Spot the Dog
Encyclopedia
Eric Hill
Eric Gordon Hill OBE is a popular author and illustrator of children's picture books, best known for his character Spot the Dog...
, which were later made into a popular children's animation series, known as Spot, for BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
television by David McKee
David McKee
David McKee is a British author and illustrator, chiefly of children's books and animations. He has used the pseudonym Violet Easton. He is frequently referenced as David McKee.-Biography:...
's King Rollo Films.
First published in 1980, Where's Spot was inspired by the reaction of Eric's two-year-old son to an advert in which lifting the flap revealed a funny picture and to a bedtime story made up to go along with it. It became tremendously successful and a series of further books featuring the character was commissioned.
Later, an animated version was produced, along with translations into more than 60 languages. The character has also starred in interactive CD-ROM
CD-ROM
A CD-ROM is a pre-pressed compact disc that contains data accessible to, but not writable by, a computer for data storage and music playback. The 1985 “Yellow Book” standard developed by Sony and Philips adapted the format to hold any form of binary data....
s, as well as appearing in-person at events throughout the world.
Book design
The books are set in the typefaceTypeface
In typography, a typeface is the artistic representation or interpretation of characters; it is the way the type looks. Each type is designed and there are thousands of different typefaces in existence, with new ones being developed constantly....
Century Schoolbook Infant, a single-story version of Century Schoolbook that is very rare. The closest typeface designs available to the public based on this typeface are Century Schoolbook and Tiempo. However, official merchandise, in rare cases, will use a similar Times-style serif typeface or a handwriting-like typeface similar to Comic Sans MS to for text on the tush tags or the merchandise itself.
Characters
- Spot: The star of the series. A yellow puppy with a brown spot on each side of his body and a brown tip on his tail, Spot is full of wonder and mischief, as well as helpfulness. Given his small, rounded ears, short tail, short, stout legs, and plump body, Spot is a beagle puppy.
Family
- Sally: Spot's mother. She, too, is yellow and has a brown spot on her back that goes around the back of her body, as well as two brown spots on each side of her body and a brown tip on her tail. Much of the first story, Where's Spot, involves her going around the house looking for Spot.
- Sam: Spot's father, who is a very large and massive dog. He is also yellow, but has no spots on his body whatsoever, and he does not have a brown tip on his tail. He works at a farm.
- Susie: Spot's little sister. Like the rest of the family, she is yellow, and has a brown spot that goes around her back of her body, but does not have a brown tip on her tail. Susie has yet to make an appearance on the TV series.
- Smith: Spot's brother. He, too, is yellow, but no spots on his body, and a brown tip on his tail.
- Grandpa: Spot's Grandpa and Sally's father. He is yellow as well. He has fuzzy fur, but no spots on his body. He does not have a brown tip on his tail. He's nearsighted, and in his day was the chief fireman.
- Grandma: Spot's Grandma and Sally's mother. She, like everyone else in the family, is yellow and like Grandpa, has fuzzy fur. She has two brown spots on her back that go around the back of her body, as well as smaller brown spots on each side of her body (there were 6 spots on her body in "Spot and his Grandparents Go to the Carnival", but somehow it was reduced to 5 in "Spot's Musical Adventures: Spot helps Grandma"). She does not have a brown tip on her tail. She is usually seen wearing glasses.
Friends in the neighbourhood
- Helen: A blue hippopotamusHippopotamusThe hippopotamus , or hippo, from the ancient Greek for "river horse" , is a large, mostly herbivorous mammal in sub-Saharan Africa, and one of only two extant species in the family Hippopotamidae After the elephant and rhinoceros, the hippopotamus is the third largest land mammal and the heaviest...
. She is the biggest sized and the heaviest in the group. Her mother is a tuba player for the town band. Her color is dark blue and she has sags under her eyes in the first season of the TV series, but turned light blue and the sags under her eyes are gone as of Season 2 of the TV show (this is possibly to make her less intimidating). - Steve: A brown monkeyMonkeyA monkey is a primate, either an Old World monkey or a New World monkey. There are about 260 known living species of monkey. Many are arboreal, although there are species that live primarily on the ground, such as baboons. Monkeys are generally considered to be intelligent. Unlike apes, monkeys...
with a tan face. As befits his species, he is playful and full of surprises. Like many of the characters, his color turns brighter in Season 2. - Tom: A green crocodileCrocodileA crocodile is any species belonging to the family Crocodylidae . The term can also be used more loosely to include all extant members of the order Crocodilia: i.e...
. He started out dark green in color in the first season. He also sports rather sharp-looking incisors and a red coloring inside his mouth on the first season. By the second season of the television series, he loses the sharp incisors, red color, and the white eye sacs and turns to a lighter shade of green leaving him looking younger and less intimidating. He loves going fishing. Tom loves the Snare Drum, considered to be his Favorite instrument. His dad is the Mayor of the Town. - Clare: A green turtleTurtleTurtles are reptiles of the order Testudines , characterised by a special bony or cartilaginous shell developed from their ribs that acts as a shield...
. Like Tom, her shade of green turns brighter in Season 2 compared to Season 1. - Sidney: A yellowish-green snakeSnakeSnakes are elongate, legless, carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes that can be distinguished from legless lizards by their lack of eyelids and external ears. Like all squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales...
. Unusually, he is a good snake in contrast to most snakes in fiction. Like the others, his color turns brighter in the second season. - Miss Bear: Spot's school teacher. True to her name, she is a brown bearBearBears are mammals of the family Ursidae. Bears are classified as caniforms, or doglike carnivorans, with the pinnipeds being their closest living relatives. Although there are only eight living species of bear, they are widespread, appearing in a wide variety of habitats throughout the Northern...
who plays the piano. Like the others, her color turns brighter in the second season. - Betsy: A bear.
- Tina: An elephantElephantElephants are large land mammals in two extant genera of the family Elephantidae: Elephas and Loxodonta, with the third genus Mammuthus extinct...
. - Cybil: An orange catCatThe cat , also known as the domestic cat or housecat to distinguish it from other felids and felines, is a small, usually furry, domesticated, carnivorous mammal that is valued by humans for its companionship and for its ability to hunt vermin and household pests...
. Was very rude towards Spot in "Spot's Lost Bone" and scared Spot in "Spot's First Walk". Only appears in Season 1. - Ginger: Another cat, very polite.
- Billy: A bear who loves to eat. Appears in Season 1.
- Mr. Kangaroo: A kangarooKangarooA kangaroo is a marsupial from the family Macropodidae . In common use the term is used to describe the largest species from this family, especially those of the genus Macropus, Red Kangaroo, Antilopine Kangaroo, Eastern Grey Kangaroo and Western Grey Kangaroo. Kangaroos are endemic to the country...
that speaks with what sounds like a New ZealandNew ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
accent. Spot's neighbor. Only appears in Season 1. - Percy & Polly: A pair of penguinPenguinPenguins are a group of aquatic, flightless birds living almost exclusively in the southern hemisphere, especially in Antarctica. Highly adapted for life in the water, penguins have countershaded dark and white plumage, and their wings have become flippers...
s seen in "Spot's Birthday Party". - Leo: A lionLionThe lion is one of the four big cats in the genus Panthera, and a member of the family Felidae. With some males exceeding 250 kg in weight, it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger...
seen in season 1.
British Cast
- Paul NicholasPaul NicholasPaul Nicholas is an English actor and singer who has had considerable success on stage, screen and in the pop charts.-Biography:Nicholas was born as Paul Oscar Beuselinck in Peterborough, England...
- Narrator (Seasons 1-2, It's Fun to Learn with Spot Season 2) - Peter HawkinsPeter HawkinsPeter John Hawkins was an English actor and voice artist.- Career :Born in London and a native of Brixton, Hawkins' long association with British children's television began in 1952 when he voiced both Bill and Ben, the Flower Pot Men. In 1955–1956, He voiced Big Ears & Mr. Plod from The...
- Narrator (It's Fun to Learn with Spot Season 1)
American Cast
- Corey BurtonCorey BurtonCorey Burton is an American voice actor, perhaps best known as Count Dooku, Ziro the Hutt and Cad Bane in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Brainiac in the DC animated universe and Spike Witwicky and Shockwave in the Transformers universe...
- Narrator, Sam, Tom, Steve, Spot's Grandpa, Various - Linda GaryLinda GaryLinda Gary was an American voice actor and voice-over artist, who has worked on multiple animated projects.-Personal life:Linda Gary Dewoskin was born in California on November 4, 1944....
- Sally (1st), Helen (1st), Betsy, Miss Bear (1st), Tina, Cybil, Claire, Various - Jonathan Taylor ThomasJonathan Taylor ThomasJonathan Taylor Thomas is an American actor, voice actor, former child star, and teen idol...
- Spot (1st) - Tress MacNeilleTress MacNeilleTress MacNeille is an American voice actress best known for providing various voices on the animated series The Simpsons, Futurama, Tiny Toon Adventures, Animaniacs, Disney's House of Mouse, Courage the Cowardly Dog, Rugrats, All Grown Up!, Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers, and Dave the...
- Sally (2nd), Helen (2nd), Female Reindeer, Miss Bear (2nd), Spot's Grandma, Various - Jim CummingsJim CummingsJames Jonah "Jim" Cummings is an American voice actor who has appeared in almost 100 roles. He has appeared in classic animated movies such as Aladdin and The Lion King, as well as taking on roles in more current films, such as Bee Movie, Princess and the Frog, and Winnie the Pooh.-Personal...
- Male Reindeer - Ryan O'DonohueRyan O'DonohueRyan Sean O'Donohue is an American voice actor, most notable for his performances in many Disney projects.O'Donohue began his acting career at the age of nine when he played Zeke Byrd on the 1994 ABC drama Byrds of Paradise, filmed in Hawaii. The show was cancelled after a 13-episode run despite...
- Spot (2nd) - Haley Joel OsmentHaley Joel OsmentHaley Joel Osment is an American actor. After a series of roles in television and film during the 1990s, including a small part in Forrest Gump playing Tom Hanks' title character’s son, Osment rose to fame with his performance as Cole Sear in M...
- Spot (3rd)
Spot in the Books
The first book, Where's Spot? was published in 1980, and it features Sally going on a search around the house for Spot. 2005 marked the 25th anniversary of the publication of Where's Spot? and was celebrated with a silver jacket hardcover edition of "Where's Spot?".There are various kinds of Spot books available, from lift-the-flap books to read-along audio CD with book bundle to touch and feel books to sound books (books with an electronic sound panel on them). Some books are also bundled with plush toys, others are simple picture books. There are also pop-up books, activity books and cloth books (books which are made entirely of cloth).
Notable releases
These books are considered important to the timeline of Spot because they include important events or introduced new characters to the series.Information in this section is researched from the Eric Hill biography/interview at the official Web site and from Amazon UK.
Where's Spot? (1980)
The first book in the series, it chronicles Sally going around the house looking for Spot. Sally and Spot are introduced in this book. Spot's main friends (Tom, Steve, Helen, and Clare) are also introduced in this book, but they were yet to be named and instead served as characters that Sally finds during her search for Spot.Spot Goes to School (1984)
Spot's teacher, Miss Bear, is introduced in this book, and Tom, Steve, Helen, and Clare are also finally named. This book chronicles Spot's day at school (kindergarten).Spot Goes on Holiday (1985)
Spot's dad, Sam, is introduced in this book. In this book, Spot and his family go to the beach, and Spot meets a new friend (a brown cocker spaniel).Spot's Baby Sister (1991)
Spot's sister, Susie, is introduced in this book. Basically, the book involves Spot getting a new sister, and the trials and tribulations of putting up with her. The words at the end of the book have the same meaning as the words said during the opening of the CaillouCaillou
Caillou is a Canadian children's television show based on the books by author Christine L'Heureux and illustrator Hélène Desputeaux. Many of the stories in the animated version began with a grandmother introducing the story to her grandchildren, then reading the story about the book...
theme song.
Spot Visits his Grandparents (1996)
Spot's grandparents are introduced in this book. In it, Spot visits his grandparents' place and helps out in the garden. We learn about Sally when she was only a puppy.List of Spot sound books
Here is a quick list of Spot sound books; the list is by no means complete.UK Releases
A list of Spot sound books released in the UK. These books are produced by Publications International and published by Frederick WarneFrederick Warne & Co
Frederick Warne & Co was a British publishing firm famous for children's books, particularly those of Beatrix Potter. It was founded in 1865 by a bookseller, who gave his own name to the firm.- History :...
.
- ISBN 0-7232-4513-4, Spot's Noisy Walk
- ISBN 0-7232-4598-3, Spot Plays Hide-and-Seek
- ISBN 0-7232-4656-4, Spot's First Songs
- ISBN 0-7232-4737-4, Spot's Busy Week
- ISBN 0-7232-4835-4, Spot's Helpful Day
- ISBN 0-7232-4844-3, Spot's Christmas Songs
- ISBN 0-7232-4941-5, Spot's Big Nursery Song Book
- ISBN 0-7232-5297-1, Spot's Rainy Day
- ISBN 0-7232-5307-2, Spot's Marching Band
- ISBN 0-7232-5483-4, Sing Along with Spot
- ISBN 0-7232-5484-2, Spot's Noisy Toy Box
- ISBN 0-7232-5777-9, Spot's Birthday
- ISBN 0-7232-5814-7, Spot's Day Out
- ISBN 0-7232-5870-8, Spot's Fun Day
US Releases
The US edition of the sound books are somewhat different from the UK editions of the book. The text in them is somewhat changed, and in some cases, the title is changed as well. They are produced and published by Publications International.- ISBN 0-7853-2681-2, Spot's Noisy Walk
- ISBN 0-7853-4224-9, Spot's First Songs
- ISBN 0-7853-6425-0, Good Job, Spot (US Release of Spot's Helpful Day)
Spot on TV and Videos
In estimation, there is about 6 hours and 15 minutes of Spot animation available in total. Here's a list of the episodes. Note that all of them are readily available on videoVHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
and/or DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
and/or VideoCD
Video CD
Before the advent of DVD and Blu-ray, the Video CD became the first format for distributing films on standard 120 mm optical discs. The format is a standard digital format for storing video on a Compact Disc...
.
The Adventures of Spot is shown sometimes on Mini CITV on the CITV Channel. Also on the website of CITV.
The Adventures of Spot: Season 1 (1986)
The first season of the TV series went into production and were produced in King Rollo Films LtdKing Rollo Films Ltd
King Rollo Films is a production company set up in 1978 by David McKee. It was based on the show of the same name.-Programs & Shorts:King Rollo Films has done the following shows;*Mr Benn *King Rollo *Victor & Maria...
sometime in 1986. It consisted of 13 episodes, each 5 minutes long, and was aired on the BBC between 1986-1987. The episodes were voiced and narrated by Paul Nicholas
Paul Nicholas
Paul Nicholas is an English actor and singer who has had considerable success on stage, screen and in the pop charts.-Biography:Nicholas was born as Paul Oscar Beuselinck in Peterborough, England...
and the music was composed by Duncan Lamont. The animation was done at David McKee
David McKee
David McKee is a British author and illustrator, chiefly of children's books and animations. He has used the pseudonym Violet Easton. He is frequently referenced as David McKee.-Biography:...
's King Rollo
King Rollo
King Rollo was a children's character created by David McKee in 1979, starring in a series of books, animations , and a comic strip in the magazine Buttons...
Films.
Episodes in this season:
- Spot's Surprise Parcel
- Spot's Lost Bone
- Spot's First Walk
- Spot in the Woods
- Spot's Birthday Party
- Where's Spot?
- Sweet Dreams, Spot
- Spot Goes to School
- Spot Goes to the Circus
- Spot Follows His Nose
- Spot Goes Splash
- Spot's Windy Day
- Spot Goes on Holiday (Spot Goes to the Beach)
It's Fun to Learn With Spot - Phase 1 (1990)
In 1990, Spitfire Television and Living Doll Productions made 4 episodes of It's Fun to Learn With Spot, each approximately 15 minutes in length. These episodes were voiced by Peter HawkinsPeter Hawkins
Peter John Hawkins was an English actor and voice artist.- Career :Born in London and a native of Brixton, Hawkins' long association with British children's television began in 1952 when he voiced both Bill and Ben, the Flower Pot Men. In 1955–1956, He voiced Big Ears & Mr. Plod from The...
. The Spot theme song was licensed from King Rollo Films, so the familiar tune by Duncan Lamont was heard on the opening and closing. However, music on the show was kept to a minimum - the only noticeable music from the phase other than the opening and closing theme was "The Alphabet Song" in Spot's Alphabet. These episodes were never officially released in the US.
Episodes in this season:
- Spot's Alphabet
- Spot's Busy Year
- Spot Learns to Count
- Spot Tells the Time
The Adventures of Spot: Season 2 (1993)
This season of the TV series went into production in 1993, and consisted of yet another batch of 13 5-minute episodes. Production of the show has shifted back to King Rollo Films after the first phase of It's Fun to Learn With Spot. Paul NicholasPaul Nicholas
Paul Nicholas is an English actor and singer who has had considerable success on stage, screen and in the pop charts.-Biography:Nicholas was born as Paul Oscar Beuselinck in Peterborough, England...
returns as the voices and narration, and Duncan Lamont returns as composer of the music. Many of the characters' looks (most notably Helen's and Tom's) are refined in this season.
Episodes in this season:
- Spot Goes to the Farm
- Spot Stays Overnight (Spot Sleeps Over)
- Spot Makes a Cake
- Spot Goes to the Park
- Spot Finds a Key
- Spot in the Garden
- Spot Goes to a Party
- Spot's Winter Sports
- Spot Goes to the Fair
- Spot's Favourite Toy
- Spot's First Picnic
- Spot at the Playground
- Storytime With Spot
It's Fun to Learn With Spot - Phase 2 (1994)
Like the first four episodes, these are 15 minutes long. Unlike the first four episodes, however, these are produced by King Rollo Films and retained the talents of Paul NicholasPaul Nicholas
Paul Nicholas is an English actor and singer who has had considerable success on stage, screen and in the pop charts.-Biography:Nicholas was born as Paul Oscar Beuselinck in Peterborough, England...
and Duncan Lamont. Much of the character's refinements made to the second season of The Adventures of Spot were retained in this season. Also, at the end of each episode, there was a song reinforcing the lessons learnt in the episode - something missing in the first four episodes (with the exception of "The Alphabet Song" in Spot's Alphabet). Sadly, like the first four episodes, these were never officially released in the US.
Episodes in this season:
- Spot's Looks at Opposites
- Spot's First Word Game
- Spot Looks at Colours
- Spot Looks at Shapes
Note: The two phases of It's Fun to Learn With Spot are often listed as one series, even on Penguin Television's website. However, as noted, the two phases were produced 4 years apart by two different companies and are very different in design.
The Specials (1995 - 1997)
The specials have some notable differences from the normal series. Unlike the other episodes in the series, they're 30 minutes in length, without narration and each character is voiced distinctly. The characters' mouths also move to speech, in comparison to the other episodes which the characters' mouths remain static and the entire episode was narrated as a story. The songs in the specials are longer and more complex than those featured in 'It's fun to learn with Spot'.Episodes:
- Spot's Magical Christmas (1995)
- Spot and his Grandparents Go to the Carnival (1997)
Spot's Musical Adventures (2000)
In 2000, yet another 13 episodes of Spot was produced, each with a short song in them. The format of the series was reverted back to the narration format used prior to the specials. These episodes, however, are no longer voiced by Paul NicholasPaul Nicholas
Paul Nicholas is an English actor and singer who has had considerable success on stage, screen and in the pop charts.-Biography:Nicholas was born as Paul Oscar Beuselinck in Peterborough, England...
. Instead, comedienne Jane Horrocks
Jane Horrocks
Barbara Jane Horrocks is an English voice, stage, screen and television actress, voice artist, musician, and singer. She is best known for her role as "Bubble" in the TV series Absolutely Fabulous as well as her distinctive voice....
was given the role of narrator and voices of these episodes. Music was composed by Duncan Lamont with KiCK Productions and the songs are performed by Dan Russell. The US release of the episodes (revoiced and released as Discover Spot by Disney) also feature a real kids segment.
Episodes:
- Spot's Show
- Spot's Treehouse
- Spot's Breakfast
- Spot's Horse (Released in the US as Spot's Hobby Horse)
- Spot's Grandpa
- Spot's Umbrella
- Spot's Band
- Spot's Bath
- Spot's Tent
- Spot Tidies Up (Released in the US as Spot Cleans up)
- Spot Helps Grandma
- Spot's School Trip
- Hide and Seek (Released in the US as Spot Plays Hide and Seek)
Back commits
After the release of Spot's Musical Adventures, the following interesting modifications were made to the show:- A live kids segment was added to Disney's US releases of The Adventures of Spot and the specials, and then to the UK release of Spot's Musical Adventures, The Adventures of Spot and the specials. It will come as no surprise if these are added to the upcoming re-release of the It's Fun to Learn With Spot episodes.
- The Adventures of Spot episodes were revoiced by Jane Horrocks. Additionally, the original Duncan Lamont music was replaced with new tracks written with KiCK Productions, used for the Spot's Musical Adventures series. It will come as no surprise if the voices and music in the re-release of the It's Fun to Learn With Spot episodes are changed as well.
US/UK differences
- The US releases of the show are revoiced. Jonathan Taylor ThomasJonathan Taylor ThomasJonathan Taylor Thomas is an American actor, voice actor, former child star, and teen idol...
(whose credentials include Young SimbaSimbaSimba is a lion character and the protagonist of Disney's most successful animated feature film, The Lion King. He is the son of Mufasa and Sarabi, nephew of Scar, mate of Nala, and father of Kiara. He has golden fur and when he grows into an adult, he has an auburn mane...
in The Lion KingThe Lion KingThe Lion King is a 1994 American animated film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It is the 32nd feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series...
and the TV show Home Improvement) did the voice of Spot throughout The Adventures of Spot, Ryan O'DonohueRyan O'DonohueRyan Sean O'Donohue is an American voice actor, most notable for his performances in many Disney projects.O'Donohue began his acting career at the age of nine when he played Zeke Byrd on the 1994 ABC drama Byrds of Paradise, filmed in Hawaii. The show was cancelled after a 13-episode run despite...
did the voice of Spot in the specials, and Haley Joel OsmentHaley Joel OsmentHaley Joel Osment is an American actor. After a series of roles in television and film during the 1990s, including a small part in Forrest Gump playing Tom Hanks' title character’s son, Osment rose to fame with his performance as Cole Sear in M...
(known for his the role as Cole Sear in The Sixth SenseThe Sixth SenseThe Sixth Sense is a 1999 American psychological thriller film written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan. The film tells the story of Cole Sear , a troubled, isolated boy who is able to see and talk to the dead, and an equally troubled child psychologist who tries to help him...
) did the voice of Spot in Disney's release of Spot's Musical Adventures (which was released as Discover Spot) in the US. The other characters were voiced by Corey BurtonCorey BurtonCorey Burton is an American voice actor, perhaps best known as Count Dooku, Ziro the Hutt and Cad Bane in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Brainiac in the DC animated universe and Spike Witwicky and Shockwave in the Transformers universe...
, Linda GaryLinda GaryLinda Gary was an American voice actor and voice-over artist, who has worked on multiple animated projects.-Personal life:Linda Gary Dewoskin was born in California on November 4, 1944....
(only used in the first five videos), Tress MacNeilleTress MacNeilleTress MacNeille is an American voice actress best known for providing various voices on the animated series The Simpsons, Futurama, Tiny Toon Adventures, Animaniacs, Disney's House of Mouse, Courage the Cowardly Dog, Rugrats, All Grown Up!, Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers, and Dave the...
, and Jim CummingsJim CummingsJames Jonah "Jim" Cummings is an American voice actor who has appeared in almost 100 roles. He has appeared in classic animated movies such as Aladdin and The Lion King, as well as taking on roles in more current films, such as Bee Movie, Princess and the Frog, and Winnie the Pooh.-Personal...
. - Mr. Kangaroo in the US version was changed to a rabbit named William in the UK version. His original name and style, however, can be found on the Spot DVDs.
Music
The intro song for the show has been performed and written by various artists over the years. The original intro song, used in the UK episodes of The Adventures of Spot and It's Fun to Learn With Spot from 1986 to 2000, was written by Duncan Lamont and performed by Paul NicholasPaul Nicholas
Paul Nicholas is an English actor and singer who has had considerable success on stage, screen and in the pop charts.-Biography:Nicholas was born as Paul Oscar Beuselinck in Peterborough, England...
. From 2000 onwards, the revamped intro song, used in the UK revoiced episodes of The Adventures of Spot, It's Fun to Learn With Spot, and Spot's Musical Adventures, was written by KiCK productions and performed by Andrew Brenner
Andrew Brenner
Andrew O. Brenner is a member of the Ohio House of Representatives representing the Second District since 2011.-Life and career:A graduate of Ohio State University, Brenner was elected as Delaware County Recorder in 2004.-Recorders Office:...
. The intro song in the Disney version was written and performed by Dave Kinnoin and has been used since 1993.
Spot in the Park with the Flowerpot Gang
Released in Australia by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation(ABC) in the early 2000s, Spot in the Park with the Flowerpot Gang consists of 26 nursery rhymes. Apparently, it is no longer published.Tracks:
- ABC Concert Theme
- Spot Theme
- Old MacDonald Had A Farm
- Mary Had A Little Lamb
- Ring A Ring A Rosie
- Happy Little Flower Pot
- Nick Nack Paddy Wack
- Hooray!
- Tip Toe
- Shake
- Statues In The Park
- Little Bo-Peep
- Farmer In The Dell
- Baa Baa Black Sheep
- Hickory Dickory Dock
- Doing The Hop!
- Can You Do What Kristy Can?
- Incy Wincy Spider
- Heel And Toe
- If You're Happy And You Know It
- Spot Says
- Mary Mary Quite Contrary
- Sing A Song Of Sixpence
- Humpy Dumpty
- Hey Diddle Diddle
- ABC Concert Theme (2)
Spot's First Play Songs
Another CD of nursery rhymes. It is published by Genius Entertainment and is also available in a boxed set called "Spot's Favorite Toddler Tunes".Tracks:
- One, Two, I Love You
- The Alphabet Song
- If You're Happy & You Know It
- Say, Say, Oh Playmate
- Ring Around The Rosey
- The Green Grass Grows All AroundAnd The Green Grass Grew All AroundAnd The Green Grass Grows All Around, also known as The Green Grass Grew All Around is a song that was first published in 1912, with words by William Jerome and melody by Harry Von Tilzer. Today it is a popular children's song, and a good example of a cumulative song.There are many variations of...
- Humpty Dumpty
- Do You Know The Muffin Man
- Mary Had A Little Lamb
- Hickory Dickory Dock
- Hot Cross Buns
- One, Tow, Buckle My Shoe
- Skip To My Lou
- Pop! Goes The Weasel
Spot's Farmyard Friends
Yet another CD of nursery rhymes. It is also published by Genius Entertainment and is also available in a boxed set called "Spot's Favorite Toddler Tunes".Tracks:
- Old Mcdonald Had A Farm
- I Bought Me A Cat
- Farmer In The Dell
- Turkey In The Straw
- Did You Ever See A Lassie?
- Itsy Bitsy Spider
- The Ants Go Marching
- Buffalo Gals
- Three Blind Mice
- Shoo Fly
- All The Pretty Horses
- Oats, Peas, Beans And Barley GrowOats Peas Beans and Barley GrowOats Peas Beans and Barley Grow is a traditional British and American folk song, 1380 in the Roud Folk Song Index.The tune normally used, goes by the name "Baltimore" and appears in Joshua Cushing's book "The Fifer's Companion" . The sleevenotes to "The Wild Mountain Thyme" claim that the tune was...
- The Fox
- Kookaburra
Spot's Classics For Growing Minds
Bidding on the success of the controversial Mozart EffectMozart effect
The Mozart effect can refer to: * A set of research results that indicate that listening to Mozart's music may induce a short-term improvement on the performance of certain kinds of mental tasks known as "spatial-temporal...
, Spot's Classics For Growing Minds contains 12 classical numbers from various classical composers. It is also published by Genius Entertainment and is also available in a boxed set called "Spot's Favorite Toddler Tunes".
Tracks:
- W.A. MozartWolfgang Amadeus MozartWolfgang Amadeus Mozart , baptismal name Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart , was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical era. He composed over 600 works, many acknowledged as pinnacles of symphonic, concertante, chamber, piano, operatic, and choral music...
/ Menuetto From Symphony No. 19 - LangeGustav LangeGustav Lange was a German composer.He was born in Schwerstedt, near Erfurt, Prussian Saxony, in 1830. He produced a large number of works, most of which were light and popular. The piano solos, Edelweiss , and Blumenlied Gustav Lange (13 August 1830 – 20 July 1889) was a German composer.He...
/ Der Kleine Postilion - BeethovenLudwig van BeethovenLudwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential composers of all time.Born in Bonn, then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of...
/ Minuet No. 2 From Eleven Dances - W.A. Mozart / Molto Allegro From Symphony N0. 40
- W.A. Mozart / Minuet In G
- W.A. Mozart / Allegro From Horn Concerto No. 3
- J.S. BachJohann Sebastian BachJohann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
/ Allegro From Concerto No. 3 - Beethoven / Für Elise
- W.A. Mozart / No. 1 From Three German Dances, K. 605
- Beethoven / Minuet No. 4 From Eleven Dances
- J.S. Bach / Allegro-Assai From Concerto No. 2
- W.A. Mozart / Rondo Alla Turca
- J.S. Bach / Allegro From Concerto No. 5
Spot on CD-ROMs
Two Spot CD-ROM titles are currently available. They are published by EuropressEuropress
Europress was a British magazine and software publisher. Their magazine publishing business was previously known as Database Publications.-History:...
in Europe and Hasbro
Hasbro
Hasbro is a multinational toy and boardgame company from the United States of America. It is one of the largest toy makers in the world. The corporate headquarters is located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States...
in the US. Both titles runs on both Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
(Windows 95 or NT4 or newer) and Apple Macintosh (Os 8 up to OS 9.2.2, and in classic mode from PowerPC Mac OS X up until Mac OS X Leopard) computers. It should be noted that the PowerPC Mac version of the software would not run on newer Intel-based Macs as these newer Macs do not support classic PowerPC or 68k binaries, nor would they run on PowerPC Mac OS X Leopard-based PowerPC Macs as Leopard has dropped support for the classic environment the titles run on.
Spot's Busy Day
Consisting of 4 independent stories and 4 activities accessible from the main screen, Spot goes to school, plays with a ball, bakes a cake and amuses himself on a rainy day. Activities includes Jigsaw puzzles, painting, cake decorating and scene creation.Spot and his Friends
Another 4 independent stories and activities accessible from the main screen. Spot visits the farm, goes to the beach, goes to the fair and goes to a party. Activities include scene creation, sandcastle building, and dressing Spot up for the party.Combo packs
The above two titles are also sold in a combo pack consisting of both CDs. Additionally, Spot's Busy Day also ships in a pack with a plush.Spot Goes to School
This iPad title also includes a mini game (based on one of the pages of the story) where the player returns things to their original places on a table. This electronic edition was first published in 2010 by the Penguin Group.Spot: the Ride
It is said that the ride did not do well in the UK, mainly because the ride was more train than Spot, and the figure of Spot was so diminished that many children failed to spot him.
Rumor has it that another different Spot kiddie ride design exists and was manufactured in Australia, however, suggesting that the ride did fare better in Australia. The design of the ride is said to be in the guise of Spot sitting in a reindeer sleigh (likely modeled after the sleigh shown in Spot's Magical Christmas, which belonged to Santa Claus
Santa Claus
Santa Claus is a folklore figure in various cultures who distributes gifts to children, normally on Christmas Eve. Each name is a variation of Saint Nicholas, but refers to Santa Claus...
), and the child would sit next to Spot. However, no solid account of such ride being manufactured could be found.
Units from both UK and Australia have been exported worldwide.
External links
- Official site
- TV.com Spot episode guides
- Toonhound's record on Spot
- Spot Game Manufacturer
- http://home.comcast.net/~spotedog/ An American Folk music group from the Pacific Northwest Region of the United States