Dot and the Kangaroo (film)
| Dot and the Kangaroo | |
|---|---|
DVD Cover
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| Directed by | Yoram Gross |
| Produced by | Yoram Gross |
| Written by | Yoram Gross John Palmer |
| Based on | Dot and the Kangaroo by Ethel C. Pedley |
| Starring | Lola Brooks Joan Bruce Barbara Frawley Peter Gwynne Ron Haddrick Ross Higgins Richard Meikle Spike Milligan June Salter |
| Music by | Bob Young John Palmer Marion Von Alderstein |
| Edited by |
Rod Hay Klaus Jaritz |
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Production
company |
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| Distributed by | Hoyts |
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Release date
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15 December 1977 |
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Running time
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71 minutes |
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
| Budget | A$250,000 |
Dot and the Kangaroo is a 1977 Australian film which combines animation and live-action. It is based on children's literature book Dot and the Kangaroo by Ethel Pedley.
When 5-year-old Dot finds herself lost in the Australian bush, a red kangaroo who has lost her joey (baby kangaroo), promises to help Dot find her way home. In the process, the kangaroo introduces Dot to a number of other animals, teaching her a greater appreciation for nature.
Yoram and Sandra Gross wanted to make an Australian animated feature for the world market. They read a series of books before deciding on Dot and the Kangaroo. Two thirds of the budget was provided by the Australian Film Commission.
The movie backdrop was filmed on location in and around Jenolan Caves and the Warragamba Dam Catchment Area of the Blue Mountains in New South Wales, Australia. Although the film uses many of the same elements as other animated children's musicals involving animals, such as many of the Disney classics from the United States, the film is essentially Australian in its use of icons and accents. It also references Indigenous Australian culture in some scenes which depict animation of cave paintings and aboriginal dancing.
The movie featured an original soundtrack including several lyrical melodies composed by Bob Young, John Palmer, and Marion Von Alderstein, while Bob Young provided additional lyrics, and they were recorded by Maurie Wilmore.
The film was a success, being screened around the world and returning its cost within three years. It allowed Yoram Gross to enlarge his production company and market his family films in the United States. Additionally, the film's use of animation set against photographic backgrounds established the style for many of his later films.
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