The Caribou Kitchen – The 1995 animated series

“The Caribou Kitchen” is a British animated television series for pre-school children, broadcast from 5 June 1995 to 3 August 1998 on the ITV network in the CITV block. Created by Andrew Brenner, the series was produced by Maddocks Cartoon Productions and World Productions for Scottish Television, with Ealing Animation added as producer for the final two seasons. Consisting of 52 episodes distributed over four seasons, the series marked Brenner's debut in the world of television writing, becoming a point of reference in the panorama of children's animation.

Plot and Characters

The focus of the series is Claudia, an anthropomorphic caribou who runs a restaurant in the fictional town of Barkabout. Along with her staff – Abe the Anteater (cook), Lisa the Lemur and Tom the Turtle (waiters) – Claudia welcomes a variety of talking animal guests, such as Mrs Panda, Caroline the Cow, Gerald the Giraffe and Taffy the Tiger. The series features a strong educational component, intended to teach important lessons to its young audience.

Memorable Episodes

Each episode lasting approximately ten minutes presents a self-contained story with moral lessons. Among the most significant episodes are "Table for Two", where Hector the Hippo and Helen the Hamster visit the restaurant creating hilarious situations, and "Too Many Ant Eaters", where Abe cannot resist the charm of the ants, shocking the kitchen routine. Other episodes, like “First Come, First Served” and “Big is Beautiful,” continue to weave entertaining and informative stories.

Narration and Dubbing

The narrator of the series is Kate Robbins, who voices all the characters and performs the show's theme song. This element helps to create a unique and recognizable atmosphere, making “The Caribou Kitchen” a jewel in preschool entertainment.

Impact and Legacy

“The Caribou Kitchen” not only entertained its target audience of children between the ages of two and five, but also educated on important issues of everyday life. The series is an excellent example of how animation can be used to teach and entertain at the same time.

“The Caribou Kitchen” remains a point of reference in the panorama of animated series for children. Its combination of entertainment, education and charismatic characters has made it a series beloved by generations of young viewers.

Technical Sheet of the Series: “The Caribou Kitchen”

General informations

• Alternative title: Caribou Kitchen, Claudia's Caribou Kitchen
• Gender: Animation, Children's television series
• Creator:Andrew Brenner
• Developers: Etta Saunders, Andrew Brenner
• Writer:Andrew Brenner

Management and Production

• Regia: Guy Maddocks
• Creative director: Peter Maddocks
• Executive Producers:
  • Etta Saunders (series 1)
  • Mike Watts (series 2-4)
• Manufacturers:
  • Simon Maddocks (series 1-2)
  • Richard Randolph (series 3-4)
• Production House: Maddocks Cartoon Productions, World Productions, Scottish Television

Cast and Staff

• Voices: Kate Robbins
• Narrator: Kate Robbins
• Composer of the Theme Music: Nicholas Paul with lyrics by Andrew Brenner
• Composer: Nicholas Paul

Technical details

• Country of origin: UK
• Original language: English
• Number of Seasons: 4
• Number of Episodes: 52
• Camera setup: Filmfex Services
• Duration: Approximately 10 minutes per episode

Release and Distribution

• Distribution network: ITV (CITV)
• Release date: June 5, 1995 – August 3, 1998