All-New DuckTales (TV series)

All-New DuckTales is an American animated television series, produced by Walt Disney Television Animation and distributed by Buena Vista Television. It’s the sequel to the original 1987 series. The cartoon series premiered on ABC on September 10, 1994. It aired for a total of 65 episodes for over 5 seasons, with its final episode broadcasting on December 5, 1998.

Based upon “Uncle Scrooge” and other Duck universe comics created by Carl Barks, the story follows Scrooge McDuck, his 3 teenage grandnephews (Huey, Dewey and Louie) and close friends of the group on various adventures, some of which either involve seeking out treasure or thwarting the efforts of villains seeking to steal Scrooge’s fortune.

The sequel series was a ratings success, receiving a franchise of merchandise, including video games and comic books. This TV show is being notable for the first Disney TV series to get a sequel treatment.

The series features the voices of Neil Patrick Harris as Huey, Kirk Cameron as Dewey, Wil Wheaton as Louie and Alyssa Milano as Webby.

Premise
Huey, Dewey and Louie resides with their uncle Scrooge McDuck. Working for Mr. McDuck is Mrs. Beakley, who is Webby’s maternal grandmother. Although reluctant to do so due to their hyperactivity, along with his continual pursuit of increasing his wealth and maintaining harsh business ethics, Scrooge eventually warms to them upon seeing how smart and resourceful they are, and takes them into his manor as well as a number of adventures.

Alongside these characters, other stories also feature appearances by Moby Duck, Fethry Duck, Gladstone Gander, Duckworth the butler and Gyro Gearloose, as well as guest appearances by Donald Duck, José Carioca and Panchito Pistoles.

Most stories used in the TV show revolve around one of four common themes – the first focuses on the group’s efforts to thwart attempts by various villains to steal Scrooge’s fortune and take over the world; the second focuses on a race for treasure; the third focuses on specific characters within the show; the fourth focuses on the nephews and Webby’s days in high school. Although some stories are original or based on Barks’ comic book series, others are pastiches on classic stories or legends, including characters based on either fictional or historical people. The sequel series is well noted for its many references to popular culture, including James Bond and Indiana Jones.

Production
With the success of “DuckTales” and “Darkwing Duck”, Walt Disney Television Animation began production on a sequel series in 1993, with the intention of having it ready for a 1994 debut, and its episodes airing within an 8-10 a.m. placement, on a Saturday morning when more children would be watching television. Seeking to create another Disney cartoon with high-quality animation, similar to other 1990s cartoons which had much higher budgets, Disney outsourced some of the animation workload to AKOM, having previously used other Korean production companies on such cartoon shows as “Tiny Toon Adventures”, “Batman: The Animated Series” and “X-Men”.

Legacy
The sequel proved even more immediate success for Disney. In addition, “All-New DuckTales” also spawned a franchise of merchandising, including toys, video games and comic books.

Characters
The main characters of the series, who appear in almost every episode, are Scrooge McDuck and his 3 teenage grandnephews (Huey, Dewey and Louie). Scrooge is a serious businessman – the richest duck in the world and a tightwad who accumulated fortune by being “smarter than the smarties and tougher than the toughies.” Despite his harsh business ethics, Scrooge is caring to his family, especially his nephews, who, although fairly immature, are also clever and intelligent.

Huey, Dewey and Louie are teenage students who attended  Duckburg High School . Their characteristics are similar to that of “Beverly Hills: 90210” and “Melrose Place”.

The series also features a mix of characters carried over from the original ‘80s series. Scrooge’s household also consists of Duckworth, Mrs. Beakley and Webby Vanderquack.

Initially, recurring characters included the seafaring Moby Duck, the eccentric Fethry Duck, the inexplicably lucky Gladstone Gander, the absent-minded Gyro Gearloose and Fenton Crackshell (who possessed the dual identity of GizmoDuck).

The show’s primary villains consist of Flintheart Glomgold and the Beagle Boys. Although they’re all financial threats to Scrooge in one way or another, they each have different movies: Glomgold wants to dethrone Scrooge as the “richest duck in the world”; and the Beagle Boys want to rob Scrooge of his entire fortune.

Other characters in the TV show, which are carried over from previous cartoons, included the flamboyant José Carioca, the boisterous Panchito Pistoles and the bumbling Darkwing Duck (who’s often called “the terror that flaps in the night”).

Cast

 * Neil Patrick Harris as Huey Duck
 * Kirk Cameron as Dewey Duck
 * Wil Wheaton as Louie Duck
 * Alyssa Milano as Webby Vanderquack
 * Alan Young as Scrooge McDuck
 * Joan Gerber as Mrs. Beakley
 * Harvey Korman as Duckworth
 * Chuck McCann as Burger Beagle / Bouncer Beagle
 * Richard Gautier as Moby Duck (season 1)
 * Corey Burton as Moby Duck (seasons 2-5)
 * Barry Gordon as Gyro Gearloose
 * Malcolm McDowell as Flintheart Glomgold
 * Paul Eiding as Fethry Duck
 * Rob Paulsen as Gladstone Gander
 * Pat Fraley as Bigtime Beagle
 * Frank Welker as Baggy Beagle
 * Tony Anselmo as Donald Duck
 * Mark Hamill as Fenton Crackshell / GizmoDuck

Music
The series’ theme music was written by Mark Mueller, an ASCAP award-winning pop music songwriter.

Episode musical scores were written by Michael Tavera.

The original “DuckTales” theme song was rearranged by Jordan Knight (from New Kids on the Block).

Marketing
Disney launched a massive marketing campaign to promote “All-New DuckTales,” intending to reach 89% of American children aged 6-11 and 93% of American teens aged 12-18. Disney’s television division spent $13 to $17 million for a $44 million invested in promotion; the company contracted 37 licensees. Disney provided bound style guides featuring collections of artwork, coloring instructions and product ideas.

Produced for $120,000, the style guide included fonts, logos, character art, merchandising mock-ups, video clips and other interactive content. Disney announced 36 licensees as of the summer of 1994.

According to Playthings magazine, “All-New DuckTales” was ranked #2 in the top 20 licensed kids’ properties for 1994.

Disney marketed “All-New DuckTales” through a substantial diversity of products, considering its campaign a role model for future TV shows. Mattel acquired figurine licensing rights in 1993 and created a product line of vehicles and figures for fall 1994 release. Disney felt that Mattel’s commitment legitimized the “DuckTales” marketing plan, and next secured partnership with Pizza Hut and food retailers. Quaker Oats included $5.00 mail-in rebates for future “DuckTales” videos, display contests and instant coupon offers on over 70 million packages. By the time the TV show was cancelled in 1998, Mattel has sold over 85 million “DuckTales” figures.

Topps used art, sketches and plots from the first and second seasons to create a 120-piece trading card collection. Walt Disney Records produced an audiocassette adventure based on the episode ‘Fast Times at Duckburg High.’ The TV show’s credits advertised a soundtrack available from Disney.

Marketers tied in classic “DuckTales” merchandise, launching a promotion with Best Western hotels, United Airlines and Oscar Mayer meat products, offering rebates for  Treasure of the Golden Suns  and classic episodes, and repromoting Treasure of the Lost Lamp.