TV ACRES: Reptiles > Dragons > Tobias the Reluctant Dragon (Mr. Toad)

Tobias the Reluctant Dragon - Mild-mannered, 400-year-old, fire-breathing dragon featured on the half-hour Saturday morning Rankin/Bass animated cartoon series THE RELUCTANT DRAGON AND MR. TOAD/ABC/1970-72. Tobias the dragon is based on the children's story "The Reluctant Dragon" by Kenneth Grahame (1959-1932) found in his collection of sketches Dream Days (1898). It told the tale of St. George, a young village boy and a reluctant cave-dwelling dragon named All the Dragon who just wanted to be left alone.

Loosely based on the original story, the ABC-TV cartoon is set in Medieval Willowmarsh Village, England where Tobias, the peaceful, kind-hearted dragon lived in the countryside. His best friend is a clumsy knight named Sir Malcolm Giles who protects Tobias from harm. His royal majesty, King Herman ruled the nearby kingdom where other characters likes Irving the Bold, Sir Andrew, Ugliola and the Little Girl reside. Because Tobias was allergic to daisies, he had to take care not to inhale the flowers. Why? Because when Tobias smells a daisy or similar flowers, he begins to sneeze violently and indiscriminately spew balls of fire about the landscape that frighten the local townspeople. Tobias tries to keep his allergy in check, but occasionally, a certain little girl from the nearby village teases Tobias with an offering of flowers. She purposely like to make him sneeze.

The second half of the show featured the adventures of J. Thaddeus Toad (Mr. Toad), a “happy, carefree, gadabout guy” and "reckless driver" who lives at Toad Hall. His friends are a shy Mole, a clever Water Rat and a brainy Badger. The characters in this segment of the show are based on Kenneth Grahame's 1908 children's book "Wind in the Willows".

Tobias:	It's the Reluctant Dragon...
Mr. Toad:	...and Mr. Toad Show!
Singers:	He's the most reluctant dragon That the world has ever seen Yes, a very mild-mannered dragon Whose reluctant to be mean Though he may be big, he's the silent type He is tip-toeing about He's reluctant to be a violent type You can even try him out
Tobias:	(eating) Oh delicious! M-M-M-M! Coconut custard! Temper, Temper. That should be a no-no!
Singers:	He's the most reluctant dragon That the world has ever seen Yes, a very mild-mannered dragon Whose reluctant to be mean
Little Girl:	I love you, Dragon (gives Tobias a flower)
Tobias:	A daisy!!! (Tobias is allergic)

The Dragon:	You've got to be mad to breathe fire, but I'm not mad at anybody.
The Boy:	But try real hard. Concentrate.
[The dragon tries, but can only make a puny smoke ring]
The Dragon:	Not very good, is it?
The Boy:	Nope. Too bad you're not a real dragon, instead of a punk poet.
The Dragon:	[Angry] "Punk poet"?
[Now fire is coming out of his mouth]
The Dragon:	Ooh, say that again.
The Boy:	Punk poet.
The Dragon:	Again.
The Boy:	Punk poet.
The Dragon:	Again.
The Boy:	Punk poet.
The Dragon:	[Delighted] Ooh, I'm mad! I'm mad! I'm mad!
The Boy:	Punk poet! Punk poet! Punk poet!