I have to admit that I was disappointed with the movie - they downplayed/omitted all the political stuff. The original is a wicked sharp satire on the process of Federation. The movie loses all that stuff and turns it into a wholesome fairy tale. FYI the magic pudding is Federation itself - the other characters are the people who created it for better or for worse. I love the characterisation of NSW as the rooster, and South Australia as the bandicoot. The original illustrations too show who all the participants were very accurately. Barton as Bunyip Bluegum, Parkes as Bill Barnacle. The pudding paddock they all end up in is Canberra. Mr Lindsay has to be congratulated on his drawing skills.