Marvin The Tap-Dancing Horse

Marvin the Tap-Dancing Horse is a children's animated television show produced by Nelvana and Hong Guang Animation for Teletoon and PBS Kids. The series premiered on September 30, 2000. In the United States, the series aired on PBS Kids as part of the Bookworm Bunch block.

Plot
The show tells the story of Marvin The Tap-Dancing Horse, an equine performer who works at a circus and carnival run by carny and ringmaster Fast-Talking Jack with the help of the 9-year-old circus boy Eddy Largo.

Why We Should Shine On Marvin In Every Show

 * 1) Good animation. For Nelvana standards, the animation in this show almost looks like the animation style used in Maggie And The Ferocious Beast (another Nelvana animated show).
 * 2) * Both of these shows, although with different art styles, are nice for Nelvana shows.
 * 3) Very likeable characters.
 * 4) * Eddy Largo, a nine-year-old boy. In the first episode, he looks for a job and is hired on as a gofer and all-round assistant to owner Fast Talking Jack. His real name is Edward Larue III, but he changes his name to Eddy Largo because his real name sounded too bland to him (that and Fast Talking Jack found it lame as well).
 * 5) * Elizabeth the Emotional Pig, an easily upset pig; she has a tendency to moan and cry. When things go right, she feels ecstatically happy. She wears a turquoise dress with two yellow lines on her skirt with matching buttons, collar flaps and cuffs.
 * 6) * Fast Talking Jack, the owner of his carnival and the ringmaster of the big show (in which he also plays a lion tamer for Stripes' act). He is a very friendly and funny man. He is also very enthusiastic and loves to help people in need.
 * 7) * Lyman Slime, a sleazy owner of a clown circus called the Slime Carnival, Fast-Talking Jack's rival, and the main antagonist in the series. He sees Fast-Talking Jack's Carnival as unwelcome competition. Sometimes he sends his three clowns to spy on the carnival or to sabotage it.
 * 8) * Diamond The Elephant, a fancy pink elephant and is the main attraction of the circus. She has a big cloth on her back with a yellow star as a decoration. Her act involves balancing on an inflated beach ball.
 * 9) * Marvin, a dancing horse who performs in Fast-Talking Jack's Carnival. He used to be in movies and on Broadway; his first big break was in the musical movie 43rd Street (a takeoff of 42nd Street), although he's not proud of his performance in it as a young pony. In the series, he is Edward Larue III's (aka Eddy Largo) best friend.
 * 10) * Edna, a smart fortune teller and makes the lemonade and lemon ice sold at the carnival. She is a stickler for using juice she hand squeezes herself. Her screechy singing voice can break glass.
 * 11) Stunning plot ideas, which stick to the episodes very well.
 * 12) Great acting, especially with Ron Pardo as Marvin.
 * 13) The dialogues for each character is detailed.
 * 14) Not just the animation is good, but the writing and drawing is well-done.
 * 15) The theme song is great.

Bad Qualities

 * 1) The quality, although it's good, can lack the animation.
 * 2) Unlike many other Nelvana shows, the animation on this show can get a bit too much.

Reception
Marvin the Tap-Dancing Horse was positively received by critics. It has a 7.5/10 on IMDB.

Trivia

 * Dwayne Hill, the voice actor of Fast-Taking Jack, voiced Three on Seven Little Monsters.