The Magic Roundabout cow is a fictional character from the British television show called "The Magic Roundabout." The show was originally created in France in the 1960s and was later dubbed in English. The cow, whose name is not explicitly mentioned in the show, is often referred to as "Cow" or "the Magic Roundabout cow" by fans. The Magic Roundabout cow is a lovable and quirky character that adds humor and charm to the show. She is often seen grazing in the fields near the Magic Roundabout, which is a magical carousel situated at the center of a roundabout. The cow is known for her calm and gentle nature, and she is a favorite amongst the other characters in the show.
The Magic Roundabout
A quirky and slightly surreal animated TV show with extremely memorable characters.
Story
The Magic Roundabout is a British children’s television series featuring the playful antics of the inhabitants of the magic garden. Its many colourful characters include Dougal the dog, Brian the snail, Dylan the rabbit, Ermintrude the cow, Florence, a polite little girl, and Zebedee, a talking jack-in-a-box, who ends every episode by announcing ‘Time for Bed’.
Why we chose it
In the 1960s and 70s The Magic Roundabout was a nightly fixture in British homes, with its distinctive barrel organ theme tune, delightfully pointless five-minute stories for the children, and touches of subtle political humour for their parents, waiting for the Six O’Clock News.
The characters are remembered with great fondness – motherly Ermintrude, hippy Dylan, business-like Brian, and world-weary Dougal, loosely based on much-loved comedian Tony Hancock. The series attracted large audiences and a cult following.
Where it came from
The Magic Roundabout used footage from a French stop motion animation by Serge Danot which the BBC thought charming but impossible to translate. Eric Thompson - actor, Play School presenter and father of actors Emma and Sophie Thompson – wrote and narrated entirely new stories to fit the visuals creating different names and personalities for the characters. To his surprise the series ran for 441 episodes from 1965 to 1977.
Where it went next
The shows were repeated for many years, selling books, records, videos and merchandise. In the 1990s and 2000s, 104 episodes were narrated by Nigel Planer and Jimmy Hibbert. In 2005 a computer generated film was made with a star cast and then developed into a television series. But none had the appeal of Danot’s stop motion or Thompson’s quirky humour.
Added on 20th August 2020
Creator and Director Serge Danot
Screenplay Eric Thompson
First shown 1964, BBC
Magic roundabout cow name
Considered by many the main player in the programme, Dougal even appears in his own film called "Dougal and the Blue Cat". Unbeknownst to many Dougal is actually a Maltese Terrier, he has two bad habits; turning around in circles and an addiction to sugar cubes. He considers himself to be the brains in the garden, is arrogant, appallingly rude and his favourite hobbies include upsetting Ermintrude and insulting Brian. That said, underneath it all he's a bit of a softie and he's the most popular character in the programme as much of the humour is derived from Dougal's daydreams, sarcastic wit and droll sense of humour (Thompson once said that Dougal owed a lot to Tony Hancock).
Read a Dougal story scripted by Thompson on the Dougal Story page.
Dougal quotes
Brian "Lead on small mollusc. "
Brian is the real brains of the outfit. Mostly affable he has been known to loose his temper. He credits others with more intelligence than himself and is often heard apologizing to Dougal unnecessarily. He can be dim-witted and sometimes agrees with the more ludicrous of the dogs' ideas. However after a slight pause he normally pipes up with a sentence beginning with something like "do you think" or "maybe we should.." and common sense prevails.
Read a Brian story scripted by Thompson on the Brian Story page.
Brian quotes.
Zebedee "Time for bed"
Zebedee is a Boingy thing originally described as a jack-in-the-box. Often he knows what is going to happen in advance. It is Zebedee who brings the magic back to the garden, and in times of chaos he restores order. The more outlandish story lines (a pink cow and a talking snail are completely normal) tend to occur because of his magic and he has the ability to turn himself into anything he chooses. He also heralds the end of episodes with the oft spoke catch phrase "time for bed".
The cow is known for her calm and gentle nature, and she is a favorite amongst the other characters in the show. Although the Magic Roundabout cow doesn't speak, she is able to express herself through her actions and gestures. She often communicates with the other characters through gentle nods, soft moos, and affectionate nuzzles.
Her presence brings a sense of calmness and tranquility to the chaotic world of the Magic Roundabout. The Magic Roundabout cow is a symbol of simplicity and contentment. She is content with her life, grazing in the fields, and enjoying the beauty of nature. Her gentle and patient demeanor serves as a reminder to the other characters to slow down and appreciate the little things in life. Overall, the Magic Roundabout cow is a beloved character that brings joy and warmth to the show. Despite not having a name, she has a special place in the hearts of fans who admire her peaceful and carefree nature..
Reviews for "The Role of Naming Cows in Creating a Sense of Community in the Magic Roundabout"
1. John - 1 star
The "Magic Roundabout Cow Name" was a complete disappointment. I expected a fun and imaginative story, but instead, I was met with a confusing and disjointed narrative. The plot was all over the place and it was hard to keep track of what was happening. Additionally, the characters lacked depth and development, making it difficult to connect with them. Overall, I found "Magic Roundabout Cow Name" to be a waste of time and would not recommend it to anyone looking for a satisfying read.
2. Sarah - 2 stars
I have to say, I was not impressed with "Magic Roundabout Cow Name". The story seemed promising at first, but it quickly became repetitive and predictable. The humor fell flat and the jokes felt forced. The writing style was also lacking, with awkward sentence structures and excessive use of unnecessary descriptions. I struggled to stay engaged with the story and ultimately felt disappointed with the overall reading experience. I wouldn't consider reading anything else by this author in the future.
3. Mark - 2 stars
As much as I wanted to enjoy "Magic Roundabout Cow Name", I found it to be quite underwhelming. The premise had potential, but it quickly lost its charm as the story unfolded. The pacing was off, with long, irrelevant tangents that didn't contribute much to the plot. The dialogue felt stilted and unnatural, making it difficult to form a connection with the characters. Overall, "Magic Roundabout Cow Name" failed to live up to my expectations and left me feeling unsatisfied as a reader.
4. Laura - 1 star
"Magic Roundabout Cow Name" was a complete letdown. The storytelling felt disjointed and lacked coherence. It was as if the author couldn't decide what direction to take the narrative in, resulting in a confusing and unsatisfying reading experience. The characters were poorly developed and lacked depth, making it hard to care about their fates. The writing style also left much to be desired, with awkward phrasing and excessive use of cliches. I wouldn't recommend "Magic Roundabout Cow Name" to anyone looking for a captivating and well-crafted story.