The Ratties

The Ratties is a British animated series about a family of six rats who live in the wall of a country house. The rats try to emulate the human family who own the house.

The Ratties
Created by
  • Laura Milligan
  • Mike Wallis[1]
Written by
  • Laura Milligan
  • Mike Wallis[2]
Directed byMike Wallis[2]
Narrated bySpike Milligan
Theme music composerEd Welch
ComposerJames Harpen[2]
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes26 (list of episodes)
Production
ProducerMike Wallis[2]
Camera setupSingle-camera
Production companies
Release
Original networkITV
Original release9 November (1988-11-09) –
22 December 1988 (1988-12-22)

The idea for The Ratties was conceived by Laura Milligan, daughter of comedian Spike Milligan.[1] Laura Milligan and Mike Wallis developed the idea into a series of animated shorts; Wallis served as director and producer. Spike Milligan narrated the series with much of the narration ad libbed.

ITV aired 26 episodes in 1988; each episode is under five minutes in length. The series was repeated by ITV from 1991 to 1994.

Characters

The eldest rats in the Ratty family are Uncle Matty and Aunt Hatty (the matron of the family who does all the housework). Tatty is an ambitious rat of the younger generation. The Fatty Brothers are playful and mischievous identical twins. Baby Batty is a child genius.

The Ratties share their home with Spatty, a spider who sometimes gets involved in the Ratties' adventures.

Episodes
# Title Air Date
1"The Budgie"1988 (1988)
The audience is introduced to the Ratties and their energetic household. Tatty dresses as a budgerigar, and is adopted by an unsuspecting old woman.
2"Polo Time"1988 (1988)
3"Rattiecadabra"1988 (1988)
4"Circus Time"1988 (1988)
The Ratties put together a circus act.
5"Glamour Time"1988 (1988)
Aunt Hatty is unhappy with her appearance. The Ratties bring her to the humans' bathroom to get some make-up.
6"Gardening Time"1988 (1988)
The Ratties go outside to do some gardening and other various chores.
7"Medical Time"1988 (1988)
The Ratties do some medical practices on each other as First Aiders.
8"Way Out West"1988 (1988)
9"Sports Time"1988 (1988)
10"Picnic Time"1988 (1988)
The Ratties go out for a picnic.
11"Spring Cleaning Time"1988 (1988)
After playtime, the Ratties start cleaning up—and cause some chaos in the process.
12"Sailing Time"1988 (1988)
After taking a bath, the Ratties set sail on an inflatable duck ship, and get involved in a yacht race.
13"Baby Sitting"1988 (1988)
The Ratties are entrusted by Aunt Catty to look after her Baby Bummer, who is very energetic.
14"The Great Escape"1988 (1988)
The Ratties are ambushed by the cat Old Tom, but they are able to outwit him.
15"The Fatty Sisters"1988 (1988)
The Fatty Sisters pay a visit to the Ratties.
16"Ballet Time"1988 (1988)
17"Spooky Time"1988 (1988)
18"Holiday Time"1988 (1988)
The Ratties visit the seaside.
19"Jumping Beans"1988 (1988)
The Ratties eat a plateful of beans that make them jumpy.
20"Arty Time"1988 (1988)
The Ratties try some painting and sculpting.
21"Raving Time"1988 (1988)
Aunt Hatty has a hard time waking her family from a self-hypnosis sleep.
22"Cowboy Time"1988 (1988)
Inspired by their favourite TV show, the Ratties act out a wild western theme.
23"Aerobics Time"1988 (1988)
The Ratties have a go at fitness and exercise.
24"Cooking Time"1988 (1988)
The Ratties make Uncle Matty a birthday cake.
25"Camping Time"1988 (1988)
The Ratties go camping, and find different ways to amuse themselves.
26"Hawaii Time"1988 (1988)
The Ratties fly to Hawaii for their holiday.

References
  1. The Ratties: The Great Escape (Rear cover). ABC Video. 1991. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  2. Diamond, Frazer. "The Ratties". Toonhound. Frazer Diamond. Retrieved 21 March 2017.


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