Parallax (TV series) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Parallax |
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| Genre | |
| Created by | Paul Barron |
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| Country of origin | Australia |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 26 |
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| Producer(s) | Paul Barron |
| Cinematography | Peter Falk |
| Running time | 25 minutes |
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| Release | |
| Original network | Nine Network |
| Picture format | PAL (576i) |
| Audio format | Stereophonic |
| Original release | 5 August – 10 September 2004 |
Parallax is an exciting Australian TV show made for kids! It was shown on the Nine Network. This series has 26 episodes and was filmed in many cool places around Perth, Australia. You might spot famous spots like Kings Park, East Perth, and beautiful beaches or forests.
The story is about a boy named Ben Johnson. He discovers a secret portal that leads to many different parallel universes. Ben explores these new worlds with his friends: Francis Short, Melinda Bruce, Una, Due, Tiffany, and Mundi. He also meets his new sister, Katherine Raddic, on his adventures.
Contents
Main Characters
Here are some of the main characters you'll meet in Parallax:
- Joshua Marshall-Clarke as Ben Johnson: The main character who finds the portal.
- Gillian Alexy as Katherine Raddic: Ben's long-lost sister from another world.
- Caroline Brazier as Veronica Johnson / Betti: Ben's mom and a mysterious character.
- David Richardson as Francis Short / Francis Zapmeister: Ben's friend who joins him on his journeys.
- Francoise Sas as Melinda Bruce: Another one of Ben's friends.
- Kazimir Sas as Martin Dunkly: A character from the series.
- Rebecca McCarthy as Fortuna / Una: A character with a special role.
- Genevieve McCarthy as Due: Another character with a special role.
- Lauren Williams as Mundi: A friend of Ben's.
- Luke Hewitt as Jeremy Johnson: Ben's dad.
- Paris Abbott as Tiffany: A friend of Ben's.
- Igor Sas as Stefan Raddic: Katherine's father.
- David Ngoombujarra as Otto: A lost guardian.
Special Objects and Places
In the world of Parallax, certain objects and places are very important to the story.
The Stave
This is like a special baton that most Guardians carry. It has many uses! It lets them talk to other stave holders across different worlds. It can also work as a radio, control electronic devices, and even shoot lasers. These lasers are powerful enough to stop creatures called Welkin and Krellicks.
The Orb
Each world in the Parallax has a smooth, white orb. It might be hidden or kept by the world's Guardian. If someone with Guardian blood touches an orb when it's not in its home world, they can see past events from that world play out like a movie on its surface. When the orb is in its original world, it acts as a "key" to transport the person to the Reading Room. Orbs also help protect Guardians by hiding their blood from the Welkin and Krellicks.
The Reading Room
This is a central place that holds all the knowledge of the Parallax. It keeps records of everything that has happened, both good and bad, in all the different worlds. However, it's not a control room. You can't change the weather or fix an election from here. It's also the main hub for traveling between worlds.
The Master Stave
This special stave only appears when a normal stave is brought into the Reading Room. It can control the "Wheel of Knowledge." The Master Stave also has the power to change certain times and events to some extent.
Purple Water
This is a key part of Betti's plan to control worlds. Betti pours this purple liquid into a world's water supply. If a person drinks it and doesn't fit the "average personality" of that world, they turn into water vapor! For example, if a busy businessman drank the purple water in Hippie World, he would disappear.
The Francis Cam
This is how people communicate across the Parallax. It was started by Una from Techno World and Francis from Hippie World. It creates a link between four worlds: Techno, Forest, Ben's, and Hippie World. The Francises in each world (except Techno World, where Una patrols) have a camera. They use the Francis Cam to report sightings of Betti or Spy Boy.
Purple Eyes
Betti and Spy Boy's eyes sometimes turn purple. This happens when they are not telling the truth or when they are getting angry. The true reason for their purple eyes is not fully known.
The Worlds of Parallax
The series explores many unique worlds, each with its own characteristics and portals.
Ben's World
This is the red world and where the series begins. It's considered the "normal" world. You can reach Katherine's World through an old drain and Techno World through a chicken shed. By pressing different points on the parallax symbol at the old drain, characters can also travel to Forest and Desert Worlds. There's also a portal in Mr. Dawes's shed that links to Garden World if you use the right combination (1-1-11).
Katherine's World
This is the blue world. Here, Ben finds Katherine, a sister he never knew he had, and his biological father. It's a very formal and organized world with many strict rules. It connects to Ben's World via two large rocks and to Hippie World by going between two bookcases in a library. If you press points on the parallax at the two rocks, you can travel to Forest World. There's also a portal on a nearby beach that leads to Betti's tent in Desert World.
Hippie World
This is the yellow world, a very relaxed place full of "Hippies." The only known portal here is through an old Volkswagen Type 2 Kombi van in front of this world's Francis's house. This portal links to Katherine's World and can also lead to Forest World with the right combination.
Techno World
This is the silver world. At first, it looks like a high-tech rubbish dump. But everyone lives well here, and the world is very advanced in technology. Their town motto is "Tomorrow's technology, at yesterday's prices." The portal to Ben's World is at the high-tech rubbish dump. Another portal is in an abandoned office building and opens when a password is typed on a computer, linking to Garden World.
Forest World
This is the green world. Ben accidentally finds this world when he trips onto the Parallax symbol. It's a world that truly cares for its environment. Its main town, Werrinup, is built on towers high above the forest floor to protect nature. This world is full of Krellicks, but its people are safe because of their tall structures. A tree portal links to Ben's World, Katherine's World, or Techno World, but only with the right symbol combination. A rock portal that links to Forest World is outside Mrs. Dawes's house on the forest floor, but it's guarded by Krellicks and used as their nest.
Desert World
This is the orange world, a barren place of sand and stone. Ben's mother sends him here as a test. One portal is over a rock mound and goes to Ben's World using the right Parallax combination (7-1). Another portal is at the corner of Betti's tent and links to Katherine's World. Later, it's discovered that Desert World was Otto's original home before Betti destroyed it.
Garden World
This is the pink world. Betti shows Katherine this world as an example of her goal for the Parallax. This world is "perfect" in its own way, as people who didn't fit in have been "blandished" (turned into water vapor). One portal is through a "do not enter" door and links to Techno World. The other is at a forked tree and leads to Ben's World.
Otto's World
This is the brown world, where Otto, the lost guardian, has escaped to. Only one portal is known here. It's in the middle of a river and links to Forest World. Another portal was supposed to be further down the river.
The Void
This place is only seen briefly when Ben accidentally stumbles into it from the Reading Room. No portals are known to lead through this world.
Side Doors
Side Doors are special portals. They are like normal portals but are meant for single trips. Once you go through a Side Door, you cannot return the same way you came out. Ben and Katherine noticed other portal lights when Ben pressed a button on the stave in the Reading Room. They asked Mrs. Dawes about Side Doors, and she sent them to her brother, Mr. Dawes. He explained Side Doors and their unique condition. There is only one known Side Door, which is Mr. Dawes's shed, and it links to a seat in Garden World.
Episodes
Here is a list of all 26 episodes of Parallax:
- One Big Happy Family
- A Rare Find
- The Artful Dodger
- Achey, Breaky Heart
- Lost in Paradise
- One Man's Rubbish
- Artes Veritas
- The Battle of Mundi's World
- The Big Sleep-Over
- The Martin Crimes
- The World According to Betti
- The Curse of the Incredibly Bad News
- Decoy
- Too Many Chiefs
- Ex-Ben
- Dad Meets Dad
- The Krellick War
- The Reluctant Guardian
- Seek and You Shall Find
- Sand Witch
- My Favourite Martin
- Cheats Never Prosper
- Martinmania
- The Reading Room
- Clownin' Around
- It Ain't Over
