# Kipper (TV series)

Kipper is a British preschool animated children's television series based on the characters from Mick Inkpen's Kipper the Dog picture book series. Seventy-eight episodes were produced. The videos have won awards including a BAFTA award for best children's animation. The show was produced by HIT Entertainment with animation production by Grand Slamm Children's Films, and ran for five seasons on ITV from September 1997 until December 2000. Out of these, thirteen episodes - twelve of the first series, and the last of the third series, were written by Mick Inkpen himself.

## Premise

The series follows Kipper the Dog as he embarks on various adventures to an assortment of destinations throughout the English countryside. He is joined by friends, Tiger, Pig, Arnold, and Jake.

### Characters

* Kipper (voiced by Martin Clunes) is a fun-loving, caring and warm-hearted dog with a soft voice who is the titular character of the series. He embodies the true essence of what it means to carpe diem. He is also very selfless, even though he hoards lots of small belongings like books and toys. Kipper is a Jack Russell terrier who has many exciting encounters with his friends.
* Tiger (voiced by Chris Lang) is Kipper's best friend. He is more realistic, practical, and wise than Kipper with a tendency to think long term. Sometimes Tiger can be very smug and haughty, even though he really is a kind dog at heart. Tiger is a Scottish terrier.
* Pig (voiced by Chris Lang) is Kipper's second best friend. Pig is very outgoing, but loves normalcy and gets easily irritated by anything strange or mysterious. He likes to eat chocolate cake and biscuits.
* Arnold (voiced by Chris Lang) is Pig's live-in toddler cousin and Kipper's third best friend. Even though Arnold cannot talk, he is actually more curious, observant, and intelligent than Pig. He can still say easy words like "duck" and "igloo".
* Jake (voiced by Chris Lang) is a friendly Old English sheepdog who is Kipper's fourth best friend. He is a minor character in the first series who makes more regular appearances after joining the main characters in the second series where he, Kipper, and Tiger have had many adventures together.
* Mr. Frog (voiced by Chris Lang) is a magic frog who occasionally runs into Kipper.
* The Bleeper People (voiced by Chris Lang) are two space aliens who live on the moon.
* Mouse (voiced by Julia Sawalha, credited as Julie Sawalha in later appearances) is a young female mouse who lives with Kipper at his house. She speaks with an English accent and is the only female character who appears in the series.

## Episodes

| Series | Series | Episodes | Originally aired | Originally aired |
| Series | Series | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
| | 1 | 13 | 5 September 1997 (1997-09-05) | 28 November 1997 (1997-11-28) |
| | 2 | 13 | 24 September 1998 (1998-09-24) | 17 December 1998 (1998-12-17) |
| | 3 | 13 | 21 January 1999 (1999-01-21) | 15 April 1999 (1999-04-15) |
| | 4 | 13 | 23 September 1999 (1999-09-23) | 16 December 1999 (1999-12-16) |
| | 5 | 13 | 20 January 2000 (2000-01-20) | 13 April 2000 (2000-04-13) |
| | 6 | 13 | 28 September 2000 (2000-09-28) | 21 December 2000 (2000-12-21) |

## Broadcast

The series aired on Children's ITV (later CITV) in the United Kingdom. In the United States, it aired on Nick Jr. and PBS Kids Sprout. It also aired in Canada on YTV around the late 1990s as a part of its YTV Jr. lineup.

## Home media
### UK releases

In the United Kingdom, HIT Video and HIT Entertainment PLC both released various VHS tapes and DVD releases of the television series.
| Release name | Format | Release year | Episodes |
| The Visitor and Other Stories | VHS | 1998 | The VisitorThe UmbrellaThe SeasideNothing Ever HappensThe Rainbow Puddle |
| Pig's Present and Other Stories | VHS | 1998 | Pig's PresentThe Conker TreeThe BleepersPig's CousinTiger's Torch |
| The Little Ghost and Other Stories | VHS | 1998 | The Little GhostThe GoldfishSleepless NightThe Camping TripThe Conker Tree |
| Snowy Day and Other Stories | VHS | 1999 | Snowy DayHiccupsSpace InvadersKipper Is UnwellThe Igloo |
| Kipper's Circus and Other Stories | VHS | 1999 | Kipper's CircusThe NestThe ButterflyThe GismoThe Lost Mug |
| The Treasure Hunt and Other Stories | VHS | 1999 | The Treasure HuntThe Paddling PoolThe Magnifying GlassThe RescueThe Picnic |
| Christmas Eve and Other Stories | VHS | 1999 | Christmas EveThe DinosaurTiger's SledgeThe Magic ActThe Magic LampArnold's Balloon Trip |
| Looking after Arnold and Other Stories | VHS | 2000 | Looking After ArnoldThe Swimming PoolCakes and TailsThe Long WalkThe Surprise PartyThe Ball |
| The Big Freeze and Other Stories | VHS | 2000 | Echo EchoThe Big FreezeJake's FriendThe FairBig Owl's BathJake's Bird |
| Crazy Golf and Other Stories | VHS | 2000 | PiratesTiger's ColdThe MouseCloudsCrazy Golf |
| Hide and Seek and Other Stories | VHS | 2001 | Tiger's RocketWater Water EverywherePig's ShopHide and SeekThe Jumble Sale |
| The Flying Machine and Other Stories | VHS | 2001 | The Flying MachineArnold's DrumSkatesThe KeyCousins |
| The Robot and Other Stories | VHS | 2001 | The HolidayThe Big RaceArnold on WheelsPig's SweaterThe Robot |
| The Magic Carpet and Other Stories | VHS | 2002 | The Magic CarpetTiger's Joke BoxBuried TreasureClay TimeThe Missing Tape Mystery |
| Classic Collection | VHS/DVD | 2004 | The VisitorThe UmbrellaThe SeasideNothing Ever HappensPig's PresentThe Rainbow PuddleThe ButterflyThe BleepersSnowy DayPig's Cousin |
| Treasured Tales | DVD | 2009 | The Paddling PoolThe Magnifying GlassThe RescueThe PicnicThe Treasure Hunt |

### US releases

In the United States, VHS tapes of the show were originally released by Hallmark Home Entertainment through Family Home Entertainment, Artisan Entertainment, and briefly Lyrick Studios, and later on, VHS tapes and DVDs were released by HIT themselves.
| Video name | Format | Release date | Episodes |
| The Visitor and Other Stories | VHS | July 14, 1999 | The VisitorThe UmbrellaThe SeasideNothing Ever Happens |
| Pig's Present and Other Stories | VHS | February 1, 2000 | Pig's PresentThe Rainbow PuddleThe ButterflyThe Bleepers |
| Snowy Day and Other Stories | VHS | August 15, 2000 | Snowy DayPig's CousinThe Paddling PoolTiger's Torch |
| Pools, Parks and Picnics | VHS/DVD | June 5, 2001 | The Long WalkThe Swimming PoolThe PicnicCakes and TailsThe GismoThe Lost MugThe Magnifying Glass |
| Tiger Tales | VHS/DVD | June 5, 2001 | The Camping TripTiger's RocketSkatesArnold's DrumThe HolidayBuried TreasureThe River Trip |
| Playtime in the Park (Blockbuster Exclusive) | VHS | June 5, 2001 | The Long WalkThe Swimming PoolThe PicnicCakes and TailsThe GismoThe Lost MugThe Magnifying GlassThe Camping TripTiger's RocketSkatesArnold's DrumThe HolidayBuried TreasureThe River Trip |
| Imagine That | VHS/DVD | January 15, 2002 | Kipper's CircusPiratesThe Magic ActThe Magic LampThe Costume PartyArnold's Balloon TripThe Fair |
| Cuddly Critters | VHS/DVD | March 5, 2002 | The NestJake's BirdEcho EchoThe GoldfishThe MouseHide and SeekHedgehog Watch |
| Amazing Discoveries | VHS/DVD | June 4, 2002 | The Purple Park MonsterThe RobotThe DinosaurJake's FriendThe BallThe Flying MachineSpace Invaders |
| Let It Snow | VHS/DVD | October 22, 2002 | Christmas EveThe IglooTiger's SledThe Big FreezeSnowy Day |
| Playtime | VHS/DVD | January 28, 2003 | The Treasure HuntLooking After ArnoldTiger's Joke BoxPig's SweaterClay TimeThe Magic CarpetKipper the Hero |
| Fun in the Sun | VHS/DVD | June 3, 2003 | The RescueCloudsCrazy GolfWater Water EverywhereThe Big RaceArnold on WheelsThe Farm |
| Friendship Tails | VHS/DVD | January 27, 2004 | Sleepless NightHiccupsKipper is UnwellThe Conker TreeTiger's ColdThe Jumble Sale |
| Water Play | VHS/DVD | March 23, 2004 | The UmbrellaThe SeasideThe Rainbow PuddleThe Paddling PoolBig Owl's Bath |
| Kipper Helps Out | VHS/DVD | August 10, 2004 | The VisitorPig's PresentThe ButterflyThe BleepersPig's CousinThe Little Ghost |
| Puppy Love | VHS/DVD | January 25, 2005 | Nothing Ever HappensTiger's TorchPig's ShopCousinsThe KeyThe Missing Tape Mystery |

### Digital download releases

This list is for videos that were never released on physical media and are only available on digital download in the US. There are currently only two. One is called "Tales of Adventure" featuring episodes already on other releases. The other is an alternate version of "The Visitor & Other Stories" in which the episodes are in reverse order as to how they are on the US VHS release.
| Release name | Release year | Episodes |
| Tales of Adventure | 2013 | The GoldfishThe GismoThe NestThe SeasideThe Big FreezeThe Swimming Pool |
| The Visitor & Other Stories | 2013 | Nothing Ever HappensThe SeasideThe UmbrellaThe Visitor |

## Reception

Common Sense Media gives Kipper four out of five stars, and it says the show's characters are positive role models, except Tiger, "but he always learns his lessons"; all the characters "do lots of exploring and learn lessons about friendship, kindness, and the difference between right and wrong". A list published by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute names Kipper as the top television show for two- and three-year-old children because of its focus on "developing social and emotional intelligence" through interactions among its characters.