Olimar The Wondercat

Olimar the Wondercat

Olimar the Wondercat was a short-lived children's television programme made by the BBC in the 1970s. It featured a cat called Olimar with magical powers. Two series, each with six programmes, were made.

Episodes: series 1

1. Meet Olimar
2. Bye mum!
3. A long train journey
4. Olimar goes to London
5. Scary Aunt Emma
6. Olimar loves Edward

In the early 1980s the rights to Olimar the Wondercat were bought by LWT and his name was shortened to Oli the Wondercat. The programme was redesigned giving Oli a costume and enhanced special powers. In true ITV style Oli had a nemesis Evil Derek the Dark Dalmatian (more spot than dog) who plagued Oli. However, Evil Derek's role as villain was soon usurped by Cello the Mighty, a fierce Siamese cat embodying the truculence and pugnacity of his homeland - Canada. Cello and Oli battled many times with Cello countering Oli's strange magical powers with his ability to grow a lion-like and power-granting mane at will. Cello's struggles with Oli would dominate most of the Series 2 plot line.

Episodes: series 2

1. Oli Makes Peace, Buries Derek
2. Cello eats Oli's food
3. Sit! Oli!
4. Oli and Edward run away (from Cello)
5. Oli Prepares for a Finale Showdown
6. Cello, the Cat who Lived

In a surprising twist, Cello defeats his nemesis Oli in the finale. He would go on to live forever and be proclaimed King of all Cats.

Foreign language versions

LWT sought to maximise their newly acquired rights to Oli the Wondercat and sold the rights on the French television channel TF1 in the early 1980s. The original video was kept intact, but the audio was not only dubbed into French, but the storylines were significantly altered to suit European tastes. Despite Derek being voiced by Serge Gainsbourg, the French version was a flop and was dropped after only four episodes.

A spin-off entitled Kismet the Cute! would air for 8 seasons following the end of Olimar the Wondercat.