The Koala Brothers facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Koala Brothers
Genre	Preschool Animated series Educational Adventure
Voices of	Keith Wickham Rob Rackstraw Janet James Lucinda Cowden
Narrated by	Jonathan Coleman
Opening theme	"Call the Koala Brothers"
Ending theme	"Call the Koala Brothers"
Country of origin	Australia United Kingdom
No. of series	3
No. of episodes	79
Production
Running time	10 minutes
Production company(s)	Famous Flying Films Spellbound Entertainment
Distributor	Spellbound Entertainment
Release
Original network	CBeebies ABC Kids (Australia)
Original release	1 October 2003 (2003-10-01) – 31 October 2007 (2007-10-31)

The Koala Brothers is a fun animated TV show from Australia and the United Kingdom. It uses a special kind of animation called stop-motion, where models are moved tiny bits at a time and photographed. The show is all about two friendly koala brothers, Frank and Buster. They live in a quiet town in the Australian outback and love to help their friends.

There are 79 episodes in total, spread across three seasons. What's cool about this show is that there are no bad guys! Even if characters have disagreements or make mistakes, the show always focuses on being kind and helping each other. It first aired in Australia on ABC Kids. Later, it was shown in the United Kingdom on CBeebies and in the United States on Playhouse Disney, reaching kids all over the world.

How the Show Works

The way the show is broadcast can be a little different depending on the country. But the main part of each episode stays the same. The Koala Brothers always help one of their friends with a problem. These problems can be things like feeling jealous, being scared, or learning to share.

In Australia, episodes are usually about 12 minutes long. Sometimes, two episodes are shown together. On CBeebies, the opening and closing songs are sometimes cut to make the show fit into a 10-minute slot.

In longer versions, the show starts with its theme song. Then, the narrator introduces Frank and Buster as they fly their yellow airplane over the outback. Other characters are introduced, and the narrator asks, "Who do you think the Koala Brothers are going to help today?" Each longer episode ends with "The Helping Song." All the characters sing together about always trying to help and caring for one another.

Meet the Characters

All the animal characters in the show speak with Australian accents. But there are two exceptions: Archie the Crocodile has a British accent, and Penny the Penguin only makes penguin sounds!

Main Characters

• Frank the Koala (voiced by Keith Wickham) – Frank is the pilot of the airplane. He's good at tennis and once beat Archie, though Frank said it was just luck!
• Buster the Koala (voiced by Rob Rackstraw) – Buster sits behind Frank in the plane. He uses his telescope to spot friends who need help from above. Buster is always ready to cheer up his friends or give them a hug. He speaks more softly than Frank and loves to bake, especially butter cookies.

Jonathan Coleman – He is the Narrator, who tells all the stories in the show.

Supporting Characters

• Mitzi the Possum (voiced by Lucinda Cowden) – Mitzi lives next door to the Koala Brothers. She's a yellow possum who can be a bit nervous and likes things to be perfect. Sometimes she can be a little bossy, but she always apologizes, and her friends forgive her.
• Ned the Wombat (voiced by Janet James) – Ned is the youngest member of the community. He lives in a caravan next to the Koala Brothers' home. Ned sometimes doubts himself, but he dreams of exciting adventures as an explorer or a sea captain. He is very determined when he gets an idea.
• George the Turtle (voiced by Rob Rackstraw) – George is the local mail carrier. He's very proud of his job and tells the best campfire stories. He also enjoys collecting stamps.
• Sammy the Echidna (voiced by Rob Rackstraw) – Sammy owns the general store in town, where he sells food and fuel. He has only one employee, Josie. Sammy usually has the fewest problems to deal with.
• Josie the Kangaroo (voiced by Janet James) – Josie works with Sammy at the general store. She wears a red and white striped shirt and a blue skirt. Josie and Mitzi are best friends.
• Alice the Platypus (voiced by Lucinda Cowden) – Alice works at the local café. She can be very forgetful. Alice rides a green motorscooter, which sometimes has engine problems. She loves to bake and is good at following recipes and reading maps.
• Archie the Crocodile (voiced by Keith Wickham) – Archie lives in a nice cottage near the water hole. He loves to exercise, stretch, and play tennis. Archie is known for being great at almost every sport. He is British and speaks with a clear, rich accent.
• Penny the Penguin (vocal effects by Janet James) – Penny is an explorer from Antarctica. She visits the outback sometimes and writes letters to the Koala Brothers. Penny can't talk, but she communicates by chattering like a real penguin and sings "The Helping Song."
• Lolly the Emu (voiced by Lucinda Cowden) – Lolly sells ice cream and drives her ice cream truck around the Outback. She often greets people by saying, "How can I cool you down?"

Episodes

The Koala Brothers have many adventures helping their friends. Here's a quick look at the seasons:

Season Overview

Season 1 (2003–04)

Season 2 (2004–05)

Season 3 (2005–07)

Awards and Recognition

The Koala Brothers has been recognized for its quality.

• In 2006, it was nominated for a BAFTA Children's Award for Best Animation. This nomination was for the episode titled The Koala Brothers Outback Christmas.

See also

In Spanish: Los hermanos Koala para niños