This is the series out of the whole franchise of which I first heard of the eponymous character. And it's always been both one of my favorite PBS shows and kid shows in general. Despite probably being a little out of the demographic/age range this show may have targeted (I was 11 going on 12 when it began it's airing run), I still tuned in anyway and I loved, and enjoyed every minute of it. Supposedly, it was supposed to return to the airwaves on the Nick Jr. channel, but I didn't see it included in the schedule when I checked it. I can't say for sure which would be right, but maybe it did air on there and I just missed it or it never even, really made it on there. It seems to have become another rarity ever since PBS dropped it from its lineup. I miss this show and would like to see it again. This program is so hard to find nowadays, that to date, there are no full episodes available to view online, and the only video of it on Youtube is the opening theme song.
But anyway, in this next to latest series of the Noddy franchise (which preceded the CGI-based Make Way For Noddy), there's a toy store that shares the name and is known as the N.O.D.D.Y. shop (I forget what the other parts of the acronym stand for, but I know it begins with "novelties" and ends with "yesteryear"). The shop is run by an old salt named Noah and some kids often come by for visits (one or two of which, I'm not sure, are his grandchildren), as does his daughter, Agatha, who's the aunt of one or two of the kids. N.O.D.D.Y. is also seemingly enchanted, since when there are no people around, the toys come alive. Among that assortment of characters, they include Granny Goose, who often spoke in rhymes; Sherman and Rusty, a turtle-tank who is usually seen together with and ridden by a clown doll; Planet Pup, a tin dog with a mission to protect the world, hence his namesake; Warlow Q. Weasel, a jack-in-the-box weasel who was typically true to his species surname, both literally and figuratively and more. Three goblins frequented there too, one of which, Boobul, never wreaked havoc unlike his parents. The doll Noddy comes into play when the kids would tell stories pertaining to the theme or subject of the episode, which then switches to the stop- motion segments of Noddy and his Toyland friends (here, these have actually been dubbed or re-dubbed from the original British dub to be more Americanized, which I didn't know at the time). In that aspect, it's similar to and reminiscent of what was commonly done on Shining Time Station. I like how they were incorporated into and the dubs were redone for this series.
So now that those of y'all who may be reading my Noddy review, who may be new to this show are up to speed, I can't say there's anything in or about this I don't like. With plenty of lessons or morals, it's another example of how a kid show is handled and done properly, and perfectly. If anyone is somehow ever lucky enough to discover this show and see it for the first time, whether on t.v. or the internet, I advise y'all to do so right away. Because it's another one of the greatest there's ever been and shouldn't be passed up at all.
