King Rollo

1 9 8 0 (UK)
13 x 5 minute episodes

Children’s animation series from the BBC based on the King Rollo storybooks, written and animated by David McKee.

Rollo was a comic-reading child-like King, always in need of advice and assistance from his friends the Magician, Cook, Queen Gwen and King Frank.

Rollo was also accompanied by his cat, Hamlet, who was arguably wiser than Rollo himself.

In one episode (The Dog), King Frank and his dog came to visit King Rollo and the visit caused havoc, with the dog scaring Hamlet the Cat, messing up Cook’s clean floor, breaking a potion bottle in the Magician’s room and chasing King Rollo and King Frank all over the park.

In The Bath, King Rollo is tricked into a bath by Cook and the Magician (the mother and father figures of the programme) –  Rollo won’t stop playing outside until the Magician craftily orders a toy boat. King Rollo falls for the ruse and is quickly in the bath playing with his new toy.

The animations used the same distinctive colourful cut-out paper look as McKee’s other works, such as Mr Benn.

Narrator
Ray Brooks
Music
Duncan Lamont

Episodes

The Bread | The New Shoes | The Dog | The Comic | The Bath | The Breakfast | King Frank | The Dishes | The Balloons | The Tree | The Birthday | The Search | The Playroom