zsofikam Review of In the Night Garden...

In the Night Garden... (2007–2009)

This Is The Way To The Garden In The Night

[10/10 · 13 January 2019]

While it's somewhat easy to draw comparisons with Teletubbies, In The Night Garden is in a class of its own, a far better one in fact. The idea behind this show is to bridge the gap between running around and bedtime, which I think it does quite admirably. Episode begin with a scene of a young child being lulled to sleep which then shifts to series protagonist Iggle Piggle sailing his little boat to the Night Garden, a magical realm of fun and wonder. Besides Iggle Piggle, there's also Upsy-Daisy, Makka Pakka, the Tombliboos, the pint-sized Pontipines, and the big billowing Hahoos. There's also an assortment of activities that our cast gets into such as playing with the Ball or riding around on the Ninky-Nonk (a train) or Pinky-Ponk (a zeppelin). Makka Pakka also always finds a way to wash various things like the Ninky-Nonk, Pinky-Ponk, Ball, or his little bike and Upsy-Daisy will try to kiss everything and everyone. The overall atmosphere is just so restful and relaxing to the point where it sometimes makes this 22-year-old reviewer sleepy. Unlike the admittedly uncanny-looking characters in the oft-compared Teletubbies, this bunch actually looks soft and lovable, especially Iggle Piggle with his equally comfy-looking blanket and the pillowlike Hahoos. The narrator also provides a soothing, almost grandfatherly, presence. I wonder where this is filmed, it's beautiful.