Nellie the Elephant (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Nellie the Elephant was a short-lived cartoon series created by Terry Ward on behalf of Film Fair in the United Kingdom
that ran between 1989 and 1990. The series featured Lulu
as the voice of Nellie with Tony Robinson
as narrator. A comic-book annual was released in 1991 in an attempt to further advertise the series, but the annual failed to attract a wide audience.
, the series revolves around a pink elephant named Nellie who is returning to her home in Mandalay
after escaping from the circus. Throughout the series, she meets new characters and sometimes returns to the same places in her quest to return home, though curiously, all of her travels are within the United Kingdom
.
Another recurring character is a Dick Dastardly
-like Ringmaster keen to recapture Nellie at all costs and return her to the circus, but is continuously foiled by Nellie and her friends.
, was released onto VHS
in 1991 by Tempo Video. Among these include:
Episodes contained: Nellie and the Ghost, Nellie Visits a Farm, Nellie Goes to Sea, Nellie on a Snowy Day, Nellie at the Seaside, Nellie's Raincoat, Nellie the Theatre Star, Nellie and the Haunted House, Nellie Rescues Mrs Maple's Moggy
Episodes contained: Nellie and the Whale, Nellie Takes the Train, Nellie Goes Apple Picking, Nellie at the Park Disco, Nellie at the Olympics Nellie at the Big Store, Nellie at the Funfair, Nellie Takes a Jumbo Jet, Nellie and the Buring Barn
Episodes contained: Nellie and the Whale, Nellie Takes the Train, Nellie Goes Apple Picking, Nellie at the Park Disco, Nellie at the Olympics Nellie at the Big Store, Nellie at the Funfair, Nellie Takes a Jumbo Jet, Nellie and the Buring Barn
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
that ran between 1989 and 1990. The series featured Lulu
Lulu (singer)
Lulu Kennedy-Cairns, OBE , best known by her stage name Lulu, is a Scottish singer, actress, and television personality who has been successful in the entertainment business from the 1960s through to the present day...
as the voice of Nellie with Tony Robinson
Tony Robinson
Tony Robinson is an English actor, comedian, author, broadcaster and political campaigner. He is best known for playing Baldrick in the BBC television series Blackadder, and for hosting Channel 4 programmes such as Time Team and The Worst Jobs in History. Robinson is a member of the Labour Party...
as narrator. A comic-book annual was released in 1991 in an attempt to further advertise the series, but the annual failed to attract a wide audience.
Plot
Based on the famous children's song, Nellie the ElephantNellie the Elephant
Nellie the Elephant is a song written in 1956 by Ralph Butler and Peter Hart about a fictional intelligent elephant of the same name.-Original version:...
, the series revolves around a pink elephant named Nellie who is returning to her home in Mandalay
Mandalay
Mandalay is the second-largest city and the last royal capital of Burma. Located north of Yangon on the east bank of the Irrawaddy River, the city has a population of one million, and is the capital of Mandalay Region ....
after escaping from the circus. Throughout the series, she meets new characters and sometimes returns to the same places in her quest to return home, though curiously, all of her travels are within the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Another recurring character is a Dick Dastardly
Dick Dastardly
Dick Dastardly is a fictional character and antagonist who appeared in various animated series by Hanna-Barbera Productions. Dastardly's most famous appearances are main character in the series Wacky Races and its spin-off Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines...
-like Ringmaster keen to recapture Nellie at all costs and return her to the circus, but is continuously foiled by Nellie and her friends.
Recurring characters
- Nellie - A pink elephant with a fondness for currant buns, Nellie escaped from the circus in an effort to return to MandalayMandalayMandalay is the second-largest city and the last royal capital of Burma. Located north of Yangon on the east bank of the Irrawaddy River, the city has a population of one million, and is the capital of Mandalay Region ....
at all costs, travelling by train, taxi, bus, coach, plane and ship. Keen to help, Nellie is proud of her home and will stand up for her rights if need be.
- Captain Jack - A sea-captain from the fictitious Oyster Bay, Captain Jack is the captain of a small tug-boat, and is accompanied by his one-eyed parrot, Nelson.
- Mr. Mack and Mr. Tosh - A play on MackintoshMackintoshThe Mackintosh or Macintosh is a form of waterproof raincoat, first sold in 1824, made out of rubberised fabric...
and perhaps a reference to the Goofy GophersGoofy GophersThe Goofy Gophers are animated cartoon characters in the Warner Bros. Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series of cartoons. The gophers, named Mac and Tosh, are small and brown with tan bellies and buck teeth...
, Mr. Mack and Mr. Tosh are two tailors who share a shop that Nellie constantly returns to.
- The Ringmaster - A Dick DastardlyDick DastardlyDick Dastardly is a fictional character and antagonist who appeared in various animated series by Hanna-Barbera Productions. Dastardly's most famous appearances are main character in the series Wacky Races and its spin-off Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines...
sort of villain, the Ringmaster is the owner of the Circus Nellie escaped from, but his villainous traits and reasons for recapturing Nellie are never expanded on in any great detail.
Videos
Though incredibly rare, the entire series, after airing on ITVITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
, was released onto VHS
VHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
in 1991 by Tempo Video. Among these include:
- Nellie the Elephant: 9 Fun Packed Adventures (93742) - Released: 1990
Episodes contained: Nellie and the Ghost, Nellie Visits a Farm, Nellie Goes to Sea, Nellie on a Snowy Day, Nellie at the Seaside, Nellie's Raincoat, Nellie the Theatre Star, Nellie and the Haunted House, Nellie Rescues Mrs Maple's Moggy
- Nellie the Elephant 2: 9 Further Adventures (94182) - Released: 1990
Episodes contained: Nellie and the Whale, Nellie Takes the Train, Nellie Goes Apple Picking, Nellie at the Park Disco, Nellie at the Olympics Nellie at the Big Store, Nellie at the Funfair, Nellie Takes a Jumbo Jet, Nellie and the Buring Barn
- Nellie on an Ocean Cruise
- Nellie the Elephant: Special Edition
- Nellie the Elephant: 9 Fantastic Adventures (0518363) - Released: 1999 (by Channel 5 video)
Episodes contained: Nellie and the Whale, Nellie Takes the Train, Nellie Goes Apple Picking, Nellie at the Park Disco, Nellie at the Olympics Nellie at the Big Store, Nellie at the Funfair, Nellie Takes a Jumbo Jet, Nellie and the Buring Barn