Movies

Little J & Big Cuz (Series 1)

Synopsis

Little J is five years old and his Big Cuz is nine. They’re two Aboriginal kids living with their Nanna and Old Dog.

All their friends are nearby, and school is just a stroll away along a bush track. There’s so much to discover in the backyard...and beyond. The gaps in Nanna’s ramshackle fence lead to Saltwater, Desert and Freshwater Country.

When you’re Little J’s age, the world is full of wonder. Is that a baby kangaroo that needs your help? Is that an owl that barks like a dog? And these really are lucky undies!

Sometimes though, Little J’s very best day can suddenly turn into the very worst. Just as well Little J’s ever-enthusiastic best friend Levi is by his side to get him out of (or into!) a tangle.

Big Cuz loves exploring, reading stuff on the computer, and playing tricks on her little cousin. Oh, and singing and dancing, just so long as it’s only her best friend Sissy watching.

The two cousins don’t always get along... but Big Cuz has to admit that Little J isn’t annoying all the time. Actually he can be kind of fun and funny. And when they work together, they’re a pretty amazing team.

In the classroom, the kids love astonishing science experiments, creating amazing artworks and finding out about weird and wonderful animals. Their teacher, Ms Chen, is thrilled when she learns something new from the kids as they share their treasures and discoveries in Show and Tell.

When adventure turns to disaster, Nanna is there to show her grandkids “proper way”, whether it’s hunting bush tucker or making popcorn for a sleepover. And if there’s a really big catastrophe – like a football doll lost in the desert – Search and Rescue worker Uncle Mick can carry out an emergency rescue.

In each episode, Little J and Big Cuz find out more about their world and themselves – in the backyard, the classroom or on Country. Tucked up in bed at the end of another wondrous day, the two kids resolve their squabbles and stifle their giggles so Nanna doesn’t hear... while Old Dog sighs with contentment – his family is all safe and sound.

Animated series for 4..6 year-olds.

Trailer

Episode 1: Lucky Undies

Little J’s new undies have special powers - so how can he play basketball without them? After a run of good luck, especially the chance to play in the big kids’ basketball game, Levi convinces Little J that his bright new undies have special powers. So how can Little J possibly play after Old Dog chews the Lucky Undies to bits?

Episode 2: Wombat Rex

Big Cuz tricks Little J into believing that the Giant Wombat is not extinct. Beware of tricking Big Cuz – she’ll always trick you back! Little J and Levi are astonished to find footprints from the extinct Giant Wombat, unaware they’ve been fooled. But maybe the tracks will lead to something truly amazing.

Episode 3: New Tricks

Little J frets that his dream of being an acrobat is not the right dream. Little J dreams of being an acrobat, while the other kids want to be rescue workers like Uncle Mick. When Jacko and B Boy join Little J’s backyard circus, worried about being laughed at.

Episode 4: Right Under Your Nose

On their quest to the beach, Little J, Nanna and Big Cuz struggle to find what they need before sunset. When the power goes off, Nanna takes the kids to the beach to catch a feed and cook it in a fire pit. But will Big Cuz ever hook that fish and will Little J find that extra special something for Show and Tell?

Episode 5: Goanna Ate My Homework

Little J gets confused hunting bush tucker when he follows his own tracks. Little J boasts he can find bush tucker for the whole school. The plan backfires when he tracks his own footprints. Luckily, Nanna shows him “proper way”, but a sneaky Goanna steals the bush tucker. What’s Little J going to take to school now?

Episode 6: Big Plans

When the “big kids” won’t play with him, Little J creates a tantalising adventure - in the back yard. Little J is sure Sissy has come to play with Big Cuz and him. Shocked when he’s not included in the girls’ games, Nanna urges Little J to come up with his own game. But can he create something enticing enough to make Sissy and Big Cuz want to play with him?

Episode 7: Hopalong

When B Boy comes to stay, Little J is miffed - until they work together caring for an injured baby kangaroo. Little J is put out when B Boy comes to stay. But when the boys rescue an injured kangaroo “joey”, they’re going to have to get along so they can take good care of baby Hopalong.

Episode 8: Where's Aaron?

Aaron the class mascot is missing…and Little J fears he’s lost in the desert. Little J’s desert adventure with class mascot Aaron the footy doll is a great success. But next morning, Aaron is missing. It seems Little J has lost Aaron. Will Uncle Mick be able to safely rescue Aaron?

Episode 9: Old Monster Dog

Little J is convinced there’s a real live monster in the backyard. Little J enlists Levi’s help to build a monster trap in the back yard, convinced that the scary growling pink shape he saw in the dark is a monster. But why is Old Dog missing - and where is Nanna’s pink dressing gown?

Episode 10: Transformation

Can Big Cuz face dancing in front of the school, and will Little J ever see his caterpillar again? Little J is upset when his precious caterpillar disappears. But Big Cuz is even more upset - Sissy has arranged for the two of them to dance in front of the whole school. Can she ever find the courage?

Episode 11: Nothing Scares Me

Little J knows there’s something that scares him but he’s even more scared of being found out. Little J is thrilled to be at the beach with his hero Uncle Mick. When Little J gets stranded on a rocky outcrop he can’t possibly let on that he’s scared of heights. But maybe Uncle Mick has something he’s scared of too.

Episode 12: Territories

Big Cuz and Little J must put aside their differences to outwit a territorial magpie. Big Cuz is fed up with Little J messing up her side of the room, so she creates a border that he is not allowed to cross. But when the backyard is taken over by a swooping Magpie, the kids must unite to outwit him.

Episode 13: Night Owl And Morning Maggie

Fascinated by an owl in the backyard, Little J turns nocturnal with disastrous results. Little J becomes nocturnal to watch a barking owl in the backyard. But the next day he’s exhausted – and falls asleep at ridiculous times and in strange places. Now it looks like he’s going to sleep through all the fun of the sleepover.

Details

Cast
Miranda Tapsell - Little J
Deborah Mailman - Big Cuz
Ningali Lawford-Wolf - Nanna
Aaron Fa’Aoso - Old Dog
Ursula Yovich - Levi
Shari Sebbens - Sissy, B Boy
Renee Lim - Miss Chen
Mark Coles Smith - Mick
Katie Beckett - George, Jacko
Kylie Farmer - Ally
Miah Madden - Monti
Release dates
28 April 2017 - Australia
Awards
Most Outstanding Children's Program – TV Week Logie Awards 2018
Rating
G - general
Distributor
NITV
Notes

Little J's has an all-Aboriginal cast and crew. Aboriginal writers from all over Australia contributed to the scripts, telling their own experiences and the stories they grew up with, of freshwater, saltwater and desert country.

Official website: www.littlejandbigcuz.com.au

Watch now or find a DVD/BlueRay copy

Powered by JustWatch

Browse a list of Aboriginal film suppliers and distributors

Go exploring!

Use the Aboriginal film timeline to discover films you never heard of.

Take the quiz: Are you an Aboriginal movie buff?

Cite this page

Korff, J 2020, Little J & Big Cuz (Series 1), <https://www.creativespirits.info/resources/movies//little-j-big-cuz>, retrieved 20 April 2024

Creative Spirits is a starting point for everyone to learn about Aboriginal culture. Please use primary sources for academic work.

Join thousands of Smart Owls who know more!