The Raccoons
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The Raccoons is a Canadian animated television series, first broadcast from 1985 to 1992. The series was created by Kevin Gillis, and produced first at Atkinson Film-Arts (from 1985-1986), then at newly established Hinton Animation Studios (from 1987 on).
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[edit] History
The series features the adventures in the Evergreen Forest of Bert Raccoon and his friends Ralph and Melissa, particularly in their attempts to thwart the industrialist actions of pink aardvark Cyril Sneer and his trio of pig henchmen (called Lloyd, Floyd and Boyd). One unique element of the series is that Cyril gradually evolves from an unrepentantly destructive capitalist to a likeable and environmentally responsible, if still highly aggressive, businessman and occasional ally of the Raccoons. Another nasty character was the capitalist Mr. Knox—a crocodile with a New Orleans accent. Cyril's son Cedric is Bert's best friend.
First airing in 1980 with The Christmas Raccoons TV special, The Raccoons slowly began its journey to becoming a regular animated series, using assorted specials over the next few years as stepping stones (The Christmas Raccoons, The Raccoons On Ice, and The Raccoons and the Lost Star), before finally becoming a regular series in 1985. Five series of episodes were produced, airing from 1985 to 1992.
Usually, the series would feature the main characters learning major life lessons in teamwork, friendship, cooperation, and sometimes just helping out their fellow friends that live near the forest, human and animal alike, tangling with the tyrannical tycoon Cyril Sneer, who does not let anything as trivial as nature's defining highlights (trees, lakes, etc) prevent him attempting to attain a profit.
In 1989, a new character by the name of Lisa Raccoon was introduced into the series. Lisa is Ralph's niece, and the statuesque older sister of Bentley Raccoon, and the daughter of George and Nicole Raccoon. She is the love interest/best friend of Bert Raccoon. Lisa made her debut in Spring Fever, she was voiced by Lisa Lougheed, the singer of the series' most enduring attribute, its ending theme.
The series had a New Wave soundtrack including the theme song "Run With Us" by cast member Lisa Lougheed a minor chart success in some countries, and covered more recently by Spray. The early episodes ended with a different version of the song, not sung by Lougheed. Many of the songs from the series featured on Lougheed's 1988 album Evergreen Nights. Unlike many cartoon series from the 1980s, The Raccoons was not heavily merchandised. Today it has a small cult following, particularly in Canada, the United Kingdom and the Russian Federation.
Unfortunately, the closing theme isn't heard on showings on Boomerang in the UK, as they close every episode with the same end credit sequence, which is from an early episode of the show and is absent of Lougheed's vocals and many of the lyrics (containing just the chorus), angering many UK fans of the series. However, when Boomerang Europe started broadcasting the show in areas such as Eastern Europe on November 6, 2006, each of the first episodes had different ending credits (featuring shots from the episode's scenes). When season one's episodes ended on November 21, the following episodes started playing with Lougheed's version of the song in the ending credits.
In 2003, As Long As Forever: A Raccoons Movie was listed as being in development on the Canadian Television Fund's website [1], however since then no information has been posted to the Canadian Television Fund's website about it.
[edit] Cast
| Character | Voice Actor |
|---|---|
| Bentley Raccoon | Noam Zylberman (1987-1990) Stuart Stone (1990-1992) |
| Bert Raccoon | Len Carlson (1980-1992) |
| Broo the puppy | Sharon Lewis (1983-1992) |
| Cedric Sneer | Fred Little (1980-1983) Marvin Goldhar (1985-1992) |
| Cyril Sneer | Michael Magee (1980-1992) |
| Dan the Forest Ranger | Rupert Holmes (1980) Leo Sayer (1981) John Schneider (1983) Murray Cruchley (1985-1992) |
| Ferlin | Danny Gallivan (1981) |
| George Raccoon | Dan Hennessey (1990-1992) |
| Julie | Tammy Bourne (1980-1983) Vanessa Lindores (1985-1986) |
| Lady Baden-Baden | Bob Dermer (1987-1992) |
| Lisa Raccoon | Lisa Lougheed (1989-1992) |
| Melissa Raccoon | Rita Coolidge (1980-1981) Dottie West (1983) Linda Feige (1985-86) Susan Roman (1987-1992) |
| Mr. Knox | Len Carlson (1985-1992) |
| Mr. Mammoth | Carl Banas (1985-1992) |
| Mr. Willow | Carl Banas (1988-1992) |
| Narrator | Rich Little (1980-1983) Geoffrey Winter (1985-1992) |
| Nicole Raccoon | Liz Hanna (1990-1992) |
| Pig One | Nick Nichols (1983-1990) Keith Hampshire (1990-1992) |
| Pig Two | Len Carlson (1983-1992) |
| Pig Three | Fred Little (1983) Len Carlson (1985-1992) |
| Ralph Raccoon | Bob Dermer (1980-1992) |
| Schaeffer | Carl Banas (1980-1992) |
| Snag | Michael Magee (1981-1992) |
| Sophia Tutu | Sharon Lewis (1981-1988) |
| Tommy | Hadley Kay (1980-1983) Noam Zylberman (1985-1986) |
[edit] Bert Raccoon
The "star" of the series. While Bert shares a similar amount of screen time with the other main characters in the series. He's the headliner character and the one generally remembered by most people who remember this show.
Bert is a happy-go-lucky, energetic raccoon with a lot of imagination. Bert has a lot of confidence in his skills, though sometimes he can be a little too confident. This over-confidence can sometimes land Bert in trouble. He acts younger than Ralph and Melissa and has a lot more youthful energy. He can also be quite hasty, normally Bert will be impatient in getting a plan executed or in solving an injustice. However, despite his faults Bert is very loyal to his friends. His best friend is Cedric Sneer.
[edit] Ralph and Melissa
A raccoon couple living at the Raccoondinium. Ralph and Melissa come across as a rather young, married couple. Generally the two are the most level headed of the gang and the most adult. They grew up together, and were childhood friends with Bert.
Ralph normally can come up with plans and will come up with down to earth solutions in situations. Sometimes Ralph can get caught up in his logical reasoning. Though he cares a lot for Melissa and looks out for her a lot.
Ralph's family have a long tradition of aviation; they were witness to the Wright brothers first flight and his uncle (from whom he obtained the scarf he always wears) was a great pilot. Though it is revealed that Ralph is afraid of flying (Blast from the Past).
Ralph was offered an Editorship of a city newspaper, but turned it down in order to start the Evergreen Standard (Opportunity Knocks).
Melissa is a character who evloved during the course of the specials. At first she was quite timid and quiet. Though when the series begain, Melissa adopted a slightly more outgoing and independent attitude. She works as a photographer on the Evergreen Standard. Her photography was so good that she even received a recruitment offer from a bigger paper.
[edit] Cedric Sneer
Son of the shows "villain", Cyril Sneer. Cedric is the complete opposite to his father, he's geeky, shy and rather weak character wise at times. In the specials, Cedric always gave into his fathers will out of fear. While in both "On Ice" and "Lost Star" he does not offer any help in person as such, Cedric does give help to his friends in anonymous form.
Later in the series Cedric is made a little bolder. While he doesn't always oppose his fathers decisions, he will more often have his say or help his friends out. His intelligence also comes into good use at times. He's best friends with Bert Racoon and boyfriend to Sophia Tutu. His middle name is Sidney (Power Trip).
Cedric's age is unclear. although he appears to be the same age as Bert, it was started that he left school three years prior to the end of series 1, and that he had graduated from college (Runaways).
It is not clear what became of Cedric's mother. Flashbacks (Runaways) indicate that Cyril raised him as a lone parent since he was in diapers.
[edit] Cyril Sneer
The principle villain of the series, Cyril Sneer is a ruthless businessman who won't let anything stand in the way of profit. Originally, Cyril was portrayed as a much darker version of what he would ultimately become, often attempting to destroy the entire Evergreen Forest for lumber or industry. Once the actual TV series was established however, Sneer evolved into a less evil version of himself, and becoming more of an industrialist who tries to make profit out of cheap products. All of his plans are foiled by the Raccoons, and even his own son Cedric.
[edit] TV Specials
The Raccoons began life as four television specials:
- The Christmas Raccoons (1980)
- Introduces the three principle Raccoons (Bert, Ralph, Melissa), Cyril Sneer, Cedric Sneer, Ranger Dan, Tommy, Julie, and Schaeffer.
- The Raccoons on Ice (1981)
- Introduces Cedric's Girlfriend and Cyrils' bear henchmen.
- The Raccoons and the Lost Star (1983)
- Toyed with the series concepts and format, setting the Raccoons on an alien planet that Schaeffer the dog ends up on. Also introduces the concept of Sneer having pig flunkies aswell as Broo, the puppy.
- The Raccoons: Let's Dance (1984)
- A made-for-video "music video" consisting of clips from the previous specials set to songs also from the previous specials, all joined with newly animated footage.
[edit] Episodes
Sixty episodes were broadcast between 1985 and 1992.
(Note: Years given here correspond to onscreen copyright dates; known information suggests that the final series had finished production in 1989, and that internal issues may have kept them from being completed and/or aired for several years.)
Season 1 (1985-1986)
Surprise Attack (1985)
- After overhearing Bert's plans for a surprise party, the pigs become convinced that the Raccoons are plotting to launch a surprise attack against Cyril Sneer.
- Musical interlude: Run With Us - Sooner or later
Going It Alone (1985)
- When Ralph and Melissa want some time alone, they fall out with Bert. Causing him to decide that he will single handedly climb Evergreen Mountain in order to prove that he is not afraid to be alone.
- Unbeknown to Burt, Cyril Sneer has a dark family secret hidden atop the mountain. A secret that he will do almost anything to protect.
- Musical interlude: Night After Night
A Night to Remember (1985)
- Bert and Ralph upset Melissa and Sophia when they decide to take Cedric on a 'guys only' hiking expedition to a fort that they built as children.
- However, when a nearby Haunted House proves to be a little too haunted (Courtesy of Cyril Sneer and the Pigs), it is up to the girls to come to the rescue.
- Musical interlude: All Life Long
The Evergreen Grand Prix (1985)
- The Raccoons' way of life is threatened when Cyril Sneer announces that is bidding for a lucrative contract from Mammoth industries. If he wins he will pave over the forest and build an automobile plant.
- Unless Cedric's solar powered car can defeat Cyril's gas guzzling hotrod in a race, and win the contract in its place, the forest is doomed.
- Musical interlude: Here I Go Again
The Runaways (1985)
- Cedric runs away from home and moves in with Burt and the other Raccoons. However, he soon realizes how much he misses his father and all of the little things that made Sneer Mansion his home.
- Musical interlude: Sooner or Later
Buried Treasure (1985)
- An old treasure map sends Bert and Cedric go on an adventure. Unfortunately, Cyril Sneer not only has eyes on the treasure, but also a fake deed to the land that it's buried on.
- Musical interlude: Missing It
The Intruders (1985)
- When Ralph and Cedric become trapped in the Cyril's vault, it's up to the Raccoons to brave his trap filled basement in order to rescue them.
- Musical interlude: Hang On, Hold On
Opportunity Knocks (1986)
- With Ralph set to take an editors job in the city, taking Melisa with him, and Schaeffer and Broo set to move to the city with Ranger Dan, it looks like the gang is going to be split up. That is until they all find something worth staying for.
- Musical interlude: Ain't no Planes
Cry Wolf (1986)
- Bert's attempts to liven up the Evergreen Standard with some 'creative writing' mean that nobody believes him when he stumbles upon a real story: An insomniac Cyril wants to pave over the forest so that he can get an uninterrupted night's sleep.
- Musical interlude: Here I Go Again
Rumors (1986)
- Cedric and Sophia overhear that royalty coming to the Evergreen Forest, sending Bert on a quest to become a knight, and leading Cyril to believe that his family title (taken away after his great great uncle Excalibur Sneer tried to steal the crown jewels) is about to be restored. Unfortunately for both of them, things are not quite what hey seem.
- Musical interlude: Missing It
Gold Rush (1986)
- Things look bad for the Evergreen Standard when Cyril Sneer tries to starve them of supplies, buying up every ink and paper company he can get his hands on. But has Cyril bit off more than he can chew, in promising to pay for them using gold bullions?
- Musical Interlude: Don't Fear the Fire
Season 2 (1987)
Double Play (1987)
- The Mammoth Mudhens are coming to town, and they are looking for the baseball stars of tomorrow, but rivalries flair when it becomes clear that there is only one contract on offer. While Bert win it, or will it go to Cedric, and will their friendship survive?
- Musical Interlude: Growing Up
The Sweet Smell of Success (1987)
- Bert come into conflict with his friends when he becomes the spokesperson for Cyril Sneer's latest moneymaking scheme. But something doesn't smell quite right about Sneer Brand cologne. Or its advertising campaign.
- Musical Interlude: Hang On, Hold On (Sung by Bert), The Sweet Smell of success (Sung by Cyril Sneer)
Blast from the Past (1987)
- Cyril is sent into a panic when he learns that an old business partner 'Karl Snarl', whom he double crossed years earlier, is about to return and "Give him what he deserves".
- Melissa must confront her fears in order to mount a daring rescue when Bert and Cedric become trapped in a ledge by the Sneer Mansion's security system.
- Musical Interlude: This time
Power Trip (1987)
- Due to an unpaid bill, Mammoth power cuts Cyril's energy supply, and Cyril plans to build a power Dam to put Mammoth in his place. But there's a catch. Can Cyril and the pigs build a Dam in 48 hours?
- Ralph's old Aunt Gertie shows up when he and Melissa are about to go on a Canoe trip. Upon hearing of peanut butter fudge, Bert volunteers to stay and look after her. Now, Bert and Cedric must learn the hard way that old folks aren't as helpless as they look.
- Musical Interlude: Hold back Tomorrow
Stop the Clock (1987) It's Cyril Sneer Verses Ralph's nephew Bentley at the Evergreen forset games!
- Musical Interlude: Growing up
The Artful Dodger (1987)
- Bert and Melissa Explore the mysterious Endless Echo caverns and happen upon some unuasual cave paintings and a monster!
- After bidding $50,000 on a small painting, Cyril Sneer learns of the profitability of the art market. The pigs try their hand at painting.
- Musical Interlude: Here I go again
Last Legs (1987)
- Cyril Sneer has a bad cold, and Dr. Canard is there to bail him out. When Dr. Canard receives and urgent phone call from "Dr. Auto" at the "Clinic", Cyril send the pigs out to listen in on. After hearing about "shot valves" and "not having very long to live", Cyril is lead to believe his days are numbered. They overheard Dr. Canard talking to his mechanic. Bert, hearing the news, puts all of his printing press savings into a monument for Cyril, and even holds some odd jobs to gain more funding. But Cyril finds out he isn't dying at all, and he takes advantage of the opportunity to bankrupt the Evergreen Standard. In the end, Bert buys a monumental printing press, and all is well. Except for Cyril!
- Musical Interlude: Stop the clock
Read No Evil (1987)
- After a close call in Beaver Bite Swamp, Bert and Cedric meet Herman the hermit, and learn the swamp may have oil under it. This grabs Cyril's attention, and he tries to buy the swamp out from underneath Herman. To further complicate matters, Herman can't read. Can the swamp be saved?
- Musical Interlude: New world
Courting Disaster (1987)
- While at Lady Baden-baden's strawberry social, Bert hears Mr. Knox and Cyril Sneer talking about partnerships and proposals. Could this mean marriage? No, just a merger between Sneer and Mammoth. But, the next day, Cyril puts the proposal letter in the hands of his most reliable servants: the pigs. Sure enough, Lady Baden-baden gets the merger proposal, and Mammoth gets Lady baden-baden's thank-you note. Things take a turn for the worse, and soon Knox and Cyril are duking it out for Lady baden-baden's hand in Marriage.
- Musical Interlude: Got Me Singing
Time Trap (1987)
Join Cyril Sneer, Lloyd, and T.O.M. the time machine in a journey to past episodes!
- Musical Interlude: Stop the clock
Season 3 (1988)
The Prism of Zenda (1988)
- When the priceless Prism of Zenda is stolen out from under Cyril Sneer's nose, it is up to Bert and Cedric to save the day.
- Musical interlude: Missing It
Paperback Hero (1988)
When the famous explorer and author Sir Malcolm Havelock arrives in the Evergreen Forest, Bert is bent on coming along on his next expedition to the lost city of Lingoto. Cyril gets word of this, and about the treasure of boo-ku-bah, and decides to invest in the expedition. But, there is something Bert and Cyril don't know about Sir Malcome; He's not really an explorer at all.
- Musical interlude: Here I Go Again
The Chips Are Down (1988)
When Cyril Sneer plans to sell his snack food plant to Knox, he desperately needs to increase his sales figures. So, he and the pigs hold a phony contest for a new bike. The unsuspecting Bert, takes the contest hook, line and sinker. With the last piece of the puzzle missing, winning is no easy task. That is, until the pigs screw up on the assembly line.
- Musical interlude: Restless in the night
Life in the Fast Lane (1988)
- When local dirt bike champ Bix Wheelie comes to town, trouble is not far behind for Cedric, who takes the blame for Bix's antics, and Bert, who has to learn that life in the fast lane is not always as much fun as it appears to be.
- Musical interlude: Run With Us, Hold Back Tomorrow
Monster Mania (1988)
When Melissa and Bert spot a fire breathing monster in Evergreen Lake, tourists begin flocking to see it. Cyril Sneer, takes advantage of the opportunity and tries to sell little monster nicknacks and T-shirts and other overpriced souvenirs. In the end, the monster is exposed as a fake.
- Musical interlude: Growing Up
Mom's the Word (1988)
Cyril Sneer just bought a 1930s "Clarance Cyclone" limousine and is souping it up for the big antique car show. A surprise visitor shows up at Sneer mansion, in the form of Ms. Pig, the pigs' mother. She is convinced the pigs are tycoons due to their misleading letters, and so she asks them for some cash to help rebuild the family house after it's destroyed by a hurricane. Ms. Pig also brings along her old "Harvey Hurricane". When Cyril Sneer sees Bert and Schaeffer fixing it up for her, he sees some competition...
- Musical interlude: Restless in the Night
Picture Perfect (1988)
When Melissa manages to get some photos of Snag saving Cedric from a fire, she is offered a job for World Times Magazine. Word of Snag's heroics also gets out to a movie producer, and Snag might become the next "Bob the Wonder Dog".
- Musical interlude: Here I Go Again
Strictly by the Book (1988)
After being hurt emotionally by Cyril and Bert, Cedric gets shipped off to "Improve University", and comes back a changed aardvark. Eventually, nobody can stand the 'new and improved' Cedric. Now it's up to Bert, Cyril and the gang to turn Cedric back to the way he used to be.
- Musical interlude: Stop The Clock
The Evergreen Express (1988)
As Cyril Sneer faces losing his mansion over a huge unpaid debt, Bert discovers a long lost locomotive where, legend has it, an infamous train robber stashed $10 Million.
Musical Interlude: Run With Us
- Trouble Shooter (1988)
- Paper Chase (1988)
- Simon Says (1988)
- Games People Play (1988)
Season 4 (1989)
- Second Chance (1989)
- The Sky's the Limit (1989)
- Bully for You (1989)
- A Catered Affair (1989)
Search and Rescue (1989)
Bert and Cedric go exploring on Jack Pine Island to find a fallen meteorite, but they don't tell anyone where they're going, and get stranded. Soon everyone else is desperately scouring the forest, hoping to find them.
Musical interlude: Come On Home
Spring Fever (1989)
Bert is completely smitten with Bentley's older sister Lisa when she comes to visit the Evergreen Forest. After much procrastination, he gets a date with her. But does Lisa feel the same way about him?
Musical interlude: Teach Me
- The Family Secret (1989)
The Great Escape (1989)
When Tromboni the magician shows up in the Evergreen forest, Bert is bent on becoming his apprentice, even if it kills him! Meanwhile, Cyril Sneer tries to sell Knox his new $75000 secure vault.
Musical interlude: Can't Trust Myself
Science Friction (1989)
Cyril goes out of control trying to be a good father for Cedric, when he builds an ameture flying machine to enter in the science fair.
When Bert finds a tar pit with dinosaur bones in it, The pigs see some competition, and saboatge Bert's project in the form of pouring Snag's bones into the pit, with Snag hell-bent on revenge.
- Musical Interlude: Growing Up
Making the Grade (1989)
When Bentley comes for his annual visit to the forest, Bert and Cedric take him to see the old Evergreen school house. There, they meet old Ms. Primrose, and learn the school is too small for Governmemt regulation, and must be closed. Not if Cyril Sneer has anything to say about it though!
Musical interlude: Teach Me
- Stealing the Show (1989)
- The Phantom of Sneer Mansion (1989)
- The Headline Hunter (1989)
Season 5 (1990-1991)
- Cold Feet (1990)
- Stress Test (1990)
- Moving In (1990)
- End of the Line (1990)
- Easy Money (1990)
- Endless Summer (1990)
- Promises Promises (1990)
- Black Belt Bentley (1990)
- The Wrong Stuff (1990)
- Join the Club (1991)
- The Evergreen Election (1991)
- The One That Got Away (1991)
- Go for Gold (1991)
[edit] Broadcast details
The series was broadcast around the world by the following channels:
- Canada: CBC Television (flagship broadcaster) and Teletoon
- United States: Disney Channel
- United Kingdom: BBC (BBC One and BBC Two) and Boomerang
- Eastern Europe: Boomerang Europe
- Greece: ERT (Hellenic Broadcasting And Television)
