A meteor is heading towards the city. The attention-hungry Sir Steel uses this as an opportunity to be a hero by attempting to stop it.
After finishing second in a dance competition last year, Rammy practices and hopes he would win it this time.
88"Fan Club/Speeding Steel"UnknownUnknownTBAFebruary 3, 2021 (2021-02-03)0.21[16]
Kai saves three young turtles from certain trouble, and they become his admirers. The turtles' cheering leads Kai to believe he can do anything alone.
Because of his low stamina for even a short sprint, Sir Steel decides to use high-tech hitops at the city's marathon despite its illegality.
99"Switcheroo/Protect the Egg"UnknownUnknownTBAFebruary 4, 2021 (2021-02-04)0.23[17]
Sir Steel, using a special gadget, attempts to take the Deer Squad's powers and apply them to himself, but, by mistake, switches his personality with that of a frog instead.
Professor Scratch hides various chocolate eggs in the park as part of Sir Steel's personal egg hunt, but this results in the entire place being infested with ants.
1010"Steel in Space/That's Magic"UnknownUnknownTBAFebruary 5, 2021 (2021-02-05)0.27[18]
Sir Steel pushes a button which turns his building into a rocket that ascends to space.
Professor Scratch poses as a magician, and wins the audience away from Rammy who is performing a ball and dance act. A very jealous Rammy snoops onto the professor's equipment, and accidentally unleashes multiple mischievous rabbits.
1111"Double Trouble/Box Not So Clever"UnknownUnknownTBAFebruary 8, 2021 (2021-02-08)0.17[19]
Sir Steel disguises his robots as the Deer Squad, and makes them a nuisance in society to prevent the title characters from winning the Citizen of Year award, and boost his chances of winning it.
Sir Steel's packaging device gets out of control, and starts putting anything and anyone in boxes.
1212"Sky Art/The Great Race"UnknownUnknownTBAFebruary 10, 2021 (2021-02-10)0.30[20]
Lola makes a multi-colored cloud in the sky as a work of art. But Sir Steel wants to get rid of the cloud because he feels it is overshadowing his hat-giving charity.
The Deer Squad decide to race each other in their vehicles through the forest. Sir Steel, in an innovative car, also gets into the race.
1313"Doctor Steel Little/Astonished and Amazed"UnknownUnknownTBAFebruary 12, 2021 (2021-02-12)0.28[21]
Sir Steel has a special microphone that converts generic animal sounds into human language. This catches the attention of some animals, including a crocodile who would not stop following him.
To come up with an entry at a plant contest, Sir Steels sows a laboratory-made seed in the forest which grows into a large maze, trapping various animails, including the Deer Squad.
1414"Attack of the Drones/Slime Time"UnknownUnknownTBAFebruary 16, 2021 (2021-02-16)0.22[22]
Sir Steel sends some drones to make deliveries, but they get corrupted after being expose to rain, and start pestering the city's bystanders.
Professor Scratch unveils a machine to make plastic slime for Sir Steel's personal enjoyment. Steel decides to operate the device on his own, but does so incorrectly, that slime starts raining in the city.
1515"Captain Steel/Wash Out"UnknownUnknownTBAFebruary 18, 2021 (2021-02-18)0.20[23]
While most of the Deer Squad are sick, Sir Steel tries to be a hero by staging various troubles in the city and park.
Sir Steel siphons all the water from the lake to fill his water park.
1616"Gravity Calamity/Ball of Chaos"UnknownUnknownTBAMay 24, 2021 (2021-05-24)0.35[24]
Ricardo steals Sir Steel's anti-gravity gun, and uses it to make objects, people, and animals float in the air.
Professor Scratch comes up with a bouncy ball that does not stop bouncing, but Sir Steel's carelessness causes it to bounce around and be a nuisance in the city.
1717"Lola's Air Display/Down the Sewers"UnknownUnknownTBAMay 26, 2021 (2021-05-26)0.23[25]
Lola looks to put up a show at the park in her flying car, but Sir Steel, who is in a high-tech jet, aims to steal the limelight.
When Sir Steel's dog's ball goes missing in the sewers, Bobbi must face his fear of the dark.
1818"Small is Smashing/Pine Cone Power Up"TBATBATBATBATBD
1919"Steel Antlers/Berry Bad"TBATBATBATBATBD
2020"Turnip for the Books/Magnet Maelstrom"TBATBATBATBATBD

Season 2 (2022) edit

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byStoryboard byOriginal air dateUS viewers
(millions)
211"Over the Rainbow/We're Toast"TBATBATBATBATBD
222"Muffin in Space/Fizzy Frenzy"TBATBATBATBATBD
233"Were Wig on the Loose/Lights Camera Action"TBATBATBATBATBD
244"Raining Teddies/Party People"TBATBATBATBATBD
255"The Wig of Power/The Duck Who Parped Wolf"TBATBATBATBATBD
266"Satellite Flight/Diamond Geezer"TBATBATBATBATBD
277"Jump Up and Get Down/What's Up Lola"TBATBATBATBATBD
288"Crystal Catastrophe/Good Steel Bad Steel"TBATBATBATBATBD
299"Lady Monkey Mech/Critter Care Calamity"TBATBATBATBATBD
3010"The Supersized Sunflower/Moontaker"TBATBATBATBATBD
3111"Every Cloud/Rainbow Comet Rush"TBATBATBATBATBD
3212"The Big Bug Hunt/Deer Ball"TBATBATBATBATBD
3313"Game Over/Forever Young"TBATBATBATBATBD
3414"Tiny Heroes/Big Face in Space"TBATBATBATBATBD
3515"Treasure Park/Baddy Long Legs"TBATBATBATBATBD
3616"Wheel of Steel/Bobbi's Bongos"TBATBATBATBATBD
3717"Fountain Fiasco/Night of the Disco Lights"TBATBATBATBATBD
3818"Cosmic Circus/A Hole Lot of Trouble"TBATBATBATBATBD
3919"Den Build Disaster/Winter Lights"TBATBATBATBATBD
4020"Dinobot/Forest Squad in Space"TBATBATBATBATBD

Season 3 (2023) edit

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byStoryboard byOriginal air dateUS viewers
(millions)
411"Nubble Trouble/Bouncing Boulders"TBATBATBATBATBD
422"The Space Station Mystery/Crystal Cracks"TBATBATBATBATBD
433"Runaway Hamster Ball/The Perfectinator"TBATBATBATBATBD
444"The Secret Island/Astrobot"TBATBATBATBATBD
455"The Crystal of Strength/Clamity"TBATBATBATBATBD
466"Baby Steel/Joke's on You"TBATBATBATBATBD
477"Deep Dive/Firefruit Surprise"TBATBATBATBATBD
488"The Name's Chomp/Cactus-trophe"TBATBATBATBATBD
499"Sandcastle Calamity/Owl-ert"TBATBATBATBATBD
5010"Going Off with a Bang/Talent for Trouble"TBATBATBATBATBD
5111"Treasure Ship/Sleepover on Sparkle Island"TBATBATBATBATBD
5212"Bats All Folks/The Handbag of Doom"TBATBATBATBATBD
5313"Penguin Panic/Cave Conundrum"TBATBATBATBATBD
5414"Adventure Camp/Colour Drain"TBATBATBATBATBD
5515"Inventor's Block/A Sticky Situation"TBATBATBATBATBD
5616"Doors Galore/No Rules Day"TBATBATBATBATBD
5717"Catherine and the Slime Crocs/Forest Flyer"TBATBATBATBATBD
5818"Whale of a Time/The Ice Troll"TBATBATBATBATBD
5919"Monster Mix-up/Space Station Staycation"TBATBATBATBATBD
6020"Hide and Sea/Mountain of Fun"TBATBATBATBATBD

References edit

  1. ^ "无敌小鹿(央视版)". tv.cctv.com.
  2. ^ "iQIYI Original Animation Series DEER SQUAD to Air on Nickelodeon". www.iqiyi.com.
  3. ^ "IQiyi orders original Chinese animation; Korea's Kocowa debuts in US". www.spglobal.com.
  4. ^ "Nickelodeon and iQIYI's Deer Squad Premieres January 25 in the U.S." Animation World Network. January 13, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  5. ^ "The second season of Invincible Deer Team is scheduled! Have the magical TA Chenglu team's strong foreign aid?". Sina Corp. January 8, 2022. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  6. ^ "iQIYI released 29 animations, and 3 digital collection platforms announced financing". Tencent. September 20, 2022. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  7. ^ "Strengthen the planetary power to explore the shining sea, "Invincible Deer Team Season 3" unlocks a thrilling new journey!". Baidu. July 29, 2023. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  8. ^ Ann-Marie Corvin (October 7, 2020). "Kids Broadcasters Focus on OTT, Acquisitions, Teen Markets as COVID-19 Halts Production". Variety. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  9. ^ Mitch Metcalf (January 26, 2021). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Monday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 1.25.2021". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  10. ^ Mitch Metcalf (January 27, 2021). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 1.26.2021". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on January 27, 2021. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  11. ^ Mitch Metcalf (January 28, 2021). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Wednesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 1.27.2021". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on January 28, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  12. ^ Mitch Metcalf (January 29, 2021). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Thursday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 1.28.2021". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on January 29, 2021. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  13. ^ Mitch Metcalf (February 1, 2021). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Friday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 1.29.2021". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on February 1, 2021. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  14. ^ Mitch Metcalf (February 2, 2021). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Monday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 2.1.2021". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on February 2, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  15. ^ Mitch Metcalf (February 3, 2021). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 2.2.2021". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on February 3, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  16. ^ Mitch Metcalf (February 4, 2021). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Wednesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 2.3.2021". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on February 4, 2021. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
  17. ^ Mitch Metcalf (February 5, 2021). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Thursday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 2.4.2021". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on February 5, 2021. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  18. ^ Mitch Metcalf (February 8, 2021). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Friday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 2.5.2021". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on February 8, 2021. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  19. ^ Mitch Metcalf (February 9, 2021). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Monday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 2.8.2021". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on February 9, 2021. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  20. ^ Mitch Metcalf (February 11, 2021). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Wednesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 2.10.2021". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on February 11, 2021. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
  21. ^ Mitch Metcalf (February 16, 2021). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Friday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 2.12.2021". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on February 16, 2021. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  22. ^ Mitch Metcalf (February 18, 2021). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 2.16.2021". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on February 18, 2021. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  23. ^ Mitch Metcalf (February 22, 2021). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Thursday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 2.18.2021". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on February 22, 2021. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  24. ^ Mitch Metcalf (May 25, 2021). "Top 150 Monday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 5.24.2021". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  25. ^ Mitch Metcalf (May 27, 2021). "Top 150 Wednesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 5.26.2021". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved August 28, 2021.

External links edit