The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin

The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin
Genre Animated series
Created by Ken Forsse
Written by Marry Crawford
Derek Diorio
Directed by Chris Schouten
Voices of Phil Baron
Will Ryan
John Stocker
John Koensgen
Robert Bockstael
Les Lye
Abby Hagyard
Pier Kohl
Holly Larocque
Theme music composer George Wilkins
Composer(s) Andrew Huggett
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of episodes 65
Production
Producer(s) Christopher J. Brough
Andy Heyward
Jean Chalopin
Alison Clayton
Running time 30 minutes
Production company(s) Atkinson Film-Arts
DIC Entertainment
Distributor LBS Communications
Release
Original network First run syndication
Audio format Stereo
Original release September 14 – December 11, 1987

The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin is an American animated television series based on Teddy Ruxpin, an animatronic teddy bear created by Ken Forsse and distributed by toy manufacturer Worlds of Wonder.[1] It was produced for television syndication by DiC with Atkinson Film-Arts using many of the same voice actors used in the book-and-tape series that was made for the eponymous animatronic toy. While some of the stories used in the TV series were adapted from the books, many were original and greatly expanded upon the world established there. The series differed from traditional children's animation in that most of its 65 episodes were serialized rather than in traditional episodic form.

In the United States, the series was originally syndicated by LBS Communications. Today, all international distribution rights to the series are held by Don Taffner's DLT Entertainment.

Plot

The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin follows young Teddy Ruxpin as he leaves his home on the island of Rillonia with his best friend Grubby to follow an ancient map which leads him to find a collection of crystals on the mainland of Grundo. With the help of his new friend Dr. Newton Gimmick, Teddy and Grubby discover the magical powers of what turns out to be an ancestral treasure as well as an organization with ambitions to use it for evil known as M.A.V.O. (short for Monsters and Villains Organization). Along the way, Teddy learns the long-lost history of his species and clues to the location of his missing father.[2]

Series history

In mid-1986, Atkinson Film-Arts of Ontario, Canada was commissioned to co-produce (with Worlds of Wonder, AlchemyII, and DiC) a 65 episode animated television series based on the World of Teddy Ruxpin characters. The series followed a prior attempt to produce a live-action series which had proved too difficult and expensive. Atkinson was in charge of the principal animation and casting. Of the previous voice actors associated with the Teddy Ruxpin property, only Phil Baron (Teddy) and Will Ryan (Grubby) traveled to Canada to remain part of the cast; most other characters were re-cast with local Canadian voice talent. The series was originally intended to continue after the first series of episodes, but because of economic problems at Worlds of Wonder (the series' primary financial partner), a second set of episodes was not produced while Worlds of Wonder still had rights to the property. Interest remains among the owners of the Teddy Ruxpin property and the fanbase to continue the story originated in the animated series, which ended its 65 episode run in somewhat of a cliffhanger.

Characters

Main characters

The three main protagonists, often referred to collectively in fandom as The Trio:

Allies

Villains

There are three main antagonists:

Species

The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin features a large menagerie of sentient species for its character base:

The Seven Crystals of Grundo

The episodes

Overview

Although the series is mostly serialized, it is further broken down into weekly story arcs which involve visiting a different part of Grundo or exploring a major plot thread. Some story lines were taken directly from the toy's book & tape story sets, with secondary plots added to increase the running time.

Protect Yourself

Due to the partnership between Worlds of Wonder and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, when the series was originally syndicated, each episode included a short segment called "Protect Yourself" which ran after a teaser for the next episode and prior to the credits. It featured an animated Teddy Ruxpin on a live-action set, who would introduce contemporary child stars such as Jason Bateman, Brice Beckham, Tiffany Brissette, Shannen Doherty, Corey Feldman and Shalane McCall. The guest would then give young viewers advice on topics such as avoiding strangers, what to do in an emergency, how to respond to inappropriate touching, or running away. A common theme was to talk to a trusted grown up for help.

Episode list

No. Title Original air date
1"The Treasure of Grundo"September 14, 1987
Teddy and Grubby meet Newton Gimmick, and the three search for the treasure, while Tweeg and L.B. scheme to lead them off course so they can find it first.
2"Beware of the Mudblups"TBA
Teddy, Grubby, Gimmick was capture by Mudblups and put in jail, they met Prince Arin and they escape when the light scared the Mudblups.
3"Guests of the Grunges"TBA
Teddy, Grubby, Gimmick, Prince Arin was at the jungle until they met the Grunges just then, Prince Arin fell into the soup and he is too strong, and was returned to himself.
4"In the Fortress of the Wizard"TBA
Teddy, Grubby, Gimmick, Prince Arin and the Wooly Whatsit met a Wizard and he told them the princess was taken to the hard to find city and, they are going to plan to rescue her.
5"Escape from the Treacherous Mountain"TBA
Teddy, Grubby, Gimmick, Prince Arin and the Princess plot to escape from the Hard To Find City and the Gatang warriors, while finding the Treasure of Grundo.
6"Take a Good Look"TBA
Teddy, Grubby, Gimmick are shrunk little and explore Gimmick's house while Fuzz is chasing them.
7"Grubby's Romance"TBA
Teddy, Grubby, Gimmick are accidentally shrunk and Grubby has a new girlfriend that flew away.
8"Tweeg's Mom"TBA
Tweeg was off with the five crystals that L.B stole from Gimmick's house and Tweeg is gonna see his Mom (Voiced by Abby Hagyard of You Can't Do That On Television.
9"The Surf Grunges"TBA
Tweeg is following Gimmick's team to get the last crystals while Gimmick is fixing his compass and also Teddy is making fake crystals for Tweeg.
10"The New M.A.V.O. Member"TBA
Tweeg is at M.A.V.O and there is a celebration while Gimmick and his friends are replacing the crystals with fake ones.
11"The Faded Fobs"TBA
Teddy and Grubby ask for the help of the Wooly Whatsit to get the Fobs' colours back.
12"The Medicine Wagon"TBA
Tweeg plots to swindle the trio by selling them dubious "magic" potions.
13"Tweeg Gets the Tweezles"TBA
Tweeg got the Tweezles and Gimmick and his Friends helped him which was only for drinking Rainbow Water
14"The Lemonade Stand"TBA
Tweeg got better and planned to give other People Tweezles and selling fake Medicine.
15"The Rainbow Mine"TBA
Teddy solved what was really happening at those two stands and closing the Falls.
16"The Wooly What's-It"TBA
Wooly saved the Elves and Woodsprites from a Tree and was invited to her Class, Wooly don't understand the Class
17"Sign of a Friend"TBA
Grubby lost his Voice while the Teacher taught everyone Sign Language.
18"One More Spot"TBA
Gimmick and his Friends are gonna go on a Picnic while Bugs took away their food, Gimmick and his Friends joined the Bugs when they got captured as Bugs.
19"Elves and Woodsprites"TBA
Elves and Woodsprites were good friends until Tweeg started a fight and a Fire Started at the Theater Tree.
20"Grundo Graduation"TBA
The Fire continues, Wooly got big again and saved the Show.
21"Double Grubby"TBA
22"King Nogburt's Castle"TBA
23"The Day Teddy Met Grubby"TBA
24"Secret of the Illiops"TBA
25"Through Tweeg's Fingers"TBA
26"Uncle Grubby"TBA
27"The Crystal Book"TBA
28"Teddy and the Mudblups"TBA
29"Win One for the Twipper"TBA
30"Tweeg Joins M.A.V.O."TBA
31"The Mushroom Forest"TBA
32"Anything in the Soup"TBA
33"Captured"TBA
34"To the Rescue"TBA
35"Escape from M.A.V.O."TBA
36"Leekee Lake"TBA
37"The Third Crystal"TBA
38"Up for Air"TBA
39"The Black Box"TBA
40"The Hard to Find City"TBA
41"Octopede Sailors"TBA
42"Tweeg the Vegetable"TBA
43"Wizard Land"TBA
44"The Ying Zoo"TBA
45"The Big Escape"TBA
46"Teddy Ruxpin's Birthday"TBA
47"Wizard Week"TBA
48"Air and Water Races"TBA
49"The Great Grundo Ground Race"TBA
50"A Race to the Finish"TBA
51"Autumn Adventure"TBA
52"Gimmick's Gizmos and Gadgets"TBA
53"Harvest Feast"TBA
54"Wooly and the Giant Snowzos"TBA
55"Winter Adventure"TBA
56"Teddy's Quest"TBA
57"Thin Ice"TBA
58"Fugitives"TBA
59"Musical Oppressors"TBA
60"M.A.V.O. Costume Ball"TBA
61"Father's Day"TBA
After L.B. explains to Teddy about the Seventh Crystal and learning about its secrets of erasing and restoring memory, he told Gimmick to build their own Black Box, in which they then used on Teddy's father, who's with his memory restored, told him of what happened during his absents. Meanwhile, Tweeg's father came to visit his son, and whilst he and L.B. are now M.A.V.O.'s Most Wanted, decided to go with him and spend some time.
62"The Journey Home"TBA
63"On the Beaches"TBA
64"L.B.'s Wedding"TBA
65"The Mystery Unravels"December 11, 1987
Teddy, Grubby and Gimmick find out the mystery of the seven crystals and the Illiup book, while Quellor plots to recover the seven crystals having obtained one.

Cast

NOTE: In the tape & book series and the animatronic pilot episode, Tony Pope voiced Gimmick, Will Ryan also voiced Tweeg and Wooly, Katie Leigh voiced Princess Aruzia, and Russi Taylor voiced Leota.

VHS/DVD releases

Between 1987 and 1988, Hi-Tops Video released twelve volumes of the series (17 episodes) on VHS. They featured between 1 to 3 episodes per tape, and often had a live-action Teddy Ruxpin as host.

In February 2006 First National Pictures released two volumes of the series (11 episodes) on DVD. Two additional volumes were to be released to complete the series but for unknown reasons they were never released.

In January 2008, Mill Creek Entertainment acquired the rights to the series; they subsequently released all 65 episodes in three volume sets. On January 27, 2009, Mill Creek Entertainment released a 6-disc complete series box set featuring all 65 episodes on DVD for the very first time.[3] As of 2010, these releases have been discontinued and are out of print.

As of 2012, Image Entertainment have acquired the rights to the series. On July 10, 2012, they released a 10-disc set featuring all 65 episodes of the series entitled The Complete Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin on DVD in Region 1.[4]

DVD Name Ep# Release Date
The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin: Six Crystals 20 January 15, 2008[5]
The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin: Mysteries of Hard to Find City 20 May 6, 2008[6]
The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin: Return to Rillonia 25 July 22, 2008[7]
The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin: Come Dream With Me – Complete Series 65 January 27, 2009[8]
The Complete Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin 65 July 10, 2012

Original concept

Originally, AlchemyII Inc. had hoped to create a live-action series using animatronic characters, as Ken Forsse had helped Disney do with Welcome to Pooh Corner and Dumbo's Circus. However, due to production costs and difficulties in this format, Forsse, AlchemyII and Worlds of Wonder decided animation would be a better route and the 65 episode animated series was created. The pilot episode of what would have been the animatronic series was instead released as a stand-alone ABC Movie of the week in 1986 and also aired in syndication as a 2-part episode.[9] The show can be found on videocassette.[10] The "animatronic movie", as it's called by Teddy Ruxpin fans, used primarily the same voice talent as the Teddy Ruxpin toy software had, most of which (with the exception of Phil Baron and Will Ryan) were replaced in the later animated TV series by Canadian voice talent.

Impact in popular culture

The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin (Мечето Ръкспин), was one of the very first western cartoon shows to be seen by the population of Bulgaria in the late 1980s. The influence of this show can be seen in the text of the then modern post-punk band REVIEW (РЕВЮ) and their song "Teddy Ruxpin" ; also the very first underground music shop to open in the capital of Bulgaria, Sofia, was and is to this date called MAVO (ОЧЗ),[11] in reference to the antagonistic organization in the cartoon show.

References

  1. "Problems of Toy's Producer Leave Its Creator in a Bind". The Los Angeles Times. January 19, 1988. Retrieved August 22, 2010.
  2. Lovable Teddy Ruxpin evolves from toy to animated star of his own half-hour program thanks to Crawley Films, Toronto Star – October 31, 1987
  3. "The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin DVD news: Announcement for The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin – Come Dream With Me: The Complete Series". TVShowsOnDVD.com. Retrieved August 20, 2011.
  4. "The Complete Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin (10-pk)". Image Entertainment. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  5. "Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin, The: The Six Crystals DVD @ DVD Empire". Dvdempire.com. January 29, 2008. Retrieved August 20, 2011.
  6. "Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin, The: Mysteries Of Hard To Find City DVD @ DVD Empire". Dvdempire.com. Retrieved August 20, 2011.
  7. "Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin, The: Return To Rillonia DVD @ DVD Empire". Dvdempire.com. July 22, 2008. Retrieved August 20, 2011.
  8. "Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin, The: Come Dream With Me – The Complete Series DVD @ DVD Empire". Dvdempire.com. January 27, 2009. Retrieved August 20, 2011.
  9. "Interview with Jeff Wilson". Teddy Ruxpin Online. Retrieved August 20, 2011.
  10. "The Interview with Ken Forsse". Josh Isaacson, Teddy Ruxpin Online. Retrieved February 6, 2007.
  11. "В ОЧЗ пазаруват не зомбита, а свободни по дух хора : Долче вита : Фреш : Novinar.bg". Novinar.net. December 26, 2009. Retrieved August 20, 2011.

External links

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