The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin
GenreAnimated series
Created byKen Forsse
Written by
Directed byChris Schouten
Voices of
Theme music composerGeorge Wilkins
Opening theme"Come Dream with Me Tonight" by Phil Baron
Ending theme"Come Dream with Me Tonight" (instrumental)
ComposerAndrew Huggett
Country of origin
  • Canada
  • United States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes65
Production
Executive producers
  • Christopher J. Brough
  • Alison Clayton
  • W.H. Stevens Jr.
Producers
Running time22 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkFirst run syndication
ReleaseDecember 24, 1986 (1986-12-24) –
October 23, 1987 (1987-10-23)

The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin is a children's animated television series based on Teddy Ruxpin, an electronic children's toy created by Ken Forsse and distributed by toy manufacturer Worlds of Wonder (WoW9.[1][2] Produced in 1986–7 for television syndication by DIC Enterprises with Atkinson Film-Arts, the series employed 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.[3] The series differed from traditional children's animation at the time 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 were previously held by Don Taffner's DLT Entertainment.[citation needed] The series is currently owned by The Jim Henson Company under its HIP (Henson Independent Properties) subsidiary.[4]

Plot

The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin follows 15-year-old 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 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.[5]

Series history

In mid-1986, Atkinson Film-Arts of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada was commissioned to co-produce (with Worlds of Wonder, Alchemy II, 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

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 Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin 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, often ending in cliffhangers. 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 & Exploited Children, when the Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin 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.

Season 1 (1986–87)

No.TitleOriginal air date
1"The Treasure of Grundo"December 24, 1986 (1986-12-24)
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"December 25, 1986 (1986-12-25)
Teddy, Grubby, Gimmick were captured by Mudblups and put in jail, they met Prince Arin and they escape when the light scared the Mudblups.
3"The Guests of the Grunges"December 26, 1986 (1986-12-26)
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"The Fortress of the Wizard"December 27, 1986 (1986-12-27)
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"December 28, 1986 (1986-12-28)
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"December 31, 1986 (1986-12-31)
Teddy, Grubby, Gimmick are shrunk little and explore Gimmick's house while Fuzz is chasing them.
7"Grubby's Romance"January 1, 1987 (1987-01-01)
Teddy, Grubby, Gimmick are accidentally shrunk and Grubby has a new girlfriend that flew away.
8"Tweeg's Mom"January 2, 1987 (1987-01-02)
Tweeg was off with the five crystals that L.B stole from Gimmick's house and Tweeg is gonna see his mother Eleanor.
9"The Surf Grunges"January 3, 1987 (1987-01-03)
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"January 4, 1987 (1987-01-04)
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"January 7, 1987 (1987-01-07)
Teddy and Grubby ask for the help of the Wooly Whatsit to get the Fobs' colors back.
12"The Medicine Wagon"January 8, 1987 (1987-01-08)
Tweeg plots to swindle the trio by selling them dubious "magic" potions.
13"Tweeg Gets the Tweezles"January 9, 1987 (1987-01-09)
Tweeg got the Tweezles and Gimmick and his Friends helped him which was only for drinking Rainbow Water
14"The Lemonade Stand"January 10, 1987 (1987-01-10)
Tweeg got better and planned to give other People Tweezles and selling fake Medicine.
15"The Rainbow Mine"January 11, 1987 (1987-01-11)
Teddy solved what was really happening at those two stands and closing the Falls.
16"The Wooly What's-It"January 14, 1987 (1987-01-14)
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"January 15, 1987 (1987-01-15)
Grubby lost his Voice while the Teacher taught everyone Sign Language.
18"One More Spot"January 16, 1987 (1987-01-16)
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"January 17, 1987 (1987-01-17)
Elves and Woodsprites were good friends until Tweeg started a fight and a fire started at the Theater Tree.
20"Grundo Graduation"January 18, 1987 (1987-01-18)
The Fire continues, Wooly got big again and saved the Show.
21"Double Grubby"January 21, 1987 (1987-01-21)
Gimmick builds a multiplying machine which accidentally creates a duplicate of Grubby, who in term argue with each other.
22"King Nogburt's Castle"January 22, 1987 (1987-01-22)
Teddy and co. receive an invitation to King Nogburt's castle, who is hosting a feast in their honor.
23"The Day Teddy Met Grubby"January 23, 1987 (1987-01-23)
After the heroes stop a group of Gutangs from causing trouble, Teddy and Grubby tell the story of how they met each other.
24"Secret of the Illiops"January 24, 1987 (1987-01-24)
The Gutangs launch an attack against Nogburt's kingdom. After a fierce battle, the heroes find a mysterious book.
25"Through Tweeg's Fingers"January 25, 1987 (1987-01-25)
Wooly arrives just in time to fend off a third Gutang attack and unknowingly brings the antidote so save King Nogburt.
26"Uncle Grubby"January 28, 1987 (1987-01-28)
Teddy, Grubby and Gimmick do research on Fobs. Meanwhile, M.A.V.O. holds a trial against Tweeg for his previous offenses.
27"The Crystal Book"January 29, 1987 (1987-01-29)
28"Teddy and the Mudblups"January 30, 1987 (1987-01-30)
29"Win One for the Twipper"January 31, 1987 (1987-01-31)
30"Tweeg Joins M.A.V.O."February 1, 1987 (1987-02-01)
31"The Mushroom Forest"February 4, 1987 (1987-02-04)
After coming across a hot desert, Teddy, Grubby, and Gimmick stumble upon the Mushroom Forest, where they meet shy creatures known as Anythings. Meanwhile, the Gutangs barge into Gimmick's house and stole the blueprints for the Airship.
32"Anything in the Soup"February 5, 1987 (1987-02-05)
33"Captured"February 6, 1987 (1987-02-06)
The members of M.A.V.O. have built their own version of the Airship. Meanwhile, Teddy, Grubby, Gimmick, and the Anythings come face to face with the villains and get captured. They order Teddy to walk the plank, and Teddy falls to his doom.
34"To the Rescue"February 7, 1987 (1987-02-07)
After surviving the fall from the Airship, Teddy lands into a water and is rescued by a mysterious figure. Meanwhile, the Anythings meet Prince Arin and Princess Aruzia, and asks them for help. Meanwhile, Wooly and Leota find Teddy resting.
35"Escape from M.A.V.O."February 8, 1987 (1987-02-08)
Teddy wakes up to see Wooly and Leota beside him, and sets off to rescue Grubby, and Gimmick.

Season 2 (1987)

No.TitleOriginal air date
36"Leekee Lake"September 14, 1987 (1987-09-14)
37"The Third Crystal"September 15, 1987 (1987-09-15)
38"Up for Air"September 16, 1987 (1987-09-16)
When Teddy is attacked by Drudge's sea monster-like cousin Dredge while returning some scuba gear to its rightful owner, he is saved by the Hermit of Leeklee Lake who does not know his true identity.
39"The Black Box"September 17, 1987 (1987-09-17)
40"The Hard to Find City"September 18, 1987 (1987-09-18)
41"Octopede Sailors"September 21, 1987 (1987-09-21)
42"Tweeg the Vegetable"September 22, 1987 (1987-09-22)
43"Wizardland"September 23, 1987 (1987-09-23)
44"The Ying Zoo"September 24, 1987 (1987-09-24)
45"The Big Escape"September 25, 1987 (1987-09-25)
46"Teddy Ruxpin's Birthday"September 28, 1987 (1987-09-28)
47"Wizard Week"September 29, 1987 (1987-09-29)
48"Air and Water Races"September 30, 1987 (1987-09-30)
49"The Great Grundo Ground Race"October 1, 1987 (1987-10-01)
50"A Race to the Finish"October 2, 1987 (1987-10-02)
51"Autumn Adventure"October 5, 1987 (1987-10-05)
For a Rilonian festival of Make Believe, Teddy, Grubby and Gimmick dressed themselves up as Mudblubs, and although their costumes didn't seem to scare anyone, it did manage to scare one that wasn't scared of anything, the Wooly Whatsit. With the Wooly Whatsit dressed as a flower, they attended the Make Believe festival held by the Jungle Grunges. Meanwhile, Tweeg misread the headline of the Newspaper and thought Quellor has changed his mind of hunting him down and throwing him into the dungeons. Thinking that he would want him back, he decided to go to Quellor personally to give him a present of chocolate slugs and thorns. Little did he know that Quellor thought Tweeg was smooshed by the three henchmonsters, which when they gave a toast to Tweeg's Ghost, Quellor got exceedingly furious with the henchmonsters when Tweeg strolled in with the gifts. Quellor kicked the henchmonsters out and had Tweeg thrown into the dungeons. Overhearing Tweeg tempting to capture Teddy Ruxpin, the Understander tells Quellor of using him to do just that. But when he chose the henchmonsters as a way of redeeming themselves, she released Tweeg and with L.B. set off to capture Teddy Ruxpin themselves. Teddy, Grubby and Gimmick were able to hide beside a cliff, tricking them to think they've climbed down it. So when they did climb down, they would end up being caught by real Mudblubs below.
52"Gimmick's Gizmos and Gadgets"October 6, 1987 (1987-10-06)
53"Harvest Feast"October 7, 1987 (1987-10-07)
54"Wooly and the Giant Snowzos"November 26, 1987 (1987-11-26)
55"The Winter Adventure"27 November 1987 (1987-11-27)
56"Teddy's Quest"30 November 1987 (1987-11-30)
57"Thin Ice"1 December 1987 (1987-12-01)
58"Fugitives"2 December 1987 (1987-12-02)
59"Musical Oppressors"3 December 1987 (1987-12-03)
60"M.A.V.O. Costume Ball"4 December 1987 (1987-12-04)
The goons of M.A.V.O. are having a costume party, and L.B. falls in love with Buffy. Meanwhile, everyone in Grundo is affected by evil due to the effect of the seven crystals, and Teddy decides to sneak into M.A.V.O. headquarters to retrieve the seven crystals in order to free everyone from evil in Grundo.
61"Father's Day"7 December 1987 (1987-12-07)
After L.B. explains to Teddy about the Seventh Crystal and learning about its secrets of erasing and restoring memory, he tells Gimmick to build their own Black Box, in which they then use on Teddy's father - who with his memory restored, tells him about what happened during his absence. Meanwhile, Tweeg's father comes to visit his son, and while he and L.B. are now M.A.V.O.'s Most Wanted, decides to go with him and spend some time.
62"The Journey Home"8 December 1987 (1987-12-08)
Teddy, Burl, Grubby, and Gimmick return to Rilonia, where Teddy reunites with his mother and the other Illiops. Grubby also reunites with his Octopede family as well.
63"On the Beaches"9 December 1987 (1987-12-09)
Teddy is finally home in Rillona reunited with his parents. Xelxa's ship arrives and on board are Grubby and the other Octopedes. L.B. proposes to Buffy, and she accepts. Elroy shows Tweeg his shack just off the Rillonian shore.
64"L.B.'s Wedding"10 December 1987 (1987-12-10)
Teddy, Grubby, and Gimmick get an invitation for L.B.'s wedding, and everyone in Grundo gathers around.
65"The Mystery Unravels"11 December 1987 (1987-12-11)

L.B. and Buffy go on a honeymoon to the Land of Ying, but decide to come back to Tweeg just in time to use the money that Tweeg unintentionally gives as a wedding present to pay off all his debts to Mrs. Maggotheart, which leads to Tweeg thanking them for saving his hide. Teddy, Grubby and Gimmick find out the mystery of the Illiop book when Teddy's mother gave him a special looking lens to decode the ancient language. It is revealed within that the Hard to Find City and all the ancient advanced technologies found throughout the Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin were once of a great Illiop Civilization, of which flourished throughout Grundo, helping the people in need before the Gutangs came and conquered their city in which lead the Wise Ones and the Illiops to flee to Rilonia in the south and the Land of Ying in the north. Teddy decides to go on another adventure to the north to find the Illiops with the help of Grubby and Gimmick on their airships. As soon as Teddy is done explaining to everyone of what the seven crystals do, without them realizing, Dweezil takes the Black Box and returns it back to Quellor at M.A.V.O.'s Headquarters as ordered, putting it back in his Black Box but using the memory to listen in to everything Teddy says about the crystals and what they can do. Teddy, at the beginning of the recorded memory, says "That's why I will try everything I can to keep the crystals safe", with Quellor saying "Which won't be for long, Illiop". He laughs evilly while the Eclipse flies over M.A.V.O. towards the Land of Ying.

  • Note: The Mystery Unravels is the 65th and last episode in the complete run of "The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin".

Cast

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

VHS/DVD releases

United States

Hi-Tops Video initially released a lineup of VHS tapes of the show.[6] Episodes ranges from 1-3 per tape, and often featured wrap-around footage of a live-action Teddy Ruxpin, providing the role of the host of the tapes. Hi-Tops released twelve volumes altogether, making up seventeen episodes in all.

On August 8, 2000, EnterTech Home Entertainment and Blue Steel Releasing released a VHS entitled Teddy Ruxpin: The Movie. Despite being marketed as a movie and being "based upon the television series", it actuality contains the first four episodes of the series edited together to form a movie.[7]

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. Later in January 2009, Mill Creek Entertainment released a 6-disc complete series box set featuring all 65 episodes on DVD for the first time.[8] 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.[9]

DVD Name No. Release Date
The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin: Six Crystals 20 January 15, 2008[10]
The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin: Mysteries of Hard to Find City 20 May 6, 2008[11]
The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin: Return to Rillonia 25 July 22, 2008[12]
The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin: Come Dream With Me – Complete Series 65 January 27, 2009[13]
The Complete Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin 65 July 10, 2012

Original concept

Originally, Alchemy II 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. 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 broadcast as an ABC Weekend Special in two parts airing from November 30 to December 7, 1985, and also aired in syndication as a 2-part episode.[14] The show can be found on videocassette.[15] 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 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 contemporary post-punk band REVIEW (РЕВЮ) and their song "Teddy Ruxpin" Ревю - МУЗИКА.POP.BG; also, the first underground music shop to open in the nation's capital of Sofia, was and is to this date called MAVO (ОЧЗ),[16] in reference to the antagonists in the cartoon show.

The titular Brigsby Bear at the 2017 San Diego Comic-Con

Brigsby Bear, a 2017 American film, featured an animatronic bear suit, similar to the one in the animatronic pilot for the Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin.[17] In the plot of the film, the suit is used in the production of a children's television series, which features magical crystals and creatures, just as The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin cartoon did.

Reboot

In 2021, DJ2 Entertainment announced plans of a Rebooted TV series and movie.[18]

References

  1. ^ Perlmutter, David (2018). The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 12–13. ISBN 978-1538103739.
  2. ^ "Problems of Toy's Producer Leave Its Creator in a Bind". The Los Angeles Times. January 19, 1988. Retrieved August 22, 2010.
  3. ^ Martin, Douglas (April 9, 2014). "Ken Forsse, Who Brought a Toy Bear to Life, Dies at 77". The New York Times – via NYTimes.com.
  4. ^ "HIP (Henson Independent Properties) Acquires Global Distribution Rights to Alchemy II's the Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin and T&B Media Global's #Friends – Jim Henson".
  5. ^ Lovable Teddy Ruxpin evolves from toy to animated star of his own half-hour program thanks to Crawley Films, Toronto Star – October 31, 1987
  6. ^ Salmans, Sandra (October 4, 1987). "TELEVISION; the Interactive World of Toys and Television". The New York Times.
  7. ^ "Billboard". July 22, 2000.
  8. ^ "The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin DVD news: Announcement for The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin – Come Dream With Me: The Complete Series". TVShowsOnDVD.com. Archived from the original on August 24, 2011. Retrieved August 20, 2011.
  9. ^ "The Complete Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin (10-pk)". Image Entertainment. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  10. ^ "Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin, The: The Six Crystals DVD @ DVD Empire". Dvdempire.com. January 29, 2008. Retrieved August 20, 2011.
  11. ^ "Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin, The: Mysteries Of Hard To Find City DVD @ DVD Empire". Dvdempire.com. Retrieved August 20, 2011.
  12. ^ "Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin, The: Return To Rillonia DVD @ DVD Empire". Dvdempire.com. July 22, 2008. Retrieved August 20, 2011.
  13. ^ "Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin, The: Come Dream With Me – The Complete Series DVD @ DVD Empire". Dvdempire.com. January 27, 2009. Retrieved August 20, 2011.
  14. ^ "Interview with Jeff Wilson". Teddy Ruxpin Online. Retrieved August 20, 2011.
  15. ^ "The Interview with Ken Forsse". Josh Isaacson, Teddy Ruxpin Online. Retrieved February 6, 2007.
  16. ^ "В ОЧЗ пазаруват не зомбита, а свободни по дух хора : Долче вита : Фреш : Novinar.bg". Novinar.net. December 26, 2009. Retrieved August 20, 2011.
  17. ^ "Brigsby Bear (2017)". IMDB. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  18. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (September 9, 2021). "Iconic '80s Toy Teddy Ruxpin Getting TV, Film Treatment (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter.