Or theyll insist on introducing a new teenaged son Clanger who has a flying skateboard or something?
And who speaks like a marketing hacks idea of what a teenaged boy speaks like?
Or the Iron Chicken will lay exploding eggs?
After annoyance, came pessimism and anxiety.
They were going to screw it up.
The magic ofClangerswould be lost, another childhood treasure trampled over in pure pursuit of low-hanging franchise fruit.
Not only have they not screwed it up, theyve held the line.
Arguably, theyve even improved it.
In other words, no, the Iron Chicken doesnt lay exploding eggs.
Smoother animation doesnt mean blander animation, and this little tribes expressions are still just as characterful.
We still judge their mood by the dip and perk of their plate-shaped ears.
We still hear their whistles translated by our narrator.
Afterwards I asked them whether they had been able to understand what the Clangers were saying.
But of course, said some.
They are speaking perfect German.
But no, said another.
That is not so.
They spoke only Swedish.)
Only now, were able to see a little more of their world.
The lighting is better, for one.
Firmin made sure of that.
As important as the look are the stories, another area in whichClangershas kept fidelity to its past.
The originals sense of gentle untrammelled imagination runs through the new episodes.
Finally, casting Michael Palin as the narrator was the revived series last sage move.
Its a bit brighter, a bit smoother, and just as magical.
Clangers continues all week on CBeebies at 5.30pm.
