Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers

"Rescue Rangers" redirects here. For the 1970s TV show featuring Lassie, see Lassie's Rescue Rangers. For the video game based on the series, see Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers (video game).
"Mepps" redirects here. For the concept of miniature endplate potentials (MEPPs) in neuroscience, see MEPPs.
Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers
Genre Adventure
Comedy-Drama
Mystery
Science fiction
Created by Tad Stones
Alan Zaslove
Voices of Corey Burton
Peter Cullen
Jim Cummings
Tress MacNeille
Rob Paulsen
Alan Oppenheimer
Noelle North
Deborah Walley
Theme music composer Mark Mueller
Composer(s) Glen Daum (for Score Productions)
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 3
No. of episodes 65 (list of episodes)
Production
Running time 22 minutes
Production company(s) Walt Disney Television Animation
Distributor Buena Vista Television
Release
Original network The Disney Channel (spring 1989)
Syndication (1989–1990)
Picture format 480i (SDTV) 4:3
1080p (HDTV) 4:3
Audio format Stereo
Mono (some episodes)
Original release August 27, 1988 – November 19, 1990
Website

Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers (informally known as Rescue Rangers) is an animated television series produced by Walt Disney Television Animation. Created by Tad Stones and Alan Zaslove, it featured the established Disney characters Chip 'n' Dale in a new setting. The series premiered on The Disney Channel on March 4, 1989,[1] after a preview episode ("Catteries Not Included") was aired on August 27, 1988.[2] The series premiered with a two-hour movie special, Rescue Rangers: To the Rescue, which was later broken up into five parts to air as part of the weekday run.[3] The final episode aired on November 19, 1990.

On September 18, 1989, the series entered national syndication. From 1990 to 1993 reruns of the show were aired as a part of the Disney Afternoon line up.[1]

Synopsis

Chip and Dale are two chipmunks who start a detective agency, Rescue Rangers, along with their friends Gadget, Monterey Jack, and Zipper. The pint-sized detectives deal with crimes that are often "too small" for the police to handle, usually with other animals as their clients. The gang frequently find themselves going up against two particular arch-villains: Mafia-style tabby cat Fat Cat and mad scientist Norton Nimnul.

Production

Rescue Rangers was originally conceived as the first of three new companion shows to Disney's popular DuckTales series, which had more than doubled the ratings among child audiences in its time slots after its debut in the fall of 1987.[4] Disney had originally invested $20,000,000 in DuckTales and then invested $28,000,000 in Chip 'n' Dale's Rescue Rangers.[5]

It, along with TaleSpin and a third series, Double-O Duck (which ultimately became Darkwing Duck),[6] would round out a programming block later known as "The Disney Afternoon" along with the previously established Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears to capitalize on DuckTales' success.[4]

When Tad Stones first came up with the idea for the Rescue Rangers series, Chip and Dale were not part of the show. In the original draft, the main character was an Indiana Jones-type mouse named Kit Colby who sported a fedora and a fluffy collared leather jacket, and the rest of the team included a chameleon, an earlier version of Gadget, and a character resembling Monterey Jack with a different name. When he proposed the show in a meeting with Michael Eisner and Jeffrey Katzenberg, the idea was well received except for the character of Kit. At Eisner's suggestion, they replaced him with the chipmunk duo to give the show some established Disney characters to work with.[7] By late 1987, two years before its television debut, the show was announced under its original proposed title of "Chip 'n Dale and the Rescue Rangers".[8]

While Chip and Dale were established characters, in order to bring them into the series only their general appearance and basic personality traits were kept. Unlike their appearances in Disney shorts, in the Rescue Rangers the chipmunk duo are very verbal, with Chip voiced by Tress MacNeille and Dale voiced by Corey Burton.[3] Audio processing was used to speed-up the voice recordings and give the voices a higher pitch, particularly Chip's.[9] The pair were given clothes—Chip the clothing of the original concept Kit, while the goofier Dale was modeled after Magnum, P.I. with his Hawaiian shirt.[7][9]

The series premiered in 1989 on The Disney Channel before moving into a regular slot in syndication the following fall. In 1990, the series premiered as part of the Disney Afternoon line up, where it aired until 1993.[3][9] On October 2, 1995, Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers began reruns on The Disney Channel as part of a two-hour programming block called "Block Party" which aired on weekdays in the late-afternoon/early-evening and which also included Darkwing Duck, TaleSpin, and DuckTales.[10]

The show's opening theme was performed by the pop group The Jets. It was written by Mark Mueller, an ASCAP award-winning pop music songwriter who also wrote the theme song of DuckTales.

Characters

Main characters

Supporting characters

Antagonists

Comic characters

Media

Episodes

Except for the five-part set of episodes made from the pilot movie, each 22-minute episode of the series was self-contained. Plot points introduced in each episode stayed in the episode and any character development did not appear to continue through to future episodes. Most of the episodes followed a similar format, where in the next case was presented at the start of the episode, then the bulk of the episode had the sleuths gathering clues and investigating the situation. In the last few minutes of the episode, the case was resolved, usually in dramatic fashion and the final moments would have a humorous wrap up scene between the Rangers.

Cameos/Other appearances

Merchandise

In fall of 1989, McDonald's produced a series of Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers themed Happy Meal that included toy versions of the main characters riding small vehicles. Scenes from the series were incorporated into the TV commercials advertising the Happy Meals.

Theme parks

In 1990, Walt Disney World presented a show called Mickey's Magical TV World, featuring Chip and Dale in their Rescue Rangers outfits.

Chip 'n Dale (Rescue Rangers outfits) was appeared on the Ice show Walt Disney's World on Ice: 10th Anniversary in 1990.

In 1991 Disneyland presented a Disney Afternoon-themed stage show called "Plane Crazy" featuring Chip and Dale in their Rescue Rangers outfits, as part of the park's Disney Afternoon Avenue. In addition, cut-outs of Gadget, Chip and Dale were featured in the Rescue Rangers Raceway re-theme of the Fantasyland Autopia.

In January 1993, a junior roller coaster called Gadget's Go Coaster debuted along with the rest of Mickey's Toontown in Disneyland. The coaster looks like it was built and designed by Gadget herself. In April 1996, the attraction opened in Tokyo Disneyland.

Main article: Gadget's Go Coaster

In December 2010, Gadget is back meeting to hello in the spectacular show Disney's Twelve Days of Christmas, following for Mickey and Disney Characters.

In Addition, Chip and Dale (Rescue Rangers Outfit) we'll featured by meet fans at Fall Back to Fun Event on September 2014, along with Disney Characters.

Comic

Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers
Publication information
Publisher Disney Comics
Genre
    Publication date June 1990 – December 1991
    Number of issues 19

    A monthly comic book based on the show was published by Disney Comics in 1990, that ran for 19 issues. Subsequent comic stories were printed in Disney Adventures from 1990 to 1995, as well as in the Disney Afternoon comic book published by Marvel Comics. They also had a series from Boom Studios that was published for 8 issues from December 2010 to June 2011.

    Cameo appearances

    In the first Darkwing Duck comic story from Kaboom!, Gadget makes a cameo gag.

    BOOM! revival

    Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers
    Publication information
    Publisher Boom! Studios
    Genre
      Publication date September 2010 – May 2011
      Number of issues 8

      From September 2010, Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers was revived by comics publisher Boom! Studios, as an ongoing monthly series slated to begin in December of the same year. This choice was based on the extreme and unexpected popularity of Darkwing Duck, another Disney Afternoon property which BOOM! revived earlier in 2010. The series featured comics writer Ian Brill, and artist Leonel Castellani.[18][19][20][21] 8 issues were published, collecting the two 4-part stories into two trade paperback books. The comic series was cancelled May 2011, to be replaced by the launch of DuckTales.

      Revival/Film adaptation

      On January 31, 2014, it was announced that Disney is adapting the show for a live action/CGI movie. The film will be produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Mandeville Films. No release date has been announced yet.[22]

      Video games

      Mobile game

      In May 2010, Dynamic Pixels Ltd. released a mobile game Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers – Fat Cat kidnapped Zipper and imprisoned him on a distant island. The team have to repair their legendary plane to get it but unfortunately, they have no spare parts so the Rescue Rangers have to use their investigating skills together with enterprising skills as only their plane will help them to get to Fat Cats den. The story is divided into 27 non-linear missions that can be reached via a city map. Every mission is one of 3 different mini-games. The game can be downloaded free of charge and players use micro transactions to purchase in game money to spend it on different in game content like upgrades, additional equipment, power ups, bonuses etc. if needed.

      Home video releases

      VHS releases

      On February 22, 1991, Walt Disney Home Video released 10 select episodes from the series on five VHS cassettes in the United States, containing a pair of episodes each.

      VHS Name Episode Titles Release Date
      Double Trouble "Dale Beside Himself" & "Flash the Wonder Dog" February 22, 1991
      Crimebusters "Catteries Not Included" & "Piratsy Under the Seas" February 22, 1991
      Undercover Critters "Adventures in Squirrelsitting" & "Three Men and a Booby" February 22, 1991
      Danger Rangers "Kiwi's Big Adventure" & "Bearing Up Baby" February 22, 1991
      Super Sleuths "Pound of the Baskervilles" & "Out to Launch" February 22, 1991

      Additionally, on December 14, 1994, the Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers episode "Ghost of a Chance" was released together with the Goof Troop episode "Hallow-Weenies" on one VHS cassette as a special release called Boo-Busters.[24][25] On September 3, 1996, the Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers episode "Good Times, Bat Times" was released together with the Darkwing Duck episode "Ghoul of My Dreams" on one VHS cassette as a special release called Witcheroo![26][27]

      Several other episodes were available on international releases.

      UK, Australia and New Zealand releases

      Eleven VHS cassettes containing 23 episodes of the series were released in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.

      VHS Name Episode Titles Release Date
      Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers (Volume 1): Crimebusters "Piratsy Under the Seas" & "Catteries Not Included" September 11, 1992
      Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers (Volume 2): The Pound of the Baskervilles "Pound of the Baskervilles" & "Adventures in Squirrelsitting" September 11, 1992
      Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers (Volume 3): Risky Beesness "Bearing Up Baby" & "Risky Beesness" September 11, 1992
      Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers (Volume 4): Romancing the Clone "Dale Beside Himself" & "Flash the Wonder Dog" September 11, 1992
      Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers (Volume 5): Out to Launch "Out to Launch" & "The Carpetsnaggers" September 11, 1992
      Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers (Volume 6): 3 Men and a Birdie "Three Men and a Booby" & "Parental Discretion Retired" April 2, 1993
      Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers (Volume 7): Ghouls and Jewels "Ghost of a Chance" & "A Wolf in Cheap Clothing" April 2, 1993
      Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers (Volume 8): Half-Size Heroes "A Lad in a Lamp" & "Seer No Evil" April 2, 1993
      Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers (Volume 9): Flies in Disguise "Chocolate Chips", "Gorilla My Dreams" & "A Creep in the Deep" September 10, 1993
      Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers (Volume 10): Danger Rangers "Out of Scale" & "Kiwi's Big Adventure" September 10, 1993
      Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers (Volume 11): Duelling Dale "Mind Your Cheese and Q's" & "The S.S. Drainpipe" September 10, 1993

      DVD releases

      US (Region 1)

      Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment has released some of the series on DVD; two volumes have been released in Region 1 thus far featuring the first 51 episodes of the series. The first was released on November 8, 2005 (containing episodes 1–27) and the second on November 14, 2006 (containing episodes 28–51).[28][29] The episodes on the first volume are arranged by production date, while the episodes on the second volume are arranged by original air date. The sets were packaged in a box containing 3 slipcases, one for each disc. There has yet to be any word from Disney regarding the release of a third volume set for episodes 52–65.

      DVD Name Ep # Release date
      Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers: Volume 1 27 November 8, 2005
      Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers: Volume 2 24 November 14, 2006
      Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers: Volume 3 14

      TBA

      International (Region 2)

      In the United Kingdom, Disney released one Region 2 volume in 2007, titled Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers First Collection.[30] Despite the set being similar to the US version, the DVD contained only 20 episodes, while having 6 language tracks: English, French, Dutch, German, Spanish and Italian. Several other similar releases were then made to other countries, but only going up to episode #20. On December 5, 2012, a second DVD set of the series was released in the UK, but as a Region 2 version of Volume 2, titled Chip n Dale Rescue Rangers Season 2.[31] Unlike the first DVD, this 3-disc set includes a Fastplay mode and only two language tracks: English and German, but subtitles have not been added. As of yet, there are no plans to release the rest of the series, or the seven episodes missing between the first two sets.

      DVD Name Ep # Release date Language
      Walt Disney's Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers – First Collection 20 February 12, 2007 English, French, Dutch, German, Spanish and Italian
      Walt Disney's Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers – Season 2 24 December 5, 2012 English and German

      Video on Demand

      The series was released on Amazon Video in 2013 and was free for Amazon Prime members.[32] However, as of May 2014, it is currently unavailable.

      Reception and legacy

      In January 2009, IGN named Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers as the 60th best in the Top 100 Animated TV Shows.[33] Hal Erickson, author of Television Cartoon Shows, An Illustrated Encyclopedia compared the show to DuckTales, stating that it was "consummately produced and written" and its animation "succeeded in putting most other overseas output to shame."[34]

      References

      1. 1 2 Disney A to Z : The updated official Encyclopedia, Dave Smith p 101
      2. "For Children". The New York Times (New York, N.Y.). August 21, 1988. pp. TV15.
      3. 1 2 3 "Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers". www.bcdb.com, April 13, 2012
      4. 1 2 Carter, Bill (November 6, 1989). "Disney's High Hopes for Afternoons". The New York Times. Retrieved 2013-04-01.
      5. Erickson, 2005. p.201
      6. Stones, Tad (January 23, 1999). "Origins". The Darkwing Duck Blog. Retrieved 2013-04-01.
      7. 1 2 3 Strike, Joe (July 12, 2004). "The Tad Stones Interview, page 4". Animation World Magazine.
      8. Culhane, John (December 27, 1987). "TELEVISION; AN ANIMATED '88 AWAITS ON THE DRAWING BOARD". The New York Times. Retrieved 2013-04-01.
      9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Grant, John (April 29, 1998) [1987]. "Part II: The Television Series". Encyclopedia of Walt Disney's Animated Characters: From Mickey Mouse to Hercules (3rd ed.). New York City: Hyperion. ISBN 978-0-7868-6336-5. OCLC 37432909.
      10. "Block Party: Four Disney Animated Series". The Disney Channel Magazine (Vol. 13, no. 5): 36. October–November 1995.
      11. "Chocolate Chips". Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers. Season 2. Episode 38. 1989-10-25.
      12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "To the Rescue". Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers. Season 2. Episode 14-18. 1989-09-09.
      13. "Parental Discretion Retired". Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers. Season 2. Episode 13. 1989-05-21.
      14. "Transformers: Production Notes". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved August 8, 2009.
      15. 1989 Tad Stones Interview published in "Furtherance", Issue 3, Winter 1991
      16. "Catteries Not Included". Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers. Season 1. Episode 2. 1989-03-05.
      17. "Twitching Channels". Darkwing Duck. Season 1 (Disney Afternoon). Episode 42. 1992-02-05.
      18. "Boom! Studios announces new Disney title at panel". Comic Book Daily. August 28, 2010. Retrieved 2010-09-03.
      19. Brigante, Ricky (September 3, 2010). "Disney and BOOM! Studios announce Chip 'n' Dale ongoing comic book series coming December". Inside the Magic. Retrieved 2010-09-03.
      20. "Brill on "Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers"". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 2011-01-10.
      21. "Creator Tad Stones Grills Writer Ian Brill". Newsarama. Retrieved 2011-01-10.
      22. Kit, Borys (January 31, 2014). "Disney Reviving 'Chip 'n Dale' for a Live-Action Feature (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
      23. Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers at Handheld Empire
      24. "Disney / Boo-Busters [VHS]: Boo-Busters: Movies & TV". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2013-11-08.
      25. "Boo-busters / [Walt Disney Company] | Miami University Libraries". Lib.muohio.edu. Retrieved 2013-11-08.
      26. "Witcheroo [VHS]: Witcheroo: Movies & TV". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2013-11-08.
      27. "Witcheroo! / Walt Disney Company | Miami University Libraries". Lib.muohio.edu. Retrieved 2013-11-08.
      28. "Amazon.com: Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers – Volume 1". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2013-04-01.
      29. "Amazon.com: Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers – Volume 2". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2013-04-01.
      30. "Chip N Dale – Rescue Rangers – First Collection – 3 Disc Set DVD: Amazon.co.uk: Chip 'n' Dale Rescue Rangers: Film & TV". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-10-17.
      31. "Chip N Dale Rescue Rangers Season 2 [DVD]". Retrieved 2012-11-16.
      32. "BREAKING NEWS: Ducktales, Rescue Rangers on Amazon Prime". Retrieved January 26, 2014.
      33. "IGN – 60. Chip 'N Dale Rescue Rangers". ign.com. Retrieved 2014-11-01.
      34. Erickson, 2005. p.202

      Further reading

      External links

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