The Three Friends and Jerry explained

Runtime:22–25 minutes
Creator:Magnus Carlsson
Composer:Danny Chang
Channel:
  • SVT (Sweden)
  • Fox Kids (Germany)
  • Nickelodeon (United Kingdom)
Company:
Num Seasons:3
Num Episodes:39 (91 segments)[1]

The Three Friends and Jerry (Swedish: De tre vännerna och Jerry) is a children's animated television series produced by Happy Life and TMO Film GmbH (Germany) in association with Nickelodeon UK and Nickelodeon Germany. The show was created by the Swedish illustrator Magnus Carlsson.[2]

HIT Entertainment distributes the series internationally[3] and is listed in the end credits. When HIT Entertainment partnered to launch PBS Kids Sprout in 2005, The Three Friends and Jerry was made available on Sprout on Demand.[4]

Plot

Jerry is the new kid in town who does not fit with any of his classmates. This show follows his best attempts to join the 'Three Friends' - Thomas, Eric, and their leader Frank - who do not want him to be part of their group but still let him hang out with them as long as he helps them with their schemes or problems. The friends are often joined by three of their girl classmates: Linda, Mimmi, and Tess and try (and usually fail) to win them over. Usually their antics often result in humiliating situations. Apart from school, the group have to contend with parents, bullies and their own conflicts.

The show takes place in the town of Carlsonville (most likely named after Magnus himself), which is set either in Sweden, Germany or the UK.

Characters

Main

Minor

Production

The Three Friends and Jerry was produced by Happy Life (Sweden) and TMO Film GmbH (Germany) in association with Nickelodeon UK and Nickelodeon Germany.[5] Internationally, the series was distributed by HIT Entertainment.[3]

In an interview from late 2020, Magnus Carlsson revealed many things about the development of the series.[6] Carlsson first drew the characters around 1993 or 1994, and he later made an animated short starring the characters getting into trouble with drinking. When it was not picked up, he decided to retool the show to be more family-friendly, with him basing the main characters on actual friends he knew growing up (with Thomas being based on himself). When asked about questionable content in the show, Carlsson said that it was never a big deal or problem in Sweden.

The main characters' long foreheads were inspired by the film “Coneheads”.

He also initially wanted the theme song to be a reggae song but it was changed to a more Polka sounding melody.

Telecast and home media

In Sweden, the series first aired on SVT for its original run. It later aired reruns on SVT Barn throughout the 2000s and early 2010s.

The show was originally aired in the United Kingdom on Nickelodeon and Nicktoons, with reruns remaining until 2010, mainly to fulfill European content guidelines.

In Germany, the show was planned to air on Nickelodeon Germany, and Nickelodeon Germany is listed in the first few episodes' credits. However, the original incarnation of Nick Germany shut down in mid-1998. As a result, the show would instead air on Fox Kids[7] (later Jetix and Disney XD) from 2001 until 2009. The show also aired on KIKA until the late 2000s, and ProSieben MAXX from 2013 until 2014.[8]

In the U.S., the show initially aired from 1998 until 2000 on the Fox Family Channel.[9] In 2005, the show's distributor, HIT Entertainment, partnered to launch the PBS Kids Sprout channel. The show aired on Sprout[4] until late 2006.

In Canada, the show aired on YTV from 1999 until 2001,[10] and in Australia, it aired on Nickelodeon.[11] It also aired on NCRV in the Netherlands,[12] Nickelodeon in Latin America, Boing in Spain, 2x2 in Russia, Premiere Austria in Austria,[13] and Arutz HaYeladim in Israel.

The series mostly aired on Fox Kids/Jetix and Nickelodeon channels worldwide.

In the late 1990s-2000s, the show was released on VHS (in Sweden only) and DVDs internationally, but never released in North America. Most notably in Australia by Magna Home Entertainment, who released various episodes through 7 volumes.

Segments

Segment TitleSummary
1Kissing LindaWhen Linda's parents are away for a weekend, Linda must stay at Frank's and Frank tries to kiss her.
2Bank RobberyThe Three Friends and Jerry are framed by the police to be the children gang, after the real gang robbed the bank.
3Ant HillAfter having the accident at the ant hill, Frank seeks revenge on the ants and seeks Thomas and Eric's help in destroying the ants.
4UFO-SpottingFrank is abducted by the aliens and controlled. Thomas, Eric and Jerry must save Frank before it's too late.
5Brake SlammingFrank is happy with his new bike, which has pedal brakes.
6The CircusWhile on a trip around the circus, Jerry accidentally brakes free two ostriches. Can he and the Three Friends bring the ostriches back to the circus before the performance starts?
7Work ExperienceThe Three Friends get lost inside the forest.
8Barking Up The Wrong TreeThe Three Friends and Jerry become stars of TV.
9The Beauty ContestLinda and her mother watch a film of the beauty contest in which Linda loses.
10Stars in Your EyesThe Three Friends and Jerry pretend to be a scary rock band called Dog Sun for the music contest, but they're unaware this is with a nice music.
11FashionThe Three Friends and Jerry try to be cool.
12The Snowball FightAfter The Three Friends and Jerry accidentally crashed Oscar's house, Jerry must bring Oscar to his house, while The Three Friends must rebuild the house. Can Jerry hide Oscar from his parents?
13Ice HockeyThe Three Friends and Jerry and the girls are having an ice hockey match. Who will win?
14My Friend is An AntJerry tries to save his little ant from the clutches of Arthur in the museum of the Earth's history.
15Neat and TidyFrank's mother orders Frank to be neat and tidy for the rest of the day and he will earn ten dollars. Can he be neat and tidy for the rest of the day?
16Tony's PartyThe Three Friends and Jerry disguise themselves as teens in order to get into Tony's party.
17The Fishing TripThe Three Friends and Jerry and the girls go on a fishing trip.
18Carol SingingThe Three Friends and Jerry sing songs for Christmas.
19South SeaFrank has a terrible dream of himself with Thomas, Eric, and Jerry at a tropical island which turns out to be surrounded by natives who are cannibalistic.
20The Club HouseJerry must take three tests to become a teammate of The Three Friends.
21The Forging MachineJerry creates a machine what will create money.
22CowboysWhile The Three Friends and the girls are out horseriding, Jerry accidentally breaks the teacher's cup.
23The DeliveryJerry becomes a delivery boy.
24Old People's PartyThe class of the Three Friends and Jerry makes a party for the elder people.
25Scientists 'R' UsThe Three Friends seek Jerry's help to win the radio quiz "Scientists 'R' Us".
26CampingThe Three Friends and Jerry are go camping at Thomas' garden.
27BoomerangFrank tries to learn how to toss a boomerang.
28Frightening Fifth FormFrank is frightened of the blood handed teen.
29Jerry's Lucky DayJerry is having a lucky day.
30Catch the GirlThe Three Friends and Jerry are worried about a prisoner named Jimmy.
31The Flea MarketJerry sells his aunt's vase to an old lady.
32Head LiceJerry puts little ants on his and The Three Friends' heads to pretend they have head lice.
33SupermartWhile out shopping with their parents, The Three Friends and Jerry have a ski race in the supermarket's chill room.
34Country CousinFrank's cousin comes to town.
35Secret MissionFrank, Eric and Jerry try to follow Thomas to discover his secret.
36HackersJerry hacks a plane computer and ends up having Ahmet Ben Party and his family and friends at the wrong stop.
37The Moose HuntA moose arrives at Frank's house.
38Cheat and CurseAn evil fairy puts the curse on The Three Friends and Jerry.
39The Rodent ExhibitionThe Three Friends and Jerry take Jerry's father's African instruments for the school performance.
40MuseumThe 3 Friends and Jerry go on a field trip to the museum in the big city.
41Martial ArtsFrank takes martial art classes to help him face up against a bully.
42Costume PartyThe 3 Friends and Jerry try to enter a costume party but end up mixing Jerry up with a real gorilla.
43Christmas PartyThe 3 Friends and Jerry must set up a Christmas party.
44BabysittingThe 3 Friends and Jerry challenge Linda that they can babysit better than her.
45Romeo & JulietFrank becomes love-sick trying to practice for the school play.
46CaretakerThe Three Friends and Jerry along with the girls investigate a mysterious man.
47TV GossipJerry's dad gets framed on live television.
48TripletsA group of Triplets arrive in town from New-Zealand who quickly befriend The Three Friends.
49Girls ClothesToday is Eric’s birthday. When he, Frank, Jerry & Thomas go out for a swim in a pond, a goat appears who eats all of their clothes. With Jerry tasked to find something for them and himself to wear, they come across bags containing girly clothing, while they don’t know they belong to Linda, Mimmi & Tess who also took photos of them naked.
50Moose GangJerry joins the infamous Moose Gang and quickly becomes popular with the girls.
51Survival CampThe kids of the neighborhood are forced to attend survival camp out of fear of becoming criminals.
52Visitors From Outer SpaceFrank, Thomas, Eric and Jerry attempt to convince people that aliens are real.
53Stray DogJerry finds a dog and adopts it, little does he know what it actually is.
54The SubstituteEric falls in love with the new substitute teacher.
55Green ThumbsJerry tricks the three friends into thinking plants are evil.
56The Lost ArkThe Three Friends and Jerry try to go to space using Bertwhistle's rocket.
57Jazz ProdigyFrank is allergic to flowers, however they end up giving him an amazing singing voice.
58Pen PalFrank and the gang catfish people via mail.
59Family MattersJerry finds out he's related to royalty.
60Wooing for BeginnersJerry attempts to give Frank dating advice to win the heart of Linda via a book called "Wooing for Beginners".
61GlassesFrank is forced to wear glasses for a couple of days and is made fun of by his friends.
62Genie in the GlassFrank, Linda, and the rest of the gang try to use a Ouija board.
63Forbidden FruitFrank becomes catatonic after seeing Monica naked.
64Traffic SenseJerry challenges the neighborhood kids to say everything opposite to what they mean.
65Miss JerryThe Three Friends blackmail Jerry into entering a beauty contest disguised as a girl.
66Junior ShowDick Priest hires Jerry for a new radio show and he starts to mess with people as a result.
67Super ModelFrank and Linda become super models, however Jerry ends up messing with Frank.
68Our Son Is An OstrichThomas gets mixed up with an ostrich.
69Age LimitFrank, Thomas, Eric and Jerry use a machine that makes them older.
70Garden PartyThe Three Friends and Jerry try to find Roy Johnson's statues.
71SnowmanFrank, Thomas, Eric and Jerry pretend to be the abominable snowman.
72SewergatorsJerry pretends to flush Mimmi's fish down the toilet.
73The MoveJerry and his family move to another town, meanwhile Frank and his friends try to get into Mimmi's house.
74Dance ManiaThomas gets invited to Roy Johnson's dance party.
75Archaeological DigRoy Johnson tries to take down a historical area in favor of a candy theme park.
76Jacket IIIJerry pranks the three friends and the girls into thinking a horror movie monster named "The Jacket" is real.
77Veteran RockThe Three Friends and Jerry try to start a band but Frank, Thomas and Eric's dads and Linda's mom end up embarrassing them.
78Spring FeelingsFrank becomes love-sick with Mimmi due to a mix-up.
79CockatooFrank gets a pet bird.
80Judgement DayJerry thinks that judgement day is upon him and the three friends.
81Curing PhobiasJerry tries to cure Frank and Eric's phobias.
82SleepwalkerFrank starts to sleep walk.
83School PaperFrank must work in the school paper to improve his grades.
84Record CakeRoy Johnson makes a record cake for a celebrity to ride on.
85Miracle CreamFrank and Jerry help a fashion model out on his promotion of his beauty cream.
86Swimming TeacherThe Three Friends and Jerry fall in love with a new swimming teacher.
87Magic TricksJerry makes everyone believe he has magical powers.
88Frog CollectionJerry and Frank start their own frog collections in order to impress Linda and Tony.
89Night OwlAll the kids try to stay up late, with the one who stays up late the most getting to go to the movies with Linda.
90Olympic GamesJerry starts an Olympic challenge for kids and parents, however his dad ends up ruining it.
91Secret BoxFrank gets sporty to impress Linda.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Crump . William D. . Happy Holidays—Animated! A Worldwide Encyclopedia of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year's Cartoons on Television and Film . 2019 . McFarland & Co . 9781476672939 . 312.
  2. Web site: Animerad rättstvist för glatta livet. Realtid. English. Timo Kangas. 8 March 2008. 10 February 2017.
  3. Web site: HIT Entertainment . www.hitentertainment.com . 22 February 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20020815031819/http://www.hitentertainment.com/html/about/anim30Min.asp#friends . 15 August 2002 . dead.
  4. https://www.pbs.org/about/blogs/news/big-bird-barney-and-bob-the-builder-come-together-in-a-whole-new-way-as-pbs-kids-sprout-launches-on-comcast-april-4-2005/ PBS article about Three Friends and Jerry joining Sprout on Demand
  5. Web site: The Three Friends ...And Jerry . 4 April 2011 .
  6. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Web site: Late Night Morning Wood - #03 - Magnus Carlsson (Three Friends and Jerry, Robin, Da Möb) . YouTube.
  7. https://www.fernsehserien.de/drei-freunde-und-jerry/im-tv
  8. Web site: Drei Freunde… und Jerry: Sendetermine ProSieben MAXX.
  9. Web site: Q: Which of These is Out of Place?: 'Mr. Bill,' 'The 700 Club,' 'Pee-Wee's Playhouse' : A: None. .. . . 15 August 1998 .
  10. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Web site: YTV 3 Friends and Jerry Commercial 1999 . YouTube.
  11. Web site: 2001 promo for the Three Friends and Jerry. 2001.
  12. Web site: Kijkwijzer classificatie van 3 vrienden en Jerry - kijkwijzer.nl.
  13. Web site: Drei Freunde… und Jerry: Sendetermine Premiere Austria.