Australian
Screen

an NFSA website

All titles in the ‘Children's’ genre

105 titles - sorted alphabetically or by year prev 1 2 3 next

M (continued)

More Winners – The Journey television program – 1990

On an isolated Tasmanian mountain, 12-year-old Ada lives with her wealthy father Justus. Housekeeper Martha is plotting to secure the family fortune for herself.

Mortified – Taylor’s DNA television program – 2006

The series creator says her inspiration came from realising that, from age 11 onwards, kids begin to find things their parents do very embarrassing.

Mr Squiggle and Friends – Cheer Up television program – 1990

A 1990s episode of iconic children’s series Mr Squiggle and Friends created and performed by Norman Hetherington, written by Margaret Hetherington and co-presented by their daughter Rebecca Hetherington.

Mr Squiggle and Friends – Episode 148 television program – c1960

Mr Squiggle is one of the most recognised children’s television characters. Although no longer on air, he continues to appear at exhibitions and science fiction conventions.

N

The New Adventures of Ocean Girl – Hearing The Call television program – 1999

The highlights of episode three are the comic scenes with the hammy evil Elgar and the slapstick comedy between the villainous Space Wizard’s sidekicks Elgar and Moza.

Noah and Saskia – Tomorrow Never Knows television program – 2004

The final scene of this first episode dangles compelling narrative hooks and offers interesting and quirky characters and an abundance of humour.

O

Ocean Girl – Series 2, Episode 3 television program – 1995

Ocean Girl is a beautiful alien that can swim at extraordinary speed and telepathically communicate with a humpback whale called Charley.

Orphan of the Wilderness feature film – 1936

Boxing contests between men and kangaroos, as shown in this film, were a frequent ‘attraction’ in travelling tent shows.

Out There – Two Down Under television program – 2002

A comedy-drama for children set in an animal clinic in rural Australia.

P

Petals – A Boot Full of Petals television program – 1997

Petals is an animated series for preschool children which revolves around the adventures of five tiny flower ‘petals’ who live at the bottom of an overgrown garden.

Play School – Bags Wednesday television program – 1984

An episode of the iconic pre-school program Play School from 1984, featuring presenters Noni Hazlehurst and John Hamblin.

Play School – Opposites Monday television program – 2006

Justine Clarke and Rhys Muldoon sing, march, make ‘surprise’ hats for each other, read a book and play games as they explore the weekly theme of ‘opposites’.

Play School – Trains Thursday television program – 1969

An early episode of iconic pre-school program Play School featuring presenters Don Spencer, Anne Haddy and Ruth Cracknell.

Pugwall – Hollow Drums television program – 1989

The insightful scripts capture teenager angst in a comic and recognisable way; fashions might change but relationships between teenagers and parents don’t.

R

Raggs - Episode 32 television program – 2005

Raggs is a bright, bouncy series with lots of colour, music and movement to appeal to its target preschooler audience.

Round the Twist – Series One – Skeleton on the Dunny television program – 1989

This first episode gives a real taste for the eclectic range of themes and elements which combine to create the Round The Twist magic.

Round the Twist – Series One – Spaghetti Pig Out television program – 1989

This is a clever and funny episode, based on a simple ‘What if…’ premise. There is loads of silly slapstick, and a spectacular dose of yuck at the end.

Round the Twist – Series Two – Nails television program – 1992

This episode is quite different from many others in the Round the Twist series. While it still has lots of humour, it is a rather more serious, romantic and sad story.

Round the Twist – Series Two – Next Time Round television program – 1992

The second series introduced new actors in many key roles but the change of cast didn’t have any impact on the popularity of Round the Twist.

S

The Saddle Club – Series 1 Episode 1 television program – 2001

Carole, Stevie and newcomer Lisa ride their way to true friendship in The Saddle Club.

Seven Little Australians television program – 1973

This is a delightful and faithful adaptation of Ethel Turner’s iconic Australian story, Seven Little Australians, into a charming television series.

Short Cuts – Wheels on Fire television program – 2001

Set in a year 9 media studies class, Short Cuts is about teenagers making films and exploring how the camera can be used to communicate, but also to manipulate and lie.

The Silver Brumby – Friends of the High Country television program – 1996

This episode features a rich drama of ancient rivalries, a brewing leadership struggle between two strong males, budding star-crossed lovers and treacherous spies.

Skippy Adventures in Bushtown – Trouble in Bushtown television program – 1997

The creative look of this 2D animation is signature Yoram Gross with flat, bright, clean-lined characters laid over muted pencil-drawn backgrounds.

Skippy – Be Our Guest television program – 1968

Clancy wants to make a good impression on her visiting mother. Instead, she gets lost in the bush where she is rescued by a group of Aboriginal men (played by visiting members of the Aboriginal Theatre from Yirrkala, Arnhem Land).

Skippy – Long Way Home television program – 1968

Dastardly Dr Stark kidnaps ‘no ordinary kangaroo’ Skippy for his own private zoo, but Skippy has other plans.

Sky Trackers – Is There Life On Earth? television program – 1994

Shane is not a textbook hero, and while Nikki’s attraction to him because of his scientific brain seems a little improbable, this situation certainly challenges the stereotype.

Smiley feature film – 1956

A mischievous boy in a small town tries to reform himself, in order to earn a bicycle.

Smiley Gets a Gun feature film – 1958

A nine-year-old country boy tries to give up mischief in order to win a much-desired rifle.

Smoky Dawson and the Singing Bullet radio – 1955

Smoky Dawson rescues his young friend Billy from two villains in this classic episode of the Smoky Dawson radio show.

Snobs – Episode 8 television program – 2003

This is a typical example of a Snobs self-contained episode as Abby and Marian and the oh-so-clever dog, Snobs, get mixed up in yet another escapade.

Staines Down Drains – Once More Unto the Drains television program – 2005

In a typical Yoram Gross touch, environmental messages are constantly reinforced through the stories – here, the consequences of allowing toxic waste into the drains.

Storm Boy feature film – 1976

Seamlessly woven into this story about one boy’s love of a pelican, are such themes as race relations, ecology, and family breakdown.

The Stranger – Series 1 Episode 1 television program – 1964

A stranger with an accent, amnesia and seemingly no heartbeat arrives at the home of the Walsh family in Australia’s first science–fiction series.

T

Tabaluga – The Last One of His Kind television program – 1997

With an eclectic mix of animals and accents from around the world, Tabaluga is a very international looking and sounding series.

Thunderstone – Episode Three television program – 1999

This episode showcases the fabulous production design and high production values that are the feature of this quality children’s series.

Touch the Sun – Captain Johnno television program – 1988

Captain Johnno is a significant Australian children’s film which won the 1988 International Emmy Award for Children and Young People’s Programming.

Touch the Sun – Devil’s Hill television program – c1988

With his gap-toothed smile and great integrity, Badge is the delightful hero of this adventure story based on the classic Australian children’s novel.

Touch the Sun – Peter & Pompey television program – 1988

This lovely film has a delightful ocker Aussie feel, and is a quirky, fantastic yarn filled with mystery, greed, loyalty, betrayal, ancient curses and Roman history.

Touch the Sun – Princess Kate television program – c1988

This is a story of insecurity, snobbery, fear, love and hope as this young girl takes herself and two families on an emotionally painful journey to find out who she really is.

Touch the Sun – The Gift television program – c1988

This film offers a glimpse into the lives of a Greek-Australian family as they struggle with cultural differences, materialism, environmental issues and family relationships.

Touch the Sun – Top Enders television program – 1988

This lovely production captures the exotic frontier feel of Darwin, as it explores human survival and the challenges and rewards of family relationships and friendship.

Tracey McBean - Episode 6, Series One, Multiplication television program – 2001

In this story, Tracey McBean is at her creative best, building a people-multiplying machine in her backyard caravan. Of course it doesn’t go to plan.

U

The Upside Down Show – Art Museum television program – 2006

A show for preschoolers using the talents of stand-up comedians the Umbilical Brothers.

W

Wambidgee television program – 1962

An early children’s animated puppet series about the adventures of a young Aboriginal boy living in the bush.

Wicked Science – Episode 1, The Gift television program – 2003

The spectacular dinosaur scenes and the transformation from nerd to villainous ice queen make this a not-to-be-missed episode.

Winners – Just Friends television program – 1985

Just Friends reveals the hard asks of a young teenager – trying to fit in, standing up for yourself and resisting peer pressure to do things you’re not comfortable with.

Winners – On Loan television program – 1985

This is a strong and very painful story as Lindy is forced to make a difficult choice between her natural father and her adoptive parents.

Winners – Quest Beyond Time television program – 1985

Simply told, and not too frightening, Quest Beyond Time shows the changes that could occur in the world if a nuclear war takes place.

Winners – Room to Move television program – 1985

The script of this telemovie (starring a young Nicole Kidman) was criticised at the time for undermining parental authority but that seems hard to understand now.

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