Kipper (TV series)

*Kipper*
Kipper
Genre	Children's television show
Created by	Mick Inkpen
Based on	Kipper the Dog books by Mick Inkpen
Directed by	Mike Stuart
Voices of	Martin Clunes; Chris Lang; Julia Sawalha
Music by	Bob Heatlie
No. of seasons	6
No. of episodes	78 (list of episodes)
Production
Running time	10 minutes per episode (approx.)
Production companies	Grand Slamm Children's Films; HIT Entertainment
Original release
Network	ITV
Release	5 September 1997 –; 21 December 2000

Kipper is a 1997 British animated children's television series based on the characters from Mick Inkpen's Kipper the Dog picture book series.^[1] Some episodes are based on particular stories by Mick Inkpen. 78 episodes were produced.^[2] The videos have won awards including a BAFTA award for best children's animation. The show was released on VHS and DVD by HIT Entertainment PLC.

Summary

The series follows Kipper the Dog as he goes on many fun and exciting adventures with his friends, Tiger, Pig, Arnold, and Jake.

Characters and voice cast

Kipper (voiced by Martin Clunes) – A warm-hearted and curious dog with a soft voice who is the title character in the series. Kipper is not at all selfish, though he is known to be a hoarder. Kipper is likely portrayed after beagle, beagle mix or Jack Russell terrier breed.
Tiger (voiced by Chris Lang) – Kipper's best friend. He is more practical and wise than Kipper. Sometimes Tiger can be very smug and naughty, though he really is a kind dog at heart. He is a Scottish terrier.
Jake (voiced by Chris Lang) – A friendly dog who is one of Kipper's best friends. He is a minor character in the first season and joins the main characters in the second season, he, Kipper, and Tiger have had many adventures together.
Pig (voiced by Chris Lang) – Kipper's second best friend. Pig likes to eat chocolate cakes and cookies.
Arnold (voiced by Chris Lang) – Pig's toddler cousin who is more aware than Pig. Arnold normally doesn't say anything, but at times he says easy words such as "duck," "kitten" and "igloo". Arnold has many exciting encounters while the older ones are occupied.
Mouse (voiced by Julia Sawalha) – A young female mouse who lives with Kipper at his house. She speaks in an English accent and is a minor character.
The Bleeper People (voiced by Chris Lang) – Two space aliens who live on the moon.
Ghost (voiced by Chris Lang) – A friendly ghost who visits Kipper's house. Kipper wanted to help him to make him be scary.
Mr. Frog (voiced by Chris Lang) – A magic frog who runs into Kipper at times.

Broadcast

The series aired on CITV in the United Kingdom and Nick Jr., PBS Kids and CBS in the United States. It also aired in Canada on YTV around the late 1990s as a part of its YTV Jr. lineup.

Series		Episodes	Originally aired
Series		Episodes	First aired	Last aired
	1	13	5 September 1997 (1997-09-05)	28 November 1997 (1997-11-28)
	2	13	24 September 1998 (1998-09-24)	17 December 1998 (1998-12-17)
	3	13	21 January 1999 (1999-01-21)	15 April 1999 (1999-04-15)
	4	13	23 September 1999 (1999-09-23)	16 December 1999 (1999-12-16)
	5	13	20 January 2000 (2000-01-20)	13 April 2000 (2000-04-13)
	6	13	28 September 2000 (2000-09-28)	21 December 2000 (2000-12-21)

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".^[3] 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.^[4]

Home media

UK releases

In the United Kingdom, Hit Video and Hit Entertainment PLC released various VHS tapes and DVD releases of the series.

Video name	Format	Release year	Episodes
The Visitor and Other Stories	VHS	1998	The Visitor The Umbrella The Seaside Nothing Ever Happens The Rainbow Puddle
Pig’s Present and Other Stories	VHS	1998	Pig’s Present The Conker Tree The Bleepers Pig’s Cousin Tiger’s Torch
The Little Ghost and Other Stories	VHS	1999	The Little Ghost The Goldfish Sleepless Night The Camping Trip The Conker Tree
Snowy Day and Other Stories	VHS	1999	Snowy Day Hiccups Space Invaders Kipper is Unwell The Igloo
Kipper's Circus and Other Stories	VHS	1999	Kipper's Circus The Nest The Butterfly The Gismo The Lost Mug
The Treasure Hunt and Other Stories	VHS	1999	The Treasure Hunt The Paddling Pool The Magnifying Glass The Rescue The Picnic
Christmas Eve and Other Stories	VHS	1999	Christmas Eve The Dinosaur Tiger’s Sledge The Magic Act The Magic Lamp Arnold's Balloon Trip
Looking After Arnold & Other Stories	VHS	2000	Looking After Arnold The Swimming Pool Cakes & Tails The Long Walk Surprise Party
The Big Freeze and Other Stories	VHS	2000	Echo Echo The Big Freeze Jake's Friend The Fair Big Owl's Bath Jake's Bird
Crazy Golf and Other Stories	VHS	2001	Pirates Tiger's Cold The Mouse Clouds Crazy Golf
Hide and Seek and Other Stories	VHS	2001	Tiger's Rocket Water, Water Everywhere Pig's Shop Hide and Seek The Jumble Sale
The Flying Machine and Other Stories	VHS	2001	The Flying Machine Arnold's Drum Skates The Key Cousins
The Robot and Other Stories	VHS	2002	The Holiday The Big Race Arnold on Wheels Pig's Sweater The Robot
The Magic Carpet and Other Stories	VHS	2002	The Magic Carpet Tiger's Joke Box Buried Treasure Clay Time The Missing Tape Mystery
Classic Collection	VHS and DVD	2004	The Visitor The Umbrella The Seaside Nothing Ever Happens Pig’s Present The Rainbow Puddle The Butterfly The Bleepers Snowy Day Pig’s Cousin
Treasured Tales	DVD	2009	The Paddling Pool The Magnifying Glass The Rescue The Picnic The Treasure Hunt

US/Canadian releases

In the United States, VHS tapes of the show were originally released by Hallmark Home Entertainment through Family Home Entertainment and Artisan Entertainment, and later on, VHS tapes and DVDs were released by HIT themselves.

Video name	Format	Release date	Episodes
The Visitor & Other Stories	VHS	July 14, 1999	The Visitor The Umbrella The Seaside Nothing Ever Happens
Pig's Present & Other Stories	VHS	January 15, 2000	Pig's Present The Rainbow Puddle The Butterfly The Bleepers
Snowy Day & Other Stories	VHS	July 17, 2000	Snowy Day Pig's Cousin The Paddling Pool Tiger's Torch
Pools, Parks, & Picnics	VHS/DVD	June 5, 2001 (VHS), July 1, 2003 (DVD)	The Long Walk The Swimming Pool The Picnic Cakes and Tails The Gismo The Lost Mug The Magnifying Glass
Tiger Tales	VHS/DVD	June 5, 2001 (VHS)/January 25, 2005 (DVD)	The Camping Trip Tiger's Rocket Skates Arnold's Drum The Holiday Buried Treasure The River Trip
Playtime in the Park (Blockbuster Exclusive)	VHS	June 5, 2001	The Long Walk The Swimming Pool The Picnic Cakes & Tails The Gismo The Lost Mug The Magnifying Glass The Camping Trip Tiger's Rocket Skates Arnold's Drum The Holiday Buried Treasure The River Trip
Cuddly Critters	VHS/DVD	March 5, 2002 (VHS)/September 30, 2003 (DVD)	The Nest Jake's Bird Echo Echo The Goldfish The Mouse Hide and Seek Hedgehog Watch
Playtime	VHS/DVD	July 1, 2002 (VHS/DVD)	The Treasure Hunt Looking After Arnold Tiger's Joke Box Pig's Sweater Clay Time The Magic Carpet Kipper the Hero

References

^ Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. p. 482. ISBN 978-1476665993.
^ Crump, William D. (2019). Happy Holidays—Animated! A Worldwide Encyclopedia of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year's Cartoons on Television and Film. McFarland & Co. p. 54. ISBN 9781476672939.
^ Shapiro, Audrey. "Kipper". Common Sense Media. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
^ Tatz, P. (11 March 2013). "The 10 best television shows for young children". Thomas B. Fordham Institute. Retrieved 16 February 2019.

External links

Kipper at IMDb

[1] Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. p. 482. ISBN 978-1476665993.

[2] Crump, William D. (2019). Happy Holidays—Animated! A Worldwide Encyclopedia of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year's Cartoons on Television and Film. McFarland & Co. p. 54. ISBN 9781476672939.

[3] Shapiro, Audrey. "Kipper". Common Sense Media. Retrieved 16 February 2019.

[4] Tatz, P. (11 March 2013). "The 10 best television shows for young children". Thomas B. Fordham Institute. Retrieved 16 February 2019.

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First-run interstitials	Maggie and the Ferocious Beast Tinpo
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