Clangers

Chronicles the melancholically funny lives of the Clangers, a flutey-voiced family of woolen, knitted aliens living below the surface of a knobbly little planet far out in space. Their misadventures brought them into contact with such unlikely creatures as the Soup Dragon, the Froglets, the Iron Chicken and the Glow Buzzers.

Clangers (1969-1972) is a British stop motion children's animation series created by Oliver Postgate for BBC One, produced by Smallfilms across two seasons and 26 short episodes of roughly nine minutes each. Narrated by Oliver Postgate, it follows a flutey-voiced family of woolen, knitted aliens who live beneath the surface of a knobbly little planet far out in space. The engine of each episode is a small misadventure: the Clangers venture out to meet unlikely neighbours such as the Soup Dragon, the Froglets, the Iron Chicken and the Glow Buzzers, and every encounter is a gentle problem solved with inventive ingenuity. The tone is melancholic whimsy, a wistful and bleak-edged cosiness in which a threadbare existence on a cold world is treated with warmth and quiet humour. Its handmade look, with knitted figures moving through soft miniature landscapes, gives the show a tactile, intimate charm. Fans of Bagpuss, The Magic Roundabout and Postman Pat will find the same handcrafted gentleness and nostalgic British children's television sensibility. Its short runtime and simple structure make it an easy, soothing watch for young children and adults who remember it fondly.

Clangers is widely remembered as a charming, distinctive piece of British children's television, admired for its handmade craft and gentle, quietly funny storytelling.

• Bagpussgentle whimsical stop motion children's animation with quiet melancholy and invented creatures
• The Magic Roundabouthandmade puppet world, understated British children's storytelling, bleak-yet-cosy tone
• Postman Patgentle quirky invented-world animation with narrated episodes for young viewers

Created by

Oliver Postgate

Release Date

1969-11-16

Episode runtime

9 min

Rating

7.4 / 10 (12)

What is Clangers about?

A family of knitted aliens lives a melancholy yet funny life beneath the surface of a cold little planet in space.

What is Clangers like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Clangers as slow, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as simple.

Is Clangers violent?

No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Clangers.

What did critics think of Clangers?

Clangers is widely remembered as a charming, distinctive piece of British children's television, admired for its handmade craft and gentle, quietly funny storytelling.

Which shows are like Clangers?

Shows with a similar feel include Bagpuss, The Magic Roundabout, and Postman Pat.

How long is Clangers?

Clangers: 2 seasons, 26 episodes.

Is Clangers still running?

No, Clangers has ended.