“It’s
great to see the wonderful
animation series The Big Knights come
to DVD —
this animated television
feature was appealing, very funny and
as much entertainment for big kids
as it was for the little ones; but then,
what more would you expect from
such a talented team?”
THERE'S TROUBLE IN BOROVIA. Who ya gonna call? The Big Knights
first galloped onto our screens in 1999 on BBC television, picking up multiple
animation awards as they rode. Fortunately for the many Big Knights fans who
have tirelessly petitioned for it to be released on DVD when the television
series was over, somebody listened; and you can now laugh your way through all
thirteen rib-tickling episodes.
Set in a timeless, fantasy land of knights, kings and princesses, chivalry and
not-so-derring-do(!) called Borovia, the wildly funny and inspirational The
Big Knights was the brainchild of the creators of the hugely-popular Peppa
Pig (our young friend Arienne's favourite programme) and Holly's Little
Kingdom.
Things do not always go according to plan when Sir Boris (the finest swordsman
in the World — the voice of David Rintoul) and Sir Morris (not the finest
swordsman in the World but the most enthusiastic — the voice of Brian Blessed)
set out from Castle Big on one of their crazy adventures to help Borovians in
trouble. In fact, if they do it's a miracle!
The Big Knights are the height of two men, the weight of four and have the strength
of sixteen and are accompanied by their trusty, armour-clad pets Sir Horace
the Dog and Sir Doris the Hamster. What Sir Morris and Sir Boris lack in bravery
and chivalry they make up for with boundless enthusiasm as they tackle a dragon,
rescue two mischievous princesses from a tower and deal with a difficult troll
who interferes with King Otto's outing with his daughters in the magnificent
royal car.
One of the funniest episodes follows Sir Morris and Sir Boris's attempts to
deal with an evil imp released by Sir Morris. The knights cannot figure out
why their food doesn't just appear on the 'magic plates' when their servant,
Mrs Ethel Minion (the voice of Morwenna Banks) decides to take a holiday and
the food she has left for them is eaten by Sir Doris the Hamster!
Other heroic adventures include The Big Knights' spooky holiday in the Land
of the Vampires, going undercover in their wondrous 'hats of invisibility',
upsetting a witch while preparing for the Børødzø Village Games
and facing the unwanted attentions of the sisters of King Otto (Timothy West)
after braving the terrifying Forest of Disenchantment. With charmingly naïve
drawings, The Big Knights are causing mayhem and winning hearts with their animated
adventures.
The DVD includes a free re-mastered HD special edition on Blu-ray and features
all thirteen episodes of The Big Knights, seven of which have never previously
been available to own. As well as the marvellous and evergreen Brian Blessed
and David Rintoul, other famous voices include Prunella Scales as Queen Melissa,
the inimitable Brian Sewell as Sir Kiftsgate, Enn Reitel as Wizard Zabobon;
Summer Strallen as Princess Lucy; Scarlet Strallen as Princess Loretta; Kate
Robbins as Sorceress Abigail; John Sparkes as Professor von Proton; and Gordon
Kennedy as Count Vampire.
The Big Knights is narrated by Alexander Armstrong; Technical Director
(Animation) is by Martyn Jones; Written by Neville Astley, Mark Baker, Gary
Parker & John Sparkes; Music is by Pete Baikie; Additional Music is by Rostov
Balalaika Orchestra. Big Knights Special Edition: Producer Phil Davies; Director
Andrea Tran. Executive producers for the BBC: Colin Rose & Helen Nabarro. Produced
by Claire Jennings; Created and Directed by Neville Astley & Mark Baker. Artwork
by Mark Baker and Mic Graves.
Hilarious funny and very silly in equal parts, The Big Knights will have
any family member from six to sixty in stitches. An essential addition to any
castle's DVD collection, The Big Knights comes to DVD, courtesy of Entertainment
One, on 25 October 2010. Certificate: U | RRP: £12.99 (DVD & Blu-ray combi)
| Running Time: 56 Minutes Approximately. The Big Knights: 1 Ethell The Imp | 2 The Troll Bridge | 3 The Village
Games | 4 Alchemy | 5 Lost Doris | 6 Proton Power | 7 Sir Morris And The Beanstalk
| 8 Knight School | 9 The Land Of The Vampires | 10 Knights In Distress | 11
The Time Protonosphere | 12 Clockwork Knights | 13 The Royal Escort.
"The Big Knights are causing mayhem and winning hearts with their animated
adventures" —
Maggie Woods, MotorBar
“It’s
great to see the wonderful