Crystal Tipps and Alistair

Crystal Tipps and Alistair

1972 - United Kingdom

The style of animation on this children's cartoon series might well have been influenced by the Beatles full-length animated feature Yellow Submarine which had come out a few years earlier. 

To many, the almost psychedelic look and feel of the series was enough for them to dub it 'Crystal Trips with Alistair.' Creator Hilary Hayton certainly invented a land where everything seemed fab and groovy and where best friends Crystal and Alistair lived in a pop-art world that one could easily envisage being a part of John Lennon's 'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.' And just like Lennon's trip into the world of 'LSD' so Crystal and Alistair's world included tangerine flowers of yellow and green as well as tangible rainbows and giant bubbles that enabled them to float up to the sky. 

When they needed more conventional (?) forms of transport Crystal had her own big-propellered biplane. There were no words uttered between the characters, the pictures told the stories clearly enough and to accompany the vivid images there was an equally-expressive score from composer Paul Reade. 

Published on December 5th, 2018. Written by Laurence Marcus for Television Heaven.

Read Next...

Bagpuss

Classic children's series that, in spite of only appearing in 13 adventures, was voted in a BBC poll as the most popular children's TV programme of all time.

Also tagged Childrens Animated Series

Herge's Adventures of Tintin

Tintin, the intrepid young reporter and his faithful dog Snowy make their TV debut

Also tagged Childrens Animated Series

Pokémon

Television Heaven recalls an old review from 2000, shortly after the Pokémon craze had hit the UK, we surmised, "Whether the animated Pokémon will ultimately earn a fondly remembered place amongst the ranks of other, much-loved cartoon series will be a question for a future generation to decide..."

Also tagged Childrens Animation

Another Saturday Night and Sweet FA

Every weekend, long-suffering referee Mr. Armistead wades into the melee to try to teach two sets of testosterone-fuelled maniacs the value of restraint, justice and fair play.

Also released in 1972

Beachcombers

Immensely popular Canadian series concerning the adventures of a professional lumber salvager and his friends in British Columbia.

Also released in 1972

Bluey

Australian preschool series that has won fans around the world with short but packed stories that emphasise learning through play, understanding responsibility and accepting differences

Also tagged Childrens Cartoon

Crown Court TV series

Courtroom drama in which the jury, who were made up of members of the public, would decide the verdict.

Also released in 1972