Lift Off
Encyclopedia
Lift Off was an Australia
n educational television series that was broadcast on ABC Television
from 1992 until the series ended in 1996. Each episode featured a live action storyline about a group of young children, and the problems they encountered with growing up, their parents, and various other social issues. Episodes would also feature segments of short animation, puppetry and documentary segments, as well as various songs, stories, and word games. Aimed at 3 to 8 year olds based on the ideas of Harvard University development psychologist Howard Gardner
. The series was linked with the school curricula through the Curriculum Corporation of Australia. The different episodes used stories and locations to explore subjects such as jealousy, loneliness and anger.
Adults
Puppet Characters
Wakadoo Puppet characters
Episode 3 and 4: Destroy
Episode 5 and 6: Which One?
Episode 7 and 8: That's Not Fair
Episode 9 and 10: Because It Feels Good
Episode 11 and 12: Into The Unknown
Episode 13 and 14: Once I Grew
Episode 15 and 16: Something Tells Me
Episode 17 and 18: The Wheel Turns
Episode 19 and 20: Out Of Order
Episode 21 and 22: Above and Beyond
Episode 23 and 24: I Can!
Episode 25 and 26: Remember
Episode 29 and 30: For Sale
Episode 31 and 32: Face
Episode 33 and 34: Going Under
Episode 35 and 36: Illusion Is All
Episode 37 and 38: Beneath The Skin
Episode 39 and 40: Real Friends
Episode 41 and 42: Lost
Episode 43 and 44: Funday
Episode 45 and 46: No Entry
Episode 47 and 48: Wanting
Episode 49 and 50: Threads
Episode 51 and 52: All Together Now
Episode 55 and 56: Under Pressure
Episode 57 and 58: What's Missing
Episode 59 and 60: My World
Episode 61 and 62: Would I Lie
Episode 63 and 64: Give and Take
Episode 65 and 66: Far Out
Episode 67 and 68: Out of This World
Episode 69 and 70: Shape I'm In
Episode 71 and 72: Heroes
Episode 73 and 74: In Your Shoes
Episode 75 and 76: Not Alone
Episode 77 and 78: From Where I Stand
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n educational television series that was broadcast on ABC Television
ABC Television
ABC Television is a service of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation launched in 1956. As a public broadcasting broadcaster, the ABC provides four non-commercial channels within Australia, and a partially advertising-funded satellite channel overseas....
from 1992 until the series ended in 1996. Each episode featured a live action storyline about a group of young children, and the problems they encountered with growing up, their parents, and various other social issues. Episodes would also feature segments of short animation, puppetry and documentary segments, as well as various songs, stories, and word games. Aimed at 3 to 8 year olds based on the ideas of Harvard University development psychologist Howard Gardner
Howard Gardner
Howard Earl Gardner is an American developmental psychologist who is a professor of Cognition and Education at Harvard Graduate School of Education at Harvard University, Senior Director of Harvard Project Zero and author of over twenty books translated into thirty languages. Since 1995, he has...
. The series was linked with the school curricula through the Curriculum Corporation of Australia. The different episodes used stories and locations to explore subjects such as jealousy, loneliness and anger.
Cast
Children- Poss Burke - Erin Pratten
- Nipper Burke - Paul Cheyne
- Max Garcia - Robert Peschel
- Turbo Garcia - Heber Yerien
- Aku Jordan - Aku Bielicki
- Paul Jordan - Luke CarrollLuke Carroll-Television and film:Carroll started out in guest roles in some Australian shows, including The Flying Doctors, Lift Off, The Man from Snowy River, Ocean Girl and Water Rats....
- Kim Stinson - Maria Nguyen
Adults
- Jenny Burke - Madeleine Blackwell
- Ted Burke - David SandfordDavid SandfordDavid Sandford is a film-maker who worked on independent films in British Columbia, Canada. He was Art Director for Unbound , and matte designer for Sabor a Mi He later became technical director on Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! .-External links:...
- Ricardo Garcia - Petru Gheorghiu
- Teresa Garcia - Irini PappasIrini PappasIrini Pappas is an Australian actress, born and raised in Melbourne, of Greek heritage. She has appeared in many television and movie roles and has worked in both Australia and Greece....
- Snap Jordan - Aku Kadogo
- Harry Stinson - Alan FletcherAlan FletcherAlan Fletcher is an Australian actor and musician, best known for his role as Karl Kennedy in long-running soap opera Neighbours. Fletcher was educated at Wesley College, Perth.-Career:...
- Stella Stinson - Louise Le NayLouise Le NayLouise Le Nay is an Australian actress, best known for playing Sandy Edwards in Prisoner in a role which spanned the end of 1981 and the beginning of 1982 on screen. In the show, Sandy became Top Dog whilst Bea Smith was in hospital, and was a popular and key character...
- Mr. (Seymoure) Fish - Mark Mitchell (actor): One of the most memorable characters of Lift Off, Mr. Fish was the caretaker of the small apartment building where the characters lived. He was often seen yelling at the children from behind his desk in the apartment foyer when they came in from the outside.
- Bonza Men -
Puppet Characters
- Lotis (voiced by Julie Forsyth): Lotis was the magical lift that existed in the apartment building; although genderless, Lotis is referred to as her. Lotis would often help the younger characters with their personal problems. However due to her AI status, Lotis often found it difficult to offer advice as she sometimes could not understand more complex human behaviour and thinking.
- Rocky the Frill-Necked Lizard: Rocky was the leader of a colony of frilled-necked lizards. Rocky spied on the humans (whom he referred to as two-footers) and would report his findings to the rest of the colony.
- Beverley: The one-eyed plant that lived in the apartment foyer. Beverley would often show short documentary clips regarding what was being discussed in the episode.
- EC, the animated rag doll. EC stands for Every Child.
- The Rapsacks: two of the children's backpacks that came to life and spoke though their zipper mouths. There are 7 of them owned by each of the 7 Children.
Wakadoo Puppet characters
- The Three Pigs: Their names are Morris, Boris and Doris. They are Lonely's Judges and sometimes Wolf's nemesis.
- Wolf: The Doctor of the group. He is also the pigs nemesis.
- Boss: The Boss of Nearly, Cook and Zelda.
- Nearly: A kind-hearted and clumsy member of the group. He also loses so he needs to get fit to win.
- Zelda: Nearly's sister. She helps her brother.
- Lonely: The Queen-like lady of the Group who runs the tournaments.
- Cook: He cooks and works with Nearly and Zelda.
Season 1 (1992)
Episode 1 and 2: A Load of Old RubbishEpisode 3 and 4: Destroy
Episode 5 and 6: Which One?
Episode 7 and 8: That's Not Fair
Episode 9 and 10: Because It Feels Good
Episode 11 and 12: Into The Unknown
Episode 13 and 14: Once I Grew
Episode 15 and 16: Something Tells Me
Episode 17 and 18: The Wheel Turns
Episode 19 and 20: Out Of Order
Episode 21 and 22: Above and Beyond
Episode 23 and 24: I Can!
Episode 25 and 26: Remember
Season 2 (1994)
Episode 27 and 28: ClashEpisode 29 and 30: For Sale
Episode 31 and 32: Face
Episode 33 and 34: Going Under
Episode 35 and 36: Illusion Is All
Episode 37 and 38: Beneath The Skin
Episode 39 and 40: Real Friends
Episode 41 and 42: Lost
Episode 43 and 44: Funday
Episode 45 and 46: No Entry
Episode 47 and 48: Wanting
Episode 49 and 50: Threads
Episode 51 and 52: All Together Now
Season 3 (1996)
Episode 53 and 54: Brand NewEpisode 55 and 56: Under Pressure
Episode 57 and 58: What's Missing
Episode 59 and 60: My World
Episode 61 and 62: Would I Lie
Episode 63 and 64: Give and Take
Episode 65 and 66: Far Out
Episode 67 and 68: Out of This World
Episode 69 and 70: Shape I'm In
Episode 71 and 72: Heroes
Episode 73 and 74: In Your Shoes
Episode 75 and 76: Not Alone
Episode 77 and 78: From Where I Stand