Beano Video
The Beano Video (or The Beano All-Stars for DVD releases) is a VHS video of The Beano originally released in September 1993 and also broadcast as a television special on (Children's ITV). It marked not just the first animated release of the hugely successful children's comic that has spanned many generations. It was later re-released in DVD more than 10 years later, by then known as The Beano All-Stars. The video is also the first animated appearance for characters like Dennis the Menace, Gnasher, Minnie the Minx, the Bash Street Kids and the Three Bears.
It features voices by Susan Sheridan, Kate Robbins, Enn Reitel, Gary Martin and Jonathan Kydd. Martin and Kydd would later appear in the 1996-98 TV series adaptation of Dennis the Menace and Gnasher.[1]
A sequel to this video was produced and released on 10 October 1994, dubbed The Beano Videostars, and featured an expanded list of characters.
Plot
We open with a giant comic flying towards us, with panels featuring all the characters that this show will focus on; Dennis the Menace, Minnie the Minx, the Bash Street Kids and the Three Bears. The characters instantly come to life, and start breaking out of the panels to interact with each other (or rather, pick on each other).
It starts with Walter deciding to enter a talent show, with Dennis deciding he can't let a softie win. When Dennis sees Walter trying a ventriloquist act with his teddy, Dennis tries a similar act with a dummy based on a prisoner. The dummy's screaming is revealed to belong to a parrot Dennis trapped in the dummy, and the softies step up their game with a string quartet. Dennis brings in Curly and Pie-Face, and they turn the softies into living puppets, operated by the menaces in a tree. Unfortunately, the branch Dennis and friends are perched on breaks under their weight, and the fall renders both sides unfit to perform. However, Gnasher's fleas start acting up and his frenzied scratching is mistaken for a dance, earning him first prize.
Next, in Face the Music, Professor Quaver, the new music teacher, arrives at Bash Street School. The kids, to his dismay, don't know how to play instruments properly, nor do they know how to sing, opting for a noisy football chant instead. With the class dismissed, the Professor decides Winston's yowling is far more pleasant to listen to than the kids, and even conducts the cat with a baton.
Next, in Hotdog, Gnasher teaches Gnipper how to get a free meal at a hot dog stand. Gnasher barks fiercely at a customer, startling him so much he drops the hot dog, which Gnasher helps himself to. Gnipper tries the same technique, and it works, until he gets covered in ketchup, which he forgot to check for.
Next, in Porridge, the Three Bears, tired of porridge made from mouldy oats, head out in search of dinner. They steal Hank's horse to carry them and their equipment but are eventually thrown into the sea, where they try fishing. They end up aggravating a shark who chases them back to land, where the bears stumble upon cowboys having a barbecue. Ma and Pa disguise Ted as a cowboy with a pair of dancing bears, and Ted launches the cook's roast skyward while the cook is distracted by Ma and Pa dancing. Some coyotes get to the roast before the bears though, and they decide to just head home. They return home, starving and absurdly thin from their journey, only to find their porridge is gone along with all the oats. As it turns out, the horse they stole earlier is the culprit.
Next, in Minnie Chairs, Minnie has fun with chairs, using them as trampolines or a mountain, much to her dad's annoyance. Sent to play outside, Minnie finds a way to turn the armchair into a chariot, with the neighborhood dogs pulling it, but she ends up crashing it and wrecking the chair, forcing George to drag her down the high street to buy a new one. Minnie causes havoc in the shop and ends up being dropped into a reclining seat which locks her in place, to George's absolute delight.
Next, in Soap Box Cart, Dennis's dad is late for his appointment with the doctor to check up on his sprained wrist. But when Dad remembers he can't drive with his hand bandaged, Dennis offers to take him there in his go-kart. The ride is rough for Dad as he is thrown out several times, soaked, and even run over by the kart. Yet, they make it, and Dad's wrist is completely better. But now it's the only part of him that isn't bandaged up after his ordeal.
Next, in Lake Beautiful, Plug is openly mocked by the pupils of Posh Street for being 'the ugliest boy in the world' and they place a mirror in front of him, causing it to smash, proving he is truly ugly. The Headmaster tells Dennis' school teacher that something has to be done because Plug is ruining the good name of Bash Street. Smiffy tries bringing in a mask for Plug (which resembles the Head) but unwittingly forgets to cut out eye holes, which causes Plug to walk into a wall and smash his face, making him even more ugly. The school doctor however reveals that the waters of Lake Beautiful in Tibet can make anybody handsome, so Teacher and the kids fly to Tibet, via Cheap-o Airways, where the food is like school dinners and the plane has to be held together upon take-off. They make a hasty exit on a sledge, which crashes into a Tibetan monastery, where the monks, who have taken a vow of silence, understand English, but their food is even worse.
The monks show the class the way to the lake and they discover a Burger Bar in the form of an igloo, staffed by polar bears. They all order burgers, chips and hotdogs (with the school funds) and discover that it's not just the mountains that are sky high, but the prices too. They arrive at Lake Beautiful where the Keeper sees the problem and acts upon it, trapping the kids in a snowball and launching them into the lake where they all metamorphose into Plug-like faces, or in this case, Keeper-like faces, as he decided all the class needed a "handsome" treatment except Plug.
Next, in Scorcher, Ted's cave is on fire one morning, and the walls crack to reveal an egg containing a baby dragon. The bears name him Scorcher and put him to work getting them food. Scorcher burns the wall of Hank's store, enabling Pa to reach in and steal a chicken. Scorcher helps to cook the chicken back home, and the bears enjoy a good meal, until the baby dragon gets indigestion and burns Pa's face by accident.
Next, in Sausages, Dennis is playing fetch with Gnasher, who initially is bored, until he smells sausages on the breeze, and encourages Dennis to throw the stick next door. Dennis is able to spear the sausages on the neighbours' grill and Gnasher hops over the fence and retrieves the stick, sausages and all.
Next, in Minnie Apples, the apples on George's tree are ripe, but Minnie can't reach them on her own. When she tries using a ladder, she's caught by George who forbids her from taking any apples from the tree itself but agrees she can have any that fall. Minnie thus tries shaking them loose by stomping around, then charging into the tree itself. She then tries throwing her ball into the branches, but it rebounds off and ends up hitting her dad, whose bellowing ends up shaking every apple loose, right onto Minnie's head, which doesn't bother her.
Next, in Space Case, Spotty falls into Olive's pea soup, and Plug says that he resembles a martian. Danny tells Teacher that a martian has landed in the playground, which Teacher believes at the sight of Spotty. After the kids help themselves to some of Teacher's biscuits at Fatty's suggestion, Teacher asks where the "martian's" ship is, and is pointed towards a bin in the playground. Teacher is transferred into a dump truck, and tries grabbing the "martian" in revenge, revealing him to be Spotty. What later appears to be more martians later turns out to merely be the other kids covered in green paint from painting the ceiling as punishment.
Next, in Pink Glove, Dennis charges outside, straight into a bowl of sweet-smelling water and a bucket of rose petals, courtesy of a vigilante calling himself the Pink Glove. Dennis clambers out, only to find Rasher in a panic as the Pink Glove has tidied up his sty. Dennis and his pets go in search of the Pink Glove, who uses Dennis's own sock-filled mitt against him, briefly knocks Gnasher out with perfume, tricks Dennis into hugging a teddy bear and goes so far as to redecorate Dennis's room with flowers and soft toys overnight.
Dennis narrows the suspects down to Walter, Bertie Blenkinsop and Spotty Perkins, then drags a block of ice into the softies' chalet, intending to ban whoever puts pink gloves on to move the ice. But the Pink Glove locks Dennis and Gnasher in, and Bertie takes a photo of the pair when the softies return. Later, Dennis and Gnasher nab the softies with paper chains (which they can't break) and when the leftover gloves don't fit any of them, Dennis uses the softies as bait in a trap. The Pink Glove is revealed to be Walter's mum, who did it to get back at Dennis for picking on Walter.
Next, in Greedy Bears' Picnic, the Three Bears invade two little boys' picnic.
Next, in Minnie Flying, Minnie tries to learn to fly, and fashions herself a set of wings, ending up crashing into a barrel, a tree and later onto her dad's lap. George tries taking Minnie on a aerobatic stunt plane to get it out of her system. However, all it does is make him ill, and forces the birds to the ground the next day as they're safer there with Minnie now hang-gliding above.
Next, in Big Surprise, Dad warns that Dennis is overfeeding Gnasher and that he'll grow as big as an elephant. When Dennis and Gnasher head for the zoo, Gnasher decides to scare an elephant, and the panicking animal escapes from the zoo, getting himself covered in glue, feathers, and paint, so he resembles a giant Gnasher by the time he passes Dennis's house. Dad, seeing the elephant, decides he needs to have a word with his son about overfeeding Gnasher.
Next, in Hare Soup, Pa is sick of porridge and decides to catch a hare to make soup. After getting fitter, Pa heads out to catch one, but is outwitted by the hare, who eventually agrees to make soup for the bears. The hare, impressed by his own cooking, devours the entire broth, and Pa is chased out and walloped for his trouble.
In Molar Mirth, it's Happy Smile Week at Bash Street, and Professor Molaroid, an expert on dental care, is visiting the school. He is unimpressed by the kids' teeth, except Smiffy's, who turns out to be wearing joke ones. After a quick brush, there is improvement all round and when asked if Teacher would like to join in, it's revealed that his are even worse. When the professor tries eating an apple to prove a point, he chokes on it, turns to be wearing dentures, and leaves in humiliation.
Next, in Gnipper Pecker, Gnipper is freezing in his draughty kennel, but decides to take a leaf out of a woodpecker's book, and pecks a hole in the nearby tree to sleep there. His nap, however, is interrupted by a mother bird who stuffs a load of worms in his mouth.
And last, in Minnie Clones, Minnie meets her fans, who want to be just like her. She shows them the ropes by tricking a boy into taking a balloon full of hot air off her, while she's weighed down with diving boots, and shooting him down into a duck pond. The fans cause havoc all over Beanotown, and the hapless police report the chaos to the sergeant, who ends up chasing Minnie up a lamppost. Her dad appears from the nearby newsagents, and brings her down with a well-aimed paper airplane. As Minnie is dragged home, she is annoyed to find her former fans now idolising George instead.
Episodes
- Dennis the Menace and Gnasher: In on the Act
- The Bash Street Kids: Face the Music
- Gnasher and Gnipper: Hotdog
- The Three Bears: Porridge
- Minnie the Minx: Minnie Chairs
- Dennis the Menace: Soap Box Cart
- The Bash Street Kids: Lake Beautiful
- The Three Bears: Scorcher
- Dennis the Menace and Gnasher: Sausages
- Minnie the Minx: Minnie Apples
- The Bash Street Kids: Space Case
- Dennis the Menace and Gnasher: Pink Glove
- The Three Bears: Greedy Bears Picnic
- Minnie the Minx: Minnie Flying
- Dennis the Menace and Gnasher: Big Surprise
- The Three Bears: Hare Soup
- The Bash Street Kids: Molar Mirth
- Gnipper: Gnipper Pecker
- Minnie the Minx: Minnie Clones
Voice cast
The Beano Video
- Susan Sheridan - Dennis the Menace, Walter's Mum, Neighbour's Wife, Minnie the Minx, Boys, Minnie's Fans, Danny, Fatty, Toots, Olive, Cheap-o Airways Lady, Ma
- Kate Robbins - 'Erbert
- Enn Reitel - Dogs, Ted, Horse, Scorcher, Hare, Narrator #2
- Gary Martin - Talent Contest Host, Pa, Hank, Narrator #1
- Jonathan Kydd - Gnasher, Gnipper, Rasher, Curly, Pie-Face, Dennis' Dad, Walter the Softy, Spotty Perkins, Bertie Blenkinsop, Parrot, Softy, Flea #1, Fred, Customer, Doctor #1, Neighbour, Pink Glove, Father, Monkey, Mother Bird, Minnie's Dad, Dogs, Chair Store Man, Frog, Policeman #1, Pilot, Bully, Man on Bench, Tailcoats, Policeman #2, Sergeant, Policemen, Plug, Sidney, Smiffy, Spotty, Wilfrid, Teacher, Headmaster, Winston, Posh Street Kids, Professor Quaver, Singer on Record, Doctor #2, Keeper of Lake Beautiful, Rubbish Collector, Professor Molaroid, Coyotes, Cuckoo Duck, Boy #1, Narrator #3
The Beano Videostars
- Mark Pickard - Dennis the Menace[2]
- Jonathan Kydd - Gnasher, Gnipper, Walter the Softy (The Snowman Army, Dad commercial and Party Sounds from Beano Town commercial), Colonel, Park Keeper #1, Walter’s Teacher, Minnie's Dad, Park Keeper #2, Plug, Sidney, Teacher, Headmaster, Winston, School Inspector, Horse Race Announcer, Doctor, Uncle Boink, Billy Whizz, Penguin, Pedestrian #3, Ivy’s Dad, Poolgoer #3, Park Keeper #3, Poolgoer #5, Police Officer #2, Ivy's Toys, Presenter
- Enn Reitel - Rasher, Walter the Softy (Flutterby and Dennis Meets His Match), Alien #1, Birds, Cats, Female Alien, Fatty Fudge, Danny (singing), 'Erbert, Fatty, Spotty, Wilfrid, Janitor, Winston, Elephant, Woodworm, Hairdresser, Mr. Robot, Ted, Snake, Chicken, Chick, Ma’s Porridge Narrator, Monkey, Pedestrian #1, Pedestrian #2, Poolgoer #1, Poolgoer #4, Child, Ivy's Toys
- Susan Sheridan - Dennis’ Mum, Walter's Mum, Cynthia, Newsreader, Mrs Ramsbottom, Baby #1, Mrs Blenkinsop, Danny, Smiffy, Toots, Olive, Toots’ Mum, Baby #2, Ma, Pedestrian #4, Poolgoer #2, Opera Singer in Bath
- Gary Martin - Alien #2, Gnosher Narrator, Minnie’s Dad’s Boss, Plumber, Police Officer #1, Pa, Hank, Party Sounds from Beano Town Narrator
- Nicola Stapleton - Minnie the Minx
- Kate Robbins - Nurse
- Alex Patterson - Ivy the Terrible
- Jill Shilling - Opera Singer in Bath
Songs sung by Enn Reitel, Jonathan Kydd and Susan Sheridan.
Broadcast history
US
- Fox Kids (1998)
- Nicktoons (2004)
