Kaboodle is a 13-part Australian anthology children's television series which includes animation, puppetry, and live-action and was produced by the Australian Children's Television Foundation that ran on ABC Television from 1987 to 1990. Kaboodle 2 was a follow-on series which provided another six half-hour episodes of innovative television drama for the under-tens.Australian Children's Television Foundation, (1988). Care for kids: Television News, The newsletter of the Australian Children's Television Foundation, Issue No. 24, p. 1-4. Kaboodle 2, however, was fully animated and instead of being an ‘anthology’ series of many short dramas, all of which are different, this season had regular characters in every episode. The show commenced screening on the Seven Network across Australia in April 1990.Australian Children's Television Foundation, (1990). Care for kids: Television News, The newsletter of the Australian Children's Television Foundation, Issue No. 30, p. 1-4.
The original concept was conceived by Jenny HooksAustralian Children's Television Foundation, (1985). Care for kids: Television News, The newsletter of the Australian Children's Television Foundation, Issue No. 14, p. 1-4. and the series aimed to provide quality Australian television drama for the long neglected 6 to 9-year-old age group. The series intended to stimulate young children’s imagination and widen their range of experiences. Some of the stories are based on distinguished Australian children’s books, some on fairy tales and myths, whilst others have been developed as wholly original work for Kaboodle. The make-believe of television drama, where anything can and should happen, was well suited to foster healthy, emotional and intellectual growth by challenging the imagination and widening the range of children's experience.Australian Children's Television Foundation, (1986). Care for kids: Television News, The newsletter of the Australian Children's Television Foundation, Issue No. 15, p. 1-4.
Kaboodle is significant not only because it catered to a much neglected audience but also because the series provided industry experience and international screen credit for numerous talented up-and-coming Australian film-makers.Australian Children's Television Foundation, (1987). Australian Children's Television Foundation Annual Report 1986-1987. A.C.T.F. Productions Limited. More than one hundred crew who worked on Kaboodle gained their first television credit or advanced their careers by working on the series.Australian Children's Television Foundation, (1988). Australian Children's Television Foundation Annual Report 1987-1988. A.C.T.F. Productions Limited. The series was distributed outside Australia and New Zealand by London and New York based Richard Price Television Associates Limited. Kaboodle video cassettes were marketed in Australia by CBS/FOX Video.
Crew
Kaboodle Executive Producer: Patricia Edgar Series Producer: Jeff Peck Concept: Jennifer Hooks Producers Robert Alcock Richard Chataway Colleen Clarke Michael Cusack Gary Davis John Griffin Jenifer Hooks Peita Letchford Tony Llewellyn-Jones John Morris Heather Ogilvie Mark Osborn David Rapsey Penny Robins Neil Robinson Michael Szmanski Peter Viska Michael Webb Timothy White Stephanie Wiessner Vincent C. Zimbardi Directors Robert Alcock Karin Altmann Sue Brooks Catherine Campbell Richard Chataway Paul Cox Michael Cusack Gary Davis Jessica Douglas-Henry Steve French Maggie Geddes Peita Letchford Carl Looper Robert Marchand Mitch Mathews Mark Osborn Sue Randall Penny Robenstone Jan Sardi John Skibinski Michael Szymanski Peter Viska Heather Williams Vincent C. Zimbardi Animators Richard Chataway Michael Cusack Steve French Ross Gathercole Maggie Geddes Peter Green Anne Jolliffe Penny Robenstone Jonathan Rossiter John Rossiter John Skibinski Peter Viska Andrew Whisson
Kaboodle 2 Executive producer: Patricia Edgar Supervising Producer: Susie Campbell Writers, Producers and Directors Richard Chataway Michael Cusack Maggie Geddes Neil Robinson Peter Viska Paul Williams Series Development: Jeff Peck Animators Michael Cusack Ian Forss Steve French Ross Gathercole Maggie Geddes Peter Green Frank Hellard Bill Hodge Greg Ingram Anne Jolliffe Paul Marion Gus McLaren Steve Robinson Joe Rossiter Paul Williams
Kaboodle Synopsis Each half hour episode tells two or three separate stories using a variety of forms including animation, puppetry, and live action. It was a kaleidoscope of forms, with each episode varying in pace, length and mood. It aimed to provide laughs and tears, fantasy and realism, but specifically tailored to the interests of the young viewer (6-9 year olds). There were thirty-two separate short stories included in the thirteen-part series.Australian Children's Television Foundation, (1987). Care for kids: Television News, The newsletter of the Australian Children's Television Foundation, Issue No. 19, p. 1-4.
The Short stories +TitleFormReferenceThe Birthday PresentLive actionAustralian Children's Television Foundation, (1986). Australian Children's Television Foundation Annual Report 1985-1986. A.C.T.F. Productions Limited. The CureAnimationDouble TakeLive actionThe Fogbrook ThingLive actionFoxbat and the MiniAnimationFriezeAnimationThe Ghost and Katie DomiganLive actionThe Girl and the PumpkinLive actionThe Great DetectiveAnimationThe Great Sandiwch SwapLive actionGung HoAnimationHide Until DaytimeLive action The Huge Adventures of Trevor a CatAnimationJoshua CooksAnimationThe Marvellous Adventures of Miriam and the Miraculous MirandaLive action and computer animationMolly Moves AboutAnimationPenny Pollard's DiaryLive actionPotato and the KoboldLive actionThe Secret Life of TreesLive actionSnow White and the Dreadful DwarvesLive actionThe Steam Train CrewLive actionThere's DragonsAnimationScuff the SockLive action and stop-motion animationTalo's StoryComputer animationThingAnimationThere's a Sea in My BedroomComputer animationThe Wheelie WonderAnimationWhiskaAnimationThe Wizards of SolmarLive action and puppetryWombat and GumshoeAnimation
Kaboodle 2 Synopsis Kaboodle 2 contained four regular drama segments as part of its fully animated 6 half hour mini-series:Australian Children's Television Foundation, (1989). Care for kids: Television News, The newsletter of the Australian Children's Television Foundation, Issue No. 27, p. 1-4.
"Echidna Crossing" animated by Maggie Geddes and Neil Robinson "The Dream Machine" animated by Paul Williams "The Hedge and Mr Snip" animated by Peter Viska "The Great Detective" animated by Michael Cusack and Richard Chataway
Series production The series was produced by the Foundation with Patricia Edgar as Executive Producer and Jeff Peck as Series Producer. It went into production backed by Film Victoria, ABC-TV, the Australian Film Commission and the ACTF. It was the first time these companies came together to fund a children’s television series.
Kaboodle 1985 In an effort to help give Kaboodle the freshness and vitality needed in an innovative series, the Foundation offered a prize of $1,000 to the student at the Australian Film and Television School and the Film and Television Department at the Swinburne Institute of Technology respectively who submitted the best idea for a Kaboodle story. Winners of the 1985 contest were Alan Love and John Taylor. Love proposed a 10-minute film featuring live action and puppetry titled ‘Scuff and Rebecca”, a fantasy story of a boy and his sock puppets that come to life. Taylor won his prize for his script of ‘The Huge Adventures of Trevor A Cat”, a humorous story about a cat with an ever-increasing appetite, which also received a grant from the Australian Film Commission’s Comedy Fund.
Four other film and television students also had concepts included in Kaboodle. From the Australian Film and Television school, Jennifer Mellet who wrote “The Marvellous Adventures of Miriam and the Miraculous Miranda” (live action and computer animation) and Cate Cahill who wrote “Talo’s Story” (computer animation). From Swinburne, Penny Robenstone wrote “Joshua Cooks” (animation) and Mark Osborn wrote “The Fogbrook Thing” (live action).
1986 Production commenced in June 1986 and was undertaken in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.Australian Children's Television Foundation, (1986). Care for kids: Television News, The newsletter of the Australian Children's Television Foundation, Issue No. 18, p. 1-4.
Paul Cox, one of Australia’s leading directors joined the Kaboodle production team.Australian Children's Television Foundation, (1986). Care for kids: Television News, The newsletter of the Australian Children's Television Foundation, Issue No. 17, p. 1-4. He wrote and directed a twenty minute drama about a little girl’s adventure when she is led by tree gnomes deep into the mysterious caverns below the massive pine and gum trees in her back yard. Entitled ‘The Secret Life of Trees’ Paul originally wrote it as a fairy-tale for his daughter.
Kaboodle 2 In June 1988, Kaboodle 2, the follow-on series to the critically acclaimed Kaboodle, was up and running and backed by the Foundation, Film Victoria, the Australian Film Commission, and the South Australian Film Industry Advisory Committee.
Production began July 1988 and was completed June 1989.
History
Launch Kaboodle was officially launched by the Minister for the Environment and the Arts, Senator, The Hon. Graham Richardson, at the Menzies at Rialto Hotel in Melbourne on Thursday 15 October 1987. Members of the ABC, Film Victoria, CBS/FOX Video, the media, Kaboodle writers, producers and directors and other members of the film and television industry attended the launch.
Accompanying Books Kaboodle To accompany the series, four hard cover picture books were published by ABC Enterprises.Australian Children's Television Foundation, (1987). Care for kids: Television News, The newsletter of the Australian Children's Television Foundation, Issue No. 21, p. 1-4. The picture books were “The Secret Life of Trees”, “The Wheelie Wonder”, “Molly Makes Music” and “Lock Up Your Toys”. The paperbacks included “The Wizards of Solmar”, “Talo’s Story” and “The Kobold and Potato” in one book, with “Double Take”, “Scuff the Sock” and “The Birthday present” in the other.
Kaboodle 2 Four books were published by Hodder & Stoughton to accompany the Kaboodle 2 series: "Hedge Island", "The Great Detective and the Case of Captain Blunderbuss’s Secret", "Grandfather’s Dream Machine" and "Echidna Crossing".Australian Children's Television Foundation, (1989). Care for kids: Television News, The newsletter of the Australian Children's Television Foundation, Issue No. 29, p. 1-4.
Thomas Nelson Australia packaged and marketed an educational package containing the picture story books, videotapes and Kaboodle 2 Teacher’s Notes to schools.
Re-screens In July 1988, Kaboodle was re-screened by the ABC.
Kaboodle 1 was re-screened again by the ABC in November 1989 nationally.
Kaboodle re-screened nationally on the ABC, as part of their programming for schools in July on 1990.Australian Children's Television Foundation, (1990). Care for kids: Television News, The newsletter of the Australian Children's Television Foundation, Issue No. 31, p. 1-4.
Kaboodle 2 was re-screened on the Seven Network across Australia from 6 July 1991.
Success and Reach CBS/FOX Video released six Kaboodle video-cassettes in November 1987 and by 30 June 1988, more than 5000 videocassettes had been sold.
On 30 June 1990 CBS/FOX Video reported sales of 6,457 Kaboodle videotapes and The Foundation reported sales of 972 Kaboodle Teacher’s Notes.Australian Children's Television Foundation, (1990). Australian Children's Television Foundation Annual Report 1989-1990. A.C.T.F. Productions Limited.