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Mr Squiggle and Friends – Cheer Up (1990)

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'What do I see? Afternoon tea!'

Original classification rating: G. This clip chosen to be G

Clip description

A new animated sequence brings Mr Squiggle’s rocket to earth. Meanwhile Rebecca (Hetherington) is setting up afternoon tea. Rocket touches down and Mr Squiggle (voiced by Norman Hetherington), with umbrella parachute, lands soon after. They call Blackboard to come and help with today’s squiggles.

Curator’s notes

For more than four decades Norman Hetherington created and performed puppet shows, and in 1956 appeared at the launch of ABC TV. Norman combined what he referred to as his ‘hobby’ of puppetry with work as a cartoonist, including the role of head cartoonist for The Bulletin magazine. In 1959 he was asked to devise a new character. Combining his love of cartooning and puppetry he decided to challenge himself by designing a marionette (string-operated) puppet with a pencil for a nose. In an interview I conducted with Norman in the Everingtons’ home, before Norman died in 2010, he commented, ‘I didn’t expect it to work but it was an experiment and the experiment worked’.

The production values in this clip are very simple, with the fishing-line strings that control Mr Squiggle clearly evident. Scenes are often covered in one camera angle and the shots and editing are slow paced. This style was common for children’s shows of the time and often due to financial restraints as more camera shots require more cameras and editing.

Evident in this clip is the warm and caring relationship Norman has with his daughter and on-screen ‘friend’ Rebecca. Mr Squiggle related to each of his helpers slightly differently and here is an example of his bantering with Rebecca who he saw as ‘the girl next door’ or Mr Squiggle’s playmate. Their familiarity enables the improvised and playful nature of their interactions.

Margaret Hetherington’s scripting also allows for this sense of spontaneity and relationship building in employing a thematic structure outline with room for ad libbed dialogue and genuine interaction. In this clip, Rebecca is playfully irritated by Blackboard as one would be irritated by an attention-seeking friend in real life. The genuine nature of the interactions increases the appeal of the characters to the audience.

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Downloadable Video – FOR EDUCATIONAL CRITICISM AND REVIEW PURPOSES ONLY

This clip is available for download for the limited purpose of criticism and review in an educational context. You must obtain permission from editorial@aso.gov.au for all other purposes for use of this material.

Terms & Conditions

australianscreen is produced by the National Film and Sound Archive. By using the website you agree to comply with the terms and conditions described here and elsewhere on this site. The NFSA may amend the 'Conditions of Use’ from time to time without notice.

All materials on the site, including but not limited to text, video clips, audio clips, designs, logos, illustrations and still images, are protected by the Copyright Laws of Australia and international conventions. ALL rights are reserved.

You must read and agree to the following terms and conditions before downloading this clip:

When you access ABC materials on australianscreen you agree that:

  1. You may download this clip to assist your information, criticism and review purposes in conjunction with viewing this website only;
  2. Downloading this clip for purposes other than criticism and review is Prohibited;
  3. Downloading for purposes other than non-commercial educational uses is Prohibited;
  4. Downloading this clip in association with any commercial purpose is Prohibited;

The National Film and Sound Archive’s permission must be sought to amend any information in the materials, unless otherwise stated in notices throughout the Site.

ANY UNAUTHORISED USE OF MATERIAL ON THIS SITE MAY RESULT IN CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LIABILITY.

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