Flipper and Lopaka
Flipper & Lopaka is an Australian animated series produced by the Yoram Gross companies: Yoram Gross Films Studio and Yoram Gross-EM.TV. It has previously aired on Australia's Seven Network at various times and has also aired on Australia's ABC3, a channel dedicated to children's television programs.
Setting
The series takes place on the Millhouse island of Illoka. The islanders survive without the use of modern technology, building huts out of bamboo and fern and eating various fruits found on the island floor. Beneath the surrounding ocean lies Quetzo, a sunken Millhouse island now home to many sea creatures. The series follows Lopaka, a young Polynesian boy who has the mysterious power to communicate with sea creatures and breathe underwater, and his adventures with his many sea-faring friends, including the witty and friendly dolphin, Flipper. Lopaka, Flipper and their friends must work together to thwart the plans of the nefarious Dexter, an octopus wanting to claim Quetzo as his own, and keep peace amongst the underwater domain.Characters
All seasons
Lopaka - Lopaka is an 11-year-old Polynesian boy, referred to in the show as a menehune, who has the power to converse with sea creatures and to breathe underwater. He was rescued from drowning as a child by Flipper, and they've been best friends ever since. The islanders of Iloka often wonder where Lopaka disappears to every episode, but he usually manages to avoid speaking the truth. He wears a red skirt, and an arm band. Lopaka is a very loyal friend, to sea creatures and islanders alike. He has fluffy brown hair that reaches below his ears, and black eyes.Flipper - Lopaka's best friend, Flipper is a quick-witted, agile, loyal and friendly bottlenose dolphin, whose parents are the rulers of Quetzo. When trouble arises in the underwater domain, the sea-creature citizens turn to Flipper as their leader. Flipper has a light blue underbelly, with a darker blue back. He is known as the most trusted sea creature in Quetzo, and does his best to help everybody he can.
Ottie, Ray and Puffy - Ottie, a sea otter, Ray, a manta ray and Puffy, a blowfish, are Flipper's good friends, and they usually accompany him and Lopaka in keeping Quetzo safe. Ottie is the only one of the three who can go on land, making him a valuable asset when Lopaka isn't around to help. Ray is kindhearted, and acts as a central motivator of the group, and Puffy, albeit insecure about himself, uses his ability to puff himself out to his advantage.
Dexter - Dexter is a giant, purple octopus whose main goal is to rule Quetzo. He is deceiving, manipulative, and acts as the main antagonist to the story. Underneath his nefarious outlook, when faced with danger he becomes very scared and cowardly. No matter how many times Flipper saves his life, Dexter will always make up a new plan to try and destroy him. He likes to praise himself for his 'excellence', however isn't the brightest sea creature around.
Serge - Serge is a sea snake who acts as the 'brains' to Dexter's motivation. He is bright green, with a devious and sharp mind. Even though Serge is to credit for the ideas that are made to destroy Flipper, whenever they go wrong, Dexter puts the blame on him for everything.
Dolores - Dexter's sister. Dolores dislikes Dexter, as she thinks of him as very selfish, and she is the only one Dexter truly fears. She occasionally has him babysit her daughter, Inky. She becomes friendly with Flipper and his friends and eventually becomes a famous superstar in Seadom.
Nola - A young Polynesian girl wears a simple Yellow dress and a leg bracelet around her right foot.
Season 2
Professor Troy, Spike and Goose - Professor Troy is a talented scientist who wants to find out the history of Quetso and Illoka, and the reason that it sank. She is good hearted and her son, Spike, is friends with Lopaka and is surprised the Milihune can get along without 20th century essentials. He tries teaching them about it by playing along with them. Goose, Troy's off-beat assistant is a young man of few words; every time he speaks, he does so with an accent. For example, if he were to say "Help me!", he would say it slowly, in a low voice. He wears an aqua vest and jeans.Season 3
Captain Barnibus Crab, Kim, Simon - Captain Crab is a short, modern-day pirate who has come to the waters of Illoka to search for Neptune's Statue and Neptune's Trident. His barefoot niece, 18 or so year-old Kim has come to assist him, and also gain pirating experience. Kim is an eager pirate, and is the technical wiz of the ship. Simon on the other hand, is a large deck hand/chef. He is accident prone, and will commit piracy, but he is really a gentle giant.Ultra - Ultra is a pink dolphin, who was taken from her parents as a baby. She grew up in a science lab, and was taken with the pirates to search the ocean floor. After a few incidents, Ultra proves herself a true, worthy companion, and Flipper gladly takes her into the group. Later in the series, Ultra finds her parents, along with a little sister, Delta.
List of episodes
Season 1 (1999)
Season 2 (2000)
Season 3 (2003-05)
| # | Title | Summary | Air Date |
| 53 | Something Old, Something New | A series of earthquakes affects Quetzo. Dexter returns and takes over Quetzo. Flipper and a lab dolphin named Ultra along with Lopaka drive Dexter out. | 1 December 2003 |
| 54 | Starstruck | New arrivals come to Illoka consisting of Barnacle Crab, Kim and Simon. They are pirates under the guise of filmmakers. Meanwhile, Flipper aided by a reluctant Dexter rescues Ottie. | 2 December 2003 |
| 55 | Sink or Swim | Bolo stows away on Barnacle's sub but gets trapped. Ultra faces her fear of currents to help Flipper and Lopaka rescue Bolo. | 3 December 2003 |
| 56 | Island Idol | Illoka is holding a talent show and Lopaka finds out that Barnacle and his crew are actually pirates. At the talent show, Lopaka manages to expose them. | 5 February 2004 |
| 57 | Blasts from the Past | Flipper and Lopaka travel to the past, where they return the cursed statue of Neptune to the sea. In another time period they have sink the statue again when Captain Redbeard gets hold of it. | 18 February 2004 |
| 58 | Dolphin Deception | Flipper, Lopaka and their friends carry out a plan to remove Barnacle's ship. Ultra is discovered to be spying for the pirates, but she helps thwart Dexter from sabotaging their plan. | 12 September 2004 |
| 59 | Murky Waters | The pirates have returned. While Flipper drives Barnacle and Kim away, Lopaka saves Simon from drowning. | 14 September 2004 |
| 60 | Leaps of Faith | Simon takes Puffy away. Flipper's rescue attempt gets him captured by the pirates. Bolo trying to attack the pirates gets himself captured. Lopaka rescues them and Ultra joins Flipper. | |
| 61 | Secrets and Lies | Dexter gets hold of some dynamite from the pirates. Lopaka has no alternative but to reveal his secrets to his people. Together the Milahouni and the dolphins thwart Dexter's plan and dispose of the dynamite. | |
| 62 | Crash Course Crisis | With Lopaka's secrets out, he can't get any rest. A gigantic shark causes terror, but Flipper is able to get it unwittingly to save Illoka from the unmanned pirate ship. | |
| 63 | Dads and Lads | Lopaka sustains injuries and is marooned with Bermana on a sand bar. Dexter captures Flipper's father. After Flipper rescues Lopaka, Bermana rescues Flipper's father and Dexter's lot. | |
| 64 | Charming Disarmings | Captain Barnacle is dumping rubbish in the sea. Sparky, a solitary electric eel encouraged by Flipper helps short circuit the pirate ship. | |
| 65 | Friends in Need | Fed up with her uncle, Kim leaves, then gets trapped with Nola and Capuna in a ceremonial cave but sends Lopaka and the dolphins to save them. She then rescues Captain Barnacle and Simon who are trapped in a sea abyss. | |
| 66 | Pipe Dreams | A sour note from Dexter's organ hurts Flipper. Dexter takes Utra hostage, but the Quetzo fish provide Dexter with a pipe allowing Flipper to sabotage the organ and expel Dexter from Quetzo. | |
| 67 | Dexter's Demons | Dexter brings a demonic statue to life which makes all gargoyle statues in Quetzo awaken. The gargoyles turn against Dexter. Flipper and Dexter work together to dispel the magic of the statues. | |
| 68 | Tossed, Lost and Bossed | After a terrible tempest storm Flipper has to rescue Inky, who was captured by vampire fish. Dexter traps Flipper, but Dolores makes Dexter rescue him. | |
| 69 | Bad Boy Flipper | Lopaka and Nola go on the Quest of Courage. Dexter uses a hypnosis charm to get Flipper to do his bidding. Lopaka forfeits the quest and convinces Dexter to help restore Flipper and save Illoka and Quetzo. | |
| 70 | In Sickness and Health | Dexter gets injuries, while the Pirates go to Illoka seeking food. Captain Barnacle eats a poisonous fruit, but the Milehouni provide the cure, while Quetzo aids Dexter. | |
| 71 | Space Junked | A piece of space junk crashses right into the Quetzo school. Barnacle retrieves the space junk, but his rival Slapbeard takes it and captures Kim and Lopaka, but the dolphins summon the coast guard. | |
| 72 | Roboshark | Kim gets a robotic shark but loses the remote to Dexter. Using the roboshark Dexter captures Flipper. The sharks free Flipper to get their jobs back. Lopaka frantically goes after what he thinks is a package of Barnacle's explosives. | |
| 73 | He Ain't Heavy, He's My Statue | Catfish burgalar Lulu La Rue kidnaps Ottie. Ultra rescues Ottie and notices before her capture the statue of Neptune. The only way to rescue Ultra is to get the pirates to winch her out, thus losing the statue to them. | 1 January 2005 |
| 74 | Trident Trickery | Bolo's bluff about the Milehouni having the trident, gets Barnacle to kidnap Chief Kapuna. The Milehouni create a fake trident for Kapuna's release. | 12 January 2005 |
| 75 | Guess Who's Coming for Dinner | The dolphins and Lopaka go on a long journey, leaving Dexter free to take over Quetzo. While Ottie, Ray and Puffy outwit Dexter, Flipper's lot rescues a fish named Bluey and the pirates from a big fish. | 18 January 2005 |
| 76 | Family Ties | Lopaka manages to put the pirates' radar out of action. Ultra comes across her family and with help from her friends and the pirates drive out a gang of hostile swordfish. | 22 January 2005 |
| 77 | Trident Au Go Go | Lopaka, Flipper and Ultra reach the town Seadom, where superstar Dolores has Neptune's trident. Dexter comes, gets the trident and hands it to Barnacle, but Dolores helps recover it. | 23 January |
| 78 | Destiny's Children | Dexter steals the trident and hands it the pirates. As the storms grow, Lopaka manages to persuade Kim to give up the statue. After Flipper and Lopaka drop the statue into the black abyss freeing Quetzo and Illoka from the curses. | 25 January 2005 |