I am super excited to (finally!) announce that SUPER HAPPY MAGIC FOREST is now on television! EVERYBODY FROLIC!!!
The series premiered on October 7th 2024 on CBBC and all episodes were added to BBC iPlayer. You can watch the very first trailer right here!
You can also read the BBC press release on the show, which includes short interviews with two of the voice actors, Julian Barratt (Hoofius) and Judi Love (Blossom).
I've also pre-empted some questions you may have about the show in relation to me and my involvement with it, which I've answered below. I know it looks weird that I'm interviewing myself but I feel like this is the best way to do it 😬
What was your involvement in the creation of the Super Happy Magic Forest TV Show?
I was a Creative Consultant on the show, which is a nice fancy important-sounding title to have, especially when you underline it. Essentially, it means I was consulted and gave feedback on all aspects of production, from reading scripts to judging voice talent for the characters. I helped shape the world we see on screen and made sure it was compatible with what came before in the books. I gave my thoughts on music and theme tune ideas. I feel really lucky to have been as deeply involved as I was, and I can only thank Tiger Aspect, the production company, for welcoming my input so warmly.
Did you write any episodes?
Nope, I'm busy enough writing books! We had a team of talented writers to do that. I got to read all their pitches and outlines and scripts and give my thoughts and sagely wisdom at every stage. There are plenty of my own lines and jokes in there though because sometimes I would suggest something and they'd actually put it in!
Did you design any of the new characters?
Yes! I got to work on character design too. This allowed us to be consistent between page and screen and make sure everything had the right Super Happy Magic Forest feel to it. So even if I didn't think up the character, I could make it look like I did! Check back here later when I'll share some of the design sheets I created.
How does the TV show fit with what happens in the books?
You'll notice little differences here and there, like Blossom being female and Tiddlywink having a different name. I consider the books and TV show to be separate from each other, even though we did our best to make sure they look and feel part of the same world.
How long has the show been in the works for?
It was way back in 2016 when Tiger Aspect first optioned Super Happy Magic Forest. Getting a show off the ground takes a long time and there are no guarantees at all that you'll even be able to do it. You need (often multiple) broadcasters on board to raise the budget necessary to get into production. It was a really long (and sometimes bumpy) road. In February 2023 I jumped on a call where I learned everything had been signed off and we had the green light to start production. And then things got very busy very quickly! It has been a lot of hard work, but very fun and rewarding too.
Did you get to meet any of the voice actors or see it being made?
I sure did! Over the course of production I got to sit in on the amazing voice talent record their lines. I met the voices behind all five heroes and give them a picture of the character they played.
I also got to visit Florence in Italy where the show was being animated by the brilliant folks at Doghead Studios. While there I shook a lot of hands, ate an amazing halloumi and pesto sandwich, and sat in on a design brief meeting. It was super insightful and humbling to see everyone working so hard on the show. We also watched an episode with Italian dubbing, so that was fun!
