All-New DuckTales

All-New DuckTales is an American animated television series, produced by Walt Disney Television Animation and distributed by Buena Vista Television. It’s the follow-up to the original 1987 series. The cartoon series premiered on syndicated TV on September 10, 1994. It aired for a total of 180 episodes for over 5 seasons, with the final episode broadcasting on November 20, 1998.

Based upon “Uncle Scrooge” and other Duck universe comics created by Carl Barks, the story followed Scrooge McDuck’s three teenage grandnephews (Huey, Dewey & Louie) and their close friends on various adventures, some of which involve either thwarting the efforts of villains seeking to steal Uncle Scrooge’s fortune or overcoming problems with growing up in  Duckburg .

The series was a ratings success, receiving a franchise of merchandise, including toys, video games and comic books. This Disney TV show was being notable as the first one to get a follow-up treatment.

The series featured the voices of Neil Patrick Harris as Huey, Kirk Cameron as Dewey, Ricky Schroder as Louie and Alyssa Milano as Webby.

== Premise ==

Huey, Dewey and Louie resided with their uncle Scrooge McDuck. Working for Mr. McDuck was Mrs. Beakley, the maternal grandmother of Webby Vanderquack.

In a few episodes, the nephews attempt to help someone in jeopardy, but they end up getting themselves and their friends into deep trouble. Meanwhile, Webby often liked to get along with the nephews.

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

Like the original 1987 series, Scrooge McDuck appeared in a major role.

Most stories used in the TV show revolve around one of three common themes – the first focused on the group’s efforts to thwart attempts by various villains to steal Scrooge’s fortune and take over the world; the second focused on specific characters within the show; the third focused on the nephews and Webby’s days in high school. Although some stories were original or based on Barks’ comic book series, others were pastiches on classic stories or legends, including characters based on either fictional or historical people. Much like the original series, it’s notable for many references to popular culture, including Superman, Grease, The Karate Kid, Ghostbusters and Back to the Future.

== History ==

=== Production ===

With the successful string of animated shows like “ Darkwing Duck ”, Walt Disney Television Animation began production on a sequel series in 1992, with the intention of having it ready for a broadcast debut two years later, and its episodes airing within the 3 p.m.-4:30 p.m. placement on every weekday afternoon. Seeking to create another cartoon with high-quality animation, similar to other 1990s cartoons which had much higher budgets, Disney outsourced many of the animation workload to AKOM Productions, having previously used other Korean production companies on such popular cartoon shows as “ Tiny Toon Adventures”, “Batman: The Animated Series” and “X-Men ”.

=== Legacy ===

Like the original “DuckTales”, “All-New DuckTales” proved even more immediate success for Disney. Additionally, it spawned a broad franchise of merchandising, including toys, video games and comic books.

== Characters ==

The main characters of the series, who appear in almost every episode, were Scrooge McDuck’s three teenage grandnephews (Huey, Dewey and Louie).

Being clever and intelligent, yet fairly immature, Huey, Dewey and Louie were teenage students attending  Duckburg High School . But their characteristics were also much more different than that of teen sitcoms like “Head of the Class” and “Saved by the Bell”.

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

Initially, recurring characters include the seafaring Moby Duck, the eccentric Fethry Duck, the inexplicably lucky Gladstone Gander, the absent-minded Gyro Gearloose, Scrooge’s little brother Gideon McDuck and the befuddled 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 had different motives: Glomgold wanted 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 were carried over from previous Disney cartoons, include the flamboyant José Carioca, the boisterous Panchito Pistoles and the heroic yet bumbling Darkwing Duck (who’s often called “the terror that flaps in the night”).

==Differences between versions==

Added characters:

*In the first episode (1990s version), Moby Duck makes his first appearance. Until then, he only appears in the comic-book pages. He has a remarkable knowledge about the sea (which serves him well) and speaks in his nautical dialect. He wears a blue sailor hat, a red-striped shirt and blue shorts.

*In the fourth episode (1990s version), Fethry Duck makes his first appearance. Until then, he only appears in the comic-book pages. He’s an obsessive New Age thinker, eagerly trying to pursue new hobbies and lifestyles based on books, movies and TV shows. He wears a magenta stocking cap and a trademark sweater (usually bearing two black stripes).

Other differences include the following:

* The original ‘80s series are distinguished by the 20th century’s design motifs, music and references.

* Whereas the ‘80s stories were basically comic-book plots in a classic cartoon setting, many of the ‘90s stories delve into mainstream, retro/nostalgic pop culture.

* Like the ‘80s series, the ‘90s series is aimed at young viewers:

** Kids 6-12

** Teens 12-18

*Unlike previous Disney animated shows, the characters from “All-New DuckTales” appear in 30-second public service announcements (PSAs). For example, when two Beagle Boys try to break into a house, Huey calls 911 for an emergency. The police capture the crooks and sends them to jail, then congratulates Huey for his loyal service to society.

* The ‘90s opening credits contain a re-recorded track of the original theme song, which features the use of an electric guitar typical of rock music, as well as new footage.

* The ‘80s closing credits contain the same, yet shortened, theme tune as the intro.

* The ‘90s credits has to accommodate a much larger production staff.

* The ‘80s episodes contain only title cards at the beginning of each story. When the ‘90s episodes are made, they added the writer and director’s names.

* All of the ‘90s episodes are hand-painted, the same as they were in the ‘80s. This time, they’re using the animation lighting effects, which include shadows and highlights, known as transparency.

* The backgrounds in the ‘90s version contain vivid colors. They are more elaborately detailed than those in the ‘80s version.

*In the ‘90s version, Gladstone Gander appears more often than the ‘80s version (when, voiced by Rob Paulsen, he only appears in two episodes).

*Also for the ‘90s series, Gyro Gearloose wears a new laboratory coat, for instead of inventing crazy gadgets, he focuses on scientific experiments.

* While the ‘80s episodes were accompanied by an original soundtrack (composed by Ron Jones, who also wrote the score for “Star Trek: The Next Generation”), the ‘90s episodes are accompanied by a brand-new soundtrack (composed by Michael Tavera).

*When the ‘90s episodes are made, and in order to give Uncle Scrooge’s nephews – and Webbigail Vanderquack – a makeover treatment, the setting has to take place about several years after the original series. Huey, Dewey and Louie are 17, while Webby is 16.

*For the ‘90s follow-up, Scrooge McDuck’s common blue outfit (from the original series) reverts to the basic red outfit.

== Cast ==

*Neil Patrick Harris as Huey Duck

*Kirk Cameron as Dewey Duck

*Ricky Schroder as Louie Duck

*Alyssa Milano as Webby Vanderquack

*Tony Anselmo as Donald Duck

*Alan Young as Scrooge McDuck

*Jim Cummings as Darkwing Duck

Several voice actors were changed between the original “DuckTales” and “All-New DuckTales”. The major replacements include:

*Harvey Korman as Duckworth (replacing Chuck McCann)

*Corey Burton as Gyro Gearloose (replacing Hal Smith, due to Smith’s death in the aftermath of the 1994 Northridge earthquake)

*Malcolm McDowell as Flintheart Glomgold (also replacing Hal Smith)

*Patrick Fraley as Bigtime Beagle (replacing Frank Welker)

*Mark Hamill as Fenton Crackshell / GizmoDuck (replacing Hamilton Camp)

A few voice actors managed to keep their voices of the characters, albeit in reducing roles:

*Joan Gerber as Mrs. Beakley

*Chuck McCann as Burger Beagle / Bouncer Beagle

*Frank Welker as Baggy Beagle

*Rob Paulsen as Gladstone Gander

A few voice actors also gave life to new characters in “All-New DuckTales”. They include the following:

*Corey Burton as Moby Duck

*Paul Eiding as Fethry Duck

The series also featured a wide range of additional voice-over actors who voiced several minor characters, most frequently including the following:

* Charlie Adler

*Michael Bell as Gideon McDuck / José Carioca

* Jeff Bennett

* Gregg Berger

* Mary Kay Bergman

* Susan Blu

* Joey Camen

*Hamilton Camp as Panchito Pistoles

* Cam Clarke

*Danny Cooksey as Morty Fieldmouse

* Peter Cullen

* Brian Cummings

* Miriam Flynn

* Barry Gordon

* Dorian Harewood

* Tony Jay

* Maurice LaMarche

* Tress MacNeille

* Danny Mann

*Jason Marsden as Ferdie Fieldmouse

* Scott Menville

* Candi Milo

* Kevin Schon

* Kath Soucie

* Russi Taylor

* B.J. Ward

* Billy West

Several TV actors voiced several minor characters, frequently including:

*Ed Asner

*Tim Curry

*Mary Hart as Canary Hart

*Andrea Martin

*Tim Matheson

*Edie McClurg

*Regis Philbin as Regis Falcon

*John Tesh as John Thrush

*Vanna White as Loona White

== 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 (lead singer of 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 teenagers aged 12-18. The television division spent $13 to $17 million for a $44 million invested in promotion; the company contracted more than 70 licensees, including Hanes underwear, Crayola coloring kits, PEZ candy dispensers, Milton Bradley board games and Western Publishing activity books. 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 designs, merchandising mock-ups, video clips and other interactive content. Disney announced 87 licensees as of mid-July 1994.

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

Disney marketed “All-New DuckTales” through a substantial diversity of products, considering its campaign as a role model for future animated TV shows. In 1993, Playmates acquired licensing rights and created a product line of figurines for the following year’s release. Disney felt that Playmates’s commitment legitimized the “DuckTales” marketing strategy, and next secured partnership with Pizza Hut and other food retailers. By the time the TV show was cancelled, Playmates has sold over 85 million action figures.

Cross-promotional sponsor Quaker Oats included mail-in rebates for future videotapes, display contests and instant coupon offers on over 70 million packages.

Topps used artwork, 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 exclusively from Disney.

In October 1995, SEGA released the platform video game version of “All-New DuckTales” under the Genesis console.

Marketers tied in “Classic DuckTales” merchandise, launching a promotion with Best Western hotels, Welch’s fruit products and Oscar Mayer meat products. The rebates were also offered for the feature-length edition of  Treasure of the Golden Suns  & classic new-to-video episodes, as well as repromoting the theatrical “DuckTales” movie Treasure of the Lost Lamp.