Magic Mountain (TV series)
A puppet series about four Chinese creatures and their adventures.
Magic Mountain (Chinese: 神奇山; pinyin: shénqí shān) is a live-action children's television series that aired on ABC TV's ABC For Kids block from 1997 to 1998, as well as on China Central Television in China. Aimed at children aged two to five, the show uses full-body puppets and follows the adventures of four creatures from China: Dragon, Lion, Panda, and Tortoise. The series was repeated on ABC TV until 13 February 2004, and in China until 2013. It was released on VHS, but no DVD release has occurred. The ABC's Magic Mountain website was taken down in September 2010 when the new ABC Kids website launched.
The series was produced in China with both a Chinese and Australian English dub in mind, and much of the crew was Chinese. Production ran from 1997 to 1998, and was a collaboration between the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, China Central Television, and Southern Star Entertainment. The show has been dubbed into Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Hebrew, and many other languages. It also aired in the UK on Nick Jr, on TVO in Canada, TVNZ 2 in New Zealand, and TVP 1 in Poland.
The story follows four creatures: Dragon, who lives in a cave, is wise, and has magical powers that often help the others out of trouble; Lion, who is playful and full of ideas, often getting into mischief; Panda, who is vain but smart; and Tortoise, a motherly figure who looks out for the others and tries to help them. Together, they "enjoy wonderful times as they invent unusual games, play tricks on each other, and have exciting adventures as they explore their enchanting world."
The first series includes episodes such as "Dragon Loses His Magic" (3 June 1997), where Dragon loses his magic after blowing Panda's house tidy too hard, and the others help him regain it by singing a get-well song.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Children's
- Creator
- Ron Saunders / Claire Henderson / Yu Pei Xia
- Writer
- Claire Madsen / Libby Gleeson / Richard Tulloch / David Evans
- Director
- Paul Faint / Ian Munro / David Evans / Di Drew
- Starring
- Helen Dallimore / Steve J. Spears / Cornelia Frances / Anthony Ackroyd
- Composer
- Peter Dasent
- Cinematography
- Chen Chen
- Company
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation / Southern Star Entertainment / China Central Television
- Country
- China / Australia
- Language
- Mandarin / English
- Network
- ABC TV
- Runtime
- 10 minutes
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Magic Mountain was produced in China by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, China Central Television, and Southern Star Entertainment, with much of the crew being Chinese. Production took place between 1997 and 1998. The series was created with both a Chinese and Australian English dub in mind. It was broadcast on ABC TV in Australia from 1997 to 1998 and repeated until 13 February 2004, while in China it was repeated until 2013. The ABC's Magic Mountain website was removed in September 2010 when the new ABC Kids website was introduced.
The series follows four full-body puppet characters: Dragon, who lives in a cave and is wise with magical powers; Lion, who is playful and mischievous; Panda, who is vain but smart; and Tortoise, a motherly figure. Their adventures involve inventing games, playing tricks, and exploring their world. The first series of 26 episodes aired in 1997, and the second series of 26 episodes aired in 1998. Episode titles include 'Dragon Loses His Magic' (3 June 1997) and 'Tortoise The Hero' (11 November 1998).
Reader's Guide
Magic Mountain holds significance as a rare co-production between Australian and Chinese broadcasters, reflecting an early effort in cross-cultural children's programming. Its use of full-body puppets and focus on preschool-aged viewers made it a distinctive entry in the ABC For Kids lineup. The series was widely dubbed into multiple languages, including Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, and Hebrew, and screened internationally in the UK on Nick Jr, TVO in Canada, TVNZ 2 in New Zealand, and TVP 1 in Poland. Despite its reach, the second series was never released outside China, and the complete series was only available on VCD in China. No DVD release has occurred. The series was also supported by ancillary media, including a colouring book and a storybook titled 'Tortoise the hero,' as well as rare plush toys. Its legacy is tied to its gentle, educational tone and its role in introducing young audiences to Chinese cultural motifs through puppetry.
Did You Know?
- The second series of 26 episodes was never released outside of China.
- A storybook titled 'Tortoise the hero' was published in April 2000.
More in Chinese fantasy television series 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced