Parallax (TV series)
| Company type | Television program |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Headquarters | Perth , Australia |
| Products | Children's television program |
Parallax is a children's television program from Australia that was broadcast on the Nine Network. This 26-episode series received financial backing from the Film Finance Corporation Australia and additional support from Lotterywest. Production occurred across multiple sites in Perth, including Kings Park, East Perth, as well as various beach locations and forests in the South West region.
The narrative centers on Ben Johnson, a young boy who uncovers a gateway to several parallel universes. Alongside his friends Francis Short, Melinda Bruce, Una, Due, Tiffany, Mundi, and his newly found sister Katherine Raddic, he embarks on explorations through these alternate realities.
Principal cast
- Joshua Marshall-Clarke portraying Ben Johnson
- Gillian Alexy as Katherine Raddic
- Caroline Brazier playing Veronica Johnson / Betti
- David Richardson as Francis Short / Francis Zapmeister
- Francoise Sas in the role of Melinda Bruce
- Kazimir Sas as Martin Dunkly
- Rebecca McCarthy playing Fortuna / Una
- Genevieve McCarthy as Due
- Lauren Williams portraying Mundi
- Luke Hewitt as Jeremy Johnson
- Paris Abbott in the role of Tiffany
- Igor Sas as Stefan Raddic
- David Ngoombujarra as Otto
Guest appearances
- Faith Clayton in the role of Mrs Irma Dawes
- Kristian Barron as Spy Kid
Key objects and places
- Stave
- A staff wielded by most Guardians, enabling communication across worlds, control over electronic devices, and capable of firing lethal laser beams against Welkin and Krellicks.
- Orb
- A distinctive smooth white sphere found in each world. When taken away from its native world, an individual with pure Guardian lineage can observe historical events reflected on its surface. Within its original world, it provides entry to the Reading Room. Orbs also shield Guardians' bloodlines from Welkin and Krellick threats.
- Reading Room
- The central archive within Parallax that holds comprehensive records of all occurrences and creatures. It functions as the primary hub for inter-world travel but does not influence external elements such as climate or governance.
- Golden Stave
- Formed when a stave is brought into the Reading Room. This artifact governs the "Wheel of Knowledge" and possesses the ability to alter specific moments and incidents.
- Purple Water
- A device used by Betti to enforce uniformity by vaporizing individuals who deviate from a world's 17.65% personality norm upon ingestion.
- Francis Cam
- A communication system connecting four worlds—Techno, Forest, Ben's, and Hippie Worlds—utilized for reporting Betti sightings and other significant events.
- Purple eyes
- An eye coloration seen in Betti and Spy Boy that signals dishonesty or anger; its complete meaning remains unknown.
Primary worlds
- Ben's World
- The red-hued "ordinary" world where the story starts. It connects to Katherine's World via an old drain and to Techno World through a chicken shed. By manipulating the parallax at the drain, travel to Forest and Desert Worlds is possible. Additionally, a portal inside Mr Dawes's shed leads to Garden World when the correct code (1-1-11) is used.
- Katherine's World
- A blue-toned, formal world where Ben meets his sister and biological father. It links to Ben's World through two large rocks and connects to Hippie World via library bookcases. Adjusting the parallax at these rocks grants access to Forest World. A beach portal leads directly to Betti's tent located in Desert World.
- Francis' Hippie World
- Characterized by a yellow color scheme and relaxed atmosphere inhabited by hippies. The known entry point is an old Volkswagen Kombi van near Francis's residence, connecting with Katherine's and Forest Worlds through the correct sequence.
- Una's Techno World
- A silver-colored, technologically advanced society with the slogan "Tomorrow's technology, at yesterday's prices." Portals include one at a high-tech rubbish dump linking to Ben's World and another at an abandoned office reachable via password that opens access to Garden World.
- Mundi's Forest World
- A green-themed environment focused on ecological living where Werrinup is constructed atop towers above the forest floor. Infested by Krellicks, residents depend on these elevated structures for safety. Tree portals provide passage to Ben's, Katherine's, or Techno Worlds when activated with the proper combination. Outside Mrs Dawes's house is a rock portal guarded by Krellicks that also leads into Forest World.
Alternate Worlds
- Desert World
- This orange, desolate planet served as a testing ground for Ben’s mother. Its portals include one atop a rocky hill that connects to Ben’s World (code 7-1), and another located at Betti’s tent that leads to Katherine’s World. Additionally, it is Otto’s original home before Betti destroyed it.
- Garden World
- Representing Betti’s Parallax ideal of flawlessness, this pink-hued world suppresses those who resist conformity. Portals here include one accessed through a “do not enter” door that opens to Techno World, and another at a bifurcated tree linking back to Ben’s World.
- Bush World
- This brown-colored realm is where Otto, the lost guardian, fled. One portal is situated midstream in a river connecting to Forest World, with plans for another further downstream.
- Swamp World
- Encountered briefly by Ben via the Reading Room, this world currently has no identified portals.
Side Doors
Side Doors are one-time-use portals that cannot be re-entered from their exit locations. After Ben pressed a button on the stave within the Reading Room, he and Katherine discovered additional portal lights. Upon asking, Mrs Dawes referred them to her brother, Mr Dawes, who clarified the nature and restrictions of Side Doors. The sole known Side Door is Mr Dawes' shed, which links to a seat located in Garden World.
Episodes
- One Big Happy Family
- A Rare Find
- The Artful Dodger
- Achey, Breaky Heart
- Lost in Paradise
- One Man's Rubbish
- Artes Veritas
- The Battle of Mundi's World
- The Big Sleep-Over
- The Martin Crimes
- The World According to Betti (writers: Paul D. Barron (creator), Lynn Bayonas)
- The Curse of the Incredibly Bad News
- Decoy
- Too Many Chiefs
- Ex-Ben
- Dad Meets Dad
- The Krellick War
- The Reluctant Guardian
- Seek and You Shall Find
- Sand Witch
- My Favourite Martin
- Cheats Never Prosper
- Martinmania
- The Reading Room
- Clownin' Around
- It Ain't Over
Home Media
Parallax: The Portal Opens was made available on 4 August 2005 as a condensed film version created from the first eight episodes.
External Links
Categories:
- 2004 Australian television series debuts
- 2004 Australian television series endings
- Australian adventure television series
- Australian children's television series
- Australian science fiction television series
- Nine Network original programming
- Television series about parallel universes
- Television shows set in Western Australia