Kipper (TV series)

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Kipper
Kipper title card.png
Title card
Genre Children's television show
Slice of life
Education
Comedy
Created by Mick Inkpen
Based on Kipper the Dog
by Mick Inkpen
Directed byMike Stuart
Voices of Martin Clunes
Chris Lang
Julia Sawalha
Music by Bob Heatlie
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series6
No. of episodes78 (list of episodes)
Production
ProducerGinger Gibbons
Running time10 minutes (approx.)
Production companies HIT Entertainment
Grand Slamm Children's Films
Original release
Network ITV (Children's ITV)
Release5 September 1997 (1997-09-05) –
21 December 2000 (2000-12-21)

Kipper is a British preschool animated children's television series based on the characters from Mick Inkpen's Kipper the Dog picture book series. [1] Seventy-eight episodes were produced. [2] The videos have won awards including a BAFTA award for best children's animation. The show was produced by HIT Entertainment with animation production by Grand Slamm Children's Films, and ran for five seasons on ITV from September 1997 until December 2000. Out of these, thirteen episodes - twelve of the first series, and the last of the third series, were written by Mick Inkpen himself.

Contents

Premise

The series follows Kipper the Dog as he embarks on various adventures to an assortment of destinations throughout the English countryside. He is joined by friends, Tiger, Pig, Arnold, and Jake.

Characters

Episodes

SeriesEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
1 135 September 1997 (1997-09-05)28 November 1997 (1997-11-28)
2 1324 September 1998 (1998-09-24)17 December 1998 (1998-12-17)
3 1321 January 1999 (1999-01-21)15 April 1999 (1999-04-15)
4 1323 September 1999 (1999-09-23)16 December 1999 (1999-12-16)
5 1320 January 2000 (2000-01-20)13 April 2000 (2000-04-13)
6 1328 September 2000 (2000-09-28)21 December 2000 (2000-12-21)

Broadcast

The series aired on Children's ITV (later CITV) in the United Kingdom. In the United States, it aired on Nick Jr. and PBS Kids Sprout. It also aired in Canada on YTV around the late 1990s as a part of its YTV Jr. lineup.

Home media

UK releases

In the United Kingdom, HIT Video and HIT Entertainment PLC both released various VHS tapes and DVD releases of the television series.

Release nameFormatRelease yearEpisodes
The Visitor and Other StoriesVHS1998
  • The Visitor
  • The Umbrella
  • The Seaside
  • Nothing Ever Happens
  • The Rainbow Puddle
Pig's Present and Other StoriesVHS1998
  • Pig's Present
  • The Conker Tree
  • The Bleepers
  • Pig's Cousin
  • Tiger's Torch
The Little Ghost and Other StoriesVHS1998
  • The Little Ghost
  • The Goldfish
  • Sleepless Night
  • The Camping Trip
  • The Conker Tree
Snowy Day and Other StoriesVHS1999
  • Snowy Day
  • Hiccups
  • Space Invaders
  • Kipper Is Unwell
  • The Igloo
Kipper's Circus and Other StoriesVHS1999
  • Kipper's Circus
  • The Nest
  • The Butterfly
  • The Gismo
  • The Lost Mug
The Treasure Hunt and Other StoriesVHS1999
  • The Treasure Hunt
  • The Paddling Pool
  • The Magnifying Glass
  • The Rescue
  • The Picnic
Christmas Eve and Other StoriesVHS1999
  • Christmas Eve
  • The Dinosaur
  • Tiger's Sledge
  • The Magic Act
  • The Magic Lamp
  • Arnold's Balloon Trip
Looking after Arnold and Other StoriesVHS2000
  • Looking After Arnold
  • The Swimming Pool
  • Cakes and Tails
  • The Long Walk
  • The Surprise Party
  • The Ball
The Big Freeze and Other StoriesVHS2000
  • Echo Echo
  • The Big Freeze
  • Jake's Friend
  • The Fair
  • Big Owl's Bath
  • Jake's Bird
Crazy Golf and Other StoriesVHS2000
  • Pirates
  • Tiger's Cold
  • The Mouse
  • Clouds
  • Crazy Golf
Hide and Seek and Other StoriesVHS2001
  • Tiger's Rocket
  • Water Water Everywhere
  • Pig's Shop
  • Hide and Seek
  • The Jumble Sale
The Flying Machine and Other StoriesVHS2001
  • The Flying Machine
  • Arnold's Drum
  • Skates
  • The Key
  • Cousins
The Robot and Other StoriesVHS2001
  • The Holiday
  • The Big Race
  • Arnold on Wheels
  • Pig's Sweater
  • The Robot
The Magic Carpet and Other StoriesVHS2002
  • The Magic Carpet
  • Tiger's Joke Box
  • Buried Treasure
  • Clay Time
  • The Missing Tape Mystery
Classic CollectionVHS/DVD2004
  • The Visitor
  • The Umbrella
  • The Seaside
  • Nothing Ever Happens
  • Pig's Present
  • The Rainbow Puddle
  • The Butterfly
  • The Bleepers
  • Snowy Day
  • Pig's Cousin
Treasured TalesDVD2009
  • The Paddling Pool
  • The Magnifying Glass
  • The Rescue
  • The Picnic
  • The Treasure Hunt

US releases

In the United States, VHS tapes of the show were originally released by Hallmark Home Entertainment through Family Home Entertainment, Artisan Entertainment, and briefly Lyrick Studios, and later on, VHS tapes and DVDs were released by HIT themselves.

Video nameFormatRelease dateEpisodes
The Visitor and Other StoriesVHSJuly 14, 1999
  • The Visitor
  • The Umbrella
  • The Seaside
  • Nothing Ever Happens
Pig's Present and Other StoriesVHSFebruary 1, 2000
  • Pig's Present
  • The Rainbow Puddle
  • The Butterfly
  • The Bleepers
Snowy Day and Other StoriesVHSAugust 15, 2000
  • Snowy Day
  • Pig's Cousin
  • The Paddling Pool
  • Tiger's Torch
Pools, Parks and PicnicsVHS/DVDJune 5, 2001
  • The Long Walk
  • The Swimming Pool
  • The Picnic
  • Cakes and Tails
  • The Gismo
  • The Lost Mug
  • The Magnifying Glass
Tiger TalesVHS/DVDJune 5, 2001
  • The Camping Trip
  • Tiger's Rocket
  • Skates
  • Arnold's Drum
  • The Holiday
  • Buried Treasure
  • The River Trip
Playtime in the Park (Blockbuster Exclusive)VHSJune 5, 2001
  • The Long Walk
  • The Swimming Pool
  • The Picnic
  • Cakes and Tails
  • The Gismo
  • The Lost Mug
  • The Magnifying Glass
  • The Camping Trip
  • Tiger's Rocket
  • Skates
  • Arnold's Drum
  • The Holiday
  • Buried Treasure
  • The River Trip
Imagine ThatVHS/DVDJanuary 15, 2002
  • Kipper's Circus
  • Pirates
  • The Magic Act
  • The Magic Lamp
  • The Costume Party
  • Arnold's Balloon Trip
  • The Fair
Cuddly CrittersVHS/DVDMarch 5, 2002
  • The Nest
  • Jake's Bird
  • Echo Echo
  • The Goldfish
  • The Mouse
  • Hide and Seek
  • Hedgehog Watch
Amazing DiscoveriesVHS/DVDJune 4, 2002
  • The Purple Park Monster
  • The Robot
  • The Dinosaur
  • Jake's Friend
  • The Ball
  • The Flying Machine
  • Space Invaders
Let It SnowVHS/DVDOctober 22, 2002
  • Christmas Eve
  • The Igloo
  • Tiger's Sled
  • The Big Freeze
  • Snowy Day
PlaytimeVHS/DVDJanuary 28, 2003
  • The Treasure Hunt
  • Looking After Arnold
  • Tiger's Joke Box
  • Pig's Sweater
  • Clay Time
  • The Magic Carpet
  • Kipper the Hero
Fun in the SunVHS/DVDJune 3, 2003
  • The Rescue
  • Clouds
  • Crazy Golf
  • Water Water Everywhere
  • The Big Race
  • Arnold on Wheels
  • The Farm
Friendship TailsVHS/DVDJanuary 27, 2004
  • Sleepless Night
  • Hiccups
  • Kipper is Unwell
  • The Conker Tree
  • Tiger's Cold
  • The Jumble Sale
Water PlayVHS/DVDMarch 23, 2004
  • The Umbrella
  • The Seaside
  • The Rainbow Puddle
  • The Paddling Pool
  • Big Owl's Bath
Kipper Helps OutVHS/DVDAugust 10, 2004
  • The Visitor
  • Pig's Present
  • The Butterfly
  • The Bleepers
  • Pig's Cousin
  • The Little Ghost
Puppy LoveVHS/DVDJanuary 25, 2005
  • Nothing Ever Happens
  • Tiger's Torch
  • Pig's Shop
  • Cousins
  • The Key
  • The Missing Tape Mystery

Digital download releases

This list is for videos that were never released on physical media and are only available on digital download in the US. There are currently only two. One is called "Tales of Adventure" featuring episodes already on other releases. The other is an alternate version of "The Visitor & Other Stories" in which the episodes are in reverse order as to how they are on the US VHS release.

Release nameRelease yearEpisodes
Tales of Adventure2013
  • The Goldfish
  • The Gismo
  • The Nest
  • The Seaside
  • The Big Freeze
  • The Swimming Pool
The Visitor & Other Stories2013
  • Nothing Ever Happens
  • The Seaside
  • The Umbrella
  • The Visitor

Reception

Common Sense Media gives Kipper four out of five stars, and it says the show's characters are positive role models, except Tiger, "but he always learns his lessons"; all the characters "do lots of exploring and learn lessons about friendship, kindness, and the difference between right and wrong". [3] A list published by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute names Kipper as the top television show for two- and three-year-old children because of its focus on "developing social and emotional intelligence" through interactions among its characters. [4]

References

  1. ↑ Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. p. 482. ISBN   978-1476665993.
  2. ↑ Crump, William D. (2019). Happy Holidays—Animated! A Worldwide Encyclopedia of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year's Cartoons on Television and Film. McFarland & Co. p. 54. ISBN   9781476672939.
  3. ↑ Shapiro, Audrey (28 September 2006). "Kipper". Common Sense Media . Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  4. ↑ Petrilli, Michael J. (11 March 2013). "The 10 best television shows for young children". Thomas B. Fordham Institute . Retrieved 16 February 2019.
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