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...

Captain Pugwash

Arrr, listen up, ye scallywags! Captain Pugwash be the finest, bumblin’ pirate to ever sail the high seas aboard the Black Pig! With his trusty crew, he be always gettin’ tangled up in misadventures—blast that sneaky Cut-Throat Jake!

Also tagged Childrens Animation

Alias the Jester

Animated children's series about a time traveller who inadvertently arrives in medieval England at the court of King Arthur

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

Lord Peter Wimsey

A British 'Toff' uses his appearance as an upper-class twit to outwit his adversaries.

Also released in 1972

The Real Ghostbusters

Animated spin-off to the 1984 comedy film which, at its height, was a truly excellent series

Also tagged Childrens Animated Series

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