Jedi's Paradise - Childrens TV

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History

In 1967 Hal Seeger Productions released into the world 100 five minute episodes of Batfink. As you can probably tell it was loosely based on Batman (the cave, the hot line, the chief etc), but it had its own dry sense of humour, which is one of the reasons it is still loved today (it reminds me of the humour in Roger Ramjet).

Hal Seeger hired a number of animators for the show (mostly friends), but they made use of a technique that a lot of animation studios employed. This was to reuse frames of animation to cut costs (eg. the Battleac leaving the cave, The Chief on the Hot Line etc).

Batfink and Hugo A Go-Go was voiced by a former game show host Frank Buxton. Karate and the Chief was voiced by Len Maxwell, but both of them played other characters throughout the show.

Each episode was split into two chunks, with a cliffhanger two thirds of the way through, which was great as you would have an American voice shout out something like - 'Oh No!, how will Batfink escape from this, surely its the end for him'. Does he escape? Of course he does!

Batfink stayed on the air until the early 80's, when it disappeared totally from our TV schedules. But in 2004, he has returned with avengeance and has appeared on a number of shows around the world, which have included the UK series 'Dick and Dom in Da Bungalow. At least this means that a new generation of children have been introduced to the show and the grown up kids can reminisce about it.

Several of Hal's other sons and daughters carry on the family legacy with credits as writers or actors.

Production Supervisor: Len Bird
Animation: Myron Waldman / Bill Ackerman / John Gentilella / James Tyer / I. Klien / Graham Place + others
Scenics: Bob Owen
Voices: Len Maxwell and Frank Buxton
Story: Heywood Kling / Dennis Marks
Produced and Directed by Hal Seeger

Story

Batfink is a super hero bat.

He used to live in an abandoned plutonium mine with his mother, as a result of exposure to the plutonium, he gained superpowers. Two greedy prospectors dynamited the mine in search for riches. Batfink had to use his superpowers to save his mother, but in the act his wings were crushed.

Luckily a young Japanese boy called Karate had spotted what had happened. He took him to see his father, who was a blacksmith, who crafted him a set of new wings made out of steel. Because of this bullets cannot harm him, because his wings are like a shield of steel. Batfink and Karate (a karate champ) made a promise to Batfink's Mother that they would use their combined power and skills to fight crime.

Batfink's main Nemesis's is Hugo A Go Go, who tries to defeat Batfink at every opportunity.

Batfink

He's a crime fighter, with wings of steel, which is a surprise really as he can still fly using them. I thought he'd never get off the ground with those babies!

He lives in his split level cave with his capable assistant Karate and hangs upside down from the ceiling when he sleeps.

Batfink uses his Super Sonic Sonar Radar, which are literally a couple of words (Beep) that come out of his mouth.

They would:

- seek out things and return to Batfink to tell him what they had found out!
- confuse people
- move objects

He also has retro rockets built in to his wings of steel. These help him to land safely if he is knocked unconscious. Also he has a Thunder Gun and an inflatable Batfink suit (which he always carries two of).

Batfink likes to say a number of phrases:

- 'I'll be there before you can say...'
- 'Your Bullets cannot harm me, my wings are like a shield of steel'

Karate

He is Batfink's buck toothed sidekick and drives him around in the Bat-el-ac Car, which looks like a converted VW Beetle with a sun roof (its pink too). Not only that, but from the outside it looks like Karate is really cramped up in the car, but inside it looks massive. It must be magic!

He's of Japanese origin and if he wants to get maximum power with his karate chops, then he puts on his brass knuckles to do the job.

He uses his hands to chop anything, chopping up food, cutting cards (into two pieces) etc.

He has a nasty habit of smashing down doors to save Batfink, only to find out that he has smashed the door on top of Batfink (I suppose he's his flat mate).

The Chief

He calls Batfink on the Hot Line to ask him for his help.

Hugo A GoGo

He's a mad Scientist and he lives in an Observatory and Batfink's number one nemesis.

He worked out Batfink's weakness straight away and used a giant magnate to pin him down (Clever Eh?). His main goal is to rob banks of all their money.

Hugo A GoGo has created Robot Knights.

Ebenezer the Freezer

He likes going around freezing people with his Freezing Gas.

The Sonic Boomer

He flies his plane really low and the Sonic Boom of the plane breaks everyones windows. Does he do it for fun? Yes...and for money, as he runs the local Glass company. Business hasn't been better.

Big Ears Ernie

He has enormous ears that can help him decipher the clicks on a safe and detect when a squad car is on its was for him. Even Batfink cannot creep up on him. But he has one weakness, he can't stand the noise that Batfink's wings make if he hits them.

Manhole Manny

He lives down in the sewers and comes up to steal items.

Mr Flick

He is a master of the moving image. He can project images in ingenious ways to give the appearance that things are real (eg. Lions), which can scare people, so allowing him to rob places.

Skinny Minnie and Gang

Skinny Minnie is in charge of a gang consisting of Boney Mahoney, Diet Wyatt and Scrawny Arnie.

The are all painfully thin and can fit through the tightest of gaps. Which is really useful to steal Mail and squeeze into security trucks. Its also useful when hiding from Batfink.

Fatman

He's not really fat. He disguises himself as a fat man, to enter Fat Man only clubs and steal their valuables.

But how does he get into the clubs? That's easy, he uses an inflatable suit, to make him look fat.

He also drives a very nice sports car, that shoots around the place :)

Gallery


Hi Ya!	Just open the door next time


My wings are a shield of steel	Its Hugo A Go Go


Relaxing reading Batman	I caught a fish this wide!


Karate should get a bigger car	It looks bigger on the inside


Whose mobile is ringing?	It's Hugo A Go Go's place