Sarah & Duck
Sarah & Duck is a British animated children's television series created by Sarah Gomes Harris and Tim O'Sullivan (aka "Duck"),[1] and produced by Karrot Animation for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).[2] Though designed as a story-driven animation primarily targeted at 4- to 6-year-old children since premiering at the MIPCOM trade show in 2012,[3] the series now has somewhat of an adult following.
Sarah & Duck | |
---|---|
Sarah (left) and Duck (right) | |
Genre | Children's television series |
Created by | Sarah Gomes Harris Tim O'Sullivan |
Written by | Sarah Gomes Harris Benjamin Cook Tim O'Sullivan Ilana Darrant John Randolph Davies Alex Howley Eddie Robson Matilda Tristram |
Directed by | Tim O'Sullivan (Series Director) Tim Fehrenbach (Animation Director, series 1) Martyn Jones (Animation Director, series 2) Alastair Park (Animation Director, series 3) |
Voices of | Tasha Lawrence Roger Allam Lesley Nicol Andy Nyman Pete Gallagher David Carling Tim O'Sullivan |
Composer(s) | Tanera Dawkins & Tim O'Sullivan |
Country of origin | United Kingdom |
Original language(s) | English |
No. of series | 3 |
No. of episodes | 120 (list of episodes) |
Production | |
Executive producer(s) | Chris White Alison Stewart |
Producer(s) | Jamie Badminton |
Editor(s) | Graham Silcock (series 1) Sophie Weller (Assistant Editor, series 1) Mark Edwards (series 2) Florence Kennard (Assistant Editor, series 2) Michele Chiappa (series 3) |
Running time | 7 minutes |
Production company(s) | Karrot Entertainment |
Distributor | BBC Worldwide |
Release | |
Original network | CBeebies |
First shown in | United Kingdom |
Original release | 18 February 2013 – 15 December 2017 |
External links | |
Sprout Online: Sarah & Duck |
Sarah & Duck was first broadcast on the UK channel CBeebies on 18 February 2013.[4] A total of 120 episodes have been commissioned, with 40 each for Series 1, 2, and 3.[5][6] The 3rd series started in October 2016.
Premise
The series follows the adventures of Sarah, a very kind and polite seven-year-old girl with big eyes, rosy cheeks and a green hat,[7] and her best friend Duck, a mallard. The central theme is the relationship between these two characters and the adventures they have together. CBeebies states that the show has two learning themes: 'Friendship and imagination' and 'Problem Solving'.[8]
Episodes
Series | Episodes | Originally aired | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
First aired | Last aired | |||
1 | 40 | 18 February 2013 | 19 December 2013 | |
2 | 40 | 11 August 2014 | 15 December 2015 | |
3 | 40 | 18 October 2016 | 15 December 2017 |
Cast and characters
Main
Name | Voice cast[9] | About |
---|---|---|
Sarah | Tasha Lawrence[10] | She is a very kind, polite and somewhat eccentric seven-year-old[10] girl. She is best friends with Duck. She plays the tuba, likes sea cows (manatees), and drinks "lemon water". |
Duck | N/A | He is Sarah's quacky, flappy best friend. Duck wants to be a penguin and has a toy robot. He turns two years old in series 1.[11] |
Narrator | Roger Allam[12] | He talks to Sarah & Duck, asks them questions and gives them suggestions. There is a possibility that the Narrator is Sarah's father, given the reference made in 'Old Toys'. |
Scarf Lady | Lesley Nicol[13] | She is a forgetful old lady who loves knitting. She lives in a house full of woollen items. She has a talking knitting bag and a pet donkey. |
Bag | Andy Nyman | He is Scarf Lady's knitting bag. He corrects Scarf Lady when she gets confused. |
Donkey | N/A | He is Scarf Lady's pet. He looks sad but isn't really. |
Others
- John is Sarah's Japanese friend voiced by Luca Pilkington Massey.
- Flamingo is John's pet voiced by Tim O'Sullivan.
- The Shallots are planted by Sarah & Duck in the first episode. There are three similar-sized and one tiny one. The three repeat the same phrase when spoken to while the tiny one says a variation thereof. They live in Sarah's front garden by the door, and are voiced by Tim O'Sullivan and Tony Clarke.
- Rainbow makes friends with Sarah & Duck after a rain shower. He is very tickly, and voiced by David Carling.
- Moon first meets Sarah & Duck at the Big Shop when he is heading to work at night. He is voiced by Pete Gallagher.
- Venus is a good friend of Moon and normally Sarah only sees her at night.
- Mars, a bruff Sergeant Major type character, joins Moon & Venus from time to time.
- Hat Lady (or Hattie) is Scarf Lady's old sporting rival and runs the local hat museum. Like her arch-nemesis Scarf Lady, she is voiced by Lesley Nicol.
- Umbrella is scared of the rain and voiced by Jamie Oram.
- Bug is a large ladybird that lives in Sarah & Duck's house plant and collects buttons.
- The Cloud Captain is a French engineer who operates the weather system from Sarah's local park, voiced by Derek Griffiths.
- The Ribbon Sisters are Sarah & Duck's quiet next-door neighbours wearing differently-coloured large sunglasses. They like to play with ribbons and are voiced by Kiki Brooks.
- Scooter Boy has a scooter and wears a helmet. He has been seen riding his scooter only once, and walks it everywhere he goes. He is voiced by Dylan Issberner.
- Plate Girl carries a plate with her at most times and is voiced by Yaeli Miller.
- Cake helps bake and is voiced by Andy Nyman.
- Bread Man runs the local bakery, which Sarah and especially Duck like to visit.
- Tortoise is slow and easily scared. His shell has windows so that he can look out. He doesn't speak.
- Leftover Wool sits patiently in Scarf Lady's wool room, and is voiced by Andy Nyman.
- Poetry Pete is first featured on one of Scarf Lady's LPs and is voiced by Simon Callow.
Production
The series is produced using computer-assisted animation techniques and the Adobe After Effects[14] and CelAction2D[15] packages.
A second series began airing on 11 August 2014.
On 17 June 2015 it was renewed for a third series [16] which aired starting the 18 October 2016 on CBeebies.
Broadcast
BBC Worldwide have secured global distribution and merchandising rights for the new show and airs it to BBC Worldwide's network of channels.[17] On 19 August 2013, Sarah & Duck was first broadcast in the U.S. on Sprout. The first series of Sarah & Duck was also broadcast in Japan (NHK), Norway (NRK), Sweden (SVT), Denmark (DR), Finland (YLE), Germany (KiKa), Portugal (RTP), Iceland (RUV), the Netherlands (NPO) and Israel (HOP).[18] In Canada it is broadcast on the Family Jr. channel.[19] In Australia, it is also broadcast on ABC Kids. On 12 February 2016 Sarah & Duck was made available in the U.S. on Netflix,[20] but left Netflix August 12, 2018 [21] without ever airing episodes made in 2017–2018.
DVD Releases
Release No. | Release Name | Episodes | Number and duration | R2 release date |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Lots of Shallots and other stories | Lots of Shallots, Sarah Duck & the Penguin, Cheer Up Donkey, Cake Bake, Scarf Lady's House, Robot Juice, Bouncy Ball, Rainbow Lemon, Sit Shop, Kite Flight | 70 mins | 17 February 2014[22] |
2 | Doubles and other stories | Doubles, Umbrella and the Rain, Big Shop, Woollen Music, Fairground, Sarah Gets a Cold, Ribbon Sisters, Stargazing, Coloured Light, Strawberry Souffle | 70 mins | 8 September 2014[23] |
3 | Balloon Race and other stories | Balloon Race, Camera, Tapping Shoes, Fireworks Dance, Fancy Park, Pipe Conductor, Slow Quest, World Bread Day, Pond Princess, Puncture Pump[24] | 70 mins | 16 February 2015[25] |
4 | Petal Light Picking and other stories | Petal Light Picking, Bobsleigh, Plate Fog, Scared of Stairs, Moon Paint, The Play, Bread Bike, Bug's Button Bank, No More Wool, Octogon Club[26] | 70 mins | 19 October 2015[27] |
5 | Cloud Tower and other stories | Cloud Tower, Outside Outside, Umbrella Bubbles, Sound Jumble, The Mouse's Birthday, Tortoise Snooze, Fast Slow Bungalow, Bags of Bags, Ribbon Fall, Garden Gaming[28] | 70 mins | 15 February 2016[29] |
6 | Duck Hotel and other stories | Duck Hotel, Origami Overload, Shallot Circus, Toy Tidy, Plate Escape, The Big Sleepover, Paisley Sea, Duck's Quack, Rainbow's Niece, Decorating Donkey[30] | 70 mins | 16 May 2016[31] |
7 | Beach Break and other stories | Beach Break, Parasol Show, Extra Bounce, Cake Relocate, Lost Librarian, Scooter Stand Still, Music Fixer, Wool on Wheels, Lemon Cafe, Star Renovation[32] | 70 mins | 25 July 2016[33] |
8 | Duck Flies and other stories | Duck Flies, Seacow Snowtrail, Woolly Memories, Bubble Bumbling, Toggle Tangle, Tummy Talk, Moon's Exhibition, Pond Prose, The Art of Pink, Bug Bop[34] | 70 mins | 17 October 2016[35] |
9 | Train Fudge and other stories | Train Fudge, Picture Planes, Hat Fuss, Dewy Morning, Sticker Swap, Magic Panic, Birthday Buoy, Alarm Clock, Twang Ball, Auto Cat[36] | 70 mins | 20 February 2017[36] |
10 | Constable Quack and other stories | Constable Quack, Fluff Bread, Moonbow, Bench Blocked, Planetarium Aquarium, Shallot Boat, Cake Decorate, Balloon Barnacles, Basking Shark, Old Toys[37] | 70 mins | 2 October 2017[38] |
11 | Brolly Bus and other stories | Brolly Bus, Rainbow Race, Hair Cut, Arcade Dance Off, Mars as Moon, Donkey Jump, Castle Scribbling, Haber Dasher, Cloud Jam, Pillow Fill[39] | 70 mins | 12 February 2018[40] |
12 | Snowball Skate and other stories | Snowball Skate, Mountain Mints, Comet's Coming, Perimeter Pals, Hedge Opera, Boo Night, Park Trimming, Whatsathingy, Cinema Scoot, Ribbon Alvida[41] | 73 mins | 8 October 2018[42] |
Reception
A pilot for Sarah & Duck was first aired at the Cartoon Forum 2010[43] where it was warmly received. The series was an immediate hit in the UK, and the first four episodes were the most popular pre-school programmes of their week on the BBC catch-up TV service, iPlayer.[44]
The first episode 'Lots of Shallots' was part of the official selection for the 2013 Annecy International Animated Film Festival.[45]
In October 2013 Sarah & Duck was nominated for a Children's British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) award in the pre-school animation category.[46] The BAFTA was awarded to Timmy Time.
In January 2014 Sarah & Duck was nominated in the pre-school category of the British Animation Awards.[47]
In November 2014, with a second nomination, Sarah & Duck won the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) award in the pre-school animation category.[48]
In February 2017, it was tied in the Kidscreen Award for best animated series with Doc McStuffins.[49]
Stage version
A live stage production called "Sarah and Duck's Big Top Birthday" was performed by Millenium Entertainment International beginning May 2018[50] (tour dates still being scheduled for 2019).[51]
References
- "Sarah and Duck official site". Karrot Entertainment. 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
- "Skwigly - Sarah & Duck CBeebies latest hit!". Retrieved 18 April 2013.
- Siti Syameen Md Khalili (3 December 2012). "TRENDS: Connecting through humour". New Straits Times. Archived from the original on 3 December 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
- BBC Media Centre (2013). "Roger Allam and Lesley Nicol provide voice talent as Sarah & Duck waddles onto CBeebies". BBC. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
- Charlotte Scarborough. "Sarah & Duck Series Two commissioned by BBC Worldwide for CBeebies international network". Retrieved 3 October 2013.
- Karrot Animation. "Sarah & Duck Series Three commissioned". Retrieved 8 April 2017.
- Steve Henderson (2013). "Sarah & Duck – CBeebies latest hit!". Skwigly. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
- "BBC - CBeebies - Grown-ups - Sarah & Duck". Archived from the original on 15 April 2013. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
- "Toonhound - Sarah and Duck". Retrieved 18 April 2013.
- "Mid Sussex Times - Haywards Heath's Tasha voices new CBeebies animation". 14 February 2013. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
Seven-year-old schoolgirl Tasha Lawrence is getting ready for vocal stardom as she breathes life into the lead character of Sarah from brand new CBeebies' animation Sarah & Duck .. It features the adventures of a thirteen-year old girl, Sarah
- "Cake Bake". Sarah & Duck. Season 1. Episode 4. 21 February 2013.
- "BBC - Media Centre - Roger Allam and Lesley Nicol provide voice talent as Sarah & Duck waddles onto CBeebies". Retrieved 25 March 2013.
- "Lesley Nicol - Curriculum Vitae". Retrieved 18 April 2013.
- "Karrot Animation expands 2D possibilities". Adobe Systems. 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
- "Sarah and Duck premieres on CBeebies UK". Karrot Animation. 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
- Patrick Callan. "Sarah & Duck gets third season". Retrieved 17 June 2015.
- "BBC Press Office - BBC Worldwide commissions Sarah & Duck for CBeebies around the world".
- "On Screen Asia: BBC Worldwide commissions "Sarah & Duck" S2 for CBeebies". Retrieved 27 January 2014.
- "Sarah and Duck". FamilyJr.Ca.
- MaFt.co.uk. "Sarah & Duck (2014) on Netflix USA :: New on Netflix USA". New on Netflix USA. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
- "Titles Leaving Netflix in August 2018". Retrieved 19 October 2018.
- "Sarah & Duck - Twitter". Retrieved 12 May 2017.
- "Sarah & Duck on Twitter: "Our NEW DVD (Vol. 2)..."". Retrieved 12 May 2017.
- "Sarah & Duck on Twitter: "Check out our new DVD's Packaging..."". Retrieved 12 May 2017.
- "Sarah & Duck on Twitter: "Our new 'Balloon Race' DVD is out TODAY..."". Retrieved 12 May 2017.
- "Sarah & Duck: Petal Light Picking and Other Stories - HMV". Retrieved 12 May 2017.
- "Sarah & Duck on Twitter: "Our 4th DVD is out NOW..."". Retrieved 12 May 2017.
- "Sarah & Duck on Twitter: "Our latest DVD is back in stock"". Retrieved 12 May 2017.
- "Sarah & Duck on Twitter: "Hurrah, It's New DVD Day..."". Retrieved 12 May 2017.
- "Sarah & Duck on Twitter: "UNBOXING! This is out in UK on Monday..."". Retrieved 12 May 2017.
- "Sarah & Duck on Twitter: "Our Duck Hotel UK DVD is out NEXT WEEK! ..."". Retrieved 12 May 2017.
- "Sarah & Duck on Twitter: "Here's the packaging for our new 'Beach Break' DVD..."". Retrieved 12 May 2017.
- "Sarah & Duck on Twitter: "It's New DVD day..."". Retrieved 12 May 2017.
- "Sarah & Duck: Duck Flies and Other Stories - HMV". Retrieved 12 May 2017.
- "Sarah & Duck on Twitter: "It's new DVD day! ..."". Retrieved 12 May 2017.
- "Sarah & Duck on Twitter: "Look what just arrived at Sarah & Duck HQ - our 9th DVD..."". Retrieved 12 May 2017.
- "Sarah & Duck: Constable Quack and Other Stories - HMV". Retrieved 20 November 2017.
- "Sarah & Duck on Twitter: "Our 10th DVD is OUT NOW..."". Retrieved 20 November 2017.
- "Sarah & Duck: Brolly Bus and Other Stories - HMV". Retrieved 19 October 2018.
- "Sarah & Duck on Twitter: "Here's your complete look at the packaging for our NEW 'Brolly Bus' DVD! "". Retrieved 19 October 2018.
- "Sarah & Duck: Snowball Skate and Other Stories - HMV". Retrieved 19 October 2018.
- "Sarah & Duck on Twitter: You can now COMPLETE your Sarah & Duck DVD collection with this week's release of Snowball Skate!". Retrieved 19 October 2018.
- "Karrot Annimation - Sarah and Duck launches at cartoon forum". Archived from the original on 8 March 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2013.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
- "Karrot Animation - Sarah & Duck make the top four slots on BBC iPlayer". Retrieved 18 April 2013.
- "Annecy - Official Selection". Retrieved 18 April 2013.
- "British Academy Children's Awards listing". Retrieved 27 January 2014.
- "BBC News: Bill Nighy nominated for British Animation Award". Retrieved 27 January 2014.
- "British Academy Children's Awards listing". Retrieved 27 November 2014.
- http://kidscreen.com/2017/02/14/and-the-2017-kidscreen-awards-winners-are/#
- https://twitter.com/KingGeorgesHall/status/963504594864300037
- https://www.sarahandducklive.com/tour-dates
External links
- Sarah & Duck at BBC Programmes
- Sarah & Duck - The Official Website of Sarah & Duck
- Sarah & Duck on IMDb
- Karrot Entertainment
- Sarah & Duck series Launch trailer