Adventures of Sebastian the Fox, The – Nostalgia Central

1 9 6 3 (Australia)
13 x 10 minute episodes

“In the bush there is a creature, and he’s got a bushy tail
He is not a kangaroo or a mongoose or a snail
Oh he wears a suit and waistcoat and the smartest shoes and socks
That’s Sebastian, That’s Sebastian, Sebastian the Fox”

This pioneering Australian children’s series combined a marionette puppet (Sebastian) with live-action stories.

The cunning, mischievous and well-dressed fox with large, expressive eyes and a twitching tail interacted in each of the 13 episodes with human actors in dialogue-free encounters accompanied by a musical score composed by George Dreyfus.

The episode ‘The Painter’ guest starred Barry Humphries as an artist tormented by Sebastian.

Produced by Eltham Film Productions for the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC), the series was written and directed by Tim Burstall.

Puppeteer Peter Scriven designed and operated Sebastian.

“You will never see Sebastian; he’s a cunning little fox
He is hiding in the cupboards or behind the Hollyhocks
He’s as clever as Aladdin and as sweet as Goldilocks
That’s Sebastian, That’s Sebastian, Sebastian the Fox”

Episodes

The Sausages | The Burglar | The Bomb | The Animal Catcher | The Sleepwalkers | The Showman | The Gold Mine | The Painter | The Dolls House | The Castaway | The Classroom | The Potters |  The Fashion Parade

Video