Crystal Tipps and Alistair


Crystal Tipps and Alistair is a British cartoon produced for the BBC. The main series aired between 28 February 1972 and 1974 on BBC One.
The cartoon began as an entry to a European Broadcasting Union collaborative project seeking wholly dialogue-free animations. The resulting 5-minute film, titled Hide and Seek, aired in 1971 and became the pilot for the series.
The series has no dialogue but is accompanied by a full musical soundtrack composed by Paul Reade. However, when shown on Captain Kangaroo in the U.S. in the 1970s the series did have voice-over narration by Cosmo "Gus" Allegretti in his high-pitched "Mister Moose" voice.

Characters

The title characters are a girl who is called Crystal Tipps and her dog who are joined by their friends Birdie and Butterfly.

Broadcast

In addition to the pilot, there are 50 five-minute episodes and a 20-minute Christmas special, all first shown between 1972 and 1974. It was regularly repeated until 1980. Between 1985 and 1987 the programme aired on Children's ITV. In 1990, the BBC claimed back the rights with continued airings until 1994. It was created by Hilary Hayton and Graham McCallum. Michael Grafton-Robinson, a BBC producer went independent, setting up Q3 of London to produce the series. The animation was done by Richard Taylor Cartoons, who were also contracted to make the Charley Says and the Protect and Survive public information films for the Central Office of Information.

Episodes

Pilot (1971)

Series (1972-1974)

Christmas Special (1974)

Credits

  • Designed and Written by: Graham McCallum and Hilary Hayton
  • Music Composed by: Paul Reade
  • Animation Directed by: Richard Taylor
  • Animators: Althea Battams and Maggie Clarke
  • Produced by: Michael Grafton-Robinson
  • A BBC TV/Q3 London Co-Production