Really Wild Animals
Encyclopedia
Really Wild Animals is a children's nature
television series comprising 26 episodes that aired between December 29, 1993 and December 31, 1997, starring the late Dudley Moore
as Spin, a talking globe. The series was released on 13 VHS
tapes, and later on 13 DVD
s.
Released by the National Geographic Society
, the series educates children about many different species of animals. Initially, the series go to every continent
describing the wildlife on each one. The series has episodes that focuses on one specific group of animals, such as dogs, cats, endangered animals, animals of the Galápagos Islands
, etc.
Billy West
was credited in later episodes of the series as doing additional voices.
One of the co-producers of the series was Alan O'Day
, writer of #1 pop songs in the 1970s. Songs for each episode were written, produced and performed by Alan O'Day and Janis Liebhart. In the end of an episode or the first half of an episode that is divided into
mini-episodes, Spin says, "But (you know), there are lots more Really Wild Animals all across this wonderful world of ours, so be sure to join me on our next (exciting) adventure. Until then, this is your pal Spin. Spin ya later!".
tapes. Around 2005, National Geographic began releasing the episodes on DVD.
Pilot episodes: Swinging Safari, Wonders Down Under, and Deep Sea Dive.
Season 1
This first episode features animals from Africa
, primarily in the Serengeti
Plain, but also the jungles of mid-Africa and the Kalahari Desert
. These animals include elephants, zebra
s, chimpanzee
s, meerkat
s, and lion
s. Throughout the film, the law of survival and the food chain are emphasized. Jane Goodall
appears.
This episode contains five songs. The first one is about lions; the second talks about baby animals; the third talks about how humans, monkeys and apes are all related; the fourth is about zebras, and the fifth one is about Africa and is beauty. No official titles are known for the songs.
In this episode, the animals of Australia
are examined. The theme of "weirdness" among Australia's native creatures (compared to the rest of the world) is explored by taking a look at mammals, birds and reptiles. The kangaroo
, platypus
, emu
, dingo
, koala
, and more are all featured.
This episode contains five songs. The first one is about Australia and how unique it is; the second talks about kangaroos; the third talks about the strange adaptations of animals in Australia; the fourth is about the Outback, and the fifth one is about how despite the "strange" appearances, all of Australia's animals make it a unique land. No official titles are known for the songs.
This episode takes the plunge into the world's oceans and explores underwater life. Key destinations visited include the Great Barrier Reef
, and Antarctica. Some of the animals featured are dolphin
s, octopus
, seahorse
s, fish
es, shark
s, penguin
s, and whale
s. The film attempts to capture the wonders of the sea and the importance of protecting it from pollution.
This episode contains five songs. The first one is about water; the second talks about strange animals that live deep in the sea; the third talks about the importance of keeping the water clean; the fourth is about animal movement, and the fifth one is about the "real" underwater treasure, which is all the wildlife. No official titles are known for the songs.
An in-depth look at the rainforests of Central
and South America
ensues in this episode. The film is structured around a journey though the layers of the forest, from the floor to the mid-layers to the canopy. During this journey the jaguar
, cougar, leafcutter ant
, howler monkey
, Harpy Eagle, and river dolphin
are among the animals shown. Environmental issues surrounding deforestation are also looked at.
This episode contains four songs. The first one is about all the life that lives in the rainforest; the second talks about the importance of finding food and the food chain; the third talks about the rainforest canopy and all the flight-capable animals that call it home, and the fourth is about the importance of keeping the rainforest safe. No official titles are known for the songs.
This episode takes a look at the North America
n continent from its deserts and swamps, to its cities and tundra. Squirrel
s, bear
s, alligators
, mountain lions, bison
, wild horses
, rattlesnakes, termite
s, raccoon
s, porcupine
s, frog
s, and turtle
s are all featured. The diversity of the North American landscape, and how all its animals have adapted to it, are all key points in the film.
This episode contains four songs. The first one is about what animals need to do to survive in North America; the second talks about the places animals call home; the third talks about difficulties in getting what animals want, and the fourth is about the winter season. No official titles are known for the songs.
The immense continent of Asia
is explored. With such a large area to cover, this episode jumps from one place to the next. Examples include South East Asian islands, the Arabian peninsula, Indian jungles and Chinese mountains. Some of the featured animals in these locations are the sea snake, the Arabian oryx
, the tiger
, and the Giant Panda
. The difference between myth and reality is put to the test in uncovering the lifestyles of all these creatures.
This episode contains four songs. The first one is about all the Asian legends, and how much truth is in them; the second is about territories; the third is about animal roughhousing and how important it is, and the fourth is about all the life, human and animal, in Asia. No official titles are known for the songs.
In this episode, Spin takes the viewer on a trip to the Arctic
and Antarctic regions of the earth. Animals such as penguins, orca whales, polar bear
s, caribou
and walrus
es are explored. Additionally, the show examines the three ways animals survive the harsh cold; hibernation, insulation and migration.
This episode contains four songs. The first one is about the cold temperatures and how the animals don't mind it; the second talks about ways animals beat the cold; the third is all about penguins, and mentions 17 species by name, and the fourth is a tribute to Antarctica. No official titles are known for the songs.
In the first episode, Spin takes a look at dogs and tries to determine if there is a link between wild and tame dogs. The songs in this episode are about why dogs do what they do, and the loyalty that dogs possess. In the second episode, Spin examines cats and learns that no matter how tame, they're always wild. The songs in this episode are about cats having an attitude, and the second is about how they're wild inside. The second episode is the first time Alan O'Day does not appear in a Really Wild Animals episode.
In the first episode, Spin examines dinosaur
s such as Hadrosaurs, Struthiomimus
, Tyrannosaurus Rex, and Dromaeosaurs, and tries to answer the many questions surrounding them, including how they became extinct, and if relatives still exist today such as Alligator
, Snake
s, Komodo Dragon
s, Ostrich
es, Cassowary
s, and other birds. The songs in this episode talk about dinosaurs, and about how their modern-day relatives still "rock our world." This episode is the first and only episode to not feature Alan O'Day or Janis Liebhart singing the songs. It's also the last episode where a guest singer was brought in. In the second episode, Spin looks at some of the world's creepiest creatures, and shows that no matter how scary they are, they all play an important part in the world. The first song is about how even though the creatures are creepy, there's something intriguing about them, and the second song is about how important all of them are.
In the first episode, Spin takes a look at primates of all types, including gibbon
s, Bush Babies, and baboon
s. He also explains that primates are our distant relatives. The first song is about all primates, and the second song talks about gorillas, our "gentle brothers." In the second episode, Spin takes a look at animal families, and shows that they're not all that different from human families after all. The songs in this episode are about how curious animal children are, and how important families are.
In the first episode, Spin takes a look at farm animals, such as turkeys, sheep, and cows, and examines their wild relatives from all over the world. The first song talks about all the animals on the farm, and the second asks if the viewer were a farm animal, would they be wild or free? In the second episode, Spin takes a look at how humans help endangered animals and how animals rescue people, and shows that if people work together to help save animals, they'll prevent them from becoming extinct. The songs in this episode are about help being available for animals, and how if humans work together with animals, everybody will be safe at last.
In the first episode, Spin shows animals that their own homes, such as termites, beavers, and naked mole rats, and explains that they build their homes to have families. In the second episode, Spin takes a look at animals that migrate, such as wildebeest
, sockeye salmon
, tundra swans, and explains that the cycle of migration
never ends.
In the first episode, Spin's a spy who's trying to find out how some animals have some ways to defend themselves, such as frill-necked lizards, poison dart frogs, bombardier beetles, and puffer fish, and finds why animals need these defenses. In the final episode, Spin shows animals that live on certain islands, such as lemurs in Madagascar
, Tasmanian Devils in Tasmania
, and eastern rock-hopper penguins in Snares Island, and shows how unique they are than mainland animals and footage of New York City prior to the 9/11 attacks. Herons are also shown in New York City.
Nature
Nature, in the broadest sense, is equivalent to the natural world, physical world, or material world. "Nature" refers to the phenomena of the physical world, and also to life in general...
television series comprising 26 episodes that aired between December 29, 1993 and December 31, 1997, starring the late Dudley Moore
Dudley Moore
Dudley Stuart John Moore, CBE was an English actor, comedian, composer and musician.Moore first came to prominence as one of the four writer-performers in the ground-breaking comedy revue Beyond the Fringe in the early 1960s, and then became famous as half of the highly popular television...
as Spin, a talking globe. The series was released on 13 VHS
VHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
tapes, and later on 13 DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
s.
Released by the National Geographic Society
National Geographic Society
The National Geographic Society , headquartered in Washington, D.C. in the United States, is one of the largest non-profit scientific and educational institutions in the world. Its interests include geography, archaeology and natural science, the promotion of environmental and historical...
, the series educates children about many different species of animals. Initially, the series go to every continent
Continent
A continent is one of several very large landmasses on Earth. They are generally identified by convention rather than any strict criteria, with seven regions commonly regarded as continents—they are : Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia.Plate tectonics is...
describing the wildlife on each one. The series has episodes that focuses on one specific group of animals, such as dogs, cats, endangered animals, animals of the Galápagos Islands
Galápagos Islands
The Galápagos Islands are an archipelago of volcanic islands distributed around the equator in the Pacific Ocean, west of continental Ecuador, of which they are a part.The Galápagos Islands and its surrounding waters form an Ecuadorian province, a national park, and a...
, etc.
Billy West
Billy West
William Richard "Billy" West is an American voice actor. Born in Detroit but raised in the Roslindale neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, Billy launched his career in the early 1980s performing daily comedic routines on Boston's WBCN. He left the radio station to work on the short-lived revival...
was credited in later episodes of the series as doing additional voices.
One of the co-producers of the series was Alan O'Day
Alan O'Day
Alan O'Day is an American singer-songwriter, best known for writing and singing "Undercover Angel," a song which was number 1 in 1977. He also wrote songs for several other notable performers, such as 1974's Helen Reddy number 1 hit "Angie Baby" and the Righteous Brothers' number 3 hit "Rock And...
, writer of #1 pop songs in the 1970s. Songs for each episode were written, produced and performed by Alan O'Day and Janis Liebhart. In the end of an episode or the first half of an episode that is divided into
mini-episodes, Spin says, "But (you know), there are lots more Really Wild Animals all across this wonderful world of ours, so be sure to join me on our next (exciting) adventure. Until then, this is your pal Spin. Spin ya later!".
On VHS/DVD
From 1993-1997, the series was released on 13 VHSVHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
tapes. Around 2005, National Geographic began releasing the episodes on DVD.
Pilot episodes: Swinging Safari, Wonders Down Under, and Deep Sea Dive.
Season 1
- Swinging Safari
This first episode features animals from Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, primarily in the Serengeti
Serengeti
The Serengeti ecosystem is a geographical region in Africa. It is located in north Tanzania and extends to south-western Kenya between latitudes 1 and 3 S and longitudes 34 and 36 E. It spans some ....
Plain, but also the jungles of mid-Africa and the Kalahari Desert
Kalahari Desert
The Kalahari Desert is a large semi-arid sandy savannah in Southern Africa extending , covering much of Botswana and parts of Namibia and South Africa, as semi-desert, with huge tracts of excellent grazing after good rains. The Kalahari supports more animals and plants than a true desert...
. These animals include elephants, zebra
Zebra
Zebras are several species of African equids united by their distinctive black and white stripes. Their stripes come in different patterns unique to each individual. They are generally social animals that live in small harems to large herds...
s, chimpanzee
Chimpanzee
Chimpanzee, sometimes colloquially chimp, is the common name for the two extant species of ape in the genus Pan. The Congo River forms the boundary between the native habitat of the two species:...
s, meerkat
Meerkat
The meerkat or suricate, Suricata suricatta, is a small mammal belonging to the mongoose family. Meerkats live in all parts of the Kalahari Desert in Botswana, in much of the Namib Desert in Namibia and southwestern Angola, and in South Africa. A group of meerkats is called a "mob", "gang" or "clan"...
s, and lion
Lion
The lion is one of the four big cats in the genus Panthera, and a member of the family Felidae. With some males exceeding 250 kg in weight, it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger...
s. Throughout the film, the law of survival and the food chain are emphasized. Jane Goodall
Jane Goodall
Dame Jane Morris Goodall, DBE , is a British primatologist, ethologist, anthropologist, and UN Messenger of Peace. Considered to be the world's foremost expert on chimpanzees, Goodall is best known for her 45-year study of social and family interactions of wild chimpanzees in Gombe Stream National...
appears.
This episode contains five songs. The first one is about lions; the second talks about baby animals; the third talks about how humans, monkeys and apes are all related; the fourth is about zebras, and the fifth one is about Africa and is beauty. No official titles are known for the songs.
- Wonders Down Under
In this episode, the animals of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
are examined. The theme of "weirdness" among Australia's native creatures (compared to the rest of the world) is explored by taking a look at mammals, birds and reptiles. The kangaroo
Kangaroo
A kangaroo is a marsupial from the family Macropodidae . In common use the term is used to describe the largest species from this family, especially those of the genus Macropus, Red Kangaroo, Antilopine Kangaroo, Eastern Grey Kangaroo and Western Grey Kangaroo. Kangaroos are endemic to the country...
, platypus
Platypus
The platypus is a semi-aquatic mammal endemic to eastern Australia, including Tasmania. Together with the four species of echidna, it is one of the five extant species of monotremes, the only mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young...
, emu
Emu
The Emu Dromaius novaehollandiae) is the largest bird native to Australia and the only extant member of the genus Dromaius. It is the second-largest extant bird in the world by height, after its ratite relative, the ostrich. There are three subspecies of Emus in Australia...
, dingo
Dingo
The Australian Dingo or Warrigal is a free-roaming wild dog unique to the continent of Australia, mainly found in the outback. Its original ancestors are thought to have arrived with humans from southeast Asia thousands of years ago, when dogs were still relatively undomesticated and closer to...
, koala
Koala
The koala is an arboreal herbivorous marsupial native to Australia, and the only extant representative of the family Phascolarctidae....
, and more are all featured.
This episode contains five songs. The first one is about Australia and how unique it is; the second talks about kangaroos; the third talks about the strange adaptations of animals in Australia; the fourth is about the Outback, and the fifth one is about how despite the "strange" appearances, all of Australia's animals make it a unique land. No official titles are known for the songs.
- Deep Sea Dive
- Note: This is the first episode where Spin explores around the world instead of just sticking to one continent and the final one where he appears in his original animation.
This episode takes the plunge into the world's oceans and explores underwater life. Key destinations visited include the Great Barrier Reef
Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is the world'slargest reef system composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 2,600 kilometres over an area of approximately...
, and Antarctica. Some of the animals featured are dolphin
Dolphin
Dolphins are marine mammals that are closely related to whales and porpoises. There are almost forty species of dolphin in 17 genera. They vary in size from and , up to and . They are found worldwide, mostly in the shallower seas of the continental shelves, and are carnivores, mostly eating...
s, octopus
Octopus
The octopus is a cephalopod mollusc of the order Octopoda. Octopuses have two eyes and four pairs of arms, and like other cephalopods they are bilaterally symmetric. An octopus has a hard beak, with its mouth at the center point of the arms...
, seahorse
Seahorse
Seahorses compose the fish genus Hippocampus within the family Syngnathidae, in order Syngnathiformes. Syngnathidae also includes the pipefishes. "Hippocampus" comes from the Ancient Greek hippos meaning "horse" and kampos meaning “sea monster”.There are nearly 50 species of seahorse...
s, fish
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
es, shark
Shark
Sharks are a type of fish with a full cartilaginous skeleton and a highly streamlined body. The earliest known sharks date from more than 420 million years ago....
s, penguin
Penguin
Penguins are a group of aquatic, flightless birds living almost exclusively in the southern hemisphere, especially in Antarctica. Highly adapted for life in the water, penguins have countershaded dark and white plumage, and their wings have become flippers...
s, and whale
Whale
Whale is the common name for various marine mammals of the order Cetacea. The term whale sometimes refers to all cetaceans, but more often it excludes dolphins and porpoises, which belong to suborder Odontoceti . This suborder also includes the sperm whale, killer whale, pilot whale, and beluga...
s. The film attempts to capture the wonders of the sea and the importance of protecting it from pollution.
This episode contains five songs. The first one is about water; the second talks about strange animals that live deep in the sea; the third talks about the importance of keeping the water clean; the fourth is about animal movement, and the fifth one is about the "real" underwater treasure, which is all the wildlife. No official titles are known for the songs.
- Totally Tropical Rain Forest
- Notes: This is the first episode that Spin appears in his new animation form. He will remain in this form throughout the rest of the series. In addition, this is also the first episode to have less than five songs.
An in-depth look at the rainforests of Central
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
ensues in this episode. The film is structured around a journey though the layers of the forest, from the floor to the mid-layers to the canopy. During this journey the jaguar
Jaguar
The jaguar is a big cat, a feline in the Panthera genus, and is the only Panthera species found in the Americas. The jaguar is the third-largest feline after the tiger and the lion, and the largest in the Western Hemisphere. The jaguar's present range extends from Southern United States and Mexico...
, cougar, leafcutter ant
Leafcutter ant
Leafcutter ants, a non-generic name, are any of 47 species of leaf-chewing ants belonging to the two genera Atta and Acromyrmex.These species of tropical, fungus-growing ants are all endemic to South, Central America, Mexico and parts of the southern United States.The Acromyrmex and Atta ants have...
, howler monkey
Howler monkey
Howler monkeys are among the largest of the New World monkeys. Fifteen species are currently recognised. Previously classified in the family Cebidae, they are now placed in the family Atelidae. These monkeys are native to South and Central American forests...
, Harpy Eagle, and river dolphin
River dolphin
River dolphins are the four living species of dolphin that reside in freshwater rivers and estuaries. River dolphins inhabit areas of Asia and South America. They are classed in the Platanistoidea superfamily of cetaceans. Three species live in fresh water rivers. The fourth species, the La Plata...
are among the animals shown. Environmental issues surrounding deforestation are also looked at.
This episode contains four songs. The first one is about all the life that lives in the rainforest; the second talks about the importance of finding food and the food chain; the third talks about the rainforest canopy and all the flight-capable animals that call it home, and the fourth is about the importance of keeping the rainforest safe. No official titles are known for the songs.
- Amazing North America
This episode takes a look at the North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
n continent from its deserts and swamps, to its cities and tundra. Squirrel
Squirrel
Squirrels belong to a large family of small or medium-sized rodents called the Sciuridae. The family includes tree squirrels, ground squirrels, chipmunks, marmots , flying squirrels, and prairie dogs. Squirrels are indigenous to the Americas, Eurasia, and Africa and have been introduced to Australia...
s, bear
Bear
Bears are mammals of the family Ursidae. Bears are classified as caniforms, or doglike carnivorans, with the pinnipeds being their closest living relatives. Although there are only eight living species of bear, they are widespread, appearing in a wide variety of habitats throughout the Northern...
s, alligators
American Alligator
The American alligator , sometimes referred to colloquially as a gator, is a reptile endemic only to the Southeastern United States. It is one of the two living species of alligator, in the genus Alligator, within the family Alligatoridae...
, mountain lions, bison
Bison
Members of the genus Bison are large, even-toed ungulates within the subfamily Bovinae. Two extant and four extinct species are recognized...
, wild horses
Mustang (horse)
A Mustang is a free-roaming horse of the North American west that first descended from horses brought to the Americas by the Spanish. Mustangs are often referred to as wild horses, but there is intense debate over terminology...
, rattlesnakes, termite
Termite
Termites are a group of eusocial insects that, until recently, were classified at the taxonomic rank of order Isoptera , but are now accepted as the epifamily Termitoidae, of the cockroach order Blattodea...
s, raccoon
Raccoon
Procyon is a genus of nocturnal mammals, comprising three species commonly known as raccoons, in the family Procyonidae. The most familiar species, the common raccoon , is often known simply as "the" raccoon, as the two other raccoon species in the genus are native only to the tropics and are...
s, porcupine
Porcupine
Porcupines are rodents with a coat of sharp spines, or quills, that defend or camouflage them from predators. They are indigenous to the Americas, southern Asia, and Africa. Porcupines are the third largest of the rodents, behind the capybara and the beaver. Most porcupines are about long, with...
s, frog
Frog
Frogs are amphibians in the order Anura , formerly referred to as Salientia . Most frogs are characterized by a short body, webbed digits , protruding eyes and the absence of a tail...
s, and turtle
Turtle
Turtles are reptiles of the order Testudines , characterised by a special bony or cartilaginous shell developed from their ribs that acts as a shield...
s are all featured. The diversity of the North American landscape, and how all its animals have adapted to it, are all key points in the film.
This episode contains four songs. The first one is about what animals need to do to survive in North America; the second talks about the places animals call home; the third talks about difficulties in getting what animals want, and the fourth is about the winter season. No official titles are known for the songs.
- Adventures in Asia
The immense continent of Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
is explored. With such a large area to cover, this episode jumps from one place to the next. Examples include South East Asian islands, the Arabian peninsula, Indian jungles and Chinese mountains. Some of the featured animals in these locations are the sea snake, the Arabian oryx
Arabian Oryx
The Arabian Oryx or White Oryx is a medium sized antelope with a distinct shoulder hump, long straight horns, and a tufted tail. It is a bovid, and the smallest member of Oryx genus, native to desert and steppe areas of the Arabian peninsula...
, the tiger
Tiger
The tiger is the largest cat species, reaching a total body length of up to and weighing up to . Their most recognizable feature is a pattern of dark vertical stripes on reddish-orange fur with lighter underparts...
, and the Giant Panda
Giant Panda
The giant panda, or panda is a bear native to central-western and south western China. It is easily recognized by its large, distinctive black patches around the eyes, over the ears, and across its round body. Though it belongs to the order Carnivora, the panda's diet is 99% bamboo...
. The difference between myth and reality is put to the test in uncovering the lifestyles of all these creatures.
This episode contains four songs. The first one is about all the Asian legends, and how much truth is in them; the second is about territories; the third is about animal roughhousing and how important it is, and the fourth is about all the life, human and animal, in Asia. No official titles are known for the songs.
- Polar Prowl
- Note: In this episode, the first song doesn't begin until over a minute into the episode, marking the first time this has happened in the series.
In this episode, Spin takes the viewer on a trip to the Arctic
Arctic
The Arctic is a region located at the northern-most part of the Earth. The Arctic consists of the Arctic Ocean and parts of Canada, Russia, Greenland, the United States, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland. The Arctic region consists of a vast, ice-covered ocean, surrounded by treeless permafrost...
and Antarctic regions of the earth. Animals such as penguins, orca whales, polar bear
Polar Bear
The polar bear is a bear native largely within the Arctic Circle encompassing the Arctic Ocean, its surrounding seas and surrounding land masses. It is the world's largest land carnivore and also the largest bear, together with the omnivorous Kodiak Bear, which is approximately the same size...
s, caribou
Reindeer
The reindeer , also known as the caribou in North America, is a deer from the Arctic and Subarctic, including both resident and migratory populations. While overall widespread and numerous, some of its subspecies are rare and one has already gone extinct.Reindeer vary considerably in color and size...
and walrus
Walrus
The walrus is a large flippered marine mammal with a discontinuous circumpolar distribution in the Arctic Ocean and sub-Arctic seas of the Northern Hemisphere. The walrus is the only living species in the Odobenidae family and Odobenus genus. It is subdivided into three subspecies: the Atlantic...
es are explored. Additionally, the show examines the three ways animals survive the harsh cold; hibernation, insulation and migration.
This episode contains four songs. The first one is about the cold temperatures and how the animals don't mind it; the second talks about ways animals beat the cold; the third is all about penguins, and mentions 17 species by name, and the fourth is a tribute to Antarctica. No official titles are known for the songs.
- Hot Dogs and Cool Cats
- Note: This was the point in the series where Really Wild Animals started airing on TV, and as a result had to cut down on episode length. Instead of one 45-minute episode, all VHS/DVDs released would contain two half-hour episodes. Also, beginning here, all episodes only have two songs in them.
In the first episode, Spin takes a look at dogs and tries to determine if there is a link between wild and tame dogs. The songs in this episode are about why dogs do what they do, and the loyalty that dogs possess. In the second episode, Spin examines cats and learns that no matter how tame, they're always wild. The songs in this episode are about cats having an attitude, and the second is about how they're wild inside. The second episode is the first time Alan O'Day does not appear in a Really Wild Animals episode.
Season 2
- Dinosaurs and Other Creature Features
- Notes: This is the first episode in which the background changes from the sky to outer space; this background, which had been in place since the first episode, will remain for the rest of the series. Spin misreads the title card as "Dinos and Other Creature Features," despite it saying "dinosaurs." Robert T. BakkerRobert T. BakkerRobert T. Bakker is an American paleontologist who helped reshape modern theories about dinosaurs, particularly by adding support to the theory that some dinosaurs were endothermic...
appears in the first episode, and in the second half, footage from a Three Stooges episode, Disorder in the CourtDisorder in the CourtDisorder in the Court is the 15th short subject starring American slapstick comedy team the Three Stooges. The trio made a total of 190 shorts for Columbia Pictures between 1934 and 1959.-Plot:...
, is shown.
- Notes: This is the first episode in which the background changes from the sky to outer space; this background, which had been in place since the first episode, will remain for the rest of the series. Spin misreads the title card as "Dinos and Other Creature Features," despite it saying "dinosaurs." Robert T. Bakker
In the first episode, Spin examines dinosaur
Dinosaur
Dinosaurs are a diverse group of animals of the clade and superorder Dinosauria. They were the dominant terrestrial vertebrates for over 160 million years, from the late Triassic period until the end of the Cretaceous , when the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event led to the extinction of...
s such as Hadrosaurs, Struthiomimus
Struthiomimus
Struthiomimus is a genus of ornithomimid dinosaur from the late Cretaceous of Alberta, Canada. It was a long-legged, ostrich-like dinosaur.The bipedal Struthiomimus stood about long and tall at the hips and weighed around...
, Tyrannosaurus Rex, and Dromaeosaurs, and tries to answer the many questions surrounding them, including how they became extinct, and if relatives still exist today such as Alligator
Alligator
An alligator is a crocodilian in the genus Alligator of the family Alligatoridae. There are two extant alligator species: the American alligator and the Chinese alligator ....
, Snake
Snake
Snakes are elongate, legless, carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes that can be distinguished from legless lizards by their lack of eyelids and external ears. Like all squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales...
s, Komodo Dragon
Komodo dragon
The Komodo dragon , also known as the Komodo monitor, is a large species of lizard found in the Indonesian islands of Komodo, Rinca, Flores, Gili Motang and Gili Dasami. A member of the monitor lizard family , it is the largest living species of lizard, growing to a maximum length of in rare cases...
s, Ostrich
Ostrich
The Ostrich is one or two species of large flightless birds native to Africa, the only living member of the genus Struthio. Some analyses indicate that the Somali Ostrich may be better considered a full species apart from the Common Ostrich, but most taxonomists consider it to be a...
es, Cassowary
Cassowary
The cassowaries are ratites, very large flightless birds in the genus Casuarius native to the tropical forests of New Guinea, nearby islands and northeastern Australia. There are three extant species recognized today...
s, and other birds. The songs in this episode talk about dinosaurs, and about how their modern-day relatives still "rock our world." This episode is the first and only episode to not feature Alan O'Day or Janis Liebhart singing the songs. It's also the last episode where a guest singer was brought in. In the second episode, Spin looks at some of the world's creepiest creatures, and shows that no matter how scary they are, they all play an important part in the world. The first song is about how even though the creatures are creepy, there's something intriguing about them, and the second song is about how important all of them are.
- Monkey Business and Other Family Fun
- Note: Janis Liebhart performs both songs in the first episode; she only appears in a duet in the second episode. Also, this episode features a parody of Candid CameraCandid CameraCandid Camera is a hidden camera/practical joke reality television series created and produced by Allen Funt, which initially began on radio as Candid Microphone June 28, 1947...
called Candid Critter Camera. It's hosted by "Alan Grunt" (an obvious parody of Alan Funt, who is played by Billy WestBilly WestWilliam Richard "Billy" West is an American voice actor. Born in Detroit but raised in the Roslindale neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, Billy launched his career in the early 1980s performing daily comedic routines on Boston's WBCN. He left the radio station to work on the short-lived revival...
.
- Note: Janis Liebhart performs both songs in the first episode; she only appears in a duet in the second episode. Also, this episode features a parody of Candid Camera
In the first episode, Spin takes a look at primates of all types, including gibbon
Gibbon
Gibbons are apes in the family Hylobatidae . The family is divided into four genera based on their diploid chromosome number: Hylobates , Hoolock , Nomascus , and Symphalangus . The extinct Bunopithecus sericus is a gibbon or gibbon-like ape which, until recently, was thought to be closely related...
s, Bush Babies, and baboon
Baboon
Baboons are African and Arabian Old World monkeys belonging to the genus Papio, part of the subfamily Cercopithecinae. There are five species, which are some of the largest non-hominoid members of the primate order; only the mandrill and the drill are larger...
s. He also explains that primates are our distant relatives. The first song is about all primates, and the second song talks about gorillas, our "gentle brothers." In the second episode, Spin takes a look at animal families, and shows that they're not all that different from human families after all. The songs in this episode are about how curious animal children are, and how important families are.
- Farmyard Friends
- Notes: This is the first VHS/DVD release that doesn't mention the second episode. The TV version of Farmyard Friends was called "Spin's Really Wild Farm Tour." Also, at this point, Warner Brothers became the distributor and started advertising before the episode began.
In the first episode, Spin takes a look at farm animals, such as turkeys, sheep, and cows, and examines their wild relatives from all over the world. The first song talks about all the animals on the farm, and the second asks if the viewer were a farm animal, would they be wild or free? In the second episode, Spin takes a look at how humans help endangered animals and how animals rescue people, and shows that if people work together to help save animals, they'll prevent them from becoming extinct. The songs in this episode are about help being available for animals, and how if humans work together with animals, everybody will be safe at last.
- Awesome Animal Builders
In the first episode, Spin shows animals that their own homes, such as termites, beavers, and naked mole rats, and explains that they build their homes to have families. In the second episode, Spin takes a look at animals that migrate, such as wildebeest
Wildebeest
The wildebeest , also called the gnu is an antelope of the genus Connochaetes. It is a hooved mammal...
, sockeye salmon
Sockeye salmon
Sockeye salmon , also called red salmon or blueback salmon in the USA, is an anadromous species of salmon found in the Northern Pacific Ocean and rivers discharging into it...
, tundra swans, and explains that the cycle of migration
Animal migration
Animal migration is the relatively long-distance movement of individuals, usually on a seasonal basis. It is a ubiquitous phenomenon, found in all major animal groups, including birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, amphibians, insects, and crustaceans. The trigger for the migration may be local...
never ends.
- Secret Weapons and Island Magic
- Note: Despite this being the last release of Really Wild Animals, the show still ends with Spin saying, "But there are lots more Really Wild Animals all across this wonderful world of ours, so be sure to join me on our next adventure. Until then, this is your pal, Spin. Spin ya later!"
In the first episode, Spin's a spy who's trying to find out how some animals have some ways to defend themselves, such as frill-necked lizards, poison dart frogs, bombardier beetles, and puffer fish, and finds why animals need these defenses. In the final episode, Spin shows animals that live on certain islands, such as lemurs in Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
, Tasmanian Devils in Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
, and eastern rock-hopper penguins in Snares Island, and shows how unique they are than mainland animals and footage of New York City prior to the 9/11 attacks. Herons are also shown in New York City.