Dinky Di's

Dinky Di's
Dinky-Di's, also known as The Dinky-Di's: Friends on Freedom's Frontier, is an Australian animated television series that aired on the Nine Network Australia from 6 December 1991 to 29 May 1992. It was created by Melvyn Edward Bradford, produced by Roo Films Brisbane and animated by Pacific Rim Animation. The show taught children about the dangers of having carelessness for the planet and also for animals and plants that live on the earth. A common phrase from the theme song used by fans and the creator of the show was "We show no fear, we show no pain!"
Premise
The Dinky Di's: Friends on Freedom's Frontier follows a group of anthropomorphic animals who go around the world saving rare and endangered animals and plants, while educating the audience on the importance of environmental preservation. Led by Aussie Roo (a Kangaroo) and Cass Koala (a Koala), this group consists of animals from all over the world who have many different specialties that serve to the Dinky-Di team, and are well organized with a command centre, computer network, and high-tech amphibious vehicles.
The group of rescuers fight against Mephisto, a shadowy eco-terrorist with glowing red eyes who uses a gang of maligned beasts to do his dirty work: Rancid Rodent (a Rat), Hugo Hyena (a Hyena), Ganny Goanna (an Iguana), Serpent Sam (a Dragon), and others. Mephisto's true identity, however, is a true mystery to the Dinky-Di's, and one which, when solved, will be a major step towards slowing damage to the planet.
Voice cast
Gennie Nevinson as Cass Koala, Equulus Emu, Cauda Kiwi, Orikawa Bear's Son, Beatrice, Pleiades Panda and additional voices
Ric Melbourne as Aussie Roo, Chopa Crocodile and additional voices
Lee Perry as Ernest Eagle, Goat, Sidney Seal, Whales, Iceburglar #2, Narrator and additional voices
Grahame Matters as Bill's Secretary and additional voices
Tony Bellette as Plato Pus, Zennie, Mephisto, Rancid Rodent, Hugo Hyena, Ganny Goanna, Serpent Sam, Lazur Lion, Orikawa Bear, Bill Buffalo, Lazur's Boss, Mephisto's Henchman, Baron of Babel, Iceburglar #1, Doctor Hope and additional voices
Episodes
Out of the 26-episode series, only one full episode in English has survived, "Baron of Babel", while the other only full episodes that are known, the first episode "Lost, One Dinky-Di", the seventeenth episode "Tapir Caper" and the twenty-fifth episode "Mirage Master", are in Arabic, Polish and Russian, respectively. However, half of the first episode and about seven minutes of "The Bilby Tale" episode also exist in English. At some point on the Kooltube1 website (the website that Mel Bradford had), the episodes "The Bilby Tale", "Straits of Sorrow", "The Howling Crystal" and "Mirage Master" were available to watch. Though the Kooltube1 website is no longer around, there are a few archives still without any new content except images and copyright information.
The following episode list has mostly been translated from Polish, however, so it is known that these following episodes are the names for the English version of the show.
"Lost, One Dinky-Di"
"The Bilby Tale"
"Good Wood"
"Baron of Babel"
"Tapir Caper"
"Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow"
"Straits of Sorrow"
"The Howling Crystal"
"Mirage Master"
"Small Hippo, Big Bust"
There is uncertainty of where the episodes "Straits of Sorrow" and "The Howling Crystal" go on the list of episodes.
Other names for the show
When it aired in Poland, the series' title was Grupa specjalna Eko. In Italy, the show was known as Parola d'ordine: arriviamo! The show is also known to have aired in the Arab world, Korea and Russia.
Credits list
Associate Producer - Mike Heffernan
Production Manager - Rhonda Fortescue
Production Supervisor (China) - Mark Lovick
Production Co-Ordinator - Kerry Mulgrew
Production Accountants - Debra Cole and Lyn Paeiz
Production Secretary - Patricia Mcinally
Production Receptionist - Tammy Sovenyhazi
Script Editor - Mel Bradford
Animation - Pacific Rim Studios
Studio Representative - Richard Hindley
Character Designers - Kelvin Hawley, Brian Doyle, Andrew Trimmer, Glenn Ford, Fräntz Kantor, Ray Van Steenwyk, Sue Schmidt, Paul Fitzgerald, and Ted Blackall
Backgrounds - Dean Taylor - Mr. Big, Peter Sheehan, Kelvin Hawley, Paul Fitzgerald, Andrew Trimmer, Glenn Ford, Ray Van Steenwyk, Sue Schmidt, Fräntz Kantor, Ted Blackall
Props - Kelvin Hawley, Glenn Ford, Paul Fitzgerald, Andrew Trimmer, Sue Schmidt, Fräntz Kantor, Brian Doyle, Ray Van Steenwyk, and Ted Blackall
Story Boarders - Bob Smith, Kelvin Hawley, Bill Moselen, Ray Van Steenwyk, Glenn Ford, Fräntz Kantor, Steve Lumley
Script Clerk - Fiona Matters
Voice Recordings - Sunshine Studios
Character Voices - Gennie Nevinson, Ric Melbourne, Lee Perry, Grahame Matters, Tony Bellette
Mag Tracks - Hoyts Jumbuck
Theme Song/Cross the Line - Lyrics: Mel Bradford and Bob Lacastra, Composer: Matthew Sloggett
Score - Garry McDonald, Laurie Stone
Post Supervisor - Rod Herbert
Film Editor - Bob Bladsall
This link has the list of credits on the episode at the end.
References
Nine Network original programming
1990s Australian animated television series
Australian children's animated television series
Environmental television
Lost television shows