Tales of the Riverbank (1960)

Overview

"Hammy Hamster," created by CBC film editors David Ellison and Paul Sutherland in 1959, initially turned down by CBC, found success with the BBC, leading to thirteen episodes. Following international sales, Canada's CTV picked up the series after it won the Canadian Film Awards. The show, known for unique storytelling and effects, featured animal transportation via various means. Although Sutherland voiced many characters, his voice was replaced for UK and European markets. A second colour series, "Hammy Hamster's Adventures On the Riverbank," narrated by Johnny Morris, aired in the 1970s and was sold to 34 countries. The franchise spawned two syndicated sequels, "Hammy Hamster" and "Once Upon a Hamster."