James the Cat
Scottish animated television series (1984–1988)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
James the Cat is a 1984 Scottish animated children's series created by Kate Canning and produced by Jan Clayton with Grampian Television.[1][2] It chronicles the many events which take place at the Cornerhouse (number 104) between James and his new animal friends. Fellow characters include Mrs. Lavender, a snail; Frieda, a kangaroo; Citroen, a French frog; Rocky, a dimwitted rabbit; and Dennis, a pink fire-breathing Welsh-accented Chinese dragon. There is also a beehive in the garden at the Cornerhouse. Next door are Ma and Pa Rat, and their rat children.[3]
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Alistair McGowan
| James the Cat | |
|---|---|
| |
| Created by | Kate Canning |
| Narrated by | Sean Arnold Alistair McGowan |
| Country of origin | Scotland |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 52 |
| Production | |
| Producer | Jan Clayton |
| Running time | 5 minutes |
| Production company | Grampian Television |
| Original release | |
| Network | ITV |
| Release | 10 March 1984 – 24 December 1998 |
Description
The programme changes quite a bit between the two series. In the first, James is a newcomer to the garden at the Cornerhouse, and must learn to live with the other animals there. In the first episode of the second series, James becomes a diplomat (though sometimes he is referred to as a VIP). In subsequent episodes, he and the others travel to distant lands or receive important visitors.
Home media
There were two VHS tapes released by Tempo Video.
| VHS Name | Catalogue Number | Release Year | Episodes |
|---|---|---|---|
| James the Cat and Friends | V9005 | 1987 |
|
| Out and About with James the Cat | V9006 | 1987 |
|
Screen Entertainment also released one VHS tape.
| VHS Name | Catalogue Number | Release Year | Episodes |
|---|---|---|---|
| James the Cat: Neighbours | SE 9002 | 1988 |
|
Reception
Common Sense Media described the series as "Sophisti-catted tales best for older preschoolers".[4]