The Animal Zoo is an animated British children's television series made by Paul Needs and Colin Wyatt; the single series has 13 episodes and was first aired on the BBC in 1989.
The theme song describes the animals as being "down at the faraway zoo". Human size zoo objects, giant in size to them, are seen such as up turned cages serving as most of their buildings. Humans themselves are never seen or mentioned.
In 1992, writer Phil Gardner was employed by Zoo plc to help write some new episodes - including one intended to pilot the series in the USA, and featuring a new group of characters, the Dinoz. however these were never published. There were also paper back books by Paul Needs, illustrated by Colin Wyatt and published by Box Tree / Award Publications. The paper back books including new titles was released with a new AP and merchandise to complement these titles were released in 2013.
welcome to the zoo!
Characters[]
The cartoon features a cast of anthropomorphic animals, most of their names are their own species names.
The Animal Zoo includes:
(Most of the animals are male. Below, the females are stated, the others are male.)
- Bee: mischievous animal with a black eye patch.
usually seen with Insect; together they are often the villains.
- Duck: Clumsy animal covered in bumps; wears a big plaster.
- Captain Gator: Nautical captain animal with a wooden leg. Sometimes appears to be in charge.
- Giraffe: A female "chippy" or fish-and-chip-shop worker.
- Beaver: Lumberjack animal with stereotypical hat and axe.
- Bug: Creepy looking mischievous animal, with a long pointy
nose. usually seen with Bee; together they are often the villains.
- Mouse: "Dopey", simple-minded animal and also a cook who wears a big white cook's hat.
- Pig: Fat greedy dumpy animal; always eating.
- Goat: Animal who likes gardening; has a straw hat and a spade.
- Dr. Owl: A GP or general practitioner, the doctor animal, who has white hair, glasses and a stethoscope.
- Bear: A very grumpy-looking animal who likes to moan.
- Dog: The happy good natured animal often the main character. Wears a red baseball cap.
- Sheep: Musical hippie animal; has long blonde hair and a guitar.
- Rabbit: Animal with spring-like legs who uses them to jump high.
- Joey: Kangaroo's baby, who sits in a push chair and wears a large nappy.
- P.C. Tiger: The policeman animal.
- Kangaroo: Female animal who pushes her baby, Joey, around in a push chair.
- Lion: Old man animal, has glasses, walking stick and white hair, although he is mostly bald.
- Fish: Small fish.
- Moose: The ZOO Press newspaper editor; wears glasses and a green eyeshade visor.
- Rooster: The scruffy tool and scrap worker; has blue hat, stubble and a hammer.
- Squirrel: Little girl animal with blond hair in pigtails, always skipping with her skipping rope.
- Frog: Animal that wears a night cap and sleeps too much.
- Monkey: An artist painter covered in blobs of paint; has messy red hair.
- Fox: The Zoo Press newspaper photographer; has hat and camera.
- Turtle: A barber with a mustache and smartly combed hair.
- Elephant: Detective with a Sherlock Holmes style deerstalker hat and magnifying glass.
- Penguin: Always has soapy bubbles covering her head, she often blows bubbles.
- Snake:Street sweeper animal, wears cap and carries a broom and bin.
- Cat: Blonde sweet female animal.
- Cow: Female animal who is a Tea lady; often has a teapot and teacup.
- Wee McAnt: Small animal, stereotype Scot, with ginger mustache and Tam o'shanter
- Hippopotamus: Easily upset animal who always cries.
- Horse: Fast animal, always running around quickly.
Episode list[]
Episode title and original air date:
- The Vegetable Show (14 September 1989)
- Bug Gets Carried Away (21 September 1989)
- Pig's Diet (28 September 1989)
- Mound of Trouble (5 October 1989)
- Sheep's Band (12 October 1989)
- Well Done Pig (19 October 1989)
- Horse Saves the Day (26 October 1989)
- The Balloonatics (2 November 1989)
- Zoo Island Mystery (9 November 1989)
- Mouse Gets Lost (16 November 1989)
- Horse's Shadow (23 November 1989)
- Bubble Trouble (30 November 1989)
- Bug's Christmas Surprise (7 December 1989)
Credits[]
- Written and created by: Paul Needs
- Original Designs: Colin Wyatt
- Directors: Colin White, Tony Garth
- Series Director: Pat Gavin
- Producer: Laurie Frost
- Executive Producers: Ian Green, Clive Lester
- Narration: Neil Pearson
- Music and Lyrics: Geoff Stephens
- Production Managers: Muriel MacLeod, Heather Pedley
- Animation Director: Tony Garth
- Animation: Barry Hales, Simon (Jiminy) Turner, Stephen Hales,
Billy Allison, Kevin Baldwin, Anna Brockett, Paul Chung, Arthur De Cloedt, Terry Dormer, Bob Godfrey, Tony Guy, Colin Hughes, Arthur Humberstone, Willard Kitchen, Charles MacRae, Neil Salmon, Kim Stephenson, Paul Stone, Glenn Whiting, Rob Newman
- Layouts: Clive Dawson, Arthur De Cloedt, Terry Dormer, Ted Pettengell
- Backgrounds: Sue Branch, Pat Gavin, Ian Henderson, Ray Rankine, Gary Sycamore
- Tracers: Mark Cheeseman, Rona Couper
- Painters: Sarah Marsden, Lisa Stephenson, Lynn Durrans,
Beverley Allan, Dena Mackenzie, Alex Barclay, Christine Courtney, Tessa Farrington, Heather Fisher, Beryl Godfrey, Denise Harnbry, Louise Harding, Lynette Hodson, Brian Holmes, Sophie Law, Philip Lee, Jacqui Millar, Audrey Murch, Emma Tornero
- Key Grip Natalie Mills
- Editor: Keith Holden
- Paint and Trace Supervisor: Henrietta Maslin
- Title Animation: Harold Whitaker
- Checking: Russell March
- Coordinator: Louise Harding
- A Cairnvale Production for Zoo PLC
Repeats[]
Animal Zoo has been shown several times on BBC1 and BBC2 in the 1990's and 2000's, CBBC on Choice premiered Animal Zoo on Saturday 26th February 2000 at 7.25am and 10.25am and continued until Sunday 2nd April 2000. It returned on Saturday 9th September 2000 at 8.55am, 11.55am, 3.25pm and 6.25pm until Saturday 21st October 2000. It returned for a Christmas 2000 showing but has not been broadcast afterwards. It was re-run once on CBeebies on BBC2 and the seperate channel in 2002.