Hi-5 House
| Company type | Television program |
|---|---|
| Industry | Children's television |
| Founded | November 4, 2013 |
| Founder | Helena Harris, Posie Graeme-Evans |
| Headquarters | Australia |
Key people | Julie Greene (executive producer) |
| Products | Children's television program |
Hi-5 House is an Australian children’s television program and a derivative of the original Hi-5, created by Helena Harris and Posie Graeme-Evans. This spin-off features the children’s musical ensemble Hi-5 and was developed to sustain the brand following its acquisition from the Nine Network in 2012. The show debuted on 4 November 2013 on Nick Jr. Australia.
Designed for a preschool demographic, the series integrates musical entertainment with educational principles founded on a proven learning framework. Julie Greene, who previously produced the original series, took on the role of executive producer. The cast comprised Lauren Brant, Mary Lascaris, Ainsley Melham, Stevie Nicholson, and Dayen Zheng, with Tanika Anderson later replacing Brant. Hi-5 House earned the 2015 Asian Television Award for Best Preschool Program.
The third and final season was released worldwide via Netflix on 25 March 2016. Production ceased after Nine Network renewed its collaboration with the Hi-5 franchise in October 2016, leading to plans for a refreshed original series featuring a new cast in 2017.
Format
Hi-5 House presents a variety-style format aimed at preschool viewers, combining contemporary educational approaches with pop music elements. Its structure closely mirrors that of its predecessor, Hi-5. The five performers, collectively known as Hi-5, each host distinct segments and join together for musical performances. The set is styled as a shared home environment, with each presenter’s segment situated in different rooms to reflect familiar spaces for young children.
Episodes include segments designed around Howard Gardner's Theory of multiple intelligences, targeting various learning styles. In Puzzles and Patterns (kitchen), logical reasoning and mathematical concepts are highlighted, assisted by a puppet named Jup Jup. Making Music (music room) emphasizes musical skills such as pitch, rhythm, beat, and melody through diverse instruments. Body Move (backyard) promotes physical movement to enhance coordination and motor development. Word Play (bedroom) focuses on language and listening abilities, featuring the puppet Chatterbox who supports exploration of stories and rhymes. Shapes in Space (rumpus room) develops visual-spatial skills through activities involving shapes, colors, and everyday objects.
Each episode concludes with Sharing Stories, which explores social skills and emotional understanding. Episodes begin and end with a Song of the Week, a pop-inspired track aligned with the episode’s educational theme. Additionally, the segment The Chatterbox aids English language acquisition by teaching simple vocabulary and phrases through interactions between the puppet and a toy robot named Tinka.
Cast
- Lauren Brant (series 1)
- Mary Lascaris (series 1–3)
- Ainsley Melham (series 1–3)
- Stevie Nicholson (series 1–3)
- Dayen Zheng (series 1–3)
- Tanika Anderson (series 2–3)
Production
The original Hi-5 program launched on the Nine Network in 1999, created by producer Helena Harris alongside co-producer Posie Graeme-Evans. Running for thirteen seasons, it concluded in 2011 before being acquired by equity firm Asiasons in 2012. In June 2013, executive producer Julie Greene announced a new spin-off titled Hi-5 House. Greene had been involved with the original series as producer before advancing to executive creative director in 2012.
Filming of the first season took place at Infinite Studios in Singapore between August and October 2013, with its premiere occurring on pay television channel Nick Jr. on 4 November 2013. Live-action segments featuring children were shot on location at Singapore Zoo and Sentosa.
The second season was produced at KRU Studios in Malaysia from April to June 2014 and premiered on Nick Jr. on 6 October that year. It received the Asian Television Award for Best Preschool Program in 2015.
The third season was filmed in Malaysia from March to May 2015 and first released exclusively on Netflix on 25 March 2016 across Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Latin America; it later aired on Nick Jr. starting from 26 September.
Production of Hi-5 House concluded in 2016 following Nine Network’s renewed partnership with the Hi-5 franchise in October, which set in motion plans to relaunch the original Hi-5 series featuring a new ensemble in 2017.
Series overview
Audience figures
By 2016, Hi-5 House had become the top-rated show on Disney Junior Asia. Upon its Australian debut in 2013, the program attracted an audience of 47,000 viewers on pay television, with later episodes maintaining viewership between 36,000 and 49,000.
Critical response
Jo Abi from Mamamia commended the series in 2014 for its ethnically varied cast. A review of the Happy Holidays DVD in 2015 highlighted the program’s costumes, set aesthetics, and its emphasis on themes such as healthy lifestyles and environmental awareness. Additionally, the blog At Grandma’s Place praised the educational content for being both captivating and suitable for its intended age group.
Television broadcast
The international debut of Hi-5 House occurred on Disney Junior Asia on 9 December 2013. Following an exclusive run on pay TV, the first season premiered on Australian free-to-air channel Eleven on 24 February 2014. In New Zealand, it was broadcast on free-to-air channel Four starting July 2014. The second season was launched on Disney Junior Asia on 8 December 2014.
Netflix removed the third season from its platform in September 2018 after it had been available for two and a half years.
Physical media
| Series | DVD Title | Release Date (Region 4) | Songs of the Week | Special features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dream House | 2 April 2014 |
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| 1 | So Many Animals | 2 April 2014 |
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| 1 | Songs with Friends! | 11 June 2014 |
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| 1 | Big Adventures! | 17 September 2014 |
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| 2 | Happy Holidays | 2 December 2015 |
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Awards and nominations
| Award | Year | Nominee(s) and Recipient(s) | Category | Outcome | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apollo Awards | 2015 | Chris Harriott, Various contributors (for Hi-5 House) | Outstanding Music Composition (Full Length) | Template:Nom | |
| Asian Television Awards | 2015 | Hi-5 House, Season 2 | Outstanding Preschool Programme | Template:Won | |
| 2016 | Hi-5 House, Season 3 | Template:Nom |