Up For Air

Teddy sets out to return the scuba equipment to its rightful owner, and is attacked by Dredge, who wants him for dinner. The monster pulls the helmet off Teddy's suit and traps him in an underwater cave. Teddy is kept alive by the Fourth Crystal, which produces air for him to breathe. Dredge is driven off by a stranger, who is revealed to be the Hermit of Leekee Lake -and just happens to be an Illiop! The Hermit shows Teddy a wealth of technology abandoned on the island in the middle of Leekee Lake. The Hermit reveals that he can't remember his name or how he came to be a hermit. He then takes Teddy to an undersea boat, which Teddy activates with one of the Crystals.

Teddy Ruxpin, Burl Ruxpin, Newton Gimmick, Manfred, Understander, Grubby, Tweeg, Wizard, L.B., Prince Arin, Quellor, Wooly What's It, Aruzia, Digger, Leota

Teddy Ruxpin was a groundbreaking toy manufactured in the 1980's. Built with a cassette tape deep inside him, the friendly bear would tell long, involved stories to his young playmates while his mouth and eyes moved in connection with the tape. In order to boost sales of the plaything, Teddy Ruxpin was given his own animated series in 1987.

The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin was "test-marketed" with an advertising campaign for the Teddy Ruxpin toy, in a five-part series for TV, which acted as the pilot for the series. In the cartoon, Teddy was an Illiop, a kind-hearted species of talking bears. Together with his "Octopede" pal Grubby, T.R. traveled from place to place searching for the secret behind a treasure of magic chrystals, each labeled with words like loyalty and friendship. Trekking into the land of Grundo, the bear and the caterpillar ran across a goofy scientist named Newton Gimmick, who joined them on their quest.

Floating from place to place in Gimmick's "Airship," the trio met up with new friends such as King Nogburt, The Wooly Whatsit and the other constituents of the Land of Grundo. They also ran into the villainous organization M.A.V.O. (Monsters And Villains Organization), headed by chief baddie Quellor, who wanted the chrystals for their own nefarious purposes. Bumbling M.A.V.O. member Tweeg was the foot soldier most commonly sent out to foil Teddy and his quest.

The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin may have been a fine companion for the doll of the same name, but by the time the series premiered, the toy market was filled with Teddy Ruxpin imitators. With few toy sales to support and a major 1987 Stock Market crash that left producer Worlds of Wonder hurting, the animated version left the air after a single 65-episode season.