Noozles facts for kids

The Wondrous Koala Blinky Noozles
Quick facts for kids ふしぎなコアラ ブリンキー (Fushigina Koara Burinkī)
Genre	Coming of age, Adventure, Comedy-Drama
Anime television series
Directed by	Noboru Ishiguro
Produced by	Shigeo Endo Eiko Tanaka
Written by	Nobuyuki Isshiki (5-6, 9-11, 15, 22) Taku Sugiyama (1-2, 13, 18, 25-26) Akira Nakano (7, 16, 19, 23) Keiko Mukuroji (2-4, 8, 12, 17, 20, 24) Mitsuru Tanabe (14) Yasufumi Yoda (21)
Music by	Reijirō Koroku
Studio	Nippon Animation Fuji TV
Licensed by	NA Saban Entertainment
Network	Fuji TV
English network	US Nickelodeon (1988-1993)
Original run	July 7, 1984 – December 28, 1984
Episodes	26

Noozles (ふしぎなコアラ ブリンキー, Fushigina Koara Burinkī), also known as The Wondrous Koala Blinky, is a fun anime TV show. It has 26 episodes and was made by Nippon Animation in Japan in 1984. The story is about a 12-year-old girl named Sandy. She goes on many adventures with her special koala friends, Blinky and Pinky. These koalas come from a magical place called Koalawalla Land.

Noozles first aired in Japan on Fuji TV from July to December 1984. Later, an English version was shown in the United States on Nickelodeon. This happened from November 1988 to April 1993. The show often played on weekdays. It was usually on right after another koala cartoon called Adventures of the Little Koala.

This series has also been translated into other languages. You can find it in French (Les Koalous), Korean, Spanish (Sandy y sus koalas), and German. The show was directed by Noboru Ishiguro. He is famous for his work on other sci-fi anime like Space Battleship Yamato and Macross.

Discovering Koalawalla Land: The Main Story

The story of Noozles begins when 12-year-old Sandy Brown gets a package. It's from her grandfather, who disappeared a long time ago. Inside is a stuffed Koala named Blinky. This koala was lost in a shipwreck 38 years ago!

How Sandy Awakens Blinky

Sandy gives the koala a "Noozle." This is like an Eskimo Kiss. This special kiss wakes Blinky up from a "magic sleepytime." His first word is "Blinky!" because Sandy was wondering what to name him. Soon after, Blinky's sister, Pinky, appears out of nowhere. She wants Blinky to come back to Koalawalla Land. But Blinky says no! So, Sandy, Blinky, and Pinky start having many exciting adventures together.

Blinky's Special Food and Sandy's Secret

Blinky can live on Earth because of Eucalyptus trees. Sandy's grandmother planted these trees 38 years ago. Sandy's grandfather, an archaeologist, had told her he was sending a koala. He disappeared mysteriously near Ayers Rock before the ship was lost.

It takes Sandy a while to figure out that the "noozle" is what wakes Blinky up. He keeps falling asleep, looking like a regular stuffed animal. Sandy gets frustrated until she learns the secret. Early on, Sandy decides to tell her grandmother about Blinky and Pinky. But she keeps them a secret from everyone else.

Visiting Koalawalla Land

About halfway through the series, Blinky and Pinky take Sandy to their home world. This place is called Koalawalla Land. It's a different dimension filled with talking animals. These include koalas, kangaroos, platypuses, cassowaries, kiwis, and frill-necked lizards.

Humans are not allowed in Koalawalla Land. If a human is seen, they get arrested! So, Sandy has to wear a koala mask every time she visits. A special entrance to Koalawalla Land is found at Ayers Rock. Pinky also has a magic cosmetic kit. She uses her red lipstick to draw interdimensional holes. These holes can create instant portals to Koalawalla Land or even travel through time!

Sandy's Father and the Crystal Planetoid

Meanwhile, Sandy's father, Alex, is also an archaeologist. He is exploring Ayers Rock to find out what happened to his father 38 years ago. He finds a cave with a message from his father. It says, "I must leave on a mission of great importance. The little koala will know where I'll be."

Alex accidentally enters the portal to Koalawalla Land. The Koalawalla Land police chase him. Sandy, Blinky, and Pinky go to Koalawalla Land to save him. Alex finds a crystal planetoid there. He sees a shadowy figure that looks like his father inside a crystal. The police find him and put him under a sleeping spell. But Sandy, Blinky, and Pinky rescue him and bring him back to Ayers Rock. Alex wakes up, thinking it was all a dream.

The Crystal Place and a Cryptic Message

When Sandy hears her father saw her grandfather, they decide to go back to Koalawalla Land. They look in The Crystal Place. This place is connected to the crystal planetoid where Alex saw his father. The Crystal Place is at the very center of Koalawalla Land. It's a giant crystal sphere full of colorful orbs. If you touch an orb with bare hands, your spirit gets trapped inside forever!

Sandy is protected by Pinky's magic bubble. She enters The Crystal Place and finds her grandfather's spirit trapped in an orb. He tells her to learn from the creatures of Koalawalla Land. He wants her to understand how their community lives with love and friendship. He gives her a mysterious message: "as the world of KoalaWalla Land goes, so goes the world of mankind." Sandy wants to know more, but he can only tell her that for now.

The Wiseman Stone and Family Reunion

Later, Alex is exploring Africa. He hears about a magic stone called the "wiseman stone." He decides to stay in Africa to find it, even though he was supposed to come home. Sandy and her mother are sad. So, Blinky and Pinky travel to Africa to try to get him to come home. They try to scare him with ghost noises and even illusionary dinosaurs, but nothing works.

Finally, Sandy's grandmother arrives. She scolds Alex for staying in Africa when his family is waiting. Alex decides to come home with his mother. Soon after, Alex gets a call. His assistant Lionel says they found what they think is the Wiseman Stone. Blinky uses his magic to teleport Alex to Africa. Alex checks the stone and confirms it's real. Blinky teleports him back. Alex is very confused. When he shows the stone to his mother, she says he must have found it in her attic. She says it's a stone his father found years ago. Later, Sandy's grandmother puts the stone in her attic. It turns out there are two wiseman stones! One Alex found, and one his father found.

Saving Both Worlds

One day, Alex finds both Wiseman stones in Sandy's grandmother's attic. He is confused about the second stone. His mother explains that his father found one, and he put the other there after coming back from Africa. Sandy then decides to tell her parents the truth about Blinky and Pinky.

Soon after, the High Dingy Doo visits. He is a wise old koala who rules Koalawalla Land. He has an important favor to ask Alex. He explains that Koalawalla Land and Earth are supposed to separate naturally someday. But because of Seismic Testing in Australia, the link between the two worlds is shaking badly. This is speeding up the separation, and both worlds could be destroyed!

The High Dingy Doo says Sandy's grandfather knew this would happen. He entered The Crystal Place to find a solution but got trapped. He likely knows how to save the worlds. But his spirit can only talk to someone related to him by blood. The High Dingy Doo asks Alex to go to The Crystal Place to speak with his father's spirit.

Alex, protected by a magic bubble, enters The Crystal Place. He tells his father's spirit about the danger. His father says the only way to save both worlds is to give the wiseman stones to Blinky. Blinky will know what to do. Back on Earth, Alex gives the stones to Blinky. Blinky now remembers his important task.

Blinky teleports himself, Pinky, Sandy, her parents, and her grandmother to Ayers Rock. The separation has already started. Blinky and Pinky take the stones to the top of Ayers Rock. They place them in a special altar. Blinky uses them like a joystick to keep the two worlds from destroying each other. In doing so, Blinky and Pinky return to Koalawalla Land. The two worlds are now completely separate. Pinky's magic can no longer connect them. This means Blinky and Pinky must stay in their home world forever, separate from Earth.

The History of Noozles

Noozles was created when Japan was very excited about koalas. Another koala anime, Koala Boy Kokki (later known as Adventures of the Little Koala), was also made around this time. Both shows were even broadcast together on Nickelodeon's Nick Jr. block in 1988.

Koala Craze in Japan

According to The Anime Encyclopedia, Japan's "koala frenzy" began when the Tama Zoo in Tokyo received its first koala. The Australian government sent six koalas to Japan as a sign of friendship. However, zoos in Japan were already eager for koalas. In fact, Little Koala and Noozles were already airing when the koalas arrived in October 1984.

Noozles first aired on Fuji TV in the Kanto region of Japan. It was on Saturday nights at 8 PM from July to September 1984. Then, it moved to Fridays at 7 PM for the rest of its run. Some other Fuji network stations aired the series at the same times. Other stations showed it later.

Meet the Characters

Here are some of the main characters you'll meet in Noozles:

Episode Guide

Here is a list of all the episodes of Noozles. The English title is first, followed by the Japanese title and when it first aired in Japan.

• A Friend From Down Under (奇妙な友情 Kimyōna yūjō, "A Strange Friendship") - 7 July 1984
• Granny Meets Blinky And Pinky (宇宙人!? Uchuujin!?, "An Alien!?") - 14 July 1984
• Sandy's Birthday Surprise (消えたパパ Kieta Papa, "Papa Disappeared") - 21 July 1984
• She Loves Me Not (ライバル出現 Raibaru shutsugen, "A Rival Appears") - 28 July 1984
• Sandy's Three Wishes (三つのお願い Mittsu no onegai, "Three Wishes") - 4 August 1984
• Sandy's Stardom (大冒険! Dai bōken!, "Great Adventure!") - 11 August 1984
• To Catch Smoky And Louis (大追跡 Dai tsuiseki, "The Great Chase") - 18 August 1984
• The Art Contest (幻の絵 Maboroshi no e, "The Phantom Picture") - 25 August 1984
• Like Father, Like Daughter (わたしは美人 Watashi wa bijin, "I'm Beautiful") - 1 September 1984
• Naughty But Nice (こまった親切 Komatta shinsetsu, "The Trouble with Being Nice") - 8 September 1984
• That Ol' Pink Magic (ぼく強い子 Boku tsuyoiko, "My Strong Child") - 15 September 1984
• Going Back In Time (過去への旅 Kako e no tabi, "Journey to the Past") - 22 September 1984
• Humans Not Allowed (異空間の国 Ikūkan no kuni, "A Land in an Alternate Dimension") - 29 September 1984
• The Last Caper (逃げろ大泥棒 Nigero dai dorobō, "The Thief's Great Escape") - 5 October 1984
• Koalawalla Land (なぞナゾ謎! Nazo nazo nazo!, "Mystery, Mystery, Mystery!") - 12 October 1984
• The Mysterious Message (再び異次元へ Futatabi ijigen e, "Return to the Other Dimension") - 19 October 1984
• Commander Blinky (友情の輪ッ Yūjō no wa ~tsu, "The Friendship Ring") - 26 October 1984
• Cinderella Sandy (ガラスのくつ Garasu no kutsu, "The Glass Slippers") - 2 November 1984
• Star Struck (たのしい休日 Tanoshī kyūjitsu, "Fun Day Off") - 9 November 1984
• The Magical Vacations (賢者の石 Kenja no ishi, "The Philosopher's Stone") - 16 November 1984
• Sandy Runs Away From Home (家出 Iede, "Running Away from Home") - 23 November 1984
• Travelling Back In Time (プロポーズ Puropōzu, "Propose") - 30 November 1984
• The Magic Show (S.O.S.) - 7 December 1984
• Play Acting (私が主役 Watashi ga shuyaku, "I'm the Lead") - 14 December 1984
• Ayers Rock (大異変 Dai ihen, "Major Catastrophe") - 21 December 1984
• How It All Began (思い出の日々 Omoide no hibi, "Memorable Days") - 28 December 1984

Noozles Merchandise

Fans of Noozles could find different items related to the show:

Books

• Noozles: New Friends (1993 Tor Books; L. Spencer Humphrey & Deborah Morse)

Videos

Videos were released from 1991-1994 by Celebrity Home Entertainment:

• Adventures in Koalawalla Land (120 min.)
• Blinky and Pinky's Excellent Adventure (95 min.)
• A Day With Grandma (30 min.)
• Fuzzy Was a Noozle (95 min.)
• Koala Bear Magic (75 min.)
• A New Friend (30 min.)
• Nuzzling With the Noozles (110 min.)
• Picture Perfect (30 min.)
• Blinky's Decision / The Last Caper (50 min.)