Star Hill Ponies is a children's stop-motion animation series produced by Bumper Films and co-produced by Mike Young Productions for S4C. It was the last production by Bumper Films before they shut down in February 2002. The voice actors are Josie Lawrence and Andrew Sachs.
Plot The series follows a young girl named Baz who dreams of nothing more than finding a best friend. Her wish comes true when two roaming Welsh Mountain ponies Molly and Dylan, show up at her farm with Shetland pony Scruffy. Their playful frolics change her life forever.
Production Star Hill Ponies was co-produced by Mike Young Productions in Los Angeles and Bumper Films in Weston-super-Mare, England for S4C and BBC. It is Bumper Films' only television series co-produced in the United Kingdom and North America. S4C International handled worldwide distribution rights to the series.
Characters
Ponies Dylan - the big brown Welsh Mountain pony, with a black mane. Molly - the dapple grey Mountain pony, with a grey mane. Scruffy - the podgy chestnut Shetland pony, with a long straw-coloured mane. His hobbies are eating and being naughty.
Humans Beatrice "Baz" Watkins -A little girl who dreams of friendship. Will Watkins - Baz's father. Kath Watkins - Baz's mother. Thomas - Baz's best friend. Missus Horace Morris - the snobbish landlady who can't stand ponies. Jim - the local odd job man and good friend of Molly. Ambrose Higgins - the half-witted beach shop owner. Lottie - the mobile shop owner. Only appears in Series 2. Nick - the blacksmith. Only appears in Series 2.
Episodes
Series 1 (1998-99) # Title Summary Recording Date Broadcast Date1 Birthday Tea 2 November 1998 7 April 19992 Scruffy Pays the Price 9 November 1998 14 April 19993 The Outing 16 November 1998 21 April 19994 Nicked Knickers 23 November 1998 28 April 19995 Kidnapped 30 November 1998 5 May 19996 Scruffy Helps Out 7 December 1999 11 May 19997 Art for Scruffy's Sake 14 December 1998 19 May 19998 Circus Tricks 21 December 1998 26 May 19999 Surfin' Sea Horse 28 December 1998 2 June 199910 High Tea, High Jinks 4 January 1999 11 August 199911 Dylan for the Cup 11 January 1999 14 July 199912 Lost 18 January 1999 21 July 199913 Bugged 25 January 1999 4 August 1999
Series 2 (2002)
Just Desserts Apple Pie Hide and Seek Nothing to be Afraid Of Mrs. HM's Parade Tall Tales The Mystery of Missing Ethel A Fine Mess Scarypony Scarecrow Thomas Riding High The Unlucky Horseshoe The Way Home All I Want for Christmas
Home media VHS releases
In 1999, one single video of the show was by BBC Worldwide Ltd with five episodes from the first series on it.
VHS video titleYear of releaseEpisodesStar Hill Ponies:Nicked Knickers andOther Stories(BBCV 6772)4 May 1999
DVD releases In 2006, the series was released on three DVDs by Blackhorse Entertainment.
DVD video titleYear of releaseEpisodesStar Hill Ponies:Scruffy Helps Out andSeven Other Fantastic Episodes(S4C)10 April 2006Star Hill Ponies:Mrs HM's Parade andSeven Other Fantasic Episodes(S4C004)5 June 2006 Star Hill Ponies:Dylan for the Cupand Other Great Stories(S4C)11 September 2006
References