Jimbo And The Jet Set - The Little Big Problem (Animated) (DVD)

...best programme ever….although I think Jimbo is pretty much as I remember.

Jimbo and the Jet Set was a cartoon I enjoyed as a child. Made in 1986, I would have been 5 at the time. It's currently on sale at Amazon at £3.99, but I think I paid the full retail price of £5.99 back when it was released in 2004. It's cheap, but then it's not very long either! The DVD contains 15 episodes (25 episodes - 5 minutes each - were made in total, ...
...What I remembered most about Jimbo was the theme tune and introduction (music by Roger and Gavin Greenaway). Jimbo was created by Petter Maddocks (who also created Penny Crayon, and the Family-Ness). In the intro sequence you will see various characters (such as cows and sheep) as they sing Jimbo's name getting higher and higher until SMASH, the glass in the control tower is broken as the Chief controller (whose ginger hair and moustache is unforgettable) ... more

This was one of several DVDs I bought at the time when lots of the children's programmes from the 1980s were being brought out. While I love being able to see what I watched as a child all over again, I can't help but feel that something has been lost. The traditional pub conversation with friends "do you remember watching this, and watching that as a kid" is now pretty pointless, since we can watch the TV of our childhood whenever we so wish! In addition to this it can also distort the memories of what once seemed like the best programme ever….although I think Jimbo is pretty much as I remember.

Jimbo and the Jet Set was a cartoon I enjoyed as a child. Made in 1986, I would have been 5 at the time. It's currently on sale at Amazon at £3.99, but I think I paid the full retail price of £5.99 back when it was released in 2004. It's cheap, but then it's not very long either! The DVD contains 15 episodes (25 episodes - 5 minutes each - were made in total, and the other 10 can be found on "The Royal Visitors" DVD) and lasts 76 minutes. There are no extras on the DVD. The cover of the case is brightly coloured and appealing, but the pictures shown are not actual pictures from the series.

What I remembered most about Jimbo was the theme tune and introduction (music by Roger and Gavin Greenaway). Jimbo was created by Petter Maddocks (who also created Penny Crayon, and the Family-Ness). In the intro sequence you will see various characters (such as cows and sheep) as they sing Jimbo's name getting higher and higher until SMASH, the glass in the control tower is broken as the Chief controller (whose ginger hair and moustache is unforgettable) screams his name!

The Little Big Problem - The first episode sees Jimbo being made. Originally intended to be a Jumbo Jet, the engineer explains how the problem occurred:
"Easy, I mistook inches for centimetres and centimetres for inches - I blame the government!"
The chief controller is not happy as he exclaims "I ordered a Jumbo, not a Jimbo!" So he buys Jimbo for half the price. We see Jimbo taking his first steps (he runs before takeoff) as he takes off on the motorway to get back to the London airport. We meet Tommy Tow Truck and Amanda Baggage. The chief controller comes to terms with Jimbo , announcing that he will find very special jobs for Jimbo to do. And thus the scene is set for the rest of the episodes!

The Bermuda Triangle - Jimbo's task is to escort a Wellington bomber to an old timers reunion in Miami. Along the way they get sucked into the Bermuda triangle!

Jimbo and the Whale - Jimbo is visited by a doctor as he has wheezy engines. Despite medical advice he goes on his flight to North America via the north pole where he has to stop due to breathing difficulties. Unable to takeoff, Jimbo is helped by a whale.

Jungle Jimbo - Jimbo goes to Africa, and while he is there a fire occurs. With the help of a computer and some elephants, Jimbo puts the fire out.

Jimbo and the astronaut - On his way back to the London airport Jimbo finds he is higher than he should be, and he bumps into an astronaut who has lost his space shuttle. Jimbo helps him return to earth to hear the familiar sound of the chief controller shouting "Jimbo, where the blazes have you been?!"

Quiet please - The chief controller has been having complains about the noise from an old woman. As a result Jimbo is muffled (he does look funny), but the noise continues and it turns out it wasn't Jimbo after all!

The Chief gets a rocket - Jimbo goes on a secret mission, and the control tower gets sent into space.

The Controller's Apprentice - The chief has a nephew who is a trainee controller. Jimbo gets into trouble as he is given the wrong instructions.

Jingle bells Jimbo - Jimbo goes on a secret mission to help father Christmas whose sleigh has been stolen. He drops the fleet of reindeer off across the world to deliver the presents. There is a special Christmas theme tune at the end of the episode.

The Penn and Inca Story - Jimbo takes a professor on a trip to find the lost Inca treasure.

The Great Air Race - It's a busy day on the airfield for the great air race. Jimbo can't take part as he's not experiences enough, but when problems strike Jimbo comes to the rescue, and receives a special prize.

The Little Red Devil - The red devils formation team come to the airfield, and Jimbo fulfils his dream of flying with them, but it all goes wrong!

Chinese Panda-Monium - A special visitor wants to be flown to China to find a panda. Jimbo is quite unconvincingly disguised as a panda…but it isn't a panda they bring back to London!

The Computer Clanger - A replica of Jimbo is to be created, with measurements done on the computer to avoid mistakes! However the replica is huge as "every yard was followed to the inch". The concluding message is that they'll never make another Jimbo, followed by the trademark "Chortle" of the Jimbo episodes!

Jimbo is a bit dated, and the animation a bit sketchy. However, my 3 year old nephews seem to like it! And it brings back some memories :o)
 

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