The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin
Encyclopedia
The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin is an American animated television series based on Teddy Ruxpin
, an animatronic teddy bear
created by Ken Forsse
and distributed by toy manufacturer Worlds of Wonder
. It was produced for television syndication
by DiC
with Atkinson Film-Arts
using 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. The series differed from traditional children's animation in that most of its 65 episodes were serial
ized 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 are held by Don Taffner's DLT Entertainment.
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 for more episodes, but because of economic problems at Worlds of Wonder (the series' primary financial partner) a 2nd 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
.
, 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.
NOTE: In the tape & book series and the animetronic pilot episode, Tony Pope
voiced Gimmick, Will Ryan also voiced Tweeg and Wooly, Katie Leigh
voiced Princess Aruzia, and Russi Taylor
voiced Leota.
released twelve volumes of the series (17 episodes) on VHS
. They featured between 1 to 3 episodes per tape, and oftentimes had a live-action Teddy Ruxpin as host.
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. On January 27, 2009, Mill Creek Entertainment released a 6-disc complete series box set featuring all 65 episodes on DVD for the very first time. As of 2010, these releases have been discontinued and are out of print.
and Dumbo's Circus
. However, 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 released as a stand-alone ABC Movie of the week in 1986 and also aired in syndication as a 2-part episode. The show can be found on videocassette. 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.
in the late 1980s. The influence of this show can be seen in the text of the then modern post-punk
band REVIEW (РЕВЮ)and their song "Teddy Ruxpin" http://music.pop.bg/item18995_294756.html ; also the very first underground music shop to open in the capital of Bulgaria, Sofia, was and is to this date called MAVO (ОЧЗ), in reference to the antagonistic organization in the cartoon show.
Teddy Ruxpin
Teddy Ruxpin is a children's toy talking bear. The bear would move his mouth and eyes while 'reading' stories which were played on an audio tape cassette deck built into his back. It was created by Ken Forsse with later assistance by Larry Larsen and John Davies. Later versions would use a digital...
, an animatronic teddy bear
Teddy bear
The teddy bear is a stuffed toy bear. They are usually stuffed with soft, white cotton and have smooth and soft fur. It is an enduring form of a stuffed animal in many countries, often serving the purpose of entertaining children. In recent times, some teddy bears have become collector's items...
created by Ken Forsse
Ken Forsse
Ken Forsse is an American inventor, author, and producer who created the hit toy Teddy Ruxpin and the subsequent animated series The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin....
and distributed by toy manufacturer Worlds of Wonder
Worlds of Wonder (toy company)
Worlds of Wonder or WoW was a 1980s American toy company, founded by former Atari employees, including Don Kingsborough and Mark Robert Goldberg.Their products included:* Teddy Ruxpin, a story telling bear, in 1985...
. It was produced for television syndication
Television syndication
In broadcasting, syndication is the sale of the right to broadcast radio shows and television shows by multiple radio stations and television stations, without going through a broadcast network, though the process of syndication may conjure up structures like those of a network itself, by its very...
by DiC
DiC Entertainment
DIC Entertainment was an international film and television production company. In addition to animated television shows such as Ulysses 31 , Inspector Gadget , The Littles , The Real Ghostbusters , Captain Planet and the Planeteers , and the first two seasons of the English adaptation of...
with Atkinson Film-Arts
Atkinson Film-Arts
Atkinson Film-Arts was an animation studio based in Ottawa, Ontario, The company is best known for the first two Care Bears television specials, The Land Without Feelings and The Freeze Machine, and the four syndicated specials that inspired The Raccoons...
using 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. The series differed from traditional children's animation in that most of its 65 episodes were serial
Serial (radio and television)
Serials are series of television programs and radio programs that rely on a continuing plot that unfolds in a sequential episode by episode fashion. Serials typically follow main story arcs that span entire television seasons or even the full run of the series, which distinguishes them from...
ized rather than in traditional episodic
Episode
An episode is a part of a dramatic work such as a serial television or radio program. An episode is a part of a sequence of a body of work, akin to a chapter of a book. The term sometimes applies to works based on other forms of mass media as well, as in Star Wars...
form.
In the United States, the series was originally syndicated by LBS Communications. Today, all international distribution rights to the series are held by Don Taffner's DLT Entertainment.
Plot summary
The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin follows young 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.Series History
In mid-1986, Atkinson Film Arts of Ontario, Canada was commissioned to co-produce (with Worlds of Wonder, AlchemyII, and DiC) a 65 episode animated television series based on the World of Teddy RuxpinTeddy Ruxpin
Teddy Ruxpin is a children's toy talking bear. The bear would move his mouth and eyes while 'reading' stories which were played on an audio tape cassette deck built into his back. It was created by Ken Forsse with later assistance by Larry Larsen and John Davies. Later versions would use a digital...
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
Phil Baron
Philip Mitchell Baron is an American voice actor, puppeteer and songwriter who voiced Piglet in the Disney Channel live-action/puppet television series Welcome to Pooh Corner...
(Teddy) and Will Ryan
Will Ryan
Will Ryan is an American voice actor and producer–writer–composer, well-known for singing about the American West. In the late seventies he teamed up with Phil Baron as Willio and Phillio. They had regular gigs on television, radio and comedy clubs and universities throughout the US...
(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 for more episodes, but because of economic problems at Worlds of Wonder (the series' primary financial partner) a 2nd 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
Cliffhanger
A cliffhanger or cliffhanger ending is a plot device in fiction which features a main character in a precarious or difficult dilemma, or confronted with a shocking revelation at the end of an episode of serialized fiction...
.
Main characters
The three main protagonists, often referred to collectively in fandom as The Trio:- Teddy Ruxpin (voiced by Phil BaronPhil BaronPhilip Mitchell Baron is an American voice actor, puppeteer and songwriter who voiced Piglet in the Disney Channel live-action/puppet television series Welcome to Pooh Corner...
): A young Illiop (roughly 15) whose father disappeared when he was a child. He comes to Grundo to follow a treasure map. Like other Illiops, he is kind and friendly. He loves adventure. - Grubby (voiced by Will RyanWill RyanWill Ryan is an American voice actor and producer–writer–composer, well-known for singing about the American West. In the late seventies he teamed up with Phil Baron as Willio and Phillio. They had regular gigs on television, radio and comedy clubs and universities throughout the US...
): An Octopede about Teddy's age. They are best friends. Noted for his large appetite, he is fond of cooking and eating root stew and other foods made from roots (which usually do not taste good to most people). Though not the bravest or smartest of Teddy's friends, he always sticks by Teddy. - Newton Gimmick (John Stocker): A bald inventor with a slight stuttering problem and a broad and otherwise questionable definition of "science". He is also somewhat absent-minded. He is usually referred to simply as Gimmick.
Allies
- Prince Arin (voiced by Robert Bockstael): The brave Illiper son of the king and queen of Grundo. He lives at Grundo Castle and speaks with a British-sounding accent. He first met the trio while searching for his kidnapped sister.
- Princess Aruzia (voiced by Abby HagyardAbby HagyardAbby Hagyard is a Canadian television actress, voice artist, and comedienne.-Background:Hagyard's interest in acting began when she was 19 years old and enrolled in a modeling class with her mother. She modeled for two years and then had a secretarial position in Playboy's New York offices. In...
): Prince Arin's younger sister who has a sweet demeanor. Though a princess, she does not mind doing work. Wooly apparently has a crush on her. - The Wooly Whatsit (voiced by Pier Kohl): A large furry purple creature who is not very bright, but very helpful and good-hearted. Later revealed to be a Snowzo. He is usually referred to simply as Wooly.
- Leota (voiced by Holly LarocqueHolly LarocqueHolly Larocque is a Canadian actress and theatre performer. Born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Holly is perhaps best known for her role as Holly Higgins on the children's series Under the Umbrella Tree which aired from 1986 to 1993. Holly was also the host of the TV series Homes by Design from 1999...
): A strict but kind Woodsprite and schoolteacher. Most of her students are elves and woodsprites, but Wooly joined the class as well. - Burl Ruxpin (voiced by Phil BaronPhil BaronPhilip Mitchell Baron is an American voice actor, puppeteer and songwriter who voiced Piglet in the Disney Channel live-action/puppet television series Welcome to Pooh Corner...
): Teddy's long-lost father. An Illiop who lost his memory a long time ago, but regained his identity toward the end of the series.
Villains
There are three main antagonists:- Jack W. Tweeg (voiced by John Koensgen): A Troll/Grunge hybrid and an evil wizardMagician (fantasy)A magician, mage, sorcerer, sorceress, wizard, enchanter, enchantress, thaumaturge or a person known under one of many other possible terms is someone who uses or practices magic that derives from supernatural or occult sources...
-wannabe who thinks he has a recipe to turn buttermilk into gold. He is very suspicious and often spies on Gimmick from his tower. He is usually referred to as simply Tweeg. Jack W. Tweeg has desperately wanted to join M.A.V.O.- L.B. (voiced by Robert Bockstael): Short for Lead Bounder, L.B. is a sarcastic Bounder who usually acts as Tweeg's henchman. L.B. does not show a particularly high degree of loyalty or intelligence, but has enough sense to know that Tweeg's schemes never work.
- Quellor (voiced by Les LyeLes LyeLeslie Earnest "Les" Lye was a Canadian actor. Best known for his numerous roles as one of the two adults on the children's program, You Can't Do That On Television , he enjoyed a television and radio career spanning nearly half a century.-Career:Following a stint in the armed forces after high...
): The Supreme Oppressor of M.A.V.O. He is the main villain of the series who sees Illiops as an enemy to his master plan of regaining all six crystals to the one he has in The Black Box. With them, his darkness will reign supremely over the land of Grundo.
Species
The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin features a large menagerie of sentient species for its character base:- Illiops: Brown and bearBearBears 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...
-like, with kind dispositions. - Octopedes: Orange and caterpillarCaterpillarCaterpillars are the larval form of members of the order Lepidoptera . They are mostly herbivorous in food habit, although some species are insectivorous. Caterpillars are voracious feeders and many of them are considered to be pests in agriculture...
-like with eight legs, each with fully formed hands. - Perlunes: Humans who usually are professional in nature (e.g. scientist, doctor, wizard).
- Illipers: The near-relatives to humans but broad-faced with flat noses, who live in a medieval type society.
- Grunges: Relatives of the Illipers but jungle-dwellers with antennae in lieu of ears, who tend to be passionate about their hobbies.
- Fobs: Small, furry, multicolored and penguinPenguinPenguins 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...
-like, sometimes kept as pets. - Elves: Tiny humanoids with pointy ears and shoes.
- Woodsprites: Tiny humanoids with butterfly-like wings.
- Snowzos: A race of large, white and yetiYetiThe Yeti or Abominable Snowman is an ape-like cryptid said to inhabit the Himalayan region of Nepal, and Tibet. The names Yeti and Meh-Teh are commonly used by the people indigenous to the region, and are part of their history and mythology...
-like creatred who look more dangerous than they are. - Bounders: A race of red, round, two-legged and rhinocerosRhinocerosRhinoceros , also known as rhino, is a group of five extant species of odd-toed ungulates in the family Rhinocerotidae. Two of these species are native to Africa and three to southern Asia....
-like, usually sarcastic. They are said by some viewers to resemble Ripto from the Spyro the Dragon series. - Mudblups: A race of large and lumpy animated blobs of mud, dull witted and slow moving but very strong. Sensitive to bright light, since all of their lives are spent underground.
- TrollTrollA troll is a supernatural being in Norse mythology and Scandinavian folklore. In origin, the term troll was a generally negative synonym for a jötunn , a being in Norse mythology...
s: Green, thin, and with pointed noses, for them being good means being bad. - Gutangs: Green and monkeyMonkeyA monkey is a primate, either an Old World monkey or a New World monkey. There are about 260 known living species of monkey. Many are arboreal, although there are species that live primarily on the ground, such as baboons. Monkeys are generally considered to be intelligent. Unlike apes, monkeys...
-like who wear brown tribal owlOwlOwls are a group of birds that belong to the order Strigiformes, constituting 200 bird of prey species. Most are solitary and nocturnal, with some exceptions . Owls hunt mostly small mammals, insects, and other birds, although a few species specialize in hunting fish...
-like armor, usually belligerent. - Anythings: Small shy creatures able to change into other objects, i.e., carrots, potatoes, other produce. They use their ability to hide. They were previously called Nothings.
The Seven Crystals of Grundo
- The First Crystal (Imagination) - Shrink and Grow
- The Second Crystal (Honesty) - Duplication
- The Third Crystal (Trust) - Invisibility
- The Fourth Crystal (Bravery) - Oxygen Generator
- The Fifth Crystal (Friendship) - Speed Altering
- The Sixth Crystal (Freedom) - Flight Ability
- The Seventh Crystal (The Black Box) - Restore and Erase Memory
Overview
Although the series 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. 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
When the series 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 BatemanJason Bateman
Jason Kent Bateman is an American television and film actor. After appearing in several 1980s and 1990s sitcoms including It's Your Move, and The Hogan Family, Bateman came to prominence in the early 2000s for playing Michael Bluth on Arrested Development, for which he won a TV Land, a Golden...
, Brice Beckham
Brice Beckham
James Brice Beckham is an actor most famous for his role as Wesley T. Owens in the television sitcom Mr. Belvedere and for his role as Corey in I Hate My 30's. He currently lives in Los Angeles and is a member of LA's Namaste theater group.-Biography:Beckham attended Walter B...
, Tiffany Brissette
Tiffany Brissette
Tiffany Michelle Brissette is a former American actress. She is best known for her role as V.I.C.I. the Robot on the syndicated American sitcom Small Wonder, which aired from 1985 to 1989.-Career:...
, Shannen Doherty
Shannen Doherty
Shannen Maria Doherty is an American actress, producer, author and television director, known for her work as Heather Duke in Heathers , as Brenda Walsh in Beverly Hills, 90210 and its spinoff series 90210, and as Prue Halliwell in Charmed .-Early life and career:Doherty was born in Memphis,...
, Corey Feldman
Corey Feldman
Corey Scott Feldman is an American film and television actor. He became known during the 1980s, with roles in the Hollywood films Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter, The Goonies, Stand by Me, The Lost Boys, License to Drive, Dream a Little Dream, Gremlins and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles...
and Shalane McCall
Shalane McCall
Shalane McCall is a former child actress, best known for appearing for five seasons on the hit CBS prime time soap opera Dallas playing Charlotte "Charlie" Wade, the daughter of Jenna Wade ....
. 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.
Episode list
- The Treasure of Grundo -
- Beware of the Mudblups -
- Guests of the Grunges -
- In the Fortress of the Wizard -
- Escape from the Treacherous Mountain -
- Take a Good Look -
- Grubby's Romance -
- Tweeg's Mom -
- The Surf Grunges -
- The New M.A.V.O. Member -
- The Faded Fobs -
- The Medicine Wagon -
- Tweeg Gets the Tweezles -
- The Lemonade Stand -
- The Rainbow Mine -
- The Wooly What's-It -
- Sign of a Friend -
- One More Spot -
- Elves and Woodsprites -
- Grundo Graduation -
- Double Grubby -
- King Nogburt's Castle -
- The Day Teddy Met Grubby -
- Secret of the Illiops -
- Through Tweeg's Fingers -
- Uncle Grubby -
- The Crystal Book -
- Teddy and the Mudblups -
- Win One for the Twipper -
- Tweeg Joins M.A.V.O. -
- The Mushroom Forest -
- Anything in the Soup -
- Captured -
- To the Rescue -
- Escape from M.A.V.O. -
- Leekee Lake -
- The Third Crystal -
- Up for Air -
- The Black Box -
- The Hard to Find City -
- Octopede Sailors -
- Tweeg the Vegetable -
- Wizard Land -
- The Ying Zoo -
- The Big Escape -
- Teddy Ruxpin's Birthday -
- Wizard Week -
- Air and Water Races -
- The Great Grundo Ground Race -
- A Race to the Finish -
- Autumn Adventure -
- Gimmick's Gizmos and Gadgets -
- Harvest Feast -
- Wooly and the Giant Snowzos -
- Winter Adventure -
- Teddy's Quest -
- Thin Ice -
- Fugitives -
- Musical Oppressors -
- M.A.V.O. Costume Ball -
- Father's Day -
- The Journey Home -
- On the Beaches -
- L.B.'s Wedding -
- The Mystery Unravels -
Cast
- Phil BaronPhil BaronPhilip Mitchell Baron is an American voice actor, puppeteer and songwriter who voiced Piglet in the Disney Channel live-action/puppet television series Welcome to Pooh Corner...
- Teddy Ruxpin, Burl Ruxpin - Will RyanWill RyanWill Ryan is an American voice actor and producer–writer–composer, well-known for singing about the American West. In the late seventies he teamed up with Phil Baron as Willio and Phillio. They had regular gigs on television, radio and comedy clubs and universities throughout the US...
- Grubby - John Stocker - Newton Gimmick
- John Koensgen - Jack W. Tweeg
- Robert Bockstael - L.B., Prince Arin
- Abby HagyardAbby HagyardAbby Hagyard is a Canadian television actress, voice artist, and comedienne.-Background:Hagyard's interest in acting began when she was 19 years old and enrolled in a modeling class with her mother. She modeled for two years and then had a secretarial position in Playboy's New York offices. In...
- Princess Aruzia - Pier Kohl - The Wooly Whatsit, Additional Voices
- Holly LarocqueHolly LarocqueHolly Larocque is a Canadian actress and theatre performer. Born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Holly is perhaps best known for her role as Holly Higgins on the children's series Under the Umbrella Tree which aired from 1986 to 1993. Holly was also the host of the TV series Homes by Design from 1999...
- Leota the Woodsprite - Les LyeLes LyeLeslie Earnest "Les" Lye was a Canadian actor. Best known for his numerous roles as one of the two adults on the children's program, You Can't Do That On Television , he enjoyed a television and radio career spanning nearly half a century.-Career:Following a stint in the armed forces after high...
- Quellor, Additional Voices - Heather Edson - Additional Voices
- Donna Farron - Additional Voices
- Rick JonesRick Jones (voice actor)Rick Jones is an animation writer, director, content developer, and voice actor. Since 1983, he’s worked with Fox, Disney, Universal, Hanna-Barbera, Alphanim, Cinar and Nelvana...
- Additional Voices - Anna MacCormack - Additional Voices
- Doug Stratton - Additional Voices
- Terrence ScammellTerrence ScammellTerrence Scammell is a Canadian actor and voice actor who commonly playes multiple characters in cartoon series. He is a member of the ACTRA and Canadian Actors' Equity Association unions.-TV series:* 3 Gold Coins...
- Additional Voices
NOTE: In the tape & book series and the animetronic pilot episode, Tony Pope
Tony Pope
Anthony Pope , also known as Anthony Mozdy, was a voice actor.He was born in Cleveland, Ohio and was known for providing the voice of Furby, as well as the voice of Newton Gimmick and other voices in the popular toy series The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin in the 1980s.-Death:He died on February 11,...
voiced Gimmick, Will Ryan also voiced Tweeg and Wooly, Katie Leigh
Katie Leigh
Katherine "Katie" Leigh is an American voice actress best known for her role as Connie Kendall on the Focus on the Family radio program Adventures in Odyssey since 1987...
voiced Princess Aruzia, and Russi Taylor
Russi Taylor
Russi Taylor is an American voice actress. She is the current voice actress of Disney's Minnie Mouse character. She has held this role since 1986, longer than any other voice actress...
voiced Leota.
VHS/DVD releases
From 1987 to 1988, Hi-Tops VideoHi-Tops Video
Hi-Tops Video was a children's home video sublabel of Media Home Entertainment and Kartes Video Communications , active from 1985 until 1992...
released twelve volumes of the series (17 episodes) on VHS
VHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
. They featured between 1 to 3 episodes per tape, and oftentimes had a live-action Teddy Ruxpin as host.
In February 2006 First National Pictures released two volumes of the series (11 episodes)
on 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....
. 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
Mill Creek Entertainment
Mill Creek Entertainment is a home entertainment company that manufactures movie and television DVD compilation box sets at "value" prices. Nashville's Amity Entertainment is an affiliate to Mill Creek...
acquired the rights to the series; they subsequently released all 65 episodes in three volume sets. On January 27, 2009, Mill Creek Entertainment released a 6-disc complete series box set featuring all 65 episodes on DVD for the very first time. As of 2010, these releases have been discontinued and are out of print.
| DVD Name | Ep# | Release Date |
|---|---|---|
| The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin: Six Crystals | 20 | January 15, 2008 |
| The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin: Mysteries of Hard to Find City | 20 | May 6, 2008 |
| The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin: Return to Rillonia | 25 | July 22, 2008 |
| The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin: Come Dream With Me - Complete Series | 65 | January 27, 2009 |
Original concept
Originally, AlchemyII Inc. had hoped to create a live-action series using animatronic characters, as Ken Forsse had helped Disney do with Welcome to Pooh CornerWelcome to Pooh Corner
Welcome to Pooh Corner is a live-action/puppet television series that aired on Disney Channel, featuring the characters from the Winnie the Pooh universe portrayed by actors in human-sized puppet suits, except Roo, who was originally a traditional puppet...
and Dumbo's Circus
Dumbo's Circus
Dumbo's Circus was a live-action/puppet television series that aired on Disney Channel, featuring the character of Dumbo from the original film.Many of the show's cast went on to star is the popular Christian radio series, Adventures in Odyssey....
. However, 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 released as a stand-alone ABC Movie of the week in 1986 and also aired in syndication as a 2-part episode. The show can be found on videocassette. 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 very first western cartoon shows to be seen by the population of BulgariaBulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
in the late 1980s. The influence of this show can be seen in the text of the then modern post-punk
Post-punk
Post-punk is a rock music movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...
band REVIEW (РЕВЮ)and their song "Teddy Ruxpin" http://music.pop.bg/item18995_294756.html ; also the very first underground music shop to open in the capital of Bulgaria, Sofia, was and is to this date called MAVO (ОЧЗ), in reference to the antagonistic organization in the cartoon show.