Wizardland

Wizardland

November 11, 1987 TV Episode The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin

Studio
DiC Entertainment, Worlds of Wonder, Alchemy II, Atkinson Film-Arts

Synopsis

Gimmick and the Octopedes are brought to the Ying Zoo and put on exhibit,along with Jack, who was picked up along the way. The Wizard of Grundo and Louie arrive in town and proceed to build an amusement park, right across from the zoo (alternately called "Wizardland" and "Wizard World" during the episode). This triggers fierce competition between the two as they try to attract each other's customers. L.B. returns to Eleanor's house, where Eleanor receives an advertisement in the mail for the Ying Zoo, featuring "The Troll-Grunge With No Brain". Eleanor and L.B. head for Ying. Back at M.A.V.O. HQ, the search party returns without Jack, which angers Quellor, who also gets an advertisement for the zoo. The Supreme Oppressor orders the Eclipse to be made ready. Meanwhile, Teddy and Grubby track Gimmick and the Octopedes to Quagmire,capitol of Ying, where Teddy loses Gimmick's flashlight, preventing he and Grubby from searching Quagmire undetected (courtesy of the Third Crystal). Finally, the two of them disguise themselves using Ying flora, and make their way through town, when they see a billboard for the Ying Zoo, featuring the Octopedes, Gimmick and Tweeg.

Characters

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

Credits

Directing

Director
Chris Schouten

Producing

Producer
M.H. Cloutier
Executive Producers
Christopher J. Brough, Jean Chalopin, Alison Clayton, W.H. Stevens Jr
Executive Producer for DiC
Andy Heyward
Associate Producers
Dave Mepham, Jack Spillum

Voices

Voice
Phil Baron (Teddy Ruxpin, Burl Ruxpin), John Stocker (Newton Gimmick, Manfred, Understander), Will Ryan (Grubby), John Koensgen (Tweeg, Wizard), Robert Bockstael (L.B., Prince Arin), Les Lye (Quellor), Pier Kohl Pier Paquette (Wooly What's It), Abby Hagyard (Aruzia), Terrence Scammell (Digger), Holly Larocque (Leota), Heather Edson, Donna Farron, Rick Jones, Anna MacCormick, Doug Stratton

Music

Music
George Wilkins
Musical Score
Andrew Huggett

Editing

Editor
Rod Crawley

Production notes

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.