The Ferals
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment, Children's television |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Founder | Wendy Gray, Claire Henderson |
| Headquarters | Australia |
| Products | Children's television programming, puppetry |
The Ferals is a comedic children's television series from Australia that was broadcast on ABC between 1994 and 1995. Developed by Wendy Gray and Claire Henderson, the show combined live actors with puppet characters called the "Ferals." It gained recognition for its bold humor and distinctive characters, some of which made appearances in other ABC productions. The puppets were designed by Garth Frost, while the opening theme was composed by Peter Dasent and Arthur Baysting, featuring vocals by Dave Dobbyn. In the United Kingdom, the series was shown on Nickelodeon UK.
Plot
The Ferals follows a group of animals cohabiting in a backyard shed: Rattus, a rat; Modigliana, a feral cat; Mixy, a rabbit; and Derryn, a feral dog. Their interactions with two university students and their landlord create much of the show's conflict.
Joe King, the landlord, is strict and determined to evict the Ferals. Leonard, studying science, and Robbie, a medical student, attempt to protect the animals but often struggle with their chaotic behavior.
Additional figures include Keith, a koala, and Kylie, a kangaroo—nicknamed the 'Bozos From The Bush' by Modigliana—who frequently clash with the Ferals due to their perceived superiority as native Australian wildlife. Other recurring roles include White Ants (Tina Bursill, Robert Hughes), Rock Wrangler (Tina Matthews), and Fat Cat (Taylor Owynns).
Puppets
- Rattus P. Rattus (He's the leader of the bunch) Puppeteer - David Collins: Sporting a leather jacket, Rattus is the cunning black rat who leads the group. Known for his mischievous wit and fixation on owning a car, he often hatches elaborate plans. He regularly mocks Modigliana but faces her fierce responses.
- Modigliana Esmerelda Olga Wydebottom (She's fluffy, but she's tough) Puppeteer - Mal Heap: A confident and formidable cat who frequently opposes Rattus as one of the more intelligent animals. She can be seen as a tougher counterpart to Miss Piggy.
- Derryn (A Dopey Dog) Puppeteer - Terry Ryan: A simple-minded dog who forgets where he buries his bone but occasionally displays surprising cleverness, such as winning a charity contest by training his fleas.
- Mixy M. Toasus (A Muddled up, mixed up Bunny) Puppeteer - Emma deVries: A gentle pink rabbit with a fondness for carrots who is somewhat sharper than Derryn. Her name references myxomatosis, hinting at the show's dark comedic tone.
- Keith Puppeteer - Mal Heap: A koala who enjoys gum leaves, napping, and playing his mother’s old harmonica.
- Kylie Puppeteer - Kelly Wallwork (Series 1), Danielle Baker (Series 2): A kangaroo who often assists Keith and frequently quarrels with Modigliana. Her later whereabouts are unknown since she does not appear in Feral TV.
Humans
- Joseph Wayne "Joe" King (portrayed by Miguel Ayesa): The self-interested landlord of the Ferals who persistently tries to remove them from the shed. He takes on various occupations including head of publicity at a pizza outlet and cake factory security guard. In the final episode, his attempt to establish a dinosaur-themed park leads him to demolish the shed and flats in search of bones, prompting the Ferals to retaliate by wrecking his home and trapping him beneath a bone. His ultimate fate remains undisclosed.
- Leonard (portrayed by Brian Rooney): Referred to as Lenny, Leonard is a science student whose inventions seldom work as planned. He also performs magic tricks and once unintentionally hypnotizes Derryn into intelligence. After losing his flat, he plans to join an Antarctic scientific expedition.
- Roberta "Robbie" Henderson (portrayed by Kylle Hogart): A medical student and guitarist aiming to tour with a rock band. Robbie is the most patient human character toward the Ferals, often serving as their 'doctor.' Following the destruction of her flat, she intends to move in with her new bandmates.
Feral TV
In 1995, a brief spin-off titled Feral TV premiered, showcasing the Ferals managing their own television station after stumbling upon a cable in the sewer system, which was exposed when Joe accidentally destroyed their shed. The channel was overseen by Kerry, a boisterous and hot-headed toad inspired by media tycoon Kerry Packer, alongside his loyal assistant Rodney, a cockroach. Returning from the pilot were characters Keith and Berry the Bat. Kylie did not appear due to the complexity of requiring two puppeteers, making her less practical for production. Feral TV comprised 55 episodes and was also broadcast on Nickelodeon UK. In 2023, Mal Heap, the performer behind Modigliana and Keith, uploaded a previously lost second season of Feral TV to YouTube.
After The Ferals
Although only a handful of human actors from The Ferals went on to achieve significant television careers, several puppet characters continued to play prominent roles within ABC programming. Mixy notably became the host of the ABC Kids programming block and was featured in her own series and website. Puppeteered by Emma DeVries, Mixy remained active in ABC idents and online content until the mid-2000s.
Rattus and Modigliana appeared in ABC’s educational maths series Numbers Count, with Modigliana later co-hosting Creature Features. Derryn was the sole main puppet character not utilized in other ABC productions. Rattus, Modigliana, and Mixy reunited for the 2022 ABC New Year's Eve Early Night Show. In 2000, puppeteer Mal Heap introduced Joe the Kangaroo as a companion to Mixy.
Ferals Funtastic Fanbook
In 1996, The Ferals Funtastic Fanbook was released, authored by Garth Frost, Wendy Gray, David Witt, and Tina Matthews, further expanding the franchise’s brand presence.
The Ferals Podcast
An unofficial podcast named *The Ferals Podcast* began on 17 May 2015, providing an extensive analysis of this cult children’s television series. The podcast wrapped up on 10 January 2016.
See also
External links
- Articles with short description
- Australian children's television series
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation original programming
- 1994 Australian television series debuts
- 1995 Australian television series endings
- Television series about cats
- Television shows about dogs
- Television series about kangaroos and wallabies
- Television series about koalas
- Television series about mice and rats
- Television series about rabbits and hares
- Television shows set in Australia
- Australian television shows featuring puppetry