The Beatles (TV series)
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The Beatles was an American animated television series featuring the fanciful and musical misadventures of the extraordinarily popular British rock band of the same name. It ran from 1965 to 1969 on ABC in the USA. Each episode has a name of a Beatles song, so the story is based on its lyrics and it is also played at some time in the episode.
The series consisted of short and witty animated stories that essentially were intended to set up the visual illustration of Beatles songs that are played in their entirety. In addition, there were sing along sequences with simpler imagery complementing the full lyrics of particular songs.
The series became notorious for its static depiction of the band in their early moptop and suit look as depicted in the live action film A Hard Day's Night, even though the band moved beyond it during the series' run. There was also the occasional continuity mistake. The IMDB claims that in some scenes, the left-handed McCartney was depicted playing his bass guitar right-handed.
The Beatles had nothing to do with the series' production beyond the use of their music recordings. American actor Paul Frees did the voices of John and George while Lance Percival, of the Carry On series, did the more authentic sounding voices of Paul and Ringo. In fact, the band disdained the series, which discouraged them from participating significantly in the later animated feature film, Yellow Submarine. Only when the band saw and were impressed by the film's finished footage did they realize the film was a more ambitious creation. As a result, they agreed to appear in a short live action epilogue for it. In fact, George Dunning, who would direct Yellow Submarine, had directed the animated series as well. The series was produced by Al Brodax for King Features TV. However, it is reported that the band members enjoyed the cartoons in later years.
Initially the open credits theme was a guitar riff from "A Hard Day's Night" seguing into "Can't Buy Me Love", over a cartoon sequence of the lads running down a fire escape, echoing a scene in A Hard Day's Night. The second season's opening theme was "Help!",while the third season's theme was "And Your Bird Can Sing", over a different cartoon sequence.
Most of the episodes of the series were produced by animation companies in London, with a handful of episodes made in Hollywood, with a crew supervised by veteran cartoon writer John W. Dunn.
[edit] List of Episodes and Sing-Alongs
SEASON 1
A Hard Day's Night/I Want To Hold Your Hand: The Beatles are in Transylvania rehearsing in a haunted house with "monstrous" visitors; The Beatles went into a diving bell to hide from their fans which drops them into the ocean with a lovesick octopus. Sing Along: Not A Second Time/Devil In Her Heart
Do You Want To Know A Secret/If I Fell: The Beatles went to Dublin, Ireland for the weekend where they've met a leprechaun named Willomena Morris; John is kidnapped by Dr. Dora Florahyde and Igore, both of whom want John's brain for their monster. Sing Along: A Hard Day's Night/I Want To Hold Your Hand
Please Mr. Postman/Devil In Her Heart: Ringo lost 15 rings he bought with all of the Beatles' spendings and they're expecting a telegram from their manager Brian Epstein for more money; Ringo wanders into the woods in Transylvania where he meets a witch who wants Ringo for a husband. Sing Along: If I Fell/Do You Want To Know A Secret
Not A Second Time/Slow Down: The Beatles abandon the flight and landed in Africa while trying to get away from their fans. They later encounter a few crocodiles; The Beatles are on the way to the town Ringo Ravene (named after Ringo) until they encounter a donkey that smells gold named "Gold Nose". Sing Along: Baby's In Black/Misery
Baby's In Black/Misery: Paul gets kidnapped by Professor Psycho who wants Paul to marry his creation Vampiress, half girl and half bat; The Beatles went to a wax museum where they're being followed by a vampire. Sing Along: I'll Get You/Chains
You've Really Got A Hold On Me/Chains: In Africa, Ringo ask a medicine maker named Jack to help fix the Beatles' flat tire, then he turned a worm into a snake, and it lusts for Ringo; After getting knocked out, Ringo dreams about him as Captain Bligh from the movie "Mutiny On The Bounty". Sing Along: Slow Down/Honey Don't
I'll Get You/Honey Don't: The Beatles ran into Alan Watermain in Africa after escaping from their fans, and went out hunting for a lion; Ringo is mistaken as a bull rider, and the cowboys send him to ride on a toughest bull named Honey. Sing Along: You've Really Got A Hold On Me/Anytime At All
Anytime At All/Twist And Shout: The Beatles imagine themselves as the three (plus one) musketeers while they are on a tour at a museum in France; The Beatles went to an art show where a girl tries to be like other artists. They inspire her with music. Sing Along: I'll Be Back/Little Child
Little Child/I'll Be Back: A little girl Indian wants to prove that girls are as good at trapping as boys are by trapping the Beatles; The mayor of Texas gave Ringo a golden guitar as a gift. Later it got stolen by three men, and the fabs went on a hunt to get the guitar back. Sing Along: Long Tall Sally/Twist And Shout
Long Tall Sally/I'll Cry Instead: The Beatles stays at a castle for the night during a fog. John and Ringo tries on a couple of cursed armor suits and start to fight each other; After signing too many autographs in Japan, George's hand got swollen and suffered "autographitis". His mates took him to a hand doctor, but they went to a karate class by mistake. Sing Along: I'll Follow The Sun/When I Get Home
I'll Follow The Sun/When I Get Home: The Beatles car broke down and they are captured by a highwayman who happens to be a car repair man; The Beatles are exploring the Notre Dame in France where they later meet the hunchback of Notre Dame: Quasimoto. Sing Along: I'll Cry Instead/Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby
Everybody's Trying To be My Baby/I Should Have Known Better: The Beatles are spend the night at a temple in Japan during a rainstorm. They are mistaken as Japanese ancestors of four girls; The Beatles are in Rome trying to find a theatre to rehearse. Their last choice is the Coliseum. Sing Along: I'm A Loser/I Wanna Be Your Man
I'm A Loser/I Wanna Be Your Man: In Hollywood, Ringo gets hired as a stuntman and ends up in the hospital after getting pulverized in many scenes; In Rome, The Beatles bought a statue of the Goddess of Musica which is actually stolen gold coins being melted down and sculptured. Sing Along: No Reply/I'm Happy Just To Dance With You
Don't Bother Me/No Reply: The Beatles are being followed by a couple of spies, all of whom are after their songbook; In Japan, The Beatles are warned about a jewel thief named Anyface who comes in disguised as Paul, which causes double trouble. Sing Along: It Won't Be Long/I Should Have Known Better
I'm Happy Just To Dance With You/Mr. Moonlight: The Beatles are in a Roman Street Festival where Paul wins a dancing bear named Bonnie; The Beatles meet Professor Ludwig Von Brilliant who is on a mission to view an eclipse. Sing Along: Don't Bother Me/Can't Buy Me Love
Can't Buy Me Love/It Won't Be Long: John is given a friendship ring from the tribe chief, which means he has to marry the chief's daughter; While picnicing in Japan, John went out for a swim in a pond with the shrinking potion in it, and got shrunk. The other Beatles think John is a doll and chases after him. Sing Along: Anna/Mr. Moonlight
Anna/I Don't Want To Spoil The Party: In Japan, Paul got lured into a ghost ship called "Anna". The other Beatles dashes off to the rescue before they might lose Paul for good; Paul, George and Ringo sneaks away from John and went to Greenwich Village for some fun time rather than going to a museum. Sing Along: Matchbox/Thank You Girl
Matchbox/Thank You Girl: John bought a trailer to stay in away from home rather than staying at a hotel so many times. They later encounter a group of natives all of whom are evacuating from a volcano; The Beatles sneaks away from their manager to get something to eat at a French bakery. Sing Along: I Don't Want To Spoil The Party/Help!
With Love From me To You/Boys: In Hawaii, a surfer named Surf Wolf challenges George to a surfing duel; The Beatles participate in a Mr. Hollywood Contest in California. Sing Along: Please Mr. Postman/I Saw Her Standing There
Dizzy Miss Lizzy/I Saw Her Standing There: John and Paul secretly signs George up to an ice boat race, and he partners up with a girl named Lizzy; In Madrid, John and Paul went to a restaurant where John develops a hot foot with ashes in his boot. Rosita falls for John, and her boyfriend Jose challenges John to a duel. Sing Along: Ticket To Ride/From Me To You
What You're Doing/Money: The Beatles are on a fishing trip, and Ringo runs into gypsies. One of them falls for Ringo and wants to marry him. George comes in as woman claiming he's engaged to Ringo to get him back; John puts Ringo in charge to keep their money safe in his jacket pocket. Later Ringo is being followed by a mystery man who is after the money. Sing Along: Dizzy Miss Lizzy/All My Loving
Komm Gib Mir Deine Hand/She Loves You: The Beatles' mission is to climb up a mountain with the dog Gunthar to put up their own flag on top; The Beatles are about to rescue a girl who they think is held as a prisoner on a ship. As a result, her boyfriend comes to her defense...with knives. Sing Along: Bad Boy/Tell Me Why
Bad Boy/Tell Me Why: A little boy named Hans plans to run away from home and be a Beatle. The fabs run after Hans to bring him back with their music; In Spain, Ringo is the jockey of a donkey that can run like a horse whenever she hears loud music. Sing Along: Please Please Me/Hold Me Tight
I Feel Fine/Hold Me Tight: Paul thinks Hollywood's a phony. The actor Dick Dashing wants to prove Paul he is wrong by putting him in some different movie scenes; George and Ringo went to see the Statue Of Liberty until they've spotted a man with a package which they think is a bomb. Sing Along: What You're Doing/There's A Place
Please Please Me/There's A Place: In Madrid, a bull named El Taco got knocked out, and the Beatles decide to help out with the bullfight: Ringo as the matador, and John and Paul as the bull; John's sympathy helps an educated ape named Mr. Marvelous escape from the television studio, and went out to explore the outside world. Sing Along: Roll Over Beethoven/Rock And Roll Music
Roll Over Beethoven/Rock And Roll Music: The Beatles are on their way home after visiting New York City until Paul got grabbed by and elephant named Beethoven; The Beatles are invited to play at the Duke's Palace, but they're mistaken for a string quartet. Sing Along: I Feel Fine/She Loves You
SEASON 2
Eight Days A Week/I'm Looking Through You: A great movie lover named Lips Lovelace lost his ability to kiss. Paul decides to take his place in the studio with a leading lady who falls for him; The Beatles are in Egypt. They are wandering around in the pyramid until Ringo encounters a ghost who wants a body, and he chooses Ringo's. Sing Along: Run For Your Life/Girl
Help!/We Can Work It Out: Paul and Ringo went to a fashion show in Paris. Later the designs are stolen by Jaque Le Zipper. Paul chases Jaque to the Eiffel Tower, and has trouble with heights; George becomes superstitious. The Beatles encounter the Lucky Wizard who is really a crook trying to give them bad luck and rob their money. Sing Along: The Night Before/Day Tripper
I'm Down/Run For Your Life: The Beatles are on a tour at a wine factory where Ringo accidentally knocks down a vat of wine. If it doesn't get fixed in two hours, the factory will go out of business; The Beatles are on a tour at the Palace of Versailles. Ringo gets knocked out by a statue, and dreams about the days of Marie Antoinette. Sing Along: Eight Days A Week/Paperback Writer
Drive My Car/Tell Me What You See: The Beatles are helping a young man and his girlfriend get their old jalopy running in a car race; The Beatles are visiting "the man of a thousand faces". They're fooling around with a makeup machine, and changing into different characters. (Look for Jimmy Durante and Sweet Pea from "Popeye" in it) Sing Along: Yesterday/We Can Work It Out
I Call Your Name/The Word: Ringo is convinced to let go his pet frog Bartholomew in the swamp. Later a movie producer offers a filming deal to Ringo and the frog, and the fabs have dashed off to find Bartholomew; The Beatles are being punished after gazing at the girls' unveiled faces. The only way to get out of the situation is to say the password: love. Sing Along: I Feel Fine/Wait
All My Loving/Day Tripper: The Beatles are in India where they are learning how to charm an animal, and they're face to face with a tiger. They're using music to tame it when it's about to claw John and Ringo; The Beatles went on a trip out in space with a beautiful woman who is actually an alien taking them on a one-way trip from Earth. Sing Along: I'm Looking Through You/Nowhere Man
Nowhere Man/Paperback Writer: The Beatles walk into a cave for some exploring which is a home of a hermit who wants to be alone. He tries to get rid of them, but no luck; The Beatles are each writing a story of how they met. They each wrote a fictional story: Ringo as a theatre actor, Paul as a scientist, George as a secret agent, and John as a war pilot. Sing Along: And I Love Her/Michelle
SEASON 3
Penny Lane/Strawberry Fields: The Beatles are jealous of a detective named James Blonde who gets more attention from many women. The fabs are planning to stop some thieves from robbing Penny Lane so they can be heroes; The Beatles are using music to add some color and happiness to the children at the orphanage. Sing Along: Good Day Sunshine/Rain
And Your Bird Can Sing/Got To Get You Into My Life: The Beatles and a couple of hunters and out on a hunt for a rare bird called a green double-breasted tropical woosted that can sing anything; The Beatles are in India, learning how to escape from their bodies. It works, but the problem is that the souls' bodies are moving by themselves, and they must get them before it's too late. Sing Along: Penny Lane/Eleanor Rigby
Good Day Sunshine/Ticket To Ride: Ringo thinks he's a jinx. When the Beatles arrive at Carney Island, it starts to rain. Their music turns a rainy day into a sunny day again, and makes Ringo happy; The Beatles each have their own hobby. Ringo's is catching birds: an English term for girls. Paul releases the only one Ringo caught, and he runs after her. Sing Along: Strawberry Fields Forever/And Your Bird Can Sing
Taxman/Eleanor Rigby: The Beatles get knocked out while carrying tons of money to bank, and dream about the days of Robin Hood; A bunch of kids claim that an elderly lady named Eleanor Rigby is a witch, the fabs tell them the true story about Eleanor as a song. Sing Along: Got To Get You Into My Life/Here, There And Everywhere
Tomorrow Never Knows/I've Just Seen A Face: The Beatles fell into a well and end up in the inner world with lot of foreign natives. The chief wants the fabs to marry his daughters, and they began to run away; Ringo lost his singing voice. For treatment, his three mates send Ringo to a haunted house to scare his voice back. Sing Along: She Said She Said/Long Tall Sally
Wait/I'm Only Sleeping: The Prince of Krapotkin's girlfriend's in grave danger. The Beatles are helping him to save her from the Prime Minister who wants to marry her; John tells a story to a couple of children. Then he doses off and dreams about him helping King Arthur and Merlin slay the dragon. He and his mates play music to make the dragon go to sleep. Sing Along: Penny Lane/Eleanor Rigby
