The Koala Brothers
The Koala Brothers is a 2003-2007 Australian-British stop-motion animated children's television show that features the adventures of two koala brothers named Frank and Buster, as they seek to help their friends in a sleepy town in the Australian outback. 79 episodes were produced over three seasons.
A notable quality of the TV series is that although there can be differences of opinion and some instances of anti-social or unthoughtful behaviour, there are no villains or antagonistic characters. Rather, the emphasis is on helping and being a good friend. Originally aired on ABC Kids, the show later aired on CBeebies in the United Kingdom, having premiered on 16 February 2004 and Playhouse Disney in the United States, as well as different international stations.
Format
Broadcast episode formats varying slightly between countries, though the main material of each episode, featuring the koala brothers assisting one of their friends and overcoming a problem, such as jealousy, fear, or the failure to share, does not change. In Australia, the show runs in episodes of around 12 minutes though these are broadcast in pairs on Playhouse Disney, with the opening song "Call the Koala Brothers" repeated in instrumental form over the credits. CBeebies eliminates the introduction and closing song to squeeze the program into a 10-minute format.In the 30-minute broadcast version, the show opens with the theme song and then the narrator introduces Frank and Buster as they fly in their yellow two-seater propeller airplane above the outback. The supporting cast is introduced as the narrator asks "Who do you think the Koala Brothers are going to help today?" Each 30-minute episode ends with "The Helping Song", in which all the characters gather at the Koala Brothers' homestead and sing about always trying to help and caring for one another.
Inspiration
The series remarkably resembles in visual style and ethos an globally publicised Australian 1988 NSW Bicentennial Exhibition and Children's Book and TV series proposal "The Great Wungle Bungle Aerial Expedition" featuring characters specifically dubbed "The Koala Brothers" and focusing on the adventures of altruistic animal outback aviator rescuers in homemade flying contraptions at a comical desert airstrip. The original three "Koala Brothers" characters first appeared at the "FirstState88" NSW Govt exhibition in darling harbour under that description, accompanied by book and merchandise and later in 1990s in an animated TV series proposal "Echidna Airways" circulating at Cannes. The 1988 Children's book and public exhibition attended by millions in Sydney's darling harbour and promoted on television featured Australian animal aviator characters altruistically rescuing others or helping out friends with no thought of personal reward.Archival footage of The Koala Brothers characters and flying machines viewable here:
Characters
All characters of anthropomorphic animals in the show speak with Australian accents, with the notable exceptions of Archie the Crocodile, who speaks in a British accent and Penny the Penguin, who only communicates through penguin sounds.Main characters
- Frank the Koala is the pilot of the airplane. He has demonstrated excellent skills in tennis and was the only member of the community able to defeat Archie, though he admitted it was probably just luck. He also fostered an interest in pottery at one point but did not have any great artistic ability.
- Buster the Koala sits behind Frank in the airplane and uses his telescope to spot friends in need from the air. He is always willing to provide a pep talk or a hug to his friends. He speaks more softly than Frank and has a small tuft of hair on the top of his head. Buster loves to bake, especially butter biscuits.
Supporting characters
- Mitzi the Possum often wears flip flops each foot has four toes and thick-rimmed glasses. She lives next door near the koala's house and she is a very nervous character who relies on the koala brothers to keep in line with her perfectionist tendencies. Mitzi can also be a bit bossy and can upset her friends at times, but in the end, her friends always forgive her after she has owed them an apology.
- Ned the Wombat is apparently the youngest member of the local community and lives in a caravan next door to the Koala Brothers' homestead. He is often not sure of himself, but he dreams of adventure as an explorer or a sea captain. He is very determined, and easily fixated on an idea.
- George the Turtle is the local post carrier. He has unknown residence but is always seen delivering the post with his trusty leather satchel. He is very proud of being a post carrier and tells the best campfire stories in the outback. He also has an interest in stamp collecting.
- Sammy the Echidna lives in town and owns the local general store, which sells fuel in addition to comestibles. His lone employee is Josie. He has the fewest problems, after the Koala Brothers.
- Josie the Kangaroo works at the general store. She wears a red and white shirt that exposes her tummy, a skirt and shoes, and she and Mitzi are the best of friends.
- Alice the Platypus works at the local cafe and appears to be the lone employee, though it is not clear if she owns the cafe. She is very forgetful. She rides a green motorscooter around, which has its share of drastic engine problems. She loves to bake and is good at following recipes. She is also good at reading maps.
- Archie the Crocodile lives in a well-appointed cottage near the local water hole. He is always exercising, stretching, or playing tennis, and is renowned at being the best at almost every sport. He is British, and speaks in a memorable rich accent.
- Penny the Penguin is an explorer who lives in Antarctica, but has visited the outback on occasions and keeps up a regular written correspondence with the Koala Brothers. She can't talk, but she communicates by chattering and she sings "The Helping Song".
- Lolly the Ostrich is the local ice cream vendor and can often be seen driving her ice cream truck around. She greets people by saying "How can I cool you down?"
Minor characters
- The Narrator is the storyteller of the show.
Main and Supporting cast
- Frank and Archie – voiced by Keith Wickham in the United Kingdom and the United States
- Buster, Sammy and George – voiced by Rob Rackstraw in the United Kingdom and United States
- Ned, Josie and Penny – voiced by Janet James in the United Kingdom and United States
- Mitzi, Alice and Lolly – voiced by Lucinda Cowden in the United Kingdom and United States
Minor cast
- Narrator - Jonathan Coleman in the United Kingdom and United States
Episodes
Series 1 (2003–04)
Series 2 (2004–05)
Series 3 (2005–07)
Home video history
- DVDs Released in Canada and United States
- *Meet The Koala Brothers!
- *A Day In The Outback!
- *We're Here To Help!
- *Ned's Buried Treasure
- *Mitzi's Big Adventure
- *Outback Christmas
- DVDs Released in the United Kingdom
- *The Koala Brothers: A Letter for George and Other Stories
- *The Koala Brothers: Archie's New Home and Other Stories
- *The Koala Brothers: Ned the Pilot and Other Stories
- *The Koala Brothers: Alice Can't Remember and Other Stories
- *The Koala Brothers: Outback Christmas
- *The Koala Brothers: Mitzi's Day Out and Other Stories
- *The Koala Brothers: We're Here to Help!
Award nominations
- BAFTA Children's Awards 2006
- * Nominated for Best Animation