"Crapston Villas" was a notorious British animated television series, in which the characters were made from plasticine and filmed with stop motion clay animation.
It was made by the Spitting Image Productions company and was originally broadcast on the UK's Channel 4 from 1995 to 1997. It was written by Sarah Ann Kennedy, who was also director (series 1, 1995) along with Peter Boyd Maclean (series 2, 1996).
Voices were provided by a host of British comedy acting talent, including Jane Horrocks, John Thomson, Alistair McGowan, Morwenna Banks, Felix Dexter, Lesley-Anne Sharpe, Liz Smith and Alison Steadman.
Crapston Villas is a comedy satire on inner-city London life, directed at a mature audience. It features a set of characters, living in a grim apartment building in the fictional postcode of SE69, who are plagued by all sorts of modern society dilemmas. Foul language, sex and violence are present.
Each series was comprised of ten episodes. Series 1 was subsequently issued on video, edited together to form a single 100 minute piece ("Crapston Villas – City of Slummington"), while Series 2 was released on two 50 minute videos ("Health Hazard" and "Culture Shock").
In the USA five episodes from Series 1 have been released on DVD, but so far no other DVD releases from either series have occurred.
Described by UK newspapers as 'vile, vulgar and hilariously funny' (Daily Star) and 'of dubious taste' (The Guardian), the show was abruptly cancelled after its second series by the incoming new head of Channel 4 Television, who then bought less obviously vulgar South Park to fill the late Friday night slot.
