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Kipper (TV series)

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Kipper
GenreChildren's television show
Slice of life
Education
Comedy
Created byMick Inkpen
Based onKipper the Dog
by Mick Inkpen
Directed byMike Stuart
Voices ofMartin Clunes
Chris Lang
Julia Sawalha
Music byBob Heatlie
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series6
No. of episodes78 (list of episodes)
Production
ProducerGinger Gibbons
Running time10 minutes (approx.)
Production companyHIT Entertainment
Original release
NetworkITV (CITV)
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.

Premise

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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

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  • Kipper (voiced by Martin Clunes) is a fun-loving, caring and warm-hearted dog with a soft voice who is the titular character of the series. He embodies the true essence of what it means to carpe diem. He is also very selfless, even though he hoards lots of small belongings like books and toys. Kipper is a Jack Russell terrier who has many exciting encounters with his friends.
  • Tiger (voiced by Chris Lang) is Kipper's best friend. He is more realistic, practical, and wise than Kipper with a tendency to think long term. Sometimes Tiger can be very smug and haughty, even though he really is a kind dog at heart. Tiger is a Scottish terrier.
  • Pig (voiced by Chris Lang) is Kipper's second best friend. Pig is very outgoing, but loves normalcy and gets easily irritated by anything strange or mysterious. He likes to eat chocolate cake and biscuits.
  • Arnold (voiced by Chris Lang) is Pig's live-in toddler cousin and Kipper's third best friend. Even though Arnold cannot talk, he is actually more curious, observant, and intelligent than Pig. He can still say easy words like "duck", "kitten", and "igloo".
  • Jake (voiced by Chris Lang) is a friendly Old English sheepdog who is Kipper's fourth best friend. He is a minor character in the first series who makes more regular appearances after joining the main characters in the second series where he, Kipper, and Tiger have had many adventures together.
  • Mr. Frog (voiced by Chris Lang) is a magic frog who occasionally runs into Kipper.
  • The Bleeper People (voiced by Chris Lang) are two space aliens who live on the moon.
  • Mouse (voiced by Julia Sawalha, credited as Julie Sawalha in later appearances) is a young female mouse who lives with Kipper at his house. She speaks with an English accent and is the only female character who appears in the series.

Episodes

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Main article: List of Kipper episodes
Series Episodes Originally aired
First aired Last aired
1 13 5 September 1997 (1997-09-05) 28 November 1997 (1997-11-28)
2 13 24 September 1998 (1998-09-24) 17 December 1998 (1998-12-17)
3 13 21 January 1999 (1999-01-21) 15 April 1999 (1999-04-15)
4 13 23 September 1999 (1999-09-23) 16 December 1999 (1999-12-16)
5 13 20 January 2000 (2000-01-20) 13 April 2000 (2000-04-13)
6 13 28 September 2000 (2000-09-28) 21 December 2000 (2000-12-21)

Broadcast

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The series aired on 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

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UK releases

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

Release name Format Release year Episodes
The Visitor and Other Stories VHS 1998
  • The Visitor
  • The Umbrella
  • The Seaside
  • Nothing Ever Happens
  • The Rainbow Puddle
Pig's Present and Other Stories VHS 1998
  • Pig's Present
  • The Conker Tree
  • The Bleepers
  • Pig's Cousin
  • Tiger's Torch
The Little Ghost and Other Stories VHS 1998
  • The Little Ghost
  • The Goldfish
  • Sleepless Night
  • The Camping Trip
  • The Conker Tree
Snowy Day and Other Stories VHS 1999
  • Snowy Day
  • Hiccups
  • Space Invaders
  • Kipper Is Unwell
  • The Igloo
Kipper's Circus and Other Stories VHS 1999
  • Kipper's Circus
  • The Nest
  • The Butterfly
  • The Gismo
  • The Lost Mug
The Treasure Hunt and Other Stories VHS 1999
  • The Treasure Hunt
  • The Paddling Pool
  • The Magnifying Glass
  • The Rescue
  • The Picnic
Christmas Eve and Other Stories VHS 1999
  • Christmas Eve
  • The Dinosaur
  • Tiger's Sledge
  • The Magic Act
  • The Magic Lamp
  • Arnold's Balloon Trip
Looking after Arnold and Other Stories VHS 2000
  • Looking After Arnold
  • The Swimming Pool
  • Cakes and Tails
  • The Long Walk
  • The Surprise Party
  • The Ball
The Big Freeze and Other Stories VHS 2000
  • Echo Echo
  • The Big Freeze
  • Jake's Friend
  • The Fair
  • Big Owl's Bath
  • Jake's Bird
Crazy Golf and Other Stories VHS 2000
  • Pirates
  • Tiger's Cold
  • The Mouse
  • Clouds
  • Crazy Golf
Hide and Seek and Other Stories VHS 2001
  • Tiger's Rocket
  • Water Water Everywhere
  • Pig's Shop
  • Hide and Seek
  • The Jumble Sale
The Flying Machine and Other Stories VHS 2001
  • The Flying Machine
  • Arnold's Drum
  • Skates
  • The Key
  • Cousins
The Robot and Other Stories VHS 2001
  • The Holiday
  • The Big Race
  • Arnold on Wheels
  • Pig's Sweater
  • The Robot
The Magic Carpet and Other Stories VHS 2002
  • The Magic Carpet
  • Tiger's Joke Box
  • Buried Treasure
  • Clay Time
  • The Missing Tape Mystery
Classic Collection VHS/DVD 2004
  • 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 Tales DVD 2009
  • The Paddling Pool
  • The Magnifying Glass
  • The Rescue
  • The Picnic
  • The Treasure Hunt

US releases

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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 name Format Release date Episodes
The Visitor and Other Stories VHS July 14, 1999
  • The Visitor
  • The Umbrella
  • The Seaside
  • Nothing Ever Happens
Pig's Present and Other Stories VHS February 1, 2000
  • Pig's Present
  • The Rainbow Puddle
  • The Butterfly
  • The Bleepers
Snowy Day and Other Stories VHS August 15, 2000
  • Snowy Day
  • Pig's Cousin
  • The Paddling Pool
  • Tiger's Torch
Pools, Parks and Picnics VHS/DVD June 5, 2001
  • The Long Walk
  • The Swimming Pool
  • The Picnic
  • Cakes and Tails
  • The Gismo
  • The Lost Mug
  • The Magnifying Glass
Tiger Tales VHS/DVD June 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) VHS June 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 That VHS/DVD January 15, 2002
  • Kipper's Circus
  • Pirates
  • The Magic Act
  • The Magic Lamp
  • The Costume Party
  • Arnold's Balloon Trip
  • The Fair
Cuddly Critters VHS/DVD March 5, 2002
  • The Nest
  • Jake's Bird
  • Echo Echo
  • The Goldfish
  • The Mouse
  • Hide and Seek
  • Hedgehog Watch
Amazing Discoveries VHS/DVD June 4, 2002
  • The Purple Park Monster
  • The Robot
  • The Dinosaur
  • Jake's Friend
  • The Ball
  • The Flying Machine
  • Space Invaders
Let It Snow VHS/DVD October 22, 2002
  • Christmas Eve
  • The Igloo
  • Tiger's Sled
  • The Big Freeze
  • Snowy Day
Playtime VHS/DVD January 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 Sun VHS/DVD June 3, 2003
  • The Rescue
  • Clouds
  • Crazy Golf
  • Water Water Everywhere
  • The Big Race
  • Arnold on Wheels
  • The Farm
Friendship Tails VHS/DVD January 27, 2004
  • Sleepless Night
  • Hiccups
  • Kipper is Unwell
  • The Conker Tree
  • Tiger's Cold
  • The Jumble Sale
Water Play VHS/DVD March 23, 2004
  • The Umbrella
  • The Seaside
  • The Rainbow Puddle
  • The Paddling Pool
  • Big Owl's Bath
Kipper Helps Out VHS/DVD August 10, 2004
  • The Visitor
  • Pig's Present
  • The Butterfly
  • The Bleepers
  • Pig's Cousin
  • The Little Ghost
Puppy Love VHS/DVD January 25, 2005
  • Nothing Ever Happens
  • Tiger's Torch
  • Pig's Shop
  • Cousins
  • The Key
  • The Missing Tape Mystery

Digital download releases

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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 name Release year Episodes
Tales of Adventure 2013
  • The Goldfish
  • The Gismo
  • The Nest
  • The Seaside
  • The Big Freeze
  • The Swimming Pool
The Visitor & Other Stories 2013
  • Nothing Ever Happens
  • The Seaside
  • The Umbrella
  • The Visitor

Reception

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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

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  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. ^ Tatz, P. (11 March 2013). "The 10 best television shows for young children". Thomas B. Fordham Institute. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
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