Widget (TV series)

Widget, the World Watcher is an animated television series which debuted in syndication on September 29, 1990. The series ran for two seasons; in the first season (1990), it aired once a week (usually on Saturday or Sunday), and in the second season (1991), the series expanded to 5 days a week (Monday-Friday). The show featured environmentalist themes and was recognized by the National Education Association as recommended viewing for children.^[2]

Overview

The show focused on a 4-foot-tall (1.2 m), purple alien from the Horsehead Nebula named Widget who could shapeshift (usually by spinning like a top into different forms, in early episodes he seems to still be getting used to his power). He and a group of young, human friends; brothers, Kevin, Brian and their teenage sister Kristine, would go through a number of adventures to protect the natural environment from those who wish to plunder or harm it. Later on they were joined by (fellow shapeshifter) Half-Pint, Widget's mischievous, overly-curious, hyperactive cousin. Widget is frequently accompanied by the Mega Brain, an extremely intelligent but somewhat clumsy being who appears as a floating head (with a transparent cranium) and floating hands.

The show was produced by Calico Creations to teach children about the dangers of pollution. Each episode would have Widget contending with a villain from either Earth or outer space wishing to exploit Earth's environment or natural resources, like Dr. Dante, Mega Slank, and his evil twin, Ratchet. In this respect, Widget, the World Watcher is very similar to Captain Planet and the Planeteers and Toxic Crusaders, as all those heroes attempt to save the Earth from ecological disaster. Even occasionally, combatting an entity/being created/mutated from copious pollution. For example, in one episode Widget battled a fellow shapeshifter; a sentient but hostile life form, disguised as a toxic ooze/slick, who was contaminating Earth's beaches and oceans.

The TV series ran for 65 episodes, 13 in the first season and 52 in the second season.

Characters

• Widget (voiced by Russi Taylor): The courageous and heroic shapeshifting coral alien and main character.
• Mega Brain (played by Jim Cummings): Mega Brain is a floating creature with a pink head and only hands. He is Widget's assistant.
• Half-Pint: Widget's mischievous, overly-curious, hyperactive cousin, fellow shapeshifter and is the sky-blue alien.
• Kevin (voiced by Dana Hill): Brian's older brother and friend of Widget.
• Brian (voiced by Kath Soucie): A boy who is a friend of Widget.
• Kristine (voiced by Kath Soucie): Brian and Kevin's big sister.
• Ratchet (voiced by Tress MacNeille): Widget's evil twin, he's exit by the little clock.
• Dr. Dante (voiced by Jim Cummings): The natural (from earth) villain, a confidence trickster scientist.
• Mega Slank (voiced by Pat Fraley): The other natural (from outer space) villain (who seems to have a grudge against Widget's kind).

Episodes

Season 1

Season 2

Principal cast

• Jim Cummings - Mega Brain, Dr. Dante, Elder #1
• Dana Hill - Kevin
• Kath Soucie - Brian, Kristine
• Russi Taylor - Widget

Additional voices

• Cam Clarke
• Townsend Coleman
• Peter Cullen
• Brian Cummings
• Pat Fraley - Mega Slank
• Tress MacNeille - Ratchet, Elder #2
• Cree Summer

Production and distribution

Widget was produced by Zodiac Entertainment, a Studio City, California-based firm backed by British media company Central Independent Television. Zodiac President Kevin Morrison stated that in 1990, Widget was being broadcast on 80% of independent U. S. television stations and that in 1991, the show started being shown five times a week.^[2]

Video games

The series spawned two video games. Widget was released by Atlus on the NES in 1992 and Super Widget also by Atlus on the SNES in 1993.

References

External links

• Widget, the World Watcher at the Internet Movie Database