Meeow!
Meeow! (Gaelic version: Meusaidh) is a 2000 Scottish animated children's series based on the Maisie MacKenzie books by Aileen Paterson, and produced simultaneously in English and Gaelic versions. The series is about a young cat named Maisie Mac who lives with her grandmother in Morningside in Edinburgh as her explorer father is always away.[1]
| Meeow! | |
|---|---|
 Meeow! Titles with Maisie Mac | |
| Meusaidh | |
| Genre | Children's Television |
| Written by | Roland Moore, Les Brooksbank |
| Directed by | Les Orton |
| Narrated by | Stanley Baxter (English) Tony Kearney (Gaelic) |
| Composer | The Singing Kettle |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original languages | English Gaelic |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 26 |
| Production | |
| Producer | Robin Lyons |
| Running time | 10 min |
| Production companies | Siriol Animation SKD Media plc Scottish Television |
| Release | |
| Original network | ITV (CITV) |
| Original release | 5 January – 1 October 2000 |
| Related | |
| Maisie MacKenzie | |
Scottish Television in association with The Gaelic Committee, decided to make the book into a cartoon series, with Siriol Animation doing the animation.[2] The stories were narrated by Scottish comedian Stanley Baxter (English version) and by actor Tony Kearney (Gaelic), and the theme music (both versions) was produced by The Singing Kettle. Its first run was featured on ITV children's block, CITV.
The programme was re-aired in 2009 on wknd@stv - a children's television strand on Scottish television channel, STV. The Gaelic version used to air on BBC Alba. From March 2015 – 2017, the series aired as part of the "Weans' World" block on STV Glasgow and STV Edinburgh.
The rights of the show was owned by The Sleepy Kids Company Ltd (who also produced Potsworth & Co. and Budgie the Little Helicopter) which was later changed to SKD Media and Entertainment Rights, then dissolved into Classic Media (now DreamWorks Classics, in turn owned by DreamWorks Animation, a subsidiary of NBCUniversal) and later became the property of Universal Television in 2016.
Characters
- Maisie "Maisie Mac" MacKenzie - A young Scottish cat who wishes to be an explorer like her father.
- Granny/Isabella MacKenzie - Maisie's grandmother. She looks after Maisie whilst Daddy is away.
- Mrs. Marjorie McKitty - Maisie and Granny's neighbour.
- Archie - Maisie's best friend.
- Lydia McSporran - Mrs McKitty's niece.
- Daddy - Maisie's father who travels the world as part of his job as a professor at the University of Edinburgh.
- Maureen and Doreen Purrdy - Maisie's twin friends from her ballet class.
- Tommy and Morag McTwirl - two snooty senior dancers from Maisie's ballet class.
Episodes
| No. | Title (Gaelic version) | Title (English version) | Summary | Original airdate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 'S an ath rud a rinn ì | What Maisie Mac Did Next | Archie takes Maisie with Mrs. McKitty to the museum. While hiding, Maisie is accidentally locked in the museum at night. | January 5, 2000 |
| 2 | Meusaidh ann am Paris | Maisie Mac Loves Paris | Maisie has a rough day in Paris, but a mouse named Alphonse helps her out. | January 12, 2000 |
| 3 | Meusaidh anns an ospidal | Masie Mac Goes to Hospital | January 19, 2000 | |
| 4 | Meusaidh agus stòras na spuinneadairean | Masie Mac and the Pirate Treasure | January 26, 2000 | |
| 5 | Meusaidh mo Bheannachd Ort | Masie Mac Saves the Day | Maisie has a big football game on the same day as her cousin's wedding day. After saving the cake from going to ruin, Maisie is able to attend the Wembleys match. | February 2, 2000 |
| 6 | Meusaidh anns a' choille uisge | Maisie Mac in the Rainforest | February 9, 2000 | |
| 7 | A' falbh dhan sgoil | Maisie Mac Goes to School | February 16, 2000 | |
| 8 | Meusaidh ann a Hollywood | Maisie Mac Goes to Hollywood | Maisie is invited to Hollywood by her Auntie Betty and Uncle Al. She is hired by film director Rufus D. Walner to be a stunt double in a Honey Pot Hot Shot movie. | February 23, 2000 |
| 9 | Meusaidh aig Loch Nis | Maisie Mac and the Loch Ness Monster | Maisie goes on holiday to the Scottish Highlands, hoping to see the Loch Ness Monster, while troubled by a trio of troublesome cats. | March 1, 2000 |
| 10 | Meusaidh agus an goirilea | Maisie Mac and the Gorilla | Maisie and her friends chase after what they think is a live gorilla on the loose. | March 8, 2000 |
| 11 | Meusaidh aig an fhèis | Maisie Mac's Festival Adventure | Maisie goes with her Canadian Mountie friends when a thief steals a handbag. With the help of Tommy the milkman and his horse, Maisie nabs the thief. | March 15, 2000 |
| 12 | Meusaidh anns an Eiphit | Maisie Mac in Egypt | Maisie stumbles on a secret entrance to an ancient pyramid and her Daddy excavates it. | March 26, 2003 |
| 13 | Meusaidh agus am Bàta smùide | Maisie Mac and the Puffer | April 2, 2000 | |
| 14 | Nollaig Chrìdheal a Mheusaidh | Merry Christmas Maisie Mac | Daddy is trapped in China and is not able to join Maisie for Christmas, until a miracle is granted. | April 9, 2000 |
| 15 | Meusaidh ann am Moscow | Maisie Mac in Moscow | Maisie and The Purrdy Twins go to Moscow to dance a ballet with snooty Tommy & Morag McTwirl and supervised by the strict Sergei Jumpov. | April 16, 2000 |
| 16 | Meusaidh air Saor-Laithean Iongantach | Maisie Mac's Mountain Rescue | April 23, 2000 | |
| 17 | Meusaidh Air Chall Ann An Glaschu | Maisie Mac Lost in Glasgow | April 30, 2000 | |
| 18 | Meusaidh agus am Mèirleach | Cat Burglar | May 7, 2000 | |
| 19 | Meusaidh Aig Beinn Nibheis | Holiday Surprises | May 14, 2000 | |
| 20 | Meusaidh Ann A Iapan | Maisie Mac in Japan | May 21, 2000 | |
| 21 | Meusaidh Ann An New York | Maisie Mac in the Big Apple | May 28, 2000 | |
| 22 | Meusaidh ann an Astralia | Maisie Mac in Australia | Maisie and her father have an adventurous journey crossing the Australian Bush guided by Skipper kangaroo. | June 4, 2000 |
| 23 | Meusaidh aig na Geamaichean Gàidhlealach | Maisie Mac at the Highland Games | June 11, 2000 | |
| 24 | Meusaidh anns na Brownies | Maisie Mac Joins the Brownies | June 18, 2000 | |
| 25 | Meusaidh agus am fògarrach | Maisie Mac and the Owl Hoot | June 25, 2000 | |
| 26 | Meusaidh is na h-ionnsramaidean ciùil | Maisie Mac Hits the Right Note | Maisie's attempts to try musical instruments end up in cacophony. The instrument just for her is a triangle. | October 1, 2000 |
References
- Crump, William D. (2019). Happy Holidays—Animated! A Worldwide Encyclopedia of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year's Cartoons on Television and Film. McFarland & Co. p. 187. ISBN 9781476672939.
- "Siriol Meeows".