The Silver Brumby (TV series)
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Animation, Children's television |
| Founded | 1996 |
| Founder | Jon Stephens, Judy Malmgren, Paul Williams |
| Defunct | 1998 |
| Headquarters | Australia |
| Products | Animated children's television series |
| Parent | Media World Features |
The Silver Brumby is an Australian animated children's television series created by Jon Stephens, Judy Malmgren, and Paul Williams, inspired by Elyne Mitchell's Silver Brumby novels. Produced by Media World Features between 1996 and 1998, the show consists of 39 episodes initially aired on Network Ten.
Plot
The story follows Thowra, a silver colt, along with his brothers Storm and Arrow, and their native bush animal companions as they strive to avoid human capture. The series offers a loose adaptation of the original book collection.
Horses
- Thowra (voiced by John Higginson in Season 1 and Brett Climo in Seasons 2–3) – known as the "Silver Brumby," he is the youngest son of Yarraman; characterized by his calm demeanor, courage, and strong sense of friendship; frequently hunted by humans.
- Storm (voiced by Doug Tremlett) – Thowra’s devoted elder brother who stands by him during challenges; believed to have established his own herd after the first season.
- Arrow (voiced by Rhys Muldoon in Season 1 and Stephen Whittaker in Seasons 2–3) – the eldest half-brother; proud and envious, often rivals Thowra but occasionally lends support.
- Boon Boon (voiced by Rebecca Gibney in Season 1 and Marg Downey in Seasons 2–3) – a brave and kind-hearted filly, daughter of Brolga, who matches Thowra in spirit.
- Brolga (voiced by John Stanton) – a powerful stallion who aggressively leads his herd; responsible for killing Yarraman to become "King of the Cascade Brumbies."
- Aranda – Brolga’s preferred paint-colored mare who manages the herd during his absences.
- Yooralla – a young foal who joins Thowra’s group after being separated from his family; chooses to remain to acquire survival abilities.
- Yarraman – father to Thowra, Storm, and Arrow; previously held the title "King of the Cascade Brumbies" before Brolga succeeded him following his death.
- Golden – a palomino filly introduced by humans; briefly freed but returns after injury; escapes again after rumors spread concerning Thowra.
- Ebony – a black racehorse visiting the High Country with intentions to challenge Thowra.
- Gunda – Yooralla’s older sister who searches for him but ultimately returns home when he opts for life in the wild.
- Narrabri – a sensible young foal within Thowra’s herd; close companion to Yooralla; among the first to encounter the Bun-Yip legend.
- Yuri – Brolga’s son and friend of Yooralla; holds doubts about Thowra due to his upbringing.
- The Prince of the West – a conceited outsider seeking a mate in the High Country; rejected by Brolga and departs westward.
- Boomerang – a young foal in Thowra’s group; one of the few colts to successfully evade human capture.
- Ilinga – an elder brumby from southern regions investigating Thowra’s suitability for leadership.
- Bel Bel – mother of Thowra and mate of Yarraman; shares similar coloring with her offspring.
- Rocky and Woomera – colts captured after trailing Arrow during a hunt; adapted to human care and hesitant to return to wilderness life.
- Anda and Moolie – offspring of Brolga involved in incidents affecting Aranda during snake encounters.
- Echo – the Man’s black horse noted for speed and strength; shows respect toward Thowra despite allegiance to humans.
- Snowy – Charlie's white horse.
Other animals
- Currawong (voiced by Michael Carman) - a servile pied currawong serving as Brolga's informant, frequently subjected to mistreatment by Brolga and others.
- Wombat (voiced by Michael Carman) - a cantankerous wombat who blames both humans and animals for his troubles. He is susceptible to flattery and persistent annoyance; he has a spouse and two offspring.
- Mrs. Dingo (voiced by Marg Downey) - a wary dingo mother to two pups, Bindi and Warri, who holds Thowra in high regard.
- Benni (voiced by Bud Tingwell) - a paternal grey kangaroo closely connected to Thowra, with a wife named Silky and an unnamed daughter; also serves as the series narrator.
- Mopoke (voiced by Michael Carman) - a sagacious boobook owl who offers Thowra guidance through poetic verses.
- Eee and Mu (voiced by Richard Aspel and Marg Downey) - talkative emus known for their gossiping, primarily between themselves.
- Skink - a quiet, clumsy small green skink prone to accidents.
- Eagle - an occasional appearance by a wedge-tailed eagle, briefly speaking in "Seeking A Legend" before pursuing Currawong.
- Silky (voiced by Marg Downey) - female grey kangaroo and Benni's spouse.
- Warri and Bindi - mischievous pups of Mrs. Dingo learning to evade Trappers targeting dingos.
- Whip Bird - Thowra’s informant bird who enjoys teasing Arrow, ending his remarks with "WHIP!"
- Kookaburra (voiced by Marg Downey)
- Gang Gangs - boisterous birds known for spreading rumors and being the first to alert danger in the High Country.
- Benni and Silky’s daughter - a joey injured in a dingo trap, cared for by the Old Prospector and reluctant to leave him after healing.
- Mrs. Wombat - Wombat’s wife.
- Baby Wombats - the couple’s two young children.
- Razorback - a wild pig threatening local wildlife; wounds Golden but is driven into the sea by Mopoke and Gang Gangs; ultimate fate unknown.
- Lion - an African lion escaped from a circus after a transport accident; hunted native animals until captured by Thowra and returned to captivity; initially fierce but mellowed in confinement.
- Spider - a house spider frustrated by brumbies destroying his webs.
- Bunyip - an inhabitant of Misty Lake who appears intimidating but is actually a gentle trickster.
Humans
- The Man (voiced by Richard Aspel) - an unnamed individual living mainly in his High Country cabin. He persistently attempts to capture brumbies, particularly Thowra, while riding his black horse Echo. Although initially determined, he develops respect for Thowra’s elusive nature and gains gratitude after being rescued from an avalanche by Thowra and Boon-Boon.
- The Prospector (voiced by Edward Hepple) - a knowledgeable, kind-hearted bushman who pans for gold and helps local animals whenever he can.
- Charlie - Don’s son and the Prospector’s grandson; a compassionate, lively boy devoted to the bush and its creatures. His horse is Snowy, a white stallion with a gray mane.
- The Trappers - two inept men who trap and shoot animals, primarily dingos. They capture Currawong and Mopoke but are driven away by the Man, who frees the birds. After becoming lost, they leave the High Country but briefly return in an attempt to recapture a circus lion.
- Don - Charlie’s father and son-in-law of the Prospector; a stockman focused on hunting brumbies for profit. He clashes with the Prospector and fails to recognize Charlie’s dissatisfaction with this lifestyle.
- Charlie’s mother - Don’s wife and daughter of the Prospector; mentioned only once without ever appearing.
- Bob - a friend of the Man and fellow stockman involved in brumby hunts, operating out of Dead Horse Hut.
- Anne - a sensible young woman who skis on High Country winter trails. Alongside Tom, she witnesses Thowra and later helps guide the Man in rescuing an injured Tom.
- Tom - a young skier who spots Thowra but sustains injuries while trying to approach him. Thowra and Boon-Boon assist in his rescue.
Animation
The Silver Brumby stood out as one of the pioneering animated television series to utilize digital ink-and-paint methods instead of the conventional cel animation, representing an early evolution in animation production processes.
Season 1 (1996–97)
| # | Title | Summary | Air date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Friends of the High Country | Thowra forms a bond with Boon Boon and strives to shield his herd from the Man, who captures two foals. Brolga chases Thowra while Arrow confronts him solo. | 29 October 1996 |
| 2 | Wombats to the Rescue | Arrow attempts to free the captured foals but is caught alongside Storm by the Man. Thowra calls upon wombats to aid in their liberation. | 5 November 1996 |
| 3 | Lost in the Snow | Children Tom and Anne become lost during skiing; Thowra guides Anne toward the Man for help. | 30 November 1996 |
| 4 | Flight To Freedom | The Man renews his hunt for wild horses; Thowra, Boon Boon, Storm, Arrow, and Brolga collaborate to avoid capture. | 7 December 1996 |
| 5 | An Old Prospector Saves a Friend | Trappers set perilous dingo traps; the Prospector assists animals including Benni and Silky’s injured offspring. | 19 December 1996 |
| 6 | Benni Returns the Favour | Benni retrieves her daughter from the Prospector’s care. Thowra narrowly escapes pursuit by the Man; after the Prospector falls, Benni requests Thowra to lead the Man to him. | 20 December 1996 |
| 7 | Racing against the Wind | Racehorse Ebony challenges Thowra; after avoiding the Man but encountering Brolga, Ebony and Thowra join forces to escape together. | 4 January 1997 |
| 8 | The Sight of Golden | The Man introduces a Palomino filly named Golden, capturing Thowra’s interest. With Storm’s assistance, Golden is released into the wild. | 19 January 1997 |
| 9 | Golden in Trouble | Golden adjusts to life in the wild but faces attempts at recapture by the Man; Thowra intervenes to distract him. | 5 March 1997 |
| 10 | A Wombat on the Road | Bulldozer crews clear land causing environmental harm; the Prospector resolves conflicts and rescues Wombat’s lost son. | 10 March 1997 |
| 11 | Fire | Trappers return sparking a fire that traps Arrow; Thowra saves him and emus before rain puts out the flames. | 20 March 1997 |
| 12 | Golden Goes Home | A razorback boar menaces cattle; Golden returns to the Man for protection while animals repel the boar. | 3 April 1997 |
| 13 | Seeking a Legend | IIinga pursues legendary Thowra; after provoking Brolga against him, IIinga falls into a river during their battle overseen by Thowra. | 10 April 1997 |
Season 2 (1997)
| # | Title | Summary | Air Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | Spring | Thowra senses he is being followed and rescues Arrow from Brolga. The follower turns out to be an orphaned foal, Yooralla, whom Thowra adopts. | 10 September 1997 |
| 15 | To Catch a Brumby | Thowra raises Yooralla and introduces him to the high country. The Prospector's son captures Boon Boon, prompting Thowra's rescue mission. | 11 September 1997 |
| 16 | Swimming to Safety | Charlie liberates Boon Boon, and Thowra leads her to safety on an island while awaiting Arrow's rescue. | 12 September 1997 |
| 17 | A Leap into Legend | Mrs. Dingo's son Warri disappears; Thowra and companions locate him in a hidden valley later used to evade the Man. | 13 September 1997 |
| 18 | Charlie Heads for the Mountains | Charlie becomes stranded on a cliff; Thowra calls upon the Prospector for assistance. | 14 September 1997 |
| 19 | Charlie Helps a Friend | Yooralla encounters danger during a storm but is saved by Charlie and the Old Prospector. | 15 September 1997 |
| 20 | In it Together | Currawong and Mopoke are trapped by two trappers. | 16 September 1997 |
| 21 | Trappers Go Home
Thowra and Benni lead High Country animals in driving out trappers permanently. ||17 September 1997 | ||
| '22 ' | 'A Wombat in Trouble ' | One of Wombat's babies is hurt by a trapper's jeep; Charlie brings him to his grandfather for treatment. | 28 September 1997 |
| '23 ' | 'Wombat Goes on a Holiday ' | The Wombats return from vacation to assist a new brumby, Gunda, and save Thowra from Brolga. | 18 September 1997 |
| '24 ' | 'Arrow Makes a Friend ' | Yooralla and Gunda reunite; Arrow inadvertently rescues them from Brolga. | 19 September 1997 |
| '25 ' | 'Arrow Goes South ' | Arrow and Yooralla pursue migrating Gunda while escaping pursuit by the Man. | 20 September 1997 |
| '26 ' | 'Golden Returns ' | Golden comes back, escapes again, finds Thowra, and together they save trappers from a hot air balloon accident. | 21 September 1997 |
Season 3 (1998)
| # | Title | Summary | Air Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | Long Hot Summer | Currawong accidentally shatters the Man's mirror, triggering a fire; with Currawong's assistance, Thowra and his companions come to Golden's aid. | 1 August 1998 |
| 28 | An Unwelcome Stranger | An escaped lion causes alarm among the animals; Thowra captures it and helps guide it back to its home. | 3 August 1998 |
| 29 | Foals in Trouble | Yooralla and Yuri become trapped in a gorge flooding until lightning breaks the dam; a subsequent lightning strike causes Currawong and Mopoke to temporarily exchange bodies. | 5 August 1998 |
| 30 | The Brolga Wants a Fight | Brolga pauses his confrontation with Thowra to assist Aranda, following directions from Mopoke. | 10 August 1998 |
| 31 | Charlie Saves the Brumbies | Arrow is pursued by Brolga but unintentionally aids Charlie in preventing the capture of the brumbies. | 16 August 1998 |
| 32 | Emus Get a Break | Following an encounter with an Echidna, an emu lays an egg that surprisingly contains a gold nugget. | 19 August 1998 |
| 33 | Trapped in the Snow | The Man’s prized bull escapes and runs amok until Thowra helps recapture it. | 20 August 1998 |
| 34 | Youngsters' Winter Woes | Yooralla and Narrabri become trapped on ice while Wombat is stranded on a frozen lake; Thowra rescues all three. | 25 August 1998 |
| 35 | An Unexpected Encounter | Arrow faces difficulties during a severe winter as the Prospector becomes snowbound; later, Thowra seeks assistance to help Arrow. | 29 August 1998 |
| '36' | 'The Cave of Wonder' | After an earthquake, Arrow takes refuge in a waterfall cave to evade the Man; Thowra pursues his destiny while wombats unintentionally assist in escaping from Brolga. | 1 September 1998 |
| '37' | 'A Bothersome Nuisance' | A disrespectful brumby challenges Boon Boon for mating rights but is driven away by Brolga after encountering the Man. | 9 September 1998 |
| '38' | 'Getting Together' | Arrow leads the herd to Misty Lake where they come across a mysterious Bunyip; Currawong informs Brolga who then vows revenge. | 11 September 1998 |
| '39' | 'The Final Encounter' | Brolga challenges Thowra over Boon Boon, provoking jealousy in Arrow; Thowra triumphs and expels Brolga from the High Country. | 17 September 1998 |
Home media
In 2006, the Complete Series 1 DVD was made available, while Volumes 1 through 6 were released on VHS exclusively in Australia by Roadshow Entertainment in 1997. The Animated Adventures of The Silver Brumby has not been fully issued on DVD; as of April 2011, only the first series along with one bonus episode from series two have been released on Region 4 DVD. Additionally, nine episodes have been distributed on Region 2 DVD format.