The Biskitts
Encyclopedia
The Biskitts is an animated cartoon TV series produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions from 1983 to 1984 and aired on CBS
. The series lasted for only one season, Shirt Tales
replaced the show in its time slot on the following 1984-85 Saturday Morning season. The Biskitts returned to that same time slot in March 1985 but only aired reruns in the remainder of that season.
Following the series retirement from CBS, like many other cartoons, it was acquired by the Armed Forces Network and shown throughout much of the 1980s, mainly as entertainment for children of deployed American servicemen in Asia and Europe.
dogs who live on Biskitt Island and are committed to guarding the crown jewels of Biskitt Castle. Modeled after Robin Hood
, the Biskitts still serve their recently deceased king while performing good deeds for the underprivileged inhabitants of their tiny island. It is explained in the opening narration that due to their good reputation for responsibility and security, other kings have entrusted their treasures to be safeguarded by the Biskitts.
The villain of the series is the king's mean-spirited, wasteful, younger brother King Max who rules the neighboring Lower Suburbia. In lieu of a proper coronation, Max constantly schemes to steal the royal treasure with the help of his hench-hound
s Fang & Snarl and his jester Shecky. The Biskitts are also in danger of being captured and eaten by a large wildcat
named Scratch.
And other cat with eye patch.
it is however apart of the DVD collection, Saturday Mornings Cartoons: 1980s - Volume 1 released on May 4, 2010.
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
. The series lasted for only one season, Shirt Tales
Shirt Tales
Shirt Tales are characters that were created in 1980 by greeting card designer Janet Elizabeth Manco and were featured on Hallmark Cards greeting cards...
replaced the show in its time slot on the following 1984-85 Saturday Morning season. The Biskitts returned to that same time slot in March 1985 but only aired reruns in the remainder of that season.
Following the series retirement from CBS, like many other cartoons, it was acquired by the Armed Forces Network and shown throughout much of the 1980s, mainly as entertainment for children of deployed American servicemen in Asia and Europe.
Plot
The Biskitts are a group of tiny anthropomorphicAnthropomorphism
Anthropomorphism is any attribution of human characteristics to animals, non-living things, phenomena, material states, objects or abstract concepts, such as organizations, governments, spirits or deities. The term was coined in the mid 1700s...
dogs who live on Biskitt Island and are committed to guarding the crown jewels of Biskitt Castle. Modeled after Robin Hood
Robin Hood
Robin Hood was a heroic outlaw in English folklore. A highly skilled archer and swordsman, he is known for "robbing from the rich and giving to the poor", assisted by a group of fellow outlaws known as his "Merry Men". Traditionally, Robin Hood and his men are depicted wearing Lincoln green clothes....
, the Biskitts still serve their recently deceased king while performing good deeds for the underprivileged inhabitants of their tiny island. It is explained in the opening narration that due to their good reputation for responsibility and security, other kings have entrusted their treasures to be safeguarded by the Biskitts.
The villain of the series is the king's mean-spirited, wasteful, younger brother King Max who rules the neighboring Lower Suburbia. In lieu of a proper coronation, Max constantly schemes to steal the royal treasure with the help of his hench-hound
Hound
A hound is a type of dog that assists hunters by tracking or chasing the animal being hunted. It can be contrasted with the gun dog, which assists hunters by identifying the location of prey, and with the retriever, which recovers shot quarry...
s Fang & Snarl and his jester Shecky. The Biskitts are also in danger of being captured and eaten by a large wildcat
Wildcat
Wildcat is a small felid native to Europe, the western part of Asia, and Africa.-Animals:Wildcat may also refer to members of the genus Lynx:...
named Scratch.
Characters
- Wags (voiced by Darryl HickmanDarryl HickmanDarryl Gerard Hickman is an American film and television actor, former television executive, and child star of the 1930s and 1940s.-Early life:...
) - Wags is the leader of the Biskitt. He is Sweets's boyfriend. - Sweets (voiced by Kathleen Helppie) – Sweets is a brave Biskitt. She is Wags's girlfriend.
- Shiner (voiced by Jerry HouserJerry HouserJerry Houser is an American character actor and voice actor in film and television.-Career:Houser was born in Los Angeles, California. Since 1971, he has appeared in countless films, TV series, animated series, and commercials...
) – Shiner is lazy and selfish. He charms both Sweets, Lady and Wiggle. - Lady (voiced by B.J. Ward) – Lady is a pretty Biskitt. She is friends with Sweets and Wiggle.
- Bump (voiced by Bob Holt) – Bump is the muscles of the Biskitts. He protect his friends.
- Downer (voiced by Henry GibsonHenry GibsonHenry Gibson was an American actor and songwriter, best known as a cast member of Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In and for his recurring role as Judge Clark Brown on Boston Legal.-Early life:...
) – Downer is the cowardly Biskitt who is friends with Shiner. - Wiggle (voiced by Jennifer DarlingJennifer DarlingJennifer Darling is an American actress and voice actress. While her body of work as a voiceover artist greatly eclipses that of her on-stage career, she is, perhaps, nevertheless known best to most people as Peggy Callahan, the secretary to Oscar Goldman in the television series The Six Million...
) – Wiggle is one of the girl Biskitts. She has a crush on Wags. She is friends with Sweets and Lady. - Spinner (voiced by Bob Holt) – Spinner is the wise Biskitt. He is always with Wags and other.
- Scat (voiced by Dick BealsDick BealsRichard "Dick" Beals is an American voice actor. He has performed many voices in his career, which spans from the early 1950s into the 21st century...
) – Scat is a young Biskitt. He is playful and brave. - Mooch (voiced by Marshall EfronMarshall EfronMarshall Efron is an American humorist originally known for his work on the listener-sponsored Pacifica radio stations WBAI New York and KPFK Los Angeles, and later for the PBS television show The Great American Dream Machine...
) – Mooch is always with the Biskitts. - King Max (voiced by the late Kenneth MarsKenneth MarsKenneth Mars was an American television, movie, and voice actor. He may be best-remembered for his roles in several Mel Brooks films: the insane Nazi playwright Franz Liebkind in 1968's The Producers, and the relentless Police Inspector Hans Wilhelm Fredrich Kemp in 1974's Young Frankenstein...
) – The evil, mean-spirited, and wasteful King who rules the neighboring Lower Suburbia who serves as the primary antagonist of the series. He is the younger brother of the previous King. Why Max is not crowned the new ruler of the Biskitts is never explained (although it is presumed the old king barred Max from succeeding him on account of Max's mean nature). He tries hard to go the Biskitts Castle to steal the royal treasure.- Shecky (voiced by Kip KingKip KingKip King was an American film, television and voice actor. He was the father of American television sketch comedian Chris Kattan.-Life and career:...
) – Shecky is King Max’s sidekick and court jester. Although Shecky was rather dimwitted and not always loyal to Max, as he even made friends with a Biskitt who shared his love of practical jokes. - Fang and Snarl (vocal effects provided by Kenneth MarsKenneth MarsKenneth Mars was an American television, movie, and voice actor. He may be best-remembered for his roles in several Mel Brooks films: the insane Nazi playwright Franz Liebkind in 1968's The Producers, and the relentless Police Inspector Hans Wilhelm Fredrich Kemp in 1974's Young Frankenstein...
and Peter CullenPeter CullenPeter Claver Cullen is a Canadian voice actor, known as the voice of Eeyore in the Winnie-the-Pooh franchise, Optimus Prime and Ironhide in the original Transformers series, and the narrator in both of the original American Voltron series...
) - Fang and Snarl are King Max's hounds. - Moat Monster (vocal effects provided by Frank WelkerFrank WelkerFranklin Wendell "Frank" Welker is an American actor who specializes in voice acting and has contributed character voices and other vocal effects to American television and motion pictures.-Acting career:...
) - A serpentine monster that lives in the moat surrounding King Max's castle.
- Shecky (voiced by Kip King
- Scratch (voiced by Peter CullenPeter CullenPeter Claver Cullen is a Canadian voice actor, known as the voice of Eeyore in the Winnie-the-Pooh franchise, Optimus Prime and Ironhide in the original Transformers series, and the narrator in both of the original American Voltron series...
) – Scratch is a wildcat who is always trying to catch the Biskitts. In "Belling the Wildcat," he is shown to have a cousin named Itch. - Rover (voice by Peter Cullen) a dashing, yet sly rogue Biskitt. Appeared in only one episode
- Flip A laid-back Biskitt.
- Fetch (voiced by Ken Mars) a silly-looking Biskitt.
- The Whiskers A group of Feline cats when Sweets meet them. Only appears on Raiders of The Lost Bark
- Mouser – Leader of Whiskers and he befriend with Sweets.
- Pendora – A female cat.
- Boots – A lazy cat and always sleep.
- Scaredy Cat – A cat who is afraid of.
- Mink – A pretty cat and have a crush on Scat, after he save her from Scratch.
- Jinks – A cat with a bad luck.
And other cat with eye patch.
Episode list
| Episode | Title | Airdate | Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1A | As The Worm Turns | Sweets befriend a worm. | |
| 1B | Trouble In The Tunnel | Shiner give Scat for cleaning treasure and a mole come on Biskitt Island and the ring get stock on the mole’s nose and Scat follow the mole, can Scat save the day and stop King Max. | |
| 2A | The Moonpond | Shiner teach Downer be brave | |
| 2B | Fly Me To The Goon | Bump lands on King Max's castle, Wags, Sweets, Scat and Shiner must save him. | |
| 3A | Spinner's Surprise | It's Spinner's birthday, | |
| 3B | Two Leagues Under The Pond | King Max and Shecky use a submarine crocodile like to get King John’s treasure on Biskitts Island. | |
| 4A | Dogfoot | Downer is sick and Biskitts meets Dogfoot | |
| 4B | Up To His Old Tricks | King Max using the Trick Book and he get treasure, Sweets and Downer is on the treasure box, Wags and other Biskitts must get the treasure back and save Sweets and Downer | |
| 5A | Turnaround Hound | One of King Max’s dog Snarl get hurt and Biskitts take care of him. Shiner help him to get better. | |
| 5B | A Dark and Stormy Knight | A Black Knight appears and he want the Biskitts treasure and he kidnappet Scat, and Biskitts and King Max have to work together. | |
| 6A | Belling The Wildcat | The Biskitts plot to bell Scratch to keep him from sneaking up on them. Meanwhile, Scratch is visited by his cousin Itch. | |
| 6B | King Max's War | King Otto and his knights arrive in Biskitt Swamp in order to claim King Max's treasure even though he doesn't have any. To keep their swamp from being burned down, the Biskitts end up arranging a duel between King Max and King Otto. | |
| 7A | Moving Day | Using the rainy weather to their advantage, King Max and Shecky search for the Biskitts and do a sneak attack on them. | |
| 7B | A Biskitt Halloween | On Halloween, a witch that the Biskitts have outsmarted years ago returns to obtain two Biskitts in order to stay on Biskitt Island. Her spell ends up draining the life out of the swamp which also turns Scratch, King Max, and Shecky to stone. She kidnapped Wags and Sweets, can Biskitts save them before late. | |
| 8A | Around The Swamp In A Daze | King Max and Shecky use a balloon to find the Biskitt Island | |
| 8B | Rogue Biskitt | A Biskitts named Rover, Scat want to join him on his journey | |
| 9A | The Golden Biskitt | Lady turn into a golden by wizard’s apprentice | |
| 9B | The Bone in the Stone | When Wags's leg is hurt so Sweets take the leader for the other Biskitts and try get the treasure back from the dragon. | |
| 10A | The Trojan Biskitt | King Max plot to give Biskitts a statue of Biskitts, he can get the treasures | |
| 10B | Snatched from Scratch | Shiner get kidnapped both Scratch and King Max, can Biskitts save their selfish friend. | |
| 11A | The Biskitt Who Cried Wolf | Wiggle try to impress Wags(who has a crush on him) King Max uses a Eagle to capture Biskitts, can Wiggle save them. | |
| 11B | Shecky's Last Laugh | Bump befriends Shecky. | |
| 12A | Raiders of The Lost Bark | Sweets meets the Whiskers(The cats). | |
| 12B | The Princess and The Plea | Princess Biskitts is kidnapped by King Max, Male Biskitts try to save her(Wags, Bump, Shiner, Scat, Mooch and Downer), Sweets, Wiggle and Lady must show the boys, girls are better | |
| 13A | The Swamp Monster | Scat try to be brave. | |
| 13B | May the Best Biskitt Win | Shiner challenge Wags with Vote, who will win the Vote and how is leader for Biskitts Wags or Shiner. |
Cast
- Dick BealsDick BealsRichard "Dick" Beals is an American voice actor. He has performed many voices in his career, which spans from the early 1950s into the 21st century...
- Scat - Peter CullenPeter CullenPeter Claver Cullen is a Canadian voice actor, known as the voice of Eeyore in the Winnie-the-Pooh franchise, Optimus Prime and Ironhide in the original Transformers series, and the narrator in both of the original American Voltron series...
- Dog Foot, Snarl, Scratch - Jennifer DarlingJennifer DarlingJennifer Darling is an American actress and voice actress. While her body of work as a voiceover artist greatly eclipses that of her on-stage career, she is, perhaps, nevertheless known best to most people as Peggy Callahan, the secretary to Oscar Goldman in the television series The Six Million...
- Wiggle - Marshall EfronMarshall EfronMarshall Efron is an American humorist originally known for his work on the listener-sponsored Pacifica radio stations WBAI New York and KPFK Los Angeles, and later for the PBS television show The Great American Dream Machine...
- Mooch - Henry GibsonHenry GibsonHenry Gibson was an American actor and songwriter, best known as a cast member of Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In and for his recurring role as Judge Clark Brown on Boston Legal.-Early life:...
- Downer - Kathleen Helppie - Sweets
- Darryl HickmanDarryl HickmanDarryl Gerard Hickman is an American film and television actor, former television executive, and child star of the 1930s and 1940s.-Early life:...
- Wags - Bob Holt - Bump, Flip, Spinner
- Jerry HouserJerry HouserJerry Houser is an American character actor and voice actor in film and television.-Career:Houser was born in Los Angeles, California. Since 1971, he has appeared in countless films, TV series, animated series, and commercials...
- Shiner - Kip KingKip KingKip King was an American film, television and voice actor. He was the father of American television sketch comedian Chris Kattan.-Life and career:...
- Shecky - Kenneth MarsKenneth MarsKenneth Mars was an American television, movie, and voice actor. He may be best-remembered for his roles in several Mel Brooks films: the insane Nazi playwright Franz Liebkind in 1968's The Producers, and the relentless Police Inspector Hans Wilhelm Fredrich Kemp in 1974's Young Frankenstein...
- Fetch, King Max, Fang - Mark L. TaylorMark L. TaylorMark L. Taylor is an American actor. He was born in Syracuse, New York.Taylor has appeared in various shows such as Seinfeld, Beverly Hills, 90210, Melrose Place, Chicago Hope, Ally McBeal and Boston Legal...
- - B.J. Ward - Lady
- Frank WelkerFrank WelkerFranklin Wendell "Frank" Welker is an American actor who specializes in voice acting and has contributed character voices and other vocal effects to American television and motion pictures.-Acting career:...
- Itch, Moat Monster (uncredited)
Children's book
A children's book was created based on The Biskitts. In the book it is discovered that Shecky, the jester and lackey of King Max, bears a striking resemblance to King John, one of the kings who has entrusted his treasure to be safeguarded by the Biskitts. When King Max learns of this, he plots to use it to his advantage telling Shecky that they will attempt to steal King John's treasure by having Shecky impersonate King John to come and withdraw his treasure, and Max will pretend to be his slave. While Max and Shecky fool the Biskitts at first into thinking the real King John has come; Shecky seems to enjoy goofing off more and allowing Max to have to do all sorts of chores, much as King Max made him do plenty of demeaning labor.DVD release
There is no discussion of a "Complete Series" DVD set of the show from Warner Home VideoWarner Home Video
Warner Home Video is the home video unit of Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., itself part of Time Warner. It was founded in 1978 as WCI Home Video . The company launched in the United States with twenty films on VHS and Betamax videocassettes in late 1979...
it is however apart of the DVD collection, Saturday Mornings Cartoons: 1980s - Volume 1 released on May 4, 2010.