The Real Story of Happy Birthday to You
Encyclopedia
The Real Story of Happy Birthday to You is a children's short animation film directed by Gerald Potterton
as part of the Favorite Songs series. The short was produced in Canada
by Cinar
and in France
by France Animation and was released in January of 1992 in the USA. It also features the voices of Edward Asner and Roger Daltrey
and was based on a real song.
Gerald Potterton
Gerald Potterton is a British/Canadian director, producer and animator. He is best known for directing the cult classic Heavy Metal and his animation work on Yellow Submarine....
as part of the Favorite Songs series. The short was produced in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
by Cinar
Çinar
Çınar is a district of Diyarbakır Province of Turkey and also the name of downtown of Denizli city of Denizli Province of Turkey....
and in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
by France Animation and was released in January of 1992 in the USA. It also features the voices of Edward Asner and Roger Daltrey
Roger Daltrey
Roger Harry Daltrey, CBE , is an English singer and actor, best known as the founder and lead singer of English rock band The Who. He has maintained a musical career as a solo artist and has also worked in the film industry, acting in a large number of films, theatre and television roles and also...
and was based on a real song.
Plot
The story involves neglected child Olivia, whose only friends are Charlie the Horse and Barnaby the Stablehand. Olivia wants her own special birthday song, but her evil caretaker tries to keep her from hearing it.Production
- Czechoslovakian-born Canadian composer Milan KymlickaMilan KymlickaMilan Kymlicka was a Canadian arranger, composer and conductor of Czechoslovakian birth. He became a naturalized Canadian citizen in 1974. He was best known for his composition of film and television scores, including those for the animated television series Rupert and Babar...
provided the music for the film. - Cinar became The Cookie Jar Group, an integrated entertainment and education company specializing in the development, production and worldwide distribution of family entertainment programming and educational products.
Video releases
- It was also released on video by Golden Book VideoGolden Book VideoGolden Book Video was a line of children’s animated videos marketed by Western Publishing, beginning in 1985. They featured characters and stories from Western's print publications, such as Little Golden Books, and were originally released on VHS video cassette for under $10.The videos made use of...
in the USA and ABC VideoABC VideoABC Video was the VHS and Betamax distribution arm of Australian Broadcasting Corporation from the mid-1980s until early-2005 when it was shut down in favor of ABC DVD, which was founded a few years before....
in Australia. - The Australia release also contained another short film Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.
Voices
- Charlie - Edward Asner
- Barnaby - Roger DaltreyRoger DaltreyRoger Harry Daltrey, CBE , is an English singer and actor, best known as the founder and lead singer of English rock band The Who. He has maintained a musical career as a solo artist and has also worked in the film industry, acting in a large number of films, theatre and television roles and also...
- Olivia - Sonja BallSonja BallSonja Ball is a Canadian voice actress.She is well known for her work as the voice of Arthur's Mother Jane Read in the PBS children's TV series Arthur, Huckle Cat on The Busy World of Richard Scarry, Polly Ester in the English version of Samurai Pizza Cats, Nicole in the Madeline TV specials, and...
- Chef Henri - A.J. HendersonA.J. HendersonA.J. Henderson is a Canadian voice actor, born in Montreal, Quebec.- Biography :He is very prolific, having done voices for numerous anime, cartoons, and video games...
- Maids - Liz MacRae, Judi RichardsJudi RichardsJudi Richards is a Canadian pop singer and songwriter.Born in Toronto, Richards is the daughter of musician Bill Richards and actress Billie Mae Richards . She has sung numerous jingles for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in Montreal and has performed in concert and on record with a variety...
- Gardeners - Carlyle Miller, Dan Lebel
- Lord O / Snitchgrovel - Tony Robinow
- Lady O - Paula Harding Howe