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This was a low-key Australian science fiction serial set
early in the 21st century. The main point of interest was an underwater
combined school and research station, and the kids kept themselves amused
while trying to avoid the attentions of a spiteful older pupil and the
various officers and crew who maintained the research side of things. Two
of the youngsters, Brett and Julius, meet Neri, a girl who lives rough on
a nearby island, and who's best friend is a blue whale. There is a little
mystery about her, however, as she seems to be remarkably at home in the
ocean. The boys find their troubles only just starting when they try to
keep her a secret. The first season was made in 1992 to the usual polished
Australian standards, and with excellent underwater filming, the series
was screened in the UK with little publicity and in a Sunday morning slot,
so it may have been hard to spot at first.
A true product of the 1990s, Ocean
Odyssey was never going to challenge the classic programmes of twenty
or thirty years before, but it made attractive viewing nonetheless. A
second series followed on Children's BBC in 1996, starting out on BBC2
while Wimbledon was in swing. Known elsewhere as Ocean Girl, the
series continues, although its transmission in the UK was patchy and
unheralded.
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Created and Produced by: Jonathan M Shiff
Writer: Neil Luxmoore
Executive Producers: Jonathan M Shiff,
Emma Honey and Jennifer Cleveks
Line Producer: Gina Black
Director: Mark DeFriest
Music: Garry McDonald and Laurie Stone
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Season 1: 13 Episodes
2nd April - 25th June 1995
Season 2: 13 Episodes
11th June - 3rd September 1996
Season 3: 26 Episodes
UK Transmission Unknown
Season 4: 26 Episodes
UK Transmission Unknown
Produced in association with Network Australia, Beyond Distribution Pty
Ltd, Teleimages/ITI, and developed with the assistance of Film Queensland,
Film Victoria, Film Finance Corp Ltd
78 colour 25-minute episodes
(BBC2)
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