(Upbeat music plays)

Three-eyed Aazoo, an animated orange alien sits beside Blynk, a one eyed green alien, who pilots a spaceship past meteoroids in space. A girl wears her black hair pulled away from her face. She wears a pink blouse and smiles as she waves. Blynk and Aazoo have fun with different experiments in their spaceship.

A singer sings, BLYNK AND AAZOO,
I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.

Blynk and Aazoo wave beside text that reads, Blynk and Aazoo. Ask, Explore, Discover!

Blynk works at a desk in the spaceship while Aazoo tries on silly pairs of glasses in front of a mirror. Aazoo tries a pair with windshield wipers and looks at the mirror thoughtfully but frowns. Aazoo tries a sparkly pair of glasses that shine brightly.

Aazoo says, OOOH!

Aazoo grins.

Aazoo says, HA HA!

Aazoo jumps behind Blynk.

Blynk says, HUH?

Blynk looks at Aazoo. Blynk tries to block the brightness coming from Aazoo’s glasses.

Blynk says, AAZOO.

M.A.V.I.S, a computer, says, AAZOO YOU ARE REALLY
BRIGHTENING BLYNK'S DAY.

Aazoo dances.

(Fog horn blowing)

Blynk says, OH!

Aazoo says, OOH!

M.A.V.I.S says, INQUIRY BOOTH TRANSMITTING
INCOMING INQUIRY.

Blynk and Aazoo walk up to two screens on a wall. Aazoo does a cartwheel. A girl with black hair who wears a pink shirt appears on one of the screens.

She says, HI BLYNK AND AAZOO!

The girl waves.

She says, I'M ARTHIKA
AND I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.

Text reads, Arthika.

Blynk and Aazoo both say, HELLO.

They wave.

Arthika says, I WAS WONDERING,
WHY ARE THERE SO MANY
DIFFERENT SKIN COLORS?

Blynk and Aazoo say, OH!

They look excited. The friends glance at each other and whisper indistinctly.

M.A.V.I.S says, AWESOME
ANSWER POTENTIAL HIGH.

Blynk and Aazoo shrug.

M.A.V.I.S says, IT APPEARS BLYNK AND AAZOO DO
NOT KNOW.

Blynk and Aazoo look confused.

M.A.V.I.S says, BUT KNOWING THESE TWO,
THEY WILL NOT LET THAT GET
UNDER THEIR SKIN!

Arthika giggles.

(Trumpet flourish)

M.A.V.I.S says, INTERSTELLAR SCIENCE COUNCIL
CALLING CAPTAIN.

A woman with long braided hair who wears a yellow shirt appears on the second screen beside Arthika. The woman waves.

She says, HI EVERYONE!
EUGENIA HERE.

Text reads, Eugenia, Scientist.

Eugenia says, ARTHIKA THAT IS SUCH A GOOD
AND IMPORTANT QUESTION.

Arthika says, THANKS.

Eugenia says, WHY ARE THERE ARE SO MANY SKIN
COLORS?
LET'S START BY LEARNING A LITTLE
BIT
ABOUT SKIN.
BLYNK, HUMAN FILES, PLEASE.
SUBCATEGORY SKIN DEEP.

Blynk works on a screen where text reads, Human Files, Skin Deep. A video of a baby plays.

Eugenia says, SKIN IS ACTUALLY THE
HUMAN BODY'S LARGEST ORGAN
AND EVERYBODY'S SKIN,
NO MATTER THE COLOR IS MADE
UP OF THE SAME THREE LAYERS.

Aazoo says, OH.

M.A.V.I.S says, THE DEEPEST
LAYER OF SKIN IS MOSTLY FAT
WHICH HELPS YOUR BODY
MAINTAIN THE RIGHT TEMPERATURE
AND HELPS PROTECT YOUR OTHER
ORGANS.

Blynk and Aazoo say, WOW.

M.A.V.I.S says, THE MIDDLE LAYER OF SKIN
IS CALLED THE DERMIS.
IT GIVES SKIN STRENGTH AND
ELASTICITY
AND ALLOWS HUMANS TO SENSE
THE WORLD THROUGH TOUCH.

Blynk and Aazoo say, HUH.

Eugenia says, THE OUTER LAYER IS CALLED THE
EPIDERMIS.
IT'S A WATERPROOF BARRIER FILLED
WITH SPECIAL CELLS THAT
HELP FIGHT INFECTION.

Arthika says, WOW, I DIDN'T KNOW MY
SKIN DID SO MUCH FOR ME,
IT'S LIKE MY PROTECTOR.

Arthika looks at her hand.

Blynk and Aazoo look at each other and say, OOH!

Arthika says, BUT IF ALL SKIN HAS THE SAME
THINGS
WHY THE DIFFERENT SKIN COLORS?

Blynk says, HMM.

Eugenia says, THAT'S BECAUSE OF
SOMETHING THAT WE ALL HAVE
IN THAT OUTER LAYER, THE
EPIDERMIS.
A SUBSTANCE CALLED MELANIN.

A video of two girls running under the bright sun plays.

M.A.V.I.S says, THE AMOUNT OF MELANIN HUMANS
HAVE
IN THEIR SKIN DETERMINES ITS
COLOR.

Text reads, Melanin.

Eugenia says, THE MORE MELANIN YOU HAVE IN
YOUR SKIN,
THE DARKER YOU ARE.

Arthika says, OKAY. BUT WHY DO PEOPLE HAVE
DIFFERENT AMOUNTS OF MELANIN?

M.A.V.I.S says, BLYNK?

Blynk says, GEHA!

Blynk types on a keyboard. A new video plays.

Eugenia says, MILLIONS OF YEARS AGO
THE FIRST HUMANS EVOLVED IN
AFRICA.

Text reads, Afrika.

Eugenia says, BECAUSE THIS AREA WAS
CLOSE TO THE EQUATOR,
IT RECEIVED LOTS OF DIRECT
SUNLIGHT AND ULTRAVIOLET RAYS.

An animated Earth rotates beside the Sun. Lines connect the sun to the Earth and identifies the Equator in the middle of the Earth.

Eugenia says, MORE THAN AREAS, FARTHER
AWAY FROM THE EQUATOR.

M.A.V.I.S says, HUMANS NEED SUNLIGHT TO REDUCE
VITAMIN D.

Text over children playing on monkey bars reads, Vitamin D.

M.A.V.I.S says, WHICH STRENGTHENS BONES
AND HELPS THE BODY
ABSORB IMPORTANT MINERALS.

Kids play soccer.

M.A.V.I.S says, BUT TOO MUCH ULTRAVIOLET OR UV
CAN BE BAD
FOR YOU BECAUSE IT CAN DAMAGE
YOUR CELLS.

A woman puts sunscreen on a child. Text reads, Ultraviolet.

Eugenia says, AND THAT'S WHERE MELANIN COMES
IN,
MELANIN ABSORBS UV LIGHT
AND MAKES IT DISAPPEAR AS
HEAT, PROTECTING THE SKIN
FROM SERIOUS DAMAGE.
THIS DARKENS, THE SKIN
AND PRODUCES A TAN IN LIGHTER
SKIN PEOPLE.

A man puts on sunscreen.

M.A.V.I.S says, AFFIRMATIVE BECAUSE THE FIRST
HUMANS WERE
IN A PART OF THE WORLD WITH SO
MUCH HARSH, SUNLIGHT AND UV,
THEY PRODUCED MORE MELANIN.

Arthika says, THAT MAKES SENSE.
SO MORE MELANIN, MORE SUN
PROTECTION, DARKER SKIN.

M.A.V.I.S says, AFFIRMATIVE.

Arthika says, SO THEN HOW DID SOME
PEOPLE'S SKIN BECOME LIGHTER?

Text connected to a line over Africa reads, equator. Arrows point up and away from the equator.

M.A.V.I.S says, AS HUMANS MIGRATED NORTH
MOVING AWAY FROM THE EQUATOR
THERE WAS LESS DIRECT
SUN AND FUELING UV RATES.

The arrows reach to other continents.

Blynk says, OH.

Eugenia says, BECAUSE THERE WAS LESS DANGEROUS
SUNLIGHT IN THESE AREAS
HUMAN SKIN ADAPTED TO HAVE LESS
MELANIN AND BECOME LIGHTER.
THIS MEANT THE SKIN COULD
ABSORB MORE VITAMIN D
FROM THE LESS INTENSE UV RAY
IN THESE PARTS OF THE WORLD.

Arthika says, THE SKIN IS SO CLEVER!

Eugenia says, YOU GOT THAT RIGHT!

Arthika says, SO MY SKIN MUST HAVE A
LOT OF MELANIN, RIGHT?

Eugenia nods.

Arthika says, SINCE IT'S DARKER.

Eugenia says, YES AND MINE TOO.
OUR ANCESTORS CAME FROM
A PART OF THE WORLD WHERE
OUR SKIN NEEDED PROTECTION
FROM THE INTENSE SUN.

Arthika says, THAT'S SO COOL.
IT'S LIKE A SUPERHERO.

Eugenia says, EXACTLY. OUR SKIN IS ALWAYS
WORKING TO PROTECT US.
SO IT IS PRETTY SUPER.

Arthika says, I THINK SO TOO.
BUT SOME KIDS MAKE FUN OF
ME FOR HAVING A DARKER SKIN.

Eugenia says, I AM SO SORRY TO HEAR THAT.
THOSE KIND OF HURTFUL COMMENTS
HAVE HAPPENED TO ME TOO,
AND FOR YEARS, PEOPLE HAVE
BEEN TREATED DIFFERENTLY
AND UNFAIRLY FOR HAVING DARKER
SKIN.

Arthika says, BUT ALL SKIN IS BASICALLY THE
SAME.
IT'S LIKE A SUPER PROTECTOR.

Eugenia says, YOU'RE RIGHT!

Arthika says, DIFFERENT SKIN COLOR IS JUST HOW
OUR BODY PROTECTS US FROM THE
SUN!

Eugenia nods.

Arthika says, SO RACISM, WELL, IT MAKES NO
SENSE!

Eugenia says, EXACTLY, BUT NOT EVERYONE
UNDERSTANDS THE SCIENCE
LIKE YOU DO NOW.

Arthika nods.

Eugenia says, NEXT TIME SOMEONE SAYS
SOMETHING HURTFUL TO YOU,
ITS IMPORTANT TO SHARE IT
WITH SOMEONE THAT YOU TRUST.
YOU COULD ALSO SHARE THE SCIENCE
WITH THEM THAT WAY THEY MIGHT
LEARN SOMETHING INTERESTING.

Arthika says, I THINK SO TOO.
I'M PROUD OF MY SUPER SKIN!

Blynk and Aazoo cheer.

M.A.V.I.S says, IT APPEARS AS THOUGH THE SUN
HAS HAD QUITE EFFECT ON HUMANS.
I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THE SUN
MYSELF.

Blynk says, OOH

M.A.V.I.S says, INSPIRATION DETECTED, INVENTION
STATION IS READY CAPTAIN.

(Funky music plays)

In the spaceships invention station, Blynk runs up to a large lever giggling. Blynk jumps and pulls down on the lever. A machine turns on. Blynk pulls another lever. A liquid rushes through a pipe. Mechanical arms weld an item together. Blynk wheels out an item covered by a blanket.

Aazoo says, AH!

Arthika asks, WHAT'S UNDER THE BLANKET BLYNK?

(Alarm beeping)

M.A.V.I.S says, WARNING! WARNING!

Aazoo says, WOO.

M.A.V.I.S says, CHANGE
IN SHIP'S ATMOSPHERE.

Aazoo says, HUH?

Blynk removes the blanket, revealing a device in the shape of the sun.

Blynk says, SUN.

Aazoo looks amazed.

Arthika says, BLYNK'S MADE SOME KIND OF SUN!

The device shines brightly. Blynk pulls out a remote and presses a red button. A mechanical arm lowers and lifts the device.

Eugenia says, IT LOOKS LIKE A SPECIAL
MECHANICAL SUN JUST FOR
M.A.V.I.S.

Eugenia says, The arm places the mechanical sun device over M.A.V.I.S.

HOW THOUGHTFUL BLYNK!

M.A.V.I.S says, IT MAKES ME WANT TO SING.

M.A.V.I.S sings, OVER THE
SUNSHINE…

Aazoo wears the bright glasses. Blynk wears a pair of purple glasses. They dance.

M.A.V.I.S sings, IT MAKES ME WANT TO RHYME.
WISH I COULD FEEL THIS
ALL THE TIME.

Arthika and Eugenia laughs.

Arthika says, NOW I WANNA GO PLAY IN
THE SUN, THANK YOU ALL
FOR TEACHING ME ABOUT SKIN.

Eugenia says, IT WAS MY PLEASURE.

Arthika and Eugenia both say, BYE!

They wave.

Blynk says, SEE YA.

Blynk and Aazoo wave,

M.A.V.I.S says, THE QUEST FOR ANSWERS CONTINUES.
ALL SYSTEMS ENGAGED!

(Blynk and Aazoo squeaking)

Text reads, Blynk and Aazoo. Ask, Explore, Discover!

(Upbeat music plays)

End Credits.

Aazoo and Mavis, Lizzie Haines.
Blynk, WK Davis.

Series Producers/Directors, Lizzie Haines, WK Davis.

A singer sings, BLYNK AND AAZOO,
I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.

Produced in association with TVO, tvokids.
Executive Producer, TVOkids, Marney Malabar.
Executive in Charge, TVOkids, Kirsten Hurd.

Little Scooter Media.