Kipper is a British preschool animated children's television series based on the characters from Mick Inkpen's Kipper the Dog picture book series. Seventy-eight episodes were produced. The videos have received critical acclaim and have won awards including a BAFTA award for best children's animation. The show was produced by HIT Entertainment with animation production by Grand Slamm Children's Films, and ran for six seasons on ITV from September 1997 until December 2000. Out of these, thirteen episodes - twelve of the first series, and the last of the third series, were written by Mick Inkpen himself.
Premise The series follows Kipper the Dog as he embarks on various adventures to an assortment of destinations throughout the English countryside. He is joined by friends, Tiger, Pig, Arnold, and Jake.
Characters Kipper (voiced by Martin Clunes) is a fun-loving, caring and warm-hearted dog with a soft voice who is the titular character of the series. He embodies the true essence of what it means to carpe diem. He is also very selfless, even though he hoards lots of small belongings like books and toys. Kipper is a Jack Russell Terrier who has many exciting encounters with his friends. Tiger (voiced by Chris Lang) is Kipper's best friend. He is more realistic, practical, and wise than Kipper with a tendency to think long-term. Sometimes Tiger can be very smug and haughty, even though he really is a kind dog at heart. Tiger is a Scottish Terrier. Pig (voiced by Chris Lang) is Kipper's second best friend. Pig is very outgoing, but loves normality and gets easily irritated by anything strange or mysterious. He likes to eat chocolate cake and biscuits. Arnold (voiced by Chris Lang) is Pig's live-in toddler cousin and Kipper's third best friend. Even though Arnold almost never talks, he is actually more curious, observant, and intelligent than Pig. He can still say easy words like "duck" and "igloo". Jake (voiced by Chris Lang) is a friendly Old English Sheepdog who is Kipper's fourth best friend. He is a minor character in the first series who makes more regular appearances after joining the main characters in the second series where he, Kipper, and Tiger have had many adventures together. The Magic Frog (voiced by Chris Lang) is a magical frog who Kipper met and encountered once. The Bleeper People (voiced by Chris Lang) are two space aliens who live on the moon. Mouse (voiced by Julia Sawalha, credited as Julie Sawalha in later appearances) is a young female mouse who lives with Kipper at his house. She is the only female character who appears in the series.
Episodes
Broadcast The series aired on Children's ITV (later CITV) in the United Kingdom. In the United States, it aired on Nick Jr. and PBS Kids Sprout. It also aired in Canada on YTV and in Australia on ABC TVhttps://www.abc.net.au/tv/guide/abc2/200804/programs/ZY4976A001D25042008T113800.htm.
Home media UK releases In the United Kingdom, HIT Video and HIT Entertainment PLC both released various VHS tapes and DVD releases of the television series. Release name Format Release year Episodes The Visitor and Other Stories VHS 1998 Pig's Present and Other Stories VHS 1998 The Little Ghost and Other Stories VHS 1998 Snowy Day and Other Stories VHS 1999 Kipper's Circus and Other Stories VHS 1999 The Treasure Hunt and Other Stories VHS 1999 Christmas Eve and Other Stories VHS 1999 Looking after Arnold and Other Stories VHS 2000 The Big Freeze and Other Stories VHS 2000 Crazy Golf and Other Stories VHS 2000 Hide and Seek and Other Stories VHS 2001 The Flying Machine and Other Stories VHS 2001 The Robot and Other Stories VHS 2001 The Magic Carpet and Other Stories VHS 2002 Classic Collection VHS/DVD 2004 Treasured Tales DVD 2009
US releases In the United States, VHS tapes of the show were originally released by Hallmark Home Entertainment through Family Home Entertainment, Artisan Entertainment, and briefly Lyrick Studios, and later on, VHS tapes and DVDs were released by HIT themselves.
Video name Format Release date Episodes The Visitor and Other Stories VHS July 14, 1999 Pig's Present and Other Stories VHS February 1, 2000 Snowy Day and Other Stories VHS August 15, 2000 Pools, Parks and Picnics VHS/DVD June 5, 2001 Tiger Tales VHS/DVD June 5, 2001 Playtime in the Park (Blockbuster Exclusive) VHS June 5, 2001 Imagine That VHS/DVD January 15, 2002 Cuddly Critters VHS/DVD March 5, 2002 Amazing Discoveries VHS/DVD June 4, 2002 Let It Snow VHS/DVD October 22, 2002 Playtime VHS/DVD January 28, 2003 Fun in the Sun VHS/DVD June 3, 2003 Friendship Tails VHS/DVD January 27, 2004 Water Play VHS/DVD March 23, 2004 Kipper Helps Out VHS/DVD August 10, 2004 Puppy Love VHS/DVD January 25, 2005
Digital download releases This list is for videos that were never released on physical media and are only available on digital download in the US. There are currently only two. One is called "Tales of Adventure" featuring episodes already on other releases. The other is an alternate version of "The Visitor & Other Stories" in which the episodes are in reverse order as to how they are on the US VHS release. Release name Release year Episodes Tales of Adventure 2013 The Visitor & Other Stories 2013
Reception Common Sense Media gives Kipper four out of five stars, and it says the show's characters are positive role models, except Tiger, "but he always learns his lessons"; all the characters "do lots of exploring and learn lessons about friendship, kindness, and the difference between right and wrong". A list published by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute names Kipper as the top television show for two- and three-year-old children because of its focus on "developing social and emotional intelligence" through interactions among its characters. HIT Entertainment chairman Peter Orton regarded the show as a potential new Snoopy as it gained popularity.
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