The Dreamstone
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The Dreamstone was a British animated television series that ran for four series of 12 episodes between 1990 and 1995 on ITV, created by Michael Jupp. It was set in a fantasy alternative world, much like the Discworld or Middle-earth, and concerned itself principally with the struggle between good (personified by The Dreammaker, a Gandalf-esque white magician), and evil (personified by Zordrak, lord of Nightmares).
Each episode had basically the same plot - Zordrak would instruct his henchmen to steal the Dreamstone, which he planned to destroy, so that nightmares would plague the sleeping world. The plan usually involved Urpgor, his right hand man and scientist inventing some means with which the Urpneys - led by Sergeant Blob, an archetypal Sergeant Major type - would cross the Sea Of Destruction (a vast bottomless ocean) to get to the Land Of Dreams. The plan would invariably fail, the main problem being the cowardice of the Urpneys, who often wanted no more than to 'go home'.
Unlike most other similar animated series, The Dreamstone did not shy away from killing characters. While no main characters were ever killed off, the prospect of death was always there, and it was genuinely felt that characters were in mortal danger when they faced their enemy. In the first scene of the pilot, Zordrak is shown throwing one of the Urpneys into a pit, where he is devoured and killed.
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Principal Characters
The Land Of Dreams
The Land Of Dreams is also known as the light side of the planet, and is peopled by Noops (who lived and worked like humans) and Wuts (the defenders of the land, who flew around on leaves and warded off Zordrak's evil forces with globes of light).
- The Dream Maker - Head of the Council of Dreammakers, also known as Lord Highest, he is responsible for mixing dream bubbles and sending them out to the sleeping world through the Dreamstone. Was responsible for ejecting Zordrak from the council, and the two have been mortal enemies ever since. The relationship is possibly based on that of Gandalf and Saruman in the Lord of the Rings mythology.
- Albert - The Dreammaker's pet dogfish. The story goes that the Dreammaker saw Albert in a dream, and liked him so much he decided to make him real.
- Rufus - a Noop. When we first see him, he is working at Mr. Wax's candlemakers, but he is soon sacked for daydreaming on the job. Dejected, he takes the advice of his friend Amberley to become the Dream Maker's assistant. After a disastorous first day on the job (in which the Urpneys steal the Dreamstone), he fights Zordrak, with Amberley's help, and saves the day.
- Amberley - Rufus's best friend (it is sometimes implied that she is his girlfriend). She also works for the Dreammaker.
- Pildit - the leader of the Wuts and The Dreammaker's most trusted ally, he is often called upon to defend the Land of Dreams from Zordrak's forces.
- Wildit - Pildit's Grandmother. Well-meaning, and as handy in a fight as her grandson. She has something of a crush on the Dream Maker.
- Mr. Blossom - The Dreammaker's gardener, a wizened old Wut, who constantly seems to have something to complain about.
The Land Of Nightmares
The Land Of Nightmares, also known as the dark side of the planet, is populated mostly by Urpneys, who basically resemble human beings except for the large bulbous nose and tails. They live in Viltheed, a tall black mountain in which resides the almost immobile Zordrak.
- Zordrak - The Lord of Nightmares and the principle protagonist of the series. Characterised by a deep, demonic voice (provided by Gary Martin), he stands at least twenty feet high, and spends much of his time sat on his throne dispensing punishment to wayward Urpneys. Was once a Dreammaker himself, but was ejected from the council. Enraged, he transformed himself into a monster, and vowed vengeance.
- Urpgor - An urpney with, for reasons that are never explained, green skin. In the fine tradition of cartoon scientests, is also slightly mad, and is often to be seen insanely bounding around, having fallen in love with his latest invention. Publicly hates the other Urpneys, and secretly covets Zordrak's throne.
"Why must I always deliver my creations into the hands of halfwits who can hardly remember their own names?"
- Sergeant Blob - The military leader of the Urpneys, who is often (perhaps foolishly) entrusted with the task of stealing the Dreamstone for Zordrak.
- Frizz - Another Urpney, whose cowardice knows no bounds. Finds himself in a position of responsibility simply because he couldn't run as fast as the others. Would much rather be at home with some sandwiches than fighting deadly Noops. He was voiced by Melvyn Hayes, who played something of a similar character in the sitcom It Ain't Half Hot Mum.
- Nug - Another Urpney, who, while not as cowardly as Frizz, certainly has his moments. Seems to be far cleverer than the other Urpneys, though.
- Argorribles - Ghostly purple clouds, which Zordrak sends out each night to deliver nightmares to the sleeping world. The power of the Dreamstone is often far too much for them, and so only occasionally do they slip through.
List of Episodes
This is a list of first, second, third, and fourth series episodes.
Season 1 (1990)
- Pilot (hour long special)
- The Knitted Balloon
- The Invisible Blob
- The Voice Of Zordrak
- The Shrinking Stone
- Too Hot To Handle
- Blob's Incredible Plan
- The Daydream Bubble
- Albert Is Fishnapped
- The Statue Collection
- Argorrible Attack
- Megattack
The series finale, Megattack, was the only first season episode not to have been released on video, and remains very sought after.
Season 2 (1992)
- The Nightmare Stone
- Zarag
- Urpgor's Island
- The Robo Bird
- The Dark Side
- Albert's Ailement
- The Monster
- Spildit
- Wildit's Whistle
- Sport's Day
- Frozen Assets
- Bottle Harvest
- Return of the Nightmare Stone
Season 3 (1994)
- The Return
- Electric Eggs
- Moon of Doom
- Zarag Rules
- The Dream Beam Invasion
- Urpgor's Auntie
- The Wottles
- The Mirror
- The Mechanical Fish
- A Day Out
- Urpgor's Great Adventure
- Neemod
- Mr Blossom's Present
Season 4 (1995)
- Auntie Again
- Stowaways
- The Substitute
- Trouble With The Miners
- The Basilic
- Dreambubble Mixture
- Little Urpip
- Horrible Aggorible
- Hod
- The Jolly Bird
- Planet Prunus
- The Spider-Mobile
- Urpjaws