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Eric
Hill's
Spot (1987
- 2001)
producers:
King Rollo Films Ltd
animation:
cel animation
/ 2D animation
THE ADVENTURES OF SPOT
1987 / 26 x 5mins
IT'S FUN TO LEARN WITH SPOT
1995 / 8 x 15mins
SPOT'S MAGICAL CHRISTMAS
1995 / 1 x 26mins
SPOT AND HIS GRANDPARENTS GO
TO THE CARNIVAL
1997 / 1 x 26mins
SPOT'S MUSICAL ADVENTURES
2001 / 13 x 5mins
"Spot... Spot... Lovable Spot...
He's soft and cuddly and he smiles a lot..
If there ever was a pup to cheer you up, it's Spot.. Spot.. Spot!"
As the title song says, Spot is a lovable puppy dog. He plays happy puppy games
in and around his home with his mum Sally, dad Sam, sister Susie and the other
animals and critters who inhabit the building and evirons. In Spot's world there are
lions lurking under the stairs, and crocodiles under the bed. Not scarey ones though,
because Spot's world is a friendly frolicking place where no harm could come to
anyone, and the biggest concern is simply getting back to your parents in time
for tea...
The animals in the series include a hippo called Helen, a crocodile called Tom,
and a monkey called Steve.
These series are based on the extremely popular picture books by author and
artist Eric Hill, and you can't see the join. Spot and his friends move against plain
white backdrops, occasionally sprinkled with individual objects, apparell and
building elements like doors and stairs. Spot's games are accompanied by
sparse and effective little musical tunes, usually played on a flute or piccolo.
The end result is a series of perfect animated picture books.
King Rollo Films came to being on the back of Mr Benn, the classic animated
series created by David McKee and his team.
As for Eric Hill, well, he was a former advertising artist who created Spot for the
amusement of his young son Christopher, and he later put him in a series of tales
where readers would lift the flaps to find the answers to problems, connundrums,
and games. "Where's Spot?" was published in 1980, and the rest is history.
"What I had created was a puppy
who is reflecting the life of a young
child at home..."
- Eric Hill in "The Guardian" March 2010
The
original "Adventures of Spot" series was broadcast in 1987
and the 26
episodes were narrated by Paul Nicholas. In
the 1990s the puppy returned in
two new specials and an educational series.
It's interesting to note that the
special, "Spot's Magical Christmas"
featured an extended voice cast.
Most recently, we have had a series of 13
sing-along song-filled "Musical
Adventures" produced in conjunction with
Penguin Books and Disney.
These toons now replace Paul Nicholas with
the multi-voiced talents of
Jane Horrocks...
Episode titles
The Adventures of Spot The
Adventures of Spot
Series 1 Series
2
Spot's Surprise Parcel Spot
Goes to the Farm
Spot's Lost Bone
Spot Stays Overnight
Spot's First Walk Spot
Makes a Cake
Spot in the Woods Spot
Goes to the Park
Spot's Birthday Present Spot
Finds a Key
Where's Spot? Spot
in the Garden
Spot's Sweet Dreams Spot
goes to a Party
Spot goes to School Spot's
Winter Sports
Spot goes to the Circus Spot
goes to the Fair
Spot Follows His Nose Spot's
Favourite Toy
Spot goes Splash Spot's
First Picnic
Spot and the Windy Day Spot
goes to the Playground
Spot goes on Holiday Storytime
With Spot
Spot's Musical It's
Fun to Learn...
Adventures Spot
Looks at Colours
Spot's Show Spot
Looks at Shapes
Spot's Treehouse Spot
Looks at Opposites
Spot's Breakfast Spot's
First Word Game
Spot's Horse Spot's
Alphabet
Spot and his Grandpa Spot's
Busy Year
Spot's Umbrella Spot
Learns to Count
Spot's Band Spot
Tells the Time
Spot's Bath
Spot's Tent
Spot Tidies Up
Spot Helps Grandma
Spot's School Trip
Hide and Seek
Spot
on DVD
There are lots of Spot DVDs available,
and navigating
through them to find specific material
is - well - it's tricky.
If you want a solid run of Spot goodness,
from the Paul Nicholas
days and onwards, you'd be best served
by this:
Spot:
The Complete Collection - Series 1-3
Region
2 / Abbey Home Media / March 2011
But if you'd prefer a taster, The Hound
recommends this
30th anniversary compilation:
Spot's
Bumper Collection
Region
2 / Abbey Home Media / January 2010
The
Adventures of Spot
produced by King Rollo Films
From the books by Eric Hill
director: Leo
Nielsen
producer: Clive Juster
music: Duncan
Lamont
voices: Paul
Nicholas
Voices on Spot's Magical Christmas:
Paul Nicholas, Josie Lawrence, Calum
Nielsen, Philip Pope,
Steve Steen, Steve Frost.
Voices on Spot's Musical Adventures:
Jane Horrocks
On
the web
Fun
With Spot
The
official site, full of fun and games for the little 'uns. But it also
has some handy creator info for
us big kids...
Abbey
Home Media
They distribute Spot's UK DVD
releases...
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