The series is based on The Polka Dot Door, and stars the characters Polkaroo, Humpty, Dumpty, Bear and Marigold. The characters are portrayed by "physical theatre" actors in large costumes; Marigold's performer, for example, had a ballet and circus background. Unlike in Polka Dot Door, in which Polkaroo only ever vocalized his own name, in Polka Dot Shorts he spoke full dialogue in English.
The show's original concept had been to retain the characters while Polka Dot Door underwent a temporary production hiatus, although ultimately Polka Dot Shorts continued and the original Polka Dot Door did not resume production.
Originally, each episode started with a human host (Deborah Drakeford) introducing the episode to a gathering of children as she was about to read the story from a book. The stories themselves were dramatized by actors in large suits, playing the puppets from Polka Dot Door, while the reader provided the dialogue. A new character was added to the Polka Dot Door family: Polkaroo's pet, Bibble. Although Bibble was only capable of making sounds that loosely resembled "bibblebibblebibble", he did so in various tones which indicated his mood.
At one point in every episode, one or more of the characters would discover a large pair of polka dot shorts, and exclaim, "A great big pair of polka dot shorts! How did they get there?" Polkaroo's response would be, "I haven't the foggiest idea!" Some episodes were done entirely in rhyme, in which case the character who found the polka dot shorts would exclaim, "Polka dot shorts, a great big pair! How on earth did they get there?"
After the first two seasons the episodes were re-edited. The human hostess/storyteller was deleted, and the show would begin immediately.
A great big pair of polka dot tropes?! How did they get there?!
- A Dog Named "Dog": A bear named "Bear"
- Birthday Episode: Bibble had one in "Bibble's Birthday".
- Cartoon Creature: Bibble looks like a multi-coloured mop head covered in pom-poms.
- Catchphrase: Bear sometimes says "Coincidence, I think not."
- Christmas Episode: "Seasons Greetings, Polkaroo"
- Chuck Cunningham Syndrome:
- The characters from The Polka Dot Door that were phased out in this series were the human hosts, Minou, Storytime Mouse, and the Polka Dot Door pets.
- The storyteller and kids disappeared in the season 3 Retool.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Bibble can sometimes be mischievous.
- People in Rubber Suits: In addition to Polkaroo, the toys were played by actors in costumes.
- Pokémon Speak: Played straight with Bibble, who makes bibbling sounds that sound like his own name. Averted with Polkaroo, as he had full dialogue, unlike in The Polka Dot Door.
- Riddle for the Ages: How and why does a great big pair of polka dot shorts keep showing up in each episode?
- Shout-Out:
- One of Polkaroo's favorite books is The Brothers Polkaroomazov.
- There was an episode called "Show Me the Honey".
- Stealth Pun: While the title was a reflection of how it was shorter than the regular Polka Dot Door series, there would be a Once an Episode gag where a character would find a pair of polka dot shorts for no reason.Character: "A great big pair of polka dot shorts! How did they get there?"
- The Speechless: Unlike in The Polka Dot Door, this was averted with the toys. In addition to being costumed characters, they have full dialogue.
- Surprise Party: "Sweet and Sour Surprise" involved Dumpty unable to be invited to a party that he thought was for Humpty after receiving a ripped invitation from Bibble. It was later revealed that the surprise party was for Dumpty.
- Thanksgiving Episode: "Polkaroo's Thanksgiving"
- Theme Tune Roll Call: "Bear, Bibble, Marigold too! Humpty, Dumpty, and Polkaroo"
- Title Theme Tune: "Polka dot, polka dot, polka dot shorts"