Series synopsis
Tales from the Neverending Story is a Canadian sci-fi & fantasy drama kids television series that premiered on HBO on October 14, 2001. It ended on January 6, 2002. It was created by Leila Basen, Michael Springat, David Preston. It stars Mark Rendall, Johnny Griffin, Brittany Drisdelle and Valérie Chiniara.
Twelve-year-old Bastian Balthazar Bux had lost the wonderful imagination he had as a child somewhere between growing older, watching TV, going to school and playing with his Gameboy. But when his mother dies suddenly, Bastian's limitless imagination is reborn. Bastian comes across a magical book, 'The Neverending Story,' in a curious little bookstore. Inspired by the book, Bastian creates an enchanted world called Fantasia, inhabited by dragons, dark knights and assorted heroes and villains.
Premise
Twelve-year-old Bastian Balthazar Bux had lost the wonderful imagination he had as a child somewhere between growing older, watching TV, going to school and playing with his Gameboy. But when his mother dies suddenly, Bastian's limitless imagination is reborn. Bastian comes across a magical book, 'The Neverending Story,' in a curious little bookstore. Inspired by the book, Bastian creates an enchanted world called Fantasia, inhabited by dragons, dark knights and assorted heroes and villains.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Mark Rendall as Bastian Balthazar Bux
- Johnny Griffin as Connor
- Brittany Drisdelle as Fallon
- Valérie Chiniara as Marley
- Stefano Faustini as Lucas
- Tyler Hynes as Atreyu
- Victoria Sanchez as Xayide
- Sally Taylor-Isherwood as Yonie
Supporting cast
- Emma Taylor-Isherwood as Olano
Guest cast
- Edward Yankie as Mr. Blank
- Tara Nicodemo as Xayide's Server #1
- John Dunn-Hill as Coreander
- Audrey Gardiner as Childlike Empress
- Noel Burton as Michael Bux
- Jane Wheeler as Laura Bux
- Dawn Ford as Wise Woman
- David Schaap as Doctor Cardish
- Anne Dryburgh as Night Nurse
- Tyrone Benskin as Cairon
- Robert Crooks as Tartus
- Stéfanie Buxton as Fly Girl / Kwana
Episodes
This series spans 2 seasons with 17 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 0 | 4 | October 6, 2001 | October 27, 2001 |
| Season 1 | 13 | October 14, 2001 | January 6, 2002 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Book of Sages In Fantasia, young Atreyu is sent on a magical journey to save the childlike Empress, because the evil forces of nothingness threaten the existence of this world. The sister of the Empress, the dark princess Xayide, strives for the sole power there. That's why she sends Gmork, the werewolf and frontier crosser between the worlds, to Bastian to prevent him from reading the magical book. It is the beginning of a long battle. |
October 6, 2001 |
| 2 |
The Power of the Auryn In Fantasia, the Childlike Empress is close to death and can no longer afford resistance to Princess Xayide and the dark forces. The only chance of survival for the Empress lies in the hands of Atreyu, Bastian's reflection. He must conquer the deadly gate of the sphinxes, only then can he decode the Southern Oracle. And in fact, there is only one who can save the Empress and Fantasia. |
October 13, 2001 |
| 3 |
The Magic Sword As the hero of the imaginary world of Fantasia, twelve-year-old Bastian Bux's alias Atreyu is faced with the test of his life: he is supposed to save Fantasia from the evil princess Xayide. And the life of his comrade-in-arms Kuona is also in danger. To save her, Atreyu must break a promise... |
October 20, 2001 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Heart of Stone Bastian's Mother is in a car accident. Bastian then meets Mr. Coreander, the owner of an old book store. Mr. C gives Bastian a book called The Neverending Story in exchange for a broken video game. Bastian's mother tells him that the book will guide him. Later, he wakes up and his mom is gone. He attends her funeral and has a hard time coping with her death. He begins reading TNES and becomes involved with the characters and events that occur in a mystical land known as Fantasia. He discovers that the land is in grave danger and his being ripped to shreds by dark force known only as ""The Nothing"". The Childlike Empress of Fantasia chooses a young warrior known as Atreyu(son of all) to combat the nothing to and to find a cure for her illness which seems to coincide with the poisoning of the land. |
October 14, 2001 |
| 2 |
The Nothing Mr. Blank (Bastian's teacher) claims that Bastian never handed in an assignment. Now Bastian has to redo the assignment during lunchbreak. Atreyu begins his quest against the darkness. |
October 21, 2001 |
| 3 |
The Luckdragon Bastian is so caught up with the book that he neglects his school work and his chores around the house. In Fantasia, Atreyu meets Fly Girl and finds out the luckdragon is a flying machine flown by Fly Girl. |
October 28, 2001 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | HBO |
|---|---|
| First aired | October 14, 2001 |
| Last aired | January 6, 2002 |
| Status | Ended |
| Schedule | Sunday |