The Complete Bod Featuring Alberto Frog (DVD 2004)

The staple of many a p*ssed-pub-kid's-TV-conversation, and via this release now enjoying something of a resurgence. It initially followed the eponymous bald kid walking around an entirely blank environment and encountering the same characters over and over again - Aunt Flo, PC Copper ("Po-po-po-pom pom pom!"), Frank the postman ("Do-do-do-do-dooo!")and Farmer Barleymow. Minimalist philosophising ensued. Each character entered to their own Derek Griffiths-penned theme. Sometimes these characters would just stop and stare at the viewers from the screen which was bizarre.

A couple of years later, creator Michael Cole added another dimension, the one that everyone recalls - Alberto Frog and His Amazing Animal Band. Each week, the band would land up somewhere and utilize their musical skills to do some favour or other. Alberto himself was cheap - when asked what whoever-it-was could do to repay him he invariably chose a milkshake. Only the flavour varied, and then not by much. The rest of the band seemed nonplussed at getting nothing for doing the real work.

Due to rights issues which are far too complex for us, Alberto wasn't on the first VHS issue, hence this is why he's on the end of the DVD and not within each episode. After him there was a game of "interactive" snap with Bod-themed cards, then Bod marched off into the distance to a classic Griffiths piece of polyrhythmic swing ("There goes Bod...but he'll be back!"). Great stuff for Big Kids and even their kids might enjoy it's fun simplicity.

The Complete BOD,
If you remember it fondly you will love it... now brainwashing my baby daughter with Bod's advenures and she loes it. John le Mesurier's narration is sublime... good, old-fashioned kids' TV... just how it should be!

I loved Bod when I was a kid and when I found the DVD set I though it'll be a great DVD for my little boy. I do try and limit TV/DVD watching time but this DVD is great as I can let him watch a couple of stories a day. He loves the sounds and in general we both really enjoy watching it together.
It does bring a little bit of my childhood back -even though there was no dvd or video in my time-.

If you want a nostalgic present for any kid - Bod's the way to go!

Bought this for nostalgic reasons - my son and daughter loved it when young. It's just as I remembered it, with the stories, game of snap, and the choosing of the flavoured milkshake by Alberto Frog. I was disappointed they had split the main part of each episode from the feature about Alberto and the band, which is now a separate feature at the end. I would have preferred to have each episode in its entirity.

Reminds me of my childhood, and now I can share it with my child. I love it. The characters are simple but that makes it easy for children to understand. Its also a good way of getting children to listen to classical music.

I bought this in a fit of nostalgia, and also for my grandson.

The picture quality and animation are obviously dated, but as kids' TV goes, it doesn't get any better!

I watched Bod back in my childhood and remembered it fondly.
Fast forward thirty years and the novelty has worn off as one
might expect, although playing this DVD for the first time in three
decades, the Bod theme tune did amuse me after all these years.
The children should love it, even though it is very dated in
comparison to present children's programmes and if you can get a
copy at a bargin price like I did, even better.

A true 70s classic. The sheer low-tech style of it brings a smil every time I play it. Alberto the frog is still great even after all these years!