Le manège enchanté

What we've got here is a French series for very young children (from zero to seven or eight years, I'd say, although I'm not much of a judge of age categories). It's an immensely charming series which started out in France but gradually conquered large parts of the known world. I remember watching it as a child, and being absolutely delighted by it.

The series had much to recommend it : a variety of friendly and well-drawn characters, sweet songs, pleasant stories and a nice line in gentle wit. The various episodes were short, too, which turned them into ideal bedtime stories or sweet little treats.

Looked at from a 2019 perspective, the series has gained an additional charm : it's got a cosy, handmade feel to it, which contrasts nicely with all the computer-generated and/or decided-by-commission crap released nowadays. (One does not need much imagination to picture two or three Frenchmen in shirtsleeves carefully moving the dog Pollux, one meticulous millimetre after another, while discussing the merits of the 'coq au vin' in the local bistro. Meanwhile there's another Frenchman sitting on a nearby chair, smoking a cigarette and making cutting remarks about the latest presidential address.)

Mind you, I'm talking about the first and original "Magic Roundabout". The creation went through various later adaptations. I never saw one of those but I do know that both the tone and the look changed - and probably not for the better...

Originally made for European TV, this achieved cult status when finally screened in Britain thanks to Eric Thompson's narration. Yes, it was Emma Thompson's dad who turned this into such a smash and the whole thing was rejigged again in 1990 when Nigel Planer took the voice over duties.

Still great fun for those kids who have now grown up and are watching it with their own children.

The animation is simple but effective and Thompson's scripts are deliciously witty. His voices for ever pompous Dougal, the sugar- munching dog and cocky Brian the snail never fail to engage.

Other characters such as Florence, Ermintrude the cow and Dylan, the hippy rabbit help round out one of the finest kids shows ever.

Track down Dougal and the Blue Cat if you want some feature length fun. Failing that, the five minute adventures are great fillers.

I am old enough to remember coming home from kindergarten to be sat down in front of Dougal, Florence et-al, whilst my mother made lunch. I never quite understood why Zebedee was such a killjoy, "Time for bed" is not something any young child, excited by life wants to hear!. I also never got that Dylan was a hippie (and as we later surmised in college,permanently stoned!), I thought he was cool! I can still sing (or at least hum) the theme tune, and have gratefully introduced it years ago to my own two children as something that had enough inherent wit and charm (all kudos to Eric Thompson)to entertain both children and adults. Nothing terribly momentous usually happened to the characters. But there was a story with a beginning,a middle and an end, however strange! It portrayed an innocence sadly lacking in a lot of today's children's programming. Life was just fun. No agenda. No political correctness. Things just happened. Because they do. And Dougal's sugar addiction never sent him to Rehab! The animation was simple and charming, as were Eric Thompson's portrayal of the characters. Even when I, in later life, discovered that there was a French original, I was never inclined to watch it in French to find out what they were actually saying (despite speaking passable French and having enough French friends to find out what I couldn't understand). The Magic Roundabout stands for me with such charming child classics as Bagpuss, Trumpton Town,(see who remembers that British classic!)and Mr. Ben. All the colours of my childhood. Not shaded with cynicism. Enjoy!

It's great the way Eric Thompson added his own witty commentary to a French children's programme. That's what made it so good. He watched it with the sound turned off and devised his own narration in a manner similar to Woody Allen in "What's Up Tiger Lily". A lot of the humour was a bit too advanced for kids and a most of the jokes would have been lost on them but Mums and Dads enjoyed it and this is the reason for the programme's enduring popularity.

In the areas around a magic roundabout live Dougal, a sugar loving, rather pompous dog; Florence, his owner; Brian, a snail; Ermintrude, a cow; Dylan, a lazy and trippy rabbit and Zeebedee, a, well, "thing" with a spring instead of legs. Each episode this group have all manner of things happen around them – perhaps too small and unimportant to call them "adventures" but they are definitely interesting nonetheless.

Having spent my money and time watching the CGI film version, I thought I should just write some thoughts on the original. Like many people, it is hard to be concise about the original series because I never saw it when it first came out in the late sixties and instead joined it in the 1980's when it had already gained cult status; also now I have to watch it through the fog of childhood memories. However, watching it now it is clear why it engaged so many and why it continues to be a wonderful little curiosity that so many adults continue to enjoy when they chance upon it. The animation is part of it; it feels consistently otherworldly and Wood has created a simple but interesting set of characters and an environment that matches the strangely witty tone given to the material.

I refer to the tone but it should be remembered that the stories us in the UK see bare little in common with those in France as Eric Thompson chose to deliver his own stories, based on what he could see happening on the screen. It is he who deserves credit for creating this lasting cult appeal because not only are his stories nicely askew and out of the ordinary but he also has such a dry and humorous delivery that it is a pleasure to listen to. Modern kids will likely prefer the bright colours, loud noises and action of the 2005 film but for me, and many other adults, the simple animation, Thompson narration and strange otherworldly feel to the original series will always be preferred viewing.