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In the beginning....Founder Anne Wood
Anne came from a working class background. She was born in Spennymoor,
County Durham and grew up in a small coal mining village nearby.
Encouraged by loving parents to develop her talents she qualified
as a secondary school teacher and one of her early missions was
to encourage her pupils to read - not easy in a school grossly
under-funded.
This was the era of the first children's paperback books and Anne
became a pioneer of a children's paperback book club scheme for
schools which proved to be an exciting solution to encourage children
to enjoy reading.
1965
Anne founded a quarterly magazine - Books for your
Children. Such was the success of this that circulation became
nationwide. Anne expanded her consultancy to embrace book publishers,
radio and then television. This prompted an offer from Tyne Tees
television to produce 'Puzzle Party' which in turn led to other
television productions for various companies.
1981
Anne was invited to create a children's department for the
newly launched TV-AM and Roland Rat was created. This anarchical
character, with mis-spelt captions and chaotic interviews, satirised
the serious content of the breakfast show, proved hugely popular
with children and their parents and began to reverse the declining
ratings for the station. Concurrently, Anne filled Sunday mornings
with an innovative one-hour magazine programme for young children,
Rub-a-dub-tub.
Following a change of management at TV-AM, cost-cutting measures
were introduced resulting in children's programming being entirely
imported cartoons with live links from the studio. Under these
circumstances, there was no possibility of Anne's contract being
renewed so she left... and the idea of starting her own independent
production company was born.
With her background in education and publishing, Anne Wood was
committed to the development of young children, capturing their
imaginations through fantasy and play and enabling them to learn
just some of life's lessons through the medium of broadcast television,
video and related publishing. The fact that nearly every home
and child had access to TV was the challenge and the motivation.
1984
When the company was formed the inspiration for the name Ragdoll
came from a much loved and well-worn ragdoll called Jemima - the
proud possession of daughter Katherine Wood. As part of the Wood
family, Jemima had featured in many imaginary and real adventures
and, as such, had to have various makeovers from grandmother to
avoid disintegration. Jemima was never beautiful, but always had
great spirit.
Pob
The first creation of the new company was broadcast from 1985
to 1988. He was a sort of 'goblin baby' who lived in the TV and
interrupted normal transmission. Pob knocked on the back of the
screen and then introduced himself by writing his name on the
screen. He created his programme by interacting with his special
adult guests. Guests for the series included fans of Pob such
as Spike Milligan.
The success of Pob's stories on Channel 4 led to a 13 x 10 minute
adaptation of a puppet animation series that had originated in
the world famous Trinka Studio in Czechoslovakia.
Playbox
Meanwhile, Ragdoll had been asked to produce Playbox, a pre-school
educational series for Central TV. The 34 x 15 minute programmes
were first shown on ITV from October 1988 and proved something
of a watershed for Ragdoll. Not only was it the beginning of a
relationship with Central TV's Education Department, it demonstrated
the need the company had to create and own its own characters.
Storytime
Concurrently Ragdoll linked up with BBC Education to help produce
Storytime. This series of 18 episodes was transmitted from January
1989.
The Magic Mirror
Inadvertently, controversy and Ragdoll never seem too far apart
and the company hit the headlines with its next project The Magic
Mirror which was first broadcast in 1989. This programme came
about because although British animators were lauded for their
originality internationally, at home their work was rarely seen.
So, wanting to reverse this trend, Anne set up a competition for
British animators and found an enthusiastic funder for the scheme
in Kellogg's UK. Out of an amazing 76 entries, 13 were chosen
- each to make an original 7 minute film based on a fairy story.
The resulting series proved visually exciting and original featuring
a magical collection of monsters, giants, heroes and heroines.
The problems and controversy surrounding this unique series was
over its sponsorship. Although detailed discussions had previously
taken place with both ITV and the Independent Broadcasting Authority,
just prior to transmission panic and broadcasting politics set
in and postponement was only averted at the last moment when Ragdoll
agreed to the minutest changes, primarily to the Kellogg's 'K'
logo. What had rankled with the broadcaster was that the sponsorship
money had all been invested in the production. It was no coincidence
that only a few months after the transmission of this pioneering
programme the rules of sponsorship were changed and broadcasters
receive all sponsorship money.
While all this was happening, Jeremy Isaacs moved on from Channel
4 and was replaced by Michael Grade who very early on pronounced
that Channel 4 was no longer in the business of producing mainstream
children's television. So, at a stroke, one of Ragdoll's main
customers was no more.
Boom
Grade later qualified his decision by announcing that they would
continue commissioning programmes for children with special needs.
Ragdoll offered the idea of Boom - a magazine style show presented
by wheelchair user Andrew Miller and broadcast in 1990 - 1991.
1990 proved to be the major breakthrough year for Ragdoll as a
key independent production company.
Rosie and Jim
Following their satisfaction with Playbox, Central were keen to
commission a new production from Ragdoll to help boost their quota
of independently produced programmes. This was Rosie and Jim,
the adventures of two ragdolls who live a secret life on a canal
boat. Shot entirely on location, the production had to contend
with the vagaries of the British weather and, as a result, the
first series of 25 episodes went well over budget. However, following
an excellent audience response to the transmission in September
1990, ITV commissioned a second series - which helped to stave
off a financial crisis for Ragdoll.
The launch of Rosie and Jim coincided with the first developments
in 1991 of the children's video market and Rosie and Jim had the
distinction of being one of the first children's television characters
to sell over a million videos - the proceeds of which went primarily
to Central TV, rather than Ragdoll!
Rosie and Jim also came to life in two UK theatre tours in 1993
and 2000.
Brum
To ensure financial stability, Ragdoll has always endeavoured
to have at least two series in production at a time. In 1988,
Birmingham City Council came forward to offer some financial support
to a project that involved a little car that has adventures in
the big city. Appropriately named Brum, this live action creation
involved a radio-controlled car whose adventures were shot in
and around the city of Birmingham. The first series was broadcast
in 1991, the second in 1994 and the third in 2001.
Brum's international exposure has now reached 41 countries and
his profile continues to rise.
Open a Door
Even as early as 1992, it was becoming obvious that if Ragdoll
wished to continue producing high quality programmes, an international
profile was essential.
Anne realised that the most interesting and relatively inexpensive
way of achieving this might be through some form of programme
exchange. And so Open a Door was born. This unique initiative
invites producers to contribute a five-minute film featuring a
young child in their home environment. It continues to draw support
from all over the world - currently 36 different countries participate,
Each contributor brings to a producer's conference in Stratford
upon Avon a story board for a five minute programme and a guarantee
of transmission of the series in their own country.
Each producer returns home with a series of programmes that enable
children in their country to learn more of children's lives and
concerns around the world. In this way, not only is a series created
that brings together children all over the world, but Ragdoll
makes new production friends on a global scale. The series is
broadcast by the BBC in the UK.
Tots TV
At the beginning of the '90's both Thames and Central TV were
keen to include Ragdoll's next project in their franchise renewals.
Partly through loyalty, and partly through having a Midlands base
Tots TV went to Central.
Tilly, Tom and Tiny are puppets who, along with their friend Donkey,
live in a secret magic cottage in a wood. For the production,
a fully working scaled down 'real' thatched cottage was built.
Tots TV was the first mainstream programme to feature a character
speaking a foreign language.
In total 276 programmes were produced and it has been shown in
over 50 countries around the world.
First broadcast by Carlton between 1993 and 1998 in 2004, the
BBC bought the broadcast rights to the programme and it is currently
enjoying a renaissance.
The Teletubbies Phenomenon
Easter week 1997 - and children's television would never be quite
the same again. This was the week that the BBC launched Teletubbies,
a programme that impacted on the world like no other children's
programme - before or since.
The immediate reaction in the UK was initially a mixture of shock
and horror. It made the main news headlines and Anne had to appear
on TV in its defence. The main concerns seemed to centre around
these extraordinary creatures - Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and
Po - being incapable of speaking the Queen's English and, as a
result, future generations' diction would be irreparably damaged.
What was never doubted was that the children were entranced and
enchanted by the Teletubbies.
The programme came under deep educational scrutiny and even learned
professors pronounced on the educational value of the Teletubbies
- and in virtually every instance, the experts came down on the
side of the programme.
With the educational case proven, the media began to look at new
angles of covering the phenomenon. Hell bent on trying to destroy
the magical appeal of Teletubbies, some of the press were determined
to expose the characters as actors in suits. The set was besieged
by photographers hiding up trees and the shoot was interrupted
by low flying helicopters - the ultimate objective being to acquire
a shot of a Teletubby without its head!
Now, Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po have been loved by children
from all corners of the globe and their adventures have been translated
into 45 languages in 120 countries. The series proved to be the
most successful export ever for BBC Worldwide. Importantly for
Ragdoll, the company had negotiated to keep the American rights
as it was clear that, to survive, Ragdoll needed more financial
control as well as creative control and if this meant taking more
financial risk as well as creative risk, that was the path that
must be followed.
Production on Teletubbies ended in 1999 after 365 episodes and
a 'treat-sized' version Teletubbies Everywhere was developed from
the original concept to be shown in parallel with the original
series.
Badjelly the Witch
Ever since Pob, Spike Milligan had taken an interest in Ragdoll's
work. He actually rang and asked if he could take part in Pob,
and of course the production team were happy to include him. During
the course of their working together Anne had told Spike how much
she had enjoyed Badjelly the Witch, which he had written for his
children, and suggested a collaboration to make a screen version.
In the intervening years there had not been an opportunity to
create this and it wasn't until after Teletubbies that Badjelly
was finally broadcast at Christmas in 2000.
Badjelly the Witch was the last television that Spike ever made,
so the team were very pleased with his verdict that he thought
they had created something quite enchanting.
There are no plans to make it into a series. It remains a stand
alone, one off special.
Ragdoll USA
In the early days of the company, Anne's cold calling on US broadcasters
and distributors became legendary. She was always received with
polite respect for the modest Ragdoll catalogue, but the enthusiasm
was never transformed into deals.
Then came Tots TV with it's unique ability to feature a second
language. Alice Cahn the Head of Children's at PBS was quick to
spot its potential for mixing English and Spanish and Anne had
her breakthrough - Tots TV went on to the PBS network.
Coincidentally in 1995, an approach was made to Ragdoll by Kenn
Viselman of the itsy bitsy Entertainment Company to represent
Ragdoll in the US. Similar approaches had been made in the past,
but Viselman's in-depth knowledge and understanding of the Ragdoll
catalogue (which at this point did not include Teletubbies) swung
the issue in his favour. Kenn's expertise in launching new programmes
on an unsuspecting American market contributed greatly to the
North American success of Teletubbies and it was a shock when
he parted company with itsy bitsy. This left Ragdoll with a major
predicament as to its future presentation in North America. In
the end, believing in 'controlling your destiny before someone
else does' it had little option but to set up its own office in
New York and represent itself.
So, 2002 saw the opening of Ragdoll offices in New York's SoHo
to manage and exploit the Ragdoll catalogue of programming in
the Americas.
Following the creation of the joint venture between Ragdoll and
BBC Worldwide, it was a natural progression in 2008 for Ragdoll
to merge its North American team with the children's division
at BBC Worldwide in New York. This further strengthens the management
of the Ragdoll portfolio in the US and Canada.
Boohbah
The end of the frantic Teletubbies production allowed Ragdoll
time for reflection on which way the company intended to develop.
In an ever-changing world, listening to children and observing
how they communicate was more important than ever.
Out of this came Humbah, Zumbah, Zing Zing Zingbah, Jumbah and
Jingbah. Children around the age of four really want to move and
so the programme encourages them to get up off the couch and move
with the Boohbahs.
The studio for the 104 adventures of Boohbah was built in a warehouse
just outside Stratford upon Avon, whilst the Storyworld sequences
were shot on location in Spain. In 2003, the warehouse/studio
also became the headquarters of Ragdoll incorporating offices
for both production and marketing and more space for editing,
in addition to the two studios.
The programme was first shown in the UK in April 2003 on both
GMTV and ITV. It launched in the US on PBS in January 2004 and
is shown in over 20 other countries worldwide. To provide the
additional running time required by the PBS network, Ragdoll again
broke new ground with 'Look what I can do' - an additional feature
which shows children of all kinds demonstrating their joy in their
own physical activity.
Blips
BLIPS is a comedy show for 5 to 6 year olds. Research with this
age group showed that one common interest they all had was their
future careers. The topics covered by the shows all came from
children - and provided some unexpected surprises with a range
from Cake Baker to Princess!
The production team spent several months interviewing and researching
the various jobs the children had chosen although the “Princess”
episode’s research was confined to studying fairy tales !
That children love it when adults get things wrong provided the
basis for the comedy. The slapstick and visual style of humour
was a tribute to the classic comedians of the early cinema, particularly
Laurel and Hardy and Buster Keaton.
The programme is a mix of live-action and animation. The animation
was provided by the team that had so successfully transformed
Spike Milligan’s Bad Jelly The Witch to the screen.
The first 13 episodes of BLIPS began transmission on ITV on September
29th 2005. A further 13 episodes are scheduled for early 2006.
The series has great international appeal with dialogue limited
to a voice-over (provided by “Keeping Up Appearances” star Patricia
Routledge in the UK). The visual humour has worldwide appeal.
Ragdoll Worldwide
In September 2006, Ragdoll and BBC Worldwide formed a joint venture
company, Ragdoll Worldwide, as it moves into the next stage of
its commercial life alongside its long term and most successful
commercial partner, BBC Worldwide.
In The Night Garden
In the Night Garden is Ragdoll's creation for children
aged 2-4 years. Again the show is international in its appeal
and with 100 half-hour programmes, it has the breadth of scale
that establishes a new standard for pre-school television.
The idea for the show originated from Ragdoll's response to these
anxious times we live in today and directly references a pivotal
moment in a child's experience - bedtime; that universal time
of imaginative pictures and thoughts or indeed at any time little
children take a nap.
It is best described as a thoroughly modern interpretation of
a nursery-rhyme picture book and features a host of wonderful
characters, based loosely on toys, living together in a caring,
happy community. Upsy Daisy, Igglepiggle, Makka Pakka, the Tombliboos
and the Pontipines all have their own unique song and dance and
each play their own special role in the imaginative journey a
child encounters during each episode.
In the Night Garden is filmed in High Definition, in a real woodland
setting. It makes use of the latest technical innovations in live
character costume and CG animation to create a compelling and
fully immersive experience for young viewers.
In the Night Garden was awarded the British Academy Children's
Film & Television Award (BAFTA) for Best Pre-School Live Action
Programme 2007 and 2008.
Tronji
Tronji is Ragdoll’s creation for children aged 6 – 8 years. This exciting new television series is accompanied by an interactive website and a 3D multi-player game site.
Tronji is a world parallel to the real world, populated with brilliant landscapes and wonderful, quirky characters, all thoroughly happy with their crazy world. The most important of these is the Great Eek, who oversees all Tronji activity and brother and sister, Tronji I and Tronji O.
However, disaster strikes when a catastrophic ‘wobble’ happens and the world of Tronji fragments, colour and happiness drain away, and Tronji I disappears. He becomes stranded in our world, along with the lost colour and happiness, which appear in the form of little gem stones. Only children can save Tronji and restore colour and happiness to the fragmented lands by creating their own Tronji characters based on their own special skills.
In addition to the television series, there is a CBBC website containing more information about the world of Tronji and its inhabitants, as well as a suite of single player games. It is also the portal for Tronji World, a state-of-the-art 3D multiplayer game which is currently in open BETA testing and will launch later in 2009. Players can create their own avatar that can roam and explore a detailed and populated 3D representation of the pre-wobble Tronjiworld and link up with other players in a safe, secure environment.
The game is free-to-play and has been commissioned by BBC Worldwide, developed by Nice Tech Ltd and Ragdoll Productions.
Dipdap
Dipdap is a fun and very silly animation created by Steve Roberts from Ragdoll. It is simply the interaction of a drawn Line that creates endless challenges and surprises for the unsuspecting little character, Dipdap.
It was acquired by BBC Children’s TV and made its first appearance on BBC2 and CBeebies on 3rd January 2011.
There are 52 x 3 minute episodes of Dipdap.
The Adventures of Abney & Teal
Abney and Teal live on an island in the middle of a lake, in the middle of a park, in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the big city. They share their island with unusual and funny characters Neep, Bop, the Poc-Pocs and Toby-Dog, who also observe and take part in Abney and Teal's adventures.
The series creator Joel Stewart is not only an artist, but also a writer and musician. Ragdoll were delighted therefore when Joel accepted their invitation to work with them to create something entirely new for children's television. The result, The Adventures of Abney & Teal, combines a unique hand-drawn style with contemporary animation techniques.
Joel's picture books are a distinct brand of gentle, fantastical humour and exquisite drawing style. Joel is well known for his illustrations for Hans Christian Andersen fairytales and for his Dexter Bexley & the Big Blue Beastie picture books, but it was the publication of Addis Berner Bear Forgets, with its filmic quality, that first prompted Ragdoll's Anne Wood to contact Joel.
Narrator and voice of Abney is accomplished Olivier award-winning actor, Adrian Scarborough and the voice of Teal is multi-talented Shingai Shoniwa, lead singer of Alternative Pop band, The Noisettes.
Ragdoll are immensely proud of this work for the way it successfully brings together Joel's classic art style and Ragdoll's production expertise and technical excellence. Abney, Teal, Neep, Bop, and the Poc-Pocs are all characters guaranteed to make you smile and their world is a place where everyone will want to be.
The 52 x 11mins episodes broadcast on CBeebies from 26th September 2011.
The Future
Ragdoll is focused on several new projects. Ideas are never a
problem for Ragdoll, but all take time to research and implement
in a way that best meets the needs of children in today's world.
What is most essential for the future is that the way of working,
developed since the inception of the company, where new ideas
are given the time, money and space to evolve, with children's
needs at the centre, be safeguarded.
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