Ghostbusters (1986 TV series)

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This article is about an animated series produced by Filmation. It should not be confused with the 1984 Ghostbusters movie and subsequent spin-offs, including the "Real Ghostbusters" animation. For more information, see Ghostbusters (disambiguation).
Ghostbusters
The Filmation's Ghostbusters Logo
Developed byFilmation
StarringPat Fraley
Peter Cullen
Lou Scheimer
Susan Blu
Country of origin United States
No. of episodes65
Production
Running time30 minutes
Original release
Release1986 –
1988

Filmation's Ghostbusters was an animated television series created by Filmation and launched following the success of the Columbia Pictures live-action Ghostbusters movie. It ran from 1986-1988 in syndication and comprised of 65 episodes. The cartoon was based on a live-action television show from the 1970s titled The Ghost Busters. It is not to be confused with the animated show The Real Ghostbusters; which was based on the 1984 movie Ghostbusters. Columbia Pictures had to obtain the rights to the name from Filmation for their film, and after it was a hit, Filmation went into production with their animated series based on the characters from their series.

Summary

Jake Kong, Eddie Spencer and Tracy the Gorilla are the Ghost Busters. Jake and Eddie were the sons of the original Ghost Busters in the live action series of the same name; Tracy worked with their fathers.

Their headquarters, termed Ghost Command, is located in a haunted mansion nestled between a number of tall skyscrapers. They are supported by a number of secondary characters including Ansa-Bone, a talking skull phone; Skelevision, a talking skeleton television; Belfrey, a pink talking bat; and Ghost Buggy, their talking ghost car. They occasionally enlist the aid of Futura, a time travelling Ghostbuster from the future, and Jessica, a local tv news reporter.

Together, they have dedicated themselves to ridding the world of the evil wizard Prime Evil and his cast of henchmen. Prime Evil's headquarters, termed Hauntquarters, is located in The Fifth Dimension. In a typical episode, Prime Evil uses his magical powers to open up a wormhole to enable one or more of his henchmen to complete a particular scheme that serves to help him take over the world.

Famous guest-star ghosts that appeared on the show include Count Dracula and the Headless Horseman (who also appeared in an episode of The Real Ghostbusters written by Randy Lofficier).

Each episode usually closes with Skelevision (sometimes accompanied by Belfrey) explaining a particular lesson that can be learned from the events that went on during the episode. From time to time, Jake, Eddie or another good character would talk with Skelevison about the lesson. Also some versions would not have Skelevision.

While the Real Ghostbusters had the catchphrase, "Who you gonna call? Ghostbusters!", each episode of Filmation's Ghost Busters also used a catchphrase: "Let's Go, Ghost Busters!".

The Real Ghostbusters controversy

The show is also known as The Original Ghost Busters because, when Columbia Pictures released the film Ghostbusters in 1984, they neglected the fact that Filmation had already produced a live-action comedy series with that same name in 1975. Filmation sued Columbia in 1985, and as part of the out-of-court settlement the cartoon based on the Columbia Pictures property had to be called The Real Ghostbusters instead of simply The Ghostbusters. Filmation had even gone as far as to attempt to work with Columbia Pictures and had completed initial design work for a cartoon to be based on the movie. Columbia changed their minds, deciding not to work with Filmation, and the proposed deal fell through. Filmation's Lou Scheimer later admitted "We should have asked for the animation rights for their (Columbia's) Ghostbusters as part of the settlement." [1] This prompted Filmation to create the cartoon based on their former live action series. The series was a ratings hit until The Real Ghostbusters began to air.

DVD Release Information

BCI Eclipse will be releasing all 65 episodes by dividing the series into two sets. Volume One (6 DVD set) will be released on Tuesday, February 27, 2007. The DVD set will feature creator interviews with producer Lou Scheimer, writer Robby London and directors Tom Tataranowicz and Tom Sito, Ghostbusters anti-drug spot, original 10 min presentation of the promo pilot, slideshow storyboard for episode 22 "Laser and Future Rock", image gallery including the original model sheets and sketches, the complete five-episode script for the origin movie collectively known as 'The Revenge of Prime Evil', and a bonus episode of the original live action The Ghost Busters series.

BCI Eclipse release schedule [1]

  • The Ghost Busters: The Animated Series Volume 1--Available.
  • The Ghost Busters: Live Action — The Complete Series (Spring 2007)
  • The Ghost Busters: The Animated Series Volume 2 (Summer 2007)

(The animated series was previously released on VHS by Celebrity Home Entertainment's "Just For Kids" imprint.)

Characters

Heroes

  • Jake Kong Jr.: Son of the original Jake Kong from The Ghost Busters. Jake is the leader of the Ghostbusters just like his father. He is often responsible for coming up with ideas to solve difficult Ghostbusting problems. His nose twitches when ghosts are nearby. Voiced by Pat Fraley.
  • Eddie Spencer Jr.: Son of the original Eddie Spencer from The Ghost Busters. Eddie is often frightened by ghosts and though he means well, he is a bit of a klutz and frequently fumbles things up. Voiced by Peter Cullen.
  • Tracy the Gorilla: The same ape from The Ghost Busters. Tracy is extremely smart and is credited with inventing all of the Ghostbusting gadgets and would often construct one to help a bad situation. Tracy is also very powerful and uses his strength to get out of tight spots. Voiced by Lou Scheimer.
  • Futura: A mysterious woman from the future, who is a Ghostbuster in her own time. Futura has a flying scooter named Time Hopper. Voiced by Susan Blu.
  • Jessica Ray: A TV news reporter. She often reports on the events the Ghostbusters will go investigate and sometimes accompanies them. In some episodes, Jake would go on dates with Jessica. She often rewards him with a kiss. There is nothing to indicate a serious relationship. Some episodes hint that they have feelings for each other while others disregard any romantic involvement. Voiced by Susan Blu.
  • Belfrey: A pink-colored bat who can emit a sonic scream. Belfrey will sometimes tag along on Ghostbusting adventures but often he is told it could be too dangerous or Jake tells him that someone has to stay and watch the office. Sometimes Belfrey doesn't listen and usually gets into trouble. Belfrey often accompanies Skelevision in the ending lesson that can be learned from the episode.
  • Madame Why: A fortune-telling gypsy who resides in a wagon and occasionally assists the Ghostbusters.
  • Ghost Buggy aka G.B.: The Ghostbusters' talking car that can assume many forms of transportation, along with the ability to travel through time. Often makes remarks about Tracy being a big dumb ape or the Ghostbusters needing to go on diets when they fall into the car after they get into uniform. Voiced by Neil Ross.
  • Corky: Jessica's Young Nephew. He wears an orange shirt with the Ghostbusters logo on it. He often gets himself into trouble. Voiced by Patric Zimmerman.
  • Ansabone: Ghost Command's Talking Skull Phone. When the Ghostbusters get a call for help, Ansabone will usually make it hard for them to answer the phone and will give the caller a sarcastic message. Example: "You've reached the Ghostbusters and you're in luck. They're not here!" Voiced by Joan Gerber.
  • Skelevision: Ghost Command's Talking Skeleton Television. Skelevision often shows the Ghostbusters the problem they will have to face. Voiced by Brad Garrett.
  • Skelevator: Ghost Command's bony elevator with a mind of its own. Primary transport for the Ghostbusters to change into their ghost busting attire. A portable version is used when the Ghostbusters are on location while tracking ghosts. Voiced by Erika Scheimer.
  • Shock Clock: Ghost Command's talking alarm clock. Voiced by Erika Scheimer.
  • Merlin: famed wizard of King Arthur's era, who has previously cross paths with Prime Evil. Voice by Alan Oppenheimer.
  • Fuddy: Merlin's apprentice. When a full moon is out, Jake is able to chant and call him for help by casting a magic spell, which rarely works the way it's supposed to.
  • Kong and Spencer Sr: Jake and Eddie's fathers, the original Ghostbusters, occasionally appear in animated form as well. They are voices by the same actors that do the voices of Jake (Voiced by Pat Fraley) and Eddie (Voiced by Peter Cullen), respectively.

Villains

  • Prime Evil: Primary Villain, a Wizard, although he appears to be a robot with an android-like human skull and garbed in flowing red robes. Prime Evil has many evil powers including the ability to shoot energy bolts from his fingers. Prime Evil's minions often find themselves getting zapped when they don't succeed in stopping the Ghostbusters. Prime Evil has a hard time saying "Ghostbusters" and will often refer to them as "Ghost Babies" and "Ghost Bunglers". Voiced by Alan Oppenheimer.
  • Fib Face: A two-faced villain who often argues with himself. Voiced by Frank Welker.
  • Fangster: A Werewolf from the future who wears high-top gym shoes. Voiced by Alan Oppenheimer.
  • Scared Stiff: A robotic skeleton, frequently falls apart, similar in appearance to C-3PO. He is easily frightened. Voiced by Maurice LaMarche.
  • Haunter: Resembles a safari hunter with an english accent. His vocal nuance exaggerates the letter "r" for the letter "w" such as pronouncing "dematerializer" as "dematewealwizer." Often gets in trouble for calling Prime Evil "old boy," "old bean" and other english endearments. Sometimes will make his pith helmet extremely large to fly in or to assist in kidnapping people.
  • Brat-a-Rat: A pot-bellied, legless flying rat with an elongated nose and an acute squint in one eye. Voiced by Don Francks.
  • Misteria: Resembles Morticia from The Addams Family wearing a mohawk-like hairstyle with long tresses. Has power over mists, is known for calling people "darling" and is vain about her appearance. Voiced by Linda Gary.
  • Apparitia: A sorceress with Mae West vocalizations. She resembles a gypsy, complete with flowing veils attached to her hair. Voiced by Linda Gary.
  • Sir Trance-a-Lot Resembles a knight-suited skeleton. His steed is a skeletal horse named Frightmare, and wields the Trance Lance that fires beams that induce sleep. His name is a reference to Sir Lancelot. Voiced by Lou Scheimer.
  • Long John Scarechrome A pirate ghost bearing a hook and metal peg leg. His name is a reference to Long John Silver. Voiced by Neil Ross.
  • Airhead An overweight mummy ghost. Airhead lives up to his name as he is not very smart. He often makes really bad jokes which amuse only himself. "Duh, Airhead make joke!" Voiced by Alan Oppenheimer.
  • Floatzart. A petite, red-headed tuxedo-wearing ghost with music-themed powers, loosely based on Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Voice by Peter Cullen.
  • The Tooth Scaries. Big Tooth, Sweet Tooth, and Cavity. A fourth, Flossy, appears later. Have the power to eat anything. They eventually become good.
  • Big Evil. Prime Evil's overweight rival with four arms and pointed ears. Voiced by Peter Cullen.

Weapons

  • The Dematerializer: The Ghostbusters' main weapon, it shoots a beam that banishes ghosts to limbo, but doesn't always work (Prime Evil, for example, is too powerful to be affected). It tends to get broken, preventing the Ghostbusters from achieving easy victory.
  • Ghost Gummer: Shoots a gob of a sticky pink substance to immobilize enemies.
  • Spectre Snare: Shoots a coiled rope to trap a ghost.
  • Bubble Blaster: Fires off a stream of soaplike bubbles that combine to form one large bubble to entrap a ghost.
  • Dematerializer Net: An energized net that is stretched across the Ghost Buggy that causes ghosts to be banished to limbo as soon as they touch it.
  • Ghost Pack: The standard equipment pack Jake and Eddie carry with their Ghostbusters Logo on it. It holds an impossible amount of devices within it and also acts as a jetpack when needed. Tracy carries a larger version which includes the Transformation Chamber itself.
  • Transformation Chamber: A skeletal elevator normally located at Ghostbusters HQ, which Jake and Eddie use to change into their uniforms and equip themselves with their Ghost Packs. The elevator rises up into some kind of ghostly dimension where they are stripped down to their underwear and prepared for battle. Their 'transformation sequence' is a series of acrobatic movements along a kind of assembly-line, with trapezes, a slide, and bouncing off an old mattress to land into the Ghost Buggy. In the majority of the episodes, viewers see part or all of this process.

Episodes

  1. Witches Stew
  2. Mummy Dearest
  3. Wacky Wax Museum
  4. Statue of Liberty
  5. The Ransom Of Eddie Spenser
  6. Eddie Takes Charge
  7. Tracy, Come Back
  8. A Friend In Need
  9. No Pharaoh At All Part 3
  10. Frights Of The Round Table Part 2
  11. I'll Be A Son Of A Ghostbuster Part 1
  12. The Secret Of Mastodon Valley Part 4
  13. The Ones Who Save The Future Part 5
  14. No Snow
  15. Prime Evil's Good Deed
  16. The Haunting Of Gizmo
  17. The Headless Horseman Caper
  18. Banish That Banshee
  19. Rollerghoster
  20. He Went Brat-A-Way
  21. Looking Glass Warrior
  22. Laser And Future Rock
  23. Runaway Choo-Choo
  24. Dynamite Dinosaur
  25. GhostBunglers
  26. My Present To The Future
  27. Beastly Buggy
  28. Belfry Leads The Way
  29. Battle For Ghost Command
  30. Going Ape
  31. Cyman's Revenge
  32. GhostNappers
  33. Inside Out
  34. The Sleeping Dragon
  35. The Phantom Of The Big Apple
  36. Shades Of Dracula
  37. Outlaw In-Laws
  38. Our Buddy Fuddy
  39. Train To Doom-De-Doom-Doom
  40. The Princess And The Troll
  41. Second Chance
  42. The Great Ghost Gorilla
  43. Doggone Werewolf
  44. That's No Alien
  45. Scareplane
  46. The Ghost Of Don Quixote
  47. The White Whale
  48. Whither Why
  49. Knight Of Terror
  50. The Girl Who Cried Vampire
  51. Little Big Rat
  52. Really Roughing It
  53. The Bad Old Days
  54. The Curse Of The Diamond Of Gloom
  55. The Bind That Ties
  56. Like Father Like Son
  57. The Fourth GhostBuster
  58. Country Goblin
  59. Cold Winter's Night
  60. Father Knows Beast
  61. Back To The Past
  62. A Friend In Need
  63. The Haunted Painting
  64. Maze Caves
  65. The Way You Are

Trivia

Filmation was (in)famous for re-use of stock scenes for their shows to keep down costs. Ghostbusters was no exception, using among others, an extensive sequence where they got their equipment and the Ghost Buggy. In the episode featuring Dracula, they used the model sheets and character design of Drac from the Groovie Goolies, and even used his clumsy bat transformation sequence, banging against the floor and ceiling, changing clumsily from drac to bat.

Notes

  1. ^ Michael Swanigan and Darrell McNeil (1993). Animation by Filmation. Blackbear Press.

External links

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