The Beatles (TV series) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Beatles |
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| Genre | Comedy, children's, rock music |
| Created by |
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| Written by |
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| Voices of |
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| Theme music composer | The Beatles |
| Opening theme |
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| Ending theme | "The Beatles End Theme" (1964) |
| Composer(s) | The Beatles (songs) |
| Country of origin |
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| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 39 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Al Brodax |
| Producer(s) | Jack Stokes |
| Running time | 18 min |
| Production company(s) |
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| Distributor | King Features Productions |
| Release | |
| Original network | |
| Audio format | Monaural |
| Original release | 25 September 1965 – 21 October 1967 |
| Chronology | |
| Followed by | Yellow Submarine (1968) |
The Beatles was a fun cartoon TV show about the famous English rock band. It first aired from 1965 to 1969 in the U.S. on ABC. The show started on September 25, 1965, and new episodes stopped on October 21, 1967. In total, 39 episodes were made. Each episode was named after a Beatles song, and the story was often based on the song's lyrics. The song itself would also play during the episode. This series was special because it was the first weekly TV show to feature animated versions of real, living people!
Contents
Meet the Cartoon Beatles
The cartoon Beatles looked a bit like the real band, but with funny, exaggerated features. John and Paul wore blue suits, while George and Ringo had navy shirts and light blue jackets. They all wore matching blue trousers and special "Beatle Boots."
John Lennon's Cartoon Character
In the cartoon, John is shown as the leader. His hair is a bit shorter than the others. He often looks down his nose and poses with his hands, making funny faces. John is often sarcastic and a bit lazy. But even with his jokes, he truly cares about his bandmates. His movements are quick and a little aggressive.
Paul McCartney's Cartoon Character
Paul is the second-in-command. He's the most stylish and neatest of the cartoon Beatles. He uses his hands a lot when he talks. Paul gets excited when John suggests something. He looks directly at people when he speaks. Paul is also happy-go-lucky and laid-back, but always ready to help. He's the only left-handed character, even though the real Paul and Ringo were both left-handed.
George Harrison's Cartoon Character
George in the cartoon has a more angular look, especially when he walks. His legs are long and thin. He often leans against things with his shoulders hunched and hands in his pockets. George has a crooked smile and often looks like he's frowning. He uses dry, witty humor and sometimes gives in to what others want. George and Ringo often end up doing the hard work for John and Paul. He cares a lot about the group.
Ringo Starr's Cartoon Character
Ringo is the most caring and gentle Beatle in the cartoon. His hair is the longest and shaggiest. He's calm, innocent, and very lovable. Ringo's nose and his sad, goofy eyes are very noticeable, along with his deep, funny laugh. He often has a curious or sad look on his face, but he smiles a lot too. Ringo is the smallest Beatle, and his movements are loose and funny.
He's often the one who has bad luck or becomes the victim of a prank. Ringo's character is sometimes naive and doesn't always see danger coming. In one episode, he thought he was a "jinx" because it rained every time he went to a fair. But his friends cheered him up with a song. Ringo often makes bad puns and jokes, and he's usually the only one who laughs!
Episode Adventures
The Beatles cartoon series had 39 episodes across three seasons. Each episode was named after a Beatles song and featured two short stories, plus a "Sing Along" segment where you could sing along to another Beatles song. The stories often took the band to different places around the world, like Transylvania, Ireland, Africa, Japan, and Rome.
Here are a few examples of their adventures:
- In "A Hard Day's Night," the Beatles rehearse in a haunted house with monsters!
- In "Do You Want To Know A Secret," they go to Dublin, Ireland, and meet a leprechaun.
- In "Please Mr. Postman," Ringo loses 15 rings, and they need money from their manager.
- In "I'll Get You," the Beatles meet a hunter in Africa and go looking for a lion.
- In "Little Child," a Native American girl tries to trap the Beatles to prove girls are good at trapping.
- In "I'm Happy Just To Dance With You," Paul wins a dancing bear at a festival in Rome.
- In "Help!," Paul chases a thief up the Eiffel Tower, even though he's afraid of heights!
- In "Penny Lane," the Beatles try to stop a robbery in their hometown of Liverpool.
- In "Good Day Sunshine," Ringo thinks he's bad luck because it rains when he arrives at a fair, but the band's music makes the sun shine again.
The show was full of silly situations and fun music, making it a hit with young viewers.
The Show's Impact
Even though the show ended its first run in 1967, it stayed popular for many years. It was shown again on channels like MTV and the Disney Channel. Today, many people still enjoy watching the series online.
In 2004, a company called McFarlane Toys made action figures based on the cartoon Beatles. These figures were very popular with fans. The company that owns the rights to the Beatles' music, Apple Corps Ltd., bought the rights to the cartoon series. Many fans hope that the show will be released on DVD someday!
See also
In Spanish: The Beatles (serie animada) para niños
