The Flying Dogtor
The Flying Dogtor logo - The Great Dogtor Dane appears inside a hollowed out circle adorned with the title
GenreAnimated series
Created byRobin Boyd
Voices ofRoly Barlee
Theme music composerHorrie Dargie
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes52
Production
ProducerHector Crawford
Production companyCrawford Productions
Original release
NetworkAustralian Television Network
Release1962 (1962) –
1964 (1964)

The Flying Dogtor is an early Australian animated television series made by Crawford Productions between 1962 and 1964.[1] It was shown on the Australian Television Network, which later became the Seven Network.[1]

Its central character is a Great Dane who conducts a medical practice by aeroplane in outback Australia, similar to the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

The series was devised and written by the leading Melbourne architect Robin Boyd.[1]

Characters

  • The Great Dogtor Dane - the Flying Dogtor
  • Granny Goanna
  • Liz Lizard
  • The bush children
    • Colin Kanga
    • Polly Possum
    • Katie Koala
  • Crafty Carson Carpetbag - the sneaky snake from Steamy Swamp
  • Elvis Eagle - the bodgie bird
  • Old Man Redback

Production

The show was produced by Hector Crawford. Cartoons were drawn by Joy Murray and Janice Male who studied together at Melbourne Technical College (now RMIT University). The cameraman was Ian Crawford. All characters' voices were read by Roly Barlee who was well known in Melbourne radio. Script and character advice was provided by Dr E.A. Murray, a lecturer in psychology, and Jean Lawson, a school counsellor.

The theme music was written and performed by Horrie Dargie and his quintet. Additional music came from a small 78 rpm record library, together with characters' voices, narration and some basic sound effects were added together to produce a master sound mix.

The animation technique was basically a moving plane running across the frame from left to right. The plane was about 5 in (13 cm) high made of thick high quality art paper. It was pulled through by an electric motor in a machine that was also designed and built by Robin Boyd.

Episode list

52 episodes were produced in the series.[1] Some of these are held in the National Film and Sound Archive, including:

  1. The Great Doctor Dane[2]
  2. Crafty's Secret Hideout[3]
  3. Fire![4]
  4. Fireworks[5]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Film, Robin Boyd, The Flying Dogtor, Episode 2, 1962". Victorian Collections. Archived from the original on 13 December 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  2. ↑ "THE FLYING DOGTOR. EP. 01, THE GREAT DOCTOR DANE". National Film and Sound Archive. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  3. ↑ "THE FLYING DOGTOR. EP. 02, CRAFTY'S SECRET HIDEOUT". National Film and Sound Archive. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  4. ↑ "THE FLYING DOGTOR. EP. 03, FIRE!". National Film and Sound Archive. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  5. ↑ "THE FLYING DOGTOR. EP. 04, FIREWORKS". National Film and Sound Archive. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  • Helleur, I. "A canine Kildare is star of TV series", PIX, 8 August 1964.


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