Login
Login

Bananas in Pyjamas

{{short description|Australian children's television series}}

{{Pp-vandalism|small=yes}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}

{{Use Australian English|date=September 2013}}

{{Infobox television

| image = Bananas_in_Pyjamas_1992_Logo.png

| runtime = 5 minutes

| creator = Helena Harris

| producer = {{Unbulleted list|Helena Harris (showrunner, 1992–94)|Tammy Burnstock (1994–1995)|Virginia Lumsden (1995-1999)|Mark Barnard (1999)|Sophie Emtage (2001)}}

| executive_producer = {{Unbulleted list|Claire Henderson (1992–94)|Mark Barnard (1995/96)|Virginia Lumsden (1999–2001)}}

| director = {{Unbulleted list|Roger Bayley|Sophia Turkiewicz|Tony Tilse|Di Drew|David Caesar|Paul Faint|Karin Kreicers|Ian Munro|Michael Ailwood|Varcha Sidwell|Virginia Lumsden|David Evans|Richard Walker}}

| starring = {{Unbulleted list|Benjamin Baylock|Mary-Ann Henshaw|Michael James|Sandie Lillingston|Shane McNamara|Nicholas Opolski|Taylor Owynns|Ken Radley|Jeremy Scrivener|Duncan Wass}}

| narrated = Karina Kelly

| composer = {{Unbulleted list|Chris Harriott (1992–99)|Peter Dasent (2001)}}

| theme_music_composer = Carey Blyton

| opentheme = Bananas in Pyjamas by Trapaga Vocal Group

| endtheme = Bananas in Pyjamas (instrumental)

| country = Australia

| language = English

| company = Australian Broadcasting Corporation

| network = ABC-TV

| location = ABC Studios

| first_aired = {{Start date|1992|7|20|df=yes}}

| last_aired = {{End date|2001|12|14|df=yes}}

| num_series = 6

| num_episodes = 304

| list_episodes = List of Bananas in Pyjamas episodes

}}

Bananas in Pyjamas is an Australian children's television series that first aired on 20 July 1992 on ABC. It has since been syndicated in many countries and dubbed into other languages. In the United States, the "Pyjamas" in the title was modified to reflect the American spelling pajamas. It aired in syndication from 1995 to 1997 as a half-hour series, then became a 15-minute show paired with a short-lived 15-minute series The Crayon Box, under a 30-minute block produced by Sachs Family Entertainment titled Bananas in Pajamas & The Crayon Box. Additionally, the characters and a scene from the show were featured in the Kids for Character sequel titled Kids for Character: Choices Count. The pilot episode was Pink Mug.

The concept was inspired by the success of the song Bananas in Pyjamas, written by Carey Blyton in 1967, on Play School.{{Cite web |title=Bananas in Pyjamas |url=http://www.pluslicens.se/index.php/site/characters_details/bananas_in_pyjamas_characters/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100818161733/http://www.pluslicens.se/index.php/site/characters_details/bananas_in_pyjamas_characters/ |archive-date=2010-08-18 |access-date=2010-05-08 |website=Plus Licens Ab}}{{Cite web |title=About |url=http://www.abc.net.au/children/bananas/about/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100519053516/http://www.abc.net.au/children/bananas/about/ |archive-date=2010-05-19 |access-date=2010-05-08 |website=Bananas in Pyjamas |publisher=ABC Television}} This song, which had become a regular item on Play School, became the theme of the new series. The series was revamped in May 2011 as a CGI animated series created by Southern Star Entertainment.

Summary

The main characters are two anthropomorphic bananas named B1 and B2. Other characters include the three teddy bears Amy, Lulu and Morgan, and Rat in a Hat. The bananas, the teddies and Rat in a Hat all live in the same neighbourhood, a cul-de-sac called "Cuddles Avenue". The bananas live next to the beach and serve as beach patrol. The teddies live next to and look after the park. Rat in a Hat works and lives at the community store. The characters enjoy eating "munchy honeycakes" and "yellow jelly".

Production

=Inspiration=

The characters were inspired by a 1969 song written for children by British composer Carey Blyton (nephew of renowned children's author Enid Blyton). The jaunty song describes (an unspecified number of) bananas in pyjamas chasing teddy bears, with a slight twist at the end where a musical sting emphasises that the bananas like to "catch them unawares". The song was shown on the Australian version of Play School for many years accompanied by an animation depicting pairs of bananas in blue-and-white striped pyjamas. This led to a "banana" plush toy being created as part of the "toy cast", which formed the basis of the physical appearance of B1 and B2.

=Filming=

Creator, producer and showrunner Helena Harris devised the content of the ABC program at ABC Studios. Two of the bear characters, Amy and Morgan, are named after Helena Harris' children.{{Cite news |last=Wood |first=Patrick |date=2017-07-20 |title=Bananas in Pyjamas creator and original stars reflect on 25 years of chasing teddies |publisher=ABC News|location=Australia |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-07-20/bananas-in-pyjamas-creator-reflects-on-25th-anniversary/8722884 |url-status=live |access-date=2017-10-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171006175826/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-07-20/bananas-in-pyjamas-creator-reflects-on-25th-anniversary/8722884 |archive-date=2017-10-06}} The show was performed using human actors in elaborate costumes, in the style of the British Tweenies and Teletubbies. In the show's early days, the voices of the bananas were provided by the same actors as were inside the costume, but the original actors eventually gave up that aspect of the show and substitutes wore the hot, stuffy costumes. The show aired new episodes from its 1992 debut to its eventual run in syndication in 2002. The show aired approximately three hundred episodes as well as four specials. Its debut in the United States was in 1995. It made videos and other media from 1995 to 1999. A toy line, developed by Tomy, debuted in 1996.

Animated version

{{Infobox television

| image =

| runtime = 12 minutes

| creator = Helena Harris

| producer = Jacqueline Chan

| executive_producer = {{Unbulleted list|Noel Price|Barbara Uecker}}

| writer = {{Unbulleted list|John Armstrong|Kym Goldsworthy|Holly Lyons|Kevin Nemeth}}

| director = Craig Handley

| starring = {{Unbulleted list|Sophie Aldred (UK Version)|Isabella Dunwill|Richard McCourt|Shane McNamara|Troy Planet (AU Version)|Stephen Shanahan|Ines Vaz de Sousa|Dominic Wood|Daniel Wyllie}}

| narrated =

| composer = Chris Harriott

| theme_music_composer = Carey Blyton

| opentheme = Bananas in Pyjamas by Rebecca Lavelle

| endtheme = Bananas in Pyjamas (instrumental)

| country = Australia

| language = English

| company = Southern Star Group

| network = ABC2

| first_aired = {{Start date|2011|5|2|df=yes}}

| last_aired = {{End date|2013|7|22|df=yes}}

| num_series = 3

| num_episodes = 156

| list_episodes = List of Bananas in Pyjamas episodes

}}

On 2 May 2011, a reboot of Bananas in Pyjamas, produced by Southern Star Entertainment in full CGI, was premiered on ABC2 in Australia; it was shown in other countries soon after that date. It contains new songs, stories, and characters, including Topsy the cheeky kangaroo, Charlie the inventive monkey and Bernard the wise old dog. Development of the new series commenced in 2009, and production started in early 2010. The new series contains 104 12-minute episodes.{{Cite web |title=Bananas in Pyjamas |url=http://www.abc.net.au/abcforkids/shows/s2948119.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110512033747/http://www.abc.net.au/abcforkids/shows/s2948119.htm |archive-date=12 May 2011 |access-date=2011-04-29 |website=ABC for Kids |publisher=ABC Television }}{{failed verification |date=March 2021}}{{Cite web |last=Valecha |first=Amrita |date=2011-03-15 |title=Southern Star and ABC Australia to launch Bananas in Pyjamas in May 2011 |url=http://www.axapac.com/news/southern-star-and-abc-australia-launch-bananas-pyjamas-may-2011 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110320214107/http://www.axapac.com/news/southern-star-and-abc-australia-launch-bananas-pyjamas-may-2011 |archive-date=2011-03-20 |access-date=2011-04-29 |website=AnimationXpress AsiaPacific}}

Characters

=Main characters=

  • B1 the Banana: Duncan Wass (1992), Ken Radley (1993–2001), Michael James (2001), and then Stephen Shanahan (2011–13),{{cite web|title=Stephen Shanahan Bio|url=http://www.rmk.com.au/stephen_shanahan/|publisher=RMK Voices|access-date=20 May 2013|archive-date=13 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130413022746/http://www.rmk.com.au/stephen_shanahan/|url-status=live}} Richard McCourt (2011–13)
  • B2 the Banana: Nicholas Opolski (1992–2001), Benjamin Blaylock (2001), and then Daniel Wyllie, Dominic Wood (2011–13)
  • Amy the Teddy Bear: Sandie Lillingston (1992), Mary-Ann Henshaw (1993–2001), and then Isabella Dunwill (2011–13)
  • Lulu the Teddy Bear: Taylor Owynns (1992–2001), Monica Trapaga (Bananas in Pyjamas (album release)),{{cite news |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/118157731?browse=ndp%3Abrowse%2Ftitle%2FC%2Ftitle%2F11%2F1994%2F03%2F13%2Fpage%2F13352698%2Farticle%2F118157731 |title=BANANA TIME!. |newspaper=The Canberra Times |date=13 March 1994 |access-date=14 July 2019 |page=1 (Junior Times) |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=28 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220428175653/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/118157731?browse=ndp:browse/title/C/title/11/1994/03/13/page/13352698/article/118157731 |url-status=live }} Sandie Lillingston (Bumping and a-Jumping) and then Ines Vaz de Sousa (2011–13)
  • Morgan the Teddy Bear: Jeremy Scrivener (1992–2001), and then Troy Planet (AU Version),{{cite web|title=Troy Planet's Page|url=http://www.voiceoveruniverse.com/profile/TroyPlanet|publisher=Voiceover Universe|access-date=20 May 2013|archive-date=2 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402163305/http://www.voiceoveruniverse.com/profile/TroyPlanet|url-status=live}} Sophie Aldred (UK Version) (2011–13)
  • Rat in a Hat the Rat: Shane McNamara (1993–2013){{cite book | last=Terrace | first=Vincent| title=Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010, 2d ed. | publisher=McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers | series=Academic & Nonfiction Books anthology | issue=v. 3 | year=2014 | isbn=978-0-7864-8641-0 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YX_daEhlnbsC&pg=PA72 | access-date=9 September 2024 | page=72}}

=Recurring characters=

  • Bernard the Dog: Keith Buckley (2011–13)
  • Charlie the Monkey: Matthew Whittet (2011–13)
  • Kevin the Butterfly: Mal Heap (1992–2001)
  • Maggie the Magpie: Emma De Vries (1994–2001)
  • Mrs Rat the Rat: Georgina Symes (2011–13){{cite web|title=Georgina Symes|url=http://www.blah.com.au/search/detail.php?id=24|publisher=Your BlahVoice|access-date=20 May 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130410014001/http://www.blah.com.au/search/detail.php?id=24|archive-date=10 April 2013}}
  • Tolstoy the Tortoise: Emma De Vries (1996–2001) and then John Leary (2011–13){{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}
  • Tomasina the Turtle: David Collins (1999–2001) and then Meaghan Davies (2011–13)
  • Topsy the Kangaroo: Roslyn Oades (2011–13)

=Farm animals=

  • Farm Animals puppeteers: Mal Heap, Terry Ryan & Emma De Vries (2001)
  • Camembert the Cow: Taylor Sweeney and then Eliza Logan (2011–2013){{cite web|title=Eliza Logan Resume|url=http://www.open.aftrs.edu.au/tutor/1502|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130615210534/http://www.open.aftrs.edu.au/tutor/1502|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 June 2013|publisher=AFTRS|access-date=20 May 2013}}
  • Pedro the Pig: Michael Phillips and then Anthony O'Donohue (2011–2013){{cite web|title=Anthony O'Donohue profile|url=http://au.linkedin.com/pub/anthony-o-donohue/41/211/17b|publisher=LinkedIn|access-date=20 May 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130616011704/http://au.linkedin.com/pub/anthony-o-donohue/41/211/17b|archive-date=16 June 2013}}
  • Gregory the Chicken: Matthew Hudak
  • Peck the Duck: Aaron Oberst-Horner
  • Dolly the Sheep: Maura McGinley and then Olivia Pigeot (2011–2013)
  • Flash the Fish: Jacob Matta

Episodes

{{Main|List of Bananas in Pyjamas episodes}}

=Original series=

{{Series overview

| seriesT = Series

| color1 = #FF000

| link1 = List of Bananas in Pyjamas episodes#Series 1 (1992)

| episodes1 = 40

| start1 = {{Start date|1992|7|20|df=y}}

| end1 = {{End date|1992|9|11|df=y}}

| color2 = #FF000

| link2 = List of Bananas in Pyjamas episodes#Series 2 (1992) - Aired 1993

| episodes2 = 30

| start2 = {{Start date|1993|3|21|df=y}}

| end2 = {{End date|1993|4|30|df=y}}

| color3 = #FF000

| link3 = List of Bananas in Pyjamas episodes#Series 3 (1994)

| episodes3 = 30

| start3 = {{Start date|1994|9|26|df=y}}

| end3 = {{End date|1994|11|4|df=y}}

| color4 = #FF000

| link4 = List of Bananas in Pyjamas episodes#Series 4 (1996)

| episodes4 = 100

| start4 = {{Start date|1996|8|5|df=y}}

| end4 = {{End date|1996|12|20|df=y}}

| color5 = #FF000

| link5 = List of Bananas in Pyjamas episodes#Series 5 (1999)

| episodes5 = 20

| start5 = {{Start date|1999|11|22|df=y}}

| end5 = {{End date|1999|12|17|df=y}}

| color6 = #FF000

| link6 = List of Bananas in Pyjamas episodes#Series 6 (2001)

| episodes6 = 80

| start6 = {{Start date|2001|8|27|df=y}}

| end6 = {{End date|2001|12|14|df=y}}

}}

=Revived series=

{{Series overview

| seriesT = Series

| color1 = #FFF000

| link1 = List of Bananas in Pyjamas episodes#CGI Series 1 (2011)

| episodes1 = 52

| start1 = {{Start date|2011|5|2|df=y}}

| end1 = {{End date|2011|6|22|df=y}}

| color2 = #FFF000

| link2 = List of Bananas in Pyjamas episodes#CGI Series 2 (2012)

| episodes2 = 52

| start2 = {{Start date|2012|5|7|df=y}}

| end2 = {{End date|2012|6|27|df=y}}

| color3 = #FB5F86

| link3 = List of Bananas in Pyjamas episodes#CGI Series 3 (2013)

| episodes3 = 52

| start3 = {{Start date|2013|5|13|df=y}}

| end3 = {{End date|2013|7|22|df=y}}

}}

Home video releases

The series has been released to home video, originally for VHS, later also for DVD.

  • Birthday Special (1992)
  • Show Business (1993)
  • Hiccups (1993)
  • Monster Bananas (1994)
  • Big Parade (1994)
  • Special Delivery (1994)
  • Surf's Up (1995)
  • Wish Fairies (1995)
  • It's Music Time (1996)
  • Singing Time (1997)
  • Dress Ups (1997)
  • Bumping and a-Jumping (1998)
  • Holiday Time (1998)
  • Fun Time (1999)
  • Surprise Party (1999)
  • It's Games Time (2000)
  • Story Time (2000)
  • Rock-A-Bye Bananas (2001)
  • Summertime (2001)
  • Dancing Daze (2002)
  • Celebration (2002)
  • Farm Adventure (2003)
  • Beat Box (2003)

Discography

  • Bananas in Pyjamas (1993)
  • Live on Stage (1994)
  • Are You Thinking What I'm Thinking? Mix (1994)
  • It's Singing Time! (1996)
  • Bumping and a-Jumping (1997)
  • Cuddles Avenue Christmas (1997)
  • It's Show Time! (1998)
  • Get Up and Dance! (2000)
  • Banana Split Mix (2002)
  • The Fun Collection (2002)
  • Sing and Be Happy (2004)
  • Welcome to Cuddlestown (2011)
  • Playtime! (2012)
  • Best Of: Classic (2015)
  • 50 Best Songs: 25 Years! (2017)

=Charting singles=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

|+List of singles, with selected chart positions

! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title

! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year

! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart positions

scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| AUS
{{cite Ryan|page=70}}
scope="row"| "Bananas in Pyjamas"

| 1998

| 82

Cultural impact

The Bananas in Pyjamas were featured among other famous Australians during the parade of the 2000 Summer Olympics closing ceremony.{{cite web |url=http://www.tvmem.com/OZST/tv/B/BANANAIN/BANANASI.html |title=Bananas in Pyjamas |publisher=Australian Television Memorabilia Guide |access-date=17 November 2013 |archive-date=2 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180302164109/http://www.tvmem.com/OZST/tv/B/BANANAIN/BANANASI.html |url-status=live }}

In 2017, the Royal Australian Mint produced a commemorative set containing five-cent and 20-cent coins to mark the 25th anniversary of Bananas in Pyjamas. The five-cent coin, which is coloured for the first time, depicts Rat-in-a-Hat, while the twenty-cent coin depicts B1 and B2.{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-06-04/bananas-in-pyjamas-celebrate-25-years-with-new-coins/8587546|title=Bananas in Pyjamas: Royal Australian Mint celebrates 25 years of chasing teddies with new coins|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|first=Penny|last=Travers|newspaper=ABC News|date=4 June 2017|access-date=4 June 2017|archive-date=4 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170604110617/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-06-04/bananas-in-pyjamas-celebrate-25-years-with-new-coins/8587546|url-status=live}}

Awards and nominations

=APRA Music Awards=

class="wikitable"
Year

! Nominated works

! Award

! Result

! Ref

1995

|"We Like Wearing Pyjamas" (Franciscus Antheunis {{abbr|p.k.a.|performer known as}} Franciscus Henri)

|Most Performed Children's Work

|{{nominated}}

|{{center|{{cite web | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110308005422/http://www.apra-amcos.com.au/APRAAwards/MusicAwards/Nominations/Nominations1995.aspx | url-status = dead | url = http://www.apra-amcos.com.au/APRAAwards/MusicAwards/Nominations/Nominations1995.aspx | title = Nominations – 1995 | publisher = Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS) | archive-date = 8 March 2011 | access-date = 10 September 2018 }}}}

=ARIA Music Awards=

class="wikitable"
Year

! Nominated works

! Award

! Result

! Ref

1994

|Bananas in Pyjamas

|rowspan="2" |Best Children's Album

|{{nominated}}

|rowspan="2" | {{center|{{Citation | title = Best Children's Album | periodical = ARIA | url = http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history/award/best-children-s-album | access-date = 22 January 2019 | archive-date = 14 April 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190414112426/https://www.ariaawards.com.au/history/award/best-children-s-album | url-status = live }}}}

1996

|It's Singing Time!

|{{nominated}}

1999

|It's Show Time!

|Best Original Cast/Show Recording

|{{nominated}}

|{{center|{{Citation | title = Best Original Soundtrack, Cast or Show Album | periodical = ARIA | url = https://www.ariaawards.com.au/history/award/best-original-soundtrack-cast-show-album | access-date = 22 January 2019 | archive-date = 22 January 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190122145036/https://www.ariaawards.com.au/history/award/best-original-soundtrack-cast-show-album | url-status = live }}}}

2005

|Sing And Be Happy

|rowspan="2" |Best Children's Album

|{{nominated}}

|rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |

2012

|Playtime!

|{{nominated}}

=British Academy Children's Awards=

class="wikitable"
Year

! Nominated works

! Award

! Result

! Ref

1998

| Bananas in Pyjamas Special

| International

| {{nom}}

| align="center"|{{cite web|url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/1998/childrens|title=Children's in 1998|website=British Academy of Film and Television Arts|accessdate=19 February 2023|archive-date=8 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230308220735/http://awards.bafta.org/award/1998/childrens|url-status=live}}

=Logie Awards=

class="wikitable"
Year

! Nominated works

! Award

! Result

1996

|rowspan="2" |Bananas in Pyjamas

|Most Popular Children's Program

|{{nominated}}

2000

|Most Outstanding Children's Program

|{{nominated}}

See also

{{Portal|Television|Australia}}

References

{{commons category}}

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • [https://web.archive.org/web/19990224190427/http://www.abc.net.au/children/bananas/default.htm Bananas in Pyjamas – Original website]
  • [http://www.abc.net.au/bananasinpyjamas/ Bananas in Pyjamas – ABC TV]
  • {{IMDb title|0286342|Bananas in Pyjamas (TV Series 1992–2001)}}
  • {{IMDb title|1829088|Bananas in Pyjamas (TV Series 2011–)}}

{{Teddy bears}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bananas in Pyjamas}}

Category:1992 Australian television series debuts

Category:2001 Australian television series endings

Category:2010s Australian animated television series

Category:2011 animated television series debuts

Category:2011 Australian television series debuts

Category:2013 Australian television series endings

Category:1990s preschool education television series

Category:2000s preschool education television series

Category:2010s preschool education television series

Category:Animated preschool education television series

Category:Animated television series reboots

Category:Australian Broadcasting Corporation original programming

Category:Australian children's animated television series

Category:Australian children's television series

Category:Australian children's musical groups

Category:Australian computer-animated television series

Category:Australian preschool education television series

Category:Australian television shows featuring puppetry

Category:Bananas in popular culture

Category:Australian English-language television shows

Category:Fruit and vegetable characters

Category:Television series by Endemol Shine Australia

Category:Australian television series with live action and animation

Category:Animated television series about bears

Category:Animated television series about mice and rats

Category:Musical groups established in 1992