Pablo the Little Red Fox is a British-American co-produced pre-school children's animated television series that originally ran from 28 September to 17 November 1999 on BBC One and BBC Two (part of CBBC). The hero is a little red fox called Pablo and his siblings called Pumpkin and Poppy, their parents, Red Fox and Rose, their friends, a dog named Baxter, a hedgehog named Helena, a cat named Finbar, a frog called Fromage, a seagull called Gil and an owl named Madam Owl.
Plot
The action often takes place at night, when the three little fox cubs go out and explore the city, from circus tents, artist's studios and the local museum. Pablo often leads them astray but somehow they always get out of trouble and find a way back home, to their cozy den at the bottom of Hannah's garden.
Animation
The graphic style of the cartoons has intense colours and white outlines, reminiscent of silk paintings and Hannah Giffard's original water colour illustrations. The series concept was created by Hannah Giffard, the writer and illustrator of the original books called 'Red Fox' and 'Red Fox on the Move' published by Frances Lincoln. Hannah Giffard worked closely on the series as an editor and creator of many of the story lines. She also worked with the art director and director to create the characters and backgrounds for the series.
Music
The theme music was composed by Rowland Lee, the lyrics were written by John Grace (who was a writer for the show), and was performed by the now-defunct Clewborough House School in Camberley.
Awards
The show won the British Academy Children's Award for International in 2000.
Telecast
At one point, the US dub of the UK show in the same year would be aired on Disney Channel's pre-school block Playhouse Disney (as part of their Mini Movies interstitials) in the U.S. in 2002. When it comes to this particular dub, while a lot of the original UK voices (David Holt, Louise Goldstein and Adrienne Posta) remained intact and some of the characters were re-dubbed to have an American with an American accents in the US dub, with the voice actors including (Alan Marriott, Lorelei King and David Menkin). In addition, all the words are pronounced in the British pronunciations were redubbed given American pronunciations. Bob Saker reprises his role as Finbar from the first season of the original. The British show has also aired on CBeebies, Nick Jr. and Playhouse Disney in the United Kingdom, Disney Channel in Southeast Asia, ZDF in Germany, Kindernet in the Netherlands, YLE in Finland, MiniMini+ in Poland, NRK in Norway, RTÉ in Ireland, ATV World in Hong Kong, Rai 3 in Italy, and La Cinquième in France. It also aired on ABC Television in Australia from 30 August 2000 to 14 May 2009. It aired briefly between early morning programmes on the Armed Forces Network. It also airs on GMA Network in the Philippines. In Canada, the show is also aired on Treehouse TV. In Ukraine, the show was aired on Malyatko TV, making Ukraine officially the only post-Soviet state to watch the show, in other countries, the show is also aired on Cartoon Network.
Episodes
Original episodes (1999) On the Top of the World (28 September 1999) The Biggest Bed (5 October 1999) Market Day (12 October 1999) Gone Hunting (19 October 1999) Pumpkin to the Rescue (26 October 1999) Fishing for Dad (2 November 1999) The Lost Bear (9 November 1999) In the Balance (16 November 1999) Footprint in the Snow (23 November 1999) The Playground (30 November 1999) Umbrella Day (7 December 1999) At the Supermarket (14 December 1999) Moving Out (21 December 1999) A New Home for Helena (28 December 1999) Bathtime The Football Match An Ice Day Three Wishes The Storm Me and my Shadow Sky High Buried Treasure Hide and Seek The Train Journey Pablo the Lifeguard Fooled You! Snowfox Happy Twelve Moons Sleepy Head Pumpkin Measures Up What's This? How Does it Grow, Pablo? Changing Rooms City Lights Pumpkin's Big Voice The Sound of Music Midnight Cleaning Rattling Bones Painter's Studio The Balloon Trip A Nest for Four Smile! Who's the Best? Sticky Paws The Growling Toy The Post-office Pablo and the Tin of Sardines A Cub in a Tangle The Kite (4 September 2000) The Abominable Drain Monster (11 September 2000) Abracadabra Pablo (18 September 2000) The Last Apple (25 September 2000)