Toonhound - Spider

      "I'm only scary 'cos I'm hairy"

    This memorable musical series follows the exploits of a simple spider. All the
    chap wants is a quiet life, but alas, all sorts of interference and problems seem
    to come his way via a mischievous young boy and his friends and visitors...

            The Boy

    T'is a simple premise, beautifully executed. Spider's world is presented to us
    as vignettes from a picture book; line sketches with soft crayoned colours set
    against clean white backgrounds. These aren't stories being told here, rather
    they are animated monologues, depicting a spider's point of view of the world.

    Spider's soliloquies are vocalized through music. The songs are produced by
    Rick Cassman, with Richard Warner composing and they're arranged, performed
    and sung by Jeff Stevenson with his children on back vocals. And what a treat that
    music is. Sometimes it's rock'n'roll - 'Crocodile, I like your style!' - more often it's
    melancholic and haunting. Spider and the boy's turbulent relationship is summed
    up in the song 'True Friend':

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			Spider (1991) producers: Hibbert Ralph Ent for the BBC animation: 2D animation episodes: 13 x 5mins

	"I'm only scary 'cos I'm hairy" This memorable musical series follows the exploits of a simple spider. All the chap wants is a quiet life, but alas, all sorts of interference and problems seem to come his way via a mischievous young boy and his friends and visitors... T'is a simple premise, beautifully executed. Spider's world is presented to us as vignettes from a picture book; line sketches with soft crayoned colours set against clean white backgrounds. These aren't stories being told here, rather they are animated monologues, depicting a spider's point of view of the world. Spider's soliloquies are vocalized through music. The songs are produced by Rick Cassman, with Richard Warner composing and they're arranged, performed and sung by Jeff Stevenson with his children on back vocals. And what a treat that music is. Sometimes it's rock'n'roll - 'Crocodile, I like your style!' - more often it's melancholic and haunting. Spider and the boy's turbulent relationship is summed up in the song 'True Friend':

				"And here I am alone in the drain, contemplating water again, Give me time to try to explain, Tell me how you feel, Can we make a deal...?"
	'Spider' was first broadcast on the BBC in September 1991 and remains something of a cult hit amongst folks who saw it back then, and others who have since discovered the series on video, or indeed, on cable and satellite where it still airs regularly. The production company behind the show, Hibbert Ralph, has divided into two separate entities now. The Graham Ralph half is known as Silver Fox Films, and - great news for 'Spider' fans - a brand new series is currently in development with them!... In the news The Hound: May 2005 More Spider from Silver Fox... Spider episodes Spider In The Bath Frog Change Just A Spider Hamster Chase In My Tent Panda Comes To Stay Monkey Business Classroom Distractions Hedgehog Hunt C-Rocker The Spider's Song True Friend Little Miss M broadcast info The series premiered on BBC1, 26th September 1991 at 3.53pm and played for twelve weeks in the same slot. There was a break for Christmas between episode twelve - 19th December - and the concluding episode thirteen, which aired on 30th December. Pendants will note that the tranmission time for that last episode also changed to 4.05pm. Spider on DVD Spider in the Bath All 13 episodes / 59mins / R2 / Maverick Ent. / April 2004 Hibbert Ralph Entertainment for the BBC producer: John Cary director: Graham Ralph sup. executive: Theresa Plummer-Andrews executive prod: Iain Harvey sup. animator: Tony Garth prod. manager: Heather Pedley animation: Billy Allison, Simon Turner, Steve Hales, Nick Love-Gittins paint & trace: Louise Harding, Sharon Walsh, Fabian White, Karina Stamford, Kate Smith, Lynn Durrans additional anim: Graham Ralph, Kim Stephenson, Allan Bassett, Richard Wake backgrounds: Dorse Dukes asst. art direction: Richard Nye, Corona Maher-Esterhazy titles: Brian Stevens editors: Paul Coppock, Karen Bruce cameras: Animated Opticals, Peter Jones Rostrums, Rostrum Cameras production asst: Karen Davidsen dubbing: Roger Cherrill Ltd original designs: Hugh Silvey, Walley Jex music production: Rick Cassman recorded at: Triple X Studios keyboard arrang: Vyv Hope-Scott musicians: Premier Bass, Electra Strings, John Edwards, Jeff Rich, Paul Coppock children's voices: Casey and Holly Stevenson songs written and composed by Richard Warner songs arranged, performed and sung by Jeff Stevenson On the web Silver Fox Films http://www.silverfoxfilms.co.uk/ Graham Ralph's official site with info on all the Silver Fox productions and projects - with 'Spider' present and correct in the line-up... index » previous » next »
	© Hibbert Ralph Ent / F2000-2006