Toonhound - Noggin the Nog (1959-1965 / 1981)

"In the lands of the North, where the black rocks
   stand guard against the cold sea, in the dark night
   that is very long, the men of the Northlands sit by
  their great log fires and they tell a tale..."


   SmallFilms' bleak and brilliant Norse tales focused on Noggin, King of the Nogs,
   of the Northlands and his endeavours to keep his wicked Uncle, Nogbad the Bad,
   from getting his hands on the throne of the Nogs. Instead of 'stories' we had
   'sagas' to watch, in keeping with the Viking/Icelandic concept.

   By the end of the first saga, Noggin was married to the beautiful eskimo Nooka,
   and in time they had a son called Knut. Noggin reported all the royal affairs to the
   Council of Elders. The bravest Nog soldier was Noggin's friend Thor Nogson, and
   the strongest was Olaf The Lofty. Many recall the royal bird Graculus, who was
   akin to a vey large cormorrant.

   The series took its cue from the famous Isle Of Lewis chessmen, unearthed in
   the Hebrides and now residing in the british Museum. Peter Firmin was inspired
   by the find and he went on to bring the Nogs to life with a wonderfully muted
   palette of earthy browns, golds and greens. In the accompanying books he went
   further, embellishing tales with celtic knots and symbols. Add to the visuals Oliver
   Postgate's melancholic storytelling and - well - you have a legendary realm brought
   splendidly to life.

   Initially, the Noggin concept was rejected by ITV, but the project was snapped
   up by the BBC who paid the princely sum of £100 per episode. It became the
   very first production to be undertaken at Peter Firmin's 'cowshed' conversion near
   Canterbury which was to become the regular SmallFilms studio until they
   closed its doors in the early 1980s.

   The intial run of sagas ran from 1959 to 1965 and each comprised of 6 x 5min
   episodes. In 1970 three sagas were re-edited into 15min episodes. Later
   still in 1982 Oliver and Peter presented us with a short series of colour films,
   one a remake of "Noggin and the Ice Dragon", the other a new story
   focusing on Knut, but still called "Noggin and the Pie".

   Many remember the atmospheric music from Vernon Elliott. He played the
   bassoon on the soundtrack with his daughter Bridget on clarinet. In the second
   saga Oliver Postgate devised a series of 'musical sketches' to guide Vernon's
   musical scoring - much like a musical storyboard.

   Noggin fans should track down the equally-legendary Dragons Friendly
   Society, a fan-club of sorts for Noggin and his Nogs. The DFS originally featured
   in the saga of "Noggin and the Ice Dragon". In their modern form they offer
   up exclusive editions and videos for folks to purchase and treasure.



    In the news

    Noggin the Nog
    SmallFilms saga on BBC Four...

   Toy Tales
     Noggin the Nog at The Cartoon Museum...



    The Sagas of Noggin The Nog

    In black and white
    1959 - The Saga of Noggin the Nog
    1961 - Noggjn and the Ice Dragon
    1963 - Noggin and the Flying Machine
    1964 - Noggin and the Omruds
    1965 - Noggin and the Firecake

    In colour
    1982 - Noggin and the Ice Dragon (remake)
    1982 - Noggin and the Pie



    Noggin in print

    Twelve Noggin storybooks were published by Kaye & Ward to accompany
    the original series. In addition a handsome selection of 'Starting To Read' Noggin
    books were produced. All of these volumes were written and illustrated by
    Oliver and Peter. In the late 1970's/early 1980's Picture lions reprinted
    several tales with new Peter Firmin artwork. And in 1977 a terrific (and
    limited edition) celebration of The Northlands called 'Nogmania' was
    published too....

     Kaye & Ward 'Starting To Read' books

     Noggin The King            Noggin And The Moon Mouse
     Noggin And The Whale      Nogbad And The Elephants
     Noggin And the Dragon       Noggin And The Money
     Nogbad Comes Back            Noggin And The Storks




      made by SmallFilms

      stories by Oliver Postgate
      puppets and pictures by Peter Firmin

      music:       Vernon Elliot
      told by:     Oliver Postgate
                    Ronnie Stevens (not 1st saga)



     On the web

     Smallfilms
     The official SmallFilms site...

     Dragons-Friendly Society
     Smallfilms' very own society site...

     Double: Take
   Double: Take hold clip rights to the colour episodes...

     The Northlands
   Neil Jones' topnotch Noggin fan site...

     Jedi's Paradise
     Jediman features a transcript of a lecture given by the
     SmallFilms duo at the NFT a few years ago....


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			Noggin the Nog producers: SmallFilms for the BBC animation: 2D animation 1959-1965 / 30 x 5mins / b/w 1981 / 6 x 10mins / colour
		"In the lands of the North, where the black rocks stand guard against the cold sea, in the dark night that is very long, the men of the Northlands sit by their great log fires and they tell a tale..." SmallFilms' bleak and brilliant Norse tales focused on Noggin, King of the Nogs, of the Northlands and his endeavours to keep his wicked Uncle, Nogbad the Bad, from getting his hands on the throne of the Nogs. Instead of 'stories' we had 'sagas' to watch, in keeping with the Viking/Icelandic concept. By the end of the first saga, Noggin was married to the beautiful eskimo Nooka, and in time they had a son called Knut. Noggin reported all the royal affairs to the Council of Elders. The bravest Nog soldier was Noggin's friend Thor Nogson, and the strongest was Olaf The Lofty. Many recall the royal bird Graculus, who was akin to a vey large cormorrant. The series took its cue from the famous Isle Of Lewis chessmen, unearthed in the Hebrides and now residing in the british Museum. Peter Firmin was inspired by the find and he went on to bring the Nogs to life with a wonderfully muted palette of earthy browns, golds and greens. In the accompanying books he went further, embellishing tales with celtic knots and symbols. Add to the visuals Oliver Postgate's melancholic storytelling and - well - you have a legendary realm brought splendidly to life. Initially, the Noggin concept was rejected by ITV, but the project was snapped up by the BBC who paid the princely sum of £100 per episode. It became the very first production to be undertaken at Peter Firmin's 'cowshed' conversion near Canterbury which was to become the regular SmallFilms studio until they closed its doors in the early 1980s. The intial run of sagas ran from 1959 to 1965 and each comprised of 6 x 5min episodes. In 1970 three sagas were re-edited into 15min episodes. Later still in 1982 Oliver and Peter presented us with a short series of colour films, one a remake of "Noggin and the Ice Dragon", the other a new story focusing on Knut, but still called "Noggin and the Pie". Many remember the atmospheric music from Vernon Elliott. He played the bassoon on the soundtrack with his daughter Bridget on clarinet. In the second saga Oliver Postgate devised a series of 'musical sketches' to guide Vernon's musical scoring - much like a musical storyboard. Noggin fans should track down the equally-legendary Dragons Friendly Society, a fan-club of sorts for Noggin and his Nogs. The DFS originally featured in the saga of "Noggin and the Ice Dragon". In their modern form they offer up exclusive editions and videos for folks to purchase and treasure. In the news Noggin the Nog SmallFilms saga on BBC Four... Toy Tales Noggin the Nog at The Cartoon Museum... The Sagas of Noggin The Nog In black and white 1959 - The Saga of Noggin the Nog 1961 - Noggjn and the Ice Dragon 1963 - Noggin and the Flying Machine 1964 - Noggin and the Omruds 1965 - Noggin and the Firecake In colour 1982 - Noggin and the Ice Dragon (remake) 1982 - Noggin and the Pie Noggin in print Twelve Noggin storybooks were published by Kaye & Ward to accompany the original series. In addition a handsome selection of 'Starting To Read' Noggin books were produced. All of these volumes were written and illustrated by Oliver and Peter. In the late 1970's/early 1980's Picture lions reprinted several tales with new Peter Firmin artwork. And in 1977 a terrific (and limited edition) celebration of The Northlands called 'Nogmania' was published too.... Kaye & Ward 'Starting To Read' books Noggin The King Noggin And The Moon Mouse Noggin And The Whale Nogbad And The Elephants Noggin And the Dragon Noggin And The Money Nogbad Comes Back Noggin And The Storks made by SmallFilms stories by Oliver Postgate puppets and pictures by Peter Firmin music: Vernon Elliot told by: Oliver Postgate Ronnie Stevens (not 1st saga) On the web Smallfilms The official SmallFilms site... Dragons-Friendly Society Smallfilms' very own society site... Double: Take Double: Take hold clip rights to the colour episodes... The Northlands Neil Jones' topnotch Noggin fan site... Jedi's Paradise Jediman features a transcript of a lecture given by the SmallFilms duo at the NFT a few years ago.... index » previous » next »
©SmallFilms - Peter Firmin & Oliver Postgate / F2010