Dinky Di's
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Animation, Television |
| Founded | December 6, 1997 |
| Founder | Melvyn Edward Bradford |
| Headquarters | Australia |
Area served | Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Italy, Arab countries, Brazil, Korea, Portugal, Russia |
| Products | Animated television series |
| Parent | Roo Films Brisbane |
Dinky-Di's, formally titled The Dinky-Di's: Friends on Freedom's Frontier, is an Australian animated television series that was broadcast on the Nine Network Australia from 6 December 1997 through 29 May 1998. Developed by Melvyn Edward Bradford, the production was handled by Roo Films Brisbane with animation by Pacific Rim Animation. The show centered on environmental awareness, emphasizing the significance of conserving the Earth, its wildlife, and vegetation. Its theme song, notable for the line "We show no fear, we show no pain!", became an iconic slogan associated with the series.
Premise
The Dinky Di's: Friends on Freedom's Frontier follows a group of anthropomorphic animals led by Aussie Roo, a kangaroo, and Cass Koala. This team embarks on worldwide missions to save endangered and rare species while advocating for environmental conservation. Equipped with a command center, sophisticated computer systems, and high-tech amphibious vehicles, they operate to fulfill their goals.
Their main adversary is Mephisto, a shadowy eco-terrorist who commands a band of villainous creatures such as Rancid Rodent (a rat), Hugo Hyena (a hyena), Ganny Goanna (an iguana), and Serpent Sam (a dragon). Discovering Mephisto’s true identity is crucial to their efforts in safeguarding the planet.
Voice cast
- Gennie Nevinson voices Cass Koala, Equulus Emu, Cauda Kiwi, Orikawa Bear's Son, Beatrice, Hydra Hen, Pleiades Panda, among others
- Ric Melbourne provides voices for Aussie Roo, Chopa Crocodile, G.T. Garuda, and others
- Lee Perry performs as Ernest Eagle, Goat, Sidney Seal, Whales, Narrator, and additional characters
- Grahame Matters voices Bill's Secretary and various other roles
- Tony Bellette portrays Plato Pus, Zennie, Mephisto, Rancid Rodent, Hugo Hyena, Ganny Goanna, Serpent Sam, Lazur Lion, Orikawa Bear, Bill Buffalo, and others
Episodes
Out of the 26 episodes created for the series, only two complete English-language episodes—"Baron of Babel" and "Funga Wunda"—are currently available. Other episodes survive in dubbed versions including Arabic, Brazilian Portuguese, Polish, and Russian. Partial English versions exist for "The Bilby Tale" and "Good Wood." Several episodes were once accessible through online archives; however, no new materials have emerged since.
The episode titles listed below are largely translated from Polish sources:
- "Lost, One Dinky-Di"
- "The Compututor"
- "The Bilby Tale"
- "Bat Chat"
- "Good Wood"
- "Duke of Deceit"
- "The Dolphin Dare"
- "The Crustaceans"
- "Baron of Babel"
- "Sea Beneath the Sea, Beneath the Sea"
- "Funga Wunda"
- "Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow"
- "Journey to Pedra Blanca"
- "Java Lava"
- "Straits of Sorrow"
- "The Howling Crystal"
- "Tapir Caper"
- "Mirage Master"
- "Small Hippo, Big Bust"
| # | Episode name | Writer(s) | Original air date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | "Lost, One Dinky-Di" | Mel Bradford | 6 December 1997 | Available in Arabic, Brazilian Portuguese and Polish dubs; English version partially missing |
| 02 | "The Compututor" | Neil Booth | 13 December 1997 | Accessible via Brazilian Portuguese dub |
| 03 | "The Mystery of the Land of Olgas" | 20 December 1997 | Missing | |
| 04 | "The Bilby Tale" | Mel Bradford | 27 December 1997 | Partially recovered |
| 05 | "Bat Chat" | 3 January 1998 | Missing | |
| 06 | "Good Wood" | Neil Booth | 10 January 1998 | Partially found in Russian dub |
| 07 | "Duke of Deceit" | Neil Booth | 17 January 1998 | Available in Russian dub |
| 08 | Unknown | 24 January 1998 | Missing | |
| 09 | Unknown | 31 January 1998 | Missing | |
| 10 | "The Dolphin Dare" | 7 February 1998 | Missing | |
| 11 | "The Crustaceans" | 14 February 1998 | Missing | |
| 12 | "Baron of Babel" | Neil Booth | 21 February 1998 | Available |
| 13 | "Snail's Pace" | 28 February 1998 | Missing | |
| 14 | "Losers Have No Choice" | 6 March 1998 | Missing | |
| 15 | "In Defense of Forest Chanterelles" | 13 March 1998 | Missing | |
| 16 | "Return of Yak" | 20 March 1998 | Missing | |
| 17 | "Cranes to the Rescue" | 27 March 1998 | Missing | |
| 18 | "Black Chamber" | 3 April 1998 | Missing | |
| 19 | "Sea Beneath the Sea, Beneath the Sea" | Neil Booth | 10 April 1998 | Available in Russian dub |
| # | Episode name | Writer(s) | Original air date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | "Funga Wunda" | Neil Booth | 17 April 1998 | Available |
| 21 | "Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow" | Wayne Moore and Terry Burstall | 24 April 1998 | Available in Russian dub |
| 22 | "Journey to Pedra Blanca" | Neil Booth | 1 May 1998 | Available in Russian dub |
| 23 | "Java Lava" | Wayne Moore and Terry Burstall | 8 May 1998 | Available in Russian dub |
| 24 | "Tapir Caper" | Wayne Moore and Terry Burstall | 15 May 1998 | Available in Russian dub |
| 25 | "Mirage Master" | Mike Heffernan | 22 May 1998 | Available in Russian dub |
| 26 | "Small Hippo, Big Bust" | 29 May 1998 | Missing |
The precise order for episodes titled "Straits of Sorrow" and "The Howling Crystal" within the series remains undetermined.
Alternative titles for the series
The program was broadcast under the name Grupa specjalna Eko in Poland and as Parola d'ordine: arriviamo! in Italy. Additionally, it reached audiences in regions such as the Arab countries, Brazil, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Portugal, and Russia.
Production
Developed by Melvyn Edward Bradford and produced by Roo Films Brisbane between 1989 and 1993, distribution was managed by Motion Picture Management Studios Australia. Although originally slated to conclude in 1992, production encountered setbacks caused by numerous legal challenges. The series ultimately premiered in New Zealand in 1992, aired in Malaysia from 1994 to 1998, appeared on Italian television in 1995, and was shown in Australia during 1997 and 1998. Pacific Rim Animation was responsible for the animation work.
The theme tune "Friends on Freedom's Frontier" along with other musical pieces featured in episodes were created by Matthew Sloggett with lyrics penned by Bradford and Bob LaCastra. The overall soundtrack was crafted by Garry McDonald and Laurie Stone and mixed at Grevillea Studios. The voice cast included talents such as Gennie Nevinson, Ric Melbourne, Lee Perry, Grahame Matters, and Tony Bellette.
In early 1994, a 93-minute direct-to-video compilation titled Mephisto's Web was produced; however, it was never released due to financial irregularities linked to the accounting firm Krampel Newman & Partners Pty Ltd.
Attempts at revival
During the late 2000s, four distinct revival projects emerged: an animated short series called The Dinky-Di's 2, a graphic novel adaptation, a stop-motion pilot episode, and an animated sequel. The Dinky-Di's 2 extended the original narrative by introducing a new antagonist named Maraudo, accompanied by holographic alien subordinates and a robot named DDRobo operating from the Dinky-Di's High-Tech Control Room.
Bradford had plans to release the series on DVD but passed away on 4 November 2010 from a cerebral aneurysm related to coronary artery disease while at his desk in Coolangatta near the Queensland–New South Wales border. His funeral took place in Parkwood, Queensland on 23 November 2010. Despite his concerns that his work might be discarded after his death, some of Bradford’s belongings and series-related materials were rescued from destruction, preserving elements that may include missing episodes.
Credits list
- Associate Producer – Mike Heffernan
- Production Manager – Rhonda Fortescue
- Production Supervisor (China) – Mark Lovick
- Production Co-Ordinator – Kerry Mulgrew
- Production Accountants – Debra Cole, Lyn Paeiz
- Production Secretary – Patricia Mcinally
- Production Receptionist – Tammy Sovenyhazi
- Script Editor – Mel Bradford
- Animation – Pacific Rim Studios
- Studio Representative – Richard Hindley
- Character Designers – Kelvin Hawley, Brian Doyle, Andrew Trimmer, Glenn Ford, Fräntz Kantor, Ray Van Steenwyk, Sue Schmidt, Paul Fitzgerald, Ted Blackall
- Background Artists – Dean Taylor (Mr. Big), Peter Sheehan, Kelvin Hawley, Paul Fitzgerald, Andrew Trimmer, Glenn Ford, Ray Van Steenwyk, Sue Schmidt, Fräntz Kantor, Ted Blackall
- Prop Designers – Kelvin Hawley, Glenn Ford, Paul Fitzgerald, Andrew Trimmer, Sue Schmidt, Fräntz Kantor, Brian Doyle, Ray Van Steenwyk, Ted Blackall
- Storyboard Artists – Bob Smith, Kelvin Hawley, Bill Moselen, Ray Van Steenwyk, Glenn Ford, Fräntz Kantor, Steve Lumley
- Script Clerk – Fiona Matters
- Voice Recording Studio – Sunshine Studios
- Voice Actors – Gennie Nevinson, Ric Melbourne, Lee Perry, Grahame Matters, Tony Bellette
- Mag Tracks – Hoyts Jumbuck
- Theme Songs (including "Cross The Line," "Start, Don't Stop," "Don't Run with the Pack," "Love Comes to the Rescue," "Don't Look Back," "Don't Call Me A Hero," "What About The Animals," "Reach Out") – Lyrics by Mel Bradford and Bob LaCastra; Composer: Matthew Sloggett
- Score Composers – Garry McDonald and Laurie Stone
- Post-Production Supervisor – Rod Herbert
- Film Editor – Bob Bladsall
This link features the episode credits.