Noddy (1998)
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Noddy (also known alternatively as The Noddy Shop in the U.S. and the recut version known as Noddy in Toyland worldwide) is a 1998, British-Canadian, television series. It was created by Rick Siggelkow and is based on the classic children's book series, Noddy in Toyland, by Enid Blyton. Co-production was amongst BBC Worldwide Americas, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), Catalyst Entertainment Inc., Enid Blyton Ltd., and TVO.
Plot
The format was set up as having live-action wraparounds that revolve around an ex-old salt named Noah Tomten, who is now the owner of an antiques shop called The N.O.D.D.Y. Shop based in Littleton Falls. The acronym of N.O.D.D.Y. stands for "Novelities, Oddities, Doodads, & Delights of Yesteryear". Agatha Flugelschmidt (Noah's scatterbrained sister), owns a hat shop next door to his shop. Three kids named Kate, Truman (Noah's grandkids), and Kate's friend, Daniel Johnson (nicknamed D.J.), would often visit the shop once school let out as their hang-out, as well as doing so on holidays and weekends. At the Noddy Shop, the kids would use the Noddy doll and other characters from the stories as Kate typically told them to the other kids, and they often reflected the same situations through which they were going. At that point, the scene would switch to the Noddy's Toyland Adventures stop-motion, animated segments, which were re-dubbed for this Noddy series, until the end and switch back. The kids' unseen parents would come to pick them up by the end of the day. The toys within the Noddy Shop would come alive when no one was around and the shop was also home to a family of tiny beings known as The Goblins.
By the second season, the toys would come alive in front of Truman and he could communicate with them. The Noddy doll was included in doing this in the wraparounds, as he'd also talk to Truman and the other toys. The majority of the stories were just repeats from the previous season, with some slight additions, and new stories were brought in from the fourth, and last season, of Noddy's Toyland Adventures. The morals of the stories also had messages pertained and were related to the occurrences that the kids were facing. The Noddy Shop's toys would sing a song that contained a theme of the moral message and, at times, they'd sing a second song that is based on a popular folk tale while reenacting it.
Why It's a Wonderful Toyland
- The concept of incorporating the classic Noddy stop-motion shorts into this series is a fresh part of the franchise and shares similarities in that with Shining Time Station, another Rick Siggelkow creation. It's also a great way of introducing the Noddy stories to those who hadn't already heard of them nor were aware of them before this particular series. This also marks the first time that Noddy, in any form, was brought to American audiences.
- The technical aspects of it, like the set design, are decent and have plenty of professionalism to them.
- The writing of the wraparounds are just as well-written as those of the Noddy's Toyland Adventures episodes and they're well set-up to complement them.
- A lot of characters have their likability, distinction, and memorability to them.
- The puppet designs of the toy characters are also constructed professionally.
- Both the acting and puppeteering/voice-acting for the toy characters are performed superbly. The re-dubbing of voices for the characters from Noddy's Toyland Adventures is the same.
- Special effects, especially those involving magic, look realistic enough to be convincing.
- Several funny moments, such as those provided by the Goblin family, more specifically Boobull's parents. The comedic moments come in the forms of both the actions and jokes.
- The dialogue is also well-written.
- The messages and morals are always good ones that provide examples for viewers to live by, and how they should follow them.
- The theme song is pleasantly serene and catchy. The other songs are just as infectious.
Bad Qualities
- Those with pupaphobia (fear of puppets) may not care for the moments with the Noddy Shop toys coming to life.
- There are some unlikable characters in the series.
- Despite being the title character, Noddy doesn't appear at all in the first season aside from the Noddy's Toyland Adventures segments, the theme song, his name being the abbreviation of the name for the titular shop and as an inanimate doll in season 1. Fortunately, he gets a lot more focus in season 2.
- The same goes for the rest of the cast from Noddy's Toyland Adventures who don't appear at all outside from the segments and cameo apperances (or for Noddy's Car, the theme song), the most egregious being Big Ears, Tessie Bear, Mr Plod, Noddy's Car and Bumpy Dog who are all fan favorites and main characters in the original series which is a huge missed opportunity to have them also come to life like Noddy in season 2.