DANGERMOUSE



Dangermouse was a British Secret Service Agent who worked out of a postbox in London's famous Baker Street. Just like James Bond, Dangermouse was often called on to protect Queen and country from a whole host of dastardly villians including the megalomaniac toad, Baron Greenback, a group of Mafioso like crows and Count Duckula, a vegetarian vampire who proved so popular that he was spun off into a series of his own. Dangermouse, and most of the supporting characters in the series was voiced by David Jason, whilst his sidekick, Penfold (catchphrase "Crikey!"), was veteran comedian Terry Scott. The series came from British cartoon experts Cosgrove Hall and was sold to over 31 countries and to the USA in 1984.
145 episodes of between 5 and 10 minute duration. 1981-87. 1991-92.

DOGTANIAN AND THE THREE MUSKEHOUNDS



Spanish made cartoon series (D'Artacan y los tres Mosqueperros) that drew from Alexander Dumas' classic story The Three Musketeers. Dogtanian was en route from Gascony to Paris when he joined the King's Own Guard, fell in love with the beautiful Juliette and then ultimately teamed up with master swordsmen Athos, Porthos and Aramis. Shown on Children's BBC in 1985, four years after it was originally made, the series became something of a minor classic picking up numerous international awards. A second series, set some years later was less well received.
BRB International (Spain) 1981.

HECTOR'S HOUSE



French series known in its native country as La Maison de Tu Tu, Hectors House featured a sad eyed dog, Zaza the cat, and Mrs Kiki the frog. The catch phrase for this particular show was the star's "I'm a great silly Hector." The episodes filled a spot (like Magic Roundabout) just before the early evening news. Another show that has generated an urban myth, this time that myth being that actress Joanna Lumley voiced Zaza the cat. The story became so widely known that it was accepted as fact. But the truth is that the lovely Ms Lumley had nothing to do with the show whatsoever as she confirmed herself when the question was put to her. "It would have been lovely wouldn't it?" She said. "But no, it's not true.'
50 episodes of 6 minute duration. France. 1968.

THE HERB'S



With the magic word "Herbidacious" the gate to the garden of Sir Basil and Lady Rosemary would open revealing such wonderfully named characters as Dill the Dog, Sage the Owl, Aunt Mint, Tarragon the Dragon, Mr Onion the Schoolteacher and his pupils the Chives, Bayleaf the Gardener, Pashana Bedhi and Belladonna. However, the most famous of them all was a large headed lion by the name of Parsley, who proved such a hit that he was spun off into his own series (The Adventures of Parsley). Created by Michael Paddington Bear Bond and transmitted in the Watch With Mother slot, the puppet series was directed by Ivor Wood who had previously worked on The Magic Roundabout.
40 episodes of 15 minute duration. Filmfair (UK). 1970-72.

H. R. PUFNSTUF



Short lived but lively musical series based on The Wizard Of Oz and starring Jack Wilde, who had shot to fame as The Artful Dodger in Lionel Bart's Oscar winnig film Oliver. In the opening episode, Jimmy (Wilde) and his magic talking flute named Freddie are lured to a fantasy land in a beautiful boat which is then shipwrecked by the nasty sorceress Witchiepoo, who is intent on stealing the instrument. Luckily, the dragon mayor of Living Island, H.R. Pufnstuf, spotted the boy in distress and sent his Rescue Racer team to bring him ashore. Thereafter, Jimmy shared a series of adventures in the company of Judy the Frog, Cling and Clang, Ludicrous Lion and Dr. Blinky. Although Witchiepoo scuppered all of Jimmy's attempts to leave the island, she never got her hands on the flute. The non-human characters were represented by life-size puppets and the entire series was made to the most highest of production values. A feature film was released in 1970.
17 episodes of 30 minute duration. US NBC: 1969-70.
Buy H.R. Pufnstuf - The Complete Series...On DVD from Amazon

INSPECTOR GADGET



Like the Six Million Dollar Man, Inspector Gagdet was an ordinary human until an accident armed him with a whole host of in-built secret weapons. As a result of this he was promoted from rookie cop to inspector in order to wage war on crime, and in particular his arch-enemy Doctor Claw and the evil agents of MAD. Gadget was based on the 1960's series Get Smart, and he was voiced by agent Maxwell Smart himself, actor Don Adams. Like Smart, Gadget is totally inept at what he does and mostly solves crime more by luck than judgement as well as a helping hand (or paw) from his nieces dog, Brian. A weak attempt at transferring the series to the big screen was attempted using real life actors, with Matthew Broderick in the lead.

IVOR THE ENGINE



5 minute animation series from the prolific team of Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin which concerned itself with the adventures of a small green railway engine running out of the Merioneth and Llantisilly Rail Traction Company, which was, according to the narrator, "In the top left-hand corner of Wales." Ivor was driven by Jones the Steam who worked alongside his colleagues Owen the Signal and Dai Station, the man who looked after Llianog Station. Ivor's boiler was fired by Idris the dragon and the little engines ambition was to sing in the choir like his friend Evans the Song. All the films were made in the barn of Peter Firmin's 18th century farmhouse near Canterbury, the cowshed acting as his studio whilst Postgate was assigned the pigsty. According to Postgate the shows airing at 1.15 in the afternoon clashed with board meetings at Associated Rediffusion, but not wishing to miss a single episode the board members ordered a television be wheeled in, the meeting stopped whilst they watched Ivor and then the television was wheeled out again and the meeting resumed. The series moved to BBC in 1976.
Approx. 50 episodes of 5 minute duration. Smallfilms. ITV 1959-63. BBC 1976-77.