AustLit

'It's hard work when you're 12 years old, and have to look after your mother - who has just turned two. It's frustrating being a runaway in search of your family - with only a faded photo to go on. And it's absolutely DEADLY knowing that the seeds of a blue tea plant have been washed into the river system, and any moment now plants will grow that can keep people young forever.

'But at least Amy and Sprocket have each other. Together they'll bring up Toddler Mum as best they can, they'll fight Pooper Scooper and his malevolent family, and they'll find every one of those mutating tea plants before they can destroy the world.'

Source: SLR Productions (http://slrproductions.com/deadly). Sighted: 12/4/2012

Crimes are being committed within fairy tales. And this means that the fairy tales in our world are losing their happy (or unhappy) endings. Two police officers (no-nonsense Christine Anderson and bumbling Johnny Legend) are sent inside fairy tales to establish the Fairy Tale Police Department and restore the happy endings.

Australian Screen says of Fairy Tale Police Department, 'Despite the title, which suggests a sweet little cartoon, this is a robust and very original series and loads of fun for all ages. Fairytale Police Department is a zany cross between Twisted Tales and the X Files for kids. Female detective Chris Anderson, like X Files cop Dana Scully ..., is strong, capable and ambitious, while her bumbling, vain metrosexual partner Johnny Legend is always getting into in trouble. Other characters are also terrific with strong characterisations and great scripts.'

Source: Australian Screen (http://aso.gov.au/titles/tv/fairytale-police-black/notes/). (Sighted: 12/9/2012)

'In England a recently bereaved widow and her two children discover that they've inherited a property in Australia. With some reluctance they head to Australia to claim their inheritance only to discover that the profitable sheep station they've imagined is in fact a rather out of the way wildlife park full of Australian native animals. What's more it has human occupants as well - a distantly related trio of grandchildren who have been bequeathed lifelong rights to live on the property. As well, there's an Australian born Vietnamese animal handler who's somehow the only one who has real expertise in dealing with native Australian animals.'

Source: Screen Australia. (Sighted: 23/5/2014)

'Norman Lindsay's much-loved story is brought to life in this magical animated adaptation of the Australian children's classic. When his ship sinks off the South Pole Bill Barnacle (Hugo Weaving) discovers a magic pudding called Albert (John Cleese) who can talk change flavour on request and lasts forever so demands to be continuously eaten. The crew are divided over the pudding but Bill and his first mate Sam (Sam Neil) resolve to protect it. Meanwhile Bunyip Bluegum the Koala (Geoffrey Rush) sets out on an adventure to find his parents with his rough-and-ready travelling companions in tow. Their paths cross when Bunyip stumbles into the middle of an attempt by thieves to steal the everlasting pudding.'

Source: ABC Shop (Sighted 12/10/2011)

Chuck Finn follows Charles 'Chuck' Finn, a Canadian boy whose parents move from Toronto to the Australian country town of Tingalla. At first, he longs desperately to return to Toronto, but he soon finds the decommissioned and derelict paddle steamer the Tingalla Rose. Soon, he and his friends--some of whom are ghostly, rather than mortal--are enchanted by the possibility of getting the Tingalla Rose running again and seduced by life on the Murray River.

Unfortunately for Chuck Finn, Barron Entertainment declared bankruptcy during the production of season two. A truncated season of six episodes was completed and released, but the production was abandoned at that point.

'The "Petals" are the little people at the bottom of the garden that you can't see but you can imagine. They aren't fairies and they don't have magical powers, but they are very athletic and two of the Petals can fly. The characters live in a world of huge flower pots and garden implements, and interact with each other and a variety of insects. The only other character seen is Jeffrey the cat. Every so often Jeffrey's huge paws or face appear and create chaos in the garden...'

Source: Screen Australia. (Sighted: 11/10/2012)

A teen drama set in a school divided between mainstream high-school students and students with the potential to compete in sports at an Olympic level.

The two series had distinct storylines.

Series one:

The first day at any new school is always tough but when your schoolmates can run 100 metres in 11 seconds, clear 1.8 metres in the highjump and include the national junior champions in ten Olympic sports...you have to be a winner. (Via Screen Australia)

Series two:

The second series follows the fortunes of the soccer team as they strive for a place in the league play-offs. The team's problems on the field are complicated by problems off the field as allegiances and alliances between the kids (divided into Book Worms and Sports Freaks) shift and develop. (Via Screen Australia)