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| Hoops & Yoyo | |
|---|---|
| Hallmark (Hallmark Cards,Hallmark Channel) character | |
 From left to right: Hoops, Piddles, and Yoyo | |
| First appearance | 2001[1][2] |
| Created by | Bob Holt & Mike Adair |
Hoops & Yoyo (stylized ashoops&yoyo) was an animated franchise byHallmark Cards that centered around the titular pair of hyperactive and rambunctious characters: a pinkcat and a greenbunny. Primitive versions of the characters were created by Bob Holt and Mike Adair in 2001, who also voice the duo, although they weren’t given their most prominent names until around 2003 (they were originally dubbed as Pink Kitty and Green Bunny).[3][4] While the franchise was primarily a line ofgreeting cards, the characters also had a website that featured:e-cards, animated episodes, an "Ask hoops & yoyo" section, desktop and phone wallpapers, audio snippets, IM icons, fan photos, interactive monthly calendars, a blog, a podcast, games, and merchandise available for purchase. The plotlines for Hoops & Yoyo-related content centered around the titular characters having fun and enjoying life, occasionally alongside their other friends.[5][6] The last piece of content produced for the franchise to date was the fourth episode of its podcast in 2015.[7] The e-cards would typically be made usingAdobe Flash.
Currently, there is anarchive website called "archive.piddles.net" that is dedicated to archiving Hoops & Yoyo media.[8]
Hallmark artist Bob Holt was assigned to create an e-card for the 4th of July in 2001. He created a sketch of a green bunny (which eventually became Yoyo), but then drew a pink cat, which eventually became Hoops. The card debuted on July 3, 2001 on the Hallmark website. Holt eventually got fellow Hallmark artist Mike Adair to join and brought Yoyo alongside Hoops.[9]
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The characters were used on theHallmark Channel in November and December 2009-2010 as part of a programming block titled "Hallmark Channel's Movie Night with Hoops & Yoyo." This is the first time that Hallmark Cards and Hallmark Channel collaborated on a project together.[10] On November 25, 2011,CBS premiered a Hoops & Yoyo Christmas TV special produced by Hallmark, titledHoops & Yoyo Ruin Christmas.[11] On October 26, 2012, Hallmark Channel aired a sequel,Hoops & Yoyo's Haunted Halloween.
In December 2005, Hallmark released a Hoops & Yoyo holiday CD entitledJingle Jingle Wiggle. It features both vocal and instrumental music. All of the music is played by Yoyo. The CD also features the animated short "A Bongo Christmas." They have also released a CD entitledOne Donut a Day! on July 1, 2007. It includes 19 short songs.One Donut a Day! also has 3 animated music videos, that can be accessible through placing the CD into a computer.