Calon (Welsh for 'heart') is the trading name of Mount Stuart Media Ltd., a British
animation television production company based in
Cardiff
Cardiff (; cy, Caerdydd ) is the capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of Wales. It forms a Principal areas of Wales, principal area, officially known as the City and County of Cardiff ( cy, Dinas a ...
, the capital of Wales, which primarily produced animation series in
Welsh
Welsh may refer to:
Related to Wales
* Welsh, referring or related to Wales
* Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales
* Welsh people
People
* Welsh (surname)
* Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peopl ...
for
S4C
S4C (, ''Sianel Pedwar Cymru'', meaning ''Channel Four Wales'') is a Welsh language free-to-air public broadcast television channel. Launched on 1 November 1982, it was the first television channel to be aimed specifically at a Welsh-speaking ...
. The company was formerly known as ''Siriol Animation'' and ''Siriol Productions''.
History
Calon was set up following the management buy-out from
Entertainment Rights
Entertainment Rights PLC (formally known as Sleepy Kids) was a British multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate that specialized in TV-shows and cartoons, children’s media, films, and distribution. In May 2009, the company was ...
of Siriol Productions, when Entertainment Rights moved its head office to
London
London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...
. Most members of staff stayed in Wales to help re-establish Siriol as an independent production company. The deal included all rights to current productions and a few older titles, but the rights to most of the older series are now held by
Entertainment Rights
Entertainment Rights PLC (formally known as Sleepy Kids) was a British multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate that specialized in TV-shows and cartoons, children’s media, films, and distribution. In May 2009, the company was ...
.
The company eventually employed over 40 people and was a developer of talent in the Welsh animation industry for more than 30 years. Calon continued working on animation production, but expanded into live-action content for both the UK and international markets, and to co-produce with major networks outside the UK.
In July 2010, the company filed for
voluntary liquidation
Liquidation is the process in accounting by which a company is brought to an end in Canada, United Kingdom, United States, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, and many other countries. The assets and property of the company are redistr ...
when hoped-for investment to expand the company failed to materialise.
Shortly afterwards it was Incorporated into Mount Stuart Media Ltd.
Productions
Two series of ''
Hana's Helpline
Calon (Welsh for 'heart') is the trading name of Mount Stuart Media Ltd., a British animation television production company based in Cardiff, the capital of Wales, which primarily produced animation series in Welsh for S4C. The company was form ...
'' were produced for
Five
5 is a number, numeral, and glyph.
5, five or number 5 may also refer to:
* AD 5, the fifth year of the AD era
* 5 BC, the fifth year before the AD era
Literature
* ''5'' (visual novel), a 2008 visual novel by Ram
* ''5'' (comics), an awar ...
's Milkshake block for preschool children in co-production with S4C and German broadcaster
ZDF
ZDF (, short for Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen; ; "Second German Television") is a German public-service television broadcaster based in Mainz, Rhineland-Palatinate. It is run as an independent nonprofit institution, which was founded by all fe ...
. One series of ''
Igam Ogam
''Igam Ogam'' is a pre-school stop motion animated television series created by Andrew Offiler.
Format
The series takes place on a “higgledy-piggledy” prehistoric planet and follows the antics of a little mischievous cave girl called Igam ...
'' was made for S4C, Five, ZDF Enterprises and the
Gaelic Media Service
MG Alba is the operating name of the Gaelic Media Service ( gd, Seirbheis nam Meadhanan Gàidhlig). The organisation's remit, under the Communications Act 2003, is to ensure that a wide and diverse range of high quality Gaelic programmes is m ...
on
BBC Alba
BBC Alba is a Scottish Gaelic-language free-to-air public broadcast television channel jointly owned by the BBC and MG Alba. The channel was launched on 19 September 2008 and is on-air for up to seven hours a day with BBC Radio nan Gàidheal ...
, and also a puppet series called ''The Zoo Factor'' for
CBBC
CBBC (initialised as Children's BBC and also known as the CBBC Channel) is a British free-to-air Public service broadcasting in the United Kingdom, public broadcast children's television channel owned and operated by the BBC. It is also the bran ...
. Calon's live action drama credits included ''
Help! I'm a Teenage Outlaw
''Help! I'm a Teenage Outlaw'' is a British television programme filmed in the Czech Republic and first aired on CITV. The show follows three hapless outlaws during the English Civil War, who are trying to bring justice back to the land. The ...
'' for
ITV and
Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon (often shortened to Nick) is an American pay television television channel, channel which launched on April 1, 1979, as the first cable channel for children. It is run by Paramount Global through its List of assets owned by Param ...
. In 2011, ITV asked Calon to create a new sitcom for the channel, and Calon worked with
The Osmonds
The Osmonds were an American family music group who reached the height of their fame in the early to mid-1970s. The group had its best-known configurations as a quartet (billed as the Osmond Brothers) and a quintet (as the Osmonds). The group ...
on develop a film based around the wild west.
*''
Help! I'm a Teenage Outlaw
''Help! I'm a Teenage Outlaw'' is a British television programme filmed in the Czech Republic and first aired on CITV. The show follows three hapless outlaws during the English Civil War, who are trying to bring justice back to the land. The ...
'' (adventure game show)
*''
Bobinogs'' (season 3)
*''
Hana's Helpline
Calon (Welsh for 'heart') is the trading name of Mount Stuart Media Ltd., a British animation television production company based in Cardiff, the capital of Wales, which primarily produced animation series in Welsh for S4C. The company was form ...
''
*''Psi-5'' (pilot film; 2007)
*''U-Chronia'' (pilot film; 2009)
*''
Igam Ogam
''Igam Ogam'' is a pre-school stop motion animated television series created by Andrew Offiler.
Format
The series takes place on a “higgledy-piggledy” prehistoric planet and follows the antics of a little mischievous cave girl called Igam ...
'' (2009-2013)
*''The Zoo Factor'' (2011)
*''Captain Morten and the Spider Queen'' (2018) (film)
*''
Sali Mali
Sali Mali is a popular Welsh children's book and television character, originally created by author Mary Vaughan Jones and illustrated by Rowena Wyn Jones during the 1960s and 1970s. Many Welsh-speaking children learnt to read by reading Sali Ma ...
'' (December 2020 – present) (season 2)
Hana's Helpline
Hana's Helpline is a stop-motion animation series for preschool children, about Hana, a duck who runs a telephone helpline for animals with problems. The principal voices are provided by
Arabella Weir
Arabella Weir (born 6 December 1957) is a Scottish comedian, actress and writer. She played roles in the comedy series ''The Fast Show'' and ''Posh Nosh'', and has written several books, including ''Does My Bum Look Big in This?'' Weir has also ...
,
Jonathan Kydd,
Joanna Ruiz
Joanna Ruiz (born 1 February 1970) is a British voice actress who has mainly done voice acting for children's television shows. She attended the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama.
List of credits
* Hilltop Hospital – Additional Voices
* ...
,
Boyd Clack
Boyd Daniel Clack (born 7 March 1951) is a Canadian-born Welsh writer, actor, and musician. He was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada to Welsh parents. At a young age, he emigrated with his family to Wales, where he grew up in Tonyrefail ...
and
Caroline Harker
Caroline Harker (born 1966) is an English stage and television actress, sister of actresses Nelly Harker and Susannah Harker, and daughter of actors Polly Adams and Richard Owens. She and her sisters are descended from theatrical designer Josep ...
with most of the other voices being provided by children.
There are 52 episodes, each 10 minutes long. Its first broadcast was in Wales under the Welsh title ''Holi Hana'', on 2 April 2007. Its first English broadcast was on
Five
5 is a number, numeral, and glyph.
5, five or number 5 may also refer to:
* AD 5, the fifth year of the AD era
* 5 BC, the fifth year before the AD era
Literature
* ''5'' (visual novel), a 2008 visual novel by Ram
* ''5'' (comics), an awar ...
on 12 June 2007. It has also been broadcast in a selection of other countries - for example it began broadcasting on
TVB Pearl
TVB Pearl is a terrestrial television channel in Hong Kong owned by Television Broadcasts Limited. Established on 19 November 1967, it shares headquarters with TVB's other properties at TVB City at 77 Chun Choi Street in Tseung Kwan O Indus ...
, starting 10 May 2007. Books are available from
Random House Children's Books
Random House is an American book publisher and the largest general-interest paperback publisher in the world. The company has several independently managed subsidiaries around the world. It is part of Penguin Random House, which is owned by Germ ...
from January 2008. A line of character toys was also developed by
Golden Bear Toys
Golden Bear Products Ltd. is a British toy manufacturing company that was formed in 1979 by John Hales and Christine Nicholls. Golden Bear operates from its headquarters in Telford, Shropshire and opened an office in Hong Kong in 2001.
Products
...
along with the first DVD of the show which was released in November 2007. A second compilation was released in Spring 2008.
Siriol Productions
Siriol Productions (also known as Dave Edwards Studio, "Siriol" means 'cheerful' in
Welsh language
Welsh ( or ) is a Celtic language of the Brittonic subgroup that is native to the Welsh people. Welsh is spoken natively in Wales, by some in England, and in Y Wladfa (the Welsh colony in Chubut Province, Argentina). Historically, it has ...
) was founded in 1982 by
Mike Young, his wife Liz, animator Dave Edwards and producer Robin Lyons and based in
Cardiff
Cardiff (; cy, Caerdydd ) is the capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of Wales. It forms a Principal areas of Wales, principal area, officially known as the City and County of Cardiff ( cy, Dinas a ...
. The company was originally created when the three men approached the newly formed Welsh TV channel
S4C
S4C (, ''Sianel Pedwar Cymru'', meaning ''Channel Four Wales'') is a Welsh language free-to-air public broadcast television channel. Launched on 1 November 1982, it was the first television channel to be aimed specifically at a Welsh-speaking ...
and secured a commission to produce an animated series of ''
SuperTed
''SuperTed'' is a Welsh superhero animated television series about an anthropomorphic teddy bear with superpowers, created by writer and animator Mike Young. Originally created by Young as a series of stories to help his son overcome his fear o ...
'' (which
Mike Young created). With support from S4C, the partners set up an animation studio, ''Siriol Animation''. ''SuperTed'' was a highly successful with the company winning a prestigious BAFTA award in 1987. The show first aired in 1982 and started airing on S4C in Wales and on the
BBC #REDIRECT BBC
Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
elsewhere in the UK. It also ran for one season and 37 episodes.
Following its success with ''SuperTed'', the company was commissioned by S4C to produce another series called ''
Wil Cwac Cwac
''Wil Cwac Cwac'' is a Welsh-language animated television series produced by Siriol Animation for S4C in 1982. It is based on a series of children's books written in the early 1930s by Jennie Thomas and J. O. Williams (including the famous Wel ...
'' which was based on a series of children's books that were first published in Wales in the early 1930s about a little duckling who is always naughty and lives in a farm village with his family and friends. This, in turn was followed by further commissions from S4C for half-hour specials created for the animated series ''
Fox Tales
''Fox Tales'' is a 1976 anthology of 16 animal-centered fairy tales from around the world that have been collected and retold by Ruth Manning-Sanders. These tales are written for a slightly younger level of reader than Manning-Sanders' more famil ...
''. Lyons and Young have also been involved in working on a children's stop motion animated series, ''
Fireman Sam
''Fireman Sam'' (Welsh: ') is a Welsh animated children's television series about a fireman named Sam, his fellow firefighters, and other residents in the fictional Welsh rural village of Pontypandy (a portmanteau of two real towns, Pontypridd ...
'' in 1987, except it was produced by Prism Art and Design Ltd and
Bumper Films
Bumper Films, Inc. was a children's stop motion animation studio based in Bristol, United Kingdom. They were best known for producing the original series of ''Fireman Sam,'' which aired from 1987 to 1994 in the UK. They also produced '' Joshua Jon ...
. In its early years, the studio worked exclusively for S4C, and Robin Lyons (Managing Director) decided to broaden its customer base and to move into co-productions to form Siriol Productions in 1988. In 1989,
Mike Young left the company and moved to the United States to set up his own company,
Mike Young Productions
Splash Entertainment, LLC., formerly known as Mike Young Productions, Inc., MoonScoop Entertainment, LLC. and Taffy Entertainment, is an American animation studio that produces children's TV series. Splash also controls the streaming service Kab ...
. Young also teamed up with
Hanna-Barbera
Hanna-Barbera Cartoons, Inc. ( ) was an American animation studio and production company which was active from 1957 to 2001. It was founded on July 7, 1957, by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera following the decision of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer t ...
to develop a cartoon called ''
Fantastic Max
''Fantastic Max'' is an animated cartoon series, originally aired from 1988 to 1990 created by Hanna-Barbera Productions, Kalisto Ltd., Booker PLC and Tanaka Promotion Co. and in association with S4C. It centers on a boy named Maxwell "Fantast ...
'' (which was originally called ''Space Baby'') and to create a sequel series to ''SuperTed'' entitled ''
The Further Adventures of SuperTed
''The Further Adventures of SuperTed'' is an animated television series produced by Hanna-Barbera and Siriol Animation in association with S4C, and continues the adventures of SuperTed. Only 13 episodes were produced and originally broadcast o ...
''.
Moving into co-productions has proved successful for Siriol, resulting in productions such as ''
The Princess and the Goblin
''The Princess and the Goblin'' is a children's fantasy novel by George MacDonald. It was published in 1872 by Strahan & Co., with black-and-white illustrations by Arthur Hughes. Strahan had published the story and illustrations as a serial in ...
'' an 80-minute film co-produced by Hungary's
Pannonia Film Studio
Pannonia Film Studio (also known as MAFILM Pannónia Filmstúdió) was the largest animation studio in Hungary, based in the capital of Budapest. It was formed in 1951, becoming independent in 1957. The studio is said to have closed sometime ar ...
and ''
Under Milk Wood
''Under Milk Wood'' is a 1954 radio drama by Welsh poet Dylan Thomas, commissioned by the BBC and later adapted for the stage. A film version, '' Under Milk Wood'' directed by Andrew Sinclair, was released in 1972, and another adaptatio ...
'', a 50-minute TV special using the 1950s voice recording by
Richard Burton
Richard Burton (; born Richard Walter Jenkins Jr.; 10 November 1925 – 5 August 1984) was a Welsh actor. Noted for his baritone voice, Burton established himself as a formidable Shakespearean actor in the 1950s, and he gave a memorable p ...
. These productions have enabled Robin Lyons to develop extensive contacts throughout the animation industry, both with broadcasters such as the BBC and ITV, and with other leading animation studios.
In 1989, Siriol, together with three other animation studios in France, Germany and Belgium formed its own distribution company, EVA Entertainment, headed up by Steve Walsh, the former head of co-productions at
Goldcrest Films
Goldcrest Films is an award-winning independent British distribution, production, post production, and finance company. Operating from London and New York, Goldcrest is a privately owned integrated filmed entertainment company.
Goldcrest Films ov ...
. Its co-productions were grouped under the EC's CARTOON programme as part of its MEDIA initiative. EVA was the first grouping company established under this initiative. The group set up co-productions with major European broadcasters, typically with the
BBC #REDIRECT BBC
Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
in the UK,
FR3
France 3 () is a French free-to-air public television channel and part of the France Télévisions group, which also includes France 2, France 4, France 5 and France Info.
It is made up of a network of regional television services providing ...
and
Canal+
Canals or artificial waterways are waterways or engineered channels built for drainage management (e.g. flood control and irrigation) or for conveyancing water transport vehicles (e.g. water taxi). They carry free, calm surface flow unde ...
in France and
ZDF
ZDF (, short for Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen; ; "Second German Television") is a German public-service television broadcaster based in Mainz, Rhineland-Palatinate. It is run as an independent nonprofit institution, which was founded by all fe ...
and
WDR WDR may refer to:
* Waddell & Reed (stock ticker: WDR), an American asset management and financial planning company
* Walt Disney Records, an American record label of the Disney Music Group
* WDR neuron, a type of neuron involved in pain signall ...
in Germany. It also made co-productions with other European partners as well as with US and Canadian co-producers.
In 1995, EVA received a substantial private investment and attracted two top executives from BBC Children's International, Mikael Shields and Tony Stern. EVA Entertainment has made many series and specials, (the group's major productions were controlled creatively by Siriol) which were sold to over fifty different countries on five continents, including ''Robert Creep'', ''Tales of the Tooth Fairies'', ''
Billy the Cat'' (the group's largest project) and ''
Romuald the Reindeer
Romuald the Reindeer is a British children's animated series, created by Robin Lyons and Andrew Offiler, and produced by Siriol Productions and La Fabrique in association with EVA Entertainment. It aired on the BBC on 24 September 1996 and focuses ...
''. The later two programmes were produced by Robin Lyons. When EVA was sold to
Pearson PLC
Pearson plc is a British multinational publishing and education company headquartered in London, England.
It was founded as a construction business in the 1840s but switched to publishing in the 1920s. Spender, J. A., ''Weetman Pearson: F ...
, Siriol formed other alliances with
Scottish Television
Scottish Television (now, legally, known as STV Central Limited) is the ITV (TV network), ITV network franchisee for Central Belt, Central Scotland. The channel — the largest of the three ITV franchises in Scotland — has been in operation ...
and
SKD Media Plc.
In 1998, Siriol was brought over by
Sleepy Kids (renamed ''
Entertainment Rights
Entertainment Rights PLC (formally known as Sleepy Kids) was a British multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate that specialized in TV-shows and cartoons, children’s media, films, and distribution. In May 2009, the company was ...
'' in 2000), with Lyons expanding his role within the new company. In 2005, a management buyout led by Lyons took place for Siriol Productions, and was renamed ''Calon''.
Siriol set up two subdivisions. The first was Blunt Pictures, which produced animation aimed at older audiences. Blunt Pictures has produced a short film for
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British free-to-air public broadcast television network operated by the state-owned enterprise, state-owned Channel Four Television Corporation. It began its transmission on 2 November 1982 and was established to provide a four ...
, ''Dee’s Dish of the Day'' and developed the series, ''Stonehouse Reunion'' for Channel 4 and ''Days of Deliverance'' for S4C. Blunt has also developed a low budget feature, ''360'', which has attracted funding from the Film Panel of the Welsh Lottery, and several web-based animation projects including ''Once Upon A Morgue'' and ''
Deadenders
''Deadenders'' is a science fiction comic book series written by Ed Brubaker and published by DC Comics. It is set in a post-apocalyptic future in New Bethleham USA and features a heavy Mod content among the characters. The cover work is by Phil ...
''. The second subdivision was a web design subdivision called Piczled, which has designed the official ''
Basil Brush
Basil Brush is a fictional red fox, best known for his appearances on daytime British children's television. He is primarily portrayed by a glove puppet, but has also been depicted in animated cartoon shorts and comic strips. The character has ...
'' website and theme park attractions for
Chessington World of Adventures
Chessington World of Adventures Resort is a theme park, zoo and hotel complex in Chessington, Greater London, England, around southwest of Central London. The complex opened as Chessington Zoo in 1931, with the theme park being developed alo ...
in Surrey and
Alton Towers
Alton Towers Resort ( ) (often referred to as Alton Towers) is a theme park and resort complex in Staffordshire, England, near the village of Alton. The park is operated by Merlin Entertainments Group and incorporates a theme park, water pa ...
in Staffordshire. Piczled has also worked on other websites such as those for Siriol and Entertainment Rights.
Production
*''
SuperTed
''SuperTed'' is a Welsh superhero animated television series about an anthropomorphic teddy bear with superpowers, created by writer and animator Mike Young. Originally created by Young as a series of stories to help his son overcome his fear o ...
'' (1982–1986, TV series, co-produced with
S4C
S4C (, ''Sianel Pedwar Cymru'', meaning ''Channel Four Wales'') is a Welsh language free-to-air public broadcast television channel. Launched on 1 November 1982, it was the first television channel to be aimed specifically at a Welsh-speaking ...
and
BBC #REDIRECT BBC
Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
)
*''
Wil Cwac Cwac
''Wil Cwac Cwac'' is a Welsh-language animated television series produced by Siriol Animation for S4C in 1982. It is based on a series of children's books written in the early 1930s by Jennie Thomas and J. O. Williams (including the famous Wel ...
'' (1982–1986, TV series, co-produced with
S4C
S4C (, ''Sianel Pedwar Cymru'', meaning ''Channel Four Wales'') is a Welsh language free-to-air public broadcast television channel. Launched on 1 November 1982, it was the first television channel to be aimed specifically at a Welsh-speaking ...
)
*''Fox Tales'' (1986–1988, TV specials, co-produced with
S4C
S4C (, ''Sianel Pedwar Cymru'', meaning ''Channel Four Wales'') is a Welsh language free-to-air public broadcast television channel. Launched on 1 November 1982, it was the first television channel to be aimed specifically at a Welsh-speaking ...
and
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British free-to-air public broadcast television network operated by the state-owned enterprise, state-owned Channel Four Television Corporation. It began its transmission on 2 November 1982 and was established to provide a four ...
)
**''A Winter Story'' (1986)
**''The Easter Egg'' (1987)
**''Turkey Love'' (1988)
*''Space Baby'' (1988, half-hour pilot, later became ''
Fantastic Max
''Fantastic Max'' is an animated cartoon series, originally aired from 1988 to 1990 created by Hanna-Barbera Productions, Kalisto Ltd., Booker PLC and Tanaka Promotion Co. and in association with S4C. It centers on a boy named Maxwell "Fantast ...
'', 1988–1990, co-produced with
Hanna-Barbera
Hanna-Barbera Cartoons, Inc. ( ) was an American animation studio and production company which was active from 1957 to 2001. It was founded on July 7, 1957, by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera following the decision of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer t ...
)
*''
The Further Adventures of SuperTed
''The Further Adventures of SuperTed'' is an animated television series produced by Hanna-Barbera and Siriol Animation in association with S4C, and continues the adventures of SuperTed. Only 13 episodes were produced and originally broadcast o ...
'' (1989, TV series, co-produced with
Hanna-Barbera
Hanna-Barbera Cartoons, Inc. ( ) was an American animation studio and production company which was active from 1957 to 2001. It was founded on July 7, 1957, by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera following the decision of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer t ...
)
*''Santa and the Tooth Fairies'' (1991, TV special, co-produced with La Fabrique, Cologne Cartoon, Sofidoc SA, EVA Entertainment and
BBC #REDIRECT BBC
Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
)
*''
The Princess and the Goblin
''The Princess and the Goblin'' is a children's fantasy novel by George MacDonald. It was published in 1872 by Strahan & Co., with black-and-white illustrations by Arthur Hughes. Strahan had published the story and illustrations as a serial in ...
'' (1992, film, co-produced with
Pannonia Film Studio
Pannonia Film Studio (also known as MAFILM Pannónia Filmstúdió) was the largest animation studio in Hungary, based in the capital of Budapest. It was formed in 1951, becoming independent in 1957. The studio is said to have closed sometime ar ...
,
S4C
S4C (, ''Sianel Pedwar Cymru'', meaning ''Channel Four Wales'') is a Welsh language free-to-air public broadcast television channel. Launched on 1 November 1982, it was the first television channel to be aimed specifically at a Welsh-speaking ...
and
NHK
, also known as NHK, is a Japanese public broadcaster. NHK, which has always been known by this romanized initialism in Japanese, is a statutory corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee.
NHK operates two terrestri ...
)
*''
PONY.MOV
Max Gilardi (born January 28, 1988), also known as Max G and or by his Internet pseudonym HotDiggedyDemon, is an American animator, voice actor, artist and YouTuber. He is best known for his "PONY .MOV" web series (a parody of the popular childr ...
'' (1992-2004, TV series, co-produced with
S4C
S4C (, ''Sianel Pedwar Cymru'', meaning ''Channel Four Wales'') is a Welsh language free-to-air public broadcast television channel. Launched on 1 November 1982, it was the first television channel to be aimed specifically at a Welsh-speaking ...
and
HotdiggedyDemon)
*''Santa’s First Christmas'' (1992, TV special, co-produced with EVA Entertainment, Cologne Cartoon,
S4C
S4C (, ''Sianel Pedwar Cymru'', meaning ''Channel Four Wales'') is a Welsh language free-to-air public broadcast television channel. Launched on 1 November 1982, it was the first television channel to be aimed specifically at a Welsh-speaking ...
, and Filmstiftung Nordrhein-Westfalen)
*''Under Milk Wood'' (1992, film, co-produced with
S4C
S4C (, ''Sianel Pedwar Cymru'', meaning ''Channel Four Wales'') is a Welsh language free-to-air public broadcast television channel. Launched on 1 November 1982, it was the first television channel to be aimed specifically at a Welsh-speaking ...
: Distributed theatrically in over 25 countries, including USA; won a 1992
BAFTA Cymru
BAFTA Cymru (or BAFTA in Wales or WAFTA) is the Welsh branch of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) and was founded in 1987. award)
*''
Tales of the Tooth Fairies
Tales of the Tooth Fairies (French: Souris Souris) is a children's television programme created by Françoise Caspan. It was co-produced by Siriol Productions, La Fabrique, EVA Entertainment, Cologne Cartoon, and Sofidoc S.A. for WDR and Fra ...
'' (1992, TV series, co-produced with La Fabrique, EVA Entertainment, Cologne Cartoon, Sofidoc S.A., WDR,
France 3
France 3 () is a French free-to-air public television channel and part of the France Télévisions group, which also includes France 2, France 4, France 5 and France Info.
It is made up of a network of regional television services prov ...
, and
BBC #REDIRECT BBC
Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
)
*''Gerald of Wales'' (1993, TV special, co-produced with
Cadw
(, a Welsh verbal noun meaning "keeping/preserving") is the historic environment service of the Welsh Government and part of the Tourism and Culture group. works to protect the historic buildings and structures, the landscapes and heritage ...
and
S4C
S4C (, ''Sianel Pedwar Cymru'', meaning ''Channel Four Wales'') is a Welsh language free-to-air public broadcast television channel. Launched on 1 November 1982, it was the first television channel to be aimed specifically at a Welsh-speaking ...
)
*''The Legand Of Lochnager'' (1993, co-produced with
S4C
S4C (, ''Sianel Pedwar Cymru'', meaning ''Channel Four Wales'') is a Welsh language free-to-air public broadcast television channel. Launched on 1 November 1982, it was the first television channel to be aimed specifically at a Welsh-speaking ...
,
BBC Scotland
BBC Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: ''BBC Alba'') is a division of the BBC and the main public broadcaster in Scotland.
It is one of the four BBC national regions, together with the BBC English Regions, BBC Cymru Wales and BBC Northern Irelan ...
and
BBC Wales
BBC Cymru Wales is a division of the BBC and the main public broadcaster in Wales.
It is one of the four BBC national regions, alongside the BBC English Regions, BBC Northern Ireland and BBC Scotland. Established in 1964, BBC Cymru Wales i ...
)
*''Robert Creep'' (1994, TV series, co-produced with EVA Entertainment: Best Special Award at the 1994 Treviso Festival)
*''
The Hot Rod Dogs and Cool Car Cats
''The Hot Rod Dogs and Cool Car Cats'' is an animated television series which aired between September 9, 1995 and June 15, 1996 on ITV kids strand CITV, and was shown in May 11, 2009 on Scottish children's programme ''wknd@stv''. The series is ...
'' (1995-1996, TV Series, co-produced with
Mike Young Productions
Splash Entertainment, LLC., formerly known as Mike Young Productions, Inc., MoonScoop Entertainment, LLC. and Taffy Entertainment, is an American animation studio that produces children's TV series. Splash also controls the streaming service Kab ...
and
Scottish Television
Scottish Television (now, legally, known as STV Central Limited) is the ITV (TV network), ITV network franchisee for Central Belt, Central Scotland. The channel — the largest of the three ITV franchises in Scotland — has been in operation ...
)
*''
Romuald the Reindeer
Romuald the Reindeer is a British children's animated series, created by Robin Lyons and Andrew Offiler, and produced by Siriol Productions and La Fabrique in association with EVA Entertainment. It aired on the BBC on 24 September 1996 and focuses ...
'' (1996, TV series, co-produced with EVA Entertainment and La Fabrique)
*''
Billy the Cat'' (1996, TV series, co-produced with Les Films du Triangle, NOA,
Western International Communications
WIC Western International Communications Ltd. (or WIC) was a Canadian media company that operated from 1982 to 2000, with operations including broadcast and specialty television, radio, and satellite distribution via a majority interest in Ca ...
, Sofidoc SA,
ZDF
ZDF (, short for Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen; ; "Second German Television") is a German public-service television broadcaster based in Mainz, Rhineland-Palatinate. It is run as an independent nonprofit institution, which was founded by all fe ...
,
FR3
France 3 () is a French free-to-air public television channel and part of the France Télévisions group, which also includes France 2, France 4, France 5 and France Info.
It is made up of a network of regional television services providing ...
, Cologne Cartoon, La Fabrique and EVA Entertainment)
*''
The Blobs
''The Blobs'' was an animated television series based on the books by DC Thomson, published in 1980. It tells the story of a community of colourful paint-splash characters who live in Paintbox Land. The 26-episode series, narrated originally b ...
'' (1997–1998, TV series, co-produced with Taytel and
Scottish Television Enterprises
STV Studios (previously STV Productions, SMG Productions, and originally known as Scottish Television Enterprises) is the television production arm of the STV Group plc. Headquartered in Glasgow, Scotland, and with an office in London, England, ...
)
*''
Hilltop Hospital
''Hilltop Hospital'' (French: ''Hôpital Hilltop'') is a claymation television series made in 1999, directed by Pascal Le Nôtre. It is adapted from a series of books by Nicholas Allan of the same name.
The theme tune and incidental music for t ...
'' (1999–2002, TV series, co-produced with EVA Entertainment,
Canal J
Canal J (stylised as canal J) is a French pay public television channel dedicated to children's programming. It is aimed at children aged seven to fourteen.
On 1 February 2019, M6 Group entered negotiations to acquire the television unit o ...
,
FR3
France 3 () is a French free-to-air public television channel and part of the France Télévisions group, which also includes France 2, France 4, France 5 and France Info.
It is made up of a network of regional television services providing ...
,
ZDF
ZDF (, short for Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen; ; "Second German Television") is a German public-service television broadcaster based in Mainz, Rhineland-Palatinate. It is run as an independent nonprofit institution, which was founded by all fe ...
,
Millimages
Millimages is a French
French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to France
** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents
** French people, a nation and ethnic ...
and
Folimage
Folimage is a French animation studio, based in Bourg-lès-Valence, Drôme, France. It was founded in 1981 by Jacques-Rémy Girerd. The studio produces animation films for cinema and TV (short films, TV specials and series, feature films). In 199 ...
: Has awards in Italy, France and the USA. The show was nominated for a BAFTA in 2001)
*''
Meeow!
''Meeow!'' (Gaelic version: ''Meusaidh'') is a 2000-2003 British animated children's series based on the Maisie MacKenzie books by Aileen Paterson, and produced simultaneously in English and Gaelic versions. The series is about a young cat named ...
'' (2000, TV series, co-produced with
SKD Media Plc, Comataidh Craolaidh Gaidhlig and
Scottish Television
Scottish Television (now, legally, known as STV Central Limited) is the ITV (TV network), ITV network franchisee for Central Belt, Central Scotland. The channel — the largest of the three ITV franchises in Scotland — has been in operation ...
)
*''
Sali Mali
Sali Mali is a popular Welsh children's book and television character, originally created by author Mary Vaughan Jones and illustrated by Rowena Wyn Jones during the 1960s and 1970s. Many Welsh-speaking children learnt to read by reading Sali Ma ...
'' (2000, TV series, co-produced with
Cymdeithas Lyfrau Ceredigion
Cymdeithas Lyfrau Ceredigion (''CLC'') was a Welsh publisher, established in 1954, specialising in books of interest to Ceredigion, and Welsh language children's books, including adaptations and original works. Cymdeithas Lyfrau Ceredigion bought ...
and
S4C
S4C (, ''Sianel Pedwar Cymru'', meaning ''Channel Four Wales'') is a Welsh language free-to-air public broadcast television channel. Launched on 1 November 1982, it was the first television channel to be aimed specifically at a Welsh-speaking ...
)
*''Drums of Noto Hanto'' (2000, 15-minute short, co-produced with
S4C
S4C (, ''Sianel Pedwar Cymru'', meaning ''Channel Four Wales'') is a Welsh language free-to-air public broadcast television channel. Launched on 1 November 1982, it was the first television channel to be aimed specifically at a Welsh-speaking ...
)
*''
Knife and Wife
Calon (Welsh for 'heart') is the trading name of Mount Stuart Media Ltd., a British animation television production company based in Cardiff, the capital of Wales, which primarily produced animation series in Welsh for S4C. The company was form ...
'' (2001, TV special, co-produced with
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British free-to-air public broadcast television network operated by the state-owned enterprise, state-owned Channel Four Television Corporation. It began its transmission on 2 November 1982 and was established to provide a four ...
)
Animation services
*
S4C
S4C (, ''Sianel Pedwar Cymru'', meaning ''Channel Four Wales'') is a Welsh language free-to-air public broadcast television channel. Launched on 1 November 1982, it was the first television channel to be aimed specifically at a Welsh-speaking ...
network ID (1987)
*''
Knightmare
''Knightmare'' is a British children's adventure game show, created by Tim Child, and broadcast over eight series on CITV from 7 September 1987 to 11 November 1994. The general format of the show is of a team of four children – one who take ...
'' (1987) (opening animation)
*
MTV
MTV (Originally an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable channel that launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group, part of Paramount Media Networks, a di ...
network ID (1988)
*''
Babar
Babar ( ur, ), also variously spelled as Baber, Babur, and Babor is a male given name of Pashto, and Persian origin, and a popular male given name in Pakistan. It is generally taken in reference to the Persian ''babr'' ( Persian: ببر), meani ...
'' (1989) (season 1 for
Nelvana
Nelvana Enterprises, Inc. (; previously known as Nelvana Limited, sometimes known as Nelvana Animation and simply Nelvana or Nelvana Communications) is a Canadian animation studio and entertainment company owned by Corus Entertainment. Found ...
)
*''Body Beautiful'' (1991)
*''Lava Lava'' (for La Fabrique)
*''
Hurricanes
A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm, storm system characterized by a Low-pressure area, low-pressure center, a closed low-level atmospheric circulation, Beaufort scale, strong winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms tha ...
'' (1993, Series 1, for
DIC Entertainment L.P.
DIC Entertainment Corporation (; also known as DIC Audiovisuel, DIC Enterprises, DIC Animation City, DIC Entertainment, L.P., and DIC Productions), branded as The Incredible World of DIC, was an international film and television production com ...
and
Scottish Television Enterprises
STV Studios (previously STV Productions, SMG Productions, and originally known as Scottish Television Enterprises) is the television production arm of the STV Group plc. Headquartered in Glasgow, Scotland, and with an office in London, England, ...
)
*''
Soul Music
Soul music is a popular music genre that originated in the African American community throughout the United States in the late 1950s and early 1960s. It has its roots in African-American gospel music and rhythm and blues. Soul music became pop ...
'' (1997) (for
Cosgrove Hall Films
Cosgrove Hall Films (also known as Cosgrove Hall Productions) was an English animation studio founded by Brian Cosgrove and Mark Hall; its headquarters was in Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester. Cosgrove Hall was once a major producer of childr ...
)
*''Toons from Planet Orange'' (1998) ("Helmutt and the Killer Nose" for Cologne Cartoon)
*''
Lucky and Zorba
''Lucky and Zorba'' ( it, La gabbianella e il gatto; literally "The Little Seagull and The Cat") is a 1998 Italian traditional animation film directed by Enzo D'Alò, based on ''The Story of A Seagull and The Cat Who Taught Her To Fly'' by Luis ...
'' (1998) (for Lanterna Magica)
*''
A Monkey's Tale
''A Monkey's Tale'' (french: Le Château des singes; literally "The Castle of Monkeys") is a feature-length animated film directed by Jean-François Laguionie. It was released in 1999, and won the Award for Best Animated Feature Film at the fifth ...
'' (1999)
*''
Albie People
* Albert Axelrod (1921–2004), American Olympic medalist foil fencer
* Albie Booth (1908–1959), American Hall-of-Fame college football player
* Albie Grant (1943–2004), American basketball player
* Albie Hecht, American television produ ...
'' (2002, 2004) (for
Cosgrove Hall Films
Cosgrove Hall Films (also known as Cosgrove Hall Productions) was an English animation studio founded by Brian Cosgrove and Mark Hall; its headquarters was in Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester. Cosgrove Hall was once a major producer of childr ...
)
*''
Bounty Hamster
''Bounty Hamster'' is a 2003 British-New Zealand comic science fiction animated series created by David Max Freedman and Alan Gilbey.
Plot
Cassie Harrison, a 13-year-old girl, is searching the universe for her father after he was kidnapped by ...
'' (2003)
*''
Totò Sapore e la magica storia della pizza
''Totò Sapore e la magica storia della pizza'' (English: Totò Sapore and the magical story of pizza) is a 2003 Italian animated film, with some dialogues made in Neapolitan, directed by Maurizio Forestieri and distributed by Medusa Film and La ...
'' (2003) (for Lanterna Magica)
*''
BB3B
''BB3B '' was an animated UK children's television series produced by Tell-Tale Productions in 2005. The entire series consists of thirteen episodes of twenty minutes each. It is shown on CBBC in the UK and ABC Kids in Australia. It first wen ...
'' (2004)
*''
Dragon Tales
''Dragon Tales'' is an animated educational fantasy children's television series created by Jim Coane and Ron Rodecker and developed by Coane, Wesley Eure, Jeffrey Scott, Cliff Ruby and Elana Lesser and produced by Sony Pictures Television, Ses ...
'' (2005) (for
Sesame Workshop
Sesame Workshop (SW), originally known as the Children's Television Workshop (CTW), is an American nonprofit organization that has been responsible for the production of several educational children's programs—including its first and best-know ...
)
*''
Fireman Sam
''Fireman Sam'' (Welsh: ') is a Welsh animated children's television series about a fireman named Sam, his fellow firefighters, and other residents in the fictional Welsh rural village of Pontypandy (a portmanteau of two real towns, Pontypridd ...
'' (2005) (for
HIT Entertainment
HIT Entertainment Limited (commonly written as HiT) was a British-American entertainment company founded in 1982 as Henson International Television, the international distribution arm of The Jim Henson Company, by Jim Henson, Peter Orton, and So ...
)
''Knife and Wife''
''Knife and Wife'' was a British one-off half-hour animated
Comedy
Comedy is a genre of fiction that consists of discourses or works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up comedy, television, radio, books, or any other entertainment medium. The term ori ...
programme screened on
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British free-to-air public broadcast television network operated by the state-owned enterprise, state-owned Channel Four Television Corporation. It began its transmission on 2 November 1982 and was established to provide a four ...
in December 2001. It was created by Blunt Films, the adult animation division of Siriol and written by
Paul Rose.
The voice of Knife was provided by former
Monty Python
Monty Python (also collectively known as the Pythons) were a British comedy troupe who created the sketch comedy television show '' Monty Python's Flying Circus'', which first aired on the BBC in 1969. Forty-five episodes were made over fo ...
member
Terry Jones
Terence Graham Parry Jones (1 February 1942 – 21 January 2020) was a Welsh comedian, director, historian, actor, writer and member of the Monty Python comedy team.
After graduating from Oxford University with a degree in English, Jones and ...
, whilst the part of his wife, Janine was voiced by actress
Jessica Stevenson
Tallulah Jessica Elina Hynes (''née'' Stevenson; born 30 October 1972) is an English actress, director and writer. Known professionally as Jessica Stevenson until 2007, she was one of the creators, writers and stars of the British sitcom ''Spac ...
.
Kevin Eldon
Kevin Eldon (born 2 October 1959) is an English actor and comedian. He featured in British comedy television shows of the 1990s including '' Fist of Fun'', ''This Morning with Richard Not Judy'', '' Knowing Me, Knowing You with Alan Partridge' ...
,
Ruth Jones
Ruth Alexandra Elisabeth Jones (born 22 September 1966) is a Welsh actress, comedian, writer and producer. She co-wrote and co-starred in the award-winning BBC sitcom ''Gavin & Stacey'' (2007–2010, 2019).
Jones has also appeared in various ...
,
Paul Putner
Paul Putner (born March 1966) is an English actor and comedian.
Life and career
Putner was born in March 1966 in East Grinstead, West Sussex. He studied at LAMDA where he won the Kenneth More prize for comedy acting.
His first significant TV ...
and
Brian Murphy Brian Murphy may refer to:
Sportspeople
* Brian Murphy (Jamaican cricketer) (born 1973), Jamaican cricketer
* Brian Murphy (Zimbabwean cricketer) (born 1976), Zimbabwean cricketer
* Brian Murphy (baseball) (born 1980), American head baseball coach ...
also did voices for the series. The programme was part of the Channel 4 ''
Comedy Lab
''Comedy Lab'' is a British television series which showcases pilots of experimental comedy shows. Series have been aired irregularly on Channel 4 and E4 since 1998.
Several pilots first shown on ''Comedy Lab'' have gone on to spawn full serie ...
'' try-out project, which had spawned several successful series including ''
Trigger Happy TV
''Trigger Happy TV'' is a hidden camera/practical joke comedy television series. The original British edition of the show, produced by Absolutely Productions, starred Dom Joly and ran for three series on the British television channel Channel 4 ...
'' and ''
That Peter Kay Thing
''That Peter Kay Thing'' is a series of six spoof documentaries shown on Channel 4 in 2000. It was written by Peter Kay, Dave Spikey, Neil Fitzmaurice and Gareth Hughes, and was directed by Andrew Gillman. The series was narrated by Andrew ...
''. No full series followed.
Kalisto Ltd
Kalisto Ltd. is a short lived co-venture between the directors of Siriol Animation and
Booker Group
Booker Group Limited is a British food wholesale operator and subsidiary of Tesco.
In January 2017, it was announced that the British multinational supermarket retailer Tesco had agreed to purchase the company for £3.7 billion. It was confir ...
.
Launched in 1986, the company has developed a show called ''Space Baby'' (which eventually became ''
Fantastic Max
''Fantastic Max'' is an animated cartoon series, originally aired from 1988 to 1990 created by Hanna-Barbera Productions, Kalisto Ltd., Booker PLC and Tanaka Promotion Co. and in association with S4C. It centers on a boy named Maxwell "Fantast ...
'', which was co-produced with Hanna-Barbera), along with another series called ''Satellite City'' (co-produced with Fairwater Films) and the 1991 animated film adaptation of the children's book ''
The Little Engine That Could
''The Little Engine That Could'' is an American folktale (existing in the form of several illustrated children's books and films) that became widely known in the United States after publication in 1930 by Platt & Munk. The story is used to teach ...
''. Kalisto barely lasted a year before Booker bought the rights back.
References
Sources
*''Radio Times Guide to TV Comedy 2003.'' Edited by Mark Lewisohn. BBC Worldwide 2003.
External links
*
{{Media in Cardiff
Television production companies of the United Kingdom
British animation studios
Companies based in Cardiff
Mass media companies established in 1981
1981 establishments in Wales
CBeebies