Based on the nursery rhyme of The '50s, Nellie is a pink elephant who leaves the circus to the island of Mandalay with the other elephants, but yes, there is an antagonist, and it's the Ringmaster, who, in most episodes, tries to get her back to the circus! Nellie goes to all sorts of places before she leaves, such as beaches and ski resorts, and she apparently loves it, but it might not always go to plan.
The show was narrated by Tony Robinson, with Lulu not only singing the Title Theme Tune, but also voicing Nellie. Only 33 episodes were made, but still, the show was considered essential for children.
Examples:
- Animated Adaptation: Well, sort of...
- Beach Episode: "Nellie Goes to Sea" and "Nellie at the Seaside."
- Big Eater: Nellie herself. Justified, given that she's an elephant.
- Also, one-shot character Hungry Harriet from "Nellie and the Ghost."
- Catchphrase: Ta-tum-ta-ta!
- Chekhov's Gunman: An oyster seller opens "Nellie Gets a Raincoat" calling for people to buy his oysters. He hides Nellie when the circus arrives in town.
- Every Episode Ending: Nellie is always seen thinking about the Head of the Herd calling her, she says goodbye and leaves at the end of every episode.
- Fearless Fool: Tiger, the troublemaking feline in "Nellie Rescues Mrs Maple's Moggy." He's gotten himself into trouble so often that none of the villagers are the least bit surprised when the fire brigade roar through town.
- Fireman: Out of the way! Mrs Maple's cat is at it again!Woman: Oh, poor Mrs Maple.Man: I've heard of cats having nine lives, this one must have hundreds.
- Good Samaritan: Nellie will usually help whoever she comes across. This often earns her the goodwill of those around her to the point where the locals beg her not to leave.
- Haunted House: Subverted. The abandoned house Nellie spends the night in is creepy but the strange noises are caused by burglars, not ghosts.
- Idiosyncratic Episode Naming: Every episode starts with the protagonist's name.
- Imagine Spot: See Every Episode Ending above.
- Massive Multiplayer Crossover: The big fat pink elephant appears in one children's compilation for charity. "Nellie Rescues Mrs. Marple's Moggy" was included in NSPCC Children's TV Favourites Volume 2 in 1993.
- No One Should Survive That!: See Too Dumb to Live below.
- Paper-Thin Disguise: Nellie disguises herself as an oyster seller to hide from the circus as it rolls through town, despite being, you know, a pink elephant.
- Scenery Porn: For 1990, the scenery looks pretty cool, but "Nellie Rescues Mrs. Marple's Moggy" takes the crown.
- Short-Runner: Only 33 episodes were made.
- Stock Footage: Happens frequently in every episode.
- Stupid Crooks: Sam and his nephew Dopey Dan in "Nellie and the Haunted House" try to steal from an abandoned mansion. Despite being called 'Dopey' by his uncle, Dan is right to warn him that someone else is in the house. Sam ignoring his warnings leads to their discovery by Nellie and then to their arrest.
- Time Travel: A scientist offers to help Nellie get home via a device that allows her to go anywhere in history. After jumping around through the past the device works and Nellie returns to Mandalay.
- Title Theme Tune
- Too Dumb to Live: In "Nellie Takes the Train," Nellie eats loads of cakes and gets fat, then she gets stuck in the train door. The passengers try to pull her out, but it doesn't help... she had to stay between the door all night (actually 4 minutes on screen, obviously), until she squiggled, and wiggled, and bumped!
- Trademark Favourite Food: Nellie has a particular fondness for current buns.
- You Are Fat: Nellie. Especially in "Nellie Takes the Train."
