He’s the guy who loves tacos. He’s the guy who thinks logic is a suggestion. Honestly, if you grew up watching PBS Kids in the mid-2010s, Odd Squad Agent Otto wasn’t just a character; he was the reason the show didn't feel like a boring math lesson. While Agent Olive was the straight-shooter, the "Sherlock" of the precinct, Otto was the heart. He was the chaotic energy that made solving math-related crimes actually look fun.
But there is a lot more to Filip Geljo’s character than just being the "funny partner."
Most fans remember him leaving at the end of Season 1, which, let’s be real, was a total gut-punch for the viewership. When he and Olive were promoted to run their own branch, it marked the end of an era. It’s rare for a kids’ show to have that much chemistry between leads. You had this kid who was formerly a famous singer (in the show’s lore, anyway) joining a secret government agency to stop people from turning into giant blobs of jelly. It's weird. It's wonderful. And it worked because Otto stayed grounded even when things got bizarre.
The unexpected backstory of Agent Otto
Before he was an agent, Otto had a whole life. We’re talking about The Soundcheck days. In the Odd Squad universe, Soundcheck is the boy band that everyone is obsessed with. Otto was a member. Think about that for a second. Imagine a world-famous pop star deciding, "You know what? I’m done with the screaming fans; I want to go use a gadget called the 'Cloud-inator' to fix the weather."
It gave him this specific kind of confidence. He wasn't afraid of the spotlight. This backstory wasn't just a throwaway gag; it influenced how he handled cases. He brought a performer’s flair to the job. He understood people. While Olive looked at a problem and saw numbers, Otto looked at a problem and saw the person (or creature) behind it.
He wasn't always the best at math, though. That was kind of the point. He represented the audience. Kids watching at home who struggle with fractions or place values saw themselves in Otto. He struggled, he made mistakes, and he relied on his partner. It taught kids that you don't have to be a genius on day one to be part of the squad. You just have to be willing to learn the "odd" way.
Why Filip Geljo’s performance mattered
Filip Geljo brought something special to the role. Usually, child actors are coached to be very "big"—lots of jazz hands and forced smiles. Geljo played Otto with a dry, almost deadpan wit that felt much older than his actual age. His timing was impeccable. When a giant dinosaur would walk through the office, his reaction was often just a slight squint and a comment about lunch.
That grounded the show.
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If the characters are constantly screaming at the weirdness, the audience gets tired. Because Otto acted like the weirdness was just another Tuesday, we as viewers accepted the world of Odd Squad as real. His chemistry with Dalila Bela (Olive) is often cited by creators Tim McKeon and Adam Peltzman as the engine that drove the show’s initial success. They weren't just coworkers; they were a classic "odd couple" pairing.
- He was the emotional core of the office.
- He had a bizarre obsession with tacos that became a series-long trope.
- His "Agent of the Week" accolades were always hard-earned but usually involved some sort of accidental genius.
The departure that changed everything
When Season 1 wrapped up, fans were shocked. Otto and Olive were gone. They got promoted to run a branch in Buckingham Palace (or at least, that was the vibe of their new assignment). Replacing a lead is hard. Replacing two leads is almost impossible.
The transition to Agents Olympia and Otis in Season 2 was a massive risk for Sinking Ship Entertainment. While the new agents were great in their own right, they had a different vibe. Otis was the serious one, almost an inversion of the Olive/Otto dynamic. People still talk about the Season 1 finale, "O Is Not for Old," because it felt like a genuine goodbye.
There's a reason people still search for "What happened to Agent Otto?" years after the show moved on. It’s because he represented the Golden Age of the series. He was there for the introduction of Ms. O (played by the legendary Millie Davis) and the weirdest villains like Odd Todd.
Decoding the "Odd" logic
The show uses math to solve problems. That’s the gimmick. But the real logic of Odd Squad is social-emotional. Otto was the master of this. Think about the episodes where they had to deal with the "Jack-in-the-Rocks" or the "Power Outage." The math was the tool, but the solution usually required Otto to talk someone down or figure out a social cue.
He proved that "soft skills" are just as important as knowing your multiplication tables.
If you look at the curriculum goals of the show—which was developed with advice from math educators—the focus is on algebraic thinking, data analysis, and geometry. Otto often learned these concepts alongside the viewer. He was the "entry point." When he didn't get it, the show explained it again, but it never felt like a lecture because it was wrapped in a joke about a centaur or a sandwich.
Otto's legacy in children's television
What can we actually take away from Agent Otto's run on the show?
First off, the character proved that you don't have to be the "smartest" person in the room to be the most valuable. In a world obsessed with STEM, Otto reminded us that empathy and humor are also tools. Secondly, he showed that kids' media can be genuinely funny for adults too. The writing for Otto often included meta-commentary that flew over kids' heads but kept parents engaged.
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The "Otto era" set the standard for what Odd Squad would become: a fast-paced, slightly absurd, highly educational powerhouse. It won multiple Daytime Emmy Awards, and a huge chunk of that success is owed to the foundation laid in those first 40-ish episodes.
Honestly, if you go back and watch the "Soundcheck" episode now, it still holds up. The music is catchy, the satire of boy bands is spot-on, and Otto’s transition from a "teen idol" to a dedicated agent is a weirdly compelling character arc for a show aimed at 6-year-olds.
What to do if you're a fan (or a parent of one)
If you're looking to revisit the glory days of Agent Otto, there are a few specific things you can do to get the most out of the experience:
Watch the "Odd Squad: The Movie"
This is where the transition happens. It’s a great bridge between the Otto years and the later seasons. You get to see the original cast interact with the newcomers, and it provides a bit more closure for Otto’s character.
Check out Filip Geljo’s later work
It’s always fun to see where child stars go. Geljo actually landed a role in the Avatar sequels (The Way of Water). Seeing "Agent Otto" in a James Cameron blockbuster is a trip, but it shows the caliber of talent the show was casting even back then.
Use the "Otto Method" for learning
If you have a kid struggling with math, don't just do worksheets. Approach it like a case. "Something odd is happening here." Frame the problem-solving as a mystery to be solved rather than a chore to be finished. It’s exactly how Otto would have done it—usually with a snack in hand.
Explore the PBS Kids "Odd Squad" Games
Many of the original web games still feature the Season 1 cast. They are surprisingly well-designed and actually teach the math concepts from the show without being annoying. It's a way to see Otto in "action" one more time.
The show has continued with new agents and new stories, even rebranding as Odd Squad UK recently, but the DNA of the series will always be tied to that kid in the suit and tie who really, really loved tacos. Otto wasn't just an agent; he was the reminder that even in a world where things go wrong, a little bit of "oddness" is exactly what you need to fix it.