Video Tape (TV series)

Video Tape is a Kuboian computer animated television series produced by Red Grape Studios and ComputerKit Animation. The show premiered on Tiny Vision in 1997 and ran for two series. It was one of the first computer animated television series to be produced in Kuboia.

Premise and structure
Video Tape is set in a vibrant fantasy world which supposedly takes place inside a VHS cassette tape.

Every episodes begins in a red void where nothing aside from a television set with a built-in video player can be seen. A cassette tape is suddenly inserted into the player, and the camera zooms into the television screen to showcase what is playing. The show then continues on with the episode's storyline.

Most episodes of Video Tape actually consist of multiple different segments which have some small connection which is not always made instantly obvious. Plotlines are revolve around very basic premises, and recurring characters are frequently cast into different roles for story purposes (though both character roles and episode plots are more consistent in series two). However, every episode contains at least one scene of a marble called Ruby rolling around the fantasy world, typically with a task on hand, such as getting to a certain location within a certain time.

Narration during the opening and closing sequence is provided by Wilhelmina Watson.

Characters
Video Tape features a large cast of characters who all inhabit the fantasy world inside the titular cassette tape.

Ruby is a red marble, and allegedly the most agile and enduring of all the characters. She often spends time travelling around the world and timing how fast she can reach places on time, though she also likes to stop and spend time with the others due to getting lonely. Ruby cannot talk though her thoughts are audible to the viewer. She appears to get lonely and wants to get to know other people better, yet cannot properly communicate with them.

Production
Video Tape began production around early 1996 as an original idea pitched by Claudia Winkel. Winkel suggested that the show could use computer imagery to showcase the potential of 3D graphics.

When coming up with ideas for the show's premise, Winkel suggested a loose format so the show could reflect a child's imagination, as such some characters are cast in both friendly and antagonistic roles. She was suggested by Ruth Tucker not to make the show "too random" so children could be familiar with certain characters.

Out of all the show's characters, Ruby, a living red marble is the only one to appear in every episode, and also gets the most screentime. Ruby was chosen to be the central character as Winkel thought a marble rolling around would be a good excuse to showcase the 3D visuals, and that Ruby would also be easy to animate due to her simplistic design. There was some conflict over whether to refer to Ruby with male or female pronouns, as Winkel noted that a lot of protagonists of Kuboian cartoons were young girls. In the end, Winkel decided to make her a female. In spite of this, some of the first few episodes incorrectly refer to Ruby with male pronouns.

At one point, it was rumoured that Video Tape was animated using development software for the Nintendo 64, although Winkel ended up debunking this in a 2022 interview.

International broadcast
Video Tape saw its international debut in the United Kingdom on CBBC, airing almost two months before its Kuboian premiere. The show later moved to CBeebies in 2002 and aired on the channel until June 2004.

Spin-off series
A follow-up to Video Tape titled Marblympics was later produced by Red Grape Studios. The series focuses on Ruby and a group of other marbles competing in races and other events. Other characters from Video Tape make cameo appearances in several episodes.

The show also aired in Canada on Treehouse TV from 1999 to 2001.