The Clangers (1969–1974)

Legendary British children's animation of the early 70s made by the 'Smallfilms' team of Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin, this series chronicled the melancholically funny lives of the ... See full summary »

Stars:

Oliver Postgate

Cast

Series cast summary:
Oliver Postgate	...	Narrator (1 episode, 1969)

Storyline

Legendary British children's animation of the early 70s made by the 'Smallfilms' team of Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin, this series chronicled the melancholically funny lives of the Clangers, a flutey-voiced family of woolen, knitted aliens living below the surface of a knobbly little planet far out in space. Their misadventures brought them into contact with such unlikely creatures as the Soup Dragon, the Froglets, the Iron Chicken and the Glow Buzzers. The series remains a marvelously still point in a hectic world!

---

Plot Keywords:

planet | dragon | soup | stop motion animation | cult tv | 

---

Genres:

Animation | Family | Sci-Fi

---

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 November 1969 (UK)

Also Known As:

Auf dem pfiffigen Planeten

Company Credits

Production Co:

Smallfilms

Technical Specs

Runtime:

10 min 10 min (27 episodes)

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

Referenced in QI: Hoaxes (2010)

User Reviews

Distinctive, imaginative, unique and amusing

Far from Earth on a distant planet live the Clangers – a strange, mousey form of alien life that sound uncannily like a load of penny whistles being played. Each episode, the Clangers face a different story on their quiet little planet – and none of them are ever straight forward. This series ran for less than 30 episodes but its influence runs deeper and it is telling that everyone knows the noise a Clanger makes and they are still sought after toys that are produced all these years later.

The stories are never that amazing but, narrated by Postgate, they have a sense of humour and unique wit that is often associated with Smallfilms cartoons and things like Magic Roundabout – it is hard to put into words but it is unmistakably British and not something that you see repeated often. The narration works wonderfully and really helps the shorts work but it is the imaginative animation that makes it stand out as one of those short animations that stay with children for decades. How I pity the generation that grow up the Saturday morning computer-generated serials that all involve robots and guns and constant action – they all look the same and do nothing to encourage imagination or invention in their minds.

The movement of the characters is jerky of course but it is not the quality that is important, rather it is the unique feel to it that works and the imaginative characters etc. It looks good and many people would be able to identify the series just by a single frame – so distinctive is it. The overall effect is a classic British animation that is funny, imaginative and distinctive with silly stories blessed with a touch of absurdist wit. Well worth seeing and well worth getting kids now to watch.