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Colourblocks - Return of the Printing Crew (S1E26)
Black joins the Printing Crew. Learn how yellow, cyan, magenta and black work together in printing with the Colourblocks.
| Runtime (min) | 5 |
|---|---|
| Air Date | 2023-02-06 |
| Genres | Kids, Animation |
| TV Rating | TV-Y |
| Network(s) | CBeebies |
Storyline
In this episode, Black joins Yellow, Cyan, and Magenta to complete the Printing Crew. The four Colourblocks demonstrate how professional color printing works by combining their colors in different ways. Through playful experimentation and teamwork, they show that yellow, cyan, magenta, and black are the four ink colors used in standard printing processes.
The Colourblocks work together to create a variety of colors and images, illustrating the CMYK color model that printers use. Black's addition to the crew proves essential, as it adds depth, contrast, and the ability to create true black tones that the three primary printing colors cannot achieve on their own. The episode celebrates collaboration while teaching a foundational concept about how printed materials are made.
What kids learn
Children learn about the CMYK color model, which is the foundation of modern color printing. By seeing Yellow, Cyan, Magenta, and Black work together, young viewers discover that most printed images—from books to posters—are created using just these four ink colors in different combinations. This introduces an early STEM concept in an accessible, visual way that connects to everyday objects children encounter.
The episode reinforces the value of teamwork and inclusion. Black's arrival completes the Printing Crew, showing that each member brings something unique and necessary to the group. Children see that collaboration produces results no single color could achieve alone, and that welcoming new members strengthens a team.
Additionally, the episode encourages curiosity about how things work. By revealing the "secret" behind color printing, it invites children to look more closely at printed materials around them and think about the processes that create the images and text they see every day.
Parents' top 5 questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the CMYK printing concept too advanced for preschoolers? | The episode presents the concept visually and playfully rather than technically. Children don't need to understand printing mechanics to enjoy watching the four Colourblocks combine and create new colors. The foundational idea—that a few colors can mix to make many—is age-appropriate, while older children may grasp the real-world printing connection. |
| Will my child understand why Black is important to the Printing Crew? | The episode demonstrates Black's role by showing what the crew can and cannot create without it. Children see that Black adds depth and creates true dark tones, making the visual difference clear. The emphasis is on Black being a valued team member whose contribution matters, which children understand through the results they see on screen. |
| Does this episode connect to anything my child sees in daily life? | Yes. After watching, you can point out printed materials like books, magazines, or coloring pages and explain that they were made using the same four colors the Colourblocks used. This real-world connection helps children see how the episode's lesson applies beyond the screen and encourages observation skills. |
| What social-emotional lesson does my child get from this episode? | The episode emphasizes that teams are stronger when everyone contributes their unique abilities. Black's inclusion completes the Printing Crew, showing children that new members bring valuable skills and that welcoming others enriches group efforts. It's a gentle lesson in inclusion, cooperation, and recognizing that different strengths work together to achieve shared goals. |
| Are there any activities I can do after watching to reinforce the lesson? | You can explore color mixing with yellow, blue, red, and black paints or markers, letting your child experiment with creating different shades and tones. You might also examine printed images together with a magnifying glass to see tiny dots of color, making the printing concept tangible and interactive. |
Writing
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Directing
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| Season # | Episode # | Episode Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | An excitable Red arrives in Colourland. Learn about the colour red with the Colourblocks. |
| 1 | 2 | Cool Blue arrives in Colourland. Learn about the colour blue with the Colourblocks. |
| 1 | 3 | Yellow is happy to bring his colour to Colourland. Learn about the colour yellow with the Colourblocks. |
| 1 | 4 | Red is surprised to discover that she's not the only colour in the world when she meets Blue. Join the Colourblocks to learn which objects can be red and which can be blue, and how some can be both red and blue. |
| 1 | 5 | Red and Blue meet Yellow and have fun colouring the seaside. Discover the colours around you with the Colourblocks. |
| 1 | 6 | Green arrives, bringing her natural colour to Colourland. Learn about the colour green. |
| 1 | 7 | Blue and Yellow meet a new friend - Green. Discover what happens when you mix blue and yellow with the Colourblocks |
| 1 | 8 | The Colourblocks meet a new animal - but what colour is it? Learn about a creature that can change colour with the Colourblocks. |
| 1 | 9 | The Colourblocks discover that it can be fun to colour things wrong. Learn about choosing colours. |
| 1 | 10 | Energetic Orange arrives in Colourland. Learn about the colour orange. |
| 1 | 11 | Red and Yellow meet new arrival Orange. Discover what happens when you mix red and yellow with the Colourblocks. |
| 1 | 12 | Imaginative Purple arrives in Colourland. Learn about the colour purple with the Colourblocks. |
| 1 | 13 | Red and Blue compete to colour a castle and meet new arrival Purple. Discover what happens when you mix red and blue with the Colourblocks. |
| 1 | 14 | The Colourblocks decorate Purple's garden and learn about patterns. Discover how to make your own patterns with the Colourblocks. |
| 1 | 15 | The Colourblocks attempt to solve a rainbow puzzle with the help of new friends Indigo and Violet. Learn about the seven colours of the rainbow with the Colourblocks. |
| 1 | 16 | Purple stages a version of Little Red Riding Hood, but can the other Colourblocks stick to the story? Learn about colour mixing with the Colourblocks. |
| 1 | 17 | The Colourblocks enjoy a dance, but which colours make the best partners? Learn about similar and complementary colours with the Colourblocks. |
| 1 | 18 | Black and White arrive in Colourland. Learn about two colours that are very different from the other Colourblocks. |
| 1 | 19 | Green is surprised when Black and White arrive in her forest. Learn about light and dark colours with the Colourblocks. |
| 1 | 20 | Green stages a magic show to introduce her new friends Black and White. Learn the difference between light, bright and dark colours with the Colourblocks. |
| 1 | 21 | Fun Pink arrives in Colourland. Learn about the colour pink with the Colourblocks! |
| 1 | 22 | Colour explorer Brown arrives in Colourland. Learn about the colour brown with the Colourblocks. |
| 1 | 23 | Brown takes the Colourblocks exploring in the forest. Learn different ways to mix brown with the Colourblocks. |
| 1 | 24 | Meet the Printing Crew - Yellow, Cyan, and Magenta. Learn how together they can mix lots of colours in the Printing Zone. |
| 1 | 25 | Black and White colour a city with new the help of new friend Grey. Learn to mix different shades of grey with the Colourblocks. |
| 1 | 26 | Black joins the Printing Crew. Learn how yellow, cyan, magenta and black work together in printing with the Colourblocks. |
| 1 | 27 | Red and Yellow sort different coloured objects onboard the Sorting Express. Learn to spot the difference between colours and shades with the Colourblocks. |
| 1 | 28 | Red and Blue choose colours for their playhouses. Learn about making colour choices with the Colourblocks. |
| 1 | 29 | The Colourblocks discover a series of colour wheels. But where should they sit on them? Learn which colours go next to each other with the Colourblocks. |
| 1 | 30 | All the Colourblocks come together for a big song. Learn different colours and colour mixes with the Colourblocks. |
| Season # | Episode # | Episode Name |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 | Welcome to Purple’s mixing factory, where he mixes two colours to create a new colour. In this musical episode, the Colourblocks learn that mixing red and yellow makes orange, whilst adding black and white helps to make darker and lighter colours. When the Printing Crew arrive, we learn how they work together to mix their colours and create new ones. |
| 2 | 2 | It's lunchtime in Colourland! Red invites her friends for lunch, where they try each other’s favourite foods. |
| 2 | 3 | Purple is the host of a fun game show called Name That Colour, with Pink and Brown playing along as contestants. |
| 2 | 4 | Sing along with Orange as she helps Indigo and Violet to colour a rainbow. |
| 2 | 5 | The Printing Crew come to the rescue and print signs for their friends Red, Blue and Green. |
| 2 | 6 | Blue meets Deep Blue and Sky Blue and learns all about their favourite things. They embark on an adventure in a submarine to the depths of the deep blue sea and take a trip up in a plane to discover all about sky blue items |
| 2 | 7 | Red and Yellow try to make a bright orange colour like their good friend Orange. |
| 2 | 8 | Purple wants to decorate his mural with different purples and invites Red and Blue to help him. |
| 2 | 9 | Meet Lime! She’s in between Yellow and Green, fresh and full of zing! In this musical episode, Lime sings her heart out with her beloved electric guitar, loving the limelight. |
| 2 | 10 | It’s the return of the Sorting Express, and Lime’s friends use it to help sort colours for her concert. |
| 2 | 11 | Red, Yellow and Blue colour in various doors leading to unexpected places. |
| 2 | 12 | Red is sad about being inside on a grey day but soon learns that being inside can be just as fun. |
| 2 | 13 | Red is on a colour tour with her friends, showing them the sights of where she did her very first colouring. |
| 2 | 14 | The Colourblocks travel through Colourland on an airship, picking up new and old friends along the way. In this inspiring musical episode, they reminisce about all of the amazing things they've learnt on their colour journey. |
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