The Neverending Story (TV series)
| Company type | Animated television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | 1995 |
| Fate | Ended |
| Headquarters | United States, Canada, France (production companies) |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Animated television show |
| Parent | CineVox Entertainment, Ellipse Animation, Nelvana Limited |
The Neverending Story, also titled The NeverEnding Story: The Animated Adventures of Bastian Balthazar Bux, is an animated television series created by CineVox Entertainment with animation handled by Ellipse Animation and Nelvana Limited. It was broadcast for a single season from 1995 to 1996 on HBO, comprising 26 episodes, and was additionally shown on Canada's Family Channel. The show draws loose inspiration from Michael Ende's 1979 novel, The Neverending Story.
Plot
The narrative follows a boy named Bastian, who assists the Childlike Empress and the residents of Fantasia, a fantastical world reached through an enchanted book. They struggle against adversaries such as the Nothing and antagonists including the sorceress Xayide. Along his adventure, Bastian is joined by magical companions like the wooden Bark Troll and the luckdragon Falkor.
Differences between the TV series and the film
Within the television adaptation, the Nothing appears repeatedly as a villain depicted as a black void with sinister red eyes, connected to a white wolf and serving as the series’ equivalent of Gmork. The sorceress Xayide is characterized by green robes and an eye mask with yellow slits, contrasting with her portrayal in the first sequel film, where her face is formed through magical cream. The Rockbiter, who is accompanied by his wife and son Junior in the last two sequel films—including the third film—also has these family members featured in the series.
Cast and characters
- Janet-Laine Green as Xayide
- Dominic Zamprogna as Atreyu
- Chris Wiggins as Carl Conrad Coreander
- Christopher Bell as Bastian Balthazar Bux
- Neil Crone as Nimbly
- Marilyn Lightstone as Ygramul
- Benedict Campbell as Shadow Goblin
- John McGrath as Blubb
- Lisa Yamanaka as The Childlike Empress, Junior Rockbiter
- Richard Binsley as Barktroll
- James Rankin as Three Head
- John Stocker as Gluckuk, Gluckuk's racing snail
- Colin Fox as Large Head
- Pam Hyatt as Morla
- Ellen-Ray Hennessy as Southern Oracle
- Dan Hennessey as South Wind Giant
- Gary Krawford as Grograman the fire lion
- Howard Jerome as Falkor the luckdragon
- Don Francks as Gmork
- Wayne Robson as Engywook
- Barbara Bryne as Urgl
- Len Carlson as Vermin
- Geoffrey Bowes as Barney Bux
- Harvey Atkin as Rockbiter, Mr. Rockchewer
- Jayne Eastwood as Mrs. Rockchewer
Episodes
{{Episode table |background=#000 |overall=6 |title=25 |writer=20 |airdate=18 |episodes=
Broadcast and Home Media
The Neverending Story was broadcast on HBO between 1995 and 1996, with reruns continuing on HBO Family until 2005. In Canada, the show aired on the Family Channel. Globally, the series was shown on Nickelodeon in the UK and Latin America, on France’s Canal+, and on the Dutch network Kindernet.
- In 1996, HBO Home Entertainment released a single episode under the HBO Kids Video banner.
- FUNimation Entertainment distributed the first three episodes on DVD in 2005 as part of a collection called "Bastian to the Rescue" via its Our Time Family Entertainment label.
- In December 2024, Via Vision Entertainment launched the full series on NTSC Region 0 DVD in Australia, making it compatible with DVD players in North America.
- By 2022, every episode was accessible for streaming on Amazon Prime.