Charley Says (1973)

by Linda Kay

Produced by: Richard Taylor Cartoons

This review contains some cartoon Kitty Carnage Warnings!

Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for these short films!

Synopsis: A boy named Tony and his pet cat Charley (voiced by Kenny Everett) learn valuable safety lessons in this series of British public information films aimed at children.

Cartoon Cat: This series of short films, created by using paper cut outs, traumatized a generation of children with their cutesy yet terrifying messages of safety in which Tony translates Charley’s bizarre meowing to give an important message, always starting with the words, “Charley says.” In the first film, Falling in the Water, Charley and Tony are with Tony’s father who is fishing in a river. The pair become bored and start playing in puddles some distance away.

Charley Says - Falling in the Water - cartoon ginger tabby cat Charley with boy Tony splashing in puddles

Charley ends up falling in the water and nearly drowns.

Charley Says - Falling in the Water - cartoon ginger tabby cat Charley falling into river with boy Tony watching

Charley Says - Falling in the Water - cartoon ginger tabby cat Charley being pulled out of river with boy Tony and dad

In the Kitchen finds Charley sniffing around the stove where mother has several pots and pans full of food.

Charley Says - In the Kitchen - cartoon ginger tabby cat Charley next to stove with boiling pots

The hot steam from one pan nearly burns Charley, who is then splattered with the grease of cooking sausages.

Charley Says - In the Kitchen - cartoon ginger tabby cat Charley looking at sausages in pan on stove

Charley joins Tony and meows in his erratic manner, which Tony explains to the viewing audience means to stay away from stoves.

Charley Says - In the Kitchen - cartoon ginger tabby cat Charley with boy Tony

In the next short, Matches, Tony and Charley are playing with blocks and Tony tops their structure off with a box of matches.

Charley Says - Matches - cartoon ginger tabby cat Charley with boy Tony playing with blocks

Charley lunges across the blocks and the matches fall out of the box, but Charley stops Tony from messing with them.

Charley Says - Matches - cartoon ginger tabby cat Charley knocking over blocks with boy Tony

Charley Says - Matches - cartoon ginger tabby cat Charley with boy Tony and matches

Next is Mummy Should Know in which Tony and Charley are playing outside when they are asked by their friends to join them for a picnic.

Charley Says - Mummy Should Know - cartoon ginger tabby cat Charley with boy Tony and friends

Charley reminds Tony he should ask his mother, but she is talking with the milkman at the door.

Charley Says - Mummy Should Know - cartoon ginger tabby cat Charley with boy Tony and mother at door

By the time Tony’s mother gives her permission the friends have left. The mother assures Tony and Charley they did the right thing and take them on a picnic anyway.

Charley Says - Mummy Should Know - cartoon ginger tabby cat Charley with boy Tony and mom

Charley Says - Mummy Should Know - cartoon ginger tabby cat Charley with boy Tony and mom eating in park

The most disturbing of the shorts, Charley’s Tea Party, has Charley and Tony running back and forth past a table set for tea.

Charley Says - Charley's Tea Party - cartoon ginger tabby cat Charley skidding by table with teapot

Charley smells some fish on top of the table and pulls on the tablecloth.

Charley Says - Charley's Tea Party - cartoon ginger tabby cat Charley reaching up to pull tablecloth

Tony hears a crash and Charley yowling in pain and rushes back to find Charley sprawled on the ground surrounded by broken crockery and burned by hot water.

Charley Says - Charley's Tea Party - cartoon ginger tabby cat Charley scalded and lying on floor with broken teapot and cups

No doubt Charley, and a lot of children in the viewing audience, learned not to pull on tablecloths!

Charley Says - Charley's Tea Party - cartoon ginger tabby cat Charley bandaged with boy Tony

The final short which aired in the 70’s and 80’s was Strangers. Tony and Charley are playing in the park when a man asks Tony if he’d like to see some puppies.

Charley Says - Strangers - cartoon ginger tabby cat Charley with boy Tony playing on swings

Tony is about to go with the man when Charley stops him, reminding him that Tony is not supposed to go off with adults he doesn’t know.

Charley Says - Strangers - cartoon ginger tabby cat Charley with boy Tony and strange man

When they tell Tony’s mother what happened, she rewards them with some food (Charley often gets a whole fish to eat in these shorts.)

Charley Says - Strangers - cartoon ginger tabby cat Charley eating fish with boy Tony with apple

In 2014 two more shorts were produced for the Electrical Safety Council which featured the voice of comedian David Walliams. These two shorts lack the charm of the originals, being almost a parody of the series, but the messages are still viable. In the first, Charley and Tony learn the importance of not overloading electrical sockets.

Charley Says - Overloading Sockets - cartoon ginger tabby cat Charley with boy Tony looking at power strip

Charley Says - Overloading Sockets - cartoon ginger tabby cat Charley running through house on fire

Charley Says - Overloading Sockets - cartoon ginger tabby cat Charley eating fish with boy Tony

In the second it’s Tony’s birthday and his mother lets him throw a party. They go get a karaoke machine but buy a cheap knock off and Charley ends up being electrocuted.