As Penelope moves from her hip borough to the out-of-touch suburbs, Father Time's daughters, Past and Future choose her as the mortal avatar of the Current - to protect the Fourth Dimension, under siege amidst their dad's mysterious disappearance.
Imagining time itself as an other-worldly sister-dimension to our world, the colorful array of creatures and characters that live here are responsible for and reflections of the fads of our world. The daily struggle for a kid to keep up with an ever-changing world is brought to life through larger-than-life adventures. The Fourth Dimension (or 'The Timescape') is a rich fantasy world of visual puns; the denizens and very geography of this plane are representations of the abstract concepts that shape time (and beyond.)
Now Presenting playfully critiques the culture of trend-chasing, asking kids to thoughtfully consider the forces that shape the world around them while forging their own destinies. It’s an embrace of the present as a platform for progress, cognizant of all of its complexity, and a celebration of individuality in face of the gauntlet of forging your identity in an endlessly shifting world.
Introducing PENELOPE, our bright-eyed, 11-year-old heroine who has just moved from a hip, urban borough thriving with individuality to the out-of-touch suburbs of Startin Isle - who's denizens outsource their identities to the whims of the mainstream. A true individual, Penelope has always danced to the beat of her own drum, immersed in obscure '70s movies and imaginary worlds she's created with her dad.
Now enrolled in Nova Intermediate, Penelope quickly discovers that fitting in won't be easy. The school's social pecking order is dictated by who's up to speed with the latest trends and fads, and Penelope is anything but in-the-know. Undeterred, she sets her sights on mastering the ever-changing world of what's cool and current.
... But fate has other plans for Penelope. Chosen by Father Time's daughters, Past and Future, as the mortal avatar of the Current, she embarks on a magical and mind-bending journey.
With Past, she shares a mutual love for fun and adventure, while learning from her vast (albeit jumbled) knowledge of history. Past's laid-back attitude and penchant for silliness help Penelope navigate the challenges of the Fourth Dimension with a sense of humor.
With Future, Penelope forms a bond of understanding and empathy. Future's anxiety about the world's fate and her desire to protect it resonate with Penelope's own fears and struggles. As they work together, Penelope's optimism helps Future see the positive possibilities in the Timestream and trust in the power of forging one's own destiny.
Penelope's unwavering optimism, determination, and empathy make her the perfect champion for the Present. With a heart of gold, she embraces her newfound role and the chance to save both the Fourth Dimension and her own world from the ever-growing influence of trends and the nefarious Zeitgeist.
As she navigates through her quest, both in and out of Time, Penelope learns the true value of individuality and the power of living in the moment. Her journey serves as a colorful and playful reminder to children everywhere that they too can forge their own paths, resist the pressures of trend-chasing, and be the heroes of their own stories.
Meet PAST, the vivacious and spunky daughter of Father Time! Bursting with enthusiasm for history, she's a delightful blend of every era you can think of. Past is a party on legs, always ready to share wild tales from bygone days. Sure, she might get the facts a little mixed up, but who cares when you're having this much fun?
Seeing herself as Penelope's sidekick, Past loves exploring the Fourth Dimension with her human friend. This walking anachronism is a lively fusion of slang, accents, and styles from different epochs, making her a time-traveling fashion icon. While she can be a bit of a diva, she faces challenges in adapting to change and learning to grow from her past experiences. Her eagerness to forgive mistakes is fueled by her own propensity to make them.
Past wants nothing more than to protect the Fourth Dimension and uphold her father's legacy, but her laid-back nature often leads to clashes with her sister, Future. The two sisters have a love-hate relationship, with Future's serious, cautious demeanor often at odds with Past's carefree approach to life.
Throughout her adventures with Penelope, Past learns to embrace change, understand the importance of self-reflection, and grow into a wise, caring mentor. Along the way, she also learns to appreciate and strengthen her relationship with her sister, Future. Together, they become an unstoppable team, with Past's unique sense of humor and love for the past adding a splash of fun to every challenge they face.
And, of course, FUTURE, the enigmatic and visionary daughter of Father Time! Graceful and sophisticated, Future is always one step ahead, with her eyes on the horizon and her heart in tomorrow. She's a trailblazer, embracing progress and innovation while navigating the uncertainties of time.
As Penelope's cosmic mentor and ally, Future dazzles with her intricate knowledge of what's yet to come. Her high-tech fashion and futuristic mindset make her a captivating and inspiring figure. Even though she's serious and focused, she struggles with the weight of knowing the countless possibilities that could unfold. When they first meet, Future deliberately tries to distance herself from Penelope - as, unbeknownst to her, Future prophesizes Penelope making a great sacrifice and makes every effort to avoid growing attached, despite fully recognizing the futility,
Future is driven by an unwavering desire to uphold the path chartered by her father: to create a brighter tomorrow, even if it means making difficult choices today. However, her seemingly cold exterior is a frequent source of conflict between her and both Past and Penny.
The sisters have a complicated dynamic, with Past's carefree attitude often clashing with Future's meticulous approach - and a recognition that she's fated to But through her adventures with Penelope, Future learns the importance of cherishing the present moment and embracing the unpredictability of life. This newfound wisdom helps her strengthen her bond with Past, and together, they form an unstoppable duo, united by their love for Penelope and the Fourth Dimension.
With Future's unparalleled foresight and unwavering determination, she helps Penelope navigate the treacherous waters of the Timestream, ensuring that the past, present, and future remain balanced.
Story Arcs
I: Spirit of the Times
Now a bonafide hero of Time-in-training, Penelope is granted the ability to travel to the Fourth Dimension, a psychedelic landscape that dictates the very notion of the now - to prepare against the emerging threat of The Zeitgest; Penelope's ghastly precursor and one of Father Time's greatest failures.
The Current, the mystical manifestation of the Present, has become overrun with fourth-dimensional creatures, Trends: monstrous manifestations of the same forces Penelope struggles to keep up with. To save the Fourth Dimension, Past and Future activate a forbidden artifact, The Timepiece, granting one mortal access to their world. Penelope’s determination and optimism, in spite of her lack of expertise, drives the Timepiece to choose her as its new champion.
With the barrier between worlds temporarily broken - the Zeitgeist, a devious Fourth Dimensional spirit with the ability to control Trends, is released into our world.
ZEITGEIST
COURTNEY
Zeitgeist's true form... TIMEKILLER
NOVEL: Courtney's corrupted form, imbued with Zeitgeist's power.
II: Time Again
Penelope's 'sacrifice' didn't quite lend itself to the same fate as the Zeitgiest. While, like him, she was imbued with the Timestream, her humility and acceptance of her fate allowed her entire form to travel to the very edge of the Dunes of Yore. While mere minutes have passed in our world, years worth of development has transpired within the Fourth Dimension.
RECUR - Father Time's second eldest daughter; a primordial being responsible for the very notion of patterns and repetition - the foundation of the Timestream. Claiming that she was cast aside in favor of Past and Future, she manipulates Penelope into freeing her from banishment.
SUPPORTING CAST
EBB
FLOW
OCCUR
THE WORLD
THE CURRENT
TREND
Past's DUNES OF YORE