Kipper (TV series)

Animated children's television series

Kipper

Title card

Genre| Children's television show
Slice of life
Education
Comedy
Created by| Mick Inkpen
Based on| Kipper the Dog
by Mick Inkpen
Directed by| Mike Stuart
Voices of| Martin Clunes
Chris Lang
Julia Sawalha
Music by| Bob Heatlie
Country of origin| United Kingdom
Original language| English
No. of series| 6
No. of episodes| 78 (list of episodes)
Production
Producer| Ginger Gibbons
Running time| 10 minutes (approx.)
Production companies| HIT Entertainment
Grand Slamm Children's Films
Original release
Network| ITV (Children's ITV)
Release| 5 September 1997 (1997-09-05) –
21 December 2000 (2000-12-21)

Kipper is a British preschool animated children's television series based on the characters from Mick Inkpen's Kipper the Dog picture book series.[1] Seventy-eight episodes were produced.[2] The videos have won awards including a BAFTA award for best children's animation. The show was produced by HIT Entertainment with animation production by Grand Slamm Children's Films, and ran for six seasons on ITV from September 1997 until December 2000. Out of these, thirteen episodes - twelve of the first series, and the last of the third series, were written by Mick Inkpen himself.

## Premise

[edit]

The series follows Kipper the Dog as he embarks on various adventures to an assortment of destinations throughout the English countryside. He is joined by friends, Tiger, Pig, Arnold, and Jake.

### Characters

[edit]

* Kipper (voiced by Martin Clunes) is a fun-loving, caring and warm-hearted dog with a soft voice who is the titular character of the series. He embodies the true essence of what it means to carpe diem. He is also very selfless, even though he hoards lots of small belongings like books and toys. Kipper is a Jack Russell Terrier who has many exciting encounters with his friends.
* Tiger (voiced by Chris Lang) is Kipper's best friend. He is more realistic, practical, and wise than Kipper with a tendency to think long-term. Sometimes Tiger can be very smug and haughty, even though he really is a kind dog at heart. Tiger is a Scottish terrier.
* Pig (voiced by Chris Lang) is Kipper's second best friend. Pig is very outgoing, but loves normality and gets easily irritated by anything strange or mysterious. He likes to eat chocolate cake and biscuits.
* Arnold (voiced by Chris Lang) is Pig's live-in toddler cousin and Kipper's third best friend. Even though Arnold almost never talks, he is actually more curious, observant, and intelligent than Pig. He can still say easy words like "duck" and "igloo".
* Jake (voiced by Chris Lang) is a friendly Old English Sheepdog who is Kipper's fourth best friend. He is a minor character in the first series who makes more regular appearances after joining the main characters in the second series where he, Kipper, and Tiger have had many adventures together.
* The Magic Frog (voiced by Chris Lang) is a magical frog who Kipper met and encountered once.
* The Bleeper People (voiced by Chris Lang) are two space aliens who live on the moon.
* Mouse (voiced by Julia Sawalha, credited as Julie Sawalha in later appearances) is a young female mouse who lives with Kipper at his house. She is the only female character who appears in the series.

## Episodes

[edit]

Main article: List of Kipper episodes

Series  | Episodes  | Originally aired

|
|

First aired  | Last aired
| 1 | 13  | 5 September 1997 (1997-09-05) | 28 November 1997 (1997-11-28)
| 2 | 13  | 24 September 1998 (1998-09-24) | 17 December 1998 (1998-12-17)
| 3 | 13  | 21 January 1999 (1999-01-21) | 15 April 1999 (1999-04-15)
| 4 | 13  | 23 September 1999 (1999-09-23) | 16 December 1999 (1999-12-16)
| 5 | 13  | 20 January 2000 (2000-01-20) | 13 April 2000 (2000-04-13)
| 6 | 13  | 28 September 2000 (2000-09-28) | 21 December 2000 (2000-12-21)

## Broadcast

[edit]

The series aired on Children's ITV (later CITV) in the United Kingdom. In the United States, it aired on Nick Jr. and PBS Kids Sprout. It also aired in Canada on YTV around the late 1990s as a part of its YTV Jr. lineup.

## Home media

[edit]

### UK releases

[edit]

In the United Kingdom, HIT Video and HIT Entertainment PLC both released various VHS tapes and DVD releases of the television series.

Release name  | Format  | Release year  | Episodes

|
|
|

The Visitor and Other Stories | VHS | 1998 |

* The Visitor
* The Umbrella
* The Seaside
* Nothing Ever Happens
* The Rainbow Puddle

Pig's Present and Other Stories | VHS | 1998 |

* Pig's Present
* The Conker Tree
* The Bleepers
* Pig's Cousin
* Tiger's Torch

The Little Ghost and Other Stories | VHS | 1998 |

* The Little Ghost
* The Goldfish
* Sleepless Night
* The Camping Trip
* The Conker Tree

Snowy Day and Other Stories | VHS | 1999 |

* Snowy Day
* Hiccups
* Space Invaders
* Kipper Is Unwell
* The Igloo

Kipper's Circus and Other Stories | VHS | 1999 |

* Kipper's Circus
* The Nest
* The Butterfly
* The Gismo
* The Lost Mug

The Treasure Hunt and Other Stories | VHS | 1999 |

* The Treasure Hunt
* The Paddling Pool
* The Magnifying Glass
* The Rescue
* The Picnic

Christmas Eve and Other Stories | VHS | 1999 |

* Christmas Eve
* The Dinosaur
* Tiger's Sledge
* The Magic Act
* The Magic Lamp
* Arnold's Balloon Trip

Looking after Arnold and Other Stories | VHS | 2000 |

* Looking After Arnold
* The Swimming Pool
* Cakes and Tails
* The Long Walk
* The Surprise Party
* The Ball

The Big Freeze and Other Stories | VHS | 2000 |

* Echo Echo
* The Big Freeze
* Jake's Friend
* The Fair
* Big Owl's Bath
* Jake's Bird

Crazy Golf and Other Stories | VHS | 2000 |

* Pirates
* Tiger's Cold
* The Mouse
* Clouds
* Crazy Golf

Hide and Seek and Other Stories | VHS | 2001 |

* Tiger's Rocket
* Water Water Everywhere
* Pig's Shop
* Hide and Seek
* The Jumble Sale

The Flying Machine and Other Stories | VHS | 2001 |

* The Flying Machine
* Arnold's Drum
* Skates
* The Key
* Cousins

The Robot and Other Stories | VHS | 2001 |

* The Holiday
* The Big Race
* Arnold on Wheels
* Pig's Sweater
* The Robot

The Magic Carpet and Other Stories | VHS | 2002 |

* The Magic Carpet
* Tiger's Joke Box
* Buried Treasure
* Clay Time
* The Missing Tape Mystery

Classic Collection | VHS/DVD | 2004 |

* The Visitor
* The Umbrella
* The Seaside
* Nothing Ever Happens
* Pig's Present
* The Rainbow Puddle
* The Butterfly
* The Bleepers
* Snowy Day
* Pig's Cousin

Treasured Tales | DVD | 2009 |

* The Paddling Pool
* The Magnifying Glass
* The Rescue
* The Picnic
* The Treasure Hunt

### US releases

[edit]

In the United States, VHS tapes of the show were originally released by Hallmark Home Entertainment through Family Home Entertainment, Artisan Entertainment, and briefly Lyrick Studios, and later on, VHS tapes and DVDs were released by HIT themselves.

Video name  | Format  | Release date  | Episodes

|
|
|

The Visitor and Other Stories | VHS | July 14, 1999 |

* The Visitor
* The Umbrella
* The Seaside
* Nothing Ever Happens

Pig's Present and Other Stories | VHS | February 1, 2000 |

* Pig's Present
* The Rainbow Puddle
* The Butterfly
* The Bleepers

Snowy Day and Other Stories | VHS | August 15, 2000 |

* Snowy Day
* Pig's Cousin
* The Paddling Pool
* Tiger's Torch

Pools, Parks and Picnics | VHS/DVD | June 5, 2001 |

* The Long Walk
* The Swimming Pool
* The Picnic
* Cakes and Tails
* The Gismo
* The Lost Mug
* The Magnifying Glass

Tiger Tales | VHS/DVD | June 5, 2001 |

* The Camping Trip
* Tiger's Rocket
* Skates
* Arnold's Drum
* The Holiday
* Buried Treasure
* The River Trip

Playtime in the Park (Blockbuster Exclusive) | VHS | June 5, 2001 |

* The Long Walk
* The Swimming Pool
* The Picnic
* Cakes and Tails
* The Gismo
* The Lost Mug
* The Magnifying Glass
* The Camping Trip
* Tiger's Rocket
* Skates
* Arnold's Drum
* The Holiday
* Buried Treasure
* The River Trip

Imagine That | VHS/DVD | January 15, 2002 |

* Kipper's Circus
* Pirates
* The Magic Act
* The Magic Lamp
* The Costume Party
* Arnold's Balloon Trip
* The Fair

Cuddly Critters | VHS/DVD | March 5, 2002 |

* The Nest
* Jake's Bird
* Echo Echo
* The Goldfish
* The Mouse
* Hide and Seek
* Hedgehog Watch

Amazing Discoveries | VHS/DVD | June 4, 2002 |

* The Purple Park Monster
* The Robot
* The Dinosaur
* Jake's Friend
* The Ball
* The Flying Machine
* Space Invaders

Let It Snow | VHS/DVD | October 22, 2002 |

* Christmas Eve
* The Igloo
* Tiger's Sled
* The Big Freeze
* Snowy Day

Playtime | VHS/DVD | January 28, 2003 |

* The Treasure Hunt
* Looking After Arnold
* Tiger's Joke Box
* Pig's Sweater
* Clay Time
* The Magic Carpet
* Kipper the Hero

Fun in the Sun | VHS/DVD | June 3, 2003 |

* The Rescue
* Clouds
* Crazy Golf
* Water Water Everywhere
* The Big Race
* Arnold on Wheels
* The Farm

Friendship Tails | VHS/DVD | January 27, 2004 |

* Sleepless Night
* Hiccups
* Kipper is Unwell
* Tiger's Cold
* The Conker Tree
* The Jumble Sale

Water Play | VHS/DVD | March 23, 2004 |

* The Umbrella
* The Seaside
* The Rainbow Puddle
* The Paddling Pool
* Big Owl's Bath

Kipper Helps Out | VHS/DVD | August 10, 2004 |

* The Visitor
* Pig's Present
* The Butterfly
* The Bleepers
* Pig's Cousin
* The Little Ghost

Puppy Love | VHS/DVD | January 25, 2005 |

* Nothing Ever Happens
* Tiger's Torch
* Pig's Shop
* Cousins
* The Key
* The Missing Tape Mystery

### Digital download releases

[edit]

This list is for videos that were never released on physical media and are only available on digital download in the US. There are currently only two. One is called "Tales of Adventure" featuring episodes already on other releases. The other is an alternate version of "The Visitor & Other Stories" in which the episodes are in reverse order as to how they are on the US VHS release.

Release name  | Release year  | Episodes

|
|

Tales of Adventure | 2013 |

* The Goldfish
* The Gismo
* The Nest
* The Seaside
* The Big Freeze
* The Swimming Pool

The Visitor & Other Stories | 2013 |

* Nothing Ever Happens
* The Seaside
* The Umbrella
* The Visitor

## Reception

[edit]

Common Sense Media gives Kipper four out of five stars, and it says the show's characters are positive role models, except Tiger, "but he always learns his lessons"; all the characters "do lots of exploring and learn lessons about friendship, kindness, and the difference between right and wrong".[3] A list published by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute names Kipper as the top television show for two- and three-year-old children because of its focus on "developing social and emotional intelligence" through interactions among its characters.[4] HIT Entertainment chairman Peter Orton regarded the show as a potential new Snoopy as it gained popularity.[5]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. p. 482\. ISBN 978-1476665993.
2. ^ Crump, William D. (2019). Happy Holidays—Animated! A Worldwide Encyclopedia of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year's Cartoons on Television and Film. McFarland & Co. p. 54\. ISBN 9781476672939.
3. ^ Shapiro, Audrey (28 September 2006). "Kipper". Common Sense Media. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
4. ^ Petrilli, Michael J. (11 March 2013). "The 10 best television shows for young children". Thomas B. Fordham Institute. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
5. ^ "Kipper the Dog shows he is a big HIT". The Times. 1 May 1998. p. 34. Retrieved 3 June 2025.

## External links

[edit]

* Kipper at IMDb

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