Pogles' Wood

"Pogles' Wood" was an animated British children's television series produced by Smallfilms between 1966 and 1967 and acreened by the BBC between 1966 and 1968 as part of the Watch with Mother series. The Pogles were country folk who lived in a tree. The four principal characters were Mr Pogle, Mrs Pogle, their 'son' Pippin and a rabbit-like creature, Tog, who was Pippin's playmate. The 32 episodes were shot in stop-frame animation in Peter Firmin's barn or shed.

The first series featuring Mr and Mrs Pogle was called simply 'The Pogles' and was broadcast in 1965.

This first series which set the scene for the later 'Pogles Wood' - six episodes of ten minutes each - which told the story of how the Magic Plant came to live with Mr. and Mrs. Pogle.... and also revealed the truth about Pippin's identity as the foundling son of the King of the Fairies.

However, the story centred around a very dark and evil old shape-changing Witch, and was so scary that after broadcasting the series only once - the BBC declared it 'too frightening' and asked if Oliver Postgate could make a further series about more everyday countryside matters. These were called Pogles Wood, and the first series centred around a view of farm and countryside life through the eyes of Pippin, Tog and the Pogles. The second series had a stronger storytelling element, where Pippin and Tog would often find an item, bring it back to the storytelling plant, who would bring it to life (possibly a precursor of the later Bagpuss).

The adventures of Pippin and Tog were also popular in book form as annuals in the 1970s.

Production staff

Writer: Oliver Postgate Puppets and Pictures: Peter Firmin

Voices: Olwen Griffiths (Mrs Pogle and Pippin) Steve Woodman (Plant and Tog) Oliver Postgate (Pogle, The Witch, King of the Fairies, Hedgepig and Fairies). Music: Vernon Elliott. DVDs of the Pogles and episodes selected by their creators from Pogles Wood were released on DVD by the Dragons Friendly Society in 2006

External links

* [http://www.pogleswood.org/ Official Pogles' Wood website]
* [http://www.dragonsfriendly.co.uk/ Publishers of Pogles Wood on DVD and CD Rom]
* [http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/562400/index.html British Film Institute Screen Online]