The Neverending Story (TV series)

The Neverending Story is an animated television series, produced by CineVox Entertainment and animated by Ellipse Animation and Canadian Nelvana Limited. It aired for one season (1995–1996) on HBO, and ran for 26 episodes.[1] In Canada, it also aired on Family Channel. The series is loosely based on Michael Ende's book, The Neverending Story (1979).[2]

The Neverending Story
GenreAnimation, Fantasy
Based onThe Neverending Story by Michael Ende
Developed byPeter Sauder
Directed byMike Fallows
StarringChristopher Bell
Voices ofJanet-Laine Green
Dominic Zamprogna
Chris Wiggins
Christopher Bell
Neil Crone
Marilyn Lightstone
Benedict Campbell
John McGrath
Lisa Yamanaka
Richard Binsley
James Rankin
John Stocker
Colin Fox
Dan Hennessey
Gary Krawford
Howard Jerome
Don Francks
Wayne Robson
Len Carlson
Ellen Ray Hennessey
Geoffrey Bowes
Harvey Atkin
Jayne Eastwood
ComposerMilan Kymlicka
Country of originCanada
France
Germany
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes26 (list of episodes)
Production
Production companiesCineVox Entertainment
Ellipse Programmé
Nelvana
Release
Original networkHBO (United States)
Family Channel (Canada)
Original releaseDecember 2, 1995 (1995-12-02) –
May 25, 1996 (1996-05-25)

Plot

A young boy named Bastian helps yet again the Childlike Empress and her people of Fantasia, an imagination land that can be accessed and influenced through a magic neverending book called The Neverending Story, because the horrifying Nothing and other villains like the evil sorceress Xayide still threaten it. In the process, Bastian learns valuable lessons and gains many magical friends like the wooden Bark Troll, the luckdragon Falkor and many others.

Differences between the TV series and the film

In the animated series, the Nothing is a recurring villain. The Nothing is portrayed as a hole with evil red eyes, which belongs to that of a white wolf, and is the television version of Gmork. The evil sorceress Xayide, unlike in the first sequel film, wears green robes with an eye mask with yellow slits. In the original film, her face is created by a special magical cream. The Rockbiter, in the latter two sequel films (including the third film), actually has a wife and a son, Junior. His wife and son appear in the series as well.

Cast and characters

Episodes
No.TitleWritten byOriginal air date
1"The Tears of Sadness"Peter SauderDecember 2, 1995 (1995-12-02)
When Bastian arrives in Fantasia he discovers that some of the citizens have turned into frozen statues. Realizing it's coming from the water, Bastian collects a strange potion from Urgl and travels with Bark Troll and Falkor to the Fountain of Life.
2"The Meek and the Mighty"J.D. SmithDecember 9, 1995 (1995-12-09)
Bastian arrives in the Tinies Village to see that it has once again been demolished by Junior.
3"The Purple Buffalo"Alan Templeton & Mary CrawfordDecember 16, 1995 (1995-12-16)
When Bastian arrives on the Grassy Plains of the Greenskin tribe, he finds out that the Purple Buffalo have disappeared along with his great warrior friend, Atreyu.
4"Morla's Wish"Story by : Erika Strobel
Teleplay by : Bob Ardiel		December 23, 1995 (1995-12-23)
Bastian is on his way to see Morla, the giant turtle that lives in the Swamp of Sadness. The Nothing finds out about this and sets a trap.
5"Spook City"Story by : Erika Strobel
Teleplay by : Alan Templeton & Mary Crawford		December 30, 1995 (1995-12-30)
In the Forbidden Forest, Bastian meets a scared little spook named Gaya, who tells Bastian about her brother Meeka's capture into Spook City.
6"To Save Falkor"Story by : Erika Strobel
Teleplay by : Alan Templeton & Mary Crawford		January 6, 1996 (1996-01-06)
When Bastian has the flu, he takes little notice of doctor's orders to stay in bed, choosing to visit his friends in Fantasia instead, but is forced into a desperate quest when his cold does the impossible and makes Falkor sick.
7"Missing Memories"Story by : Erika Strobel & Dennise Fordham
Teleplay by : Frank Diteljan & Nicola Barton		January 13, 1996 (1996-01-13)
When huge pieces of Fantasia are beginning to disappear, including the Childlike Empress' memories, it's up to Bastian to find out what's going on before he and his friends are 'erased' as well.
8"Perilin"Story by : John de Klein & Dennise Fordham
Teleplay by : Peter Sauder		January 20, 1996 (1996-01-20)
When Grograman, the Fire Lion, gets captured and Perilin, the Night Forest, starts spreading to the rest of Fantasia, only Bastian can help.
9"The Sea of Mist"Story by : Erika Strobel
Teleplay by : J.D. Smith		January 27, 1996 (1996-01-27)
When Engywook returns from an exploration in the Sea of Mist, he shows Bastian his rare find: the Ancient Sea Scrolls, which legends say holds the answers to all of Fantasia's mysteries.
10"Promises"Vince GrittaniFebruary 3, 1996 (1996-02-03)
When giant fissures crack through the Grassy Plains, Bastian follows the great warrior Atreyu, and his sister Saiya back to the Greenskins camp to discover its source.
11"Through the Misty Mountains"Story by : Dale Schott
Teleplay by : Frank Diteljan		February 10, 1996 (1996-02-10)
Bastian investigates the rumors of a monster inhabiting the Misty Mountains.
12"A Friendship That Flames"Nicola BartonFebruary 17, 1996 (1996-02-17)
When Bark Troll is jealous of Bastian's newly formed friendship with an interesting character named Axin, he goes to all limits to prove he is the better friend.
13"The Three Feeling Stones"Bruce RobbFebruary 24, 1996 (1996-02-24)
The story begins with Xayide successfully unearthing two of the three ancient Feeling Stones of Fantasia; purposely removing all the good feelings across the land.
14"The Belt of Invisibility"Story by : Michaela Rothmund
Teleplay by : Bob Ardiel		March 2, 1996 (1996-03-02)
Shadow Goblin and Vermin find a Belt of Invisibility and they use it to commit various thefts. To combat this, Bastian ends up having to turn to Xayide for help.
15"Good Deeds"Story by : Dale Schott
Teleplay by : Bob Ardiel		March 9, 1996 (1996-03-09)
Bastian arrives to see that Bark Troll has been pleasantly rewarded (with faerie dust) for his efforts when he inadvertently helps a town of Faeries.
16"Bark Troll's Blame"Erika StrobelMarch 16, 1996 (1996-03-16)
When a fire erupts in the Howling Forest, all eyes cast suspicious blame on Bark Troll.
17"The Searcher"Alan Templeton & Mary CrawfordMarch 23, 1996 (1996-03-23)
When Engywook takes the egg of a Llorp, mistaking it for the crystal key to the Vault of Wisdom, he travels on an expedition to the Land of Cold Fire to obtain all the knowledge he can.
18"End of Time"Alan Templeton & Mary CrawfordMarch 30, 1996 (1996-03-30)
Bastian arrives in Fantasia to see the world and all his friends slowly winding down into a world of suspended animation.
19"Thunder and Lightning"Story by : Dale Schott
Teleplay by : Nicola Barton		April 6, 1996 (1996-04-06)
When the Gnomic Forest is experiencing a devastating drought, Engywook doubles his efforts to build a Rain-Making Machine.
20"The Everlasting Night"Story by : Erika Strobel
Teleplay by : Bob Ardiel		April 13, 1996 (1996-04-13)
When Xayide misuses a stolen recipe book of Urgls to concoct a spell, it only backfires and sends her into a deep sleeping trance.
21"After the Falls"Story by : Dale Schott
Teleplay by : Bob Ardiel		April 20, 1996 (1996-04-20)
When bark trolls crushes on a beautiful tree named Willow is challenged by a brute named Ash, its Bastian who convinces Bark Troll to accept Ash's challenge to log roll on Splinter Falls.
22"Mirror, Mirror"Joel BergerApril 27, 1996 (1996-04-27)
Xayide uses a special mirror that creates an evil version of Bastian and a good version of herself.
23"The Dreaming Fields"Story by : Erika Strobel
Teleplay by : Laurel L. Russwurm		May 4, 1996 (1996-05-04)
Xayide has placed Nightmare Weeds into the Dreaming Fields which causes everyone's dreams to come true until it goes horribly awry.
24"The Atonal Trolls"Story by : Ken Sobel
Teleplay by : Frank Diteljan		May 11, 1996 (1996-05-11)
When the shrieking Atonal Trolls abandon their homeland, the Mountains of Harmony, and head towards the Ivory Tower, they threaten its very existence with the decibel level of their shrieking voices.
25"The Race for the Ivory Tower"Story by : Erika Strobel
Teleplay by : Peter Sauder		May 18, 1996 (1996-05-18)
Everyone in Fantasia (with the exception of Falkor, as his luck would give him an unfair advantage) is participating in The Race including Gluckuck on his racing Snail, Mr. Rockchewer on his stone bicycle, Engywook on his Kitzblitz Flying Machine, and Night Hob aboard his sleepy bat Thessle.
26"The Perfect Gift"Story by : Erika Strobel
Teleplay by : Bob Ardiel		May 25, 1996 (1996-05-25)
Bastian arrives in Fantasia hoping to find the perfect gift idea for Father's Day. Final episode

Telecast and home media

The Neverending Story was first aired on HBO in 1995 until 1996. Repeats were aired on HBO's sister channel until 2005. In Canada, it also aired on Family Channel. Internationally, the show was aired on Nickelodeon (UK and Latin America), Canal+ (France) and Kindernet (The Netherlands).

  • In 1996, a single episode of "The Neverending Story: The Animated Adventures of Bastian Balthazar Bux" was released by HBO Home Entertainment (under HBO Kids Video branch).
  • In 2005, the first three episodes of The Neverending Story: The Animated Adventures were released on DVD by FUNimation Entertainment, LTD. (under its Our Time Family Entertainment children's/pre-school entertainment label) in a compilation entitled "Bastian to the Rescue".
  • As of 2022, all episodes were currently available on Amazon Prime.

References
  1. Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. p. 582. ISBN 978-1476665993.
  2. Perlmutter, David (2018). The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 424–425. ISBN 978-1538103739.
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