Uncle Traveling Matt: The Many Faces Of Fraggle Rock

January 14, 2007

The Many Faces Of Fraggle Rock

After weeks of waiting I have finally received my copy of the US Season 1 of Fraggle Rock —the package was delayed due to Christmas. After watching this, I was a little curious about the other international versions of the show and did a little digging. Below is info on the four main version of the show that had different "outer space" segments and thanks to my new favourite website, YouTube, links to the openning credits for all four! There were many other international versions of Fraggle Rock, but they were just dubbed versions of the US program.

Fraggle Rock – United States
(also Australia & New Zealand)

The series was produced with the intention of being aired in varied forms internationally. The human "wraparound" segments were shot separately for each nation, so that the child viewer could always relate to the world of the program. However, in the Norwegian, Dutch and Australian shows, the American human surroundings were used. The series has appeared now in over ten countries and languages.

YouTube: US Opening Credits

Fraggle Rock – England

Fraggle Rock was located on a rock headland or island on a sea coast. There is a lighthouse on the island, the actual location is St Anthony's lighthouse located near Falmouth in Cornwall. The lighthouse was the home of The Captain, a retired sailor and the UK version of the Doc character, played by Fulton MacKay. Sprocket was still his companion, however.

Due to MacKay's death in 1987, The Captain was replaced in the fourth UK season by a younger character known as P.K. (Principal Keeper, the Captain's nephew), played by John Gordon Sinclair and again in the sixth UK season by another character, B.J., played by Simon O'Brien.

The episode order and Captain story-lines were different than the original North American version. One particular difference is that the Captain is a little more harsh towards Sprocket than Doc is.

The UK co-production was the only one to take the series through to the end. France and Germany ended before episode 96.

YouTube: UK Opening Credits

Fraggle Rock – France

The wraparound segments take place in a former bakery with a chef played by Michel Robin and his dog Croquette (the French name for Sprocket).

The episode order was different from the North American version. Unlike the North American and UK productions, the French series ended before co-producing all 96 episodes.

YouTube: French Opening Credits

Die Fraggles – Germany

Die Fraggles is the German co-production of Fraggle Rock. The segments within the Muppet world of Fraggle Rock were the same as the North American version, but dubbed with German voice actors. The segments from outer space (i.e. the Doc and Sprocket and Traveling Matt segments) were changed to fit the German audience.

The German wraparounds copied the North American Doc's set and script word-for-word (except in German) whereas the UK and French co-productions were completely different. Unlike UK production, the German (and French) series ended before co-producing all 96 episodes from the North America.

YouTube: German Opening Credits