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Sarah & Duck

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Sarah & Duck
The eponymous main characters, Sarah (left), and Duck (right)
GenreAdventure
Created bySarah Gomes Harris
Tim O'Sullivan
Directed byTim O'Sullivan
Voices ofTasha Lawrence
Lesley Nicol
Andy Nyman
Pete Gallagher
David Carling
Tim O'Sullivan
Narrated byRoger Allam
ComposerTanera Dawkins & Tim O'Sullivan
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series3
No. of episodes120 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producersChris White
Alison Stewart
ProducerJamie Badminton
EditorsGraham Silcock (series 1)
Mark Edwards (series 2)
Michele Chiappa (series 3)
Running time7 minutes
Production companyKarrot Animation
Original release
NetworkCBeebies
Release18 February 2013 (2013-02-18) –
15 December 2017 (2017-12-15)

Sarah & Duck is a British animated children's television series created by Sarah Gomes Harris and Tim O'Sullivan,[1] and produced by Karrot Animation for the BBC.[2] Though designed as a story-driven animation primarily targeted at 4 to 6 year old children since premiering at the MIPCOM trade show in 2012,[3] the series has a small adult following.[4][5]

Sarah & Duck was first broadcast on the UK channel CBeebies on 18 February 2013.[6] A total of 120 episodes have been commissioned, with 40 each for Series 1, 2, and 3.[7][8] The third series started in October 2016.

Premise

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The series follows Sarah, a very kind and polite seven-year-old girl with big eyes, rosy cheeks and a green hat,[9] and her best friend Duck, a mallard. The central theme is the relationship between these two characters and the adventures they have together. CBeebies states that the show has two learning themes: "friendship and imagination" and "problem solving".[10]

[edit]

Sarah and Duck is an animated series about empathy. Each five-minute story is told with humour and joy, about the friendship of a wide-eyed girl, her pet duck, and their adventures. Sarah and Duck laugh and sing, and play all kinds of games with their friends as they learn to deal with the emotions of childhood.

Episodes

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Main article: List of Sarah & Duck episodes
SeriesEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
14018 February 2013 (2013-02-18)19 December 2013 (2013-12-19)
24011 August 2014 (2014-08-11)15 December 2015 (2015-12-15)
34018 October 2016 (2016-10-18)15 December 2017 (2017-12-15)

Cast and characters

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Main

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Name Voice cast[11] About
Sarah Tasha Lawrence[12] Sarah is a very kind, polite and somewhat eccentric seven year old girl. She is best friends with Duck. She plays the tuba, likes sea cows (manatees), and drinks "lemon water".
Duck N/A Duck is Sarah's quacky, flappy best friend. He has a penchant for eating bread.
Narrator Roger Allam[13] The Narrator talks to Sarah and Duck, asks them questions and gives them suggestions, giving them a more nuanced approach to certain challenges.
Scarf Lady Lesley Nicol[14] Scarf Lady is a forgetful old lady who loves knitting. She lives in a house full of woollen items. She has a talking knitting bag and a pet donkey.
Bag Andy Nyman Bag is Scarf Lady's knitting bag. He corrects Scarf Lady when she gets confused and has a snarky attitude.
Donkey N/A Donkey is Scarf Lady's pet. He looks sad but isn't really.

Other characters

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  • John is Sarah's Japanese friend voiced by Luca Pilkington Massey.[citation needed]
  • Flamingo is John's friend, as Duck is to Sarah.[citation needed]
  • The Shallots are planted by Sarah and Duck. There are three similar-sized and one tiny one. The three repeat the same phrase when spoken to while the tiny one says a variation thereof. They live in Sarah's front garden by the door, and are voiced by Tim O'Sullivan and Tony Clarke.[citation needed]
  • Rainbow makes friends with Sarah and Duck after a rain shower. He is very ticklish, and voiced by David Carling.[citation needed]
  • Moon first meets Sarah and Duck at the Big Shop when he is heading to work at night. He is voiced by Pete Gallagher.[citation needed]
  • Venus is a good friend of Moon and normally Sarah only sees her at night. She is played by Hilary Maclean.[citation needed]
  • Mars, a gruff Sergeant Major type character, joins Moon and Venus from time to time. Voiced by Tim O'Sullivan.[citation needed]
  • Hat Lady (or Hattie) is Scarf Lady's old sporting rival and runs the local hat museum. Like her arch-nemesis Scarf Lady, she is voiced by Lesley Nicol.[citation needed]
  • Umbrella is scared of the rain and voiced by Jamie Oram.[citation needed]
  • Bug is a large ladybird that lives in Sarah and Duck's house plant and collects buttons.[citation needed]
  • The Cloud Captain is a French engineer who operates the weather system from a tower within the local park, voiced by Derek Griffiths.[citation needed]
  • The Ribbon Sisters are Sarah and Duck's quiet next-door neighbours, who are identical twins. They're told about by their differently coloured sunglasses. They like to play with ribbons and are voiced by Kiki Brooks.[citation needed]
  • Scooter Boy is boy who brings a scooter wherever he goes, and is very safety conscious. He is voiced by Dylan Issberner.[citation needed]
  • Plate Girl is a girl who has a habit of carrying a plate with her at all times. She is voiced by Yaeli Miller.[citation needed]
  • Cake is a living cake created by Sarah who helps bake. She is voiced by Andy Nyman.[citation needed]
  • Bread Man runs the local bakery, which Sarah and especially Duck like to visit. He is voiced by David Carling.[citation needed]
  • Bus Man operates the bus which often takes Sarah and Scarf Lady to regular destinations such as the Zoo and the Big Shop.
  • Tortoise is slow and easily scared. His shell has windows so that he can look out. He doesn't speak.[citation needed]
  • Leftover Wool is a bundle of wool that sits patiently in Scarf Lady's wool room, and is voiced by Andy Nyman.[citation needed]
  • Poetry Pete is a poet first featured on one of Scarf Lady's LPs. He is voiced by Simon Callow.[citation needed]
  • Comet is an old friend of Moon, Mars and Venus who has lost his memory on his last visit to Earth. He is voiced by Sylvester McCoy.

Production

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The series is produced using computer-assisted animation[broken anchor] techniques and the Adobe After Effects[15] and CelAction2D[16] packages.

A second series began airing on 11 August 2014.

On 17 June 2015 it was renewed for a third series [17] which aired starting the 18 October 2016 on CBeebies.

Broadcast

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BBC Worldwide have secured global distribution and merchandising rights for the new show and airs it to BBC Worldwide's network of channels.[18] On 19 August 2013, Sarah & Duck was first broadcast in the U.S. on Sprout. The first series of Sarah & Duck was also broadcast in Japan (NHK), Norway (NRK), Sweden (SVT), Denmark (DR), Finland (YLE), Germany (KiKa), Portugal (RTP), Iceland (RUV), the Netherlands (NPO), and the Israel (Hop! Channel). [19] In Canada it is broadcast on the Family Jr. channel.[20] In Australia, it is also broadcast on ABC Kids. On 12 February 2016, Sarah & Duck was made available in Mexico on Netflix but left Netflix on 12 August 2018[21] without ever airing episodes made in 2017–2018. In 2023, the show's Licensing and Merchandise rights reverted to Karrot Entertainment, and 8 new shorts premiered on CBeebies UK.

DVD Releases

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Release No. Release Name Episodes Number and duration R2 release date
1 Lots of Shallots and other stories Lots of Shallots, Sarah Duck & the Penguin, Cheer Up Donkey, Cake Bake, Scarf Lady's House, Robot Juice, Bouncy Ball, Rainbow Lemon, Sit Shop, Kite Flight 70 mins 17 February 2014[22]
2 Doubles and other stories Doubles, Umbrella and the Rain, Big Shop, Woollen Music, Fairground, Sarah Gets a Cold, Ribbon Sisters, Stargazing, Coloured Light, Strawberry Souffle 70 mins 8 September 2014[23]
3 Balloon Race and other stories Balloon Race, Camera, Tapping Shoes, Fireworks Dance, Fancy Park, Pipe Conductor, Slow Quest, World Bread Day, Pond Princess, Puncture Pump[24] 70 mins 16 February 2015[25]
4 Petal Light Picking and other stories Petal Light Picking, Bobsleigh, Plate Fog, Scared of Stairs, Moon Paint, The Play, Bread Bike, Bug's Button Bank, No More Wool, Octogon Club[26] 70 mins 19 October 2015[27]
5 Cloud Tower and other stories Cloud Tower, Outside Outside, Umbrella Bubbles, Sound Jumble, The Mouse's Birthday, Tortoise Snooze, Fast Slow Bungalow, Bags of Bags, Ribbon Fall, Garden Gaming[28] 70 mins 15 February 2016[29]
6 Duck Hotel and other stories Duck Hotel, Origami Overload, Shallot Circus, Toy Tidy, Plate Escape, The Big Sleepover, Paisley Sea, Duck's Quack, Rainbow's Niece, Decorating Donkey[30] 70 mins 16 May 2016[31]
7 Beach Break and other stories Beach Break, Parasol Show, Extra Bounce, Cake Relocate, Lost Librarian, Scooter Stand Still, Music Fixer, Wool on Wheels, Lemon Cafe, Star Renovation[32] 70 mins 25 July 2016[33]
8 Duck Flies and other stories Duck Flies, Seacow Snowtrail, Woolly Memories, Bubble Bumbling, Toggle Tangle, Tummy Talk, Moon's Exhibition, Pond Prose, The Art of Pink, Bug Bop[34] 70 mins 17 October 2016[35]
9 Train Fudge and other stories Train Fudge, Picture Planes, Hat Fuss, Dewy Morning, Sticker Swap, Magic Panic, Birthday Buoy, Alarm Clock, Twang Ball, Auto Cat[36] 70 mins 20 February 2017[36]
10 Constable Quack and other stories Constable Quack, Fluff Bread, Moonbow, Bench Blocked, Planetarium Aquarium, Shallot Boat, Cake Decorate, Balloon Barnacles, Basking Shark, Old Toys[37] 70 mins 2 October 2017[38]
11 Brolly Bus and other stories Brolly Bus, Rainbow Race, Hair Cut, Arcade Dance Off, Mars as Moon, Donkey Jump, Castle Scribbling, Haber Dasher, Cloud Jam, Pillow Fill[39] 70 mins 12 February 2018[40]
12 Snowball Skate and other stories Snowball Skate, Mountain Mints, Comet's Coming, Perimeter Pals, Hedge Opera, Boo Night, Park Trimming, Whatsathingy, Cinema Scoot, Ribbon Alvida[41] 73 mins 8 October 2018[42]

Reception

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A pilot for Sarah & Duck was first aired at the Cartoon Forum 2010[43] where it was warmly received. The series was an immediate hit in the UK, and the first four episodes were the most popular pre-school programmes of their week on the BBC catch-up TV service, iPlayer.[44]

The first episode 'Lots of Shallots' was part of the official selection for the 2013 Annecy International Animated Film Festival.[45]

In October 2013 Sarah & Duck was nominated for the British Academy Children's Award for Pre-School Animation.[46] The award went to Timmy Time.

In January 2014 Sarah & Duck was nominated in the pre-school category of the British Animation Awards.[47]

In November 2014, with a second nomination, Sarah & Duck won the British Academy Children's Award for Pre-School Animation.[48]

In February 2017, it was tied in the Kidscreen Award for best animated series with Doc McStuffins.[49]

Stage version

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A live stage production called "Sarah and Duck's Big Top Birthday" was performed by Millenium Entertainment International beginning May 2018[50] and ending in 2023.[51]


References

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  1. ^ "Sarah and Duck official site". Karrot Entertainment. 2010. Retrieved 9 April 2010.
  2. ^ "Sarah & Duck CBeebies latest hit!". Skwigly. 26 February 2010. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
  3. ^ Siti Syameen Md Khalili (3 December 2012). "Trends: Connecting through humour". New Straits Times. Archived from the original on 3 December 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  4. ^ "Sarah & Duck has kidnapped my heart – call it Stockholm syndrome if you will". the Guardian. 18 October 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  5. ^ ""Sarah and Duck": TV Review". Cartoon Brew. 27 June 2010. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  6. ^ BBC Media Centre (2013). "Roger Allam and Lesley Nicol provide voice talent as Sarah & Duck waddles onto CBeebies". BBC. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  7. ^ Charlotte Scarborough. "Sarah & Duck Series Two commissioned by BBC Worldwide for CBeebies international network". Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  8. ^ Karrot Animation (18 June 2015). "Sarah & Duck Series Three commissioned". Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  9. ^ Steve Henderson (2013). "Sarah & Duck – CBeebies latest hit!". Skwigly. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  10. ^ "BBC - CBeebies - Grown-ups - Sarah & Duck". Archived from the original on 15 April 2013. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
  11. ^ "Toonhound - Sarah and Duck". Retrieved 18 April 2013.
  12. ^ "Mid Sussex Times - Haywards Heath's Tasha voices new CBeebies animation". 14 February 2013. Retrieved 18 April 2013. Seven-year-old schoolgirl Tasha Lawrence is getting ready for vocal stardom as she breathes life into the lead character of Sarah from brand new CBeebies' animation Sarah & Duck... It features the adventures of a seven year old girl, Sarah.
  13. ^ "BBC - Media Centre - Roger Allam and Lesley Nicol provide voice talent as Sarah & Duck waddles onto CBeebies". Retrieved 25 March 2013.
  14. ^ "Lesley Nicol - Curriculum Vitae". Retrieved 18 April 2013.
  15. ^ "Karrot Animation expands 2D possibilities". Adobe Systems. 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  16. ^ "Sarah and Duck premieres on CBeebies UK". Karrot Animation. 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  17. ^ Patrick Callan. "Sarah & Duck gets third season". Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  18. ^ "BBC Press Office - BBC Worldwide commissions Sarah & Duck for CBeebies around the world".
  19. ^ "On Screen Asia: BBC Worldwide commissions "Sarah & Duck" S2 for CBeebies". Retrieved 27 January 2014.
  20. ^ "Sarah and Duck". FamilyJr.Ca.
  21. ^ "Titles Leaving Netflix in August 2018". 16 July 2018. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  22. ^ @Sarah_and_Duck (17 February 2014). "Our 1st UK DVD is out today! Grab one at BBC Shop and Sainsburys !" (Tweet). Retrieved 12 May 2017 – via Twitter.
  23. ^ @Sarah_and_Duck (8 September 2014). "Our new DVD (Vol. 2) is out today!Amazon (£5.00)- BBC Shop (£5.99)-" (Tweet). Retrieved 12 May 2017 – via Twitter.
  24. ^ @Sarah_and_Duck (16 February 2015). "Check out our new DVD's Packaging (UK)- out now!Amazon UK -BBC Shop -" (Tweet). Retrieved 12 May 2017 – via Twitter.
  25. ^ @Sarah_and_Duck (16 February 2015). "Our new 'Balloon Race' DVD is out today, including our @BAFTA winning episode 'Pipe Conductor!' Have you got yours?" (Tweet). Retrieved 12 May 2017 – via Twitter.
  26. ^ "Sarah & Duck: Petal Light Picking and Other Stories - HMV". Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  27. ^ @Sarah_and_Duck (19 October 2015). "Our 4th DVD is out now, meaning UK fans can now own all of 'Sarah & Duck Series One' on DVD!" (Tweet). Retrieved 12 May 2017 – via Twitter.
  28. ^ @Sarah_and_Duck (18 February 2016). "Our latest DVD is back in stock at @BBCShop Grab your copy of 'Cloud Tower' for just £5.99!" (Tweet). Retrieved 12 May 2017 – via Twitter.
  29. ^ @Sarah_and_Duck (15 February 2016). "Hurrah, It's New DVD Day!! Grab your copy right now from Amazon for £6.99>" (Tweet). Retrieved 12 May 2017 – via Twitter.
  30. ^ @Sarah_and_Duck (13 May 2016). "Unboxing! This is out in UK on Monday & includes some of our most requested eps!Order here:" (Tweet). Retrieved 12 May 2017 – via Twitter.
  31. ^ @Sarah_and_Duck (9 May 2016). "Our Duck Hotel UK DVD is out next week! Pre-order yours for release day- £5.99 at this link>" (Tweet). Retrieved 12 May 2017 – via Twitter.
  32. ^ @Sarah_and_Duck (27 July 2016). "Here's the packaging for our new 'Beach Break' DVD - £4.99 on Amazon at time of writing!!" (Tweet). Retrieved 12 May 2017 – via Twitter.
  33. ^ @Sarah_and_Duck (25 July 2016). "It's New DVD day - Grab your copy of the very summery 'Beach Break' now!" (Tweet). Retrieved 12 May 2017 – via Twitter.
  34. ^ @Sarah_and_Duck (17 October 2016). "It's new DVD day! Have you got yours yet?Amazon :HMV :" (Tweet). Retrieved 12 May 2017 – via Twitter.
  35. ^ @Sarah_and_Duck (17 October 2016). "It's new DVD day! Have you got yours yet?Amazon :HMV :" (Tweet). Retrieved 12 May 2017 – via Twitter.
  36. ^ a b @Sarah_and_Duck (20 February 2017). "Look what just arrived at Sarah & Duck HQ - our 9th DVD. Out today! (Order: Amazon UK or HM…" (Tweet). Retrieved 12 May 2017 – via Twitter.
  37. ^ "Sarah & Duck: Constable Quack and Other Stories - HMV". Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  38. ^ @Sarah_and_Duck (2 October 2017). "Our 10th DVD is out now and you can purchase your copy just here:" (Tweet). Retrieved 20 November 2017 – via Twitter.
  39. ^ "Sarah & Duck: Brolly Bus and Other Stories - HMV". 12 February 2018. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  40. ^ @Sarah_and_Duck (5 February 2018). "Here's your complete look at the packaging for our new 'Brolly Bus' DVD! Pre-order before next Monday's release dat…" (Tweet). Retrieved 19 October 2018 – via Twitter.
  41. ^ "Sarah & Duck: Snowball Skate and Other Stories - HMV". 8 October 2018. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  42. ^ @Sarah_and_Duck (10 October 2018). "Hullo to all our friends in the UK!You can now complete your Sarah & Duck DVD collection with this week's release…" (Tweet). Retrieved 19 October 2018 – via Twitter.
  43. ^ "Karrot Annimation - Sarah and Duck launches at cartoon forum". Archived from the original on 8 March 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  44. ^ "Karrot Animation - Sarah & Duck make the top four slots on BBC iPlayer". Retrieved 18 April 2013.
  45. ^ "Annecy - Official Selection". Retrieved 18 April 2013.
  46. ^ "British Academy Children's Awards listing". Retrieved 27 January 2014.
  47. ^ "Bill Nighy nominated for British Animation Award". BBC News. 22 January 2014. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
  48. ^ "British Academy Children's Awards listing". Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  49. ^ "And the 2017 Kidscreen Awards winners are..."
  50. ^ @KingGeorgesHall (13 February 2018). "Join @Sarah_and_Duck and a host of your favorite friends including The Ribbon Sisters, The Shallots, Flamingo & Joh…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  51. ^ "Tour Dates".
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