Tube Mice facts for kids

Tube Mice is a fun British cartoon show from 1988. It's all about the exciting lives of mice who live in the underground tunnels of London. People in London often call the London Underground system 'the tube'. So, the mice living there are known as 'tube mice'!

The show was created by Sara and Simon Bor at Honeycomb Animation. It first aired on Children's ITV in the UK. Later, it was shown on Nickelodeon and Tiny Pop. Tube Mice was also popular in other countries. It was shown in South Africa, Germany, Hungary, Singapore, and New Zealand. You might recognize the voices of famous actors George Cole and Dennis Waterman from the show Minder.

What's the Show About?

The story follows four main mouse characters. They live at Oxford Circus Underground station in London. They use the Tube trains to travel all over the city. Each trip takes them to a new adventure!

The mice have their own special society. They use things that humans throw away to build their homes. They have a strict rule: they never steal anything from humans. They even have their own special areas on the Tube trains. They decorate their tunnels with all sorts of reused items. In their society, there are mouse business owners, mouse train supervisors, and even mouse MPs (Members of Parliament).

Meet the Mice!

The characters in Tube Mice are based on different types of people you might see in London. Here are the main characters:

• Bubble – She is a smart and confident female mouse. Bubble is a Rastafarian and originally came from a tall building. Sheila Hyde provides her voice.
• Squeak – He is a polite fieldmouse from a wealthy family. Squeak first came to London to get his family's money. But he liked Oxford Circus so much, he decided to stay! His name and Bubble's name together sound like the English dish "bubble and squeak." Rupert Farley is his voice actor.
• Vernon – This mouse is a bit of a trickster and always looking for a deal. He dresses like a teddy boy. His plans and his desire for money often start the adventures. Vernon usually thinks he's very clever, but he's often wrong! George Cole voices Vernon. His character is quite similar to Arthur Daley, a character Cole played in the TV show Minder.
• Toaster – He is Vernon's friend and often follows him around. Toaster isn't very smart and dresses in a punk style. Even though he's loyal to Vernon, his silliness and love for food often mess up their plans. Dennis Waterman is the voice of Toaster. He also starred in Minder with George Cole.

Other Mouse Friends

You'll also meet these other interesting mice:

• Bo Heemy – A mouse who is an artist. His name sounds like "bohemian," which means someone who lives an artistic life.
• Mickelmouse – He is a mouse MP at Westminster. He works in the Mouse of Parliament.
• Rapper – This mouse only talks in the style of rap music.
• Derby – He is a mouse who works as an Underground attendant. You'll often find him leaning on his broom, taking a nap!

How It Looks and Feels

The show's setting is very much like the real London Underground. It even shows details like litter and graffiti, making it feel authentic.

The animation style of Tube Mice is very unique. It uses unusual angles and ways of looking at things. The backgrounds are painted with watercolour, which gives the show a special look. The series also uses a cool effect where words appear on screen, looking like letters cut from different newspapers. This style gives the show a fun, slightly rebellious feel.

When Did It Air?

• Series 1: There were 26 episodes shown from September 5, 1988, to October 18, 1988.