Gogs facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gogs
Cast of Gogs, left to right; Therizinosaur (recurring character), Gwj (baby); Ogla (Mother), Ogo (son), Goglas (father), Igi (daughter), Gogas (grandfather)
Directed by	Deiniol Morris, Michael Mort Original concept by Siôn Jones, Deiniol Morris and Michael Mort
Country of origin	Wales, United Kingdom
No. of series	2
No. of episodes	13 (list of episodes)
Production
Producer(s)	Helen Nabarro Meirion Davies Colin Rose
Running time	5 minutes 30 minutes (movie)
Production company(s)	Aaargh! Animation Harlech Television Bumper Films
Release
Original network	BBC, S4C, ITV
Original release	21 December 1993 (Welsh titles) 21 December 1996 (English titles) – 25 December 1998 (1998-12-25)

Gogs, also known as Gogs!, is a funny claymation TV show. It's a sitcom about a family of cavemen. The show first aired in Wales on S4C in 1993. Later, it came to the rest of the UK on the BBC in 1996. Gogs has been shown in many countries and is still sometimes re-run today.

The show is about a family of simple cavemen living in the Stone Age. They live in a fantasy prehistoric world. The Gogs often struggle to survive each day. They try to invent new things like fire, but usually fail in very silly ways. The show uses a lot of dark humor and funny situations.

The word 'Gogs' is Welsh slang for 'Northerners'. The creators, Deiniol Morris and Siôn Jones, were from North Wales. They thought 'Gog' sounded simple and fit the cave family well.

Gogs was made for an older audience than shows like Wallace and Gromit. Even though it's animated, it was often shown later at night. This is why some people called it "claymation for grown-ups."

The first series had five short episodes, each about five to six minutes long. After winning many awards, a second series was made. This brought the total number of episodes to thirteen. In 1998, a special 30-minute episode called Gogwana aired. It also won many awards and was the last part of the series.

The Story of Gogs

How the Show Started

The first Gogs series was first shown to a small Welsh audience. This happened in late 1993 on S4C. It had Welsh titles and credits. Later, BBC's Colin Rose helped bring Gogs to a wider audience. The show was translated for English speakers. It aired on BBC Two during the Christmas holidays in 1996.

The Gogs characters do not speak any real language. They communicate with grunts, roars, and funny sounds. This was a choice by the creators, Siôn Jones and Deiniol Morris. It made the show easier and cheaper to share with people all over the world. After this, a second series, Gogs II, came out in 1997. The Gogwana special followed in 1998.

Future Plans and a Movie Idea

Both Gogs series and the Gogwana special were very popular. They won many awards. However, Gogwana was the last episode. Making claymation was very expensive. It also took a long time with a small team and not much money. Computer animation was becoming more popular and cheaper.

Steven Spielberg, a famous director, was interested in Gogs. His company, DreamWorks, wanted to make a caveman film. Spielberg saw the first Gogs episode, which was about the Gogs discovering fire. He was very impressed. He offered the Gogs creators, AAArgh!, a chance to work in the United States. The creators met with Spielberg, but no deal was made. DreamWorks later made other animated films like Chicken Run and Flushed Away. Years later, in 2005, a different studio, Aardman, worked with DreamWorks on a caveman comedy. This film, called The Croods, came out in 2013.

What Happens in Gogs

The series shows the Gogs as very silly and not very smart. They try to live in a dangerous prehistoric world. This land is full of dinosaurs, prehistoric mammals, huge insects, and plants that eat things. Even the land itself is dangerous, with volcanoes and earthquakes. There are also strong lightning and thunder storms.

A big part of the show's humor comes from the characters' funny actions. They don't talk, but they make grunts, roars, screams, and other noises. They also have very funny and over-the-top facial expressions.

Meet the Gogs Family

The Gogs Characters

• Gogas – He is the oldest member and "grandfather figure" of the family. His name comes from Welsh words meaning 'quite nasty'. Gogas has white hair and a bald spot. He is a bit wild and always wants things his own way. His favorite item is his club. He often tries to solve problems by hitting them with his club. Gogas is surprisingly strong and often fights off big animals. He snores very loudly at night.
• Goglas – He is the "father figure" and Gogas's middle-aged son. His name comes from the Welsh word for 'tickle'. Goglas has a Neanderthal-like face and a dark beard. He is often lazy and just wants to relax. While he sometimes hunts, he is usually the first to run away from danger. He often argues with his son Ogo and his strong wife Ogla.
• Ogla – She is the "mother figure" and Goglas's partner. Her name comes from a Welsh word for 'smell'. Ogla is big, strong, and the boss of the family. No one dares to challenge her. Even though she sometimes gets annoyed with her family, she cares for them, especially her baby Gwj. She keeps her dark hair tied with bones.
• Ogo – He is the son and first child of Goglas and Ogla. Ogo is a teenager. He has ginger hair and a simple expression. He is the least smart of the family. He always tries to impress others but usually fails in a messy or silly way. He often picks his nose or eats insects.
• Igi – She is the daughter, likely a teenager like Ogo, but younger. She has long black hair that covers her eyes. Igi is the smartest Gog, almost a genius. She draws advanced things like science equations and plans for cars and helicopters on rocks. She even invents things like a bird-costume and a hot-air balloon. She is the quietest and calmest family member. However, because she is small, she is often misunderstood or left behind when danger strikes.
• Gwj – He is the baby of the family. His name comes from a nickname. He looks cute but is actually very brave and tough. Gwj sometimes gets kicked around by the others when they are annoyed, but he is never hurt. He often laughs at danger instead of running away. Gwj spends a lot of time crying and making messes. The other Gogs try hard to make him stop.

Prehistoric Creatures

Ray the T-Rex

Ray is a big Tyrannosaurus rex and a main character. He is always trying to eat the Gog family. He follows them everywhere. In the first episode, we learn his name is Ray. This name is a tribute to Ray Harryhausen, a famous animator. Ray's desire to eat the Gogs might also be for revenge. In the first episode, his private parts get burned by fire. Ray appears in many episodes and in the Gogwana special.

Ray looks a bit different in some episodes. In the first one, he is smaller and faster. In Gogwana, he is bigger and scarier. In Gogwana, Ray accidentally saves the Gogs by eating another bad guy. Other dinosaurs appear, but Ray is the only one seen more than once.

Other Animals You Might See

• A prehistoric mole often appears. Gogas often tries to hit it with his club.
• A giant eagle inspires Igi to make a bird costume.
• A human-sized Therizinosaur fights Oglas and Ogo with martial arts.
• A Metridiochoerus (a type of wild boar) attacks Ogo.
• Pteranodons carry Ogo and Ogla through the air.
• A Brontosaurus is seen dying of old age and another falling into a crack.
• Trilobites are seen crawling on the ground in Gogwana.
• A Gigantopithecus (a large ape) mother and baby appear.
• A Triceratops skull is seen in the desert. Other desert creatures include furry animals, vultures, and a Dimetrodon. The Gogs hide inside a dead woolly mammoth.
• An Allosaurus tries to eat Gwj and Ogo, but Igi saves them.
• A Yeti appears in the last episode of the second series. It helps Gogas with his sore back.
• A Cave Bear tries to hibernate in the Gogs' cave.
• A Hypsilophodon is captured by the Gogs but escapes.
• A dead Dimetrodon is inflated into a hot air balloon in Gogwana to help the Gogs escape.

Gogs Episodes List

Main Episodes

• Fire – The first English episode, shown on BBC2 on December 21, 1996.
• Stone Circle
• Hunt
• Cave
• Earthquakes
• Inventions
• Trappers
• Illness
• Bear
• Gramps RIP
• Apes and Men
• Babysitting
• Snow
• Gogwana Special (the 1998 finale)

Where to Watch Gogs

Both the first and second series of Gogs were released on VHS in 1997. They had a parental guidance rating. The 30-minute special Gogwana was also released separately on VHS in 1998.

Gogs was released on Region 2 DVD on April 9, 2001. This DVD includes all thirteen episodes and the 30-minute "Gogwana" special. It has a total run-time of 89 minutes. The DVD also includes a special photo gallery.