Underground Ernie

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Underground Ernie
Image:undergroundernielogo.gif
Format Animated children's television series
Created by John Deery
Sid Rainey
Starring Gary Lineker
Janet Brown
Emma Weaver
Tim Whitnall
Chris Jarvis
Theme music composer Miles Hunt
Opening theme "The Importance of Being Ernie"
Country of origin Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom
Language(s) English
No. of episodes 26
Production
Executive
producer(s)		 John Deery Sid Rainey
Running time 12 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel CBeebies/BBC Two
Original run June 5, 2006 – present
External links
Official website
IMDb profile

Underground Ernie is a Computer-animated children's television series produced by Joella Productions in the UK and shown by the BBC on both CBeebies and BBC Two. It is set in International Station, a fictional worldwide underground network, and focuses on the everyday adventures of Ernie, a friendly Underground supervisor, Millie, his multilingual colleague and Mr Rails the lovable maintenance man. The trains under Ernie's watchful eye all have characters of their own. There's Bakerloo, Victoria, Circle, Jubilee and the twins, Hammersmith & City. From time to time they are joined by their friends from across the world including; Paris, Brooklyn, Moscow, Sydney and Osaka.

The show is aimed at children between the ages of 3 and 8 years old. The initial series has 26 episodes each lasting 12-minutes. Its first showing on was on Monday 5th June 2006 on CBeebies.

Contents

[edit] Premiere

In its premiere run, Underground Ernie was broadcast twice a day five days a week - firstly on BBC Two at 9 a.m. and then repeated on CBeebies at 4.30 p.m.

In the first episode, "Pop Decoy", pop superstar "Sam 7" is performing at the theatre and Jubilee has to get him there without hundreds of fans finding out. Alas, the excitable Jubilee can't keep a secret and he and Ernie have to come up with a plan to get Sam 7 safely to the theatre.

[edit] Design

All the visuals for the show are produced using CGI computer graphics and that largely explains the high cost of the production (USD$7 million/£4 million) [1]. The first series was produced using LightWave 3D software.[2]

Some critics have pointed out the similarities between Underground Ernie and Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends, in that both series feature anthropomorphised talking trains. Whilst acknowledging a similarity, the producers make it clear that this is very different form Thomas and is very much based in the 21st century. Despite being underground trains, they often travel overground around open countryside to various stations including seaside resort.

The overall design is inspired by the real London Underground, and Transport for London has allowed the series to use design elements directly taken from their brand, in particular the use of their distinctive Underground logo, or 'roundel' as it's known.

[edit] Characters

[edit] Human characters

[edit] Trains

The majority of the characters are trains most of which take their names from lines of the London Underground network, though in Underground Ernie's world it is called "International Underground".*

  • Hammersmith is twin brother to City, a fast and furious train who is a general knowledge "whizz". He wears blue spectacles.
  • City is Hammersmith's twin brother and is also fast and furious but is an expert in mathematics and finances (presumably a reference to the City, where many of London's financial institutions are based. He wears pink spectacles. Hammersmith and City are usually coupled back end to back and run together as one train.
  • Victoria (voiced by Janet Brown) is the oldest train and is like a mother to the other trains. She wears a crown to suggest the link between herself and Queen Victoria but visually appears more like a caricature of the present Queen, Elizabeth II. Although Victoria is presented as the oldest character in the series, the real life Victoria Line is actually one of the newest lines - only the Jubilee Line is newer.
  • Circle (voiced by Chris Jarvis is a "hippy chick" - always helpful and rarely loses her cool.
  • Jubilee (voiced by Teletubbies narrator Tim Whitnall) is the youngest train and is into computers, music, internet, emails, games and all the latest gadgets and technology. He can be mischievous but is still well-liked.

[edit] International trains

There are also five international trains, which Millie visits when she goes abroad every weekend. She always bring back exciting stories for Ernie, as well as a souvenir:

[edit] Storylines

In each twelve-minute episode Ernie faces a problem, which he needs to fix with the help of the trains. This will typically involve one of the locations on International Underground or visitors coming via the Underground - often both.

Title Writer Synopsis
Pop Decoy Louise Kramskoy Jubilee lets slip his secret about pop superstar Sam 7. Bakerloo gets into pop.
Sir Clunkalot Diane Redmond The medieval pageant sees Ernie save a damsel in distress.
Mr Rails Never Fails Diane Redmond Ernie's heavy cold leads to confusion over the arrangements for Mr. Rails' surprise party.
Brooklyn and Rocky Two Shoes Diane Redmond American athlete Rocky Two Shoes rides over on Brooklyn and overcomes his fears.
Pulling Together Jan Page Hammersmith and City have split loyalties while Victoria gets into football.
Caught Purple Handed Diane Redmond A rather absent-minded explorer brings a rare plant to the Underground.
Ernie's Big Trip Jan Page Paris visits. Is Ernie going to France forever? Don't go, Ernie!
Finders Keepers Jan Page A Golden Ticket becomes lost property.
The Magician's Assistant Diane Redmond Millie assists as Paris brings Maestro the magician to town.
Cover Story Ross Hastings Ernie tries to take some pictures for Tunnel Times; Sydney is in town.
Millie's Day Dream Ross Hastings Millie's won a dream day. Can the Underground cope without her?
Mr Movie Jones Diane Redmond A case of mistaken identity as Mr. Movie Jones visits Sea Shell Bay.
Summer Breeze Louise Kramskoy Phew, what a scorcher on the Underground!
Running Late Lisa Akhurst Is Victoria headed for the scrapyard?
Light at the End of the Tunnel Jan Page A tiny crack opens and Miss Relic sees her mummy again.
The Wreck of Sea Shell Bay Diane Redmond Sam and Dan are seriously bad kids - but they get lucky.
Catnapped Louise Kramskoy Pippa's cat Patch goes missing as the rain pours down.
Monster Mystery Jan Page Monster on the Underground? Not a good time for a practical joke.
Bon Appetit Jan Page Millie cooks for French chef Marcel Le Magnifique, who arrives on Paris.
A Change Is as Good as a Rest Diane Redmond The trains decide to swap lines; Pippa doesn't hear the announcement.
Elementary, My Dear Bakerloo! Jan Page A jumble sale saves the nature reserve.
The Magic Lamp Louise Kramskoy Is this a genie I see before me? A theatre prop spreads confusion.
How Great The Art Ross Hastings Modern art - who wants it? How about a squashed wheelbarrow for Brooklyn?
The Mayor's Visit Ross Hastings Mr. Rails gets the wrong end of the stick. The mayor gets stuck.
Techno Trouble Lisa Akhurst Osaka gives Jubilee some Japanese technology that is just too good.
Snow Go Jan Page The Underground suffers from the wrong kind of snow as Moscow visits.

[edit] Merchandising

In November 2005, Halsall International Ltd. announced that they had secured the rights to produce merchandising linked to Underground Ernie [4]. They hope to have products on sale by the autumn of 2006 with a comprehensive range available in 2007. The use of London Underground names and trains is a deliberate step to lead into merchandising suitable for children's gifts the revenue from which will be shared with Transport for London.

[edit] Theme Song

The show's theme song, performed by members of The Wonder Stuff under the name "HRB Music", [1] is called "The Importance of Being Ernie". This is a reference to Oscar Wilde's play The Importance of Being Earnest (Ernie is short for Ernest).


[edit] References

  1. ^ Roach, Martin (2006). The Eight Legged Atomic Dustbin Will Eat Itself. Independent Music Press, 107. ISBN 0-9549-7040-3. 

[edit] External links

Languages