Total Drama Island (sometimes shortened to TDI) is the first season of Total Drama series, a Canadian animated television series created by Tom McGillis and Jennifer Pertsch. The series premiered in Canada on Teletoon on July 8, 2007, and ran for 26 episodes, each 22 minutes in duration[1] with a special 44-minute season finale.
Plot
A grand view of the main setting used in this season (which is artificially recreated in the next season). The island is also used in the fourth and fifth seasons (which leads to its destruction).
Total Drama Island is set in the fictional titular reality show, which follows the competition of twenty-two unsuspecting and unwitting campers at Camp Wawanakwa, the most rundown, insect-infested, disgusting island in an unspecified area in Muskoka, Ontario. The campers participate in competitions and challenges that get more insane and dangerous each week to avoid being voted off the island by their fellow campers and teammates. At the end of the series, the winning contestant will receive C$100,000 (US$73,129.00). The competition is hosted by Chris McLean, assisted by the camp's chef, Chef Hatchet, who is also Chris's best friend despite being mistreated at times. Egotistical and immoral, unless something affects him legally, Chris places the show's contestants in various life-threatening challenges.
At the beginning of the season, the campers are placed into two groups of eleven, the "Screaming Gophers" and the "Killer Bass". In each episode, the teams participate in a challenge, in which one or more campers can win invincibility for their team. The losing team is called to the campfire that night, where the losing team vote one of their members off the island. The camper with the most votes is eliminated from the competition. At this campfire, Chris passes out marshmallows to the campers who have not been voted off, while the one who does not get a marshmallow must walk down the Dock of Shame to the Boat of Losers, which will take them away from the island (which is actually a hotel/resort quite close to the island with a pool and luxuries) and they will "never, never, never, ever, ever, ever, come back, ever" according to Chris (this was proved to be a lie in Episode 15, "No Pain, No Game", when he brought Eva and Izzy back into the game).
In Episode 14, the teams are disbanded, so it is every camper for themselves, after which the challenges continue; the winner of each challenge then only receives invincibility for themselves, whereupon the rest of the campers vote one camper without invincibility off the island (with a few exceptions where elimination is determined by the challenge itself). This process of elimination continues until two players remain where they are then subject to a final contest.
Total Drama Island is a parody of the reality show Survivor. McLean is very similar to Survivor host Jeff Probst.[2] This is the first season in which the winner does not get to keep the money, due to it being eaten by a shark in the episode "Total Drama, Drama, Drama, Drama Island". The season finale, "The Very Last Episode, Really! had two endings that changed whether Gwen or Owen won the season, with the winner depending on the country the season aired in. This tradition of two endings for each finalist was kept for the rest of the original series' run, and its spin off The Ridonculous Race. The following special, "Total Drama Drama Drama Drama Island" and season, Total Drama Action had alternate versions to acknowledge a specific ending in their episodes, but previous winners were simply never directly acknowledged following Action.
Total Drama Island premiered on July 8, 2007, on the Teletoon channel. This season has 26 episodes, each 22 minutes long, and two special episodes.[3] It was the third Cartoon Network show outside of Adult Swim and Toonami to have the U.S. rating of either "TV-PG" or "TV-PG-D", and a parental-guidance warning after every commercial break and at the beginning of the show (the first two being Sunday Pants and IGPX). Its rating in Canada was initially "G"; current broadcasts are rated "PG".
In the series premiere, twenty-two campers arrive at the run-down Camp Wawanakwa, where they will spend eight weeks with Chris McLean as the host of the competition. The campers are split into two teams: the Screaming Gophers and the Killer Bass. The Screaming Gophers consist of Noah, Justin, Katie, Cody, Beth, Trent, Lindsay, Leshawna, Heather, Owen, and Gwen. The Killer Bass are Ezekiel, Eva, Tyler, Izzy, Sadie, Courtney, Harold, Bridgette, DJ, Geoff, and Duncan. The campers then prepare to compete in their first challenge: jumping off a 1,000 ft. tall cliff into shark-infested waters.
The two teams face off in their very first challenge: jumping off a thousand foot cliff into a small safe zone surrounded by shark-infested waters, then building a hot tub out of wood. Katie and Izzy swap teams so Katie could be on the same team as Sadie, while Heather and Leshawna start up a fierce rivalry. The Screaming Gophers work well together while the Killer Bass struggle to cooperate. Courtney finds herself on the chopping block for her overbearing attitude and refusing to jump into the water, but her team instead votes out Ezekiel following his series of sexist remarks.
Elimination: Ezekiel
3
3
"The Big Sleep"
Nicole Demerse
July 15, 2007 (2007-07-15)
June 19, 2008
103
The two teams compete in a twenty kilometer race and a buffet-eating contest, only to discover that their real challenge is an "Awake-A-Thon" to test who can stay awake the longest. Gwen and Trent start to bond while Heather forms the first alliance with Lindsay and Beth. Gwen wins the challenge for the Gophers. The Bass vote off the short-tempered Eva after she accuses her teammates of stealing her MP3 player, which in actuality was stolen by Heather to get the Bass to vote off their strongest competitor.
The two teams participate in a five round game of dodgeball. The Gophers dominate initially thanks to Owen and Cody displaying surprising skill - that is, until Duncan is forced by Courtney to take charge, which turns the tides of the game. Ultimately, Harold wins the tiebreaking bout in a one-on-one showdown versus Owen, while Noah is eliminated due to being nothing but sarcastic and refusing to help his team.
Elimination: Noah
5
5
"Not Quite Famous"
Jennifer Cowan
July 29, 2007 (2007-07-29)
July 3, 2008
105
The two teams participate in a talent show, with the Gophers selecting Justin, Trent, and Heather to compete while the Bass initially choose DJ, Courtney, and Geoff. The rivalry between Gwen and Heather intensifies after Heather reads Gwen's diary aloud before the other contestants, and the viewing public, revealing Gwen has a crush on one of her teammates. After Courtney sustains an injury, Bridgette falls ill, and Geoff breaks his skateboard, the Bass turn to Harold, who wins the contest by beatboxing. Heather avoids elimination by convincing her teammates to vote out Justin.
Elimination: Justin
6
6
"The Sucky Outdoors"
Jennifer Pertsch
August 5, 2007 (2007-08-05)
July 10, 2008
106
The two teams must spend an entire night alone in the woods. Katie and Sadie get lost in the woods and start a fight that jeopardizes their friendship. Izzy meanwhile dresses as a bear and pranks her fellow Gophers. By virtue of Katie and Sadie getting lost and failing to return to camp in time, the Bass lose the challenge; with Katie and Sadie they vote to eliminate Katie as a result.
A discussion of fears evolves into a fear-facing challenge, thanks to some eavesdroppers. Most of the campers conquer their fears, but a few others don't fare as well. Courtney finds herself on the chopping block once again after bragging about how she's not afraid of anything, but ultimately failing to overcome her fear of green jelly and costing her team the challenge. However, Tyler is ultimately voted off for being too afraid to face his fear of chickens.
Elimination: Tyler
8
8
"Up the Creek"
Alex Nussbaum
August 19, 2007 (2007-08-19)
July 24, 2008
108
The teams embark on a canoe venture to the nearby Boney Island, which Chris warns them is haunted. Beth, having missed Chris' instructions, rushes to join her team. Upon arrival to the island, the teams must build a fire, then race back to camp. Cody, having deduced that Gwen and Trent like each other, arranges to have them canoe back to camp with each other. Geoff helps DJ overcome his hydrophobia while DJ helps Geoff get closer to Bridgette. Beth takes a tiki doll from the island as a souvenir. Thanks to DJ taking Izzy's advice and pushing his team's canoes, the Bass narrowly edge out the Gophers in the race to win. At the elimination ceremony, Izzy is intercepted by an RCMP helicopter and flees from the island before the last marshmallow can be awarded.
Elimination: Izzy
9
9
"Paintball Deer Hunter"
Shelley Scarrow
August 26, 2007 (2007-08-26)
July 31, 2008
109
The two teams compete in a paintball competition, with members of each team divided into "hunters" and "deer". Beth stands up for herself and mutinies from Heather's alliance. The ensuing barrage of friendly fire costs the Gophers their second challenge in a row. Cody gets mauled by a bear, and his fellow Gophers vote him out as a result.
Elimination: Cody
10
10
"If You Can't Take the Heat..."
Alex Ganetakos
September 2, 2007 (2007-09-02)
August 7, 2008
110
The two teams compete in a cooking challenge. Duncan, Geoff and DJ incessantly tease and pick on Harold after he leaves his dirty underwear lying around their cabin. Meanwhile, Leshawna and Heather's conflict reaches a boiling point. The Screaming Gophers end up locking Heather in the fridge. The dysfunctional Gophers lose their third challenge in a row, but not before learning of the tiki doll Beth brought back from the cursed Boney Island. In the end, Beth is voted off the island for cursing her team.
Elimination: Beth
11
11
"Who Can You Trust?"
Alex Nussbaum
September 9, 2007 (2007-09-09)
August 14, 2008
111
The two teams are put to the ultimate tests in trust, pitting together mortal enemies and potential relationships. DJ relies on Geoff to take care of his pet bunny, but Geoff fails to complete his duties. But, thanks to an unexpected favour from Duncan, the rabbit is fine - as far as they know. The Bass eliminate Sadie after she knocks Courtney unconscious during the challenge.
Elimination: Sadie
12
12
"Basic Straining"
Jennifer Pertsch
September 16, 2007 (2007-09-16)
August 21, 2008
112
Chef Hatchet takes charge of the challenge, and subjects the campers to a grueling boot camp. Duncan repeatedly taunts and disobeys Chef, leading to his solitary confinement in the boat house. Courtney goes to check on him, and the two promptly embark on a rule-breaking crusade which ignites a romance between them. The Bass lose the challenge and Harold, fed up with Duncan's persistent bullying of him, rigs the votes to eliminate a bewildered Courtney.
Elimination: Courtney
13
13
"X-Treme Torture"
Erika Strobel
September 23, 2007 (2007-09-23)
August 28, 2008
113
Chris has the contestants paired off for the next immunity challenge, a series of extreme sports challenges. Gwen and Bridgette begin a dispute when they find love poem that someone wrote for Leshawna, believing it instead to be written for them by their respective love interests. Heather breaks Harold's concentration during the final part of the challenge, and the Killer Bass elect to vote him off, and he reveals that he wrote the love poems to Leshawna, getting a kiss from her before his exit.
Elimination: Harold
14
14
"Brunch of Disgustingness"
Alex Nussbaum
September 30, 2007 (2007-09-30)
September 4, 2008
114
The Bass and Gopher teams are disbanded, and the campers are divided into a five-on-five battle of the sexes; a nine-course meal consisting of Chris and Chef's diabolically concocted "dishes." Both sides struggle to work together at various stages, but the five male competitors win on the back of Owen's insatiable appetite. They enjoy a weekend away from camp at a spa resort, while the new girls' alliance quickly splinters.
15
15
"No Pain, No Game"
Erika Strobel
October 7, 2007 (2007-10-07)
September 11, 2008
115
The two teams are officially dissolved and Izzy and Eva both return to the game. The campers then face an excruciating torture challenge with individual immunity at stake for the first time. Leshawna wins the challenge while Eva is voted off again for her temper.
Elimination: Eva (2nd time)
16
16
"Search & Do Not Destroy"
Alex Nussbaum
October 14, 2007 (2007-10-14)
September 18, 2008
116
The campers embark on a scavenger hunt for keys that will unlock corresponding treasure chests, only one of which contains immunity. Heather, eager to stoke tension, kisses Trent in front of Gwen, stunting their long-building romance. Leshawna attempts to rally the other contestants to vote Heather out of the competition, but when Heather wins immunity, they eliminate Trent instead, but not before he and Gwen make up.
The campers play an extreme game of hide and seek with Chef, who hunts them down one by one with a huge water gun. Duncan forms a guys' alliance, and brings Owen, Geoff and DJ aboard. With Heather and Leshawna winning immunity, he convinces them to vote off Bridgette. Before she leaves, Geoff and Bridgette confess their feelings for each other, but are unable to kiss due to her getting sprayed by a skunk in the challenge.
Elimination: Bridgette
18
18
"That's Off the Chain!"
Erika Strobel
October 28, 2007 (2007-10-28)
October 2, 2008
118
The campers build bikes from scratch, and race them in a romping motocross adventure. Heather betrays Lindsay on her way to winning the instant-elimination challenge, which leads to an explosive rebuttal from Lindsay on her way out.
Elimination: Lindsay
19
19
"Hook, Line & Screamer"
Erika Strobel
November 4, 2007 (2007-11-04)
October 9, 2008
119
The campers are tasked with surviving a real-life horror movie. A "psycho killer" picks them off one by one with the exception of Duncan and Gwen. During the challenge, Owen grows closer with Izzy, but ends up in hot water when she throws her to the killer. However, the challenge takes a frightening twist when Gwen encounters a real killer. In the end, DJ is eliminated by Chris for performing the worst in the challenge.
Elimination: DJ
20
20
"Wawanakwa Gone Wild!"
Shelley Scarrow
November 11, 2007 (2007-11-11)
October 16, 2008
120
The campers square off in a challenge where they must trap a certain animal. Gwen gets a delicious meal as a reward for catching her animal first, while Duncan and Heather form a temporary alliance. Chef and Heather get tranquilized by Izzy while Owen ends up having very bad luck. This all leads up to Izzy getting voted off once again.
Elimination: Izzy (2nd time)
21
21
"Trial by Tri-Armed Triathlon"
Shelley Scarrow
November 18, 2007 (2007-11-18)
October 23, 2008
121
The final six campers are split into three pairs and must compete in various challenges using teamwork. Some groups have trouble working together, while Gwen and Duncan respectively open up to Geoff and Leshawna; Gwen is reticent about not fitting in, while Duncan reveals he's much kinder-hearted than he portrays. Owen reaches his breaking point with Heather when she insults Izzy. Once the triathlon is finished and none of the teams win, it is revealed that nobody is safe. With all six players eligible for the Dock of Shame, Geoff is eliminated.
Elimination: Geoff
22
22
"Haute Camp-Ture" "After the Dock of Shame"
Alex Nussbaum
November 25, 2007 (2007-11-25)
October 30, 2008
122
Chris visits the luxurious Playa Des Losers and catches up with the previously eliminated contestants. After learning their thoughts on the final five, he reveals a shocking twist in which the eliminated contestants will vote off the next camper. Leshawna is inadvertently eliminated after a series of hijinx.
Elimination: Leshawna
23
23
"Camp Castaways"
Erika Strobel
December 2, 2007 (2007-12-02)
November 6, 2008
123
After a huge flood, the campers float away to a "deserted island" and try to fend for themselves while dealing with the dangers there, as well as enduring each other. Meanwhile, the hosts are having a day of relaxation on the same island. While the final four are separated at first, they eventually wind up back together again and, after Owen's mental breakdown, his new "friend", Mr. Coconut, is "eliminated" by Chris.
24
24
"Are We There, Yeti?"
Alex Nussbaum
December 9, 2007 (2007-12-09)
November 13, 2008
124
The campers wake up in the middle of the wilderness. The challenge is to race back to camp and tag a totem pole. The boys are on one team while the girls are on the other. Since Chris is off for the day, Chef takes over as host. In the end, Owen's eating habits distract him and allow the girls to win the challenge, resulting in Duncan's elimination.
Elimination: Duncan
Note: During the beginning of the episode, Chef is seen splitting Mr. Coconut in half with a knife.
25
25
"I Triple Dog Dare You!"
Erika Strobel
December 16, 2007 (2007-12-16)
November 20, 2008
125
The final three campers must participate in a series of dares invented by the eliminated campers, with the first camper to refuse a dare being automatically eliminated. Gwen and Owen form an alliance to take down Heather. Eventually, Heather fails a dare on a technicality and loses all of her hair and the competition, allowing Owen and Gwen to move on to the final challenge...
Elimination: Heather
26
26
"The Very Last Episode, Really!"
Jennifer Pertsch
January 4, 2008 (2008-01-04)
December 11, 2008
126
Gwen and Owen participate in one last challenge for the grand prize, with all of the previously eliminated campers returning to watch. After a race filled with sabotage, heartbreak, and brownies, Owen wins the grand prize and Gwen goes home with a "consolation prize". In the alternative version, Gwen wins.
Chris has one final challenge for all of the contestants, forcing them to form their own respective teams, and participate in an all-out, no-rules hunt for one million dollars! However, after a series of unpredictable and out-of-control events, the money is eaten by a shark and there is only one way to settle this tie.
For every season, the show's producers create two alternate endings for the final episode, such that the winner seen in one country's broadcasts is the runner-up in other countries (and vice versa) where the show airs. Owen is the original winner in Canada, but he is also shown as the winner in Australia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, France, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Latin America (Cartoon Network), the Middle East, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the Philippines, Portugal, Russia, Serbia, Singapore, Spain, South Africa, Turkey, United Kingdom, and the United States.[citation needed] Gwen is the original runner-up in Canada, but she is also the winner in Finland, Japan, Latin America (Boomerang and TBS), Norway, Poland, Romania and Sweden.
Chef is the cook and Chris' assistant for challenges.
Contestants
There are 22 original contestants who competed in Total Drama Island. They are Beth, Bridgette, Cody, Courtney (the leader of the Killer Bass before "X-Treme Torture"), DJ, Duncan (the leader of the Killer Bass since "X-Treme Torture"), Eva, Ezekiel, Geoff, Gwen, Harold, Heather (the leader of the Screaming Gophers), Izzy, Justin, Katie, Leshawna, Lindsay, Noah, Owen, Sadie, Trent, and Tyler. Many of the characters return in later seasons either as contestants or as guests.
On February 15, 2006, it was announced that Tom McGillis and Jennifer Pertsch were working on a project called Camp TV.[7] According to Tom McGillis, Fresh TV was approached by Teletoon to create the show.[8] On March 27, 2006, the project was renamed Total Drama Island, and it was announced that the project would start production in June.[9]
The season was animated at Elliott Animation and was directed by Todd Kauffman and Mark Thornton.[12] Fresh TV partners McGillis, Pertsch, Elliott and Irving produced the series.[13] The budget for the series was US$8,000,000.[14] It was animated in Flash,[12] at Elliott Animation's studio in Toronto.[13] Every cast and crew member on Total Drama Island had to sign a confidentiality agreement not to disclose who the winner was.[15] All the characters were designed by Kauffman.[16] Voice actors from the series 6teen have lent their voices for Total Drama Island. Christian Potenza, who played the character Jude on 6teen, played the role of host Chris McLean. Potenza said that the best part of the job was that his character could not be voted off the show.[17]Emilie-Claire Barlow plays a recurring role as Chrissy on 6teen and plays Courtney on Total Drama Island. Barlow stated that Courtney was her favourite character that she had ever played.[18] Other voice actors from 6teen include Julia Chantrey as Eva; Drew Nelson (Kai) as Duncan; Megan Fahlenbock (Jen) as Gwen; Adam Reid (Wayne) as Justin; Stephanie Anne Mills (Kirsten) as Lindsay and Katie; Rachel Wilson (Melinda Wilson) as Heather; and Scott McCord (Stone) as Owen and Trent.
Reception
Ratings
Carole Bonneau, the Vice President of Teletoon stated that Total Drama Island, along with 6teen were "consistently top performers" for audiences of ages 6–11, and also helped to bring in older viewers as well.[19] When Total Drama Island aired on Cartoon Network, it performed very well; The Toronto Star reported that, "in some age groups [Total Drama Island showed] a 500% ratings increase in [its] time slot."[11] On December 11, 2008, Total Drama Island garnered 3.5 million viewers.[20] That year, the series was the top "regularly scheduled Thursday night program at 9 p.m. on all television throughout third quarter among kids 2-11, 6-11 and 9-14," according to the Animation World Network.[21] On Memorial Day weekend of 2009, a marathon of Total Drama Island increased viewership in age groups 2–11, 6–11, and 9–14, each by 20% or more compared to the same week in 2008.[22] As of 2011, Total Drama Island has aired in over 188 countries.[23]
Critical reception
Total Drama Island has received generally positive reviews. The series was nominated for a Gemini Award for "Best Animated Program or Series", shared by Tom McGillis, Jennifer Pertsch, George Elliott and Brian Irving.[24]Common Sense Media gave the show 4 out of 5 stars, deeming it an "enjoyable, smart show" and finding that it appealed to all demographics.[25] Matthew Price of The Oklahoman gave a mixed review of the series, stating that it "starts unbelievably slowly", but deeming that the later episodes effectively spoofed reality shows.[26] Debi Enker of The Age gave a negative review of the season's last episode, calling the art, design and writing "lamentable."[27]
Public reaction
Total Drama Island received a score of 8.1 on Metacritic from users, indicating "generally favourable reviews".[28]
Media
DVD releases
A DVD was released by Warner Home Video on August 18, 2009, in the United States. It contains all of the 27 episodes (including TDI Rundown) of season one of this series in a 4 disc set, for a total of 594 minutes long. In addition, its bonus features (entitled as X-tras) are the audition tapes of twenty two campers, played after each of their respective eliminations, as well as Izzy's second audition tape and her exclusive interview with Chris (the latter of which is shown after Eva's second elimination). In Australia, Total Drama Island is on Region 4 DVD as separate volumes. This series of discs contains the widescreen version with uncut scenes and original dialogue, as seen on Teletoon and ABC3. In reviewing the DVD for season, Matthew Price of The Oklahoman wrote that while the show started out "unbelievably slowly," the series became more interesting as campers began getting voted off. Price also praised the parody of reality shows.[29] In another review of the DVD, Jeffrey Kauffman of DVD Talk wrote that the character development was compelling and that the parody of reality shows were very funny.[30] Mac McEntire of DVD Verdict praised the character development as well, but noted that the show sometimes sinks to "lowbrow gross-outs".[31] Both Kauffman and McEntire recommended the series DVD.
Total Drama Island: Totally Interactive!
Total Drama Island: Totally Interactive! was an online game in Canada and the US marketed in conjunction with the television series. It was produced by Xenophile Media. By registering a free account, the player could play games using a customizable avatar to earn points for marshmallows. Marshmallows are used as money in the game so the player can buy in-game items. The player who earned the most points had their avatar make a cameo appearance in the season finale.[8][32] The games were based on the challenges in the show.[8][33]Total Drama Island: Totally Interactive! was nominated for an Interactive Emmy Award in 2007.[32] However, the website is no longer available, as it was replaced by Total Drama Online and the Teletoon and Cartoon Network official sites.[34]
^Owen was confirmed to be the canon winner by both Chris and Priya in episode 20 of Part 2 of the reboot of Total Drama Island. Owen's ending also aired originally in Canada, the series' country of origin.
^Sarah Gadon was credited as Sarah Gaddon in the closing credits.
^Owen was confirmed to be the canon winner by both Chris and Priya in episode 20 of Part 2 of the reboot of Total Drama Island.
^New teams were formed as a "Battle of the Sexes".
^Simpson, Aaron (February 15, 2006). "The Reality of Camp TV". Cold Hard Flash. Archived from the original on June 29, 2006. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
^Rutherford, Krissie (November 3, 2006), "Newest role is 'every guy's dream' – Gemini-nominated Oakville actor has written his own dream role", Oakville Beaver
^ ab"Xenophile Media and Fresh TV Receive International Interactive Emmy(R) Award Nomination for Total Drama Island – Totally Interactive!", Canada Newswire, March 6, 2008
