History

The History of KCG

The enormously popular “Kangaroo Creek Gang” (KCG) were created in 1981 through a set of reading books featuring a group of Australian bush animals, rather than the traditional foreign animal characters that had previously dominated the marketplace. Since then over 40 titles have been published with some one million copies sold around Australia.

Later, with the development of a comic strip, the Gang soon became part of the children’s pages in News Limited’s Sunday papers in most states of Australia. Many papers ran their own clubs allowing members to send in letters and jokes as well as enter weekly competitions. Some papers are still running the Kangaroo Creek Gang Club today.

From 1987 - 1993 The Gang were featured in a series of Multi Media Packages distributed to 8000 primary schools throughout Australia. Covering topics such as bicycle safety, self esteem, and the environment, these packages became part of the current curriculum. Teachers today still recognize the educational value of our product and continue to show strong interest in our future product lines.

Australian Airlines and Ansett soon got involved by distributing in-flight children’s activity packages featuring the Kangaroo Creek Gang. Over a span of 6 years, over 30 titles were produces with millions of packages being distributed to young travelers from all parts of the country.

The Gang also appeared in live costume and puppet shows throughout Australia performing primarily in shopping centres. The Kangaroo Creek Gang was soon dubbed “The Kids Conscience of Australia” because of their ability to promote wholesome values and attitudes amongst Australian Children.

In 1998 the “Kangaroo Creek Gang” assumed new management and commenced the development of an animated cartoon series. In a joint venture with Australia’s largest television producer - Southern Star, the characters were redesigned giving them a more contemporary look to appeal to the likes of today’s children.

The cartoon is set in the Australian bush with the native animal characters being a group of friends. Each character has a unique personality very much like that of Australian kids. There is a constant rivalry between the Gang and a group of feral cats who live in the dump nearby which leads to many conflicts. While retaining a real quirky humorous style, the show continues to express and maintain the sound moral and educational values the Kangaroo Creek Gang concept has always stood for.

The series first went to air in April 2002 throughout Australia on the NINE Networks and has since been sold to eight other countries. Production of a second series is now complete and the cartoon can be seen every Saturday morning at 8:30 on Channel 9. It’s a show not to be missed!!