Two brains move over a line maze. Two chomping halves of an animated pink brain join together. Text on banners over the brain reads, “Hungry Brain!”

[Upbeat music plays]

A voice says, HUNGRY BRAIN!

Text reads, “Who’s Looking Sharp Today?”

[Upbeat music continues]

The voice narrates, WHO'S
LOOKING SHARP TODAY,
BUT CAN BE A BIT OF
A PRICKLY CUSTOMER.

[Whoosh, pop]

The narrator says, OKAY,
I'LL GET TO THE POINT.

HERE'S THE TOP
ON THE PORCUPINE.

Text reads, The Top on the Porcupine.”

A yellow number five appears.

[Ding]

A second narrator says, NUMBER FIVE,
HEAVYWEIGHT CONTENDER.

A photograph shows a porcupine with sharp spikes.

[Whoosh, animal noise]

The second narrator says, PRICK UP
YOUR EARS!

THIS STRAPPING MAMMAL CAN
MEASURE UP TO A METRE LONG.

IT IS THE THIRD LARGEST
RODENT IN THE WORLD,
AFTER THE CAPYBARA
AND THE BEAVER.

[Whoosing]

A yellow number four appears.

[Ding]

The second narrator says,
NUMBER FOUR, IT STINKS!

THE PORCUPINE LIVES IN TREE
TRUNKS, IN CAVES, AND
SOMETIMES EVEN HIGH UP
IN TREES.

[Whoosh]

The first narrator asks, BUT
WHAT'S THAT PONG?

YUCK, IT'S A MIXTURE OF
PEE AND SWEAT!

The second narrator says, AND
THAT LOUD NOISE?

[Whooshing, crunching, dinging]

The second narrator says, IT'S OUR
PAL THE PORCUPINE MUNCHING
UP SOME YUMMY WOOD.

The first narrator says, HEH, HIS
BARK IS WORSE THAN HIS
BITE THOUGH.

A yellow number three appears.

[Ding]

The first narrator says, NUMBER
THREE, IT IS COVERED WITH
THOUSANDS OF QUILLS.

I HATE TO SPIKE YOUR GUNS,
BUT PORCUPINES CAN'T ACTUALLY
SHOOT THEIR QUILLS AT YOU.

BUT IF THEY'RE THREATENED,
THEY WHIP THEIR LARGE TAIL
IN THE AIR, AND A FEW QUILLS
MIGHT FALL OUT.

[Whooshing, boop, boing, scraping]

The second narrator says, THE
MOST SPIKE-TACULAR QUILLS
ARE ON THE PORCUPINE'S TAIL
AND BACK.

THEY LOOK LIKE THIN, HOLLOW
BONES WITH POINTY ENDS,
AND THEY EACH HAVE ABOUT
THIRTY THOUSAND OF THEM.

Text reads, “Thirty thousand.”

The first narrator says, IT CAN LOSE
HUNDREDS OF THEM IN A FIGHT,
BUT THEY GROW BACK.

[Boing]

The second narrator says, WHERE
THERE'S A QUILL, THERE'S A WAY.

A yellow number two appears.

[Ding]

The first narrator says, NUMBER
TWO, YOU HAVE TO BE SMART
TO ATTACK IT.

QUILLS OR NO QUILLS,
PORCUPINES STILL HAVE
SOME FORMIDABLE ENEMIES,
LIKE COYOTES, FOXES, OR FISHERS,
THE PORCUPINE'S ARCHENEMY.

[Whooshing]

The second narrator explains,
FISHERS ARE THE COUSINS
OF MARTENS AND OTTERS.

THEY'LL PURSUE PORCUPINES
UP TREES TO ATTACK THEM.

YOU DON'T WANT TO FALL
FOUL OF FISHER ASSAULT.

[Slide whistle, whoosh]

A yellow number one appears.

[Ding]

The first narrator says, NUMBER
ONE, ORANGE TEETH.

THIS'LL PUT A SMILE ON YOUR
FACE. THE PORCUPINE HAS
ORANGE TEETH!

THEY CONTAIN A HIGH
CONCENTRATION OF IRON,
WHICH LENDS THEM
THIS UNUSUAL COLOUR.

[Whooshing]

The second narrator says,
AND LIKE ALL RODENTS,

THEIR INCISORS KEEP ON
GROWING. PORCUPINES MAY
LOOK LIKE GIANT TOOTHBRUSHES,
BUT INSTEAD OF CLEANING THEIR
TEETH, THEY HAVE TO FILE THEM
DOWN BY GNAWING
THINGS CONSTANTLY.

[Brushing, whooshing, growling]

[Upbeat music continues]

End Credits:
Narration: Helen Moorhouse. Iain O’Connor.
Produced by: Trio Orange.

Trio Orange. Member of the Association Quebécoise de la Production Mediatique.