"Bananas in pyjamas are coming down the stairs..."
Bananas in Pyjamas is a beloved Australian children's television series that originally ran on The ABC in its suitmation incarnation from July 1992 to December 2001, before undergoing an extensive Retool when it was revived in 2011 as an All-CGI Cartoon.
Like the other breakout Australian children's franchise of the 1990's, you would be incredibly hard pressed to find an Australian child of Generation Y or later who's never even seen the show let alone one who didn't love it as a child, based on the the ubiquitous merchandising and instantly recognisable Theme Song. All this for a show where the episodes originally only ran for five minutes each.
The idea for the show came from the song of the same name, which later became the show's Title Theme Tune. The song was written in 1967 by British composer Carey Blyton (nephew of author Enid Blyton) who included it in a picture book of humorous verse,
also with the same name, which was first published in 1972. The Australian version of Play School soon incorporated the song into its catalogue, and in 1979 an animated short film of the song was created to be screened during the show. This film and a banana toy that subsequently joined the show's "toy cast" formed the physical basis of B1 and B2.
The show made its debut on July 20, 1992, featuring a cast of two bananas in pyjamas (B1 and B2), three teddies (Amy, Morgan, and Lulu) and a sometimes conniving if actually rather nice corner shop owner in Rat in the Hat, who all lived in the cul-de-sac of Cuddles Avenue. The show soon proved to be immensely popular among the toddler crowd and the show was exported to many overseas territories including The United States, where three episodes would often be broadcast together in a fifteen minute block (in its' last year, it was paired with The Crayon Box).
In the original incarnation's last season broadcast in 2001, some new barnyard characters were added, including two chickens called "Gregory" and "Peck," Dolly the sheep, Camembert the cow, Pedro the pig, and Flash the fish. The series then went on an indefinite hiatus before it was announced in 2009 that a new CGI version of the show was in the works. The CGI version premiered in 2011 to at best mixed reviews and vocal disappointment from the show's former fanbase. However, the episodes from the original incarnation are freely available to watch on YouTube and purchase on DVD.
Tropes:
- Accent Upon The Wrong Syllable: Lulu often pronunces "Bananas" as "BA-na-nas."
- Adaptation Distillation: The song doesn't specify how many bananas and teddies there are, but the 1979 short film and the series of picture books published in The '80s make it clear that there's a whole army of both species. The 90s live-action series whittles the cast down to a few key members, possibly due to The ABC's
notoriously small budget. - Adaptation Expansion: The new series introduces new locations and new characters, including Topsy the kangaroo, Charlie the monkey, and Bernard the dog.
- All-CGI Cartoon: The original series was transformed into one of these in 2011, with mixed results.
- Always Identical Twins: B1 and B2 are canonically twin brothers.
- Amazing Technicolor Population: Applies to both incarnations of the series.
- Animated Adaptation
- Animated Credits Opening: Possibly a nod to the 1979 film.
- Anthropomorphic Food: The Bananas, of course.
- Are You Pondering What I'm Pondering?: The bananas use this as a Catchphrase.
- Art Evolution: The main characters' appearances (particularly the Bananas') changed practically every season.
- The Artifact: The Bananas' teddy chasing was the main point of the song it was based on, but in the series (the live-action one at least) teddy chasing is rare, and is mainly confined to the early episodes of the series. Also, it was generally confined to Tuesdays.
- Artistic License – Film Production: In the episode "Video Clip" (at the end of a 1993 Story Arc), the Bananas and Teddies film a video and then watch it back to themselves immediately afterwards. The fact that it's a show for young children aside, some of the clips in the video feature the characters when they weren't filming, and there's no character in the episodes depicted who is a functioning camera person apart from Lulu (who was in the footage). And then there's the fact that Lulu managed to edit the video, set up the recorder and get the tape in play in less than ten seconds...
- Art Shift: The pre-2011 versions has a very well (for Adobe Flash standards) animated opening sequence and closing. The rest of the episodes are live-action with actors in full body suits.
- Catchphrase:
- Rat in a Hat: I'm a rat, I'm a rat, I'm a clever clever rat...
- Rat in a Hat: CHEESE AND WHISKERS!
- Rat in a Hat: Trust me, I'm a Rat.
- Clothes Make the Legend: Seriously, could you imagine the Bananas wearing anything but their blue-and-white striped pyjamas?
- Cool Car: Not in the straight sense (the only thing going for it is the fact it's the only car in Cuddles Avenue) but Rat's Ratmobile does certainly look pretty cool.
- Cultural Translation: When the series was exported to the US, the show's title card had to be spelt as "Bananas in Pajamas." However, when Amazon made the animated versions available on Prime, they didn't localize it and kept the title as Bananas in Pyjamas.
- Deadpan Snarker: Morgan displayed this trait at times, most notably in "Lulu's Magic."
- Detachable Doorknob: There is an episode where the Teddies get stuck in their bedroom due to the doorknob coming off (as well as from the other side when the Bananas come to rescue them). The Bananas not only have to deal with the broken door but also with getting food to the trapped Teddies since it was so close to dinnertime.
- Dub Name Change:
- In the American Spanish dub, B1 and B2 are known as "Bananin" and "Bananon", respectively.
- In the Canadian French dub, Amy, Morgan, and Lulu became Anne, Martin, and Loulou respectively.
- Early-Installment Weirdness: Early in the show's first season, B1 and Amy had different voice actors, and in the case of the Bananas the voice actors were also inside the suits (though this practice was changed by the next season). The boing sound used when the Bananas get an idea was also completely different, there was no Rat, and Amy was missing her now trademark bow as well as wearing the tutu that would eventually become a trademark of Lulu's.
- In the picture books made before the original animated short and the show, the Bananas wore red striped pyjamas. The books were later reissued with illustrations that matched the show.
- In the earliest episodes, the Bananas' pyjamas did not have their names on them.
- "Everybody Laughs" Ending
- Final Season Casting: The barnyard animals in the live-action show's final season.
- Happiness Is Mandatory: The "Welcome to Cuddlestown" song includes the lyrics "Welcome, welcome, welcome to Cuddlestown! Welcome, welcome, you'll never ever wear a frown. Sad sounds are out of bounds."
- Identical Twin ID Tag: B1 and B2 are distinguished by text on the collars of their pyjama shirts labeling them as B1 and B2.
- It's Quiet… Too Quiet: At the end of the "In the Jungle" song, there's a brief moment of silence, followed by B2 noting "It's gone very quiet, B1," to which B1 replies "It's gone very, very quite B2. Maybe even..."B1 and B2: ...too quiet.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: The Rat in the Hat, originally. The 2011 incarnation makes him out to be more of a jerkass.
- The Kiddie Ride: Yes, there was one made by a company called Fun2Learn.
- Laser-Guided Karma: When Rat in the Hat was particularly jerkish, he would face consciences for it. In one episode, he trades his Ratmobile with Amy for her scooter after he can't get it to start. Only to then tire himself out trying to ride it. Then, after the Bananas have tried to help Amy fix the Ratmobile (it just needed petrol) it breaks down for real when they trade back.
- Limited Wardrobe: Save for a couple of slight modifications here and there, all the characters on the show wore the same clothes in every episode.
- Massive Multiplayer Crossover: B1 and B2 appeared with Barney the Dinosaur in interstitials during Christmas 1997 on GMTV. Also, they were featured in a Freeview ad around 2010-2012 with many personalities from every channel on free to air television in Australia. Also it's a given that they will feature on ABC video compilations or at children's events where presenters from Play School or The Wiggles will appear.
- Naked People Are Funny: The episode "Bananas Without Pyjamas." Oh yes, the ABC let that one through.
- Never Trust a Trailer: Back in the mid-2000s, ABC1 transmitted a trailer for the show which featured footage hinting at a possible shipping between one of the Bananas and Lulu. Suffice to say, apart from the Romance Arc between the turtles Tolstoy and Thomasina (who ended up getting married in the 1999 season), no romantic relationships happen between the main characters in the show.
- No Antagonist: Subjectively Subverted. Though the Bananas and Teddies considered Rat in a Hat to be their friend, he often cheated them whenever he found a chance to, at least until one of the protagonists called him out on it. On the other hand, Rat in a Hat's status as antagonist is debatable as he never hurts any of the other characters, he just cheats or play pranks on them.
- Pajama-Clad Hero: The bananas are always wearing pyjamas, hence their name. As they themselves admit, this is entirely by choice, since they love wearing their pyjamas which they say are really comfortable. The only time they had to take them off was because they needed to wash the pyjamas and they wasted no time pulling their pyjamas back on the first chance they got.
- Parental Bonus: The parental bonuses abound. A good half of the names of all the barnyard animals count (here's the reason why Dolly the Sheep may have tickled some parent's funny bones) and there's also a turtle called... Wait for it... Tolstoy.
- Pilot: "Pink Mug", although "Cuddles Avenue" was clearly intended as the actual pilot.
- Rearrange the Song: The theme song was given an oh so '90s dance makeover and its very own music video.
- Retool: The 2011 series changes a lot, and it's not just the CGI rendering. For one, the slew of new characters means the gang live in Cuddlestown instead of just Cuddles Avenue, many characters speak perfectly, the characters have new voice actors, Rat in a Hat Took a Level in Jerkass and there's even a new song: "Banana Time," that's being eased into the series as a possible replacement for the trademark theme song.
- Rhyming Title: Bananas in Pyjamas.
- Running Gags: The bananas try hiding behind a pricklebush and get poked all over in "Bananas Without Pyjamas" .
- The Rat in the Hat has a habit of trying to start various businesses and remembering everything... except what his service is actually supposed to provide. When he tried to open a restaurant he remembered everything he needed to create a pleasant atmosphere but forgot to provide any actual food. When he tried to host a pony ride he remembered all the safety equipment and had the banannas build a track but forgot to actually get a pony for his customers to ride. When he tried to open a painting exhibition he got lots of easels but forgot to get any paintings to display. Usually this results in the Bananas and/or Teddies having to improvise a solution.
- Sick Episode: "Atchoo!" (where Morgan falls ill and the Bananas tend to him), "Sniffles" (where Rat has the sniffles), and "Lost Voice" (where Amy has a sore throat and cannot talk).
- Single-Episode Handicap: Amy's lost voice in "Lost Voice."
- Skewed Priorities: In one episode, Amy and Lulu believe that Morgan has blasted into space. While Amy is freaking out over the idea that Morgan may never come back, Lulu is only concerned over whether or not he took some lunch with him.
- Slapstick: Inherent in the show's humour.
- Slice of Life
- Story Arc: Sometimes the live-action series would feature five day long story arcs which, when put together, would make a 25 minute episode. These include "Banana's Birthday" in 1992 and the five episodes chronicling the creation of a song and video ("Getting Rhythm," "Musical Stairs," "Swamp Lake," "Take One," and "Video Clip") in 1993.
- Subverted Rhyme Every Occasion: In "Singing Bananas" (where the Bananas act as singing telegrams):"Here's the things the teddies need, first a tin of chicken soup"
- Suddenly Speaking: The barnyard characters in the new series, who previously communicated exclusively in bleats, grunts or clucks, are now capable of speaking perfect English.
- Talking Animal: The Teddies and the Rat in the original series, and pretty much everybody in the reboot.
- Tertiary Sexual Characteristics: The female Teddies have bows.
- Title Theme Tune
- Totally Radical: One week long Story Arc in the '90s featured the Bananas and Teddies writing their own song before filming a music video for it. In one of the episodes Morgan is dressed in very M.C. Hammer like get-up and goes around saying: "Cool, man! Cool!"
- The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: The Bananas rarely try to catch the Teddy Bears despite the theme song proclaiming that fact.
- The Trickster: Maggie the magpie (though she can't really help it, seeing as she is a magpie), and, to a slightly lesser extent, Rat.
- Tomboy and Girly Girl: Amy's the tomboy to Lulu's girly girl.
