Over the past two years, Fabulous Films has released some vintage children’s television titles on Blu-ray, fully remastered and restored in HD for the first time. The most recent title is the FilmFair series The Wombles, which followed the 70s series of Paddington Bear.
These titles have been restored from film elements, meaning a higher resolution and more detail. The results are staggering—”night and day,” as Barry Leith has described them.
The magnificence of these restorations got us thinking about other classic stop-frame series we’d like to see fully restored in HD. While we know nothing about what’s to come, this is just a personal wish list. And while this writer isn’t entirely certain whether all of these productions survive on film, they shall be treated as though they do.
The Trap Door (1984-1986)
Created by Terry Brain and Charlie Mills, Trap Door aired from 1984 to 1986 with 40 episodes over two series. This claymation series featured the comical antics of Berk, Boni, and Drutt as they dealt with mysterious creatures emerging from the trap door in their castle basement. Comedian Willie Rushton voiced a few of the characters.
This colourful 1980s series is a perfect candidate for an HD restoration. It generated an atmosphere which could only be enhanced by the increased visual prescience of the show. The animation, although a little rudimentary by modern standards, has a charm all its own. Oh globbits!
The Adventures of Parsley / The Herbs (1968-1971)
It felt unfair to separate these two, as they are closely connected. Michael Bond created both series, which first aired between 1968 and 1971. Directed by Ivor Wood, Filmfair produced them.
The Herbs first aired in 1968 and ran for 13 episodes. The series follows a group of characters named after Herbs, who live in the Herb garden. Characters such as Parsley the Lion, Sage the Owl, Constable Knapweed and Bayleaf the Gardener all had songs associated with them. Gordon Rollings provided the voices.
The spinoff, The Adventures of Parsley, first aired on the BBC in 1970. 32 episodes were made. Gordon Rollings returned to voice the characters. It focused primarily on Parsley the Lion, who found himself in unusual situations. In most stories, he is joined by the hyperactive Dill the dog. This series relied more on verbal humour, including Parsley’s dry wit. Like The Magic Roundabout, the scripts ventured into areas unique for children’s TV at the time, sometimes bordering on the surreal.
Both of these series deserve to get the proper treatment. The scripts were the selling point for the show, but there is no denying the immense amount of work that went into the design. Imagine watching an episode of this in HD, where you could see the intricate detail of Parlsey’s mane or the feathers on Sage the Owl. Herbidacious!
Charlie Chalk (1987)
An underrated gem from the Woodland Animations, Charlie Chalk was created by Ivor Wood and originally aired in 1988, running for 13 episodes. This series follows the titular clown, voiced by Michael Williams, who washes ashore on the island of Merrytwit with a cast of characters including Captain Mildred, Lewis T Duck and Arnold the Elephant.
A release of this show may not make sense on paper, but it is something of a sleeper hit among the millennial generation. As a couple of those, a restoration of this show would be a day-one purchase for us! Charlie Chalk featured quirky personalities, excellently executed slapstick comedy set-pieces and a colourful backdrop. It looked great on the DVD due to the quality of the 1980s production, but even more detail could be gleaned. More could be got out of the soundtrack too, which did a great job of enhancing the atmosphere.
Postman Pat (1981-1996)
We couldn’t drop by the Woodland Animations stable without mentioning Postman Pat, one of the most enduring creations in animation history. The original series had a peaceful vibe, one which still appeals to the audience who saw it the first time. The picturesque scenery makes this an ideal candidate for the high-definition treatment.
Created by John Cunliffe and animated by Ivor Wood, Postman Pat debuted in 1981. The original series consisted of 13 episodes, following the daily adventures of Pat Clifton, voiced by Ken Barrie, as he delivered mail around the picturesque village of Greendale. A second series of 13 episodes was produced during the 1990s.
The character’s enduring legacy ensures this release would sell well, especially if it included the first two series and 90s specials as part of the package. Keeping it all contained in one box makes it ideal for collectors, and a great jumping-off point for new fans. There is also a chance to restore these shows as they were originally seen, without any new logos or music ruining the nostalgic experience.
The Magic Roundabout (1965-1977)
Want another five-minute wonder? You can’t get much more iconic than The Magic Roundabout. The original series hasn’t been released on physical media since the 1990s and is well overdue for a new release.
Originally a French series created by Serge Danot, The Magic Roundabout was reinterpreted for UK audiences by Eric Thompson. It aired over 441 episodes between 1965 and 1977, with its whimsical stop-motion animation featuring characters such as Dougal the dog, Zebedee, Ermintrude the cow and Florence. Thompson’s narration added a uniquely British wit, something which became a hit with adults and children alike.
Another production animated by Ivor Wood, this series could look incredible in high definition. The set pieces were fairly basic, but the colours always had a vibrant glow. Coupled with Eric Thompson’s humourous narration, it was a perfect blend that would be sure to find a new audience. Given the number of episodes, it would probably work best as a set of released broken down by year.
What stop-motion series would you like to see given the restoration treatment? Let us know your thoughts on social media, or by leaving a comment below.
