The Littl' Bits: 'The Wanderbits' - Nick Knacks Sample Platter

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Today we take a look at an episode of The Littl' Bits, a show about tiny sprites who live in the forest and promote democracy and collective action.

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[VicHD]

This was the most impactful episode of the series. I remember watching it when I was a kid and, for me, it was kind of an introduction to racism and prejudice. While the episode was all over the place with its story, the moral I got out of it is "protect the ones you love when things get tough". All the boys adored Lillabit in the show and they fought hard for her and her family to stay. I admire that.

[bakomusha]

I had no clue what this show was, till I saw the shot of that castle! I honestly thought those where David the Gnome memories! Thanks for the reminder!

[jonathancardello]

Awesome episode, I remember catching this show once or twice when I was a kid, never really picked up on the deeper lessons going on, cool that these older shows explored such issues.

[WeXMajors]

Every time I find out another eighties cartoon ends up being Hella Leftist, I smile a lil bit more.

[katiemalone]

Thank you! This was one of the few TV episodes from that time to really stick in my mind. As a young middle-class white child, I had never encountered prejudice in real life, and this really opened my eyes.

[MorriganAtwood]

This was the first thing I saw as a kid that made me run to my mother in tears, completely unable to explain why I was so distraught.

[Cameroo]

I loved this show even if I was way, way outside it's age demographic at the time. That and Saban's Fairy Tale Classics were my after school jam for a good long run.

[slashingkatie]

God! I remember this show. You go from cute stories about kids in the forest then this shit happens and I’m like “holy hell!!”

[lamontyaboy]

Wow THREE sample platters in less than a week. This channel never ceases to amaze

[kevinalford]

Man you're crankin these samplers out, PA.

[sandradermark]

The scenes where nature fought back were nightmare fuel to me.

[returnbasics]

I don't remember anything of this nature from this show. I remember it showing a strong work ethic with the Little Bits running around with wheel barrows, shovels, moving piles of stuff from one spot to another, building bridges, climbing trees, cutting trees down, all that sort of stuff. I have fond memories of this show before being put down for my afternoon nap each day around the time I was in kindergarden

[barbarastanwyck]

I cannot wait for the entree! I frequently get this theme song stuck in my head 30 years later.

[channel_shi]

part of me wants to say that this was probably both a result of squishing this reveal so close to the finale, and some sort of balancing act between story integrity and appealing to a young audience. the kids rebelling definitely would've appealed to kids watching.

also, looking this show up, i discovered that this show was directed by rintaro??? and this show came out just months after galaxy express 999, certainly one of his most famous work! i've half-jokingly referred to pre-gullah gullah nick jr as the toonami of the 80s, but i didn't think it went that far.

[sonchezz]

...pretty sure this is about the Japanese, the bomb and post war angst from WW2...

[tlgmedia]

I LOVED this show. Can't wait for the full retrospective

[simplyjuannie]

This and Noozles were my favorite Nickelodeon cartoons as a little girl.

[LikaLaruku]

I remembered David the Gnome, Little Koala, & Noozles, but I forgot about this one, even though I know I loved it.

[mightyfilm]

Have to admit. I never realized these cutesy kiddy anime preschool shows were that deep. I'm actually surprised Li'l Bits appeared on the channel that late. I mean, you could certainly sell the series as a Smurfs knockoff, especially with the Western dub title for one thing. But it seemed by the 90's, the cheap to acquire and produce anime dubs were just filler shows that were overshadowed by more of their original acquisitions. It makes me wonder how much further they were going to go with preschool anime, or if this was indeed the last of it. I could imagine Anpanman or Doraemon (possibly the weird Albert and Sydney dub) being added to the line up, if they were going that late.

[DigiRangerScott]

Wasn’t expecting Interdimensional Cable