Bananas in Pyjamas

Bananas in Pyjamas
Format Children's Television
Written by Simon Hopkinson, Bob La Castra, Debra Oswald, Richard Tulloch, Kris Wyld, Tracy Moody (script supervisor)
Directed by Michael Ailwood
Ian Munro
Starring Ken Radley
Nicky Opolski
Mary-Ann Henshaw
Taylor Owynns
Jeremy Scrivener
Shane McNamara
Narrated by Karina Kelly
Theme music composer Carey Blyton
Opening theme Bananas In Pyjamas performed by Monica Trapaga
Ending theme Bananas in Pyjamas instrumental version
Country of origin Australia
Language(s) English
No. of series 7
No. of episodes 356
Production
Executive producer(s) Mark Barnard
Producer(s) Helena Harris
Virginia Lumsden
(1992–2002)
Location(s) Australia
Running time 5 minutes (1992–2002)
12 minutes (2011–present)
Production company(s) Southern Star Group
Broadcast
Original channel ABC (1992–2002)
ABC2 (2011–present)
Picture format 4:3 (PAL) (1992-2002)
576i (SDTV) (2011-present)
Audio format Stereo
Original run 20 July 1992–30 July 2002
2 May 2011 – present
External links
Website

Bananas in Pyjamas is an Australian children's television show that premiered on 20 July 1992 on ABC. It has since become syndicated in many different countries, and dubbed into other languages. In the United States, the "Pyjamas" in the title was modified to reflect the American spelling pajamas. The pilot episode was Pink Mug. The concept was inspired by the success of the song Bananas in Pyjamas, written by Carey Blyton in 1967, on Play School.[1][2] This song, which had become a regular item on Play School, became the theme of the new series.

The series was revamped in May 2011, now as a CGI series created by Southern Star Entertainment.

Contents

Premises

The main characters are two humanoid bananas named B1 and B2. Other characters include three teddy bears named Amy, Lulu and Morgan, and Rat in a Hat. The bananas, the teddies and Rat in a Hat all live in the same neighbourhood, a cul-de-sac called "Cuddles Avenue".

Production

Inspiration

The characters were inspired by a 1967 song written for children by British composer Carey Blyton (nephew of renowned children's author Enid Blyton). The jaunty song describes (an unspecified number of) bananas in pyjamas chasing teddy bears, with a slight twist at the end where a musical sting emphasises that the bananas like to "catch them unawares". The song was shown on the Australian version of Play School for many years accompanied by an animation depicting pairs of bananas in blue-and-white striped pyjamas. This led to a "banana" plush toy being created as part of the "toy cast", which formed the basis of the physical appearance of B1 and B2.

Filming

The show was performed using human actors in elaborate costumes, in the style of the British Teletubbies or Tweenies. In the show's early days, the voices of the bananas were provided by the same actors as were inside the costume, but the original actors eventually gave up that aspect of the show and substitutes manned the hot, stuffy costumes. The show aired new episodes from its 1992 debut to its eventual run in syndication in 2002. The show aired approximately three hundred episodes as well as four specials. Its debut in the United States was in 1995. It made videos and other media from 1995 to 1999. A toy line, developed by TOMY, debuted in 1996.

Characters

Main characters

B1

B2

Amy

Lulu

Morgan

Rat-in-a-Hat

Narrator

Recurring characters

Emma De Vries

Mal Heap

David Collins

Farm animals

Episode List

Season 1 (1992-1995)

  1. Pink Mug (20 July 1992)
  2. Picnic Thieves (27 July 1992)
  3. Moon Rocket (3 August 1992)
  4. Night Fright (9 August 1992)
  5. Lost Shoe (10 August 1992)
  6. Hide and Seek (16 August 1992)
  7. Music Box (17 August 1992)
  8. See Saw (23 August 1992)
  9. Buried Treasures (24 August 1992)
  10. Grumpy Wumpy (31 August 1992)
  11. Paper Chase (7 September 1992)
  12. The Storm (15 September 1992)
  13. Quick Grow (3 October 1992)
  14. The Parcel (3 October 1992)
  15. Wet Paint (5 October 1992)
  16. The Robot (23 October 1992)
  17. Happy Holiday (25 October 1992)
  18. Decorating (4 November 1992)
  19. It's Raining (20 November 1992)
  20. Banana's Birthday Monday (7 December 1992)
  21. Banana's Birthday Tuesday (8 December 1992)
  22. Banana's Birthday Wednesday (9 December 1992)
  23. Banana's Birthday Thursday (10 December 1992)
  24. Banana's Birthday Friday (11 December 1992)
  25. Doctor Bananas (18 December 1992)
  26. The Spider (26 December 1992)
  27. Amy's Castle (9 January 1993)
  28. Show Business (22 January 1993)
  29. Getting Rhythm (24 January 1993)
  30. Musical Stairs (8 March 1993)
  31. Swamp Lake (15 March 1993)
  32. Take One (24 May 1993)
  33. Video Clip (25 May 1993)
  34. Cuddles Avenue (8 June 1993)
  35. Fancy Dress (1 November 1993)
  36. Chasing Rainbows (8 November 1993)
  37. Something Fishy (30 January 1994)
  38. Lulu's Magic (19 February 1994)
  39. Obstacle Race (20 February 1995)
  40. Ready, Steady, Go! (15 April 1995)

Season 2 (1995-1997)

  1. Wibbly Wobbly (15 May 1995)
  2. Atchoo! (22 May 1995)
  3. Ratmobile (29 May 1995)
  4. Cafe Rat (31 May 1995)
  5. Boo! (3 June 1995)
  6. Fair Game (20 June 1995)
  7. Magic Carpet (22 June 1995)
  8. Stone Soup (23 June 1995)
  9. Housesitter (25 June 1995)
  10. Morgan's Cubby (25 June 1995)
  11. Monster Bananas (7 July 1995)
  12. Strictly Bananas (8 July 1995)
  13. Goldilocks Bananas (24 July 1995)
  14. Banana Magic (24 July 1995)
  15. Slipper Fairy (2 September 1995)
  16. Painted Bananas (9 September 1995)
  17. Lost Voice (9 September 1995)
  18. Banana Shop (14 September 1995)
  19. Sun Hats (14 September 1995)
  20. Wash Day (25 September 1995)
  21. Banana Hiccups (25 September 1995)
  22. Dream Time (25 November 1995)
  23. Wishing Pool (30 November 1995)
  24. Bananasaurus (22 December 1995)
  25. Bed Time (14 January 1996)
  26. Forbidden Fruit (21 January 1996)
  27. Shadow Painting (22 January 1996)
  28. Chasing Tuesdays (29 January 1996)
  29. Shop Shut (23 January 1997)
  30. Mirror Mirror (23 January 1997)

Season 3 (1997-1999)

  1. Pyjama Party (11 August 1997)
  2. Pink Spots (12 August 1997)
  3. Snow Storm (13 August 1997)
  4. Scarecrow (18 August 1997)
  5. Treasure Hunt (19 August 1997)
  6. Broken Truck (21 August 1997)
  7. Say Cheese (26 August 1997)
  8. Car Polish (26 August 1997)
  9. King Rat (8 September 1997)
  10. Dancing Shoes (8 September 1997)
  11. Circus Time (12 September 1997)
  12. Shiny Things (14 September 1997)
  13. Rat Wash (15 September 1997)
  14. Fire! Fire!(17 September 1997)
  15. Super Bananas (19 September 1997)
  16. Special Delivery (22 September 1997)
  17. Model Bananas (27 October 1997)
  18. Big Parade (1 November 1997)
  19. Rat Post (3 November 1997)
  20. Whale Snail (20 November 1997)
  21. Spring Clean (12 December 1997)
  22. Play Time (6 January 1998)
  23. Pony Ride (20 January 1998)
  24. Gallery Rat (31 January 1998)
  25. Salon Rat (2 February 1998)
  26. Sand Palace (9 February 1998)
  27. Magic Lamp (21 January 1999)
  28. Rat's Hat (22 January 1999)
  29. Surf's Up (23 January 1999)
  30. Help! Help! (28 January 1999)

Season 4 (1999-2001)

  1. Topsy Turvy (31 October 1999)
  2. Banana News (1 November 1999)
  3. Knitting Bananas (4 November 1999)
  4. Magic Sack (5 November 1999)
  5. Weather Rat (8 November 1999)
  6. Busker Bananas (9 November 1999)
  7. Oops! (14 November 1999)
  8. Surprise Disguise (15 Novrember 1999)
  9. Lucky Day (22 November 1999)
  10. Rat's Zoo (29 November 1999)
  11. Banana Rescue (4 December 1999)
  12. Special Treasures (26 December 1999)
  13. New Tent (29 December 1999)
  14. Rat Clean (31 December 1999)
  15. Amy's Trombone (31 December 1999)
  16. Tuesday Disguise (31 December 1999)
  17. Sleeping Teddy (18 January 2000)
  18. Where's Lulu? (29 January 2000)
  19. Moving Bananas (30 January 2000)
  20. Holiday Time (2 April 2000)
  21. Space Bananas (23 May 2000)
  22. Tall Morgan (29 May 2000)
  23. Crab Catchers (1 June 2000)
  24. Singing Bananas (25 June 2000)
  25. Sniffles (21 July 2000)
  26. Talking Trees (30 July 2000)
  27. Ship Ahoy!(23 August 2000)
  28. Purple Pencil (4 September 2000)
  29. Dirty Rat (11 September 2000)
  30. Vanishing Vegetables (12 September 2000)
  31. Pretty Maggie (18 September 2000)
  32. Joy Flight (22 September 2000)
  33. Golden Eggs (23 September 2000)
  34. Statues (24 September 2000)
  35. Goobledy Gook (25 September 2000)
  36. Rat Suits (7 October 2000)
  37. Puppy Love (16 October 2000)
  38. Tangly Trick (1 November 2000)
  39. Seeing Double (22 March 2001)
  40. Springtime Party (14 April 2001)
  41. Banana Day (14 April 2001)
  42. Home Delivery (3 August 2001)
  43. Magic Pumpkin (25 October 2001)
  44. Invisible Bananas (1 November 2001)
  45. Washing Lines (23 November 2001)
  46. Stripes (29 November 2001)
  47. Work Shed (30 November 2001)
  48. Tall Story (1 December 2001)
  49. Noisy Night (8 December 2001)
  50. Lullaby (9 December 2001)
  51. Wrong Side of Bed (10 January 2002)
  52. Strange Signs (17 January 2002)
  53. Juggling Bananas (23 January 2002)
  54. Teddy Puppets (25 January 2002)
  55. Billycart (28 January 2002)
  56. Rescue Practise (29 January 2002)
  57. Walkie Talkies (30 January 2002)
  58. Banana Plumbers (31 January 2002)
  59. Shoe Shine (18 February 2002)
  60. Yee Hah! (21 February 2002)
  61. Dinner Party (24 February 2002)
  62. Adventure Amy (25 February 2002)
  63. Street Fixers (6 March 2002)
  64. Taxi Rat (11 March 2002)
  65. Paw Prints (22 April 2002)
  66. Silly Strawberry (29 April 2002)
  67. Farmer Rat (30 April 2002)
  68. Cuckoo Clock (27 May 2002)
  69. Odd Socks (11 June 2002)
  70. Butterflies (30 July 2002)

Animated Series 1 (2011)

  1. The Magic Trick (27 June 2011)
  2. Moving (4 July 2011)
  3. The Little Fish (4 July 2011)
  4. Glue (5 July 2011)
  5. Prince Rat (5 July 2011)
  6. Fluffy Bunny (6 July 2011)
  7. The Billy Cart Race (6 July 2011)
  8. Bird Song (7 July 2011)
  9. The Nursing Bananas (7 July 2011)
  10. The Collection (8 July 2011)
  11. Gold Rush (8 July 2011)
  12. The Very Special Jelly (9 July 2011)
  13. The Bushwalk (9 July 2011)
  14. The Genie Bananas (10 July 2011)
  15. The New Bike (10 July 2011)
  16. The Gardening Bananas (11 July 2011)
  17. Pink Pyjamas (11 July 2011)
  18. The Camera (12 July 2011)
  19. Rat's Superstore (12 July 2011)
  20. The Bernard Mystery (13 July 2011)
  21. Talent Quest (13 July 2011)
  22. Mystery Noise (14 July 2011)
  23. Treasure Hunt (14 July 2011)
  24. Rat's Retreat (15 July 2011)
  25. The Flowers (15 July 2011)
  26. The Fix-it Bananas (16 July 2011)
  27. A Wonderful Day (16 July 2011)
  28. The Sleepy Snitcher (17 July 2011)
  29. The Delivery Bananas (17 July 2011)
  30. Morgan's Cloud (18 July 2011)
  31. Old Porridge (18 July 2011)
  32. Bernard's Party (19 July 2011)
  33. Morgan's Smelly Sneakers (19 July 2011)
  34. The Trickisaurus (20 July 2011)
  35. The Little Birds (20 July 2011)
  36. The Holiday (21 July 2011)
  37. The Art Show (21 July 2011)
  38. The Ducklings (22 July 2011)
  39. Go Robot (22 July 2011)
  40. The Pie (23 July 2011)
  41. The Dragon (23 July 2011)
  42. The Surprise (24 July 2011)
  43. Amy's Package (24 July 2011)
  44. Bubbles (25 July 2011)
  45. Morgan's Cafe (25 July 2011)
  46. Rat the Banana (26 July 2011)
  47. Shoo! Scram! (26 July 2011)
  48. The Birthdays (27 July 2011)
  49. The Perfect Spot (27 July 2011)
  50. Banana Phones (28 July 2011)
  51. The Banana Truck (28 July 2011)
  52. Cuddlestown Records (29 July 2011)

Awards

Logie Awards

Aria Awards Best Children's Album:

Best Original Cast/Show Recording:

2011 revamp

On 2 May 2011, a new series of Bananas in Pyjamas, produced by Southern Star Entertainment in full CGI, was premiered on ABC2 in Australia; it will be shown in other countries soon after that date. It contains new songs, stories, and characters, including Topsy the cheeky kangaroo, Charlie the inventive monkey and Bernard the wise old dog. Development of the new series commenced in 2009, and production started in early 2010. The new series contains 104 12-minute episodes.[3][4]

Catchphrase

The bananas are noted for their common catchphrase, often said when the duo get an idea: "Are you thinking what I'm thinking, B1?" "I think I am, B2!". Rat in a Hat also has two catchphrases, "Oh, cheese and whiskers!", usually stated when he has not succeeded at a task; and "I'm a rat, I'm a rat, I'm a clever clever rat", which he sings when he thinks of a good idea. Given the age of the target audience, chasing teddy bears is not usually a plotline for the show itself, and when it is depicted, it is usually in a playful manner. More often, the bananas engage in activities in singing, dancing, and playing with the other characters, and bantering with each other.

Sydney Olympics

The Bananas in Pyjamas were featured among other famous Australians during the parade of the closing ceremony of the 2000 Summer Olympics.[5]

References

  1. ^ "Plus Licens: Bananas in Pyjamas". Pluslicens.se. http://www.pluslicens.se/index.php/site/characters_details/bananas_in_pyjamas_characters/. Retrieved 2010-05-08. 
  2. ^ "Bananas in Pyjamas - About". Abc.net.au. http://www.abc.net.au/children/bananas/about/. Retrieved 2010-05-08. 
  3. ^ "Bananas in Pyjamas- ABC for Kids". ABC Television. http://www.abc.net.au/abcforkids/shows/s2948119.htm. Retrieved 29 April 2011. 
  4. ^ "Southern Star and ABC Australia to launch Bananas in Pyjamas in May 2011". AnimationXpress Asia Pacific. 15 March 2011. http://www.axapac.com/news/southern-star-and-abc-australia-launch-bananas-pyjamas-may-2011. Retrieved 29 April 2011. 
  5. ^ [1]

External links