Mio Mao

Mio Mao (pronounced me-o mow [ˈmiː.o mɑu̯]), also known as Mio and Mao, is a stop-motion animated children's television series created by Francesco Misseri in the 1970s, produced using Claymation animation.[1]

Mio Mao
Polish DVD cover
GenreAnimation, claymation, family, preschool, children's television series
Written byFrancesco Misseri
Directed byFrancesco Misseri
Voices ofDerek Griffiths (Channel 5)
Theme music composerPiero Barbetti
Opening themeMio Mao
Ending themeMio Mao
Country of originItaly
United Kingdom (series 2 and 3)
Original languageOnomatopoeia/gibberish (no language spoken)
No. of series3
No. of episodes78
Production
Running time4-5 minutes
Production companies1974 series: P.M.B.B.
2005 series: Misseri Studio, Associati Audiovisivi
Release
Original networkProgramma Nazionale (series 1)
Channel 5 (Milkshake!) (series 2 and 3)
Original release1974 (1974) –
2007 (2007)

The original series was produced by P.M.B.B. and aired on Programma Nazionale in 1974. After Francesco Misseri's production company Misseri Studio acquired Mio Mao in 2000 and remastered series 1 in 2003, Misseri Studio and Associati Audiovisivi created two more series for Channel 5's Milkshake! block in 2005 and 2007. In the United Kingdom, the episodes are narrated and the characters are voiced by Derek Griffiths. Mio Mao airs on BabyFirst in the United States.

Plot

Each episode is approximately five minutes long and focuses on the kittens Mio and Mao. As the episode progresses, they discover a variety of mysterious animals and objects on the other side. The garden changes appearance depending on the theme of the episode, or the animal or object featured.

The kittens go to investigate alone, they sometimes forget about the animal or object and wander off to look at the scenery. After a while, they get there but return scared, before watching from a distance and discovering that the scary item was either a friendly animal or a fun object.

Often, near the end of the episode, the animal or object will need help, and Mio and Mao come to their rescue, then invite the animal or object to come play with them. Gracious, the animal or object follows them as they squish and bounce back to the other side of the toy store, posing together and looking at the viewers as the episode draws to a close, with the words “THE END”.

List of episodes

Series 1 (1974)
  1. The Peacock
  2. The Little Lamb
  3. The Ants
  4. The Chameleon
  5. The Beehive
  6. The Spider
  7. The Tortoise
  8. The Caterpillar
  9. The Cicada
  10. The Egg
  11. The Snake
  12. The Dog
  13. The Dormouse
  14. The Polyp
  15. The Hippopotamus
  16. The Squirrel
  17. The Monkey
  18. The Hedgehog
  19. The Shell
  20. The Tadpole
  21. The Snail
  22. The Owl
  23. The Mole
  24. The Beaver
  25. The Piglet
  26. The Hare

Series 2 (2005-06)
  1. The Fox
  2. The Worm
  3. The Anteater
  4. The Seed
  5. The Cricket
  6. The Swan
  7. The Turkey
  8. The Crocodile
  9. The Racoon
  10. The Crab
  11. The Penguin
  12. The Little Bear
  13. The Christmas Tree
  14. The Snowman
  15. The Seal
  16. The Parrot
  17. The Mushroom
  18. The Dragonfly
  19. The Bat
  20. The Chestnut
  21. The Hornet
  22. The Kangaroo
  23. The Cow
  24. The Ladybird
  25. The Donkey
  26. The Koala

Series 3 (2006-07)
  1. The Deer
  2. The Elephant
  3. The Mouse
  4. The Ostrich
  5. The Pelican
  6. The Dove
  7. The Kingfisher
  8. The Television
  9. The Claw
  10. The Dolphin
  11. The Ghost
  12. The Goldfish
  13. The Zebra
  14. The Vacuum Cleaner
  15. The Sky Terrier
  16. The Sloth
  17. The Gorilla
  18. The Jinn
  19. The Bull
  20. The Train
  21. The Little Theater
  22. The Tap
  23. The UFO
  24. The Vulture
  25. The Piano
  26. The Dinosaur

Broadcast History

Brazil

Italy

United Kingdom

France

Finland

United States

Asia

  • JimJam (season 2, 2007–2014)

Poland

Turkey

Germany

  • ZDF (season 1, 1976)

Japan

Czech Republic

  • JimJam (season 1, 2020 – present)

China

  • CCTV 4 (season 1 & 2, 1993–1998)

Israel

  • Noga (season 1, 2018–2019)

References
  1. 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. 68. ISBN 9781476672939.
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