Edward and Friends facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Edward and Friends |
|
|---|---|
| Written by | Michael Cole |
| Directed by | Jeff Newitt Jo Pullen Martin Pullen |
| Starring | Bernard Cribbins Royce Mills Bill Pertwee Sheila Steafel |
| Opening theme | Mike Batt |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| No. of episodes | 28 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 5 minutes |
| Production company(s) | FilmFair London The Lego Group |
| Release | |
| Original network | BBC2 |
| Original release | 19 June – 18 December 1987 (UK) |
Edward and Friends was a fun children's TV show that used a special animation style called claymation. This means the characters and sets were made from clay, then moved slightly and photographed frame by frame to make them look like they were moving!
The show was made by FilmFair and first aired in the UK, New Zealand, and Canada between 1987 and 1989. Each episode was short, only about 5 minutes long. The stories were based on LEGO's popular Fabuland toys from the 1980s. In total, 28 episodes were created.
The main character was Edward Elephant. Each episode followed him and his many friends, like Bonnie Bunny and Max Mouse, as they had adventures in their town.
This series was a big step for LEGO, as it was their very first time creating an animated TV show. The famous actor Bernard Cribbins was the voice for all the characters, telling the stories. The show was written by Michael Cole, and the music was composed by Mike Batt.
Contents
Meet the Fabuland Friends!
The show featured a wonderful group of animal characters living in Fabuland. Here are some of the main friends you'd see:
- Edward Elephant
- Bonnie Bunny
- Max Mouse
- Clive Crocodile
- Lionel Lion
- Hannah Hippopotamus
- Billy Bear
- Bertie Bulldog
- Boris Bulldog
- Catherine Cat
- Joe Crow
- Freddy Fox
- Mike Monkey
- Wilfred Walrus
- Lucy Lamb (only in books)
Fun Adventures in Fabuland
There were 28 exciting episodes of Edward and Friends. Each one showed the characters learning new things, solving small problems, or just having fun together. The stories were simple and sweet, perfect for young viewers.
For example, in one episode, Edward Elephant gets the hiccups and his friend Joe Crow tries to scare them away with a daring flight. In another, Mayor Lionel Lion throws a fancy dress party, and Edward wins a prize for his clever costume. The friends also helped Boris Bulldog learn to ride a scooter, and they even tried to make a new rocking chair for Wilfred Walrus.
The show often featured everyday situations, like trying to help friends, playing games, or celebrating holidays like Christmas. Sometimes, they went on small expeditions or tried to fix things around Fabuland.
Edward and Friends Books
Besides the TV show, there were also seven books published by Ladybird Books Inc. These books had the same titles as the TV episodes and used pictures taken directly from the show. Most books contained two stories, bringing two episodes together in one book.
Here are some of the books that were available:
- Lionel's Party/Edward and the Camera ISBN: 0-7214-1063-4
- Edward gets the Hiccups/Wilfred's Treasure ISBN: 0-7214-1064-2
- Edward joins the band/Clive's Kite ISBN: 0-7214-1083-9
- Lionel's Car/Edward to the rescue ISBN: 0-7214-1084-7
- Edward tries to help/Boris gets a scooter ISBN: 0-7214-1200-9
- Edward and the big balloon/A robot for Max ISBN: 0-7214-1201-7
- Christmas in Fabuland ISBN: 0-7214-1191-6
Who Made the Show?
Many talented people worked to bring Edward and his friends to life!
- Voices: Bernard Cribbins, Royce Mills, Bill Pertwee, Sheila Steafel
- Written by: Michael Cole
- Music by: Mike Batt
- Technical Design: Gordon Tait
- Models: Heather Boucher, Pauline London, Dave Witts
- Edited by: Rob Dunbar
- Executive Producer: Graham Clutterbuck
- Produced by: Barrie Edwards
- Animated & Directed by: Jo Pullen, Martin Pullen, Jeff Newitt
