The Neverending Story (TV series)

The Neverending Story: The Animated Adventures of Bastian Balthazar Bux is an animated television series, produced by CineVox Entertainment and HIT Entertainment and animated by Ellipse and Nelvana. It aired for one season (1995–1996) on HBO, and ran for 26 episodes.[1] The series is loosely based on Michael Ende's book, The Neverending Story (1979).[2]

The Neverending Story: The Animated Adventures of Bastian Balthazar Bux
GenreAnimation, Fantasy
Developed byPeter Sauder
Directed byMike Fallows
Voices ofJanet-Laine Green
Dominic Zamprogna
Chris Wiggins
Christopher Bell
Neil Crone
Marilyn Lightstone
Benedict Campbell
John McGrath
Lisa Yamanaka
Richard Binsley
James Rankin
John Stocker
Colin Fox
Dan Hennessey
Gary Krawford
Howard Jerome
Don Francks
Wayne Robson
Len Carlson
Ellen Ray Hennessey
Geoffrey Bowes
Harvey Atkin
Jayne Eastwood
Theme music composerMilan Kymlicka
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Canada
France
Germany
Original language(s)English
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes26
Production
Production company(s)CineVox Entertainment
Ellipse Programmé
Nelvana
HIT Entertainment
Release
Original networkHBO (United States)
Family Channel (Canada)
Original releaseDecember 2, 1995 –
April 6, 1996

Plot

A young boy named Bastian Balthazar Bux helps yet again the Childlike Empress and her people of Fantasia, an imagination land that can be accessed and influenced through a magic neverending book called The Neverending Story, because the horrifying Nothing and other villains like the evil sorceress Xayide still threaten it. In the process, Bastian learns valuable lessons and gains many magical friends like the wooden Bark Troll, the luckdragon Falkor and many others.

Differences between the TV series and the film

In the animated series, the Nothing is a recurring villain. The Nothing is portrayed as a hole with evil red eyes, which belongs to that of a white wolf, and is the television version of Gmork. The evil sorceress Xayide, unlike in the first sequel film, wears green robes with an eye mask with yellow slits. In the original film, her face is created by a special magical cream. The Rockbiter, in the latter two sequel films (including the third film), actually has a wife and a son, Junior. His wife and son appear in the series as well.

Episode list

1. "The Tears of Sadness" (written by Peter Sauder) - When Bastian arrives in Fantasia he discovers that some of the citizens have turned into frozen statues. Realizing it's coming from the water, Bastian collects a strange potion from Urgl and travels with Bark Troll and Falkor to the Fountain of Life. (December 2, 1995)

2. "The Meek and the Mighty" (written by J.D. Smith) - Bastian arrives in the Tinies Village to see that it has once again been demolished by Junior. (December 9, 1995)

3. "The Purple Buffalo" (written by Alan Templeton and Mary Crawford) - When Bastian arrives on the Grassy Plains of the Greenskin tribe, he finds out that the Purple Buffalo have disappeared along with his great warrior friend, Atreyu. (December 16, 1995)

4. "Morla's Wish" (story by Erika Strobel, teleplay by Bob Ardiel) - Bastian is on his way to see Morla, the giant turtle that lives in the Swamp of Sadness. The Nothing finds out about this and sets a trap. (December 23, 1995)

5. "Spook City" (story by Erika Strobel, teleplay by Alan Templeton and Mary Crawford) - In the Forbidden Forest, Bastian meets a scared little spook named Gaya, who tells Bastian about her brother Meeka's capture into Spook City. (December 30, 1995)

6. "To Save Falkor" (story by Erika Strobel, teleplay by Alan Templeton and Mary Crawford) - When Bastian has the flu, he takes little notice of doctor's orders to stay in bed, choosing to visit his friends in Fantasia instead, but is forced into a desperate quest when his cold does the impossible and makes Falkor sick. (January 6, 1996)

7. "Missing Memories" (story by Erika Strobel and Dennise Fordham, teleplay by Frank Diteljan and Nicola Barton) - When huge pieces of Fantasia are beginning to disappear, including the Childlike Empress memories, its up to Bastian to find out what's going on before he and his friends are 'erased' as well. (January 13, 1996)

8. "Perilin" - When Grograman, the Fire Lion, gets captured and Perilin, the Night Forest, starts spreading to the rest of Fantasia, only Bastian can help. (January 20, 1996)

9. "The Sea of Mist" (story by Michaela Rothmund, teleplay by Bob Ardiel) - When Engywook returns from an exploration in the Sea of Mist, he shows Bastian his rare find: the Ancient Sea Scrolls, which legends say holds the answers to all of Fantasia's mysteries. (January 27, 1996)

10. "Promises" (story by Erika Strobel, teleplay by J.D. Smith) - When giant fissures crack through the Grassy Plains, Bastian follows the great warrior Atreyu, and his sister Saiya back to the Greenskins camp to discover its source. (February 3, 1996)

11. "Through the Misty Mountains" (written by Vince Grittani) - Bastian investigates the rumors of a monster inhabiting the Misty Mountains. (February 10, 1996)

12. "A Friendship That Flames" (story by Dale Schott, teleplay by Frank Diteljan) - When Bark Troll is jealous of Bastian's newly formed friendship with an interesting character named Axin, he goes to all limits to prove he is the better friend. (February 17, 1996)

13. "The Three Feeling Stones" (story by Dale Schott, teleplay by Bob Ardiel) - The story begins with Xayide successfully unearthing two of the three ancient Feeling Stones of Fantasia; purposely removing all the good feelings across the land. (February 24, 1996)

14. "The Belt of Invisibility" (written by Nicola Barton) - Shadow Goblin and Vermin find a Belt of Invisibility and they use it to commit various thefts. To combat this, Bastian ends up having to turn to Xayide for help. (March 2, 1996)

15. "Good Deeds" (written by Erika Strobel) - Bastian arrives to see that Bark Troll has been pleasantly rewarded (with faerie dust) for his efforts when he inadvertently helps a town of Faeries. (March 9, 1996)

16. "Bark Troll's Blame" (written by Bruce Robb) - When a fire erupts in the Howling Forest, all eyes cast suspicious blame on Bark Troll. (March 16, 1996)

17. "The Searcher" (story by Dale Schott, teleplay by Nicola Barton) - When Engywook takes the egg of a Llorp, mistaking it for the crystal key to the Vault of Wisdom, he travels on an expedition to the Land of Cold Fire to obtain all the knowledge he can. (March 23, 1996)

18. "End of Time" (story by Dale Schott, teleplay by Bob Ardiel) - Bastian arrives in Fantasia to see the world and all his friends slowly winding down into a world of suspended animation. (March 30, 1996)

19. "Thunder and Lightning" (story by Erika Strobel, teleplay by Laurel L. Russwurm) - When the Gnomic Forest is experiencing a devastating drought, Engywook doubles his efforts to build a Rain-Making Machine. (April 6, 1996)

20. "The Everlasting Night" (written by Alan Templeton and Mary Crawford) - When Xayide misuses a stolen recipe book of Urgls to concoct a spell, it only backfires and sends her into a deep sleeping trance. (April 13, 1996)

21. "After the Falls" (written by Alan Templeton and Mary Crawford) - When bark trolls crushes on a beautiful tree named Willow is challenged by a brute named Ash, its Bastian who convinces Bark Troll to accept Ash's challenge to log roll on Splinter Falls. (April 20, 1996)

22. "Mirror, Mirror" (story by Erika Strobel, teleplay by Bob Ardiel) - Xayide uses a special mirror that creates an evil version of Bastian and a good version of herself. (April 27, 1996)

23. "The Dreaming Fields" (story by Erika Strobel, teleplay by Bob Ardiel) - Xayide has placed Nightmare Weeds into the Dreaming Fields which causes everyone's dreams to come true until it goes horribly awry. (May 4, 1996)

24. "The Atonal Trolls" (written by Joel Berger) - When the shrieking Atonal Trolls abandon their homeland, the Mountains of Harmony, and head towards the Ivory Tower, they threaten its very existence with the decibel level of their shrieking voices. (May 11, 1996)

25. "The Race for the Ivory Tower" (story by Ken Sobel, teleplay by Frank Diteljan) - Everyone in Fantasia (with the exception of Falkor, as his luck would give him an unfair advantage) is participating in The Race including Gluckuck on his racing Snail, Mr. Rockchewer on his stone bicycle, Engywook on his Kitzblitz Flying Machine, and Night Hob aboard his sleepy bat Thessle. (May 18, 1996)

26. "The Perfect Gift" (story by Erika Strobel, teleplay by Peter Sauder) - Bastian arrives in Fantasia hoping to find the perfect gift idea for Fathers Day. (April 6, 1996)

Cast

Release
  • In 1996, a single episode of "The Neverending Story: The Animated Adventures of Bastian Balthazar Bux" was released by HBO Home Entertainment (under HBO Kids Video).
  • In 2005, the first three episodes of The Neverending Story: The Animated Adventures were released on DVD by FUNimation Entertainment, LTD. (under its Our Time Family Entertainment children’s/pre-school entertainment label) in a compilation entitled "Bastian to the Rescue".
  • All episodes are currently available on Amazon Video format on Amazon.com.

References
  1. Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. p. 582. ISBN 978-1476665993.
  2. Perlmutter, David (2018). The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 424–425. ISBN 978-1538103739.
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