Nellie the Elephant (TV series)

Nellie the Elephant was a short-lived cartoon series created by Terry Ward on behalf of Film Fair in the United Kingdom that ran between 1989 and 1990. The series featured Lulu as the voice of Nellie with Tony Robinson as narrator. A comic-book annual was released in 1991 in an attempt to further advertise the series, but the annual failed to attract a wide audience.

Plot

Based on the famous children's song, Nellie the Elephant, the series revolves around a pink elephant named Nellie who is returning to her home in Mandalay after escaping from the circus. Throughout the series, she meets new characters and sometimes returns to the same places in her quest to return home, though curiously, all of her travels are within the United Kingdom.

Another recurring character is a Dick Dastardly-like Ringmaster keen to recapture Nellie at all costs and return her to the circus, but is continuously foiled by Nellie and her friends.

Recurring characters

• Nellie - A pink elephant with a fondness for currant buns, Nellie escaped from the circus in an effort to return to Mandalay at all costs, travelling by train, taxi, bus, coach, plane and ship. Keen to help, Nellie is proud of her home and will stand up for her rights if need be.

• Captain Jack - A sea-captain from the fictitious Oyster Bay, Captain Jack is the captain of a small tug-boat, and is accompanied by his one-eyed parrot, Nelson.

• Mr. Mack and Mr. Tosh - A play on Mackintosh and perhaps a reference to the Goofy Gophers, Mr. Mack and Mr. Tosh are two tailors who share a shop that Nellie constantly returns to.

• The Ringmaster - A Dick Dastardly sort of villain, the Ringmaster is the owner of the Circus Nellie escaped from, but his villainous traits and reasons for recapturing Nellie are never expanded on in any great detail.

Videos

Though incredibly rare, the entire series, after airing on ITV, was released onto VHS in 1991 by Tempo Video. Among these include:

• Nellie the Elephant: 9 Fun Packed Adventures (93742) - Released: 1990

Episodes contained: Nellie and the Ghost, Nellie Visits a Farm, Nellie Goes to Sea, Nellie on a Snowy Day, Nellie at the Seaside, Nellie's Raincoat, Nellie the Theatre Star, Nellie and the Haunted House, Nellie Rescues Mrs Maple's Moggy

• Nellie the Elephant 2: 9 Further Adventures (94182) - Released: 1990

Episodes contained: Nellie and the Whale, Nellie Takes the Train, Nellie Goes Apple Picking, Nellie at the Park Disco, Nellie at the Olympics Nellie at the Big Store, Nellie at the Funfair, Nellie Takes a Jumbo Jet, Nellie and the Buring Barn

• Nellie on an Ocean Cruise

• Nellie the Elephant: Special Edition

• Nellie the Elephant: 9 Fantastic Adventures (0518363) - Released: 1999 (by Channel 5 video)

Episodes contained: Nellie and the Whale, Nellie Takes the Train, Nellie Goes Apple Picking, Nellie at the Park Disco, Nellie at the Olympics Nellie at the Big Store, Nellie at the Funfair, Nellie Takes a Jumbo Jet, Nellie and the Buring Barn

See also

• Junglies - Another short-lived series by Ward also created for ITV

External links

• Toonhound
• Nellie The Elephant at the Big Cartoon DataBase