The Gublins (TV series) facts for kids
The Gublins (1977), also known as The Gublin Legends, was a fun children's television show made using stop-motion animation. This means that objects are moved in tiny steps and photographed, making them look like they are moving on their own! The show was created by the same people who made other popular series like Camberwick Green, Trumpton, and Chigley.
The main characters, the Gublins, were creatures that looked a bit like chimpanzees. They starred in many "Tall Stories," which are like imaginative tales. Each story was told using rhyming couplets, which are two lines of poetry that rhyme. The show also had a simple musical background, created by Freddie Phillips.
The Gublins first appeared on television as part of the show Multicoloured Swap Shop on BBC One.
What Were the Gublins Like?
The Gublins were unique characters brought to life through stop-motion. This animation style involves taking a photo, moving the character a tiny bit, and then taking another photo. When these photos are played quickly, it looks like the characters are moving.
Their stories were always narrated, meaning someone told the story out loud. This narration was special because it used rhyming couplets. Imagine every two lines of the story ending with words that rhyme – it made the stories catchy and fun to listen to! The music was simple and helped set the mood for each adventure.
The Gublins' Adventures
A total of thirteen episodes of The Gublins were filmed. Each episode told a different "Tall Story." While thirteen were made, only twelve of their names are widely known today.
Some of the exciting stories included:
- The Prince Frog
- The Magic Tree
- Mr Dilley's Mermaid
- The Dancing Princess
- Charley's Feather
- The Emperor's Willow Warbler
- The Honey-Coloured Hat
- The Barber of Cartina
Gublins in Books
The adventures of the Gublins also appeared in books! Three of their television stories were turned into "photostories" in the BBC Swap Shop Books. Photostories use pictures from the show along with text to tell the story.
Beyond those, five brand new "Young Gublins Picture Storybooks" were published. These books had completely new adventures that weren't shown on TV. Some of these new stories were:
- The Lost Drum
- The Surprise Present
- The Wishing Well
- Grandpa's Mistake
These books allowed fans to enjoy more of the Gublins' world even after the TV series ended.
