The children’s classics arrive this summer…
Highlights on BritBox UK coming this June are the first two series of Willow the Wisp (1981, Nicholas Cartoon Films / BBC One) and every episode of Button Moon (1980, Thames Television / ITV).
The classic cartoon series Willo the Wisp aired originally in 1981 and was narrated by Kenneth Williams who also voiced all of the characters in the show. The lead character is Willo the Wisp who is a sprite formed from gas, Willo narrates each story. Other characters included Evil Edna – a witch shaped like a TV – Arthur the opinionated caterpillar and dowdy Mavis – a rather overweight fairy.
The first two series comprise of 13 episodes each. A further run saw two more series made in 2005 voiced by James Dreyfus for Disney. The orignal Willo The Wisp was repeated later on Channel 4.
Button Moon was first seen as a stage show for Playboard Puppets in 1978. Devised by Ian Allen in 1980 ITV’s London broadcaster and production company Thames Television showed interest in creating a short run of stories to feature within the children’s series Rainbow, however, producers felt there was enough scope to make Button Moon a stand alone series, and the first series of thirteen epsiodes launched in 1980.
The hunch that there was enough material to make the adventures of Mr and Mrs Spoon a self-contained series proved a wise move in the end seven series were made by Thames and a total of ninty-one episodes running until 1988. The narration was by actor Robin Parkinson. The series was repeated in the 1990s on UK Gold.
BritBox is a digital video subscription service created by the BBC and ITV. The service brings the very best in past, present and future British programming and award-winning content to viewers all in one place for £5.99 per month in HD.
