Magic Mountain (TV series)

Magic Mountain
Genre Children's
Created by Ron Saunders
Claire Henderson
Yu Pei Xia[1]
Written by Claire Madsen
Directed by Ian Munro
Paul Faint
Starring See Cast section below.
Country of origin Australia / China
Original language(s) English
No. of episodes 50
Production
Running time 10 minutes
Production company(s) Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Southern Star Entertainment
China Central Television
Distributor Southern Star Entertainment
Roadshow Entertainment
Release
Original network ABC TV
Picture format 4:3
Original release 11 August 1997 – 20 November 1998

Magic Mountain is an live-action Australian children’s television programme broadcast on the ABC from 1997 to 1998. It was released on video, but there has been no DVD release yet. It is a full-body puppet series aimed at 2-5 year olds. The series was last repeated on ABC1 until 13 February 2004. The ABC's Magic Mountain website was removed during September 2010 when the new ABC Kids website was introduced.[2]

Production

The series was made in China, but for the Australian version different voice actors were used. Much of the crew is Chinese.[3] It was produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, China Central Television and Southern Star Entertainment. Production took place between 1997 and 1998. The show has been dubbed into both Spanish and Portuguese/Brazilian.[4]

Plot

Magic Mountain follows the adventures of Lion, Tortoise, Panda and Dragon - four friends having lots of fun with a little Dragon magic thrown in.[5] Tortoise is a motherly figure, always looking out for the others and trying to help them. Dragon lives in a cave, and is very wise, with magical powers that often get the others out of trouble. Panda is a little bit vain, but still a likeable character who is quite smart, and Lion is very playful, full of ideas and is constantly getting into mischief. These four creatures "enjoy wonderful times as they invent unusual games, play tricks on each other, and have exciting adventures as they explore their enchanting world."[6]

Cast

Australian version
Character Actor
Tortoise (voice) Cornelia Frances
Dragon (voice) Anthony Ackroyd
Panda (voice) Helen Dallimore
Lion (voice) Steve J. Spears
Chinese version
Character Actor
Tortoise (voice) Wang Lihua
Tortoise (body) Zuo Xiangfeng
Dragon (voice) Sun Yuebin
Dragon (body) Wang Chunguang/Jiang Tao
Panda (voice) Liu Chunyan
Panda (body) Xu Xiangyang
Lion (voice) Li Lihong
Lion (body) Li Yanmiao/Zhang Chunyu/Wang Xianhua

Episodes

Season 1

  1. Dragon Loses His Magic (11 August 1997)
  2. Doctor Lion (12 August 1997)
  3. Flying Panda (13 August 1997)
  4. Invisible Lion (14 August 1997)
  5. Runaway Cart (15 August 1997)
  6. Tortoise's Restaurant (18 August 1997)
  7. Lion Moves House (19 August 1997)
  8. Sports Day (20 August 1997)
  9. Princess Panda (21 August 1997)
  10. Monster in the Night (22 August 1997)
  11. The Hollow Tree (25 August 1997)
  12. Surprise Party (26 August 1997)
  13. Panda's Midnight Feast (27 August 1997)
  14. Dragon Sneezes (28 August 1997)
  15. Secret Apple Tree (29 August 1997)
  16. Explorers (1 September 1997)
  17. Dragon's Treasure (2 September 1997)
  18. Territories (3 September 1997)
  19. The Robber (4 September 1997)
  20. Very Fast Tortoise (5 September 1997)
  21. Emergency Rescue (8 September 1997)
  22. Upside Down Tortise (9 September 1997)
  23. Double Panda (10 September 1997)
  24. Panda Loses Her Memory (11 September 1997)
  25. Lion Circus (12 September 1997)
  26. Hide and Seek (15 September 1997)

Season 2

  1. The Dare (20 October 1998)
  2. It's Raining, It's Pouring (21 October 1998)
  3. Brave Prince Lion (22 October 1998)
  4. Dragon Gives Up Flying (23 October 1998)
  5. Panda Club (26 October 1998)
  6. A Sticky Situation (27 October 1998)
  7. Lion's Night Time Fun Fair (28 October 1998)
  8. Lion's New Friend (29 October 1998)
  9. Panda The Ballerina (30 October 1998)
  10. Bedtime Story (2 November 1998)
  11. Runaway Lion (3 November 1998)
  12. Treasure Map (4 November 1998)
  13. Weather Magic (5 November 1998)
  14. Three Wishes (6 November 1998)
  15. Dragon's Birthday (9 November 1998)
  16. Magnifico (10 November 1998)
  17. Tortoise The Hero (11 November 1998)
  18. A House For Tortoise (12 November 1998)
  19. Dropping In (13 November 1998)
  20. The Swap (16 November 1998)
  21. Missing Friends (17 November 1998)
  22. Dragon's Apprentice (18 November 1998)
  23. Let's Stick Together (19 November 1998)
  24. Stop Tricking Panda (20 November 1998)

Release

All releases consist of 4 or more episode packaged together.

VHS

Critical reception

On TV.com, the show has been given a user rating of 7.0 out of 10, based on 3 votes.[12]

Other media

A 31-page paperback colouring book based on the series was released in March, 1999.[13]

References

  1. ↑ "Magic Mountain : hide and seek.". WorldCat. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
  2. ↑ http://www.abc.net.au/abckids/
  3. ↑ ClassicABCTV (15 Jun 2011). "Lion Moves House - Magic Mountain (Original)". Youtube.com. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
  4. ↑ "LIVE ACTION" (PDF). KIDS MIPTV 2012. 2012. p. 13. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
  5. ↑ http://www.abc.net.au/abckids/shows/prog103.htm
  6. ↑ "Magic Mountain". CEGTV. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
  7. ↑ http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/320756775820?clk_rvr_id=877714733347&rmvSB=true
  8. ↑ http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/8550805?selectedversion=NBD13960622
  9. ↑ "Magic mountain : surprise party". WorldCat. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
  10. ↑ http://www.worldcat.org/title/magic-mountain-dragons-treasure/oclc/222533483
  11. ↑ "Magic Mountain : hide and seek.". WorldCat. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
  12. ↑ "Magic Mountain ABC1 (ended 1999)". TV.com. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
  13. ↑ Magic Mountain Colouring Book. Pancake Press. 1999. ISBN 9780330378338.

See also

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