Apr 10, 2015

Noddy to return in CG series "Noddy, Toyland Detective"

Noddy and his partners Bumpy and Rebs. Click to enlarge. (©2015 Classic Media Distribution Ltd.)

Noddy, the beloved British picture book character, returns to television in a new CG-animated series.

Noddy, Toyland Detective will debut on France Télévisions' France 5 in 52 new 11-minute episodes.

The series is produced by Gaumont Animation and DreamWorks Animation Television, with DreamWorks Animation Television owning Noddy and retaining worldwide distribution rights to the film in partnership with France Télévisions.

In the new series, Noddy, whose red and yellow car is a landmark, steps up from being a Toyland cab driver and transforms into a Toyland detective who meets new and old Toyland characters and solves mysteries. The new Toyland includes Fable Fields, Animal Acres, and the bustling center of Brickbuild. [Margie Cohn, Head of Television at DreamWorks Animation, said, "A whole new generation of kids will meet Noddy and join him on his adventures through Toyland. Our new series retains everything that made Noddy the global phenomenon he is today, and the exciting updates will encourage a whole new group of fans to become natural investigators of their own world."

Noddy first appeared in 1949 in Enid Blyton's children's book Noddy Goes to Toyland. The Adventures of Noddy" (1955-1963), a puppet show; "Noddy's Adventures in Toyland" (1992-1999), a stop-motion animation; "Make Way for Noddy" (2002-2008), a CG animation; and "Noddy in Toyland" (2011-2012).

Noddy's appearance, however, has been significantly updated for this latest CG outing. He has dropped the spotted neckerchief and his wooden clogs seem to have been replaced by Chuck Taylor.

Noddy's trusty red and yellow car also appears to have undergone an anthropomorphic evolution in the CG auto shop. Upgraded to the role of Noddy's sidekick and named Rebs, the car has a distinct personality and a conventionally "purrp-purrp!" Although limited to a vocabulary of just "Pah-pah-pah!", it will have a more sophisticated repertoire of horns and car noises. Oh, and there's the face.

No word yet on whether Noddy is still in bed with Big Ears.

Noddy, Toyland Detective will premiere on France 5's "Zouzous" in 2016.

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