Angelina Ballerina
Encyclopedia
Angelina Ballerina is a fictional mouse, created by author Katharine Holabird
and illustrator Helen Craig
, who is featured in a popular series of children's books. The first book in the series was published in 1983, and since then, there have been over 20 books in the series.
In 2001, a British animated TV series of 39 fifteen minute episodes based on the books was produced by HIT Entertainment
in the United Kingdom. The series featured actress Finty Williams
as the voice of Angelina, and her mother Judi Dench
as Miss Lilly. The series aired on PBS
in the United States, where it was presented by Connecticut Public Television
; and can currently be seen on Nick Jr. in the UK and PBS Kids Sprout
in the US.
A computer-animated revival, Angelina Ballerina: The Next Steps
, premiered on PBS stations in September 2009. Consisting of 80 stories, it is directed by Davis Doi
and animated at SD Entertainment
. WNET
, after purchasing CPTV's production unit, is the producer of the program. English National Ballet
took a live version of Angelina Ballerina called Angelina's Star Performance on tour in autumn 2007. It is a fairly short ballet aimed at children.
Angelina Ballerina appears on the single cover sleeve of Peter Kay
's The Official BBC Children in Need Medley
, and makes a cameo on the music video.
In 2010 HIT Entertainment
announces partnership with Vital Theatre Company to bring "Angelina Ballerina, The Musical" to the stage beginning October 2010.
Angelina Ballerina opens in NYC, October 2, 2010, starring Whitney Autumn Meyer as Angelina. The show runs through January 2, 2011. Following the success of the New York production, a Canadian production also was produced in Toronto
featuring an all Canadian cast.
Channels
Katharine Holabird
Katharine Holabird is an American writer, best known as the author of the Angelina Ballerina series- Biography :...
and illustrator Helen Craig
Helen Craig
Helen Craig is a British children's book illustrator and author, best known for creating the Angelina Ballerina series of children's books with writer Katharine Holabird....
, who is featured in a popular series of children's books. The first book in the series was published in 1983, and since then, there have been over 20 books in the series.
In 2001, a British animated TV series of 39 fifteen minute episodes based on the books was produced by HIT Entertainment
HIT Entertainment
Hit Entertainment is a British-American entertainment distribution company established in 1989, and originally the international distribution arm of Jim Henson Productions called Henson International Television...
in the United Kingdom. The series featured actress Finty Williams
Finty Williams
Tara Cressida Frances Williams is an English actress who performs under the name Finty Williams....
as the voice of Angelina, and her mother Judi Dench
Judi Dench
Dame Judith Olivia "Judi" Dench, CH, DBE, FRSA is an English film, stage and television actress.Dench made her professional debut in 1957 with the Old Vic Company. Over the following few years she played in several of William Shakespeare's plays in such roles as Ophelia in Hamlet, Juliet in Romeo...
as Miss Lilly. The series aired on PBS
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
in the United States, where it was presented by Connecticut Public Television
Connecticut Public Television
Connecticut Public Television is the PBS member network for the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is owned by Connecticut Public Broadcasting, who also owns Connecticut Public Radio. Together, the television and radio stations make up the Connecticut Public Broadcasting Network...
; and can currently be seen on Nick Jr. in the UK and PBS Kids Sprout
PBS KIDS Sprout
PBS Kids Sprout is a U.S. digital cable television channel, video-on-demand service, and website providing PBS Kids shows and original programming for preschoolers and their families...
in the US.
A computer-animated revival, Angelina Ballerina: The Next Steps
Angelina Ballerina: The Next Steps
Angelina Ballerina: The Next Steps is a British and American CGI animated television series premiered on September 5, 2009, Nick Jr. in 2009, and Discovery Kids Latin America in 2010. A continuation of the Angelina Ballerina series of children's books by Katharine Holabird, the author and Helen...
, premiered on PBS stations in September 2009. Consisting of 80 stories, it is directed by Davis Doi
Davis Doi
Davis Doi is an animator director and producer known for directing Dinotopia: Quest for the Ruby Sunstone as well as the Care Bears videos....
and animated at SD Entertainment
SD Entertainment
SD Entertainment is an animation studio specialising in direct-to-DVD movies for children. The "SD" in the initials of the company name stand for Sabella Dern, the respective last names of its founders: former MGM Animation employees Paul Sabella and Johnathan Dern.The company is based in Woodland...
. WNET
WNET
WNET, channel 13 is a non-commercial educational public television station licensed to Newark, New Jersey. With its signal covering the New York metropolitan area, WNET is a primary station of the Public Broadcasting Service and a primary provider of PBS programming...
, after purchasing CPTV's production unit, is the producer of the program. English National Ballet
English National Ballet
English National Ballet is a classical ballet company founded by Dame Alicia Markova and Sir Anton Dolin and based at Markova House in South Kensington, London, England. Along with the Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet and Scottish Ballet, it is one of the four major ballet companies in Great...
took a live version of Angelina Ballerina called Angelina's Star Performance on tour in autumn 2007. It is a fairly short ballet aimed at children.
Angelina Ballerina appears on the single cover sleeve of Peter Kay
Peter Kay
Peter John Kay is an English comedian, writer, actor, director and producer. His work includes That Peter Kay Thing , Phoenix Nights , Max and Paddy's Road to Nowhere , Britain's Got the Pop Factor... and other independent productions which have included two sell out tours.-Early career:Peter Kay...
's The Official BBC Children in Need Medley
The Official BBC Children in Need Medley
"The Official BBC Children in Need Medley" is a cross-over single by Peter Kay's Animated All Star Band. It is the official Children in Need Single for 2009, and was released on 21 November 2009. The song was shown for the first time on Children in Need 2009. The cover art is a parody of the cover...
, and makes a cameo on the music video.
In 2010 HIT Entertainment
HIT Entertainment
Hit Entertainment is a British-American entertainment distribution company established in 1989, and originally the international distribution arm of Jim Henson Productions called Henson International Television...
announces partnership with Vital Theatre Company to bring "Angelina Ballerina, The Musical" to the stage beginning October 2010.
Angelina Ballerina opens in NYC, October 2, 2010, starring Whitney Autumn Meyer as Angelina. The show runs through January 2, 2011. Following the success of the New York production, a Canadian production also was produced in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
featuring an all Canadian cast.
Characters
- Angelina Jeanette Mouseling is the main protagonistProtagonistA protagonist is the main character of a literary, theatrical, cinematic, or musical narrative, around whom the events of the narrative's plot revolve and with whom the audience is intended to most identify...
who loves to dance and dreams of becoming a famous ballerina. She lives in a village of Chipping Cheddar in LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, EnglandEnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Voiced by Finty WilliamsFinty WilliamsTara Cressida Frances Williams is an English actress who performs under the name Finty Williams....
. She often wears a pink leotard, pink tutu, pink hair ribbon, and pink ballet slippers. She also loves sweets, especially holidayHolidayA Holiday is a day designated as having special significance for which individuals, a government, or a religious group have deemed that observance is warranted. It is generally an official or unofficial observance of religious, national, or cultural significance, often accompanied by celebrations...
sweets. - Miss Lilly is Angelina's ballet teacher. She grew up in Dacovia, a far-away land. Voiced by Judi DenchJudi DenchDame Judith Olivia "Judi" Dench, CH, DBE, FRSA is an English film, stage and television actress.Dench made her professional debut in 1957 with the Old Vic Company. Over the following few years she played in several of William Shakespeare's plays in such roles as Ophelia in Hamlet, Juliet in Romeo...
. She is sometimes mentioned in Angelina Ballerina: The Next Steps, and a picture of her is seen at Angelina's new school. - Alice Bridgette Nimbletoes is Angelina's best friend and secondary protagonist, who is very skilled at gymnastics. She likes Sammy, and is usually happy. She's very clever. Voiced by Jo WyattJo WyattJo Wyatt is an English voice actress known for her voice as Little Miss Helpful, Little Miss Naughty, Little Miss Scary and Little Miss Sunshine in The Mr. Men Show. She also voiced Daisy Kribotnik in Love Soup, a woman in bar in Extras, Natella in Bromwell High and a character in Guess with Jess...
. She often wears a green leotard, tutu, hair ribbon, and ballet slippers. She loves her food, which is cheese pie. She also appears in Angelina Ballerina: The Next Steps. - William John Longtail is one of two boys (the other is Angelina's cousin Henry) in Miss Lilly's ballet class. He is in love with Angelina. Voiced by Keith WickhamKeith WickhamKeith Wickham is a British actor, comedian and voice actor.He is well known for voicing Changed Daily in The Secret Show, Mr. Small, and Mr. Tall in The Mr. Men Show , Corneil in Corneil & Bernie , Mr...
. - Mr. Longtail is William's father who works as a cab driver and praises his son for any efforts he tries to make especially if its his first time.
- Penelope and Priscilla Pinkpaws are twin sisters who tease and belittle nearly everyone, sometimes including each other. They are particularly jealous of Angelina for her dancing talent. They also have a new baby brother. Voiced by Jonell ElliottJonell ElliottJonell Elliott is an English voice actress who was the voice of the video game character Lara Croft from Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation to Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness....
and Jo WyattJo WyattJo Wyatt is an English voice actress known for her voice as Little Miss Helpful, Little Miss Naughty, Little Miss Scary and Little Miss Sunshine in The Mr. Men Show. She also voiced Daisy Kribotnik in Love Soup, a woman in bar in Extras, Natella in Bromwell High and a character in Guess with Jess...
. Priscilla wears blue leotards, tutus, and pointe shoesPointe shoesA pointe shoe is a type of shoe worn by ballet dancers when performing pointework. Pointe shoes developed from the desire for dancers to appear weightless and sylph-like and have evolved to enable dancers to dance on the tips of their toes for extended periods of time...
but wears a purple hair ribbon, and Penelope wears a purple leotard, tutu, and ballet slippers, but wears a blue hair ribbon.Their family has been showing to be rich. - Sammy Watts is an older mouse in Angelina's school, who often causes trouble for William and Angelina particularly but has a heart of gold. Voiced by Jo WyattJo WyattJo Wyatt is an English voice actress known for her voice as Little Miss Helpful, Little Miss Naughty, Little Miss Scary and Little Miss Sunshine in The Mr. Men Show. She also voiced Daisy Kribotnik in Love Soup, a woman in bar in Extras, Natella in Bromwell High and a character in Guess with Jess...
. - Mr. Maurice Mouseling is Angelina's father and the proprietor of the Mouseland Gazette. Voiced by Keith WickhamKeith WickhamKeith Wickham is a British actor, comedian and voice actor.He is well known for voicing Changed Daily in The Secret Show, Mr. Small, and Mr. Tall in The Mr. Men Show , Corneil in Corneil & Bernie , Mr...
. - Mrs. Matilda Mouseling is Angelina's mother. Her maiden surname is Fielding. She has a sister Amanda, who has a son. Voiced by Jonell ElliottJonell ElliottJonell Elliott is an English voice actress who was the voice of the video game character Lara Croft from Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation to Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness....
. - Polly Anne Mouseling is the second child and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mouseling, little sister of Angelina, and second cousin of Henry. In Angelina Ballerina: The Next Steps, Polly is a 4 year old child with white fur colour instead of brown.
- Grandma Sophia and Grandpa Jeffrey are Angelina's grandparents and Maurice's parents. Voiced by Keith WickhamKeith WickhamKeith Wickham is a British actor, comedian and voice actor.He is well known for voicing Changed Daily in The Secret Show, Mr. Small, and Mr. Tall in The Mr. Men Show , Corneil in Corneil & Bernie , Mr...
and Adrienne PostaAdrienne PostaAdrienne Posta is an English film and television actress and singer, prominent during the 1960s and 1970s. She adopted the surname Posta in 1966. She recorded a number of singles. She is now semi-retired and works as a teacher in the Midlands and at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts...
. They are sometimes mentioned in Angelina Ballerina: The Next Steps. - Uncle Louis is Mr. Mouseling's brother, Angelina's uncle and Henry's father. Voiced by Rob RackstrawRob RackstrawRobert "Rob" Rackstraw is a British voice actor. He is perhaps best known for his various voices in the television series Bob the Builder, mainly the scarecrow Spud. He has an extensive voice over career over 15 years long and is considered to be one of the UK's leading male voice actors...
. - Henry Tyler Mouseling is Angelina's little cousin. Voiced by Jo WyattJo WyattJo Wyatt is an English voice actress known for her voice as Little Miss Helpful, Little Miss Naughty, Little Miss Scary and Little Miss Sunshine in The Mr. Men Show. She also voiced Daisy Kribotnik in Love Soup, a woman in bar in Extras, Natella in Bromwell High and a character in Guess with Jess...
. - Mrs. Harriet Hodgepodge is Angelina's next-door neighbour. She always seems grumpy and is viewed with fear by most of the Chipping Cheddar mouselings, but occasionally helps the mouselings often when they least expect it. Voiced by Finty WilliamsFinty WilliamsTara Cressida Frances Williams is an English actress who performs under the name Finty Williams....
. - Doctor Tuttle is the doctor in the town of Chipping Cheddar. Voiced by Keith WickhamKeith WickhamKeith Wickham is a British actor, comedian and voice actor.He is well known for voicing Changed Daily in The Secret Show, Mr. Small, and Mr. Tall in The Mr. Men Show , Corneil in Corneil & Bernie , Mr...
. - Mr. Operatski is an old friend of Miss Lilly's. Angelina is convinced (wrongly, as it turns out) that he hates mouselings. He has a moustache and a medium-pitched Russian accent. Voiced by Derek JacobiDerek JacobiSir Derek George Jacobi, CBE is an English actor and film director.A "forceful, commanding stage presence", Jacobi has enjoyed a highly successful stage career, appearing in such stage productions as Hamlet, Uncle Vanya, and Oedipus the King. He received a Tony Award for his performance in...
. - Queen Seraphina is a childhood friend of Miss Lilly's, who is now the Queen of Mouseland. She might had been inspired by the late Princess Diana, also Queen Seraphina wears the same trademark sky-blue gown. Queen Seraphina's husband, King Ferdinand, is often referred to in the original book series.
- Princess Valentine is the daughter of Queen Seraphina.
- Anya is a mouseling who comes to Chipping Cheddar as part of a migrant family working through the harvest season. She is teased by the Pinkpaws twins, and befriended by Angelina. She later joins Miss Lilly's ballet class.
- Mrs. Pinkpaws is the mother of the twins Priscilla and Penelope and their baby brother. She appears in a couple of episodes. She has a Southern Aristocracy accent and wears a lot of jewelery.
Books in the series
| Book Title | Year Written |
|---|---|
| Angelina Ballerina | 1983 |
| Angelina and the Princess | 1984 |
| Angelina's Christmas | 1985 |
| Angelina at the Fair | 1985 |
| Angelina on Stage | 1986 |
| Angelina and Alice | 1987 |
| Angelina's Birthday | 1989 |
| Angelina's Baby Sister | 1991 |
| Angelina's Ice Skates | 1993 |
| Angelina's Halloween | 2000 |
| Angelina and the Butterfly | 2001 |
| Angelina's Ballet Class | 2001 |
| Angelina and Henry | 2002 |
| Angelina Loves | 2002 |
| Angelina and the Rag Doll | 2002 |
| Angelina Ballerina's Invitation to the Ballet | 2003 |
| Angelina, Star of the Show | 2004 |
| Angelina's Silver Locket | 2004 |
| Angelina at the Palace | 2005 |
| Angelina at the Royal Wedding | 2010 |
External links
Others- Official Angelina Ballerina website
- Official Angelina Ballerina, The Musical website
- Angelina Ballerina opening theme song (:23 min)
- English National Ballet performs Angelina's Star Performance
- Angelina Ballerina, The Musical presented by Vital Theatre Company
Channels