Cartoon
The Koala Brothers
The story
The Koala Brothers is a British stop-motion animated children's television series, created by David Johnson. It features the adventures of two twin koala brothers named Frank and Buster, who pilot an aeroplane to help their friends in a sleepy town in the Australian outback. The series was narrated by Jonathan Coleman. 78 episodes were produced over three seasons, alongside one Christmas special.
Notably, while the series sometimes features disagreements and displays of poor behaviour, it avoids presenting any characters as purely villainous or unlikable. Instead, it emphasises the importance of kindness and friendship.
The series originally premiered on CBeebies on 1 September 2003 to October 31, 2007 and is particularly targeted at children from ages 2 to 6 years.
Format
Broadcast episode formats vary slightly between countries, though the main material of each episode, with the titular characters 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' length, though these are broadcast in pairs on ABC Kids, 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 programme into a 10-minute format.
In the 30-minute broadcast version, the show opens with a slightly longer version of the theme song and then before each segment, the narrator introduces Frank and Buster as they fly in their yellow-blue two-seater propeller aeroplane above the outback. The supporting cast is introduced as the narrator asks, "Who do you think the Koala Brothers are going to help today?", followed by Frank's telescope showing the character they're going to help in each respective segment. 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 care for one another.
Main
Frank (voiced by Keith Wickham) is a koala who 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 Frank 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 (voiced by Rob Rackstraw) is another koala who usually sits behind Frank in the airplane and uses his telescope to spot friends in need from the air. Buster is always willing to provide a pep talk or a hug to his friends. Buster speaks more softly than Frank, and has a small tuft of hair on the top of his head. Buster also loves to bake, especially butter cookies.
The Narrator (voiced by Jonathan Coleman) is the narrator of the series.
Supporting
Ned (voiced by Janet James) is a wombat who is the youngest member of the local community behind Mitzi, and lives in a caravan next door to the Koala Brothers' homestead. Ned is often not sure of himself, but he dreams of adventure and longs to be a hero like his idols, Frank and Buster. He is often determined and easily fixated on an idea, and often will come through with prompting.
Mitzi (voiced by Lucinda Cowden) is a possum who lives in part of the Koala Brothers' homestead made over as her living quarters and is young and impressionable, often relying on the Koala Brothers to stay in line with her perfection-seeking impulses. However, she can get quite bossy and upset her friends at times, but she means no harm and her friends always forgive her as she is still working out her limits. A recurring sight-gag shows Mitzi slipping out of either or both her flip flops due to being constantly on the go.
George (voiced by Rob Rackstraw) is a turtle and mail carrier. George has no established residence whatsoever, but he always delivers the mail with his trusty leather satchel. George is proud of being a mail carrier, and tells campfire stories in the outback. He also has an interest in stamp collecting.
Sammy (voiced by Rob Rackstraw) is an echidna who owns a general store, which sells fuel in addition to comestibles. His only employee is Josie. As one of the more senior citizens, Sammy has the fewest problems after the Koala Brothers.
Josie (voiced by Janet James) is a kangaroo who is Sammy's assistant and works at the outback's general store. She and Mitzi are good friends.
Alice (voiced by Lucinda Cowden) is a platypus who works at the local café and appears to be the lone employee. Alice is very forgetful. She rides a green motor scooter around, which has its share of drastic engine problems. Alice loves to bake, and is good at following recipes, as well as reading maps.
Archie (voiced by Keith Wickham) is a crocodile with a British accent who lives in a well-appointed cottage near a water hole. Archie is very cheerful and friendly, and is always exercising, stretching, or playing tennis, and is also renowned at being the best at almost every sport.
Penny (voiced by Janet James) is a young penguin who lives in Antarctica, but has visited the outback on certain occasions and keeps up a regular written correspondence with the Koala Brothers. She communicates through chatters, baby noises, and sings "The Helping Song". Mitzi stubbornly believes that she is a duck.
Lolly (voiced by Lucinda Cowden) is an emu who is an ice cream vendor and can often be seen driving her ice cream truck around the Outback. She often greets people by saying "How can I cool you down?" to them.
Inspiration
The Koala Brothers originated as a children's book and TV show proposal entitled "The Great Wungle Bungle Aerial Expedition", created by Greg McKee, which has a similar premise to the final product. The main two characters of The Koala Brothers first appeared in this proposal. In 1988, "The Great Wungle Bungle Aerial Expedition" was showcased along with animatronic character props at the "FirstState88" NSW Govt exhibition in Darling Harbour, part of the Australian Bicentenary. In the 1990s, McKee revised the concept as an animated series called Echidna Airways. McKee pitched the proposal, which was borrowed and modified to create The Koala Brothers. The series' animation style is reminiscent of the series Bob the Builder.
Ownership and distribution
In May 2002, the series's rights were purchased by Spellbound Entertainment, a newly formed start-up company founded by former HIT Entertainment executive Peter Curtis. In June, Spellbound pre-sold the series to CBeebies for a September 2003 delivery, consisting of twenty-six 10-minute episodes.
Spellbound would continue to sell the series worldwide until filing for liquidation in 2013. The Koala Brothers creator David Johnson purchased the rights to the series in February 2014 under a new joint-venture company called Koala Brothers Ltd., with Union Media as distributor.
Broadcast
In addition to the series airing on CBeebies in the United Kingdom, the series was soon expanded internationally. In May 2003, Spellbound pre-sold the series to Disney Channel in the United States to air on their Playhouse Disney block, and appointed Big Tent Entertainment as the US licensing holder for the property. Spellbound also pre-sold the series in Canada (TVOntario and Knowledge Network), Australia (ABC), and Germany (Super RTL). In 2004, the series was pre-sold in Nordic territories.
By September 2005, the series was also pre-sold in France (France 5 and Canal J), The Netherlands (Fox Kids/Jetix), Poland (Telewizja Polska) and Japan (Disney Channel).
In June 2008, BBC Worldwide picked up pay-rights to the series for Asian and African territories, and Poland for their local CBeebies networks.
In January 2012, Spellbound renewed its broadcast license with CBeebies and the then-renamed Disney Junior for them to continue broadcasting the series, the former under a six-year contract.
Merchandise
On 17 April 2003, Spellbound Entertainment announced that Hasbro would be the property's master toy partner. However, this toyline would never come into fruition. Spellbound would instead sign an agreement with Mattel initially for the United States and Latin America, and later several international markets.
United Kingdom
The series was initially released on VHS and DVD by Momentum Pictures through three volumes: A Letter for George in April 2004, Archie's New Home in February 2005 and Ned the Pilot in July 2005.
By 2006, Abbey Home Media had taken over distribution rights, and released three more DVD volumes: Outback Christmas in November 2006, Mitzi's Day Out in March 2007 and We're Here to Help! in October 2007.
In 2015, Clearvision released a single DVD entitled: "Alice Can't Remember and Other Stories".
United States
In the United States, Lionsgate Home Entertainment released several DVDs of the series, including "Meet the Koala Brothers!", "A Day in the Outback!", "We're Here to Help!", "Ned's Buried Treasure", "Mitzi's Big Adventure", and "Outback Christmas".
Award nominations
BAFTA Children's Awards 2006
Nominated for Best Animation (for the episode "The Koala Brothers Outback Christmas")