Tinga Tinga Tales

Tinga Tinga Tales is a British flash animated children's television series based on African folk tales and aimed at 4 to 6-year-olds. It was commissioned by the BBC for its CBeebies channel, and by Disney Channel for its Disney Junior block. Named after Tingatinga art from Tanzania, Tinga Tinga Tales was produced in Nairobi, Kenya, by Homeboyz Animation, a studio of approximately 50 people. The music is produced by Kenyan singer-songwriter Eric Wainaina. The series comprises 55 episodes and is also available on BBC iPlayer.

The series was first conceived by Claudia Lloyd, head of animation at the London-based Tiger Aspect Productions, while travelling through Africa. The first three episodes premiered on the BBC website in early February 2010. The distribution rights have been bought by Entertainment Rights (which in 2009 merged with Classic Media, then in 2012 it was acquired by DreamWorks Animation and renamed into DreamWorks Classics, and ultimately became the property of Universal Television in 2016).

Main characters

 * Red Monkey (voiced by Eugene Muchiri (UK)/Geoffrey Curtin (US)): Red Monkey is the narrator of all of the episodes.
 * Elephant (voiced by Lenny Henry): Elephant has a trunk that cleans his friends.
 * Lion (voiced by Patrice Naiambana): Lion is the king of Tinga Tinga.
 * Tortoise (voiced by Shaun Parkes): Tortoise is the genius.
 * Hippo (voiced by Johnnie Fiori): Hippo lives in a water hole.
 * Tickbird (voiced by Tameka Empson (UK)/Elizabeth Curtin (US)): Tickbird is the smallest main character.
 * Orange Monkey (voiced by Ben Spybey)
 * Yellow Monkey (voiced by Faraaz Meghani)

African characters

 * Buffalo (voiced by Lenny Henry)
 * Bat (voiced by Prince Abura (UK)/Jules de Jongh (US))
 * Frog (voiced by Wakanyote Njuguna)
 * Warthog (voiced by Kennie Andrews)
 * Porcupine (voiced by Catherine Wambua)
 * Crocodile (voiced by Edward Kwach)
 * Chameleon (voiced by Patrick Kayeki (UK)/Kerry Shale (US))
 * Hare (voiced by Felix Dexter (UK)/John Guerrasio (US))
 * Vulture (voiced by Felix Dexter (UK)/Lorelei King (US))
 * Giraffe (voiced by Miriam Margolyes)
 * Lizard (voiced by Junior Simpson)
 * Eagle (voiced by Ninia Benjamin)
 * Mosquito (voiced by Ninia Benjamin)
 * Bushbaby (voiced by Bhumi Patel)
 * Cheetah (voiced by Angelina Koinange (UK)/Sophie Okonedo (US))
 * Cubs (voiced by Tracy Rabar, Mikayla Odera, Cullie Ruto)
 * Snake (voiced by Johnny Daukes (UK)/Dan Russell (US))
 * Aardvark (voiced by Johnny Daukes)
 * Puffadder (voiced by Johnny Daukes)
 * Jackal (voiced by Terence Reis)
 * Rhino (voiced by Terence Reis)
 * Ants (voiced by Terence Reis)
 * Chief Ant (voiced by Peter King)
 * Lieutenant Ant (voiced by Eric Wainaina)
 * Wildebeests (voiced by Terence Reis)
 * Zebra (voiced by Eddie Kadi (UK)/Dan Russell (US))
 * Parrot (voiced by Eddie Kadi)
 * Flamingo (voiced by Flaminia Cinque)
 * Ostrich (voiced by Janet Suzman)
 * Camel (voiced by Paul Shearer (Season 1)/Jim Cummings (Season 2))
 * Dragonfly (voiced by Corine Onyango)
 * Leopard (voiced by Dona Croll)
 * Hyena (voiced by Stephen K Amos)
 * Millipede/Pediless (voiced by Stephen K Amos)
 * Baboon (voiced by Anton Rice)
 * Guinea Fowl (voiced by Rosemary Leach)
 * Meerkat (voiced by Morwenna Banks)
 * Impala (voiced by Claudia Lloyd)
 * Bees (voiced by Claudia Lloyd)
 * Queen Bee (voiced by Penelope Keith)
 * Cricket (voiced by Derek Griffiths)
 * Tinga Tinga Birds (voiced by Atemi Oyungu, Muthoni Mburu)

North American characters

 * Skunk (voiced by Derek Griffiths)
 * Caterpillar/Butterfly (voiced by Akiya Henry)
 * Squirrel (voiced by Miriam Margolyes)
 * Woodpecker (voiced by Akiya Henry)
 * Owl (voiced by Meera Syal)
 * Flea (voiced by Akiya Henry)
 * Crow (voiced by Achieng Abura)
 * Hen (voiced by Lindiwe Brown Mkhize)
 * Spider (voiced by Jocelyn Jee Esien)
 * Hummingbird (voiced by Maureen Lipman)
 * Mole (voiced by Sophie Thompson)

Asian characters

 * Peacock (voiced by Cyril Nri)

Ocean characters

 * Whale (voiced by Ruth Madoc)
 * Crab (voiced by Terence Reis)
 * Fish (voiced by Claudia Lloyd)

Mysterious characters

 * Majitu the Giant (voiced by Colin McFarlane)
 * The Sleeping Stones (voiced by Nonso Anozie)
 * The Wind (voiced by Terence Reis)