The Three Friends and 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. HIT Entertainment distributes the series internationally 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.

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 located either in Sweden, Germany or the United Kingdom.

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. Internationally, the series was distributed by HIT Entertainment. In an interview from late 2020, Magnus Carlsson revealed many things about the development of the series. 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 (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. In the U.S., the show initially aired from 1998 until 2000 on the Fox Family Channel. In 2005, the show's distributor, HIT Entertainment, partnered to launch the PBS Kids Sprout channel. The show aired on Sprout until late 2006. In Canada, the show aired on YTV from 1999 until 2001, and in Australia, it aired on Nickelodeon. It also aired on NCRV in the Netherlands, Nickelodeon in Latin America, Boing in Spain, 2x2 in Russia, Premiere Austria in Austria, 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