So, with the new season, I’m approaching anniversaries of Animated series from 1970, 1980, 1985, and 1990. Most of them with Frank Welker.
Sunday 13
SHE-RA PRINCESS OF POWER (1985) “The Battle for Bright Moon” 35TH ANNIVERSARY The conclusion of “The Sword of She-Ra” storyline, as the siblings strike a major victory against the Horde. Although I saw this back in its broadcast month, it gained notoriety in the turn of the century to my brother and me for a SoundAmerica.net soundbite of Alan Oppenheimer’s Skeletor calling King Randor a ‘Royal Boob’. BCI Eclipse DVD.
THE PRIVATE LIVES OF THE WINDSORS (2019) “Rebellion” Part One of a three-part documentary on the children of George V of England and Queen Mary, focused on the writings of their only daughter Mary. Amazon Prime.
TALE SPIN (1990) “Mommy for a Day” 30TH ANNIVERSARY. Disney DVD.
SUPERFRIENDS (1980) “Bigfoot/The Ice Demon/The Make-Up Monster” 40TH ANNIVERSARY After two seasons of full-length episodes, the fifth season of the franchise returns to S2’s three-episode structure. This also gets a new intro that includes Black Vulcan, Samurai, and Apache Chief (the next season intro would include El Dorado). This variation was probably my first introduction to the series. Warner DVD.
DRAK PACK (1980) “Mind Your Manners, Dr. Dred.” 40TH ANNIVERSARY. This episode- Dr. Dred steals Egyptian treasures and frames the Drak Pack- was my only episode for years, due to a 1981 VHS recording. YouTube.
THE NEW ADVENTURES OF THE LONE RANGER (1980) “Hansa the Monster” 40TH ANNIVERSARY The classic masked gunslinger makes his second Animated series (there was one in the late 1960s), with William Conrad as the Ranger with Frank Welker playing many voices. This production aired on a double bill with Filmation’s THE LEGEND OF TARZAN (1976). It’s also notorious for forbidding the amount of gunplay due to TV Cartoon standards. BCI Eclipse DVD.
PETER PAN AND THE PIRATES (1990) “The Rake” 30TH ANNIVERSARY this month. Despite what Wiki and IMDb state as a once-a-week schedule, I remember Fox broadcast the series weekdays and not in the order planned. So, I have been watching it according to what I remember. The last three episodes I viewed were broadcast that same week, as well as this one- which adds another new character in James Hook’s Ghostly brother, although he makes only two appearances. YouTube.
Monday 14
The following are from a VHS recording of Saturday Morning Cartoons taped on Saturday, September 14, 1985.
-THE BERENSTEIN BEARS SHOW (1985) “Go Fly A Kite” & “The Trojan Pumpkin” 35TH ANNIVERSARY Stan and Jan Berenstein’s classic series finally became an Animated series with some more alterations than the TV specials (Mama Bear is now completely devoid of white dots on her clothes), but using the Elliott Lawrence score. The episode is in two parts. The first is an adaptation of a book, in this case GO FLY A KITE. The second is an original story with a consistent piece throughout the series, where the Bears deal with weasels and Raffish Ralph (voiced by Frank Welker).
-THE WUZZLES (1985) “Bulls of a Feather” 35TH ANNIVERSARY 1985 saw the premiere of Disney’s first two Animated TV series. CBS had this offering, a comedy series (with the voices of Jo Anne Worley, Henry Gibson, Alan Openheimer and Bill Scott) about the misadventures of inhabitants of the Land of Wuzz, who are a combination of two animals. I had Bumbleheart Lion as a stuffed animal (my sisters had Rhinokey, Eleroo, and ButterBear). Lasting only one season, I had little seeing of the series until Toon Disney in the early millennium. Love the Stephen Geyer theme song.
-MUPPETS, BABIES & MONSTERS (1985) “Piggy’s Hyper-Activity Book” & “In the Beginning” 35TH ANNIVERSARY The success of MUPPET BABIES led to Jim Henson adding a new show to the series, a sketch show combination of puppets and animation (animated segments of “Pigs in Space” and “Kermit: Private Detective” with Jim Henson as Live Action Kermit and Frank Welker as Animated Kermit). It proved to be a mixed result that was cancelled after only three episodes were aired. Somehow, seeing the Muppets animated is rather off-putting. Now, don’t get me wrong. I had zilch problem with the Muppet Babies, but I think that was because the version had less existence in Live Action (aside from MUPPETS TAKE MANHATTAN and MUPPETS’ FAMILY CHRISTMAS), I grew more familiar with their animated form. So with my major familiarity of the Adult Muppets as Live Action, it didn’t work here. However, there were two ramifications that this flop would play on MUPPET BABIES. The intro would usually be shortened (goodbye character introductions) and the closing would play the LITTLE MUPPET MONSTERS theme for the remainder of its seven-year run. The recording is somewhat edited, as if someone kept turning the record button off and on. The ending of MUPPET BABIES is cut off, so I fixed that by watching the missing stuff on Youtube.
-THE SUPER POWERS TEAM: GALACTIC GUARDIANS (1985) “The Ghost Ship” & “The Bizarro Super Powers Team” 35TH ANNIVERSARY In the second installment, Bizarro returns, not as the villain depicted in earlier seasons, but the canonical (though not for much longer) misunderstood comedy character. Mr Myxylplk (voiced by Welker) makes his final appearance in the series, guiding the Bizarro versions of the heroes into many disasters. Again, this is another edited recording. Later that day I watched the restored version on DVD (Warner).
-HULK HOGAN’S ROCK & WRESTLING (1985) “The Four Legged Pickpocket” 35TH ANNIVERSARY Wrestlemania gets its own cartoon, with Hulk, Captain Lou Albino, Andre the Giant, Junkyard Dog, and others (voiced by different actors) having misadventures (Gene Oklund popping up everywhere). Mixed with the series are live-action segments with the actual wrestlers. I watched Wrestlemania at the time, so I was familiar with the show. I didn’t realize Jim Steinman wrote the intro.
-CBS STORYBREAK (1985) “C.L.U.T.Z” 35TH ANNIVERSARY. Beginning in 1984, this showcase of animated adaptation of children’s books made its 2nd season premiere with this futuristic story by Marilyn C. Wilkes, about an out-of-date robot befriending a kid. Evidently the junior novel had the characters Caucasian while the adaptation makes them black. Interesting to hear Hamilton Camp as the title character, considering his Fenton/Gizmoduck role in DUCKTALES (where he mentally competes and defeats a robot- voiced by Frank Welker).
-DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS (1985) “The Dungeon at the Heart of Dawn” 35TH ANNIVERSARY The third season premiere leads to the summoning of a great evil that depowers Dungeon Master, Venger, and the childrens’ weapons. This was a bleak episode as I remember it, especially at the end, as DM forecasts the enemy’s return (although that never happened).
-LAND OF THE LOST (1975) “The Longest Day” A CBS broadcast of Sid and Marty Kropt’s 1970s time-lost adventure.
Commercials include a promo for Captain Crunch (the captain went missing), Barbie’s Peach swirl sash/Home Office/Workout Studio, a Mary Lou Retton exercise segment, etc.
ROBOTECH (1985) “Booby Trap” 35TH ANNIVERSARY. The Anime series that revolutionized America’s interest in the market, its mature content (even under Harmony Gold’s edits) a sharp contrast to other American animated fare at the time. Although it premiered in March 1985, I remember my first experience was CBS’ broadcast on Saturday Mornings before its regular schedule. Rewatching the series again (on VHS) in the summer of 2002 made me recognize several voice actors like Tony Oliver, Wendee Lee, Rebecca Forstadt, etc. YouTube.
TALE SPIN (1990) “I Only Have Ice for you” 30TH ANNIVERSARY this month. Disney DVD.
CARE BEARS (1985) “Birthday/Camp” 35TH ANNIVERSARY The Care Bears get their own series and different animation for the third time. It’s a combination of the Movie (the Cousins, the voice cast of Billie Richards, Dan Hennesey, etc.) and the TV specials (the music & villains). Much of my experience with this version was on THE CARE BEARS FAMILY series, which added all its different incarnations to its syndicated form. Mill Creek Entertainment DVD.
INSPECTOR GADGET (1985) “Gadget Magic” 35TH ANNIVERSARY After two years, the series returns with changes. Don Adams and Frank Welker (Dr. Claw, Brain, and Mad Cat) return but with Holly Berger replacing Cree Summer as Penny (who has added to her wardrobe a couple of jackets) and Maurice LaMarche succeeding Dan Hennesey as Chief Quimby. Gadget gets a new Gadget-automated house. The narrative also changed. Instead of the episodic tone of the first series, this one has a three-episode arc with a common theme or villain. In this case, the MAD magician Wambini. DVD.
THE 13 GHOSTS OF SCOOBY DOO (1985) “Scooba Kadoobra” 35TH ANNIVERSARY The Ghost Hunters search for their first ghost, the wizard Madlor (voiced by Peter Cullen, no stranger to playing evil sorcerers). This episode introduces a self-effacing humor to the series (at one point, the gang do a sing-a-long; then there is a breaking the Fourth wall segment where Scrappy chews out a Censor official protesting the subject material). Warner DVD.
TINY TOON ADVENTURES (1990) “The Looney Beginning” 30TH ANNIVERSARY Steven Spielberg and Warner Brothers put together this next generation series of the Looney Tunes characters. The first episode originates Buster Bunny (Charles Adler), Babs Bunny (Tress MacNeille), Plucky Duck (Joe Alaskey, who would end up playing Daffy Duck), Hampton J. Pig (Don Messick, the Hanna-Barbera Voice Actor), Furball (Frank Welker), Sweetie (Candi Milo), Dizzy Devil (Maurice LeMaurche), Elmyra (Cree Summer) and Montana Max (Danny Cooksey). I first saw this episode on a CBS Prime Time broadcast on September 14 1990. However, due to station unavailability, I would not see the series until Fox broadcast it in September 1991. Warner DVD.
DISNEY’S ADVENTURES OF THE GUMMI BEARS (1985) “A New Beginning” 35TH ANNIVERSARY Disney’s other animated series that year proved to be more successful than THE WUZZLES. Starring Bill Scott, June Foray, Lorenzo Music, Noelle North, Paul Winchell, and Christian Jacobs as the first of five actors playing the boy Cavin. Tell the truth, I may have only watched two or three episodes on its original NBC broadcast. I didn’t became a fan until it was added to the Disney Afternoon in 1990 (albeit with a shortened opening and a changed closing. I also loved the intro by Joseph Williams). Disney DVD.
THE EWOKS/DROIDS ADVENTURE HOUR (1985) “The Haunted Village” & “Escape Into Terror” 35TH ANNIVERSARY YouTube.
Tuesday 15
MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM WING (1995) “The Gundam They Called Zero” 25TH ANNIVERSARY Crazy Quatre comes back with a vengeance, bearing a new Gundam. Japanese with English Subtitles. Bandai DVD.
THE SLAYERS (1995) “X-DAY! The Demon Beast is Reborn!” 25TH ANNIVERSARY Japanese with English Subtitles. Sculptor Software DVD.
SHE-RA PRINCESS OF POWER (1985) “Duel at Devlan” 35TH ANNIVERSARY this year. The first post-pilot episode. Infamous for introducing Loo-key, another one of those annoying cute sidekicks. At least here he’s usually regulated to a cameo and the post-show message segment. BCI Eclipse DVD
BEETLEJUICE (1990) “Scare and Scare Alike” & “Spooky Boo-tique” 30TH ANNIVERSARY The second episode, where Beetlejuice does a mass-hypnotism to get the town to Lydia’s store is the highlight. “Shop ‘til you freak! At the Spooky Boo-tique!” Shout Factory DVD.
THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES (1985) “The Resident Patient” 35TH ANNIVERSARY. Holmes tries to solve a man’s paranoia…unfortunately too late. I admit my first viewing of this episode in the fall of 1992 was the final part. The episode ends on a humorous note, with no, to quote Holmes in HIS LAST BOW, ‘an east wind coming.’ MPI Home Video DVD.
MONTY PYTHON’S FLYING CIRCUS (1970) “Face the Press” 50TH ANNIVERSARY Monty Python makes its second series premiere. Highlights include a documentary about the Piranha brothers and the Ministry of the Silly Walks, one of the more famous sketches (although Cleese’s least favorite). I remember mimicking some silly walks at my school when I first learned of it in 1992. Paramount VHS.
Wednesday 16
DADDY LONG LEGS (1990) “Full of Memories” Japanese with English Subtitles. Bootleg DVD.
SHE-RA PRINCESS OF POWER (1985) “The Sea Hawk” 35TH ANNIVERSARY BCI Eclipse DVD.
FREAKAZOID (1995) “Candle Jack/Toby Danger/The Noob” 25TH ANNIVERSARY The second segment is a JOHNNY QUEST spoof, right down to the limited animation style (Don Messick reprises a version of Dr. Quest). Bootleg DVD.
G.I. JOE (1985) “The Further Adventures of GI Joe”, “Rendezvous in the City of Dead”, “Three Cubes to Darkness”, and “Chaos in the City of Lost Souls” 35TH ANNIVERSARY After two hit mini-series, JOE finally becomes a TV series. Like the previous stories, the beginning showcase is a five-parter called the Pyramids of Darkness. Cobra plants four giant black cubes around the world to emit a electricity-blocking field. First appearances of the Cobra Twins Xamot and Tomax, and Joes Barbacue, Dusty, Airtight, Alpine, Bazooka, Quick Kick, Footloose, and Polly the parrot (voice by Frank Welker). Otherwise the standard formula is used (Duke gets captured, locational set pieces, the Joes accidentally end up at Cobra Temple). I watched the first four episodes Wednesday through Saturday. Youtube.
Thursday 17
TENCHI MUYO TV! (1995) “No Need for a Showdown!” 25TH ANNIVERSARY. The final fight between Tenchi and Kagato. Japanese with English Subtitles. Pioneer DVD.
SHE-RA PRINCESS OF POWER (1985) “The Red Knight” 35TH ANNIVERSARY BCI Eclipse DVD.
THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL-AIR (1990) “Bang the Drum Hillary” 30TH ANNIVERSARY Will Smith’s music partner Jazzy Jeff makes his first appearance as Jazz Townes (and getting the first of his many Uncle Phil-induced departures). Warner DVD.
TINY TOON ADVENTURES (1990) “Quack in the Quirk” 30TH ANNIVERSARY. The first episode features Plucky in a STAR WARS spoof. A lot of other Sci-fi references (a Spaceship parking lot shows the Enterprise, the Tardis, the rocket from TINTIN). Warner DVD.
PETER PAN AND THE PIRATES (1990) “The Play’s the Thing” 30TH ANNIVERSARY this year. Seeing the Lost Boys butcher William Shakespeare’s JULIUS CAESAR, Hook decides to call a truce and put up a more respectful rendering of the Bard, much to the consternation of his Pirates. Of course, Hook still intends to cause a tragedy behind the scenes as well. Memorable for Tim Curry’s quotation of Shakespeare quotes. YouTube.
Friday 18
EQUALIZER (1985) “The Equalizer” 35TH ANNIVERSARY Season premiere of 1980s TV series starring Edward Woodward as an ex-secret agent using his skills to ‘Equalize’ situations for the downtrodden. With William Zabka as his estranged son. I was aware of the series back in its day, but never watched it until A&E in the early millennium. Universal DVD.
GARGOYLES (1995) “City of Stone Part 1-2” 25TH ANNIVERSARY One thing I liked about this series was it threading a tapestry continuity that grows bigger. This four-parter reveals the origin of Macbeth (yes, he was the Scottish King that inspired Shakespeare, although his story is in some ways more historical and yet more fanciful than the Scottish Play). It also focuses on how Demona survived throughout the centuries and her genesis as a villainess. I viewed the first two episodes from Friday to Saturday. Disney DVD.
TINY TOON ADVENTURES (1990) “Wheel of Comedy” 30TH ANNIVERSARY The first three-short episode, with showcases on Dizzy Devil, Elmyra, Furball, and Babs & Buster. Warner DVD.
PETER PAN AND THE PIRATES (1990) “Hook’s Mother” 30TH ANNIVERSARY this month. Peter and the gang steal a portrait of Hook’s mother, the joke being that the never-seen image is a horrible sight. YouTube.
NARUTO SHIPPUDEN (2013) “Izanagi and Izanami” English Dubbed. VIZ Media DVD.
Saturday 19
SHE-RA: PRINCESS OF POWER (1985) “The Sorrowful Dragon” 35TH ANNIVERSARY. BCI Eclipse DVD.
TALE SPIN (1990) “Vowel Play” 30TH ANNIVERSARY Spelling-challenged Baloo is tricked into making smoke signals for a criminal mastermind. One of the few times where Baloo-stripped of his shirt- resembles his JUNGLE BOOK counterpart. Disney DVD.
PETER PAN AND THE PIRATES (1990) “Demise of Hook” 30TH ANNIVERSARY this month. Captain Hook has been killed in an explosion…or has he? The episode takes a nuance look on Peter, who finds he misses the guy. Youtube.
SCOOBY DOO WHERE ARE YOU? (1970) “Mystery Mask Mix-Up” 50TH ANNIVERSARY The gang cross masks with Chinatown ‘ghosts.’ Most memorable of this episode is the musical chase scene “I Can Make You Happy” one of the few times the whole gang is involved. I remember taping this scene around Christmas 1995, watching the scene constantly. Warner DVD
JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS (1970) “A Green Thumb is Not a Goldfinger” 50TH ANNIVERSARY Warner DVD.
TINY TOON ADVENTURES (1990) “Test-Stressed” 30TH ANNIVERSARY. The subject is school, with episodes focusing on Plucky, Furball, and Buster’s dealings with Shirley the Loon (Gail Matthius, she of the infamous SNL 6th season cast), Li’l Sneezer (Kathie Soucie), and Fowlmouth (Rob Paulsen). Warner DVD.
THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW (1970) 50TH ANNIVERSARY The premiere of the classic 1970s TV series and a model to feminism and female independence. I remember watching a couple of episodes on Nick at Nite in the early 1990s. FoxVideo DVD.
ORDINARY PEOPLE (1980) 40TH ANNIVERSARY Just as this day marks the debut of Moore’s most famous TV show, it also was the premiere of her most famous film. A Robert Redford directed film about a suicidal teenager dealing with Survivor’s guilt over his popular brother’s death, getting little to no help from his superficial, emotionally distant mother. I first read about this film from John M. Considine’s book THE CINEMA OF ADOLESCENCE. When I got the old VHS at a Rental store clearance sale, I would usually watch it in the winter. Paramount VHS.
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