Crystal Tipps and Alistair

Crystal Tipps and Alistair is a British cartoon produced for the BBC that aired between 28 February 1972 and 1974 on BBC One.

The title characters are a girl and her dog who are joined by their friends Birdie and Butterfly.

Broadcast
There are 50 five-minute episodes and a 20-minute Christmas special, all first shown between 1972 and 1974. It was regularly repeated until 1980. Between 1985 and 1987 the programme aired on Children's ITV (with its BBC TV/Q3 credit replaced by a "Children's ITV" endboard on the 4pm broadcast). In 1990, the BBC claimed back the rights with continued airings until 1994. It was created by Hilary Hayton and Graham McCallum. Michael Grafton-Robinson, a BBC producer went independent, setting up Q3 of London to produce the series. The animation was done by Richard Taylor Cartoons, who were also contracted to make the Charley Says and the Protect and Survive public information films for the Central Office of Information.

The series has no dialogue but rather is accompanied by a full musical soundtrack composed by Paul Reade. However, when shown on Captain Kangaroo in the U.S. in the 1970s the series did have voice-over narration by Cosmo "Gus" Allegretti in his high-pitched "Mister Moose" voice.

Episodes

 * 1) Birdie
 * 2) Butterfly
 * 3) Flying High
 * 4) The Art Gallery
 * 5) Keep Fit
 * 6) Fishing
 * 7) Party Time
 * 8) Decorating
 * 9) Sowing Seeds
 * 10) Trip to the Seaside
 * 11) Yo Yo
 * 12) The Postman
 * 13) Dressing Up
 * 14) Music Makers
 * 15) Snow
 * 16) It's Quicker By Tube
 * 17) Zoo Time
 * 18) Spring Cleaning
 * 19) Boots
 * 20) Chimney Sweep
 * 21) The Circus
 * 22) On Wheels
 * 23) Tennis Time
 * 24) The Swimming Pool
 * 25) Picnic Time
 * 26) Surprise
 * 27) Bubbles
 * 28) Pussy
 * 29) Gardening
 * 30) Still Life
 * 31) Sailing
 * 32) Golf
 * 33) Waterworks
 * 34) Eastern Magic
 * 35) Dough
 * 36) The Fortune Teller
 * 37) The Monster
 * 38) Hotel
 * 39) The Dog House
 * 40) Trampoline
 * 41) Knitting
 * 42) Bump in the Night
 * 43) Vacuum Cleaner
 * 44) Professor
 * 45) Cricket
 * 46) Kitten Care
 * 47) The Farm
 * 48) Sculptures
 * 49) Topiary
 * 50) The Magician

Crystal's Christmas Special was shown on 25 December 1974.

Credits

 * Designed and Written by: Graham McCallum and Hilary Hayton
 * Music Composed by: Paul Reade
 * Animation Directed by: Richard Taylor
 * Animators: Althea Battams and Maggie Clarke
 * Produced by: Michael Grafton-Robinson
 * A BBC TV/Q3 London Co-Production