Robot Robbers

Robot Robbers

September 25, 1987 TV Episode DuckTales

Studio
Walt Disney Television Animation
Animation studio
TMS Entertainment
Distributor
Buena Vista Television

Synopsis

Flintheart Glomgold has a new way of building construction, and it's in the former of 70 ft construction robots. built by Gyro Gearloose (who Scrooge reminds of his last robot, Armstrong, that went haywire), these new robots could easily put Scrooge out of business in the construction sector.

However, Ma Beagle manages to sneak into their holding place, and break out one machine, using it to breakout her boys Big-Time, Burger, and Bouncer, the 4 soon are making Duckburg their own personal playground. Having no other choice, Scrooge and Glomgold team-up to stop the Beagle boys and their nefarious Ma.

Characters

Scrooge McDuck, Launchpad McQuack, Duckworth, Gyro Gearloose, Flintheart Glomgold, The Beagle Boys

Credits

Directing

Director
Alan Zaslove, David Block
Assistant Director
Randy Chaffee

Producing

Producer
Fred Wolf
Associate Producer
Tom Ruzicka

Writing

Writer
Tedd Anasti, Patsy Cameron, Jymn Magon (Story Editors)
Story Editors
Tedd Anasti, Patsy Cameron

Voices

Voice
Alan Young (Scrooge McDuck), Russi Taylor (Webbigail), Terence Terry McGovern (Launchpad McQuack, Babyface), Hal Smith (Gyro Gearloose, Flintheart Glomgold), Frank Welker (Big-Time, Baggy Beagle), Rob Paulsen (Gladstone), Chuck McCann, Alan Oppenheimer

Music

Music
Ron Jones
"Duck Tales" Theme Composer
Mark Mueller
Additional Music
Tom Chase, Steve Rucker

Animation

Key Layout Stylists
Michael Peraza, Ed Ghertner, Ed Wexler
Overseas Animation Supervisor
Dale Schott
Timing Directors
David Brain, Vincent Davis, Bob Zamboni

Editing

Supervising Editors
Charlie King, Robert S. Birchard
Assistant Editors
Rick Hinson, Glenn Lewis
Managing Editor
Rich Harrison

Sound

Track Reading
Skip Craig
Sound Effect Editor
Marc Orfanos

Casting

Dialogue Direction
Andrea Romano

Production Management

Production Manager
Olivia Miner
Post Production Coordinator
Ken Tsumura
Production Assistants
Barbara Brysman, Krista Bunn, Jacaleen Veber, Luanne Wood, Judy Zook

Companies and other credits

  • Animation Production by TMS Entertainment
  • Inc
  • © 1987 The Walt Disney Company
  • All Rights Reserved

Production notes

The scene in which the 3 robots high-fiving each other is used in the opening credits.

With that catchy theme song, Disney made its first entry into daily syndicated animation. DuckTales chronicled the adventures of Scrooge McDuck, the richest duck in the world, in his constant attempts to get even richer.

Many of the characters, including Scrooge McDuck, the Beagle Boys and Gyro Gearloose, didn't come from Disney's theatrical cartoons, but from comic books written and illustrated by Carl Barks and others. And that cast of characters was deep:
  • Grand-nephews Huey, Dewey and Louie, left in the old Scot's care by their "Unca Donald"
  • Bumblingly heroic Launchpad McQuack ("Any crash you can walk away from is a good one"), hired by Scrooge to pilot in and out of danger
  • Doofus, the nerdy Junior Woodchucks member who idolized Launchpad
  • Scrooge's maid Mrs. Beakly and her precocious granddaughter Webbigail ("Webby")
  • Unflappable butler Drake
  • Inventor Gyro Gearloose, whose imperfect creations often caused more trouble than they were worth
  • Flintheart Glomgold, the second richest duck in the world and Scrooge's arch-rival
  • Sorceress Magica De Spell, who used her powers in futile attempts to steal Scrooge's "lucky dime,"
  • And the dastardly Beagle Brothers (Burger, Baggy, Babyface, Bigtime, and Bouncer), a criminal family headed by Ma Beagle.
The second season added new characters Bubba, a cave duck brought back to the present after one of Scrooge's time-travelling adventures, and Fenton P. Crackshell, a mildmannered Scrooge employee who accidentally becomes robotic superhero Gizmo.

The adventures were along the lines of Indiana Jones, globe-trotting quests and challenges with lots of danger. The series often poked fun at classic literature, history, and legend with such episodes as "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. McDuck" and "The Golden Fleecing." The show was an instant hit, demolishing its ratings competitors with luscious animation and clever mixes of action/adventure and comedy. After three years of commercial and critical success on its own, Duck Tales became the centerpiece of the new "Disney Afternoon," a two-hour block of half-hour animated programs.

Animation, some computer-generated, was done by Japanese studios, although the Disney people retained creative control. And for those of you who came here just to settle a bet, Huey wore the red sweater, Dewey wore blue and Louie green.