CBS Storybreak "What Happened in Hamelin" (lost episode from animated series; 1987): Difference between revisions

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'''''"What Happened in Hamelin"''''' is the 19th episode of the animated literary anthology TV series ''CBS Storybreak''. It premiered as the 3rd episode of Season 3 on October 3rd, 1987<ref name=":0">Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. p. 193. ISBN 978-1476665993</ref>. Like all ''Storybreak'' episodes it is an adaptation of a critically-acclaimed YA novel, in this case Gloria Skurzynski's 1979 Booklist Reviewer's Choice Award winner of the same name.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/whathappenedinha0000skur/page/n5/mode/2up What Happened in Hamelin (1979) on Internet Archive] Retrieved 29 Dec 2022</ref> Even the episode's technical credits are unknown, aside from the fact that along with the rest of the series it was co-produced by Hanna-Barbera Australia and Southern Star Entertainment for CBS Entertainment Productions.<ref name=":0" /> <ref name=":1">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CBS_Storybreak The series' Wikipedia page]</ref>


'''"What Happened in Hamelin"''' is an episode of the animated literary anthology T.V. series, ''CBS Storybreak''. It premiered on October 3rd, 1987 and is an adaptation of the book of the same title, initially published and released in 1979, by Gloria Skurzynski. Concerning information of who wrote the teleplay or any other technical credits is unobtainable at the moment, aside from the fact that like the other episodes, this was co-produced by Hanna-Barbera Australia and Southern Star Entertainment. There's also no info as to the comparisons and contrasts between the adaptation, and the book.
==Premise==
The plot of the novel is an attempt to reframe the Pied Piper legend in its literal, historical context - given that roughly 130 children are, in fact, recorded as disappearing from the town on a single night in 1284, for a reason now wholly unknown. The tale of the Piper is thought to have grown up around attempts to cope with the tragedy. But if the children weren't actually lured away by dark musical magic, what could have happened to them? Who might the Piper have actually been?


=== Premise ===
Skurzynski's take on these questions unfolds via the perspective of the one child who, according to the original legend, could not follow the Piper out of the town: Geist (German for 'Ghost') a 14-year-old baker's apprentice who is envious of the newcomer's apparently carefree lifestyle and becomes his protege, with the mysterious figure demanding total, unquestioning obedience in exchange. Geist soon becomes disenchanted with his new master as they execute his plan for destroying Hamelin's rats - a plan involving grain tainted with ergot, a fatally poisonous fungus that causes those who ingest it to 'dance' convulsively - and the boy realizes that, thanks to the town elders' greed and dishonesty, their children may be in line for the same horrifying fate.  
A continuation of where the original Pied Piper story left off, feeling betrayed, the Pied Piper requites Hamelin's citizens by luring away their children with his flute-playing when they deny payment to him for getting rid of the rats. When his young protege finds out about his mentor's treacherous plan, he must find a way to get the kids back and save them from an uncertain, indeterminate fate.


=== Availability ===
The ''Storybreak'' animated adaptation seems to have followed this plot fairly closely, although synopses and a still of the episode indicate Geist is joined in the animated version of his adventures by a young girl, not further identified but presumably another of Hamelin's children.<ref>[https://deluxevideoonline.org/tv-that-complicated-my-childhood-cbs-storybreak/ Info about the various episodes including "What Happened in Hamelin"] Retrieved 26 Aug. '21</ref> Otherwise details are scarce but hint broadly as to why this episode in particular was never officially revisited; a Goodreads review calls the book 'a straight-up horror novel for kids' and suggests the animated adaptation's ending is even more unsettling.<ref name=":2">[https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/2687911 Goodreads page for Skurzynski's novel, including references to the animated adaptation]</ref>
Whereas most of the series has been uploaded online, this is one of the remaining two episodes that are currently unavailable and has yet to be uploaded. It wasn't among a few of the episodes that were released on VHS and for the longest, it has been one of the rarest, and most obscure episodes. Other than video of a preview of this following an online video copy of '''"The Shy Stegosaurus of Cricket Creek"''', there still isn't a copy of this episode on the web in its entirety.


=== Gallery ===
==Availability==
<gallery>
In the years following production the 26 ''CBS Storybreak'' episodes generally became difficult to find, especially as - presumably due to the uniquely complicated copyright issues involved - the series was never given an official home media release outside of some individual episodes on VHS. These along with most of the rest have gradually resurfaced online, leaving "What Happened in Hamelin" as one of only two still lost (the other is episode 25, "Raggedy Ann and Andy and the Camel With the Wrinkled Knees"). The Goodreads reviewer quoted above indicates that "Hamelin" was in fact uploaded to YouTube at one point but was quickly taken down, probably thanks to the aforementioned rights issues.
File:"What Happened in Hamelin" episode pic.png


</gallery>
As of 2023, other than a single still frame of uncertain provenance and the 'Next week on...'-style preview following the previous week's episode ("The Shy Stegosaurus of Cricket Creek") which can be seen at the end of the episode on YouTube and separately on Facebook, no trace of "What Happened in Hamelin" can be found online. However, since ''Storybreak'' was a notably popular and prestigious show based on likewise prestigious material, it's quite possible that copies were provided to schools and libraries for educational purposes, and may still be held in an archive somewhere. There is also the equally good possibility that the episode was recorded to home video.


==Gallery==
=== Images ===
[[File:"What Happened in Hamelin" episode pic.png|thumb|200px|center|A still frame claimed to be from the episode, showing the Piper, Geist and the unidentified girl.]]


=== External Links ===
=== Videos ===
[https://www.facebook.com/pg/CBSStorybreak/posts/ CBS Storybreak Animated TV Series fan page]
{{Video |perrow =1
|service1 =youtube
|id1 =https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWkqizBILXg&t=518s
|description1 =Next Saturday preview following a copy of the episode, "The Shy Stegosaurus of Cricket Creek." Promo starts at 9:10.
}}
 
==See Also==
*[[Boss Cat (found British opening and ending titles of "Top Cat" animated series; 1962-1989)]]
*[[Dastardly & Muttley - Operation: Pigeon Pursuit (lost build of unreleased PlayStation 2 video game; 2007-2008)]]
*[[Fender Bender 500 (partially found episodes of "Wacky Races" reboot animated series; 1990s)]]
*[[Jetsons: The Movie "Gotcha" (partially found full version of song from Hanna-Barbera animated film; 1990)]]
*[[Jetsons: The Movie - Janet Waldo performance (lost audio of animated film; 1988-1989)]]
*[[Jokebook (partially found Hanna-Barbera animated series; 1982)]]
*[[Midnight Patrol: Adventures in the Dream Zone (partially found episodes of syndicated animated series; 1990)]]
*[[Return of the Bunjee (lost ABC Weekend special; 1985)]]
*[[Rock Odyssey (partially lost Hanna-Barbera animated film; 1987)]]
*[[Showbiz Pizza's Yogi Bear and Boo Boo Showtape (found animatronic audio showtape; 1987)]]
*[[The Banana Splits Adventure Hour (partially found Hanna Barbera live action-animated TV series; 1968-1969)]]
*[[The Flintstones (cancelled Seth MacFarlane reboot of animated series; 2013)]]
*[[The Flintstones Movie (partially found Sega Channel exclusive build of 2D movie tie-in platformer; 1995)]]
*[[The Funny World of Fred and Bunni (partially found live-action/animated variety show pilot; 1978)]]
*[[The Hanna-Barbera Happy Hour (partially found NBC comedy variety show; 1978)]]
*[[The Moxy Show (partially found episodes of CGI anthology series; 1993-2000)]]
*[[The New Teen Titans "Just Say No!" (partially lost Hanna-Barbera anti-drug animated PSA; 1983)]]
*[[The Ruff and Reddy Show (found episodes of NBC Hanna-Barbera animated series; 1957-1960)]]
*[[The Snorks (partially found unaired pilot of Hanna-Barbera animated TV series; 1982)]]
 
==External Link==
*[https://www.facebook.com/pg/CBSStorybreak/posts/ Facebook fan page for ''CBS Storybreak''.] Retrieved 27 Jan '20
 
== References ==
 
[[Category:Lost animation]]
[[Category:Lost TV]]
[[Category:Completely lost media]]
 
<references />

Latest revision as of 23:27, 12 January 2024

What Happened in Hamelin book.png

Cover of the original What Happened in Hamelin book

Status: Lost

"What Happened in Hamelin" is the 19th episode of the animated literary anthology TV series CBS Storybreak. It premiered as the 3rd episode of Season 3 on October 3rd, 1987[1]. Like all Storybreak episodes it is an adaptation of a critically-acclaimed YA novel, in this case Gloria Skurzynski's 1979 Booklist Reviewer's Choice Award winner of the same name.[2] Even the episode's technical credits are unknown, aside from the fact that along with the rest of the series it was co-produced by Hanna-Barbera Australia and Southern Star Entertainment for CBS Entertainment Productions.[1] [3]

Premise

The plot of the novel is an attempt to reframe the Pied Piper legend in its literal, historical context - given that roughly 130 children are, in fact, recorded as disappearing from the town on a single night in 1284, for a reason now wholly unknown. The tale of the Piper is thought to have grown up around attempts to cope with the tragedy. But if the children weren't actually lured away by dark musical magic, what could have happened to them? Who might the Piper have actually been?

Skurzynski's take on these questions unfolds via the perspective of the one child who, according to the original legend, could not follow the Piper out of the town: Geist (German for 'Ghost') a 14-year-old baker's apprentice who is envious of the newcomer's apparently carefree lifestyle and becomes his protege, with the mysterious figure demanding total, unquestioning obedience in exchange. Geist soon becomes disenchanted with his new master as they execute his plan for destroying Hamelin's rats - a plan involving grain tainted with ergot, a fatally poisonous fungus that causes those who ingest it to 'dance' convulsively - and the boy realizes that, thanks to the town elders' greed and dishonesty, their children may be in line for the same horrifying fate.

The Storybreak animated adaptation seems to have followed this plot fairly closely, although synopses and a still of the episode indicate Geist is joined in the animated version of his adventures by a young girl, not further identified but presumably another of Hamelin's children.[4] Otherwise details are scarce but hint broadly as to why this episode in particular was never officially revisited; a Goodreads review calls the book 'a straight-up horror novel for kids' and suggests the animated adaptation's ending is even more unsettling.[5]

Availability

In the years following production the 26 CBS Storybreak episodes generally became difficult to find, especially as - presumably due to the uniquely complicated copyright issues involved - the series was never given an official home media release outside of some individual episodes on VHS. These along with most of the rest have gradually resurfaced online, leaving "What Happened in Hamelin" as one of only two still lost (the other is episode 25, "Raggedy Ann and Andy and the Camel With the Wrinkled Knees"). The Goodreads reviewer quoted above indicates that "Hamelin" was in fact uploaded to YouTube at one point but was quickly taken down, probably thanks to the aforementioned rights issues.

As of 2023, other than a single still frame of uncertain provenance and the 'Next week on...'-style preview following the previous week's episode ("The Shy Stegosaurus of Cricket Creek") which can be seen at the end of the episode on YouTube and separately on Facebook, no trace of "What Happened in Hamelin" can be found online. However, since Storybreak was a notably popular and prestigious show based on likewise prestigious material, it's quite possible that copies were provided to schools and libraries for educational purposes, and may still be held in an archive somewhere. There is also the equally good possibility that the episode was recorded to home video.

Gallery

Images

A still frame claimed to be from the episode, showing the Piper, Geist and the unidentified girl.

Videos

Next Saturday preview following a copy of the episode, "The Shy Stegosaurus of Cricket Creek." Promo starts at 9:10.

See Also

External Link

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. p. 193. ISBN 978-1476665993
  2. What Happened in Hamelin (1979) on Internet Archive Retrieved 29 Dec 2022
  3. The series' Wikipedia page
  4. Info about the various episodes including "What Happened in Hamelin" Retrieved 26 Aug. '21
  5. Goodreads page for Skurzynski's novel, including references to the animated adaptation