Dot and the Kangaroo (film)
| Industry | Film production |
|---|---|
| Founder | Yoram Gross, Sandra Gross |
| Headquarters | New South Wales , Australia |
| Products | Animated films, family films |
Dot and the Kangaroo is a 1977 Australian musical drama film that blends live-action with animation. It draws its story from the 1899 children's novel Dot and the Kangaroo authored by Ethel Pedley.
Plot
Set in 1884 New South Wales, the story follows Dot, a barefoot five-year-old girl who becomes lost in the Australian wilderness. A female red kangaroo, mourning the loss of her own joey, offers to guide Dot back home while introducing her to the native animals and encouraging a deeper respect for the natural environment.
Cast
- Barbara Frawley as Dot, a young barefoot girl passionate about animals
- Joan Bruce as both the Kangaroo and Dot's Mother
- Spike Milligan portraying Mr. Platypus
- June Salter as Mrs. Platypus
- Ross Higgins in the role of Willie Wagtail
- Ron Haddrick as Dot's Father
- Lola Brooks
- Peter Gwynne
- Richard Meikle playing Jack the Farmhand, who may be Dot's grandfather
Production
Yoram and Sandra Gross sought to develop an animated Australian feature aimed at international audiences and chose Dot and the Kangaroo after evaluating multiple literary works. The Australian Film Commission contributed approximately two-thirds of the A$250,000 production budget.
Shooting occurred on-site near Jenolan Caves and within the Warragamba Dam Catchment Area located in New South Wales' Blue Mountains region. Although sharing characteristics with global animated children's musicals, this film distinctly reflects Australian culture through its incorporation of native symbols, accents, and Indigenous Australian elements such as animated cave art and traditional Aboriginal dance sequences.
Soundtrack
The movie’s original score features melodic songs composed by Bob Young with lyrics penned by John Palmer and Marion Von Alderstein, alongside additional contributions from Young himself. Maurie Wilmore handled the recording of the soundtrack album, which was released in 1982 paired with Around the World with Dot, where Dot and the Kangaroo tracks occupy the B-side.
Reception
Achieving commercial success internationally, the film recovered its production costs within three years. This accomplishment allowed Yoram Gross to grow his production company and distribute family-oriented films in the United States market. Its pioneering animation technique—melding animated characters with photographic backgrounds—became a signature approach in Gross’s later projects.
Release
During the 1980s, the initial eight films were issued on VHS in America, first by Magnetic Video, then through CBS/Fox Video and Family Home Entertainment. A DVD edition was made available on 30 October 2001 via Hen's Tooth Video. In Australia, a full DVD collection encompassing all Dot films is accessible. Subsequent DVD releases were handled by Digiview Entertainment (2005/2006) and TUTM Home Entertainment (2009) following Digiview’s closure. The film’s copyright status within the United States remains ambiguous despite its post-1976 release date.
In addition, the series was broadcast on the Disney Channel throughout the late 1980s and 1990s in the U.S., as well as on Canada’s Family Channel.
Sequels
Between 1981 and 1994, Yoram Gross Studios produced eight follow-up films to expand upon the original’s conservation-focused narrative highlighting human effects on wildlife. The sequels are:
- Around the World with Dot (1981)
- Dot and the Bunny (1983)
- Dot and the Koala (1985)
- Dot and Keeto (1986)
- Dot and the Whale (1986)
- Dot and the Smugglers (1987)
- Dot Goes to Hollywood (1987)
- Dot in Space (1994) (released only in Australia)
Six of these installments—excluding Dot and the Koala, Dot and the Whale, and Dot Goes to Hollywood—were compiled under the title Dot and her Amazing Adventures by Reel DVD within their Reel Kids collection.
External links
- Dot and the Kangaroo hosted on Oz Movies