The Backyardigans originated as a live-action pilot episode titled "Me and My Friends", filmed at Nickelodeon Studios Florida and completed in September 1998. The show centers around a group of five animal neighbors named Uniqua, Pablo, Tyrone, Tasha, and Austin. In each episode, they meet in the backyard and imagine themselves on a fantastical adventure. Many episodes are parodies of action-adventure films such as James Bond, Star Trek, Indiana Jones, and Ghostbusters.