Wide-Eye is an animated children's television series based on award-winning books and set in (fictional) Natterjack Forest. The programme is about a wise owl who lives in a tree with his son, Little Hoot, and their energetic girlfriend, Flea. Wide-Eye is scheduled for a live re-run in 2017 on KIKA.
Main Characters
Wide-Eye – A wise owl who lives in a tree. Fatherly, gentle and reliable, he watches over all the animals to make sure they are all safe and happy. Voiced by Anton Rodgers
Little Hoot – A young yellow-eyed owlet who is Wide Eye's son. He is brave and strong, has a vivid imagination, can see in the dark and is eager to learn, although, like many children, he is sometimes daunted by new challenges. Maria Darling voices him.
Flea – A small, red, bouncy white-eyed flea who is Little Hoot's special girlfriend. She has an enchanting nature and is always ready to join in with Little Hoot's adventures. Jane Horrocks voices her.
The Natterjack Toads – Several green and orange toads who live and play at Natterjack Pond. Voiced by Maria Darling, Jimmy Hibbert and Jane Horrocks.
Mother Natterjack – A female orange toad who is mother of the Natterjack Toads. Voiced by Anton Rodgers
Great Grandma Toad - Another female orange toad who is grandmother of the Natterjack Toads. She wears purple glasses and often cooks food for the toadlets to share. Voiced by Anton Rodgers.
The Sun - A spherical circular sun which sometimes appears in every episode. The sun is only seen shining in the sky by day, just like an ordinary sun, but although it only seems to move and can hurt the animals' eyes and make them go blind, it is by far the most important energy source for life in the forest.
The Moon - A spherical rocky ball which appears during, at the beginning and end of various episodes. The moon is sometimes seen shining in the sky by night, no matter what its phase, and, as you'd expect from an ordinary moon, it is always being lit up by the sun and always seems to change shape in the night sky. Little Hoot and Flea enjoy zooming to the moon.
Father Natterjack – A male green toad who is father of the Natterjack Toads. He appears in quite a few episodes. Voiced by Anton Rodgers.
99 – A male orange and white centipede who lives in a burrow. Never confident, and mostly in a muddle, his many feet are always getting tangled up. Easily distracted, he always tries his best to count and match his many pairs of boots, but no matter how hard he tries, he keeps losing count and is forced to start over and over again! Jimmy Hibbert voices him.
Conchita – A female white and blue chinchilla who lives under the roots of a tree. With her exotic Chilean clothing and her charming accent, she is the colourful life and soul of the forest who dances and sings as well as cooking food for all the forest animals to share. Voiced by Maria Darling.
Rangatang – A male orange orangutan who runs a shop somewhere in the forest. Voiced by Jimmy Hibbert.
Hetty Hornet – A female stinging hornet who likes things to be clean and tidy. Voiced by Maria Darling.
The Fireflies - Several nocturnal and decorative fireflies who only appear at night in Natterjack Forest. The fireflies make sounds instead of saying words.
Wily Komodo – The villain who always causes mischief in Natterjack Forest. He appears in almost every episode, lives inside a rocky den with his young son, Baby Komodo, and because time is never on his side, he causes nothing but mayhem wherever he goes. Jimmy Hibbert voices him.
Baby Komodo – Wily Komodo's accident-prone son who likes swimming. He drinks out of a small beaker of milk in some episodes, and he can change colour, like a chameleon. Although he desperately wants to be as silly as his Wily, his main skills are dribbling, drooling and even din-making! If there is a crisis, a mess or a mix up anywhere in the forest, the chances always are that Baby Komodo won't be far away! Jane Horrocks voices him.
Batwing – A female pink-eared bat who is Wily Komodo's arch-spy. She occasionally passes on gossip about the other forest animals and sleeps upside down in a rocky cave. She can fly at night and she never bumps into anything. Maria Darling voices her.
In 2003, Wide-Eye was released on video, recommended by Tempo Pre-School, and released by Abbey Home Media. Apparently, 5 separate VHS releases were (and still are) available in the United Kingdom.
In 2004, Wide-Eye was released on DVD, again recommended by Tempo Pre-School, and released by Abbey Home Media. Apparently, 3 stand-alone DVD releases were (and still are) available in the United Kingdom.
Wide-Eye aired on Cbeebies at varying times between 2003 and 2004 and then on KIKA between late 2016 and early 2017.
Wide-Eye is scheduled for a live re-run on KIKA in 2017. The re-run will be on every other week between 7 April 2017 and 24 November 2017.
