Simon in the Land of Chalk Drawings (1976– ) User Reviews

simple childhood joy

[SnoopyStyle · 8/10 · 23 April 2017]

"Well you know my name is Simon, and the things I draw come true. Oh the pictures take me, take me over, climb the ladder with you." Simon loves to draw on the fence on his way to school and the drawing board in his room. His drawings come alive. He's able to climb over the fence and have adventures in the Land of Chalk Drawings. This was a British series of 5 minute episodes of rudimentary animation. They were also featured in various children's program later in other countries.

It is sweet, simple childhood joy. The little ditty is short, unforgettable fun. The little stories are simple and I really like that Simon has to work to draw his world into existence. There is an innocence in both the concept and the execution.

Completely Charming

[stardwarf · 4 November 2001]

This cartoon was shown on Captain Kangaroo in the late 70's. The theme song "And you know my name is Simon, and the things I draw come true...." has been tucked in my head for the last 20+ years. Simon would climb over the garden wall to reach the land of chalk drawings. There, as is suggested, everything was a chalk drawing. The style was simplistic yet completely charming and almost stylized. I'd love for this to be released for purchase and I'm sure many of my age who grew up on Captain Kangaroo would agree.

Catchiest theme tune ever!

[artilevel · 10/10 · 22 September 2010]

# Well, you know my name is Simon, and the things I draw come true.....la la la.

A great series, brilliantly narrated by Bernard Cribbins, (Grandad Wilf in Doctor Who) with the catchiest theme tune in any kids show ever. The series has apparently been released with a different voice doing the narration in Canada, (why they should want to change it is a mystery to me) and also an 'updated' version with Simon looking more modern and wearing different clothes, (again, why they feel the need to change something so sublime is a mystery) but I haven't seen the updated version yet so won't condemn it. The greatest mystery of all though, is why this wonderful series is still not available on DVD. Surely someone will rectify this at some point? If there is any justice in the world. (One hopes that other great series, like James the Cat, and the wonderful Ludwig cartoon series will also get DVD releases soon!).

There are copies on disc of the first Simon VHS knocking around on the 'net but as they are straight copies from the tape, there is no chapter stops for the individual episodes, and no proper menu at all, so not really a good alternative. Certain old or obscure programmes are filtering through onto DVD so hopefully someone somewhere will see sense at some time and make sure that Simon gets the DVD release he so evidently deserves!

For anyone who hasn't seen it, Simon is a small boy who draws things on a blackboard at home and then when he goes out, he meets one of his chalk-drawn figures come to life, called Henry.

Simon and Henry climb a ladder - or rather Simon does, Henry sort of crawls up and over the wall, as he is, after all, only a chalk drawing figure who at first glance appears to be drawn on the wall outside, but once in chalk drawing land, is real, though still only two dimensional.

Then Simon and Henry have assorted adventures involving drawings that Simon has done previously which have mysteriously come to life in the Land of chalk drawings. Simon is also able to change events in the Land of Chalk by rubbing things out when he is there and/or drawing something new or changing something already drawn.

The 'real life' world that Simon inhabits is shown to be just black and white and shades of grey, but in Chalk Drawing Land, everything is shown in vibrant colours, so that instead of a plain white background, the background becomes either bright pink, or green or blue, etc. Which seems to suggest that the world of Simon's imagination is bright and cheerful instead of the black and white dullness of his day to day existence.

It is a lovely series, kind of 'innocent' and lacking in the brashness and noise and harshness of many kids' TV programmes. It has a charm all of its own and must surely be given a DVD release of all its episodes.

Ah...the classics

[ascheinberg · 3 August 2005]

Simon in the Land of Chalk Drawings was a simple young-child oriented cartoon produced in the 1970s. Although charming in its own right, the show will likely be remembered more for the addictive theme song than anything else. Many remember watching this all the time, however, in reality, each episode was only 5 minutes long, and in the US, at least, only shown as a sketch on the Captain Kangaroo Show. Though most people can't tell you a single thing about content of the 30-someodd episodes, virtually all Gen-X'ers can recite the theme song as if it were grained into their subconscious from birth.

Younger adults will likely remember the "Simon" parody Mike Myers did on Saturday Night Live.