Toonhound - The Magic Roundabout (2005)

     Oh calamity! - Daft Dougal has accidentally freed Zebadee's nemesis from
     the confines of the Magic Roundabout. Now Florence is a captive, Dougal's
     been sent to Coventry, and unless Brian, Dylan and Ermintrude can recover
     three magic diamonds, Zeebad will plunge the world into a perpetual ice age...

     It's the Magic Garden here, but not as we used to know it. The red, white
     and blue of the original has been dipped in naturalistic hues, and Dougal
     ripples along on airbrushed waves. It's all been programmed by Dave
     Borthwick's bolexbrothers, in an Anglo-French alliance based in Bristol
     and Marseilles. Pre-production commenced in June 2001, but the project
     wasn't properly ramped up until October 2002, when Pathe Pictures
     fanfared the feature for the world's press.

.    The reimagining is completed by a star-studded voice cast, replacing
     Eric Thompson's original narration and characterisation. At the 2003
     Animated Encounters event, in Bristol, the producers revealed that rocker
     Ozzy Osbourne was once considered for the lead role. In the end we got
     pop-rocker Robbie Williams as Dougal, playing opposite pop-princess
     Kylie Minogue, as Florence. Kylie also provides sings the catchy title song.
     A second notable voice change was that of Zeebad. Richard O'Brien was the
     first star touted for this villainous role, but Tom Baker is the voice on the
    finished film...

     » "The Magic Roundabout" opened 10th February 2005 across the UK.

     De Gaulle=Dougal=Doogal

     In the UK, "The Magic Roundabout" is something of a teatime institution.
     In America, however, the series' pedigree is unknown. Thus, in the twelve
     months between the British and American releases for the film, a whole
     garden's worth of changes have been undertaken.

     Initially, the movie was to have been retitled "Sprung: The Magic Roundabout".
     But instead, the American distributors - the Weinstein Co. - have taken their
     title from that of our droll star. Only spelt different. It's now called "Doogal".

     And there are voice changes a-plenty. Chevy Chase, Jimmy Fallon, Whoopi
     Goldberg, William H Macy, Kevin Smith and Jon Stewart have taken over the
     mike ahead of our lesser known Brits. Ian McKellen is still there, though.
     But Judi Dench has skipped in too, from somewhere, and the distributors
     tells us that the film is from the creators of "The Fairly Odd Parents".

     How fitting that a French series, which was re-cut and shaped by us Brits
     should now be recut and reshaped by those pesky Americans. Why, the
     Roundabout's turned full circle - what? what?

     » "Doogal" opens in the USA on 24th February 2006.

     Promos/Tie-ins

     Here in the UK, there were licensing tie-ins a-plenty when the film launched.
     Most notably from Vivid Imagination (plush toys, talking toys and beanies),
     Blueprint (stationery) and Thornton's (scrummy chocolates!). Plus there was
     the almost inevitable Kellog's promotion, with free pen-toppers being made
     available in special packs of "Rice Krispies" and others....

      Magic Roundabout pencil toppers in boxes of Rice Krispies     Tesco's exclusive Dougal cake!

      In the news

      The Hound: April 2005                 The Hound: May 2003
      Time for a Birthday cake...                   A magic villain revealed...

      The Hound: December 2004       The Hound: October 2002
      Zebadee in your cereal...                      A magic film is announced...

      The Hound: August 2004
      Gandalf on the roundabout...

     See also

      The Magic Roundabout (series)
      Dougal and the Blue Cat

    The Magic Roundabout on DVD

     The Magic Roundabout - Special Edition
             Region 2 / Pathe / July 2005

     Pathé Pictures/Magic Rights Limited/M Danot
     Based on the characters created by Serge Danot

    directors:        Frank Passingham, Dave Borthwick, Jean Duval
    producers:      Andy Leighton, Laurent Rodon, Pascal Rodon
    writers:          Paul Bassett, Tad Safran,
                         Stephane Sanoussi & Raolf Sanoussi
    music:            Mark Thomas
                         Magic Roundabout theme sung by Kylie Minogue
    voices:          Robbie Williams (Dougal)
                         Kylie Minogue (Florence)
                         Ian McKellen (Zebadee)
                         Tom Baker (Zeebad)
                         Jim Broadbent (Brian)
                         Bill Nighy (Dylan)
                         Joanna Lumley (Ermintrude)
                         Ray Winstone (Soldier Sam)
                         Lee Evans (Train)

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			The Magic Roundabout (2005) producers: Pathe / Magic Rights / M Danot animation: CGI animation run time: 90 mins
		Oh calamity! - Daft Dougal has accidentally freed Zebadee's nemesis from the confines of the Magic Roundabout. Now Florence is a captive, Dougal's been sent to Coventry, and unless Brian, Dylan and Ermintrude can recover three magic diamonds, Zeebad will plunge the world into a perpetual ice age... It's the Magic Garden here, but not as we used to know it. The red, white and blue of the original has been dipped in naturalistic hues, and Dougal ripples along on airbrushed waves. It's all been programmed by Dave Borthwick's bolexbrothers, in an Anglo-French alliance based in Bristol and Marseilles. Pre-production commenced in June 2001, but the project wasn't properly ramped up until October 2002, when Pathe Pictures fanfared the feature for the world's press. . The reimagining is completed by a star-studded voice cast, replacing Eric Thompson's original narration and characterisation. At the 2003 Animated Encounters event, in Bristol, the producers revealed that rocker Ozzy Osbourne was once considered for the lead role. In the end we got pop-rocker Robbie Williams as Dougal, playing opposite pop-princess Kylie Minogue, as Florence. Kylie also provides sings the catchy title song. A second notable voice change was that of Zeebad. Richard O'Brien was the first star touted for this villainous role, but Tom Baker is the voice on the finished film... » "The Magic Roundabout" opened 10th February 2005 across the UK. De Gaulle=Dougal=Doogal In the UK, "The Magic Roundabout" is something of a teatime institution. In America, however, the series' pedigree is unknown. Thus, in the twelve months between the British and American releases for the film, a whole garden's worth of changes have been undertaken. Initially, the movie was to have been retitled "Sprung: The Magic Roundabout". But instead, the American distributors - the Weinstein Co. - have taken their title from that of our droll star. Only spelt different. It's now called "Doogal". And there are voice changes a-plenty. Chevy Chase, Jimmy Fallon, Whoopi Goldberg, William H Macy, Kevin Smith and Jon Stewart have taken over the mike ahead of our lesser known Brits. Ian McKellen is still there, though. But Judi Dench has skipped in too, from somewhere, and the distributors tells us that the film is from the creators of "The Fairly Odd Parents". How fitting that a French series, which was re-cut and shaped by us Brits should now be recut and reshaped by those pesky Americans. Why, the Roundabout's turned full circle - what? what? » "Doogal" opens in the USA on 24th February 2006. Promos/Tie-ins Here in the UK, there were licensing tie-ins a-plenty when the film launched. Most notably from Vivid Imagination (plush toys, talking toys and beanies), Blueprint (stationery) and Thornton's (scrummy chocolates!). Plus there was the almost inevitable Kellog's promotion, with free pen-toppers being made available in special packs of "Rice Krispies" and others.... In the news The Hound: April 2005 The Hound: May 2003 Time for a Birthday cake... A magic villain revealed... The Hound: December 2004 The Hound: October 2002 Zebadee in your cereal... A magic film is announced... The Hound: August 2004 Gandalf on the roundabout... See also The Magic Roundabout (series) Dougal and the Blue Cat The Magic Roundabout on DVD The Magic Roundabout - Special Edition Region 2 / Pathe / July 2005 Pathé Pictures/Magic Rights Limited/M Danot Based on the characters created by Serge Danot directors: Frank Passingham, Dave Borthwick, Jean Duval producers: Andy Leighton, Laurent Rodon, Pascal Rodon writers: Paul Bassett, Tad Safran, Stephane Sanoussi & Raolf Sanoussi music: Mark Thomas Magic Roundabout theme sung by Kylie Minogue voices: Robbie Williams (Dougal) Kylie Minogue (Florence) Ian McKellen (Zebadee) Tom Baker (Zeebad) Jim Broadbent (Brian) Bill Nighy (Dylan) Joanna Lumley (Ermintrude) Ray Winstone (Soldier Sam) Lee Evans (Train) On the web The Magic Roundabout The UK film site, sprung-loaded with info, clips, downloads, etc... Doogal THE US film site, with all those changes... bolexbrothers Dave Borthwick and company's studio site... index » previous » next »
© Pathe Pictures / Magic Rights Ltd / M Danot / F2006