The Magic Roundabout is a British animated television series that was first aired in 1964. It featured a group of anthropomorphic characters who lived in a roundabout. Each character had their own unique personalities and quirks, making the show entertaining and popular among both children and adults. The success of the original series led to the creation of a feature film adaptation in 2005, simply called "The Magic Roundabout." The film was a unique blend of computer animation and live-action footage, which further added to its appeal. "The Magic Roundabout" revolves around the character of Dougal, a shaggy dog, and his friends: Florence, a kind-hearted young girl; Ermintrude, a sassy cow; Dylan, a hippie rabbit; and Brian, a snail who moves at a surprisingly fast pace.
The horrified villagers, who are all animals, call upon Zebedee for help. He explains that the roundabout was a mystical prison for Zeebad. With it broken, Zeebad is free to work his magic on the world again as he once did before by starting the Ice Age. The only way to stop Zeebad freezing the world is by collecting three magic diamonds (one of which is supposed to be hidden on the roundabout, while the other two are hidden at separate locations far beyond the village). Slotting the diamonds onto the roundabout will re-imprison Zeebad and undo his magic, but if Zeebad retrieves them first then their power will allow him to freeze the Sun itself. Zebedee sends Dougal, Brian the cynical snail, Ermintrude the opera-singing cow and Dylan the hippie rabbit, to accomplish this mission along with a magic train. Meanwhile, Zeebad crash lands after escaping the roundabout, and animates the Foot Guard figurine, Sam the Soldier, to help him find the enchanted diamonds. Meanwhile, Zebedee's fellowship makes camp in the icy mountains. Dougal wanders off during the night and is captured by Zeebad. Ermintrude breaks him out of his prison. Zebedee then shows up to battle Zeebad but loses the battle with Zeebad freezing him and collapsing the cliff on which he stands.
Zeebad, after having abandoned Sam the Soldier to die wounded in the snow, beats the gang to the now-frozen village, but is unable to find the third diamond anywhere. This task takes them to a lava-bordered volcano and an ancient temple filled with booby-traps and evil skeleton guards, but Zeebad captures both the diamonds from these respective locations; leaving the only hope of stopping Zeebad by getting back to the roundabout and to the final diamond before Zeebad does.
"The Magic Roundabout" revolves around the character of Dougal, a shaggy dog, and his friends: Florence, a kind-hearted young girl; Ermintrude, a sassy cow; Dylan, a hippie rabbit; and Brian, a snail who moves at a surprisingly fast pace. These characters embark on a magical adventure to save their world from an evil sorcerer named Zeebad. The film introduced new elements to the original series, such as a more modern setting and updated character designs.
The nagic roundabout 2005
THE HOUND
british toon
news & chatter
TV TOONS
animated series
TOON MAKERS
animation studios
& people
IT'S A PUPPET!
string, hand
& finger puppets
COMICS
characters, strips
& comic books
TOON GODS
British animators
& illustrators
Oh calamity! - Daft Dougal has accidentally freed Zebadee's nemesis from
the confines of the Magic Roundabout. Now Florence is a captive, Dougal's
been sent to Coventry, and unless Brian, Dylan and Ermintrude can recover
three magic diamonds, Zeebad will plunge the world into a perpetual ice age.
It's the Magic Garden here, but not as we used to know it. The red, white
and blue of the original has been dipped in naturalistic hues, and Dougal
ripples along on airbrushed waves. It's all been programmed by Dave
Borthwick's bolexbrothers, in an Anglo-French alliance based in Bristol
and Marseilles. Pre-production commenced in June 2001, but the project
wasn't properly ramped up until October 2002, when Pathe Pictures
fanfared the feature for the world's press.
. The reimagining is completed by a star-studded voice cast, replacing
Eric Thompson's original narration and characterisation. At the 2003
Animated Encounters event, in Bristol, the producers revealed that rocker
Ozzy Osbourne was once considered for the lead role. In the end we got
pop-rocker Robbie Williams as Dougal, playing opposite pop-princess
Kylie Minogue, as Florence. Kylie also provides sings the catchy title song.
A second notable voice change was that of Zeebad. Richard O'Brien was the
first star touted for this villainous role, but Tom Baker is the voice on the
finished film.
» "The Magic Roundabout" opened 10th February 2005 across the UK.
De Gaulle=Dougal=Doogal
In the UK, "The Magic Roundabout" is something of a teatime institution.
In America, however, the series' pedigree is unknown. Thus, in the twelve
months between the British and American releases for the film, a whole
garden's worth of changes have been undertaken.
Initially, the movie was to have been retitled "Sprung: The Magic Roundabout".
But instead, the American distributors - the Weinstein Co. - have taken their
title from that of our droll star. Only spelt different. It's now called "Doogal".
And there are voice changes a-plenty. Chevy Chase, Jimmy Fallon, Whoopi
Goldberg, William H Macy, Kevin Smith and Jon Stewart have taken over the
mike ahead of our lesser known Brits. Ian McKellen is still there, though.
But Judi Dench has skipped in too, from somewhere, and the distributors
tells us that the film is from the creators of "The Fairly Odd Parents".
How fitting that a French series, which was re-cut and shaped by us Brits
should now be recut and reshaped by those pesky Americans. Why, the
Roundabout's turned full circle - what? what?
» "Doogal" opens in the USA on 24th February 2006.
Here in the UK, there were licensing tie-ins a-plenty when the film launched.
Most notably from Vivid Imagination (plush toys, talking toys and beanies),
Blueprint (stationery) and Thornton's (scrummy chocolates!). Plus there was
the almost inevitable Kellog's promotion, with free pen-toppers being made
available in special packs of "Rice Krispies" and others.
In the news
The Hound: April 2005 The Hound: May 2003
Time for a Birthday cake. A magic villain revealed.
The Hound: December 2004 The Hound: October 2002
Zebadee in your cereal. A magic film is announced.
Path� Pictures/Magic Rights Limited/M Danot
Based on the characters created by Serge Danot
directors: Frank Passingham, Dave Borthwick, Jean Duval
producers: Andy Leighton, Laurent Rodon, Pascal Rodon
writers: Paul Bassett, Tad Safran,
Stephane Sanoussi & Raolf Sanoussi
music: Mark Thomas
Magic Roundabout theme sung by Kylie Minogue
voices: Robbie Williams (Dougal)
Kylie Minogue (Florence)
Ian McKellen (Zebadee)
Tom Baker (Zeebad)
Jim Broadbent (Brian)
Bill Nighy (Dylan)
Joanna Lumley (Ermintrude)
Ray Winstone (Soldier Sam)
Lee Evans (Train)
On the web
The Magic Roundabout
The UK film site, sprung-loaded with info, clips, downloads, etc.
Doogal
THE US film site, with all those changes.
bolexbrothers
Dave Borthwick and company's studio site.
The plot follows the dog Dougal (Robbie Williams) as he enjoys his life in the village with his friends and his owner Florence (Kylie Minogue). One day, he accidentally crashes his cart into the titular magic roundabout in the center of town. This causes the evil Zeebad (Tom Baker) to escape and threatens to usher the world into a new Ice Age with his powers. With the threat looming, wizard Zebedee (Ian McKellen) sends Dougal and his friends off to a wide-spanning quest to find three diamonds that, once collected, can imprison Zeebad back in his place.
It also had an impressive voice cast, with notable actors such as Robbie Williams, Kylie Minogue, and Jim Broadbent providing their voices to the characters. "The Magic Roundabout" received positive reviews from critics and was a commercial success. The film's unique animation style and witty humor appealed to audiences of all ages. It also introduced the beloved characters to a new generation who may not have been familiar with the original series. Overall, "The Magic Roundabout" 2005 film brought new life to the beloved characters and showcased their enduring appeal. It remains a cherished part of British animation history and continues to be enjoyed by viewers of all ages. Whether you're a long-time fan of the series or discovering it for the first time, "The Magic Roundabout" offers a magical and entertaining experience..
Reviews for "From TV Series to Film: The Making of The Magic Roundabout 2005"
1. John - ★☆☆☆☆
I found "The Magic Roundabout 2005" to be a complete waste of time. The storyline was convoluted and confusing, lacking any coherence. The characters were poorly developed, and I felt no emotional connection to any of them. The animation was subpar, with jerky movements and lackluster visuals. Overall, I was highly disappointed by this film and would not recommend it to anyone looking for an enjoyable animated movie.
2. Emily - ★★☆☆☆
"The Magic Roundabout 2005" had the potential to be a charming and entertaining movie, but it fell flat for me. The plot felt disjointed and rushed, leaving significant gaps in the narrative. The humor felt forced and fell short in eliciting any genuine laughs. While the voice acting was decent, it couldn't save the poorly written script. I was left feeling unsatisfied and disengaged throughout the entire film.
3. Sarah - ★★☆☆☆
I was expecting "The Magic Roundabout 2005" to be a fun and whimsical animated movie, but it didn't live up to my expectations. The storyline meandered aimlessly, making it difficult to follow and engage with. The characters lacked depth and development, leaving the viewer indifferent towards their outcomes. Additionally, the animation felt outdated and uninspired. Overall, I found this film to be underwhelming and would not recommend it to others.
4. Michael - ★☆☆☆☆
"The Magic Roundabout 2005" was one of the most disappointing animated movies I have ever seen. The plot was incredibly weak, with no clear direction or purpose. The humor was juvenile and unoriginal, relying on cheap gags that fell flat. The animation was lackluster, lacking the attention to detail and fluidity found in other animated films. I found myself losing interest quickly and struggled to stay engaged till the end. Avoid this film if you're looking for a quality animated experience.
5. Jennifer - ★★☆☆☆
"The Magic Roundabout 2005" was a forgettable and uninspiring film. The plot lacked depth and failed to captivate my interest. The humor felt forced and predictable, leaving me unamused. The animation, while decent, was nothing exceptional or groundbreaking. Overall, this movie failed to leave a lasting impression, and I wouldn't recommend it to others who are looking for an animated film that stands out.