Rolf's Cartoon Club
Encyclopedia
Rolf's Cartoon Club was a television show presented by Rolf Harris
on CITV
between 1989 and 1993.
The show had some similarities to Harris' earlier BBC programme, Rolf's Cartoon Time, in that it saw him introducing cartoons and drawing pictures of characters from them. The cartoons shown were mostly those of Warner Bros.
, but included animations from Raymond Briggs
and John Lasseter
. Rolf also explored animation techniques and gave viewers tips for making their own cartoons at home.
Rolf's Cartoon Club was, as well as being a television programme, it was also an actual club that viewers could join. Members received a club badge featuring the "Rolfaroo" character, as well as regular newsletters featuring information on the television programme. John Lasseter
was club member number one.
For much of Cartoon Club, Rolf was seated in the "Cartoon Cockpit", a studio with an easel and various art and animation equipment. Part of each programme, however, was given over to the workshop, where Rolf would assist a group of club members in making their own animation.
In later series, celebrity guests appeared on the programme to discuss their favourite cartoons with Rolf.
Rolf had been brought to ITV
by Victor Glynn
, then at Portman Entertainment and the programme was created by Peter Murphy, the then Head of Children's Programmes at HTV in Bristol.
(Source : ITV Network)
Rolf Harris
Rolf Harris, CBE, AM is an Australian musician, singer-songwriter, composer, painter and television personality.Born in Perth, Western Australia, Harris was a champion swimmer before studying art. He moved to England in 1952, where he started to appear on television programmes on which he drew the...
on CITV
CITV
CITV is a British television channel from ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc. It broadcasts content from the CITV archive, as well as commissions and acquisitions. CITV itself is the programming block on the main ITV Network .The CITV channel broadcasts from 06:00 to 18:00...
between 1989 and 1993.
The show had some similarities to Harris' earlier BBC programme, Rolf's Cartoon Time, in that it saw him introducing cartoons and drawing pictures of characters from them. The cartoons shown were mostly those of Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
, but included animations from Raymond Briggs
Raymond Briggs
Raymond Redvers Briggs is an English illustrator, cartoonist, graphic novelist, and author who has achieved critical and popular success among adults and children...
and John Lasseter
John Lasseter
John Alan Lasseter is an American animator, director and the chief creative officer at Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios. He is also currently the Principal Creative Advisor for Walt Disney Imagineering....
. Rolf also explored animation techniques and gave viewers tips for making their own cartoons at home.
Rolf's Cartoon Club was, as well as being a television programme, it was also an actual club that viewers could join. Members received a club badge featuring the "Rolfaroo" character, as well as regular newsletters featuring information on the television programme. John Lasseter
John Lasseter
John Alan Lasseter is an American animator, director and the chief creative officer at Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios. He is also currently the Principal Creative Advisor for Walt Disney Imagineering....
was club member number one.
For much of Cartoon Club, Rolf was seated in the "Cartoon Cockpit", a studio with an easel and various art and animation equipment. Part of each programme, however, was given over to the workshop, where Rolf would assist a group of club members in making their own animation.
In later series, celebrity guests appeared on the programme to discuss their favourite cartoons with Rolf.
Rolf had been brought to ITV
ITV
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...
by Victor Glynn
Victor Glynn
Victor Glynn, an award winning film and television producer and writer, was born in Balham, London on 11 October 1956. He married Lorna Gillian Glynn in 1982. She died in 1999. He has four children. His daughter Harriet is a film producer...
, then at Portman Entertainment and the programme was created by Peter Murphy, the then Head of Children's Programmes at HTV in Bristol.
Series Guide
- Series 1: 21 x 25' - 6 April 1989 - 24 August 1989
- Christmas Special - 22 December 1989
- Series 2: 22 x 25' - 3 January 1990 - 30 May 1990
- Series 3: 24 x 25' - 5 September 1990 - 27 February 1991
- Series 4: 15 x 25' - 5 September 1991 - 18 December 1991
- Series 5: 14 x 25' - 10 September 1992 - 17 December 1992
- Series 6: 11 x 25' - 9 September 1993 - 28 October 1993
(Source : ITV Network)