The Fairies
Encyclopedia
The Fairies is an Australian television
show based on two fairies
: Harmony and Rhapsody. They also have friends, including Elf, the Fairycake maker, Barnaby, the Bizzy Buzzy Bee and "Wizzy the Wizard".
The Fairies was created and written by Jen Watts.
The creator of the show was inspired by her daughter's obsession with glitter and fairies.
The producers replaced the actress of Harmony, the golden fairy, and Elf. These two characters were replaced by younger looking adults. The little tots were also reduced to three. These changes were done to boost the popularity of the show as a multi-million dollar 26 part television series that was in production. In November 2005, The Fairies came to television for the first time, airing on the Seven Network
in Australia, going into a 9am time slot. This series was directed by Mat King and produced by David Hancock.
The Fairies was made more realistic and magical, making it more like a fantasy drama for children. New Zealand
-based WETA Workshop (the outfit behind the special effect
s used in King Kong
and The Lord of the Rings
) designed the sets. Also, the actors were replaced, except for Elf. Harmony, who was the Golden Fairy, and Rhapsody, the Rainbow, were also changed into more 'girly colours'. Elf and Barnaby's costumes were also changed. Elf looked more 'Elfy' and Barnaby lost some of his legs. A new principal character, Wizzy the Wizard was introduced to add mayhem to the storylines. The tots costumes and actors were also revamped, now making them more cheeky, and dressing them to look more sophisticated.
Season One of The Fairies was repeated in April 2006 on the Seven Network, going back into the 9am time slot.
In 2007, The Fairies' second TV series was produced, and aired on the Seven Network from 23 April. Directed by Mark Evans and produced by David Hancock with Jen Watts as Executive Producer. With two new characters, Bubbles the Beach Fairy and Twinkle the Tooth Fairy, the magic of the concept continues.
In 2009, The Fairies filmed their third series at new premises in South Australia, filming Nursery Rhymes and Christmas Carols in Fairyland DVDs at the same time. Tait Muller directed Series 3, with Jen Watts Producer. The series broadcast on Seven in June and November and will debut on Nickelodeon on 1 February 2010.
A related company of The Fairies television series has just launced The Fairies Franchise, which aims to duplicate its successful corporately-owned concept stores internationally. Concept Stores offer fairy and wizard birthday parties, dancing lessons, holiday programs and extensive retail with The Fairies branded products.
Sales of the DVDs in Australia have now topped 400,000 units; over 650,000 books have been sold, and The Fairies albums have been nominated for four ARIAs for Best Children's Album. The international market is looking on the concept as one with many, many legs.
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
show based on two fairies
Fairy
A fairy is a type of mythical being or legendary creature, a form of spirit, often described as metaphysical, supernatural or preternatural.Fairies resemble various beings of other mythologies, though even folklore that uses the term...
: Harmony and Rhapsody. They also have friends, including Elf, the Fairycake maker, Barnaby, the Bizzy Buzzy Bee and "Wizzy the Wizard".
The Fairies was created and written by Jen Watts.
History
The history of the show started in 2000 with Harmony, Rhapsody, Barnaby, Elf and 4 Tots. The producers of the series made two straight to video releases.The creator of the show was inspired by her daughter's obsession with glitter and fairies.
The producers replaced the actress of Harmony, the golden fairy, and Elf. These two characters were replaced by younger looking adults. The little tots were also reduced to three. These changes were done to boost the popularity of the show as a multi-million dollar 26 part television series that was in production. In November 2005, The Fairies came to television for the first time, airing on the Seven Network
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
in Australia, going into a 9am time slot. This series was directed by Mat King and produced by David Hancock.
The Fairies was made more realistic and magical, making it more like a fantasy drama for children. New Zealand
New Zealand
New 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...
-based WETA Workshop (the outfit behind the special effect
Special effect
The illusions used in the film, television, theatre, or entertainment industries to simulate the imagined events in a story are traditionally called special effects ....
s used in King Kong
King Kong
King Kong is a fictional character, a giant movie monster resembling a gorilla, that has appeared in several movies since 1933. These include the groundbreaking 1933 movie, the film remakes of 1976 and 2005, as well as various sequels of the first two films...
and The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings film trilogy
The Lord of the Rings is an epic film trilogy consisting of three fantasy adventure films based on the three-volume book of the same name by English author J. R. R. Tolkien. The films are The Fellowship of the Ring , The Two Towers and The Return of the King .The films were directed by Peter...
) designed the sets. Also, the actors were replaced, except for Elf. Harmony, who was the Golden Fairy, and Rhapsody, the Rainbow, were also changed into more 'girly colours'. Elf and Barnaby's costumes were also changed. Elf looked more 'Elfy' and Barnaby lost some of his legs. A new principal character, Wizzy the Wizard was introduced to add mayhem to the storylines. The tots costumes and actors were also revamped, now making them more cheeky, and dressing them to look more sophisticated.
Season One of The Fairies was repeated in April 2006 on the Seven Network, going back into the 9am time slot.
In 2007, The Fairies' second TV series was produced, and aired on the Seven Network from 23 April. Directed by Mark Evans and produced by David Hancock with Jen Watts as Executive Producer. With two new characters, Bubbles the Beach Fairy and Twinkle the Tooth Fairy, the magic of the concept continues.
In 2009, The Fairies filmed their third series at new premises in South Australia, filming Nursery Rhymes and Christmas Carols in Fairyland DVDs at the same time. Tait Muller directed Series 3, with Jen Watts Producer. The series broadcast on Seven in June and November and will debut on Nickelodeon on 1 February 2010.
A related company of The Fairies television series has just launced The Fairies Franchise, which aims to duplicate its successful corporately-owned concept stores internationally. Concept Stores offer fairy and wizard birthday parties, dancing lessons, holiday programs and extensive retail with The Fairies branded products.
Sales of the DVDs in Australia have now topped 400,000 units; over 650,000 books have been sold, and The Fairies albums have been nominated for four ARIAs for Best Children's Album. The international market is looking on the concept as one with many, many legs.