Thursday 17 October 2013

Watch This [Outer] Space

clangers2

Did you hear the announcement this week about The Clangers?

The Clangers were wonderful - a family of pink mouse-like creatures, who lived on a blue Moon-like planet. They lived in craters topped by dustbin lids which closed with a “clang” (hence their name).

clangersThey spoke in whistling voices (created by Swanee whistles), wore armour made from scrap metal. their diet was Blue String Pudding and Green Broth supplied by the friendly Soup Dragon, who lived in the depths of the planet.

From 1969 – 1972, a series of programmes about these creatures were broadcast, gained a cult following, and were endlessly repeated.

clanger soup dragon

Oliver Postgate, one of the two original creators, has died – but his colleague Peter Firmin [now aged 84] has been collaborating with Oliver’s son Daniel to create a new series, for broadcast in 2015.

According to the CEO of the production company “It’s absolutely vital we retain the charm of the original series. You can’t do that with CGI animation so we are going to use the original stop-frame motion technique. Peter Firmin is the most energetic 80-something you will ever meet. He is working on the puppet models and with Daniel Postgate supervising the script, that’s a pretty good start. The Clangers will still whistle, they will communicate in much the same way as before. The Soup Dragon will be there. We’re going to be faithful to the original but we’ll have higher quality of stop-motion animation.”

Questions;

  1. Should I start knitting a Soup Dragon now?
  2. Does anyone have a recipe for Blue String Pudding?
A short clip for those who don’t know The Clangers–& those who do!

12 comments:

  1. I love the Clangers. I have a small (fabric, not knitted) Baby Clanger who makes the right noise when you press his tummy. The cats aren't very sure about it!!

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  2. And, remarkably, Yes! Someone DOES have a recipe for Blue String Pudding http://tamaranth.dreamwidth.org/550689.html

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    1. That looks like a truly amazing recipe. I suspect it may turn my lips blue, but maybe one day I shall try it...

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  3. I think my son made a savory version; spagetti in a cheese sauce coloured with blue food colouring!

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  4. I remember the clangers. Yes, make a soup dragon then it's ready. What about some mice too. Can't help you with the blue string pudding.
    Carolx

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  5. Wonderful! The only poster I EVER had on my bedroom wall as a child was a Clangers one!

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  6. Winberry crumble was always called blue string pudding in our house! Jx

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    1. I haven't seen a British winberry [aka whortleberry, bilberry, whinberry or blaeberry] for YEARS - I thought they had been overcome by the American blueberries!

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  7. We used to love them! I hope it isn't too different.

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  8. The funny thing was you could understand everything they said....or whistled.

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  9. I never 'got' the Clangers.
    Jane x

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  10. Oh I am so glad to read they are not going to use CGI. I loved this.

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