The Chronicles of Narnia (TV series)

The Chronicles of Narnia
Title screen
Genre	Fantasy
Created by	C. S. Lewis (novel)
Country of origin	United Kingdom
No. of series	3
No. of episodes	18
Production
Running time	25–30 min per each episode 505 min total for series (estimate)
Original release
Network	BBC
Release	13 November 1988 (1988-11-13) – 23 December 1990 (1990-12-23)

The Chronicles of Narnia is a British BBC-produced television series that was aired from 13 November 1988 to 23 December 1990 and is based on four books of C. S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia series. The first series aired was The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe in 1988, the second series aired was Prince Caspian and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader in 1989 and the third series aired was The Silver Chair in 1990. This television series was produced by Paul Stone, with the teleplay by Alan Seymour. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe was directed by Marilyn Fox, while Prince Caspian, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader and The Silver Chair were directed by Alex Kirby.

Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy Pevensie are siblings who are evacuated from London because of the air raids in World War II. Soon after arriving at their temporary home, the four children discover that a wardrobe in a spare room contains a portal to the magical land of Narnia. There, they become involved in a war against the White Witch, and help restore the true ruler, a lion called Aslan, serving as kings and queens under him for many years before returning to their own world through the wardrobe.

The four Pevensie children are waiting at a train station when a magical force pulls them back into Narnia, where they help Prince Caspian overthrow his evil uncle, King Miraz, and take the throne.

Back in England, Edmund and Lucy visit their cousin Eustace Scrubb. All three are sucked into a painting of Prince Caspian's ship, the Dawn Treader. Caspian, who has grown into a young man since they last saw him, explains that he is on a quest to find seven lords who were friends of his late father. The quest requires them to sail through dangerous waters, encountering new islands where things are not what they seem, and finally to sail to the end of the world.

Eustace Scrubb, cousin of the Pevensies, is at a boarding school with a girl named Jill Pole. While running away from bullies, they pass through a doorway into Aslan's country. Eustace accidentally falls off a cliff, but is blown to Narnia. Alone, Jill encounters Aslan, who explains that in Narnia, King Caspian's only son and heir, Prince Rilian, disappeared some years earlier. Jill is told to memorise four signs that will lead her and Eustace to Rilian. Aslan sends Jill to Narnia, where she is reunited with Eustace near the castle of Cair Paravel and the two follow the four signs as they search for the lost prince. They finally rescue Rilian and return to Narnia with him shortly before the elderly Caspian dies.

The series were nominated for a total of 16 awards, including a nomination for an Emmy in the category of "Outstanding Children's Program".^[1] The series won the BAFTA Award for "Best Video Lighting" (1988^[2]), and was nominated for "Best Children's Programme (Entertainment / Drama)" (1988,^[3] 1989,^[4] 1990^[5]), "Best Video Lighting" (1989,^[6] 1990^[7]), "Best Make Up" (1988,^[8] 1989,^[9] 1990^[10]), "Best Costume Design" (1988,^[11] 1989^[12]), "Best Design" (1989,^[13] 1990^[14]), and "Best Video Cameraman" (1989,^[15] 1990^[16]).

The series has been released in various formats:

• VHS
  • 1990 Box set ASIN B000M7MPEK
• DVD
  • 2002 Box set EAN 037429171127
  • 2005 Box set Complete collectors edition (Cat. No. BBCDVD1889) EAN 5014503188924
  • 2015 Box set BBC – The Chronicles of Narnia UPC 883929118120

In Australia the first DVD release was 1 October 2005^[17] as the 'Collector's Edition' Box Set which was a fold out package with 4 discs. Features Behind the scenes, Narnia trivia and more. There have been several later issues.

• Outline of Narnia

• The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe at IMDb
• Prince Caspian/The Voyage of the Dawn Treader at IMDb
• The Silver Chair at IMDb
• The Chronicles of Narnia at ClassicKidsTV.co.uk
• The Chronicles of Narnia at the BFI's Screenonline