The Animates

Leaving Never Ever Land behind, Leo the Lionmate leads Wizzy (the Wise Owlmate), Mopey (the Monkeymate), Brenda (the Bushbabymate), Carla (the Catmate) and Timmy (the Mousemate) to find a new home.

They find a clearing in the forest outside the Personates’ town. Their new village is friendly and warm, whereas the Personates’ town is cold and not very friendly.

Animates Film Productions

Produced: 1978

First UK Broadcast: Tuesday 4th December 1979 – 11.55am

HTV, Anglia, Border, Grampian, Scottish, Southern, Ulster and Westward Television

The Series was not broadcast by ATV Midlands, Granada or Channel Television

13 episodes x 5 minutes

Written By Sylvia Anderson

Music by Vic Elmes and Roger Flavelle

Puppetry by Stage Three

Character Voices by Sylvia Anderson and Roy Dotrice

Puppets and Sets made by Peter Holmes

Cameraman Ian Struthers

Film Editor Mick Monks

Executive Producer Sylvia Anderson

Producer Roger Gawn

Directed by Stuart Freeman

Episodes List
1 The Arrival

First UK Airdates:

  • Tuesday 4th December 1979 – 11.55am (Westward and HTV)
  • This is the only episode not to be screened by Thames when the series was broadcast in 1980

Leo and Wizzy promise the King that the Animates will help the Personates in return for letting them stay.

But some Personates, led by Mafiamate, aren’t happy and threaten to run the Animates out of town.
2 Mopey Gets the Measles

First UK Airdates:

  • Monday 21st July 1980 – 11.55am (Thames)

Covered in spots and in hospital, Mopey swallows a thermometer. He stands on his head and the thermometer drops out, saving him from an operation!

All the Animates (apart from Brenda) end up catching the measles from Mopey!
3 Royal Birthday

First UK Airdates:

  • Tuesday 18th December 1979 – 11.55am (Westward, Scottish and HTV)
  • Friday 7th March 1980 – 11.55am (Yorkshire)
  • Tuesday 22nd July 1980 – 11.55am (Thames)

It’s the King’s birthday so the Animates  prepare to celebrate.

They surprise the King with a cake and a lovely party.
4 Finders Not Keepers

First UK Airdates:

  • Friday 21st March 1980 – 11.55am (Yorkshire)
  • Thursday 24th July 1980 – 11.55am (Thames)

Mopey finds Boss-mate’s lost watch when he’s gardening with Brenda the bushbaby, and keeps it.

When Mopey comes clean and returns the watch, the King decides to reward him with his own watch.
5 The Silver Jubilee

First UK Airdates:

  • Wednesday 5th December 1979 – 11.55am (Anglia, HTV, Southern and Ulster)
  • Friday 25th July 1980 – 11.55am (Thames)

Mopey finds his way into the Personate palace and meets the King.

Wizzy agrees to be the King’s counsellor and help the Personates learn to laugh and be kind to each other.
6 The Missing Crown Jewels

First UK Airdates:

  • Wednesday 19th December 1979 – 11.55am (Anglia, HTV, Southern, Tyne Tees, Ulster and Westward)
  • Friday 14th March 1980 – 11.55am (Yorkshire)
  • Wednesday 28th July 1980 – 11.55am (Thames)

Mafiamate steals the Crown Jewels and ensures that Mopey gets the blame.

Carla sees the jewels whilst cleaning Mafiamate’s windows and clears Mopey’s reputation, and Mopey learns that honesty always pays.
7 Holiday Time

First UK Airdates:

  • Friday 18th April 1980 – 11.55am  (Yorkshire)
  • Tuesday 29th July 11.55am (Thames)

The King agrees that the Animates can all have a two-week holiday to visit their old home, Never Ever Land.

Wizzy agrees to stay behind to look after their homes whilst they’re away, so the King invites him to the palace for supper so he won’t be lonely.
8 The Animates’ First Christmas

First UK Airdates:

  • Thursday 20th December 1979 – 11.55am (Anglia, Westward, Tyne Tees, Southern, and Ulster)
  • Thursday 31st July 1980 – 11.55am (Thames)

Whilst they’re preparing for Christmas, Mopey is kidnapped by the Mafiamate.

Mopey swaps places in the cage with Mafiamate, and everybody enjoys their first Christmas together.
9 Mopey Goes to School

First UK Airdates:

  • Thursday 13th December 1979 – 11.55am (Anglia, HTV, Tyne Tees, Southern, Westward and Ulster)
  • Friday 29th February 1980 – 11.55am (Yorkshire)
  • Friday 1st August 1980 – 11.55am (Thames)

Mopey want to learn to read, so the Animates build their own school.

The Mafiamate and the Bannermate are jealous and plan to burn down the school, but Mopey catches them before they can do any damage.
10 Mopey Learns about Money

First UK Airdates:

  • 11th December 1979 – 11.55am (Anglia, HTV, Westward, Southern and Ulster)
  • Friday 11th April 1980 – 11.55am (Yorkshire)
  • Monday 4th August 1980 – 11.55am (Thames)

The King proposes that the Personates pay the Animates for the work they do.

Mopey is caught stealing money from the bank and, whilst he’s taken to the King to explain, Mafiamate steals all the remaining money. 
11 Valentine’s Day

First UK Airdates:

  • Friday 15th February 1980 – 11.55am (Yorkshire)
  • Tuesday 5th August 1980 – 11.55am (Thames)

Love is in the air for everyone but Mafiamate.

Brenda works hard, painting Valentine’s cards for all the Animates.
12 Snow Time

First UK Airdates:

  • Thursday  7th August 1980  – 11.55am (Thames)

The Animates are afraid when they wake up to their village covered in a white blanket of snow.

The King explains the different seasons to Leo and Wizzy.
13 The Animates Start a Newspaper

First UK Airdates:

  • Wednesday 12th December 1979 – 11.55am (Anglia, HTV, Tyne Tees, Southern, Westward and Ulster)
  • Friday 22nd February 1980 – 11.55am (Yorkshire)
  • Monday 11th August 1980 – 11.55am (Thames)

The Animates start a newspaper and Mopey gets a scoop when he overhears Mafiamate and Bannermate plan to kidnap the King!

The Animates publish the story and the plan is quashed.