As If By Magic, Mr Benn Appeared

One of the most fondly remember children’s cartoon series, Mr Benn by writer and illustrator David McKee, turned 50 in 2021 and a special DVD was released containing all episodes including the new 2004 film, as well as wonderful extras such as interviews with McKee, narrator Ray Brooks and music composer Duncan Lamont.

McKee wrote the first Mr Benn book – Mr Benn Red Knight in 1967, with 3 more books following soon after. Mr Benn was an ordinary sort of chap who discovered a local fancy dress shop run by an eccentric little man.

Mr Benn would try on a different costume each time in the changing room, and then be transported to another time period for an adventure, before returning safely of course.

Mirror, Mirror

McKee had a fascination with mirrors from a young age when he went to the barbers to have a hair cut. The mirror in the changing room of the fancy dress shop played a central role in the films, as did the adjacent magic doorway of course.

The BBC had used some of McKee’s other children’s books on various programmes, and approached him about developing a more substantial project for their new Watch With Mother series.

The result was a commission to make some 13 animated films starring Mr Benn. Interestingly, one original book was never made into a film. 123456789 Prisoner was not considered suitable for showing to young children.

Simple Storytelling

Each film was written and drawn by McKee. Traditional frame by frame animation was rarely used, instead the scenes would be drawn on large sheets of paper up to 2ft across and the camera would pan and zoom onto parts of it.

This was to aid simple story telling better suited for the young audience without having to be distracted by the fancy animation style. Some rudimentary animation was used on occasions such as Mr Benn walking down the street or picking up his trademark Bowler hat.

William Benn?

The Mr Benn character was deliberately created as very neutral and passive so anybody could associate with him. He didn’t give too much away about his personal life. We never knew his first name although McKee has said that it would probably be William.

McKee didn’t want the end of each episode to be a dream as a way of explaining the adventure that Mr Benn has just experienced, as he considered a bit of a cheat. That is why Mr Benn always gets to keep a memento from the adventure such as a photo or piece of Moon rock, and we see Mr Been examine it as he returns home.

Festive Road

David McKee lived at 54 Festing Road in Putney in South West London just a stones throw from the river. Mr Benn was placed next door and the road name changed to some more jolly that didn’t sound like festering! Some of McKee’s neighbours at the time appeared as characters Mr Benn passes in the street on his way to the fancy dress shop.

The first drawing in the first book actually shows his family at 54 with McKee peeping out of the top room. The park at the end of the road was often frequented by Mr Benn. Leader Gardens, bedside the river, now has a pathway named “Festive Walk” in his honour.

New Episode

in 2004 Nickleodeon commissioned a new episode – the first for 35 years, based on a new book recently written, The Gladiator. It was to be animated in the same style and Ray Brooks would once again narrate.

Ray Brooks

The actor had just appeared in film The Knack, and with a newborn daughter money was tight. It was quite fortuitous that McKee selected him to narrate. Brooks state that the payments from the narration paid the rent for the next 1 and half years!

Music

The composer Duncan Lamont was a friend of David, both having sons at the same school. Lamont came up with the title music in record time and couldn’t believe it was that easy. He was happy with it but was afraid nobody else would be. McKee loved the score though.