Jellabies

The Jellabies (also known as Jellikins in some parts of Europe and in the USA) is a television animation series that aired on the Australian television network ABC Kids. It was also shown in Germany, USA (Fox Family), The Netherlands (Kindernet), UK (GMTV) and many other territories. Its target audience is children in the age of 2–6 years old.

It was one of the first fully CGI-animated series in the world.

Format

The program was created using computer-generated imagery (CGI) animation. The show was narrated by Rik Mayall. The Jellabies are jelly made people that live in the Jolly Jelly World, (made of jelly) which is the magical land at the end of the rainbow, where their main job is to make rainbows. (for which they have a machine called the Jellyscope, a computer/teleporter/rainbow generator which is constantly monitoring weather conditions around the world) Although each Jellabie has its own vehicle to drive around in, their main use of travelling long distances around Jolly Jelly World is on the "Jelly train", a train that only consists of a cab (no actual locomotive) and one passenger car. The show debuted in 1998 and ended in 2003.

Jellabies is also known as Jellikins in parts of the world, including the UK. This official version is exactly the same as the jellabies in every way, except the characters' heads were changed to look like gummy bears. However, Duffy the dragon remained the same. It aired on GMTV (UK) until 2004, and on Fox Family (USA) but has not been aired since the end of 1999.

History

Brothers Jonny and Mikel Lewis of Malvern, UK designed and created the world using 3D Studio Max software. It was loosely based on Jelly Babies sweets. Originating from humble beginnings in a dusty basement in Malvern and made on a home PC, it was signed up by a small editing house, Optical Image nr Birmingham, UK, commissioned by GMTV and then in many other countries around the world. It was the first British fully 3D computer animated series to make it on to television.

With Optical Image sealing sponsorship from a confectionery company, Jonny Lewis directed a group of animators to make the series, with Mikel Lewis focusing on design. Other animators who made considerable input were Meena Kamurai Pai, Andrew Lindsay, Richard, Andy Day, Ian Friend, Harjit Birdi, making each episode between them in a matter of days to meet a tight schedule. Editing was done by Ralph Tittley (also a director), Paul Perrins and Jason Bills. During the production of the many episodes, Jonny Lewis (the original designer/director of animation) left due to conflicting aims between him and the management. The company finished the production but did not then go on to successfully produce another show that made it to TV, in spite of several more attempts. Songs written and composed by Vo Fletcher.

Characters

Each of the 6 jellabies represent the colours of the rainbow. Strum, who lives at the train station, is purple, and is the musical Jellaby that plays the saxophone; Bouncey, who lives in a bumper car, is yellow, Denny, who lives in a boat on the jelly-lake, is blue, Pepper, who lives in a tree house, is red, the twins Amber and Coral, (which they are orange and pink, respectively). Amber lives in a hot air balloon and Coral lives in a house made out of building blocks and toys which she can modify her house as she pleases, and finally Duffy the green Dragon, the only non-Jellaby character in the entire show, lives in the Jelly Caves.

Episodes

Theme song

The theme song Jellytastic written by David Lowe and Vo Fletcher was performed by Rik Mayall (who is also the narrator of the show) and Sherrie Ashton with children from The Wyche C.E. Primary School, Malvern.^[1]

Music releases

In 1999, a CD was released that was called Jellikins: Songs from the TV series which featured songs performed by Mayall.

Ride(s)

Since 2000, there has been a Jellikins roller coaster at UK theme park, Fantasy Island. Amutec has got the rights to make a Jellikins coin-operated ride featuring Bouncey in his bumper car in 2001.

References