TV-Series
Description
Corkey Roberts is a main character from the 1982 Japanese anime series The Flying House, known in its original Japanese as Tondera Hausu no Daibōken. He is the younger brother of Angela "Angie" Roberts and the best friend of Justin Casey. His full first name is given as either Corwyn or Corbin, but he is almost exclusively referred to by his nickname, Corkey.
As the youngest member of the main trio of children, Corkey is characterized by a blend of impulsiveness, curiosity, and emotional vulnerability. He is the one who most frequently finds himself in difficult situations, often because his eagerness or tendency to act without thinking gets the better of him. This trait leads him to be the one who gets into the most trouble among the group. In moments of danger, frustration, or surprise, he is prone to crying or complaining, which establishes him as the most openly sensitive and less composed member of the team. A recurring verbal tic associated with the character is his habit of calling out Wait for Corky, a phrase that underscores his position as the one who often lags behind or is left out of the initial action, prompting others to remember him.
Despite his occasional whining and tendency to panic, his motivations are consistently rooted in a well-meaning and fundamentally kind heart. He cares deeply for his sister, his best friend Justin, and their robot companion S.I.R. His actions, even when misguided, are rarely malicious and usually stem from a desire to help or to prove himself, even if he does not always possess the maturity or foresight to succeed.
In the overarching narrative of the series, Corkey plays crucial roles as both a source of comic relief and as an emotional reactor. The story begins when he, Angie, and Justin discover a strange house in the woods during a thunderstorm. This house is the time machine built by the eccentric Professor Humphrey Bumble. After an accident with the professor’s robot, S.I.R., sends the group back in time, Corkey and his companions find themselves traveling to the era of the New Testament. Throughout their adventures, Corkey’s questioning nature and his candid, unfiltered reactions to the biblical figures and events they witness serve to help the audience, particularly younger viewers, understand the moral and spiritual lessons of each episode. For example, his immediate fear and accusatory "Hmph" towards S.I.R. after a dangerous incident highlights the genuine peril the children feel.
His key relationships are central to his development. His dynamic with his older sister, Angie, is typical of siblings: she often acts as a voice of reason and authority, trying to keep him out of trouble, while he sometimes resents her bossiness but ultimately looks up to her. With Justin, he shares a strong boyish camaraderie, and they often face challenges together. His relationship with Professor Bumble is one of respect mixed with exasperation, as the professor’s absent-mindedness frequently lands them in further trouble. Corkey is also close friends with S.I.R., the robot, though he is not afraid to scold him directly when the robot’s malfunctions put the group in danger.
The series provides subtle hints of character development for Corkey. While he begins and largely remains the most fearful and accident-prone of the group, his repeated exposure to the historical and moral lessons of their time-traveling adventures gradually instills in him a greater sense of empathy and courage. He learns to face his fears, not because he becomes fearless, but because he learns to trust his friends and to act rightly even when he is scared.
In terms of notable abilities, Corkey does not possess any superhuman skills or specialized knowledge. His primary ability is his emotional honesty and his role as the group's heart. His memorable catchphrase functions as a narrative device, ensuring the group remains cohesive during their adventures. His willingness to ask the simple, direct questions that others might overlook serves as a catalyst for the professor’s explanations and drives the plot forward in many episodes.
As the youngest member of the main trio of children, Corkey is characterized by a blend of impulsiveness, curiosity, and emotional vulnerability. He is the one who most frequently finds himself in difficult situations, often because his eagerness or tendency to act without thinking gets the better of him. This trait leads him to be the one who gets into the most trouble among the group. In moments of danger, frustration, or surprise, he is prone to crying or complaining, which establishes him as the most openly sensitive and less composed member of the team. A recurring verbal tic associated with the character is his habit of calling out Wait for Corky, a phrase that underscores his position as the one who often lags behind or is left out of the initial action, prompting others to remember him.
Despite his occasional whining and tendency to panic, his motivations are consistently rooted in a well-meaning and fundamentally kind heart. He cares deeply for his sister, his best friend Justin, and their robot companion S.I.R. His actions, even when misguided, are rarely malicious and usually stem from a desire to help or to prove himself, even if he does not always possess the maturity or foresight to succeed.
In the overarching narrative of the series, Corkey plays crucial roles as both a source of comic relief and as an emotional reactor. The story begins when he, Angie, and Justin discover a strange house in the woods during a thunderstorm. This house is the time machine built by the eccentric Professor Humphrey Bumble. After an accident with the professor’s robot, S.I.R., sends the group back in time, Corkey and his companions find themselves traveling to the era of the New Testament. Throughout their adventures, Corkey’s questioning nature and his candid, unfiltered reactions to the biblical figures and events they witness serve to help the audience, particularly younger viewers, understand the moral and spiritual lessons of each episode. For example, his immediate fear and accusatory "Hmph" towards S.I.R. after a dangerous incident highlights the genuine peril the children feel.
His key relationships are central to his development. His dynamic with his older sister, Angie, is typical of siblings: she often acts as a voice of reason and authority, trying to keep him out of trouble, while he sometimes resents her bossiness but ultimately looks up to her. With Justin, he shares a strong boyish camaraderie, and they often face challenges together. His relationship with Professor Bumble is one of respect mixed with exasperation, as the professor’s absent-mindedness frequently lands them in further trouble. Corkey is also close friends with S.I.R., the robot, though he is not afraid to scold him directly when the robot’s malfunctions put the group in danger.
The series provides subtle hints of character development for Corkey. While he begins and largely remains the most fearful and accident-prone of the group, his repeated exposure to the historical and moral lessons of their time-traveling adventures gradually instills in him a greater sense of empathy and courage. He learns to face his fears, not because he becomes fearless, but because he learns to trust his friends and to act rightly even when he is scared.
In terms of notable abilities, Corkey does not possess any superhuman skills or specialized knowledge. His primary ability is his emotional honesty and his role as the group's heart. His memorable catchphrase functions as a narrative device, ensuring the group remains cohesive during their adventures. His willingness to ask the simple, direct questions that others might overlook serves as a catalyst for the professor’s explanations and drives the plot forward in many episodes.