About this series
About Kangaroo Beach
Kangaroo Beach is an animated Australian action-comedy series dedicated to entertaining young viewers with adventurous tales, while also empowering them by teaching essential water safety lessons. The series blends fun and excitement with vital information about how to be safe in aquatic environments by presenting 11-minute episodes about four young animal friends - Pounce the joey, Gemma the platypus, Neville the wombat and Frizzy the koala – who are training as junior lifeguard cadets at the spectacular coastal location of Kangaroo Beach. Guided along the way by experienced lifeguards Bondi, Sandy and Big Trev, all the characters have distinct personalities, strengths, and weaknesses, allowing children to identify with them and learn through their experiences.
The show’s third series keeps things fresh with the introduction of Spyke, a fearless and resourceful echidna from the bush. New to the ocean but full of energy and enthusiasm, Spyke’s efforts to balance her desire for adventure with the need to listen and pay attention (so she can be safe) will present a relatable dilemma for many young viewers. Other highlights of the season include a visit from Neville’s mum who is learning to swim, the Junior Junior Cadets revised floating and breathing techniques and a return guest appearance from Australian screen icon Miranda Tapsell as Wanda the Possum.
Kangaroo Beach creator Tim Bain draws inspiration from his own childhood experiences as a junior lifesaver, recognising the powerful potential of children's television to deliver crucial safety messages in an engaging way. His aim is to create a show that encourages everyone to "have a whale of a time in the water, while being informed and alert."
Kangaroo Beach’s energetic stories are always underscored by wholesome fundamentals: the need for solid teamwork and communication, the importance of getting expert help when there’s danger, the affirmation that everyone has their own challenges and strengths and the ever-present mission to be safety aware in and around the water … in order to have the most fun possible!
Kangaroo Beach Creatives, Key Cast
- Isaac Trainer - Neville
Isaac Trainer is the voice of Neville! He's a real-life adventurer who also played characters in Reef School and The Wonder Gang. - Kiki Wales - Frizzy
Kiki Wales is the voice of Frizzy! She's been in plays, TV shows, and even worked with Costa on Gardening Australia Junior. - Millie Egerton - Gemma
Millie Egerton is the voice of Gemma! She loves acting, lives near the ocean, and cares about all the cool sea creatures, just like Gemma! - Blake Stevens - Pounce
Blake Stevens is the voice of Pounce! He's been in commercials and helped teach kids to be safe, and now he plays the super-excited Pounce! - Willow Smee - Spyke
Willow Smee is the voice of Spyke! She's a confident actor who loves being in the studio and bringing characters to life. - Kitty Flanagan - Sandy, Reef
Kitty Flanagan is the voice of Sandy and Reef! She's a super-funny comedian from shows like Have You Been Paying Attention? and Fisk. - Matt Hardie - Bondi, Ferdinand
Matt Hardie is the voice of Bondi and Ferdinand! He's an actor who's been in lots of shows and plays, and now he's a cool lifeguard kangaroo! - Rupert Degas - Big Trev, Gherkinn, Roadie
Rupert Degas is the voice of Big Trev and more! He's a voice actor who can do lots of different voices, and he brings these fun characters to life. - Deborah Mailman - Aunty Bev
Australian actress Deborah Mailman, a highly respected and multi-award winning First Nations Australian actress celebrated for her roles in film and television voices Spyke’s warm and wise Aunty Bev. - Miranda Tapsell – Wanda
Proud Larrakia and Tiwi actress Miranda Tapsell voices the arts-loving marsupial (and Neville’s new balance coach) Wanda. - Tim Bain – Creator
British-Australian Tim Bain, a writer for numerous beloved preschool shows including PJ Masks and Bluey, created Kangaroo Beach drawing from his childhood as a junior lifesaver. - Steve Moltzen – Director
Steve Moltzen, a seasoned animation director with over 25 years of experience including work on classic Hanna-Barbera cartoons, directs Kangaroo Beach Seasons 2 and 3. - Patrick Egerton - Executive Producer
Patrick Egerton, a co-founder of Cheeky Little Media with two decades in animation production, serves as the Executive Producer for Kangaroo Beach. - Celine Goetz – Producer
Celine Goetz, an experienced animation producer at Cheeky Little Media, oversees the production of Kangaroo Beach. - Darren Keating - Art Director
Darren Keating, a veteran Australian animation Art Director with 26 years in the industry, brings his artistic vision to Kangaroo Beach.
Credits
Kangaroo Beach Series 3 is a Cheeky Little Media production.
Producers: Celine Goetz, Patrick Egerton
Co-producer: Francesca Hope
Executive Producers: Patrick Egerton, David Webster, Tim Bain, Jo Boag and Bernadette O’Mahony
Created by: Tim Bain
Series Director: Steve Moltzen
Written by: Tim Bain, Charlotte Rose Hamlyn, Sylvie van Dijk, Lorin Clarke, Lawrence Leung, Wendy Hanna, Tracey Defty Rashid, Angus Woodiwiss
A Cheeky Little Media production for the ABC, produced in association with Siamese. Major production investment from the ABC in association with Screen Australia and the Australian Children’s Television Foundation. Financed with support from Screenwest and Lotterywest and Surf Life Saving Australia. International sales by the Australian Children’s Television Foundation and Infinite Frameworks. Post, digital and visual effects supported by Screen NSW.
