Charlie and Lola

File:Charlielola.JPG

Charlie and Lola.

Charlie and Lola are the principal characters from a series of children's picture books by Lauren Child. The stories are all narrated by seven year-old Charlie, and focus on the antics of his feisty four year-old sister, Lola. The books as well as the television series also emphasise the relationship between closely-aged siblings.

The first "Charlie and Lola" book, I Will Not Ever Never Eat A Tomato, published in 2001, won the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal. The character of Lola was based upon an inquisitive little girl whom Child encountered on a train in Denmark.

Book Titles

I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato

• I Will Not Ever Never Eat A Tomato (US title: I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato)
• I Am Not Sleepy and I Will Not Go To Bed
• I Am Too Absolutely Small For School
• I've Won, No I've Won, No I've Won
• Snow Is My Favorite and My Best
• But Excuse Me That Is My Book
• We Honestly Can Look After Your Dog (sometimes listed as "We Do Promise Honestly We Can Look After Your Dog")
• I'm Not Very Keen on Spiders
• But I do know all about chocolate (special edition for comic relief)

There are also various sticker books, etc.

The Charlie and Lola books have been translated into Welsh under the name Cai a Lois

Characters

• Charlie Sonner, aged 7
• Lola Sonner, aged 4
• Marv Lowe, Charlie's best friend
• Lotta, Lola's best friend
• Soren Lorenson, Lola's imaginary friend
• Sizzles, Marv's dog
• Morten, Marv's little brother

(NOTE: The Surname 'Sonner' has been verified by Lauren Child's Agent Caroline Walsh on 11th Dec 2006. It is often mistaken to be 'Summer'. Also, Soren Lorenson is a play on words as Lauren Child's son is called Soren)

Television series

Charlie and Lola
File:Charlielolacartoon.jpg
Created by	Lauren Child
Developed by	Lauren Child Kitty Taylor
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language	English
No. of episodes	53
Production
Executive producer	Andrew Zein
Running time	11 minutes
Original release
Network	BBC (UK)
Release	November 7, 2005 – present

"I have this little sister Lola. She is small. .. and very funny."

The books have been adapted by Tiger Aspect into a cartoon series, using a collage style of animation which accurately captures the style of the original books. 2D cel animation, paper cutout, fabric design, real textures, photomontage and archive footage are all employed. The cartoons are also notable for their use of children's voices, rather than adult voice actors, a technique pioneered by the Peanuts television specials. (Both the books and the cartoon also mirror Peanuts' technique of never showing adults.) The first series of 26 episodes (11 minutes each) was first broadcast on November 7th 2005 on CBeebies . The second series of 26 episodes (again, 11 minutes each) started broadcasting on CBeebies on October 2nd 2006 (with the morning broadcast also being shown on BBC Two). In the television series, Charlie is eight and Lola is five, and goes to school (her teacher is called Mrs. Hansen). In episodes of both the first and second series, Charlie celebrates his birthday (in 'It's a Secret. ..' and 'This Is Actually My Party'), although this doesn't seem to affect his age in other episodes.

• Zimbabwe: Kidz.Net and Disney Channel and Nickelodeon
• Zimbabwe: ZBC.
• United Kingdom: CBeebies.
• United States: Playhouse Disney.
• Canada: TVO.
• Australia: ABC.
• Brazil: Discovery Kids.
• Malaysia: TV2.
• Mexico: Once TV and Discovery Kids Latin America (cable).
• Germany: KI.KA and ARD.
• Portugal: RTP2.
• TV sales have been agreed with the following international broadcasters TF1 (France), KRO (Holland), VRT (Belgium), SVT (Sweden), NRK (Norway), DR (Denmark), YLE (Finland) and 356 Media (Iceland)

In some countries, the episodes are packaged as double-bills. In Germany, the episodes are shown on their own on the children's channel KI.KA but also included in the long-running show Die Sendung mit der Maus (The Programme with the Mouse) on KI.KA and ARD.

The complete first season is out and available as a box set in a special charlie and lola design tin. You can also buy season one as a box set, or individually titled one, two, three and four. Number five has been released in the UK, and Number six has just been released in the UK to buy. Volume 4 is not yet released in the USA, Canada and Australia, and is set for release in 2007.

It has been nominated for Best Animated Television Production at the 34th Annual Annie Awards.

Cast

Season 1

• Jethro Lundie Brown – Charlie Sonner
• Masie Cowell – Lola Sonner
• Ryan Harris – Marv Lowe
• Morgan Gayle – Lotta
• Stanley Street – Soren Lorenson

Season 2

• Daniel Mayers – Charlie Sonner
• Clementine Cowell – Lola Sonner
• Ryan Harris – Marv Lowe
• Morgan Gayle – Lotta
• Stanley Street – Soren Lorenson
• Macauley Keeper - Morten Lowe, Marv's little brother

(Marv also has an older brother, Marty, heard but not seen (or credited) in 'Look after your Planet')

Season 3

• Oriel Agranoff - Charlie Sonner

(Note: Clementine Cowell, the second voice of Lola, is the younger sister of Masie Cowell, who provided Lola's voice in the first series)

Episodes

Season 1

• 1. I Will Not Ever Never Eat A Tomato / Airdate: Monday April 11, 2005

Lola is a very fussy eater, and Charlie must try and convince her to give her food a try. But will he ever convince her to eat a tomato?

• Note: This episode is adapted from Lauren Child's first Charlie and Lola book.

• 2. I Can Do Anything that's Everything All On My Own / Airdate: Tuesday March 22, 2005

Lola insists on doing everything for herself, even though some of the things, she is not very good at doing on her own. Charlie tries to teach her that there is nothing wrong with accepting a little help occasionally.

• 3. I Am Not Sleepy and I Will Not Go to Bed / Airdate: Monday April 4, 2005

Charlie has to get Lola ready for bed - but Lola insists that she is not tired, and is too busy drinking pink milk with tigers, playing with a whale in the bath, and dancing with some disco dogs.

• 4. But That is My Book / Airdate: Monday March 21, 2005

Lola's favourite book is 'Beetles, Bugs and Butterflies', which she often borrows from the local library. But when someone else borrows her beloved book, Charlie must try to find another book that will win her interest.

• 5. There is Only One Sun And That is Me! / Airdate: Thursday March 24, 2005

Lola is set on playing the Sun in an upcoming school production - so is upset when she is cast as a leaf. Charlie tries to convince Lola that leaves are very important.

• 6. We Do Promise Honestly We Can Look After Your Dog / Airdate: Wednesday March 23, 2005

In the park, Lola and Lotta persuade Marv to let them look after Sizzles while he and Charlie play football. But then Sizzles gets lost!

• 7. I've Won, No I've Won No I've Won / Airdate: Monday March 28, 2005

Lola always has to win at everything - even if it means bending the rules in her favour. So Charlie challenges her to a race around the park that she cannot possibly cheat at.

• 8. I Like My Hair Completely the Way It Is! / Airdate: Friday March 25, 2005

It's time for Charlie and Lola to have their hair cut - but Lola doesn't want hers done.

• 9. I'm Really Ever So Not Well / Airdate: Monday April 18, 2005

Lola is ill in bed. Charlie has promised Marv that he'll play football with him, but Lola begs him to stay and cheer her up.

• 10. I am Hurrying I'm Almost Nearly Ready / Airdate: Monday April 25, 2005

Charlie is trying to get Lola to hurry up or else they'll be late to school. But Lola finds it so hard to hurry when there is colouring, dancing with clouds, playing hopscotch on musical pavements, and laughing with hysterical hedgehogs to distract her.

• Note: This episode is sometimes listed as simply 'I am Hurrying'.

• 11. BOO! Made You Jump! / Airdate: Tuesday June 21, 2005

Charlie is good at making Lola jump. Lola is desperate to be able to make him jump back, but, as hard as she tries, just can't seem to do it.

• 12. The Most Wonderfullest Picnic in the World / Airdate: Saturday July 2, 2005

Charlie and Lola are planning a picnic with Marv and Lotta. But will the event be spoilt when the weather turns?

• 13. It Wasn't Me! / Airdate: Monday July 25, 2005

Charlie tells Lola not to touch his wonderful home-made model rocket, but Lola just can't resist when she and Soren Lorenson have to use it to transport a sad elephant home to the jungle. But when the rocket gets broken, Lola has trouble admitting that she did it.

• 14. It's a Secret. .. / Airdate: Monday August 15, 2005

It is Charlie's birthday, and Lola knows what his birthday surprise is. Will she be able to stop herself blurting it out and spoiling it?

• 15. I Love Going to Granny and Grandpa's. .. it's just that. .. / Airdate: Monday November 21, 2005

Charlie and Lola are going to stay at Granny and Grandpa's house by the sea. Lola loves going to Granny and Grandpa's, but she is worried about remembering to pack everything. Then she is worried about missing Mum and Dad, and them missing her.

• Note: This episode is sometimes listed as simply 'I Love Going to Granny and Grandpa's'.

• 16. I Do Not Ever, Never Want My Wobbly Tooth to Fall Out / Airdate: Monday August 22, 2005

Lola has a wobbly tooth, but does not want it to fall out. That is, until she learns about the tooth fairy, who will leave her money in exchange for her tooth.

• 17. Say Cheese / Airdate: Tuesday August 23, 2005

Lola must keep clean for a whole day for her first school photograph. But keeping clean for a whole day is so difficult!

• 18. I'm Just Not Keen on Spiders / Airdate: Wednesday August 24, 2005

Lola finds a spider in the flat. She isn't keen on spiders. Charlie tries to show her that spiders are nice. Soon, Lola has grown to quite like the little creepy crawly. But after they have put the spider outside, the weather turns, and Lola is worried about her new friend.

• 19. Snow is My Favorite and My Best / Airdate: Monday December 12, 2005

Snow is forecast and Lola can't wait for it to arrive. When it finally arrives, Charlie, Lola, Marv, Lotta and Sizzles all have a lovely time playing in it. But when the snow melts, Lola is sad, and Charlie must try and explain it would lose its appeal if it snowed all the time.

• 20. You Won't Like this Present as Much as I Do! / Airdate: Thursday August 25, 2005

Lola wants to choose the best present in the world for Lotta's birthday. She chooses a doctor's kit, but doesn't think that Lotta will appreciate the kit as much as she would, and would rather like to keep it for herself.

• 21. I Must Take Completely Everything / Airdate: Friday August 26, 2005

Lola is going to stay at Lotta's for the night, and packs absolutely everything for them to play Cinderella. Back home, Charlie and Marv set up their racing cars track. But Lola forgets her stuff and Charlie and Marv can't find an important piece of track - teaching both parties a lesson in improvisation and imagination.

• 22. I Want to Play Music Too / Airdate: Monday September 19, 2005

Charlie and Marv are to do a musical assembly about outer space at school. Lola wants to join in and desperately wishes that she could play music too, but can't seem to master any instruments. Charlie comes up with some make-shift instruments that she might be able to manage. But on the day of the presentation, Marv is ill - who will take his place?

• 23. I'm Far Too Extremely Busy / Airdate: Monday January 16, 2006

Lola is busy playing secretary, waitress, dentist and librarian. Far too busy to play with Lotta, or Charlie, or Soren Lorenson. But Charlie's new card game, Flip Flop, is awfully tempting.

• 24. I Want To Be Much More Bigger Like You / Airdate: Friday October 28, 2005

Lola wishes she was taller. Charlie tries to show her that being small can have its benefits.

• 25. My Little Town / Airdate: Saturday April 22, 2006

Charlie and Lola have fun playing with the 'My Little Town' playset that Granny and Grandpa have bought them. But Charlie wants to build airports and play aliens, whereas Lola wants draw and build a zoo. Will they manage to share?

• 26. But I am an Alligator / Airdate: Monday February 27, 2006

Granny and Grandpa have bought Lola an alligator costume. Lola loves it and insists that she will never take it off. Never. But with an upcoming school assembly presentation about things she likes, Charlie is worried that his little sister will make a fool of herself.

(Note: The first series is listed here in production order, the order in which it was originally broadcast in the United Kingdom. The order of episodes, on both BBC One and CBeebies, has been shuffled on repeat runs. The American broadcasts were also in a different order)

The first season is available on DVDs marked Volume 1, Volume 2, and Volume 3--now available in North America.

Season 2

• 27. It is Absolutely and Completely Not Messy / Airdate: Monday May 1, 2006

Charlie and Lola's parents tell them to clean their bedroom. Charlie is willing, but has a very hard time getting Lola to cooperate.

• 28. I Spy with My Little Eyes / Airdate: Monday May 1, 2006

Lola likes playing spying - observing things and then drawing them. But in doing so, she and Soren Lorenson become convinced that a family of wolves has moved in next door!

• 29. I am Extremely Magic / Airdate: Saturday May 6, 2006

Charlie has a new magic kit and dazzles Lola and their friends with his tricks. Lola thinks that if Charlie is magic, that must mean that she is magic too; So she becomes very frustrated when she can't seem to do any tricks.

• 30. This is Actually My Party

It is Charlie's birthday, and he is planning a monster-themed birthday party. But Lola doesn't like the theme and starts changing everything - much to the annoyance of Charlie.

• 31. How Many More Minutes?

Charlie and Lola have to make their own amusements when they have to wait for Mum in the dentist's waiting room.

• 32. I am Collecting a Collection

Charlie is collecting a set of plastic dinosaur figures from cereal packets, and Lola decides that she'd like to collect something too. But what will she collect?

• 33. My Best Best Bestest Friend

Lola and Lotta are best friends. But when Lotta is asked to watch over Evie, a new girl at school, Lotta starts to loose interest in Lola, and Lola is worried and upset that she has lost her beloved friend forever.

• 34. Lucky, Lucky Me

Lola feels extremely lucky. But when she and Charlie set out to go to the cinema to see the movie of their favourite character, 'Bat Cat', a series of events convinces Lola that her luck has run out, and that she may never be lucky again.

• Note: Although he can be spotted on Lola's lunch-box in several episodes previously, this episode formally introduces Charlie and Lola's favourite super-hero, 'Bat Cat'.

• 35. I Just Love My Red Shiny Shoes

Lola's favourite shiny red shoes are too small for her. Charlie takes her to buy a new pair, but Lola wants to keep the pair that she has.

• 36. I Really Wonder What Plant I'm Growing

Lola is impressed by the tomato plant that Charlie is growing (even though she doesn't like tomatoes). She decides to grow a plant of her own. She gets a seed - but doesn't know what it will grow.

• 37. Charlie is Broken!

Charlie and Lola are rehearsing a circus show for Granny and Grandpa, with Charlie juggling and Lola desperately trying to do forward rolls. But when he is playing football in the park with Marv, Charlie breaks his arm. Will the show go on?

• 38. I Will Be Especially, Very Careful

Lola loves Lotta's soft, white new coat. She swaps the coat for a handbag that Mum gave her until school tomorrow, promising to take good care of it. But a series of events threatens to spoil the coat.

• 39. Yes I Am No You're Not

Charlie and Lola are looking forward to a Chinese puppet show, but they can't stop squabbling with each other. Their parents tell them that they won't be allowed to see the show unless they behave. Will they manage to stop arguing for long enough?

• 40. I Am Really, Really, Really Concentrating

School sports day is coming up. Charlie and Marv are going to do the three legged race, and Lotta is going to enter the octopus (obstacle) race. But what event will Lola be good at? Maybe the egg and spoon race.

• 41. Will You Please Stop Messing About

Mum has told Charlie and Lola that they must have a big tidy up, or else Charlie won't be able to watch his favourite television programme, Space Family Hudson. But all Lola seems to want to do is play games.

• 42. I Completely Know About Guinea Pigs

Lola wants to look after Burt, the class Guinea Pig, over the holidays. Lola finds out all about how to look after Guinea Pigs properly, and is allowed to bring Burt home. At first all is well, but then Burt goes missing.

• 43. What if I Get Lost in the Middle of Nowhere?

Lola has a fear of getting lost. She is not looking forward to the school trip and would rather stay behind. Charlie teaches her some methods that should stop her getting lost and help her if she does - but the school trip turns out to be to a giant maze. How will Lola cope?

• 44. Welcome to Lolaland

Charlie and Marv are learning Spanish. Lola would like to learn a foreign language too, but can't grasp it. With Soren Lorenson, she decides to make up her own imaginary language and place - Lolaland.

• 45. Please May I Have Some of Yours?

Granny and Grandpa are taking Charlie and Lola to the zoo. But Lola eats up all of her sandwiches before lunch, wastes all her bread to feed to the ducks in one go, uses up all of her camera film, and spends all of her money - when she is so set on buying a toy seal for the bath. Charlie reluctantly helps her out - but will she ever learn to save things for herself?

• 46. Can You Maybe Turn the Light On?

After Charlie reads her a story about an ogre, Lola is frightened of the dark. But all of the things she wants to make her feel safer keep Charlie awake.

• Note: The voice of the Ogre is provided by Abel Lundie-Brown, no doubt a relation of Jethro Lundie-Brown, who provided the voice of Charlie in the first series.

• 47. You Can Be My Friend

While Marv's Dad takes Marv and Charlie to the insect house, Lola is left in the company of Marv's little brother, Morten. But Morton is rather quiet and shy, and doesn't seem to want to play any of the games that Lola suggests.

• 48. I Wish I Could Draw Exactly More Like You

Charlie, Marv, Lola and Lotta all have to draw pictures of their houses for a school project. They all have their own ways of drawing, and look at some famous paintings for inspiration.

• 49. I Will Not Ever Never Forget You, Nibbles

Charlie and Lola get a pet mouse, which they name Nibbles. Nibbles can do lots of tricks, and they love him very much. But eventually, Nibbles dies, and the siblings must learn to cope with the upset of losing a pet.

• 50. Never Ever Never Step on the Cracks

Lola is very superstitious, and believes everything that people tell her. She hops to bed so the sea-ticklers won't tickle her, sleeps tightly so the bed bugs won't bite, washes really hard behind her ears so mushrooms won't grow there, and turns around three times when she sees a magpie. So Charlie quickly regrets when he tells her not to step on the cracks in the pavement or else the bears that live underneath will get her.

• 51. Look After Your Planet

Lola learns all about recycling, and doing things to save the planet. In a magazine, she and Charlie spot a competition to win your very own tree if you recycle 100 things. They decide to enter - and Lola is determined to recycle everything. Everything.

• 52. Too Many Big Words

Lola is learning to count and read at school. But she finds it very difficult and does not like it. Eventually, Charlie persuades her to give it a try, and helps her read about Picolo, a little bird who cannot sing.

• Note: Elements in this episode are adapted from Lauren Child's original book, I Am Too Absolutely Small For School.

(Note: The second series is listed here in its production order, the order in which it was originally broadcast on CBeebies and BBC Two in the United Kingdom. The episodes were broadcast in a slightly different order in America.)

Charlie and Lola Christmas Special

• 53. How Many More Minutes until Christmas?

Lola is ever so extremely excited about Christmas. But it seems that it may be ruined, first when she accidentally mixes up her Christmas card to Lotta with her letter to Father Christmas, and then when the door for Christmas Day goes missing on her and Charlie's advent calendar.

• Note: This episode is double-length.

Season 3

• 26 more episodes and a half hour special now in production.

The Charlie and Lola Album

“Charlie and Lola’s Favourite and Best Music Record” is going to be released on 19th March 2007. The music is largely a development of existing interstitial and theme music taken from series 1 and 2. There are elements of easy listening, lounge, big band jazz, reggae, bluegrass, eastern European, sci-fi, Latin, classical and film music. There are 17 tracks plus one hidden track, with the very popular theme tune opening and closing the album. It is aimed at children and parents alike.

Each track is embellished with extracts of spoken word taken from the TV series. The use of spoken word adds narrative to the music in the absence of sung lyrics. The album is not so much a collection of songs as a collection of themed conversations and fantasies accompanied by music. In many cases, the spoken word is manipulated so that it sits rhythmically with the musical accompaniment. This gives the sense of a vocal performance but without the normal song writing techniques of melody and rhyme.

‘The Bestest in The Barn’ was released as a single on March 12th 2007. It features Lola and Lotta teaching various animals on their farm how to sing, dance and play music. This is the only track on the album which does not appear in any episode. Lola and Lotta do however appear as farmers in “I Do Not Ever Never Want My Wobbly Tooth To Fall Out”. They also have a tendency to imagine that animals are capable of developing impressive human skills - “We Do Promise Honestly We Can Look After Your Dog” and “I Will Not Ever Never Forget You Nibbles”.

The album is a collaboration between various composers and musicians who write and perform for the TV series. Much of the music is programmed but many tracks feature performances by outstanding live musicians from London based bands – Menlo Park, Polar Bear and Acoustic Ladyland (see credits below).

Four of the tracks have been animated by Tiger Aspect Productions: ‘The Bestest in the Barn’, ‘Sizzles’, ‘Batcat’ and ‘It’s Snowing’. ‘The Bestest In the Barn’ video is encoded as an mpeg on the album CD, and all four videos are included as DVD extras on the series 2 DVD collection.

Track Listing

• 1. Charlie and Lola Theme Tune
• 2. I Really Want to Play Music
• 3. The Bestest in the Barn
• 4. Boo!
• 5. Sizzles
• 6. I will not ever Never eat a Tomato
• 7. Milk Monkeys
• 8. Germs
• 9. Magic
• 10. Bat Cat
• 11. Lolaland
• 12. Greendrops
• 13. I am not Sleepy
• 14. Martian Attack
• 15. All Sleepy
• 16. Can you maybe turn the Light on?
• 17. Charlie and Lola Theme Tune (Extended Version)
• 18.... It’s Snowing (secret track)

Music Credits

Theme Tune written by Tom Dyson and Søren Munk Production & Arrangement with John Greswell

All other tracks written by John Greswell and produced by Greswell / Taylor for MPM London Ltd.

Except: 3 written by John Greswell, Christopher Taylor, Benjamin Nicholls

6, 12 written by John Greswell, Christopher Taylor

7 written by Tom Dyson, Søren Munk

16 written and produced by David Schweitzer

Additional Musicians

Andy Mellon - Trumpet / Flugel Horn / Piano / Vocals / Clarinet

Benjamin Nicholls - Guitars / Banjo / Jews Harp / Double Bass / Bass Guitar

Pete Wareham – Tenor Saxophone

Sebastian Rochford - Drums / Percussion

Joe Bentley – Trombone

Demon Music Group Ltd.

BBC Worldwide Ltd.

All tracks published by Tiger Aspect / BMG Music Publishing

Sleeve Package design by David Mackintosh

Voices

• Charlie – Jethro Lundie-Brown, Daniel Mayers
• Lola – Masie Cowell, Clementine Cowell
• Marv – Ryan Harris
• Lotta – Morgan Gayle
• Soren Lorensen – Stanley Street

Animation of Promos

‘The Bestest in the Barn’, ‘Sizzles’, ‘Batcat’ and ‘It’s Snowing’ promos animated by Tiger Aspect Productions Ltd. Tom Beattie, Betti Doherty, Alistair Douglas, Catherine T. Elliot, Tim Fehrenbach, Claudia Lloyd, James O’Shea, Caroline Parkinson, Mark Patterson, Steve Perkins, Kitty Taylor, Clare Winkworth, Andrew Zein.

External links

• CBeebies - Charlie and Lola at bbc.co.uk
• Official Charlie and Lola website
• Tiger Aspect Website
• The official website of Lauren Child
• Charlie and Lola on Playhouse Disney
• Unofficial Charlie and Lola on MySpace
• TV.com Show Guide
• Charlie and Lola Game Manufacturer