Toonhound - Rupert Bear, Follow the Magic (2006-2007)

   "Would you like to meet a friendly bear,
    and follow the magic to who-knows-where?..."

    We've had the books, the newspaper strips and annuals. We've had a hugely
    successful puppet series, Paul McCartney's music and a froggy film, an animatic
    series and a 2D toon. But here, Rupert Bear makes his very first foray into
    a stop-motion and CG Nutwood, courtesy of Entertainment Rights and the
    folks at Cosgrove Hall.

    "Follow the Magic" follows Rupert on his adventures around Nutwood forest
    with his famous pals, only, now some special preschool magic has been
    sprinkled on the trees and his friends, and on his adventures as well. Rupert
    leads the way with the changes. His fur is now golden brown, just like it was
    when he originally appeared, all the way back in 1920, though his trendy new
    sneakers are most definitely a nod to modern audiences. Instead of Pong-Ping
    the Pekinese, we now have young Ping Pong. Freddy and Ferdy the Fox Twins
    have become Freddy and Freda. And the tree elf  Raggety has had a complete
    magical makevover. Gone is that blue-bottle head and that copse of stick hair.
    In its place is a cheery pink face, with a button nose and cute pointy ears.
    Alas, poor Podgy Pig and Algy Pug are no longer included in Rupert's new
    preschool circle. But Bill Badger and Edward Trunk are still here and ready
    for adventure, and Bill sports a super-new electronic book to help the gang
    track down facts and figures at the touch of a button.

    The stories in "Follow the Magic" are focused upon exploration and discovery,
    and most are located in and around Rupert's cottage, the tree house where
    the gang like to hang out, Ping Pong's pagoda and the beach at Rocky Bay,
    from which they can interact with Miranda the Mermaid. Rupert also has a
    shiny red and yellow peddle car which can fly them all around the forest and
    beyond, even to the moon.

    This series was the first new Rupert commission from E.R. after they bought
    the majority interest in Mary Toutel's creation from Express Newspapers
    in 2005. E.R. have since been purchased by Classic Media. Cosgrove Hall
    were asked to bring Nutwood to life, with Mackinnon & Saunders constructing
    the puppets for Barry Purves and his team to animate, and whilst the
    alterations and adjustments caused great debate amongst Rupert's
    older followers and fans, preschoolers followed the series in droves
    when it started airing on Channel 5. The numbercrunchers will tell you
    that "Rupert Bear, Follow the Magic" placed first amongst preschool
    series for children aged 4-6 years and second amongst preschool series
    for housewives with kids aged 0-3 years (here's the pr).

    Yes, yes, this Preschool Nutwood is very different. The old oaks have been
    replaced with shiny silver birch, witchy-scratchy wood elves aren't welcome
    here and if you're a mermaid you must wear a T-shirt at all times. But there's
    still plenty of magic hiding between the trees. Just follow Rupert, he'll
    show you...

    Follow them...

    Rupert Bear                Ping Pong, the Pekinese
    Bill Badger                  Ming, the baby dragon
    Edward Trunk              Freddy and Freda, the Fox Twins
    Raggety, the tree elf    Miranda, the Mermaid

    Magical Minions

    Preschool Nutwood is still teeming with sprites and spirits, and even
    Rocky Bay has its magical residents. Here are a few of them:

    Jack Frost
    Mother Nature
    Gustus
    The Star Girl
    A Giant Clam
    The Cloud Shepherd, and his Wife
    The Cheese-seller on the Moon

     Admired Miranda

     Miranda the Mermaid spends most of her time upon a rock in Rocky Bay.
     But in "Rupert's Magic Car" she finally gets to take a tour of Nutwood,
     on board the titular vehicle, thanks to a bit of magic from Ping Pong.

     Mind you, the roles are reversed in "Rupert's Undersea Adventure" and
     "Rupert and the Octopus's Garden" when the gang go underwater
     with their fish-tailed friend...

   Classic Rupert

   If you class yourself as something of an Old School Rupert Bear fan,
   you needn't panic, he's not gone to ground, Classic Media have simply
repackaged him under their "Classic Rupert" banner. Clasic and Preschhol
    Rupert co-exist quite happily. It's a trick that's  worked well for other
    companies and properties (see Winnie the Pooh and The Mr Men,
    for starters).

     See also

   The Adventures of Rupert Bear
     Rupert and the Frog Song

   Broadcast info

     The series premiered as part of Channel Five's "Milkshake!"
     morning broadcast, on November 8th 2006...

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					Rupert Bear, Follow the Magic (2006-2007) producers: Cosgrove Hall Films for Entertainment Rights animation: stop-motion/cg animation episodes: 52 x 10mins
		"Would you like to meet a friendly bear, and follow the magic to who-knows-where?..." We've had the books, the newspaper strips and annuals. We've had a hugely successful puppet series, Paul McCartney's music and a froggy film, an animatic series and a 2D toon. But here, Rupert Bear makes his very first foray into a stop-motion and CG Nutwood, courtesy of Entertainment Rights and the folks at Cosgrove Hall. "Follow the Magic" follows Rupert on his adventures around Nutwood forest with his famous pals, only, now some special preschool magic has been sprinkled on the trees and his friends, and on his adventures as well. Rupert leads the way with the changes. His fur is now golden brown, just like it was when he originally appeared, all the way back in 1920, though his trendy new sneakers are most definitely a nod to modern audiences. Instead of Pong-Ping the Pekinese, we now have young Ping Pong. Freddy and Ferdy the Fox Twins have become Freddy and Freda. And the tree elf Raggety has had a complete magical makevover. Gone is that blue-bottle head and that copse of stick hair. In its place is a cheery pink face, with a button nose and cute pointy ears. Alas, poor Podgy Pig and Algy Pug are no longer included in Rupert's new preschool circle. But Bill Badger and Edward Trunk are still here and ready for adventure, and Bill sports a super-new electronic book to help the gang track down facts and figures at the touch of a button. The stories in "Follow the Magic" are focused upon exploration and discovery, and most are located in and around Rupert's cottage, the tree house where the gang like to hang out, Ping Pong's pagoda and the beach at Rocky Bay, from which they can interact with Miranda the Mermaid. Rupert also has a shiny red and yellow peddle car which can fly them all around the forest and beyond, even to the moon. This series was the first new Rupert commission from E.R. after they bought the majority interest in Mary Toutel's creation from Express Newspapers in 2005. E.R. have since been purchased by Classic Media. Cosgrove Hall were asked to bring Nutwood to life, with Mackinnon & Saunders constructing the puppets for Barry Purves and his team to animate, and whilst the alterations and adjustments caused great debate amongst Rupert's older followers and fans, preschoolers followed the series in droves when it started airing on Channel 5. The numbercrunchers will tell you that "Rupert Bear, Follow the Magic" placed first amongst preschool series for children aged 4-6 years and second amongst preschool series for housewives with kids aged 0-3 years (here's the pr). Yes, yes, this Preschool Nutwood is very different. The old oaks have been replaced with shiny silver birch, witchy-scratchy wood elves aren't welcome here and if you're a mermaid you must wear a T-shirt at all times. But there's still plenty of magic hiding between the trees. Just follow Rupert, he'll show you... Follow them... Rupert Bear Ping Pong, the Pekinese Bill Badger Ming, the baby dragon Edward Trunk Freddy and Freda, the Fox Twins Raggety, the tree elf Miranda, the Mermaid Magical Minions Preschool Nutwood is still teeming with sprites and spirits, and even Rocky Bay has its magical residents. Here are a few of them: Jack Frost Mother Nature Gustus The Star Girl A Giant Clam The Cloud Shepherd, and his Wife The Cheese-seller on the Moon Admired Miranda Miranda the Mermaid spends most of her time upon a rock in Rocky Bay. But in "Rupert's Magic Car" she finally gets to take a tour of Nutwood, on board the titular vehicle, thanks to a bit of magic from Ping Pong. Mind you, the roles are reversed in "Rupert's Undersea Adventure" and "Rupert and the Octopus's Garden" when the gang go underwater with their fish-tailed friend... Classic Rupert If you class yourself as something of an Old School Rupert Bear fan, you needn't panic, he's not gone to ground, Classic Media have simply repackaged him under their "Classic Rupert" banner. Clasic and Preschhol Rupert co-exist quite happily. It's a trick that's worked well for other companies and properties (see Winnie the Pooh and The Mr Men, for starters). See also The Adventures of Rupert Bear Rupert and the Frog Song Broadcast info The series premiered as part of Channel Five's "Milkshake!" morning broadcast, on November 8th 2006...
		Series One Rupert's Wild Scooter Ride Rupert's Undersea Adventure Rupert Builds a Nest Rupert and the Stargirl Rupert and the Cloud Shepherd Rupert and the Magic Carpet Rupert's Cheeky Sneeze Rupert and the Special Sandcastle Rupert and the Magic Lantern Rupert's Treasure Hunt Rupert Flies to Chedder Moon Rupert and the Giant Egg Race Rupert's Magic Car Series Three Rupert and the Hilarious Hiccups Rupert and the Snowglobe Rupert and the Dancing Shoes Rupert and the Oldest Tree Rupert and the Clockwork Dragon Rupert and the Moon Adventure Rupert and the Grumbleclouds Rupert and the Playful Wind Rupert's Bird's Eye View Rupert and the Memory Man Rupert and the Invisible Foxes Rupert and the Dew Fairy Rupert and the Apple River				Series Two Rupert and the Unusual Birthday Rupert and the Rainbow Rupert and the Toy Soldiers Rupert and the Giant Sunflower Rupert and the Cuckoo Clock Rupert and the Magic Books Rupert and the Mischievous Genie Rupert and the Scarecrow Rupert and the Octopus's Garden Rupert and the Treasure Chest Rupert and the Magic Show Rupert and the Missing Music Rupert and the Weather Machine Series Four Rupert to the Rescue Rupert and the Butterfly Collector Rupert and the Lost Stars Rupert and the Photo Finish Rupert Lights the Way Rupert and the Sleepy Flowers Rupert and the Magical Puppets Rupert and the Beehive Rupert and the Lost Bird Rupert and the Sailing Race Rupert and the Magical Dragon Rupert Saves Christmas Rupert and the Snow Key
		Follow the Magic on DVD There's a three disc box-set available: Rupert Bear: Follow the Magic Box Set Region 2 / three discs / 2 Entertain / Sept 2009 And those same three discs are available separately: Vol. 1 - Rupert and the Giant Egg Race Region 2 / six episodes / 2 Entertain / July 2007 Vol. 2 - Rupert and the Snowglobe Region 2 / six episodes / 2 Entertain / Nov 2007 Vol. 3 - Rupert and the Giant Sunflower Region 2 / six episodes / 2 Entertain / March 2008 The episode "Rupert and the Snowglobe" is also included in this seasonal compilation, alongside a selection of stars from the Entertainment Rights/Classic Media back catalogue: Christmas Fun Time Region 2 / ten different episodes / 2 Entertain / Nov 2008 a Cosgrove Hall Films production for Entertainment Rights in association with Five
			director: art director & producer: studio director: producer for Entertainment Rights: exec producers for Entertainment Rights: exec producer for Five: brand manager for Entertainment Rights: writers: music: location design: location colourist: character design: storyboard artist: animators: puppet construction: puppet maintenance: set construction: costume design & maker: prop design & maker: lighting camera: assistant lighting camera: technical support: audio post prod: video post prod & CGI: prod accountant: prod manager: prod assistant: voices:	Barry JC Purves Francis Vose Sue Pugh Annika Bluhm Mike Heap, Jane Smith Nick Wilson Nardis Roscoe Rachel Dawson, Rebecca Stevens, Gillian Corderoy, Alison Stewart, Laura Summers, Elly Brewel, Steve Jeanes, Andy Cutbill, Jon Groves, Simon Nicholson, Chris Allen Karl Twigg, Mark Topham Steve Maher Mark Stacey Realtime UK Fat City Films Susan Guy, Richard Haynes, Adam Farish, Chris Tichborne, Malcolm Lamont, Andy Chapman, Jason Stalman, Haydn Secker, Lisa Goddard Mackinnon & Saunders Patricia Brennan, Matthew Milburn, Westley Wood, Richard Jeffers As & When Men, Ben Cook Andrea Lord Sarah Wells, Simon Walmsley John Duffy Daniel De Giovanni, Richard Cockerill Phil Atack, Matt Horsfield Hullabaloo Studios Flix Facilities Ltd Claire Deane Laura Duncalf Steve Levinshon Claire Skinner Morwenna Banks David Holt
		On the web Rupert Bear The official site... Classic Media They own the rights... Barry JC Purves The master's web site... Mackinnon & Saunders Follow the model makers... index » previous » next »
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