“Brainy Janey” Series Bible
By Chris Vail
CONCEPT
Janey Singh is just like any 8-year-old girl except for one little difference: she’s a genius
engineer and scientist. While other kids are out playing, she is hard at work creating fun
inventions that solve problems and improve the lives of her family, friends and community.
With the help of her assistants, robot cat How-E and hologram raptor Nikola, Janey creates
gadgets out of her parents’ attic, which she has converted into a state-of-the-art lab. Her
parents and sister, Elle, encourage Janey’s imagination and technical fascination, especially
when she’s using her gadgets to make everyday chores easier. Her science teacher and
mentor, Mrs. Lemarr, helps her with her inventions, offers advice and inspires her to learn.
Each episode includes Janey making something new and teaching viewers about a related
subject through a small segment called “How-E Does It”, where Nikola narrates and How-E
demonstrates. This show teaches kids that through the power of imagination and learning,
anything is possible - even a pet robot cat.
SETTING
The Singhs are an Indian American family living in the fictional city of Brooksdale in a
somewhat suburban neighborhood, within walking distance to shops and Janey’s school.
Each house on the block is big enough to have its own lawn and backyard. Janey occupies
the attic of the Singh home where she creates most of her inventions. When she needs to
test them out, she often goes to the backyard or park. The neighbors are pretty close and
everyone knows Janey because she’s always helps others, and it’s almost impossible not to
notice her scooting around the neighborhood on her gliding vehicle that looks like a
Segway without wheels. Why take the bus?
CHARACTERS
Janey Singh: She is confident, brilliant and creative. In her mind, there’s nothing that can’t
be figured out and she loves being faced with a challenge. Janey believes anything can be
improved through hard work and the right technology and she implores an extremely
positive attitude. Even though she loves to build inventions, she also loves to have fun like
any other kid. Janey’s signature outfit is a t-shirt with a picture of an old school computer
on it, big boots, and glasses. She’s nerd glamorous! When she’s at work in the lab, she rocks
a buttoned up lab coat and safety goggles.
Pic1
Elle Singh (sister): Don’t let her princess exterior fool you – Elle is one fearless girl. Janey’s
older sister may dress in pretty dresses and hair bows, but she’s always eager to test
Janey’s new inventions, even before they are fully ready. She’s more than happy to be a
human guinea pig. Plucky and energetic, Elle tends to talk a mile-a-minute.
Pic2
Chuck Singh (father): When Janey’s clumsy father isn’t tripping over her inventions, he’s
at home either working on the house or his next novel. As a writer, he constantly tries to
come up with ideas for stories he can write about and often pitches his ideas to anyone
who will listen. Wearing a cardigan and jeans, he looks the part of a writer too. Chuck is
very appreciative of Janey as she always helps him around the house with her gadgets.
Anne Singh (mother): Janey’s mother is a successful lawyer who brings her professional
demeanor home with her – she dresses in nothing but pant suits. Anne can be strict and
maintains a tight ship. She expects Chuck to keep the house tidy and always reminds Janey
to clean her lab. Anne also happens to have a minor cupcake obsession.
Pic3
How-E: Janey’s trusty companion and assistant, How-E, is a robotic cat she built from
scratch. He has all the mannerisms and temperment of a cat, but with added intelligence
and RAM. When he’s not helping Janey build gadgets, he likes to toy with Grumps, the
family dog using his superior cognitive abilities. How-E was also built with special
capabilitiies like hover paws that allow him to fly and X-ray vision that allow him to see
through walls. Along with Nikola, he runs a small segment called “How-E Does It” where
they teach the viewer about a featured subject. Even though he’s made of metal, he’s still
affectionate and loves to have his head scratched.
Pic4
Laurence: Janey’s next door neighbor and friend Laurence is shy but sweet. He’s utterly
fascinated with everything that Janey works on and frequently tries to get her to play
sports and other games with him.
Pic5
Grumps: The Singh family dog received his name because “he always looks grumpy”. This
Goldendoodle is helplessly jealous of How-E and it only makes him grumpier when the
feline machine messes with him. Poor little guy. Only two things make Grumps truly happy:
his taco squeak toy and chasing after squirrels.
Pic6
Nikola: One of Janey’s finest creations is a hologram of a raptor in a top hat and bowtie. But
he’s not as scary as he may look - Nikola actually acts like a gentleman and speaks with a
fine English accent. Named after the famous inventor Nikola Tesla, this hologram inhabits
the wisdom and spirit of the visionary man. He’s not only Janey’s friend, but also a source of
reason and information. Nikola is almost like a walking library or Internet – full of endless
information at Janey’s disposal. Even though he’s harmless, people are often startled by his
appearance. Kids are always delighted though.
Pic7
Mrs. Lemarr: Janey’s high school teacher and mentor, Mrs. Lemarr, encourages her to
question everything and use imagination. She offers help to Janey if she has a problem and
is her biggest fan. Mrs. Lemarr’s eccentric and wacky personality fit well with her wild
wavy hair, bright colored dresses and huge medley of dangly jewelry.
EPISODES
1. Knowledge is Power: Chuck is concerned about the large electrical bill caused by
Janey’s attic lab. To fix the problem, Janey creates windmills to generate more power. When
the wind mills cause too much noise, Chucks suggests she try something else. Janey decides
to go with high efficiency solar panels on the roof to supply power for her lab.
How-E Does It subject: electricity, power, waste.
2. Science Fair: Janey helps Elle with a project for a science fair after Elle’s volcano (made
with molten cheese lava) is eaten by Grumps. At first she helps Elle by making something
too extravegent: a mini-replica of a city with fully functioning tiny robot cars and people
moving around. Eventually Elle decides she should make most of it herself, rather than just
have Janey make it for her. Elle learns how to create an even better volcano than before
with a little help from Janey.
How-E Does It subject: ownership, science, help
3. Forget Me Nots: Chuck forgets that it’s Anne birthday and panics because he doesn’t
have a gift for her. Because she loves cupcakes, Janey creates a Cupcake Canon for Chuck to
give to Anne. After many tests, and an extremely messy house, they perfect the machine.
The canon requires a person to insert ingredients into the barrels, press a few buttons and
delicious cupcakes shoots out into your hands. Anne loves the present.
How-E Does It subject: remembering, cupcakes
4. Mobile Access: Janey helps her elderly neighbor, Mrs. Plumtree, when she discovers that
it’s hard for her to move about and perform everyday tasks. Janey builds her a superscooter that can walk up stairs, lift objects and pickup items from off the shelf at the store.
Mrs. Plumtree is very grateful and her quality of life vastly improves.
How-E Does It subject: community, mobility, caring.
5. Squirreling Around: Grumps has big problems with the squirrels in the neighborhood
and is devastated when one of them steals his beloved taco squeak toy. Jane creates a
motion sensor system that notifies whenever a squirrel is nearby. How-E puts a tracker on
the squirrel that stole the toy. After following him, How-E is able to take the toy back and
give it to Grumps. Could a friendship blossom between the two pets?
How-E Does It subject: friendship, motion sensors
6. Wake Up Call: Anne has trouble waking up and is late to work. Janey creates a mini
copter for her to fly to work and make it there just in time. But Anne keeps sleeping
through her alarm. To fix this, Janey builds an alarm clock that gently lifts her up in bed,
says good morning softy and feeds her coffee. Other variations of the alarm don’t work so
well.
How-E Does It subject: flying, motors, alarms
FIT
Aligned with the Little Tikes brand, this series encourages kids to learn how things work.
Janey uses problem solving skills to create new inventions and learns the power of
information, education and exploration. Much like Little Tikes, this show promotes
creativity and imagination and inspires kids to learn more about technology, math and
science. Brainy Janey also teaches the value of caring for others and helping those in need
which I believe is of great value to a child’s development. Both parents and kids will enjoy
this show as they have fun learning and growing with Janey and her family.
PHOTO REFERENCES
I don’t own the rights to any of these pictures. They are just to give an idea of what the
characters could look like. They are not intended to be used for anything.
Pic1: http://www.clipartof.com/portfolio/colematt/illustration/sporty-indian-girl1148917.html
Pic2: http://www.clipartof.com/portfolio/colematt/illustration/indian-girl-waving1148918.html
Pic3: http://www.clipartof.com/portfolio/cartoonsolutions/illustration/indian-businesswoman-with-an-idea-or-an-aha-moment-1106186.html
Pic4: http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/06/19/video-game-cat-nominees/
Pic5: http://depositphotos.com/44684205/stock-illustration-cartoon-shy-boy.html
Pic6:
http://i1.cpcache.com/product_zoom/469542638/goldendoodle_dog_calendar_print.jpg?h
eight=250&width=250&padToSquare=true
Pic7: http://smg.photobucket.com/user/trelixus/media/raptor3.gif.html