Dot And The Kangaroo (1977)

Director: Yoram Gross Starring: Barbara Frawley, Joan Bruce, Spike Milligan, June Salter, Ross Higgins Genres: Family, Animation, Australian Origin: Australia Certificate: G Languages: English Running Time: 71 min

synopsis

A girl named Dot is lost in the outback after chasing a hare into the wood and losing sight of her home. She is approached by a red kangaroo who gives her some berries to eat. Upon eating the berries, Dot is able to understand the language of all animals, and she tells the kangaroo her plight. The kangaroo, who has lost her own joey, decides to help little Dot despite her own fear of humans. The book is filled with criticism on negative human interference in the wild. The book was adapted into a 1977 film that featured a combination of animation and live-action. The main character, Dot, was voiced by Barbara Frawley. The movie featured an original soundtrack including several lyrical melodies composed by Bob Young, John Palmer and Marion Von Alderstein. The movie backdrop was filmed on location in and around the Jenolan Caves of the Blue Mountains in New South Wales, Australia. Although the film uses many of the same elements as other animated children's musicals involving animals, such as many of the Disney films in the United states, the film is essentially Australian in its use of icons and accents. It also references Indigenous Australian culture in some scenes which show animation of cave paintings and aboriginal dancing. The film was a success and allowed Yoram Gross to enlarge his production company and market his family films in the United States. Also, the film's use of animation set against still photographic backgrounds established the style for many of his later films.