"LazyTown" puts a spotlight on the health issue through positive character role models and substantive storylines, and the show uses CGI, puppetry, and live characters in a brightly colorful setting to make sure the message is also entertaining.
The character Sportacus exemplifies everything healthy and wholesome. He gets to bed on time, and he maintains a clean and neat home. Sugary foods deflate him, but fruits and vegetables are the "sports candy" that gives Sportacus energy to save the townspeople from various entanglements. He quickly leaps, flips and bounds to the rescue whenever he is alerted that someone in "LazyTown" might be in trouble, and he is rarely seen without a huge smile on his face.
The characters of "LazyTown," including Sportacus were inspired by the common hopes and concerns creator Magnus Scheving observed as he talked with parents about their children. Parents all around the world want similar things for their kids - they want them to be happy and healthy, to be kind, to obey, and learn. The characters both live actors and puppets, portray these qualities, addressing the positive side as well as some of the common challenges children tend to face. In addition to Sportacus, the live action characters include:
Stephanie: The niece of the town's mayor, Stephanie is new to "LazyTown." She is kind and energetic, and she easily becomes fast friends with the other kids. Stephanie's enthusiasm and love of dancing, games and fun are contagious everywhere she goes, and to the viewers at home. Stephanie portrays the idea of movement.
Robbie Rotten: For every super hero there must be a villain to contend with, and Robbie Rotten is the resident "LazyTown" bad guy. Robbie is definitely not a fan of Sportacus and his active, healthy lifestyle. Robbie would rather eat junk food and be lazy all day. To him, nothing which requires any expenditure of energy is worth doing, and he thinks that the whole town should join him in his miserable meaningless ways.
The only thing he spends any time doing is trying to thwart Sportacus and keep the townspeople, especially the kids, from being healthy or enjoying anything. But, some episodes do let on that even Robbie Rotten has a soft side.
