An animated series is a set of animated television works with a common title, usually related to one another. These episodes should typically share the same main heroes, some different secondary characters and a basic theme. Series can have either a finite number of episodes like a miniseries , a definite end, or be open-ended, without a predetermined number of episodes. They can be broadcast on television, shown in movie theatres, released on the internet or direct-to-video . Like other creative works, animated series can be of a wide variety of genres and can also have different target audiences : both males and females, both children and adults .
41-525: The Dreamstone is a British animated television series that aired from 1990 to 1995, with four series and 52 episodes. The series' original concept and artwork was created by Michael Jupp, and it was written by Sue Radley and Martin Gates and produced by Martin Gates Productions (MGP) for a wholly-owned subsidiary of Central, a part of Independent Television, and FilmFair . Distribution rights for
82-446: A 75% majority stake in the company. In 1998, the company was in talks to sell the stake back to Ian and Anne Miles and letting AHE trade independently again. In exchange, PolyGram would acquire the rights to distribute all future Fun Song Factory Videos. In early 2000, AHE was acquired by Just Group PLC. Abbey's 'Tempo Pre-school' label was retained for pre-school products, while 'at school' video and audio products were released under
123-599: A Dream", "The War Song of the Urpneys", "Into the Sunset", and a shorter version of "The Dreamdance", which omits the vocal clips from the show. "The Vile Brothers Mountain Band" was omitted from the soundtrack due to the controversy surrounding Gary Glitter. TV soundtrack album listing (original release): TV soundtrack album listing (Music Cube re-release): The Dreamstone soundtrack is currently out of print as of 2015. However,
164-518: A child-friendly show, shifted its target group to ages 12 and up, resulting in a darker and more mature storyline. Animated film theatrical series include all early animated series: Animated Weekly (1913), The Newlyweds (1913 — 1915), Travelaughs (1913, 1915 — 1918, 1921 — 1923), Doc Yak (1913 — 1915), Colonel Heeza Liar (1913 — 1917, 1922 — 1924), Kapten Grogg [ sv ] (1916 — 1922), Les Aventures des Pieds Nickelés (1917 — 1918),
205-525: A joint venture with animation company DIC Enterprises . The label released DIC Entertainment programmes on VHS. After Just Group filed for administration in 2002, Ian Miles formed a new company under the Abbey name called Abbey Home Media on 4 March 2002, re-acquiring former assets once owned by AHE. Abbey Home Media retained the Tempo Pre-School brand that Just Group kept during their ownership of
246-598: A local station of a television network broadcasts an animated series as a part of its own programming, the time-slot will vary by region. All early animated television series, the first being Crusader Rabbit (1950 — 1959), are comic cartoon series. However, later series include sports ( Speed Racer , Captain Tsubasa , Slam Dunk ), action ( Hajime no Ippo , G.I. Joe ), science fiction ( Mobile Suit Gundam , Tenchi Muyo ), drama ( Neon Genesis Evangelion ), adventure ( Dragon Ball ), martial arts ( Baki
287-573: A pilot for the series, The Dream Thief . It was animated by the studio Mill Valley Animation in Novato, California , when Mike was working in America. The pilot has several differences from the TV series, most of which came from Jupp's original manuscript for the idea, and featured a 12-year-old Christian Bale as the voice of Rufus. In 1991, London Edition published a comic book series based on episodes from
328-530: A range of 27 initial collectable figurines based on the show were funded through Kickstarter and released on Oakbound's website in July 2021. Zordrak was also announced as a second Kickstarter project launching in December 2022, with a third miniatures release and supplement to the games being planned for 2022. Animated television series Animated television series are presented daily or on certain days of
369-422: A second series, which aired in 2000. The company expanded into the toy and print industries by forming Jusco Toys and acquiring book publisher Burghley Publishing, later renamed Just Publishing. Just also signed a deal with Warner Bros. Consumer Products to produce products based on their properties and renew an existing magazine publishing deal. In 1999, Just Group acquired Pinky & Perky for £500,000, with
410-460: A set time period in "segments", including several such shorts. When advertising is taken into account, the cartoon itself may be only 15 — 20 minutes of the half hour, although Netflix and many other streaming companies do not show commercials. There are also series with a very short episodes lasting approximately five minutes; they have recently become more common in Japanese animation . If
451-662: A shock profit warning. In the same month, the company showcased new projects at MIPCOM, including Wide-Eye , which was pre-sold to the BBC for delivery in autumn 2002, and several television specials. On October 16, Just closed their head office in Bakewell with the loss of 38 jobs, and was in talks on the sale of some non-core operations. The company also signed a deal with Universal Studios and subsidiary PolyGram Television to help manage Butt-Ugly Martians and allowing Universal to gain exclusive movie, home video (excluding Germany and
SECTION 10
#1732775708232492-469: A year after the company was founded. Tempo Video was the mainstream video label for Abbey Home Entertainment and continued to be used until 2000, when the label was discontinued by AHE's new owner, Just Group. The Tempo label was also used within Abbey-distributed audio cassettes, under labels including Tempo Audio , Tempo Twins , Tempo Reed and Tempo Children's Classics . Tempo Video was
533-586: Is currently held by the Indian-based YoBoHo New Media Pvt. Ltd. , the owners of the HooplaKidz YouTube media network. Another predecessor of Abbey Home Media was Tempo Video , which was originally launched by video distributor MSD Video in 1987 as a kids-focused video label. After two years, MSD transitioned the distribution of Tempo to Collins Video and then transitioned the label to Abbey Home Entertainment in 1990,
574-716: The Tom and Jerry cartoon short films released in movie theatres from 1940 to 1967, and many others. Direct-to-video animated series include most Japanese original video animations (OVAs). The first OVA series (and also the first overall OVA) was Dallos (1983 — 1985). Almost all hentai (pornographic) anime series are released as OVAs. Animated web series are designed and produced for streaming services . Examples include Happy Tree Friends (1999 — 2023) and Eddsworld (2003 — present). They can also be released on YouTube , such as Asdfmovie , which debuted in 2008. Abbey Home Media Abbey Home Media
615-478: The 1990s, more mature content than those of traditional cartoon series began to appear more widely, extending beyond a primary audience of children. These cartoon series included The Simpsons , South Park , Family Guy , Futurama , The Ren & Stimpy Show , Rocko's Modern Life , Beavis and Butt-Head , King of the Hill , and Duckman . Canadian computer-animated series ReBoot , which began as
656-518: The Abbey brands and would later introduce the Tempo and Tempo TV Classics (Previously Tempo Classics ) brands. During the 2010s, products were released under the regular Abbey Home Media brand name. In March 2017, the company signed a deal with DHX Media to release DVDs for Bob the Builder and Fireman Sam . On 4 May 2020 it was confirmed that Anne Miles, the co-founder of Abbey, had died,
697-661: The Alternative Investment Market (AIM) of the London Stock Exchange and was based in the town of Bakewell, Derbyshire, England, with additional offices in London, New York, Hong Kong and Melbourne. The company operated many subsidiaries: In the late 1990s, the company expanded into the entertainment industry and started producing animated television series. Its first series, Jellabies , proved sufficiently successful for CITV to commission
738-653: The Dreamstone, and Dream Chase, a variant of Snakes and Ladders. A jigsaw puzzle depicting the Dream Maker, Rufus, Amberley, and Albert walking through the Noops' town was also produced, along with other puzzles produced by British puzzle/board game manufacturer Waddingtons . In October 2019, Oakbound Studio announced that it would produce a licensed miniatures range and game based on The Dreamstone to mark its 30th anniversary. The role-playing game, miniatures game, and
779-459: The Grappler ), and other genres. The first animated sitcom was The Flintstones (1960 — 1966), produced by Hanna-Barbera . It was followed by other sitcoms of this studio: Top Cat (1961 — 1962), Jonny Quest (1964 — 1965), The Jetsons (1962 — 1963, 1985, 1987) and Wait Till Your Father Gets Home (1972 — 1974), an adult-oriented animated series in
820-489: The Just Entertainment label. Abbey itself retained its special focus on the 'pre-school' and 'at school' age groups. Just Group PLC was a British holding company that focused on incorporating the creation and development of character concepts, ownership of intellectual property rights, and international licensing and distribution of character and corporate brand merchandise. The company had its shares listed on
861-534: The Martin Gates catalogue, including The Dreamstone , are currently owned by Monster Entertainment. The Dreamstone is set in the dream worlds of the Land of Dreams and the Land of Nightmares and follows the struggle between good, personified by The Dream Maker, and evil, personified by Zordrak, Lord of Nightmares. The Land of Dreams is populated by the humanoid Noops, whose lifestyle is similar to humans, and
SECTION 20
#1732775708232902-550: The United Kingdom and began releasing Abbey's content under their own brand, retaining the Tempo Pre-School label for pre-school content. In September 2000, Just fully acquired Optical Image for £1.5 million. In December, Just Group acquired MediaKey plc for £7.2 million. In April 2001 it was confirmed that the company had failed to file accounts for the year. In August that year, the company laid off their CEO Wilf Shorrocks and commercial director Paula Shorrock and issued
943-481: The United Kingdom) and theme park rights to the property, as well as funding to produce more episodes. In November, the company's shares were suspended, due to lower-than-expected revenue from Butt-Ugly Martians and the failed purchase of MediaKey. Just Group filed for administration on 9 January 2002 and the shares were delisted from Aim. On 12 June 2002, it was announced that format distributor Target
984-509: The Urpneys. Ozzy Osbourne , Frank Bruno , and Billy Connolly provided lead vocals on the "War Song of the Urpneys" single and album track, although the version heard in the series was mainly sung by composer Mike Batt. Other artists who sang for soundtrack included Bonnie Tyler , who recorded a duet with Mike entitled "Into the Sunset", which was intended to be used as the show's official love song, but went unused. Joe Brown and Gary Glitter performed "The Vile Brothers Mountain Band", which
1025-543: The Wuts, defenders of the realm who fly around on leaves and use staffs to communicate with each other and ward off Zordrak's forces. The Land of Nightmares is populated mainly by Urpneys, lizard-like humanoids who live in Viltheed, a mountainous wasteland that Zordrak inhaits. Although all Urpneys in Viltheed are male, female Urpneys do exist, as Urpgor has an aunt and a niece. The show was notable for its musical score, which
1066-440: The aim of focusing on the pre-school market. By the end of the year, the company had three shows in development: Wiki’s World , set for an autumn 2000 release; One Big Happy Family , set for release in 2001 as a co-production with Jellabies producer Optical Image; and Butt-Ugly Martians , a co-production with Mike Young Productions and DCDC, set for a September 2000 release. With the purchase, Just expanded into home video in
1107-551: The chorus, which was used in the ending credits from the latter half of Series 1 until series 4, in which it was shortened. In 2012, Katie Melua released a version of "Better Than a Dream". The soundtrack was re-released as part of the Mike Batt Music Cube release in December 2009 by Dramatico Records . However, instead of the TV soundtrack, the CD featured five newly recorded orchestral overtures, as well as "Better Than
1148-587: The episodes to "private". As of January 2020, they have been re-uploaded. In September 2022, the series was released on PZAZ TV Worldwide. Although the show was produced in the United Kingdom, it was animated in the Philippines . As with American produced cartoons, Martin Gates Productions used foreign studios for the overall animation work. Fil-Cartoons, owned by Hanna-Barbera , did animation for series 1, while Moving Images International did animation for series 2–4. In 1985, Mike Jupp and Martin Gates produced
1189-707: The five Overture tracks from the Music Cube re-release are included on Mike Batt's album A Classical Tale , released on CD on 24 July 2015 by Dramatico Records. In the United Kingdom, there were several video releases from the Video Collection, covering all of series 1, including the unedited opening special, except for the episode "Megattack", as well as several releases of most episodes from Series 1 from Tring Video UK. BMG Video UK released one video release, which featured four episodes from Series 2. The first two episodes were originally combined as one episode,
1230-519: The intention of producing a new television series and expanding into the North American market. The company later signed a deal with Carlton Television subsidiary Planet 24 in July 2001 to create a stage show and comedy series oriented at an adult audience and titled Pinky & Perky in Sex 'n' Drugs 'n' Bacon Roll . In 1999, the company acquired Abbey Home Entertainment for $ 2.1 million, with
1271-533: The opening special, which contained extra footage that was removed from the 22-minute TV version of the special. The first six episodes of the series were released on DVD in the UK by Abbey Home Media , when the rights to the show were owned by Cookie Jar Entertainment , but these two volumes have since gone out of print. The company's Jaroo website used to stream episodes from the first two series. There were six video releases by Australian company Reel Entertainment, which
The Dreamstone - Misplaced Pages Continue
1312-511: The series. The first issue consisted entirely of screenshots, while the next five featured art drawn by Tim Perkins. The comic ran for six issues and adapted plotlines from the episodes "The Dreamstone/Into Viltheed", "The Daydream Bubble", "Albert Is Fishnapped", "The Knitted Balloon", "The Shrinking Stone", and "The Invisible Blob". BMI (Print Division) Ltd. released a board game based on The Dreamstone in 1993, containing The Dreamstone Game, which involved rolling to move and collecting pieces of
1353-1046: The style of All in the Family . The Alvin Show from Ross Bagdasarian Sr. and Beany and Cecil from Bob Clampett are also sitcoms. The 1980s and 1990s were a renaissance of the animated children and adult television series. Various broadcast networks and media companies began creating television channels and formats designed specifically for airing cartoon and anime series. Companies that already had these types of formats in place began to revamp their existing models during this time. Most of this animations were American-based or Japanese anime. Listed below are examples of television networks and channels that include animated programs. American British Japanese Canadian Australian Examples of animation-focused networks and channels are listed below; but some of them aired live-action programs occasionally. American South Korean Canadian Japanese During
1394-430: The week during a prescribed time slot , including for example saturday-morning cartoons , prime time cartoons , late night anime , and weekday cartoons ; series broadcast only on weekends. The duration of an episode also varies. Traditionally, they are produced as complete half-hour or nearly half-hour programs; however, many are presented as animated shorts of 10 — 11 minutes, which can be combined for filling
1435-469: Was Abbey Home Entertainment Group Limited (AHE), founded in 1989 by Ian and Anne Miles. AHE acquired the Tempo Video brand name from WM Collins Video in 1990 and introduced several brands: A subsidiary called Abbey Broadcast Communications produced original content for AHE on both VHS and audio cassette. This division became dormant in the early 2000s. In 1995, PolyGram Filmed Entertainment acquired
1476-614: Was a British home media distributor that released content aimed at children. It was founded in March 2002, as the successor company to Abbey Home Entertainment (AHE), which was acquired by the Just Group in 2000. Abbey Home Media released content from outside production companies, and also produced its own franchises, which included Bump the Elephant , Fun Song Factory , Wide-Eye and Baby Bright . Abbey Home Media's predecessor
1517-720: Was in talks to acquire and merge with the Just Group. However, nothing came from this after the initial announcement, with the JustAction Group instead putting together a company voluntary arrangement, which allowed the Just Group to exit administration in August 2002, rebranding as Newscreen Media Group PLC. The rescue plan eventually collapsed and Newscreen Media Group filed for administration again in 2004. The company soon folded, with its assets being shared between its management and newly formed business Think Entertainment PLC. The ownership of Jellikins and Butt-Ugly Martians
1558-592: Was released in Australia and featured the first 12 episodes of Series 3. There was also another video release by Video Distributors International in 1992, which featured the first three episodes of Series 1. In the United States, Fisher-Price released a video release of The Dreamstone . Pidax Film released the first 13 episodes on DVD in Germany, with English and German audio, on 23 February 2018. Series 2
1599-561: Was released on 18 May 2018. Series 3 was released on 27 July 2018, and Series 4 was released on 28 September 2018., The first series was available in the UK through Amazon Prime , but lacked the series finale, "Megattack". Since 2020, however, the episodes are no longer available on Amazon. iTunes has added the first 12 episodes to their service. In late 2018, Monster Entertainment began the "Official Dreamstone" channel on YouTube and uploaded all 52 episodes, but in June 2019, they set most of
1640-491: Was unique among cartoons in that it was performed by a full-size professional orchestra, the London Philharmonic Orchestra . The score, by Mike Batt , was heavily characterised by the use of leitmotifs and thematic variations , particularly in the two main songs used in the series, " Better Than a Dream ", which characterised the Noops and the Wuts, and "War Song of the Urpneys", which characterised
1681-533: Was used in the episode "Albert is Fishnapped". The TV version of "Better Than a Dream" contained different lyrics than the version included on the soundtrack . The TV version reflected Rufus's personality, with the lyrics "I always dream myself to somewhere else each night" and "I know I dream much more than other people do". The soundtrack version instead has the lyrics "I used to dream myself to someone else each night" and "until I chanced upon this road that led to you", among other changed lyrics. Mike Batt re-recorded