The Koala Brothers facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Koala Brothers
Genre	Preschool Animated series Educational Adventure
Voices of	Keith Wickham Rob Rackstraw Janet James Lucinda Cowden
Narrated by	Jonathan Coleman
Opening theme	"Call the Koala Brothers"
Ending theme	"Call the Koala Brothers"
Country of origin	Australia United Kingdom
No. of series	3
No. of episodes	79
Production
Running time	10 minutes
Production company(s)	Famous Flying Films Spellbound Entertainment
Distributor	Spellbound Entertainment
Release
Original network	CBeebies ABC Kids (Australia)
Original release	1 October 2003 (2003-10-01) – 31 October 2007 (2007-10-31)

The Koala Brothers is an Australian–British stop-motion animated children's television show that features the adventures of two koala brothers named Frank and Buster, as they seek to help their friends in a sleepy town in the Australian outback. Seventy-nine episodes were produced over three seasons.

A notable quality of the TV series is that although there can be differences of opinion and some instances of anti-social or unthoughtful behaviour, there are no villains or antagonistic characters. Rather, the emphasis is on helping and being a good friend. Originally aired on ABC Kids, the show later aired on CBeebies in the United Kingdom (having premiered on 16 February 2004) and Playhouse Disney in the United States, as well as different international stations.

Format

Broadcast episode formats varying slightly between countries, though the main material of each episode, featuring the koala brothers assisting one of their friends and overcoming a problem, such as jealousy, fear, or the failure to share, does not change. In Australia, the show runs in episodes of around 12 minutes though these are broadcast in pairs on Playhouse Disney, with the opening song "Call the Koala Brothers" repeated in instrumental form over the credits. CBeebies eliminates the introduction and closing song to squeeze the program into a 10-minute format.

In the 30-minute broadcast version, the show opens with the theme song and then the narrator introduces Frank and Buster as they fly in their yellow two-seater propeller airplane above the outback. The supporting cast is introduced as the narrator asks "Who do you think the Koala Brothers are going to help today?" Each 30-minute episode ends with "The Helping Song", in which all the characters gather at the Koala Brothers' homestead and sing about always trying to help and caring for one another.

Inspiration

The series remarkably resembles in visual style and ethos an globally publicised Australian 1988 NSW Bicentennial Exhibition and Children's Book and TV series proposal "The Great Wungle Bungle Aerial Expedition" featuring characters specifically dubbed "The Koala Brothers" and focusing on the adventures of altruistic animal outback aviator rescuers in homemade flying contraptions at a comical desert airstrip. The original three "Koala Brothers" characters first appeared at the "FirstState88" NSW Govt exhibition in darling harbour under that description, accompanied by book and merchandise and later in 1990s in an animated TV series proposal "Echidna Airways" circulating at Cannes. The 1988 Children's book and public exhibition attended by millions in Sydney's darling harbour and promoted on television featured Australian animal aviator characters altruistically rescuing others or helping out friends with no thought of personal reward. Archival footage of The Koala Brothers characters and flying machines viewable here:

Characters

All characters of anthropomorphic animals in the show speak with Australian accents, with the notable exceptions of Archie the Crocodile, who speaks in a British accent and Penny the Penguin, who only communicates through penguin sounds.

Main

• Frank the Koala (voiced by Keith Wickham) – is the male pilot of the aeroplane. Frank has demonstrated excellent skills in tennis and was the only member of the community able to defeat Archie, though Frank admitted it was probably just luck. Frank also fostered an interest in pottery at one point but did not have any great artistic ability.
• Buster the Koala (voiced by Rob Rackstraw) – sits behind Frank in the aeroplane and uses his telescope to spot friends in need from the air. Buster is always willing to provide a pep talk or a hug to his friends. Buster speaks more softly than Frank and has a small tuft of hair on the top of his head. Buster loves to bake, especially butter cookies.

Jonathan Coleman – is the Narrator, the storyteller of the programme.

Supporting

• Mitzi the Possum (voiced by Lucinda Cowden) – often wears flip flops, each foot has four toes and thick-rimmed glasses on her face. Mitzi lives next door near the Koala's house and Mitzi is a very nervous yellow possum who relies on the Koala Brothers to keep in line with her perfectionist tendencies. Mitzi can also be a bit bossy and can upset her friends at times, but in the end, her friends always forgive her after Mitzi has owed them an apology.
• Ned the Wombat (voiced by Janet James) – is apparently and the youngest male member of the local community and lives in a caravan next door to the Koala Brothers' homestead. Ned is often not sure of himself, but Ned dreams of adventure as an explorer or a sea captain. Ned is very determined, and easily fixated on an idea.
• George the Turtle (voiced by Rob Rackstraw) – is the male local mail carrier. George has unknown residence but is always seen delivering the post with his trusty leather satchel. George is very proud of being a mail carrier and tells the best campfire stories in the outback. George also has an interest in stamp collecting.
• Sammy the Echidna (voiced by Rob Rackstraw) – Lives in town and owns the local general store, which sells fuel in addition to comestibles. His only employee is Josie. Sammy has the fewest problems, after the Koala Brothers.
• Josie the Kangaroo (voiced by Janet James) – works at the general store with Sammy. Josie wears a small red and white striped shirt that exposes her bright yellow tummy, a blue skirt with a deep pocket and shoes, and Josie and Mitzi are the best of friends.
• Alice the Platypus (voiced by Lucinda Cowden) – works at the local café and appears to be the lone employee, though it is not clear if Alice owns the café. Alice is very forgetful. Alice rides a green motorscooter around, which has its share of drastic engine problems. Alice loves to bake and is good at following recipes. Alice is also good at reading maps.
• Archie the Crocodile (voiced by Keith Wickham) – lives in a well-appointed cottage near the local water hole. Archie is always exercising, stretching, or playing tennis, and is renowned at being the best at almost every sport. Archie is British, and speaks in a memorable rich accent.
• Penny the Penguin (vocal effects performed by Janet James) – is a female explorer who lives in Antarctica, but has visited the outback on certain occasions and keeps up a regular written correspondence with the Koala Brothers. Penny cannot at all talk, but Penny communicates by chattering like a real penguin and Penny sings "The Helping Song".
• Lolly the Emu (voiced by Lucinda Cowden) is the female local ice cream vendor and can often be seen driving her ice cream truck around the Outback. Lolly greets people by saying "How can I cool you down?"

Episodes

Series overview

Series 1 (2003–04)

Series 2 (2004–05)

Series 3 (2005–07)

Award nominations

• BAFTA Children's Awards 2006
  • Nominated for Best Animation (for the episode The Koala Brothers Outback Christmas)

• The Koala Brothers at BBC Programmes

See also

In Spanish: Los hermanos Koala para niños