Difference between revisions of "Form Records"

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Form Holdings is best known for their series of children's educational programmes made in the 1990s, which include the Mental Arithmetic series, the ABC English for Children series and many others. All these were published under the '''Form Records''', '''Form Kidz''', and '''Form Music Publication''' labels.
Form Holdings is best known for their series of children's educational programmes made in the 1990s, which include the Mental Arithmetic series, the ABC English for Children series and many others. All these were published under the '''Form Records''', '''Form Kidz''', and '''Form Music Publication''' labels.


Channel 8 stars like Chen Liping, Huang Wenyong, and Tang Miaoling had supporting or leading roles in some of these programmes. Similarly, Hong Junrui, David Tham, Koay Jing Li, and Feng Ziliang, many of whom were Channel 8 child actors, appeared in several productions. However, like in most Channel 8 shows in the 1990s, their voices were mostly dubbed over by TCS dubbing artistes.
The cast of these programmes included Channel 8 actors and actresses like Chen Liping, Huang Wenyong, Emily Yeo, and Tang Miaoling, and child actors from the era like Koay Jing Li, David Tham, and Darence Ang amongst others. However, like in most Channel 8 shows in the 1990s, their voices were mostly dubbed over by TCS dubbing artistes.


As of 2019, only the Malaysian subsidiary, Form Records (M) Sdn Bhd, survives. Form Holdings Limited has since been repurposed as a holding company for a membrane manufacturer.
As of 2019, only the Malaysian subsidiary, Form Records (M) Sdn Bhd, based in Kuala Lumpur, survives. Form Holdings Limited has since been repurposed as a holding company for a membrane manufacturer.


==Series==
==Series==
The executive producer for many of these series was Hong Hanlin, who was also executive producer for the movies [[Nobody's Child]] and [[Missing You...]].
The executive producer for many of these series was Hong Hanlin, who was also executive producer for the movies [[Nobody's Child]] and [[Missing You...]].


Hong Ziqiang sung the theme and interlude songs for many of these series, until around 1997. Some of these songs were later compiled into an album, released in 1997.
Darence Ang sung the theme and interlude songs for many of these series, until around 1996 or 1997. Some of these songs were later compiled into an album, released in 1997.


===ABC English for Children (1992 - 1996)===
===ABC English for Children (1992 - 1996)===
Probably the most well-known Form publication, this series starred Chen Liping as Miss Aiyoyo and ran to 6 volumes. Some volumes were also available in English and Malay dubs. A seventh volume under the same name, unrelated to the rest of the series, was produced by Form Records (M) Sdn Bhd many years later.
Probably the most well-known Form publication, this series starred Chen Liping as the teacher and ran to 6 volumes. Some volumes were also available in English, Cantonese, and Malay dubs. A seventh volume under the same name, unrelated to the rest of the series, was produced by Form Records (M) Sdn Bhd many years later.
 
===At the Bird Park===
===At the Bird Park===
An alien which looks like a bird suddenly hatches from an egg. The Little Professor and his friends visit Jurong Birdpark to help the alien find its mother.
An alien which looks like a bird suddenly hatches from an egg. The Little Professor and his friends visit Jurong Birdpark to help the alien find its mother.
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! Notes
! Notes
|-
|-
| Little Professor || Hong Ziqiang ||  
| Little Professor || Darence Ang ||  
|-
|-
| Alien Baby || Wang Jiaowang ||
| Alien Baby || Wang Jiaowang ||
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Like ABC English for Children, this programme was in both Chinese and English.
Like ABC English for Children, this programme was in both Chinese and English.
===Children Educational Videos===
===Children Educational Videos===
A two-disc compilation of musicals based on tales like Aesop's fables, Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tales, and Chinese folk tales like ''Tadpoles Looking for their Mama''. The musicals were filmed in China and mostly starred Chinese actors and actresses, although Singaporean child actor Hong Ziqiang appeared in a few of these videos.
A two-disc compilation of musicals based on tales like Aesop's fables, Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tales, and Chinese folk tales like ''Tadpoles Looking for their Mama''. The musicals were filmed in China and mostly starred Chinese actors and actresses, although Singaporean child actor Darence Ang appeared in a few of these videos.
===Children's Songs and Riddles (1994)===
===Children's Songs and Riddles (1994)===
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
Line 56: Line 57:
| Linda || Lin Xuan  ||
| Linda || Lin Xuan  ||
|-
|-
| Bang Te || Hong Ziqiang ||
| Bang Te || Darence Ang ||
|-
|-
|}
|}


===Do You Know Why? (1995)===
===Do You Know Why? (1995)===
A group of children accidentally knock over a treasure pot belonging to Knowledge Country. As a punishment, they are tasked with finding the other remaining pot, which is in the hands of King Ironhook. Along the way, the children must answer general trivia questions.
Amanda Lian appears during some intermissions, explaining the answers to some of these questions.
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Cast
|+ Cast
Line 70: Line 74:
| Knowledge Angel || Michelle Chia ||  
| Knowledge Angel || Michelle Chia ||  
|-
|-
| Da Ge Da || Wang Jiaowang ||
| Big Brother || Wang Jiaowang ||
|-
|-
| Da Niu || Hong Junrui ||
| Big Cow || Hong Junrui ||
|-
|-
| Da Xiongmao || Chen Liru ||
| Big Panda || Chen Liru ||
|-
|-
| Da Ming Xing || Zeng Weijing ||
| Superstar || Zeng Weijing ||
|-
|-
| Xiao Hui Jing || Lin Kai-er ||
| Xiao Hui Jing || Lin Kai-er ||
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| Protector Goddess || Katherine || No Chinese name given
| Protector Goddess || Katherine || No Chinese name given
|-
|-
| King Ironhook's Henchman || Hong Ziqiang ||  
| King Ironhook's Henchman || Darence Ang ||  
|-
|-
|}
|}
===Mental Arithmetic (1995, 1998)===
===Mental Arithmetic (1995, 1998)===
Unlike ABC English for Children, the character Miss Lian is played by Amanda Lian who is director of her own Maths enrichment centre. The series ran to 3 volumes.  
Unlike ABC English for Children, the character Miss Lian is played by an actual teacher, Amanda Lian who is director of her own Maths enrichment centre. The series ran to 3 volumes.  
====Enhance Your IQ (1997)====
====Enhance Your IQ (1997)====
A spin-off video. Some scenes were filmed in Nee Soon Central Community Park (then known as Yishun Central Park).
A spin-off video. Some scenes were filmed in Nee Soon Central Community Park (then known as Yishun Central Park).
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| Bo Bo || Zhang Weiling ||
| Bo Bo || Zhang Weiling ||
|-
|-
| Boy at park 1 || Hong Ziqiang ||
| Boy at park 1 || Darence Ang ||
|-
|-
|}
|}
===Primary Composition (1997)===
===Primary Composition (1997)===
Two educational videos targeted at Primary 4 and Primary 6 students respectively, which gave tips on writing Chinese compositions.
Two educational videos targeted at Primary 4 and Primary 6 students respectively, which gave tips on writing Chinese compositions.
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Primary 6 Cast
|-
! Character
! Actor
! Notes
|-
| Teacher A || Huang Taijie ||
|-
| Teacher B || Christine Kee Chiew Hiang ||
|-
| Gang's Father || Kwek Hock Choon ||
|-
| Granny || He Li Juan ||
|-
| Xiao Gang || Darence Ang ||
|-
| Gang || Koay Jing Li ||
|-
| Student || Huang Wanzhen || Credited as Huang Ruixian
|-
|}


===Say It, It's Easy (1996)===
===Say It, It's Easy (1996)===
Published by Form Music Publications. Unlike ABC English for Children this programme focused more on English phonics, and none of the children were trained actors.  
Published by Form Music Publications. Unlike ABC English for Children this programme focused more on English phonics, and none of the children were trained actors.  
===Ten Brothers (1995)===
===Ten Brothers (1995)===
Based on the Chinese legend. Huang was the only actor whose voice was not replaced by a dubbing artiste, although all his dialogue appears to have been re-recorded. Ten Brothers did not follow the format of most Form Record  productions, as it was more dramatic in style rather than educational.
Based on the Chinese legend. Three quarrelsome brothers are joined by the children of their parents' friends and neighbours. They don't get along, until an Ah Long nearly kidnaps one of them and they're forced to band together to use their "powers" for good when a second kidnap attempt succeeds.
 
Huang was the only actor whose voice was not replaced by a dubbing artiste, although all his dialogue appears to have been re-recorded. Ten Brothers did not follow the format of most Form Record  productions, as it was more dramatic in style rather than educational.
 
This video was released on laserdisc, VCD, and video cassette.<ref>[https://mothership.sg/2018/11/karang-guni-shopify/ Form Records Laserdiscs (excerpt)]</ref>


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
Line 146: Line 176:
| Auntie Hua || Betty Lee Sit Fung ||
| Auntie Hua || Betty Lee Sit Fung ||
|-
|-
| Qi's Father || [[Tony Kim]] ||
| Qiqi's Father || [[Tony Kim]] ||
|-
|-
| Qi's Mother || May Teo (Zhang Yunhong) ||
| Qiqi's Mother || May Teo ||
|-
|-
| Er Gu || Cai Pingkai || Cameo
| Er Gu || Cai Pingkai || Cameo
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| First Brother || Koay Jing Li ||
| First Brother || Koay Jing Li ||
|-
|-
| Second Brother|| Hong Ziqiang ||
| Second Brother || Darence Ang ||
|-
|-
| Third Brother|| Hong Junrui ||
| Third Brother || Hong Junrui ||
|-
|-
| Fourth Brother|| Hong Junrui ||
| Fourth Brother|| Hong Junrui ||
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|-
|-
|}
|}
===What a Wonderful World (1996)===
===What a Wonderful World (1996)===
 
While their parents go on holiday, four children are taken by a nanny on a tour of vegetable farms and more.


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
Line 191: Line 222:
| Nanny's Granny || Yau Chung Chii ||
| Nanny's Granny || Yau Chung Chii ||
|-
|-
| Da Bu Liang || Zhuang Zhenzi ||  
| Da Bu Liang || Zhuang Zhenzi || Nanny's Cousin
|-
|-
| Xiao Bu Liang || Koay Jing Li ||
| Xiao Bu Liang || Koay Jing Li || Nanny's Cousin
|-
|-
| Da Fan|| Hong Ziqiang ||
| Da Fan|| Darence Ang ||
|-
|-
| Er Fan || Zeng Weijing ||
| Er Fan || Zeng Weijing ||

Revision as of 00:06, 3 September 2019

Form Holdings Limited was a publisher, retailer, and distributor of music, music videos and direct-to-video programmes, headquartered in Singapore and with offices in Malaysia, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. It was listed on the SESDAQ. Form was founded by Ang Choon Beng alias Ang Siong Kiat.[1]

Form Holdings is best known for their series of children's educational programmes made in the 1990s, which include the Mental Arithmetic series, the ABC English for Children series and many others. All these were published under the Form Records, Form Kidz, and Form Music Publication labels.

The cast of these programmes included Channel 8 actors and actresses like Chen Liping, Huang Wenyong, Emily Yeo, and Tang Miaoling, and child actors from the era like Koay Jing Li, David Tham, and Darence Ang amongst others. However, like in most Channel 8 shows in the 1990s, their voices were mostly dubbed over by TCS dubbing artistes.

As of 2019, only the Malaysian subsidiary, Form Records (M) Sdn Bhd, based in Kuala Lumpur, survives. Form Holdings Limited has since been repurposed as a holding company for a membrane manufacturer.

Series

The executive producer for many of these series was Hong Hanlin, who was also executive producer for the movies Nobody's Child and Missing You....

Darence Ang sung the theme and interlude songs for many of these series, until around 1996 or 1997. Some of these songs were later compiled into an album, released in 1997.

ABC English for Children (1992 - 1996)

Probably the most well-known Form publication, this series starred Chen Liping as the teacher and ran to 6 volumes. Some volumes were also available in English, Cantonese, and Malay dubs. A seventh volume under the same name, unrelated to the rest of the series, was produced by Form Records (M) Sdn Bhd many years later.

At the Bird Park

An alien which looks like a bird suddenly hatches from an egg. The Little Professor and his friends visit Jurong Birdpark to help the alien find its mother.

Cast
Character Actor Notes
Little Professor Darence Ang
Alien Baby Wang Jiaowang
Aladdin Feng Xingzheng
Little Soldier Lin Xingting
Little Princess Lu Peiying
Xiao Hui Jing Chen Ling
Xiao Fei Xia Anthony Chen

At the Zoo (1993)

Like ABC English for Children, this programme was in both Chinese and English.

Children Educational Videos

A two-disc compilation of musicals based on tales like Aesop's fables, Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tales, and Chinese folk tales like Tadpoles Looking for their Mama. The musicals were filmed in China and mostly starred Chinese actors and actresses, although Singaporean child actor Darence Ang appeared in a few of these videos.

Children's Songs and Riddles (1994)

Cast
Character Actor Notes
Teacher Emily Yeo
Mother Song Lihua
Linda Lin Xuan
Bang Te Darence Ang

Do You Know Why? (1995)

A group of children accidentally knock over a treasure pot belonging to Knowledge Country. As a punishment, they are tasked with finding the other remaining pot, which is in the hands of King Ironhook. Along the way, the children must answer general trivia questions.

Amanda Lian appears during some intermissions, explaining the answers to some of these questions.

Cast
Character Actor Notes
Knowledge Angel Michelle Chia
Big Brother Wang Jiaowang
Big Cow Hong Junrui
Big Panda Chen Liru
Superstar Zeng Weijing
Xiao Hui Jing Lin Kai-er
Xiao Wuzhi Lin Yuru
Xiao Tianzhen Feng Xingzheng
Xiao Ke Ai Bobo Liew
King Ironhook Chen Weili
Protector Goddess Katherine No Chinese name given
King Ironhook's Henchman Darence Ang

Mental Arithmetic (1995, 1998)

Unlike ABC English for Children, the character Miss Lian is played by an actual teacher, Amanda Lian who is director of her own Maths enrichment centre. The series ran to 3 volumes.

Enhance Your IQ (1997)

A spin-off video. Some scenes were filmed in Nee Soon Central Community Park (then known as Yishun Central Park).

Cast
Character Actor Notes
Ms Lian Amanda Lian
IQ Professor Bai Yan
Robber A Lin Xinghong
Robber B Ng Kin Wah
Xiao Qiang David Tham
Xiao Pang Hong Junrui
Xiao Li Wang Ruixian Credited as Huang Ruixian
Xiao Ling Huang Wanzhen
Xiao Mi Su Shiyi
Bo Bo Zhang Weiling
Boy at park 1 Darence Ang

Primary Composition (1997)

Two educational videos targeted at Primary 4 and Primary 6 students respectively, which gave tips on writing Chinese compositions.

Primary 6 Cast
Character Actor Notes
Teacher A Huang Taijie
Teacher B Christine Kee Chiew Hiang
Gang's Father Kwek Hock Choon
Granny He Li Juan
Xiao Gang Darence Ang
Gang Koay Jing Li
Student Huang Wanzhen Credited as Huang Ruixian

Say It, It's Easy (1996)

Published by Form Music Publications. Unlike ABC English for Children this programme focused more on English phonics, and none of the children were trained actors.

Ten Brothers (1995)

Based on the Chinese legend. Three quarrelsome brothers are joined by the children of their parents' friends and neighbours. They don't get along, until an Ah Long nearly kidnaps one of them and they're forced to band together to use their "powers" for good when a second kidnap attempt succeeds.

Huang was the only actor whose voice was not replaced by a dubbing artiste, although all his dialogue appears to have been re-recorded. Ten Brothers did not follow the format of most Form Record productions, as it was more dramatic in style rather than educational.

This video was released on laserdisc, VCD, and video cassette.[2]

Cast
Character Actor Notes
Uncle Hua Huang Wenyong
Auntie Hua Betty Lee Sit Fung
Qiqi's Father Tony Kim
Qiqi's Mother May Teo
Er Gu Cai Pingkai Cameo
First Brother Koay Jing Li
Second Brother Darence Ang
Third Brother Hong Junrui
Fourth Brother Hong Junrui
Fifth Brother Feng Xingzheng
Sixth Brother Liu Hanyi
Qiqi (Seventh Brother) Cao Xuemei
Eighth Brother Feng Ziliang
Ninth Brother Qing Zhixian
Tenth Brother David Tham

What a Wonderful World (1996)

While their parents go on holiday, four children are taken by a nanny on a tour of vegetable farms and more.

Cast
Character Actor Notes
Nanny Tang Miao Ling
Father Huang Wenyong
Mother Betty Lee Sit Fung
Nanny's Granny Yau Chung Chii
Da Bu Liang Zhuang Zhenzi Nanny's Cousin
Xiao Bu Liang Koay Jing Li Nanny's Cousin
Da Fan Darence Ang
Er Fan Zeng Weijing
San Fan Feng Xingzheng
Xiao Fan Bobo Liew

Logo/introduction sequence

For most of its history, Form used the same introduction sequence featuring a yellow bird on a rainbow backdrop. Most of these videos had the version which used an instrumental excerpt from "Good Morning, Teacher". However, some videos used a generic jingle instead.

References

  1. ↑ Oral History Interviews: Mr Ang Choon Beng
  2. ↑ Form Records Laserdiscs (excerpt)

External links

Form Records YouTube channel

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