101 Dalmatians (The Series) Aladdin (The Series) Disney Babies Bad Guys Bonkers Buzz Lightyear, (The Adventures of) Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers DarkWing Duck The Disney Afternoon Disney Villians Diz Kidz Doug, (Brand Spanking New) DuckTales Fluppy Dogs Gargoyles / Gargoyles: The Goliath Chronicles Goof Troop Gummi Bears, (Adventures of the) Hercules (The Series) Jungle Cubs, (The Jungle Book's) The Little Mermaid (The Series) Marsupilami The Mighty Ducks (The Animated Series) Minnie 'n Me MouseWorks Nightmare Ned One Saturday Morning PB&J Otter Pepper Ann Quack Pack Raw Toonage Recess Shnookums & Meat! (Funny Cartoon Show) TaleSpin Timon & Pumbaa, (The Lion King's) Winnie the Pooh, (The New Adventures of) Wuzzles
DISNEY BABIES: The Disney Babies is a line of merchandise, including, toys, clothing, books and assorted miscellany related to some of the most popular Disney characters. While toys and such displaying images of Mickey and Minnie as babies have been manufactured since the early 1960s, it wasn't until the beginning of the 1990s that the line of merchandise actually became popular. While the "Disney Babies" have not appeared in any Disney animated series, they have been the stars of several television commercial spots for "Huggies" (baby diapers) in which they interacted with live action babies a la "Who Framed Roger Rabbit," and in France a magazine called "Le Journal de Mickey" has been publishing "Disney Babies" comics for several years (only one of those strips have actually appeared in American comics, specifically in "Walt Disney's Comics and Stories" #582 starring Baby Pete in "Pete's Pacifier"). However, in France and other European countries, the comic book adventures of the Disney Babies has lasted for many years, and while Baby Horace and Clarabelle were not counted among them, Baby Gladstone was. For more information and a wonderful interview with one of their best artists, Claude Marin, click HERE. So far, in the USA, only twelve characters comprise the Disney Babies. They are: MINNIE 'n ME: Like "Disney Babies," Disney's "Minnie 'n Me" is also a line of merchandise, including, toys, clothing, books and assorted miscellany related to a pre-teen version of Minnie Mouse and her childhood friends. While mostly instructional in nature, the stories and such are extremely saccharine and 'cute.' Basically ten characters comprise Minnie 'n Me. They are: WUZZLES: Disney's "Wuzzles" was Disney's first venture into on-going children's television animation. In 1985, in association with the toy manufacturer Hasbro, Disney launched a new group of characters, the Wuzzles, in their own TV series. The Wuzzles live on an island called "Wuz," hence the name "Wuzzles." Each is a composite animal: Bumblelion = part bumblebee and part lion, and they all possess wings (even if most of them can't fly). Some of the voices behind the characters were actors such as JoAnne Worley (Hoppopotamus) and Henry Gibson (Eleroo), etc. Their first screen adventure of these curious, but lovable characters was released theatrically in Britian on March 1986, and was called "The Wuzzles, Bulls of a Feather." The story centered on the main characters finding a mysterious egg and their quest to return it to it's mother. The limited drawing techniques utilized for the film were produced by the Walt Disney Television Animation Group. Disney's Wuzzles was the first in a now continuing series of 'made-for-T.V.' animated shows which eventually manifested the format known as "The Disney Afternoon." Disney's Wuzzles premiered in the fall of 1985.' Basically nine characters comprised the main characters in the Wuzzles, there were three recurring villians lead by Croc, and other chracters appeared as necessary. To find out more information about the "Wuzzles" check out the "Unofficial Wuzzles Fan Page." Some of the characters from Disney's "Wuzzles" are: DISNEY'S ADVENTURES OF THE GUMMI BEARS: Created from an original idea by Company Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Michael Eisner, and based on a popular European candy, Gummi Bears (Gummi Baren), and like their namesake, the Gummis bounced their way onto WDTV in fall of 1985. They have even appeared in a theatrical version of their adventures, "The Gummi Bears, A New Beginning," which was released in Britian in 1987. The Gummi Bears are a colorful band of bears living in old Europe around the turn of the century from a place called Gummi Glen within the kingdom of Dunwyn. Among the main characters were Sunni Gummi, an energetic teenager; Gruffi Gummi, the group's pessimistic leader; Zummi Gummi, the group's elder and a magician; Tummi Gummi, a kind-hearted glutton; Cubbi Gummi, the youngest member of the family who dreams of the days of Gummi Knights; and Grammi Gummi, the matriarch of the family and official taste mistress of Gummiberry Juice. Gummis are believed to be creatures of fairytales, but the young pageboy Cavin has always believed in them, and one day stumbled upon their lair. Later, Princess Calla, King Gregor's daughter, learnof their existence. And now, joined by their beatnik cousin, Gusto Gummi and his pet Artie the toucan, they battle to keep the midieval kingdom of Dunwyn free from the evil Duke Igthorn and his legion of ogres, and from the wicked sorceress Lady Bane and her troggles. Among the Gummis that were introduced later in the series were the Barbic Gummis (*) who remained in the ruins of the old Gummi capitol city, Ursalia, after the rest of the ancient Gummis fled across the ocean to New Gumbria (somewhere in America?). For even more information on "Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears" check out these sites at a Lot of Lara Links. Some of the recurring characters in the Gummi Bears were: DISNEY'S FLUPPY DOGS: Disney's Fluppy Dogs was a one hour TV special which aired November 27, 1986, and was intended to be a pilot for the 3rd Walt Disney Television animated series. It featured six pastel-colored talking dogs which came through an interdimensional doorway into the lives of ten year old boy, Jamie, and his slightly older neighbor, Claire, and were the intended prey of the evil miser Wagstaff. The basic premise for the series was akin to the live-action Sci-Fi show called "Sliders," where a band adventurous cuddly dog-like creatures utilized a magical crystal key, able to open inter-dimensional doorways. They became lost between worlds while trying to find their way home, and ended up on earth. Mistaken for actual dogs they are impounded. Jamie picked out Stanli as a new pet from the pound and the adventure begins. While she may have been intended for the series, Fanci was not featured in the pilot. The images supplied here are from a children's book which included Fanci, and were apparently based on preliminary designs for the Fluppies. These are slightly different from the designs that appeared in the actual pilot film. Based on these designs it would appear that the Fluppy Dogs were originally targeted to young girls, and by the time it reach post production the focus was changed dramatically, but not enough to form a concrete target audience, which might explain it's failure to become a regular series. For a little more information check out: The Internet Movie Database. Some of the characters in the Fluppy Dogs were: DISNEY'S DUCKTALES: Disney's DuckTales finds its roots in the first appearance of Donald's Nephews, HD&L (Huey, Dewey & Louie) in the short "Donald's Nephews," (1938). DuckTales has been a unique vehicle for bringing many comics-related characters to the small screen, such as Gyro, Magica, Gladstone, the Beagle Boys and the Phantom Blot which successfully translated from comics to cartoons, albeit with some modifications. It was also a format for reviving older characters such as Bad Pete and Donald Duck. The characters are all residents of Duckburg, USA. Disney's DuckTales began in the fall of 1987, and the program "Quack Pack" was an attempt to revive and update the characters in 1996. Ducktales' popularity even launched them into their own full-length theatrical film "Ducktales: The Movie, Treasure of the Lost Lamp." Some characters, like the Beagle Boys, one of the show's primary antagonistic groups, in the comics can be traced back to $crooge's youth; however their names, Ma Beagle and individual personalities were a creation of the TV show. To find out more information about "Disney's DuckTales" you might want to check "DuckTales: The Web Page." Some of the characters in the the Disney's DuckTales were: NEW ADVENTURES OF WINNIE THE POOH: Disney's "New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh" is a continuation of the series of "Pooh" films from the Disney studios. Capitalizing on the popularity of such A.A. Milne characters as Pooh, Piglet and Tigger, the show was originally paired with Disney's Gummi Bears into the "un-bear-ably fun" timeslot know as "The Gummi Bears & Winnie the Pooh Hour." WTP was Disney's 5th DTA attempt and the timeslot eventually evolved into the two hour format now known as "The Disney Afternoon." WTP premeired in the fall of 1985. * These are non-Milne characters: Gopher found his origin in the Disney feature films, while the intellectual young Dexter and the others were introduced in the half hour series. For even more information on "Disney's New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh" check out this site: Christopher Robin's Character Guide to Winnie the Pooh, or at this link page full of Pooh sites: 5 Geokids Pooh Links.
Some of the characters in the the "New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh" were: CHIP 'n' DALE RESCUE RANGERS: Chip 'n Dale were originally created as foils for Donald Duck (and Pluto), but due to their immense popularity (a fact which inspired Warner Bros own Goofy Gophers: Mac 'n Tosh), and as such, were finally granted their own cartoon shorts. More recently, however, they had graduated to their own syndicated program. Premiering in the fall of 1989, they were set forth as an stand-alone cartoon program until the following year (see: TaleSpin). "Chip 'n' Dale Rescue Rangers" was a concept based loosely on the feature films "The Rescuers" and it's concurrent film with CnDRR, "The Rescuers Down-Under."
The series theme song is performed by pop-rock group "The Jets." For even more information on "Chip 'n' Dale Rescue Rangers" check out this link to the Rescue Ranger HeadQuarters or a Lot of Lara Links.
Some of the characters in the the "Chip 'n' Dale Rescue Rangers" were: DISNEY'S TALESPIN: "Disney's TaleSpin" finds it's roots in a reworking of the beloved Disney classic film "The Jungle Book", 1967, which was based on Rudyard Kipling's 1894 book of the same name. Apparently the role of Mowgli, the wildboy, was supplanted by the young bearcub, Kit, including the familiar use the nicknames "Pappa Bear" and "Li'l Britches." Other familiar characters are King Louie, now the owner of a airplane refueling station and tavern/maltshop, and Shere Kahn, as a nefarious industrial magnate. Even Wildcat, the company mechanic, despite his oafishness, seems to correspond roughly to Bageera. New characters Rebecca and her daughter, Molly, own the airfreight delivery agency, "Higher for Hire" in the seaside city of Cape Suzette. More recently a new animated series was produced using the "Jungle Book" characters called "Jungle Cubs" (see: "Jungle Cubs"). To find out more information about "Disney's TaleSpin" you might want to check out a whole Lot of Lara Links. Some of the characters in the the "Disney's TaleSpin" were:
DARKWING DUCK: This is ostensibly Disney's first "spin-off" series, having it roots firmly in "DuckTales." Originally conceived to be a James Bond-style show based on the character "Double-0 Duck" (who was an entirely different character in Disney Comics than the one which appears in "DuckTales"), where Launchpad was to move to the new series as 00-Duck's sidekick. This concept eventually evolved to the current superhero storyline. DW and the rest are residents of the Gotham-like city of St. Canard. DarkWing Duck premeired in the fall of 1991 on TDA. "DarkWing Duck" has been nominated for many awards. Gosalyn Waddlemeyer, the orphaned daughter of a brilliant scientist, became a ward of the court and was eventually adopted by her uncle Drake Mallard (aka DarkWing Duck). Knowing her adoptive father's secret identity she, too, has occassionally donned a crimefighting costume calling herself the archer "QuiverWing Quack." However, the role of "official" sidekick still belongs to Launchpad. DW is occassionally the leader of a superhero network called Justice Ducks comprised of Launchpad, Stegmutt, Neptunia, Morgana and Duckburg's own Gizmo-Duck. This was originally in response to the teaming of "The Fearsome Four" (MegaVolt, Bushroot, Quackerjack and the Liquidator) whose leader is none other the the villianous otherdimensional incarnation of DW, Nega-Duck. Occassionally DW serves as a secret agent for the government agency known as S.H.U.S.H (originally called "Duckburg Intelligence Agency" - DIA). Director J. Gander Hooter, Agents 00-Duck and Grizlykoff, Dr. Sara Bellum and "Dr. G." [Gyro], are all members of this secret organization, where DW even serves as the leader of the DarkWing Squad (DarkWing Deer, DarkWing Dodo, DarkWing Donkey and DarkWing Dog). Whereas Steelebeak, Amonia Pine, Ample Grime and the henchmen known as Eggmen all serve as agents of the nefarious F.O.W.L. (Fiendish Organization for World Larceny), an organization which, like the DIA, was first introduced in "DuckTales" as headed by Dr. Nogood. Taurus Bulba was even reserected by F.O.W.L. to become the cyborg now mcalled the Steerminator. For more information about "DarkWing Duck" check out the "Webpage that Flaps in the Night." Some of the characters in the the "DarkWing Duck" were: GOOF TROOP: Prior to this series Goofy had already enjoyed an illustrious career in cartoons, playing everyone from an innocent goober feasting sports patron to Dicken's Jacob Marley (in "Mickey's Christmas Carol"), from the Mighty Knight to Sport Goofy. He has personally portrayed nearly every single member of the Goofy Family Tree (both male & female alike). Originally called Dippy Dawg, then Dippy the Goof, the Goof, and finally just "Goofy," but his monickers didn't end there: He was eventually cast as representative of everyman in the role of George G. Geef, with wife and son in tow. Goofy would also become Super Goof whenever he donned his cape and red longjohns [after eating the magic goobers he kept under his hat]. In "Goof Troop," the producers picked up on the basic themes of Goofy's career and reafirmed Goofy as a single father, raising his son, Max (Maxillion Goof), also known as Goofy Junior. Having packed up their belongings, the tow of them moved back home to Spoonerville where Goofy encounters his longtime friend/foe, Bad Pete, who married his highschool girlfriend, Peg, and has two children of his own, P.J. & Pistol. Max is dealing with the onslaught of puberty and and growing up in the shadow of his goofy father, all the while our unencumbered hero, Goofy, reveals many facets of his personality while blissfully enduring Pete's personal grudge against him. "Goof Troop" premiered in the fall of 1992 on TDA. His first full-length feature film arrived in theaters in Spring 1995, "A Goofy Movie." A possible sequel is currently in the works under the name of "Another Goofy Movie." Some of the characters from "Goof Troop" (and "A Goofy Movie") are: DISNEY'S THE LITTLE MERMAID: The first non-TDA cartoon series to premiere for some time, this series is actually a prequel to the movie of the same name. King Triton and his daughters live in the undersea kingdom of Atlantica. Some of the characters listed have only appeared in the movie while others have only appeared in short stories or comics presenting the Little Mermaid and Sebastian (who also graduated to his own set of cartoon shorts, also called "Sebastian" - see "Raw Toonage"). TLM premiered in the fall of 1992 with the animated short called "A Whale of a Tale," then moved to Saturday mornings. Some of the characters from "Disney's The Little Mermaid" are: DISNEY'S RAW TOONAGE: This non-TDA series also found it's home on Saturday mornings and was used as an experimental showcase for several animated shorts which were hosted every weekend by a different popular Disney character (i.e., Ludwig von Drake, Uncle $crooge, Launchpad McQuack, Sebastian, Gosalyn, Bonkeres, etc.). The four main featurettes which regularly appeared in the show were "He's Bonkers!," "Marsupilami," "Sebastian," and a variety show called "Totally Tasteless Video." Except for TTV the featurettes all graduated to their own animated programs. Mar and Seb were combined into the "Marsupilami" show on Saturday mornings, and "Bonkers" became a new TDA program. While interesting as a format, "Raw Toonage" failed to achieve its purpose. The next attempt by Disney to showcase different shorts was in the "Shnookums and Meat Funny Cartoon Show" on TDA. To find out a little more about "Disney's Raw Toonage" you might check out Juan Lara's page. Some of the characters from "Disney's Raw Toonage" are: BONKERS: "Disney's Bonkers" is a format that has gone through many changes since it's creation. Originally short, 12 minute segments were produced for "Disney's Raw Toonage" where the show was called "He's Bonkers!" and each segment was a loony cartoon in the tradition of Warner Bros.' own "Bugs Bunny" or especially the wacky "Roger Rabbit" cartoon shorts produced for the ficticious "Maroon Cartoons" of Wackytoons Studios." In fact Bonkers seems to have been Disney's intent to have a fully-owned wacky character of their own (without all the lisencing restrictions involved with re-using writer Gary Wolf's and producer Steven Speilberg's "Roger Rabbit"). His personality is obviously modelled after Roger Rabbit, and he even hails from "Toon Town," and is partnered with a supposedly real-life Detective, Lucky Piquel, of the Hollywood Police Department's "Toon Division" (obviously Lucky's predecessor would have been Eddie Valiant from "Who Framed Roger Rabbit"). In his first incarnation, while still a part of "Raw Toonage," from the "He's Bonkers! segments," he was a knobby-eared bobcat in love with the Marilyn Monroe-ish Fawn Deer, and was almost never without his trusty sidekick, Jitters A. Dogg, often facing the villiany of Grumbles Grizzly. These episodes, which were later incorporated into the "Bonkers" series, represent his life as a toon actor, before he became a "has been." After graduating from "Raw Toonage" he was awarded his own show as part of "The Disney Afternoon" which premiered Fall 1993. In "Bonkers" he was now an out-of-work toon whose fandom had waned in favor of cartoons which feature battling robots and ninja street-fighting commandos with humongous guns. Given a second chance he was made an official "toon cop" and teamed up with the aggitated Sgt. Francis Grating and Sgt. Miranda Wright under the charge of Chief Kanifky. For his second season the storyline was revamped, a new origin tale premiere as an hour long special "Going Bonkers/Gone Bonkers" which retold his tale of a down-and-out toon, though this time his friends (Fawn Deer, Jitters and others) were disappearing at the hands of the evil Collector. To solve the crime and rescue his friends he was teamed with detective, Lucky Piquel, still under Chief Kanifky, and this became the premise for the new format. In this last incarnation he was also teamed with new companions like Fall A-Part Rabbit, Toots the Horn and even the Mad Hatter & March Hare from Disney's "Alice in Wonderland." While the Miranda Wright episodes of "Bonkers" (the series) were created first, the Lucky Piquel ones are supposed to come first in continuity. The last Lucky Piquel episode pairs Bonkers with Miranda as Lucky moves to Washington in order to become an FBI agent. Among the many guest stars to appear were Fawn Deer, Goofy, Dumbo, the Fantasia Brooms, etc.. Some of the characters from "Disney's Bonkers" are: MARSUPILAMI: Disney's "Marsupilami" is based on the popular European comicbook character of the same name (also known as "Kokomiko"). While the concept of the character remained true to the original, Disney's version eliminated the kids Spirou & Fantasio and the squirrel, Spip, and teamed Mars (as he is affectionately called), with Maurice "Mo" the slobbering gorilla. "Marsupilami," like "Bonkers," was a spin-off from "Raw Toonage." An occasional recurring theme has Mars & Mo persued by the poaching menace of a human named "Norman" (who appears to be the template for the nefarious "Quint" who menaces "Timon & Pumbaa"). These stories take place in the Jungle and a prominent, almost independent character, is Mars' own prehensile, and immensely fantastic tail. A co-feature often shown within the half hour time slot of "Marsupilami" was "The Little Mermaid" spin-off "Disney's Sebastian" (see: "Raw Toonage"). Some of the characters from "Marsupilami" are: ALADDIN: Disney's "Aladdin" was the second WDTV series based on a hit theatrical feature film, however, unlike "The Little Mermaid," this series was not a prequel, but rather a sequel which picked up directly after the end of the movie. Actually, the launching of the series was preceded by the direct-to-video (D2V) film "The Return of Jafar" which set the pace and premise for the new television series. The actual series begins just after the end of "Jafar." "The Return of Jafar" also marked Disney first film released directly for the home market. In the series the marriage of Aladdin the street rat to Princess Jasmine is delayed, though they are still engaged. Iago, ofrmerly Jafar's pet, joins the side of good and redeams his place in the palace by saving the heroes' lives. Another interesting aspect of the Aladdin series was that while the show itself indeed became a part of The Disney Afternoon premiering in the fall of 1994, a set of 13 seperate episodes were consigned to specifically to Saturday mornings (a tradition which was practiced with nearly every new TDA program thereafter). Apparently, the Saturday episodes were said to have had a much "darker" feel to them. At the end of the series several seasons worth of new episodes, the tale of Aladdin, Jasmine, Genie and friends culminated in the unprecidented release of a third feature-length film D2V called "Aladdin and the King of Thieves" which introduced Aladdin's long-lost father and finally saw Aladdin and Jasmine married. According to some sources a fourth D2V in planned. Some of the characters from "Aladdin" are: GARGOYLES / GARGOYLES: THE GOLIATH CHRONICLES: Disney's "Gargoyles" represents a significant departure from the normal weekday cartoon series. It is a darkly dramatic series that debuted in November of 1994. After it's 5-part introduction, "The Heroes Awaken" (also released as a feature-length D2V film), it settled into the "Bonkers" timeslot, pre-empting the show every Friday afternoon in what was called "Action Friday" where it appeared weekly rather than daily. In 1995 it moved to M-Th in the same timeslot, with Fridays presenting the new "Timon & Pumbaa" program. After three successful seasons, and due to its immense popularity, the program was granted an unprecedented fourth season of Saturday morning episodes, however, the show took a radical turn by the end of the thrid season, and under new directorship the program was redubbed "Gargoyles: The Goliath Chronicles." In the original series, the emphasis was on the Gargoyles as defenders of the night, telling of their origin, their centuries of history and how they secretly fought to save mankind. At the end of the series the hatred of the Canmore clan revealed the existence of the Gargoyles to all of Manhattan. The new series picked up with that theme and showed the Gargoyles as a persecuted breed because of man's ignorance ("that which man doesn't understand, he fears" ). Some fans of the original presentation of the "Gargoyles" seriously disliked the new approach given by "The Goliath Cronicles." Another proposed spin-off series was titled "The Redemption Squad" or "Bad Guys." Some of the characters from "Gargoyles" and "Gargoyles: The Goliath Chronicles" are: SHNOOKUMS & MEAT! FUNNY CARTOON SHOW: THE LION KING'S TIMON & PUMBAA: QUACK PACK: Originally called "Duck Daze" (a resonance of which can still be heard in the series' theme song performed by Eddie Money. THE MIGHTY DUCKS: THE JUNGLE BOOK'S JUNGLE CUBS: This series was a response to the prescription mandate that Networks produce more "educationally oriented cartoons" which explains why the messages are so obviously heavy-handed. Beginning in the Fall of 1996 the premise of the show is that it takes place while the animals from "The Jungle Book" were still cubs, long before the introduction of the man-cub Mowgli, and the jungles of India were destined never to be the same. The "Jungle Cubs" haven't fully assumed their respective roles as heroes or villains, but their personalities have certainly been cast. Baloo the bear, Bagheera the panther, and the rest of Disney's "Jungle Cubs" live their life among the trees. The cubs face fierce beasts, puzzling riddles, and that strangest of creatures, man. Not the least of their problems are Cecil and Arthur, two dimwitted buzzards who are apparently predecessors to the feature films' mop-haired Ziggy, Buzzie, Flaps & Dizzy. The series theme song, "The Bare Necessities" is performed by Lou Rawls. Some of the characters from "Disney's Jungle Cubs" are: BRAND SPANKING NEW DOUG: "Brand Spanking New Doug" is a Disney licensed show from Nickelodeon where the original, younger version of "Doug" still runs. The show deals with the problems of growing up and going to junior high school through the eyes of Doug Funnie. Prominent characters are: Doug Funnie (Thomas McHugh voices the winning personality of Doug Funnie), Patty Mayonnaise (Connie Shulman brings warmth and vivacity to the voice of Patti Mayonnaise, Doug's secret heartthrob), Skeeter Valentine, Ned Valentine & Mr. Dink (Fred Newman lends his veteran voice to the roles of Doug's weird best friend, Skeeter Valentine; to Roger Klotz's gang member, Ned; and to the dimwitted but kindly next-door neighbor, Mr. Dink. He has also voiced a host of other parts, like the howls and yowls of Doug's dog, Porkchop, and Roger's cat, Stinky), Beebe Bluff (Alice Playten contributes the voice of Doug's friend Beebe Bluff, the spoiled but good-hearted daughter of the richest man in Bluffington), Roger Klotz (Chris Phillips brings a native New Yorker's street-wise sensibility and humor to Roger's tough-guy voice), Theda Funnie, Judy Funnie, & Connie Benge (Becca Lish creates the character voices for Doug's mom, Theda; Doug's bohemian, theatrical older sister, Judy; and his friend and classmate, Connie Benge). NIGHTMARE NED: "Nightmare Ned" was Disney's first attempt in animation and presentation which emulated Nickelodeon's many preteen and pre-pubescent cartoons like "Doug" and "Rug Rats." The series focused on the young Ned as he dealt with his fears and problems through his nightmares. 
ONE SATURDAY MORNING: "Doug," "Pepper Ann," and "Recess" packaged together as part of a Disney Afternoon-Type hour and a half timeslot called "Disney's One Saturday Morning" (OSM). The showcase format features a live-action audience, with Manny and kids co-hosting during commercial bumpers, and some animated sequences. ("One Saturday Morning" is the street address of the computer generated building where this all takes place). DISNEY'S RECESS: Every schoolkid knows that the fun you'll have whenever the bell rings for "Recess"! In this new series from the makers of "RugRats," six unlikely companions -- street-smart Tubby, popular Vince, fearless Spinelli, Mikey the soft-hearted hulk, brilliant Gretchen, and Gus the fearful pessimist -- band together against the perils of the playground. They've got their hands full with fearsome field monitor Miss Finster, dissatisfied Principal Prickly, and more! Watch it Saturdays on ABC when you tune in to "Disney's One Saturday Morning." THE LEADER - T.J. voiced by Ross Malinger is a short, tubby kid with baggy pants -- the last kid on the playground you'd expect to be a leader. He's so gregarious, however (not to mention confident, street-smart and funny), that everyone in the group naturally follows him. THE JOCK - Vince voiced by Rickey D'Shon Collins Cool, handsome, and great at sports, Vince is the popular kid who knows all the rules and conventions of the playground. (For example, how low you're supposed to bow to a sixth grader, or how low a first grader is supposed to bow to you.) He's the ultimate elementary school insider, and the diplomat of the playground. THE FIGHTER - Spinelli voiced by Pamela Segall Not your average school-yard tough, Spinelli is actually a skinny little girl who doesn't look like she could hurt anyone. But what she lacks in size and strength, Spinelli makes up for in determination and fearlessness; she can easily beat the tar out of any bully on the playground! THE POET - Mikey voiced by Jason Davis A muscular hulk who looks like trouble, Mikey is actually an emotional sweetheart. He hates violence, and whenever challenged by the other big kids on the playground, he responds with a verse or two of his favorite pacifist poet. THE BRAINS - Gretchen voiced by Ashley Johnson A tall, skinny, gawky girl with an adenoidal voice, Gretchen is often underestimated by the kids on the playground. But she's so smart, she could design a nuclear reactor, and when she talks, the rest of the gang listens. THE COWARD - Gus voiced by Courtland Mead The son of a blood-and-guts military officer, gloomy Gus has changed schools too often, and always fears the worst is about to happen. But despite the hard lessons of his life, Gus has one overwhelming quality -- a good heart. In the end, he always manages to conquer his fears . . . with a little help from his friends, of course. PEPPER ANN: "Disney's Pepper Ann" premiered Fall 1997 and tells the life and struggles from the perspective of a young, independent girl (perhaps the countpart to "Doug"). The sereies features Pepper Ann (voiced by "E.R.'s" Kathleen Wilhoite) gives us the inside scoop on life as a tween -- no longer a kid, not yet a teenager. Active, confident and full of energy, she's after acceptance, unabashed adulation -- and a little local fame wouldn't hurt! At that tenuous crossroads crossroads between childhood and adulthood, Pepper Ann is at odds with both worlds. She is a 12 y/o, and her best friends are Milo and Nicky. Her mom is a single, working mother. As the oldest child of a single parent, Pepper Ann loves and misses her Dad but feels like she fits in because divorce is so common among her classmates. Lydia Pearson (voiced by April Winchell) is Pepper Ann's mom. She and Pepper Ann have the typical parent/adolescent relationship. Everything that Mom says and does is embarrassing! Everything about Mom is big, bold and colorful -- even her laugh is a little too loud and a little too long (for Pepper Ann's taste, at least). Pepper Ann knows her mom means well, but does she have to mean well in public? Though occasionally Mom can be cool, Pepper Ann would prefer not to have other people see that. Milo (voiced by Danny Cooksey) cultivates a unique look that's way off the fashion track -- the deliberate result of careful, time-consuming planning. Looking like you couldn't care less is an art, after all! Milo loves to goof around -- some might call it misbehaving -- but he prefers to think of it as creative anarchy. His parents fear that if he doesn't wind up as a brilliant, creative genius, he's destined for a life as a delinquent. But, Pepper Ann loves hanging out with him. He's one of the few guys she doesn't think of as a guy -- and that's a huge compliment. Moose (voiced by Pamela Segall) Little sister Moose -- that's short for Margaret Rose -- is a tough little kid with a voice cut on gravel and it doesn't bother her a bit when people think she's Pepper Ann's brother on the phone. Moose is independent, self- sufficient and delightfully oblivious to what other people think. What really gets Pepper Ann is the fact that her little sister doesn't seem to idolize her at all -- she doesn't even try to mess with her stuff! Isn't this supposed to be a rite of passage?! 101 DALMATIANS: Originally intended to be called "Dalmatians 101" it changed to "101 Dalmatians" (the series) just before its premiere. I the series opener "Home is Where the Bark is" the Dearlys (no longer called Radcliff as in the orginal animated film, but Dearly as they are in the original childrens book and in the Live Action version film), Roger and Anita, with Nanny, decide to move to the country where the 99 puppies will have room to grow and play (there wasn't enough space in their city brownstone apartment house in Topstown). The fact that the Widow Smedley's farm, which the Dearlys purchased, sits next to the De Vil Mansion didn't bode well for Cruella De Vil, its prime occupant. She's become a corporate criminal: needy and neurotic. Of course she no longer wants the Puppies' hides since it is not 'policially correct' to wear fur, but she definitely wants the Dearlys and the Dalmatians off the farm. To this end she has hired brothers Horace & Jasper Badun of "H & J Concepts." Cruella's pet ferret, Scorch has made it his business to terrorize the puppies himself. The show focuses primarily on three puppies: Lucky TV expert and leader and canine Tom Sawyer, loyal and scholarly brother Rolly and their outspoken New Age guru sister the runt Cadpig. They're joined by colorful friends like Spot, the girl chicken who wants to be a dog and a member of the "Bark Brigade." Early promotional material listed "dictatorial Penny and mischievous Patch" as two other puppy cast members, but the highlighted puppies have widdled down to three. Other puppies appearing in the show have included the brave three-legged Tripod, Duke, Wizzer and their sister Two-tone. The show seems to be a blending of both movies (the original animated and the live action features), so the potential exists for other puppies from the films to appear (especially: Penny, Freckles, Patch and Pepper [animated] and Jewel, Dipstick and Fidget [live action]). "101 Dalmatians" joined the Disney Afternoon line-up Fall 1997, though some areas only carry it on Saturdays. Some of the characters from "Disney's 101 Dalmatians" are: PB&J OTTER: "Disney's PB&J Otter" is a new animated series produced by Disney and created by Jim Jinkins as Disney's contribution to Project Zero
(an attempt to make educational, positive cartoons for young children). The show features cartoon shorts which attempt to teach problem solving skills through the antics of the show's three main characters, the young Otters named Peanut, Jelly and Butter. They begin the process of problem solving by doing what they call "The Noodle Dance" which is a simple jig they do while brainstorming ideas. Of course the kid's favorite food is "peanutbutter & jelly sandwiches. It's the kind of show that parents watch with their kids. HERCULES: "Disney's Hercules," like the animated series "Disney's The Little Mermaid," is based on his teen-aged adventures, though, unlike the series, it is not a prequel to the film of the same name ("Disney's The Little Mermaid" featured tales of a 15 year old Ariel which occured before the start of the theatrical film). Nor is it truly a sequel like "Disney's Aladdin" (whose tales takes place after the events from the original film). Rather "Hercules" (the series) features events which occur midway through the actual film, during his years in training on the Isle of Idra under the tutalage of Philoctetes (Phil) the Satyr. Many of the Olympian Gods and Goddesses only glimpsed during the film pay visit to they young hero-to-be, but are they around to help or hinder him. Hades is definitely around to hinder him. Since events occur before young Herc meets and falls for the lovely Megara (Meg), he is joined by two new friends Cassandra (comedianne Sandra Bernhardt) and Icarus (French Stewart of "Third Rock From the Sun"). "Hercules" is scheduled to premiere in the Fall of 1998 as a part of The old " Disney Afternoon" time and will be preceded by a 'direct-to-video release which sets up the premise for the series (due out Summer 1998). MOUSEWORKS: "Disney's MouseWorks," according to various sources:"OTTOmatic" by Dan Persons
"Fans will soon hear [Penn (Penn & Teller) Jillette's] booming voice as Pluto's evil conscience in the animated short Pluto's Kitten's, set to air in January as part of a TV series called MouseWorks." (Disney News Magazine, Fall 1998, page 60).
For the first time in years Mickey Mouse will be animated in a new cartoon series by Walt Disney Television Animation. Disney's Toronto Studio is launching production of a new series called Mouseworks, which will package new cartoons featuring Mickey, Donald Duck, Daisy, Goofy and Pluto, into weekly 22-minute episodes scheduled for release in January 1999. In the development of the show. (Toon Magazine, Vol.4, no.1, Spring).
When MouseWorks debuts in January 1999, Mickey Mouse will star in an ongoing animated series for the first time since his long line of theatrical cartoons ceased with The Sinple Things in 1953. Now in production, the weekly half-hour television program (which will probably air on the Disney Channel) reunites Disney Studio's best known characters -- Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy, and Pluto -- in their original cartoon forms.
"This will get [the characters] back to being cartoons again," says Robert Gannaway who, along with Tony Craig, will serve as executive producer for the show.
"Recent generations have grown up familiar with Mickey Mouse and friends as company icons and licensed entities rather than as cartoon heroes. Millions of today's Disney fans missed this historical connection to the characters. The new show will "define ther personalities again," says Gannaway. For instance, as Mickey's loyal pet dog, Pluto always comes through for his master. Their relationship will be illustrated in a sequence of shorts where Pluto fetchs the mouse's morning newspaper despite being swept up by the street sweeper or abducted by aliens. In another series of back-to-basics cartoon adventures, Mickey, Donald, and Goofy perform wacky odd jobs like painting roller coasters and delivering pipe organs.
Which isn't to say there aren't any new twists, says Gannaway. The new stories may mix characters that rarely, if ever, associated before. "We could have a Minnie and Daisy episode] or one with Donald and Von Drake."
The program will contain gag, character, and story cartoons ranging from 90 seconds to 12 minutes, and will be tre to the past, even in some technological ways. In their effort to create "new classics" for the vintage characters, the producers will compose the musical scores for the cartoons before the animation begins. "In the old cartoons, the timing was musically driven. That's been lost these days because cartoons are sored after the fact," says Gannaway. "When you set it to music, you can make an ordinary action fun to watch because if the musical timing."
With Mickey coming back to TV, is there a chance he'll return to theaters, as Goofy did in A Goofy Movie in 1995?
"I don't know about a movie yet," says Barry Blumberg, the Disney senior vice president for televisn animation. "But I'm not saying it's something we would rule out." * (SPRING 1998, "Disney News Magazine")
* Rumor has it that originally the Classic characters were going to make their latest film debut orginally for the theaters in a movie entitled "Joy." This production was shelved in favor of the new "MouseWorks" series. However, a new Goofy movie, entitled "Another Goofy Movie" is currently in production.LOS ANGELES (AP) - After a 40-year break, Mickey Mouse is going back to work in television.
"MouseWorks," a weekly half-hour series debuting in January 1999, will feature the first regularly produced new TV footage of the Disney cartoon icon since the original 1955-59 run of "The Mickey Mouse Club."
Mickey will be joined by pals Donald Duck, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Pluto and Daisy in the new series, the Walt Disney Co. said Tuesday.
Each episode will feature a mixture of shorter "gag" cartoons and longer "story" cartoons up to 12 minutes in length. Although all original, some themes and elements from older cartoons may be used.
The new series will feature voices matching those of the original characters.
"We're going to do whatever it takes to make this as good as it can possibly be," said Barry Blumberg, senior vice president of Walt Disney Television Animation.
Roy E. Disney, vice chairman of the board for Disney, made the announcement in honor of Mickey's 69th birthday. The mouse made a few movie appearances in recent years, in the 1995 short "Runaway Brain" and in 1983's "Mickey's Christmas Carol."
A decision has yet to be made whether to air "MouseWorks" on Disney-owned ABC, in syndication or on cable's Disney Channel. (AP-NY-11-19-97 1812EST)
Disney announced Tuesday that work will begin on a new Mickey Mouse animated TV series--the first to star the vaunted Mousketeer leader since the 1950s.
MouseWorks is set to debut in January 1999. Still undecided is exactly where the weekly show will air: It'll be either cable's Disney Channel or the Disney-owned ABC network -- maybe both, according to one report. Look for longtime gal-pal Minnie Mouse to costar, as well as the Old School likes of Donald Duck, Goofy and Pluto.
"This is more than a return to our company's root--it's the restoration of a staple of cartoon entertainment for people around the globe," company vice chairman Roy E. Disney said, in a statement.
In Wednesday's Daily Variety, Disney promised that the Mick and friends will be going back to their roots, as well. "The characters will revert to the look they had in the '30s, '40s, '50s," he told the paper. "We will go back to the old way of animating. They will be all hand-drawn and hand-painted, with the backgrounds as well."
Roy Disney is the first to concede that Mickey has become more of a "corporate figure" rather than a "cartoon figure" in recent years. As the company's empire expanded in the 1950s into theme parks, TV shows, lunch boxes and a million other assorted sundries, the Mouse began to retreat from the 'toon medium that launched his career. [end quote]
DIZ KIDZ: "Diz Kidz" is a proposed new series starring Mickey Mouse, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy and Pluto as kids with hyperactive imaginations --like the Muppet Babies. Whether it will ever be produced is currently pending. DISNEY VILLIANS: "Disney Villians" is a proposed animated series which teams classic Disney Bad guys from features and TV series, as they try to -you guessed it- take over the world. The confederacy of crime orignally included Don Karnage ("Tale Spin"), Cruella de Vil ("101 Dalmatians") and Captain Hook ("Peter Pan") --even dead villians like Shere Kahn ("Jungle Book") , Jafar ("Aladdin"), and Ursula ("The Little Mermaid"). If death can't stop them, boy, are we in trouble! In a recent interview with Tad Stones he said that Don Karnage has been dropped from the list because the current staffers are unfamilar with older DTV animation (bummers!). For now the show has been shelved. Hopefully Disney will develop it further at a later date. DISNEY'S BAD GUYS: "Bad Guys" (a.k.a. "Bad Boys", originally titled "The Redemption Squad" by creator Greg Weisman). This proposed series was to be a "Gargoyles" spin-off which would have villians fighting villians a' la "The Dirty Dozen." The team starred Dingo (Jim Cummings), Matrix (Jeff Bennett), the gargoyle Yama (Jerry Tondo) and the winged mutant Fang (Jim Belushi). The field leader is Hunter (Sheena Easton) described by Weisman as a "female Lee Marvin." Unknown to the team, the Hunter gets orders from the Director (William Devane). Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa also stars. A leica reel was a week away from production when the proposal was terminated --for now. THE ADVENTURES OF BUZZ LIGHTYEAR: "The Adventures of Buzz Lightyear" is a proposed series staring you-know-who from "Toy Story" with more computer-generated action with toys from Andy's bedroom. The series remains in development, though an OVA sequel to "Toy Story" is also in the works. The series should be less difficult to produce since most of the computer models already exist from the movie, which speeds up the entire process. The question for this series is not so much "if" but "when" it will premiere.