Roary the Racing Car is a British 3D - CGI - stop motion animated children's television show produced by Chapman Entertainment. It follows the adventures of Roary and his racing car friends at Silver Hatch race track on ABC in Australia (4 February 2008 - 5 March 2014).
Overview
Plot
The series follows the lives and adventures of racing vehicles Rory, Maxi, Cici, Drifter, Tin Top, and the people they work for, Big Chris the mechanic and Marsha the race marshall and the owner of the race track, Mr. Carburettor. Also there's P.C. Pete, the local Farmer Green, Molecom, Flash, and many more. The plot sometimes revolves around other vehicle characters, such as Rusty, FB, Nick, Plugger, Zippee, Hellie, Breeze, Conrod, James, and Loada.
Setting
Roary the Racing Car is set around a fictional motor racing circuit called Silver Hatch (a portmanteau of the names of the two British Grand Prix racing circuits, Silverstone and Brands Hatch). The majority of the action takes place at the track's pits and workshop, although we often follow the cars on their laps around the track. Occasionally, the characters venture to external locations such as the nearby beach.
Narration
Each story begins and ends with a brief narration from racing car driver Sir Stirling Moss. He is also used as a voice-over. The US version is narrated by American stock car driver Sam Hornish Jr.
Production
The series uses a combination of computer-generated imagery and stop-motion animation; the stop frame animation was initially provided by Cosgrove Hall Films, the producer of the 2003 Postman Pat series, and latterly by Chapman Entertainment's own in-house studio. The series was originated by David Jenkins, who spent four years working in senior management at Brands Hatch Race Circuit. The idea was conceived while watching the Grand Prix on television with his then-18-month-old son, Tom. It was designed and developed by Keith Chapman, creative director of Chapman Entertainment and the originator of Bob the Builder and Fifi and the Flowertots, and the series executive producer is Greg Lynn.
Characters
- Roary (from the United Kingdom) is a young and enthusiastic junior single-seater red Formula 1 type racing car. He is the main character in the show and is Big Chris' "number 1 star". Roary is new to Silver Hatch. However, with the help of his friends, he always tries to copy them. Roary wears a white baseball cap and with a number 1 emblazoned inside a red star. Roary's catchphrase is "Light 'em up!" Maria Darling voices him.
Model: F1
- Maxi (from Italy) is an older yellow Formula 1 type racing car who was the star of Silver Hatch before Roary arrived. He is temperamental and expects the best of everything - including first use of the tyre warmers. He wears sunglasses and a blue cap and sports the number 5. Maxi is Italian and is the favourite of Mr Carburettor. Because Maxi is form Italy, he has an Italian accent, although this is de-emphasized in the US voiceover. When starting a race, Maxi can make flames erupt from his exhausts. There is a healthy sibling rivalry between Maxi and Roary. Maxi's catchphrase is "Mamma Mia!" Marc Silk voices him.
Model: F1
- Cici (known as Zizzy in the US version; from France) is a cute bright pink and purple stunt car with a number 3 painted on her front and doors. She is an electric car and solar car and carries solar panels on her roof. She has a flirtatious attitude and is always challenging Roary to "Catch me!" Because Cici is from France, she has a high, squeaky French accent. She is one of Roary's best friends and the first car to talk to and race Roary on his first day. Cici seems to have a bit of a crush on Maxi, though Cici is often very impressed by Roary as well, which she might show her love for. Two of her catchphrases are "Catch me if you can!" and "Race you!" Maria Darling voices her. Cici can often act coy.
Model: Nissan MM
- Tin Top (from the United States) is a big and powerful stock car. He often takes his corners too fast and wide and regularly ends up in either the sand trap, the tyre wall or the mud, generally in a tangled heap of disconnected parts. Tin Top's catchphrase is appropriate given his frequent visits to the workshop: "Tape me up, hammer me in, and send me out!" He sports the number 88 and speaks in a mock-American accent, and is voiced by Peter Kay in the UK dub. Like Maxi, Tin Top can make flames come out of his tailpipes. In the US version, Tin Top speaks in a stereotypical "urban" accent, is voiced by Kerry Shale, and does not seem to have a catchphrase
Model: Chevrolet Monte Carlo
- Drifter (known as Dragga in the US version; from Japan) is a very hi-tech Drift racing car. In line with his name he can be observed to exhibit extreme oversteer handling characteristics, with his tail end swinging out wide on every corner. He has an on-board computer with a head up display in his windscreen. Drifter has a fabulous dragon on his sides and also sports blue neon undertray lighting and he wears the number 6 on the top of his front windshield and back windshield. He speaks in a mock Japanese accent. Drifter's catchphrase in the UK version is "Go-go, nitro boost!" but he does not have a catchphrase in the US version. Marc Silk voices him.
Model: Mecury
- Rusty is an old, rusty, immobile caravan who lives at Silver Hatch. He is often found to be sleeping, but rarely minds being woken up by the other characters and he enjoys reminiscing about his time as a mobile caravan. He can give useful advice, but often entirely by accident. Big Chris lives in Rusty. Dominic Frisby voices him.
- Plugger (known as Lugga in the US version) is a 4x4 off-road vehicle or "mud-plugger". Plugger is the most laid-back character at Silver Hatch and he never gets rushed or panic-stricken. In the UK version, he speaks with a soft Caribbean accent; in the US version, he speaks in a mild Southern drawl. He often uses his telescopic winch to rescue Roary and Maxi from mud, gravel, or sand. Plugger can often be heard uttering his catchphrase "No need to race, Plugger's on the case!".
Model: Mitsubishi L200
- FB (short for Flat Bed; known as Trucksy in the US version) is Farmer Green's pickup truck. He is usually seen with Farmer Green, or playing with two of his best friends, Cici and Roary. He has a Cornish accent. His main catchphrase is "Roary's my best friend!" Dominic Frisby voices him.
Model: Chevrolet 3100
- Zippee is Marsha's motor scooter. She is of indeterminate gender as the only vocalizations made by Zippee are a beeping sound ("Beep beep!"), similar to a small car horn.
- Hellie is a bright red and purple helicopter, who transports Mr. Carburettor around the track. He has a large headset which he uses to communicate with the ground-crew, usually broadcasting a booming "Hellie is go!" Marc Silk voices him.
- James is a silver British classic sports car approximating an Aston Martin DB5, who takes Mamma Mia wherever she needs to go. He has several gizmos and gadgets including an ejector seat, an umbrella, water cannons, and a towel. His catchphrase is "The name's James!" and he speaks with a posh English accent. He is named after James Bond and Dominic Frisby voices him.
- Nick is the Silver Hatch police car approximating a Lamborghini Gallardo or Murciélago, who works with P.C. Pete to keep the cars safe. He enjoys playing with the other cars and he wishes he could race with them too. His catchphrase is "Wicked!" Marc Silk voices him.
- Breeze is an Australian beach buggy who lives at the beach at Silver Hatch. She is good at stunts, like Cici, and loves it when the other cars come to visit. Her catchphrase is "Life's a breeze!" and has a very fake Australian accent. Maria Darling voices her.
- Loada is a transport truck who takes the cars to special occasions. He has lots of different stories from the road and he enjoys telling them to his friends. His catchphrase is "Lock n' Loada!" and he has an Eastern European accent. Dominic Frisby voices him.
- Conrod (from Australia) is a race car who is named after the stretch of racetrack at the Mount Panorama Circuit in Bathurst, New South Wales. He has a big noisy V8 and arrives without warning at Silver Hatch. In the UK version, he is voiced by Australian V8 Supercar champion Craig Lowndes. In the US version, he is voiced by Marc Silk.
- Big Chris is Silver Hatch race track's mechanic. He occasionally commentates, and starts races. He lives in Rusty the caravan, and looks after the race track and cars. Big Chris has a typically northern catchphrase, "You bend it, you mend it!" (The US version, much less mellifluous, is "You bend it, you fix it!") Big Chris is portrayed as being very messy and absent-minded, often "losing" objects directly in his line of sight, and eternally surprised by his own walkie-talkie. While working on the cars, he often practices his karaoke with an out-of-tune version of a song called "Motor Man". Comedian Peter Kay voices him.
- Marsha is a race marshal and the unofficial administrator of the Silver Hatch race track. She loves things to be tidy and organised, which often puts her into conflict with Big Chris. She is very fit and enjoys a good run. She speaks with a thick British accent and her UK catchphrase is "Gears to go, brakes to slow!", while in the US version, she has no catchphrase. Maria Darling voices her.
- Mr. Carburettor is the flamboyant owner of Silver Hatch race track. In the UK version, he speaks with a pronounced Italian accent, while in the US version, he has a New York accent. His favourite car is Maxi, who he considers to be the greatest car in all the world. He also has a gold tooth, which sparkles in the sun when he smiles. As well, he has a very quick temper, often turning his face red, making steam come out of his ears, and sometimes yelling that anything of his anger is "driving me up-a the ceiling!" He is a perfectionist who sometimes berates Big Chris for tardiness, although Marsha often covers for Big Chris in front of Mr. Carburettor. Mr. Carburettor often likes to watch his cars race around the track, usually cheering for Maxi, although he does congratulate the winner (not Maxi), whoever it may be. He shares the same catchphrase as Maxi, "Mamma Mia!" and he can often be heard singing opera. For some reason, Mr. Carburettor can't say Tin Top's name right. His first name has been revealed to be Antonio. Tim Whitnall voices him.
- Farmer Green owns the farm located just to the side of the Silver Hatch race track. He often waves as the cars zoom past. He owns Dinkie the Donkey, and likes to invent bio-fuels, which sometimes work, but often don't. His UK catchphrase is "Green by name, green by nature!" though like many of the other characters, the US version he doesn't have a catchphrase. Tim Whitnall voices him.
- Mama Mia is Mr. Carburettor's mother and the owner of James. When she first visited Silver Hatch, it was thanks to Flash that she enjoyed the race (which resulted in every car except Roary crashing). Now she is a regular visitor to the racetrack. Her catchphrase is "Home James!" and she speaks with an Italian accent. Maria Darling voices her.
- PC Pete is the Silver Hatch policeman and Marsha's younger brother. When he sees one of the race cars speeding away from the track, he calls to his police car, Nick to follow them. His catchphrase is "Follow that car", and he is voiced by Dominic Frisby.
- The Track Inspector is an unnamed inspector who sometimes comes to the track to be shown around the track. When he first visited the track, the cars went through ice at "Skid Slope" and began skating around and Mr. Carburettor believed it was a disaster, but the inspector didn't think it was bad. He later appears in "Motormouth". Dominic Frisby voices him.
- Hugo Amarillo is a racing car designer who once came to the track to be shown around. Marsha has a crush on him. Big Chris repaired Tin Top in time for Hugo's visit and during the visit, when Mr. Carburettor showed him Maxi racing, the latter crashed and lost a tyre, causing it to roll backwards toward everyone and Tin Top rushed to stop it and ended up crashing, but Hugo was impressed and decided to design a car like Tin Top. Big Chris, after being introduced to him, says, "Is this the way to Hugo Amarillo?" referencing "Is This the Way to Amarillo", which the actor for Big Chris and Tin Top, Peter Kay is known for performing. Dominic Frisby voices him.
- Pizza Boy is a boy who delivers pizza to Big Chris as seen in "Silver Hatch Fun Run". Dominic Frisby voices him.
- Murray Walker is the world's class commentator, he had a go on Flash's skateboard on the stunt track to show his aerobics, and visits Silver Hatch in "It's Go, Go, Go, at Silver Hatch" and "Motormouth". He is voiced by Murray Walker OBE.
- Flash (known as Furz in the US version) is an anthropomorphic rabbit, who lives under a tree on the edge of the track at "Hare-Pin Bend" (a play on 'hairpin turn'). He regularly tries to cause mischief, from small things like hiding equipment to intentionally trying to cause accidents by moving traffic cones around to divert the racing cars the wrong way. Flash really wants to be a racing driver and often challenges the Silver Hatch cars to race against him as he rides his high-powered skateboard. When Flash is caught getting up to no good, you will often hear his main catchphrase: "Flash...must dash!" In the US, he has several catchphrases: "Furz...must fly!" and "Chew my carrots!" being two oft-repeated ones. Marc Silk voices him.
- Molecom is a bespectacled mole who is often found clearing up the mess left behind after Flash has tried to cause havoc. Being a mole, he lives underground, and often digs out, causing molehills to appear when he comes up. By some kind of sixth sense, Molecom never seems to dig out through the track, although is often seen digging out through the concrete pit stop area. His catchphrase is "I'm a mole with a role!" Dominic Frisby voices him.
- Dinkie is an old, grey donkey who is often seen at the side of the race track (and occasionally on it), with his ears flapping after the cars race past him. Tim Whitnall performs his vocal effects.
Episodes
Season 1 (2007)
Season 2 (2007â€"08)
Season 3 (2008)
Season 4 (2008â€"09)
Season 5 (2009)
External links
- Roary the Racing Car official site with many games, activities and more
- Roary the Racing Car on Nick Jr. UK with games and activities
- Website from Nick Jr. in Australia with games and activities
- Roary The Racing Car at the Big Cartoon DataBase
- Sir Stirling Moss official site.
- Studio Liddell
