Toonhound - BOD (1975)

   "Here comes BOD..."

     BOD, Aunt Flo, PC Copper, Frank The Postman and Farmer Barleymow
     dwelt  in a simple world of single-colour backgrounds and cut-outs. They
     starred in a show specifically tailored for preschool children, featuring
     stories, music and games, and the 13 episodes were shown repeatedly
     through the 1970's as part of the BBC's "Watch With Mother" schedule.
     Each original episode included a short BOD story, a story about Alberto
     Frog and His Amazing Animal Band, a song, and a game of BOD Snap.
     It was a simple affair, but the delivery was both masterful and memorable.

     BOD is now fondly recalled for its simple, repetitive animation, it's
     hypnotic flute-infeced theme tune, John Le Mesurier's droll, dry narration,
     the juxtaposed "sections" of each episode and of course that final game
     of Snap.

     Here was an "interactive" tv show presented years before the concept was
     in vogue. The series and characters were created by prolific tv producer
     Michael Cole and his wife Joanne and BOD originally appeared in picture
     book form, back in the 60s. Michael was working on "Playschool" at the
     BBC at the time, and the BOD books were featured on the show. The
     animated series was eventually filmed in 1975.

       BOD On The Beach

     Sadly Joanne Cole died in 1985. And Michael passed on in August 2001.
     As a couple this multi-talented duo also brought us "Fingerbobs",
     "Fingermouse" and "Gran". Michael's other TV credits included "Ragtime",
     "Heads and Tails", "Stop and Go", "Pigeon Street" and "Edward and
     Friends". He also worked on the very first series of "Postman Pat".

     The BOD estate is now in the very capable hands of Lo, Alison, Sam and
     Kate Cole. Lo and Alison have so far completed two BOD books, "BOD's
     Way: The Meaning of Life" and "BOD's New Leaf". The siblings talked
     about the first title, and BOD's past, present and future plans in our
     Toonhound Q&A in which they finally revealed the origins of the character.
     And those interested in discussing BOD's continuance should
     get in touch with Lo and Alison, in the first instance....

BOD and company!

     Some BOD bites

    » BOD's Alberto Frog section featured narration from Maggie Henderson who
        had previously co-presented Michae Cole's award-winning "Ragtime" series.

    » BOD's fluted music came from the ever-inventive Derek Griffiths. He had
        worked with Michael on Playschool and indeed, went on to front that inspired
        menagerie of animals and songs, "Heads and Tails".

    » BOD's director and animator David Yates also brought us those splendid
        Northern furballs, The Flumps. He worked with Michael again on "Pigeon
        Street". Alan Rogers was on David's small animation team on BOD and
        "The Flumps". He went on to form an animation partnership with Peter Lang,
        called The Cut-Out Animation Co. And, what do you know, their first job
        was to provide the animation for Yates' and Cole's "Pigeon Street" series!

    » Actually, although this is a BOD page, can we sing Cut-Out's praises for a
       wee while? - Their animation style is instantly recognizable, with its bright ink
       colours and puffed-up character designs. Movement is brilliantly exaggerated,
       a mixture of shuffling and rolling. The company's credits include the BAFTA
       winning "Rat-A-Tat-Tat", "Rub-A-Dub-Dub", "Words and Pictures", "Storytime",
       "Watch", "You and Me", "Number Crew", "Rosie and Jim", and "Little Giants"...

     Current promos/tie-ins



     To celebrate BOD's 50th birthday, Lo Cole has put together a series of
     twelve A4 limited-edition prints for Imaginary Press. Each is hand-numbered
     and embossed with a Michael Cole Estate seal, and they come with a
     Certificate of Authenticity. They're limited to just 175 editions...

    • BOD's Appples             • BOD and the Cherrry Tree
    • What Goes Up...          • BOD's Picnic
    • ...Might Come Down     • BOD and The Grasshopper
    • BOD's Dream               • BOD & Whistle
    • BOD & Birds                • Pink Elephant
    • Aunt Flo & her Aga       • Barleymow & his Tractor


     In the news

     ODD BOD
     BOD at fifty, and the new BOD prints...

     Here Come The Coles Q&A
     The Hound talks to Lo and Alison Cole...

     The Hound: October 2003
     A new BOD book...

     BOD episodes

    BOD's Dream               BOD and the Cake
    BOD in the Park           BOD and the Kite
    BOD and the Rain         BOD and the Birds
    BOD and Breakfast       BOD and the Grasshopper
    BOD and the Apple       BOD's Present
    BOD on the Beach        BOD and the Cherry Tree
    BOD and the Dog

     BOD on DVD

     The Complete BOD
                Region 2 / all 13 episodes / Contender / July 2004

     film by David Yates
     written and produced by Michael Cole

    animation: Alan Rogers, Denise Sherwell
    music:         Derek Griffiths
    narration:    John Le Mesurier (Bod)
                      Maggie Henderson (Alberto Frog)

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			BOD (1975) producers: Nippers / Bodfilms / BBC TV animation: cut-out and mixed-media episodes: 13 x 15mins
		"Here comes BOD..." BOD, Aunt Flo, PC Copper, Frank The Postman and Farmer Barleymow dwelt in a simple world of single-colour backgrounds and cut-outs. They starred in a show specifically tailored for preschool children, featuring stories, music and games, and the 13 episodes were shown repeatedly through the 1970's as part of the BBC's "Watch With Mother" schedule. Each original episode included a short BOD story, a story about Alberto Frog and His Amazing Animal Band, a song, and a game of BOD Snap. It was a simple affair, but the delivery was both masterful and memorable. BOD is now fondly recalled for its simple, repetitive animation, it's hypnotic flute-infeced theme tune, John Le Mesurier's droll, dry narration, the juxtaposed "sections" of each episode and of course that final game of Snap. Here was an "interactive" tv show presented years before the concept was in vogue. The series and characters were created by prolific tv producer Michael Cole and his wife Joanne and BOD originally appeared in picture book form, back in the 60s. Michael was working on "Playschool" at the BBC at the time, and the BOD books were featured on the show. The animated series was eventually filmed in 1975. Sadly Joanne Cole died in 1985. And Michael passed on in August 2001. As a couple this multi-talented duo also brought us "Fingerbobs", "Fingermouse" and "Gran". Michael's other TV credits included "Ragtime", "Heads and Tails", "Stop and Go", "Pigeon Street" and "Edward and Friends". He also worked on the very first series of "Postman Pat". The BOD estate is now in the very capable hands of Lo, Alison, Sam and Kate Cole. Lo and Alison have so far completed two BOD books, "BOD's Way: The Meaning of Life" and "BOD's New Leaf". The siblings talked about the first title, and BOD's past, present and future plans in our Toonhound Q&A in which they finally revealed the origins of the character. And those interested in discussing BOD's continuance should get in touch with Lo and Alison, in the first instance.... Some BOD bites » BOD's Alberto Frog section featured narration from Maggie Henderson who had previously co-presented Michae Cole's award-winning "Ragtime" series. » BOD's fluted music came from the ever-inventive Derek Griffiths. He had worked with Michael on Playschool and indeed, went on to front that inspired menagerie of animals and songs, "Heads and Tails". » BOD's director and animator David Yates also brought us those splendid Northern furballs, The Flumps. He worked with Michael again on "Pigeon Street". Alan Rogers was on David's small animation team on BOD and "The Flumps". He went on to form an animation partnership with Peter Lang, called The Cut-Out Animation Co. And, what do you know, their first job was to provide the animation for Yates' and Cole's "Pigeon Street" series! » Actually, although this is a BOD page, can we sing Cut-Out's praises for a wee while? - Their animation style is instantly recognizable, with its bright ink colours and puffed-up character designs. Movement is brilliantly exaggerated, a mixture of shuffling and rolling. The company's credits include the BAFTA winning "Rat-A-Tat-Tat", "Rub-A-Dub-Dub", "Words and Pictures", "Storytime", "Watch", "You and Me", "Number Crew", "Rosie and Jim", and "Little Giants"... Current promos/tie-ins To celebrate BOD's 50th birthday, Lo Cole has put together a series of twelve A4 limited-edition prints for Imaginary Press. Each is hand-numbered and embossed with a Michael Cole Estate seal, and they come with a Certificate of Authenticity. They're limited to just 175 editions... • BOD's Appples • BOD and the Cherrry Tree • What Goes Up... • BOD's Picnic • ...Might Come Down • BOD and The Grasshopper • BOD's Dream • BOD & Whistle • BOD & Birds • Pink Elephant • Aunt Flo & her Aga • Barleymow & his Tractor In the news ODD BOD BOD at fifty, and the new BOD prints... Here Come The Coles Q&A The Hound talks to Lo and Alison Cole... The Hound: October 2003 A new BOD book... BOD episodes BOD's Dream BOD and the Cake BOD in the Park BOD and the Kite BOD and the Rain BOD and the Birds BOD and Breakfast BOD and the Grasshopper BOD and the Apple BOD's Present BOD on the Beach BOD and the Cherry Tree BOD and the Dog BOD on DVD The Complete BOD Region 2 / all 13 episodes / Contender / July 2004 film by David Yates written and produced by Michael Cole animation: Alan Rogers, Denise Sherwell music: Derek Griffiths narration: John Le Mesurier (Bod) Maggie Henderson (Alberto Frog) On the web Here Comes Bod Here comes BOD's official site, courtesy of Lo and Alison Cole, and it's shaping up very nicely... Imaginary Press BOD prints for you... The Cut-Out Animation Co. Alan Rogers and Peter Lang's official site detailing their extraodinary CV, history, techniques and contact details... Lo Cole A talent in his own right... Little Gems BOD's at Little Gems too... prev » next »
© Nippers / Bodfilms for BBC TV / F2012