Please help me solve a childhood mystery

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This question was inspired by, and got stuck at the bottom of, the thread about kids' films. But now I've asked it once I'm keen to find an answer.

Strange request time. I wonder if anyone can solve a mystery that's been bugging me for about 25 years. I remember reading a book and seeing a film of it when I was little, thoroughly enjoyed it aged 6 or whatever and then couldn't work out what it was later.

The details I remember about the film are:
- it started off as live action
- it featured a boy who got in a toy car that whisked him off to a cartoon world
- from this point the film consisted of the child actor superimposed on a cartoon background
- there was a scene where he is in a market, where one stall featured only numbers and the other featured only letters
- it was probably made by Disney, probably early 70s

The only thing that stopped me possibly asking this question is that I like the fact that it's a mystery, that it exists somewhere in my imagination and memory, and it's attained some sort of mythical status for me. If I find out what it is and watch it then I'll almost certainly be disappointed.

But fuck it, I might get run over by a bus tomorrow without ever finding out. So if anyone's got a clue what it is then please let me know.

― James Ball (James Ball), Thursday, 13 February 2003 14:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Is it 'The Phantom Tollbooth'?

― Andrew L (Andrew L), Thursday, 13 February 2003 14:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Bloody hell, Andrew, you're right. I can't believe that's been a mystery to me for 25 years and you've solved it in 5 minutes. Thank you!

I look forward to reading/watching it again now. I'm sure it'll be an anti-climax, but it's got to be done.

― James Ball (James Ball), Thursday, 13 February 2003 15:08 (twenty-two years ago)

I'll bet it is, and I had a similar half-remembered notion of it myself until a few years ago when it was on TV.

Doesn't the film start off black and white and then when he goes through the tollbooth it all becomes colour cartoon? ACE!

― Simeon (Simeon), Thursday, 13 February 2003 15:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Will anyone confess to having seen the Hug-a-Bunch movie where a little girl goes through a mirror into Hug-a-Bunch land?

― Sarah McLUsky (coco), Thursday, 13 February 2003 15:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Simeon - you could be right about it being black and white first. I certainly remember it as being live action first before the cartoons.

My only regret now is that I won't stumble across it by chance, bringing back a flood of childhood memories when I least expect it.

― James Ball (James Ball), Thursday, 13 February 2003 15:37 (twenty-two years ago)

Dammit, I so wanted to answer this!

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 13 February 2003 15:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Will anyone confess to having seen the Hug-a-Bunch movie where a little girl goes through a mirror into Hug-a-Bunch land?

seen it! the little orange fruits of eternal life! the huggabunch puppets were so incredibly weird and bigheaded. good flick, though. a little creepy if you watch it as an adult.

― Megan P, Thursday, 13 February 2003 15:48 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.animationconnection.com/show/otherartwork/tn_cspt01l_jpg.jpg
http://www.animationconnection.com/show/otherartwork/tn_cspt04l_jpg.jpg

― Simeon (Simeon), Thursday, 13 February 2003 16:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Now I thought the kid stayed 'real' and was superimposed on the cartoon, Bedknobs and Broomsticks-style. But I obviously remembered it wrong.

― James Ball (James Ball), Thursday, 13 February 2003 16:57 (twenty-two years ago)

Wow - I answered this on the *other* thread. Good to know that I was right *grin*

― I'm Passing Open Windows (Ms Laura), Thursday, 13 February 2003 19:22 (twenty-two years ago)

I think Ive seen the hug a bunch movie, but it could have been rainbow brite.

You should absolutely, now, take the day off work and read the Phantom Tollbooth, it will thrill you.

― isadora (isadora), Thursday, 13 February 2003 19:23 (twenty-two years ago)

This movie traumatized me.

― Curtis Stephens, Thursday, 13 February 2003 20:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Our English Teacher made us read 'The Phantom Tollbooth' at school and we all said it was shit and for kids, and he said "No, it's clever and works on many levels" and we said "This is no Alice in Wonderland, bucko."

― N. (nickdastoor), Thursday, 13 February 2003 20:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Haha, Hugga Bunch--my favorite part of that movie was the 'THE MAKING OF THE HUGGA BUNCH MOVIE" featurette right before the movie; they focused on what a STAR this child actress was, even though she couldn't even CRY on cue--she had to have TEAR DROPS. I don't know why I remember this featurette so vividly. I remember the directly shouting to someone off stage, 'LET'S GET SOME TEARS IN HERE!!" Also, what a crappy movie. That little girl liked PEANUT BUTTER on her PANCAKES!?

Does anyone remember Unico in the Island of Magic? I am obsessed with seeing my childhood favorites. I recently found "Anna to the Infinite Power" on tape for $3.

― Mandee, Thursday, 13 February 2003 20:58 (twenty-two years ago)

two years pass...

Just unwittingly started a different thread with the same question!

― Jas)n, Sunday, 12 February 2006 15:29 (nineteen years ago)

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