But this year, in honour of its 30th anniversary, Channel 4, with Lupus Films, are treating us with a surprising sequel to the original... "and this time, he's got a new friend..."
The Snowman and the Snowdog!
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Artwork and Animation Reviews by Christopher Signore - often for shows of the obscure sort
Showing posts with label channel 4. Show all posts
Showing posts with label channel 4. Show all posts
Tuesday, 4 December 2012
Walking In The Air Again...
Despite downsizing the amount of animation for children in the last dozen-so years, the only time Channel 4 airs animation that is NOT "the Simpsons" is, naturally, during Christmas - where we're treated with repeated airings of Olive the Other Reindeer, Famous Fred, Little Wolf's Book of Badness and, best of all, The Snowman. Undoubtedly one of Raymond Briggs' most timeless stories brought to animation.
But this year, in honour of its 30th anniversary, Channel 4, with Lupus Films, are treating us with a surprising sequel to the original... "and this time, he's got a new friend..."
But this year, in honour of its 30th anniversary, Channel 4, with Lupus Films, are treating us with a surprising sequel to the original... "and this time, he's got a new friend..."
Saturday, 30 June 2012
Zig and Zag!
Anyone who has lived through the 90's in Britain would know who these extraordinary extraterrestrials are...
Created and performed by Irish actors Ciaran Morrison and Mick O’Hara, Zig and Zag were insane alien puppets who first started out in RTE’s Dempsey’s Den (1987). The pair didn't receive global attention until they were moved to one of Channel 4's most popular programmes (and no, Big Brother doesn't even top it in my books) - The Big Breakfast - alongside future DJ star Chris Evans.
As you may tell from the playlist below, it's evident why these two are so remembered by fans alike:
When The Big Breakfast aired for the last time, the pair gained their own series for ITV, and continued their fame with a wide selection of merchandise and further insanity - including a top UK single "Them Girls Them Girls".
In recent years, the pair appear to be making a gradual comeback. They've appeared on Big Brother's Little Brother to interview past contestants and, more surprisingly, plans are afoot for an animated series set to air come 2013, courtesy of Dublin-based Double Z Productions and Co. and animation house Flickerpix.
Created and performed by Irish actors Ciaran Morrison and Mick O’Hara, Zig and Zag were insane alien puppets who first started out in RTE’s Dempsey’s Den (1987). The pair didn't receive global attention until they were moved to one of Channel 4's most popular programmes (and no, Big Brother doesn't even top it in my books) - The Big Breakfast - alongside future DJ star Chris Evans.
As you may tell from the playlist below, it's evident why these two are so remembered by fans alike:
When The Big Breakfast aired for the last time, the pair gained their own series for ITV, and continued their fame with a wide selection of merchandise and further insanity - including a top UK single "Them Girls Them Girls".
In recent years, the pair appear to be making a gradual comeback. They've appeared on Big Brother's Little Brother to interview past contestants and, more surprisingly, plans are afoot for an animated series set to air come 2013, courtesy of Dublin-based Double Z Productions and Co. and animation house Flickerpix.
So watch this space...!
LINKS OF INTEREST:
Thursday, 12 April 2012
Rony Oren
British viewers may recall seeing one or two of the following programmes below at some point of the '90s, at a time when Channel 4 used to show animation at reasonable hours. They all have one thing in common - they were created by one person.
Rony Oren is pretty big in his part of the world. Once he opened shop with FrameByFrame Productions, went on to animate and produce thousands of stop-motion productions in his lifetime, from adverts / commercials to kids shows and short films - as well as writing and drawing children's books of his own. He's pretty much the Nick Park of Israeli!
What makes Rony's animation work noticeable is how rubbery and bouncy his technique is. Something that's quite reminiscent of Pingu or Morph or Mio Mao.
Although all of his works have been broadcast worldwide, three of his shows have been showcased vastly in the UK - all which I recall watching, whether it was 6am or 12am.
Foxy Fables was one of his earliest works in 1987. Co-written and voiced by Andy Seacombe and Teddy Kempner, the series adapted a number of Aesop and Uncle Remus fables often ending with a moral - while still delivering hilarious dialogue all the way.
Andy and Teddy would collaborate again for Rony's next series, Tales of a Wise King - again, each episode sharing a moral from adapted stories of mythology, fantasy and magic, all teaching viewers about using your brains.
The last of Rony's series I recall Channel 4 showing was Grabbit the Rabbit - and as with the two above, this also adapts stories from Jean de la Fontaine and Joel Chandler Harris, although by this time Rony's style seem to have more spit and polish involved.
Rony is still animating and writing to this day - so anyone interested in how to create their own claymation characters should keep an eye out for his useful selection of books to add to your library!
Rony Oren is pretty big in his part of the world. Once he opened shop with FrameByFrame Productions, went on to animate and produce thousands of stop-motion productions in his lifetime, from adverts / commercials to kids shows and short films - as well as writing and drawing children's books of his own. He's pretty much the Nick Park of Israeli!
What makes Rony's animation work noticeable is how rubbery and bouncy his technique is. Something that's quite reminiscent of Pingu or Morph or Mio Mao.
Although all of his works have been broadcast worldwide, three of his shows have been showcased vastly in the UK - all which I recall watching, whether it was 6am or 12am.
Foxy Fables was one of his earliest works in 1987. Co-written and voiced by Andy Seacombe and Teddy Kempner, the series adapted a number of Aesop and Uncle Remus fables often ending with a moral - while still delivering hilarious dialogue all the way.
Andy and Teddy would collaborate again for Rony's next series, Tales of a Wise King - again, each episode sharing a moral from adapted stories of mythology, fantasy and magic, all teaching viewers about using your brains.
The last of Rony's series I recall Channel 4 showing was Grabbit the Rabbit - and as with the two above, this also adapts stories from Jean de la Fontaine and Joel Chandler Harris, although by this time Rony's style seem to have more spit and polish involved.
Rony is still animating and writing to this day - so anyone interested in how to create their own claymation characters should keep an eye out for his useful selection of books to add to your library!
LINKS OF INTEREST:
Sunday, 25 September 2011
Fourways Farm (1993)
Farms have had an impact on Children's TV over the years, going by the great number that have been made for younger viewers - Tumbledown Farm by Dick King-Smith, Dappledown Farm starring Brian Cant, Forget-Me-Not Farm starring Mike Amatt. Even today we have such gems such as Big Barn Farm and Mist: Sheepdog Tales, which teaches children about farm life or basic life lessons through talking animals.
Whether with puppets, animation or live-action, all have the same format, but each in their own way stand out in terms of storytelling for youngsters to watch and learn from.
Fourways Farm is no exception. Back when Channel 4 used to air educational shows during lunchtimes, this series was one of them (as well as Sesame Street, but that's another story). It was a stop-motion animated series produced by Case Television, as part of the 4Learning Primary Science block between 1994-1995. It was a fantastic show where the animal characters, all voiced by Martin Jarvis, taught viewers basic science - consisting of nature, the weather, forces, health and other topics. It offered a variety of characters that were a great source of ideas, from Godfrey the gloomy horse to cheery Davenport the dog, and the cunning rats known as Uno, Duo and Trio.
Chris Ellis created the show and wrote every episode. And it's thanks to him that the episodes were able to teach the viewers something new in the form of a clever, fun story each time. Even today many fans still remember it - and although there isn't a proper DVD release made for the public, one is never too far away from finding a "rare" VHS Cassette or selection of books from eBay or Amazon.
So enjoy a few episodes from the Playlist below and see just why many fondly remember Fourways Farm!
Whether with puppets, animation or live-action, all have the same format, but each in their own way stand out in terms of storytelling for youngsters to watch and learn from.
Fourways Farm is no exception. Back when Channel 4 used to air educational shows during lunchtimes, this series was one of them (as well as Sesame Street, but that's another story). It was a stop-motion animated series produced by Case Television, as part of the 4Learning Primary Science block between 1994-1995. It was a fantastic show where the animal characters, all voiced by Martin Jarvis, taught viewers basic science - consisting of nature, the weather, forces, health and other topics. It offered a variety of characters that were a great source of ideas, from Godfrey the gloomy horse to cheery Davenport the dog, and the cunning rats known as Uno, Duo and Trio.
Chris Ellis created the show and wrote every episode. And it's thanks to him that the episodes were able to teach the viewers something new in the form of a clever, fun story each time. Even today many fans still remember it - and although there isn't a proper DVD release made for the public, one is never too far away from finding a "rare" VHS Cassette or selection of books from eBay or Amazon.
So enjoy a few episodes from the Playlist below and see just why many fondly remember Fourways Farm!
LINKS OF INTEREST
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