The Woodland Creatures (1997 sitcom)

The Woodland Creatures is an American animated TV sitcom created by animator. The show is produced by Gracie Films and Universal Cartoon Studios, airing on as part of the  block between 1997 and 1998, being later moved to Cartoon Network for the rest of the series.

Premise
The show focuses on two best friends and roomates: Mike Fox and Rocky Raccoon.

Main

 * Mike Fox (voiced by Michael J. Fox in the show and Billy West in the video games) - One of the two main protagonists of the show. He is a red fox caricature of his voice actor. He is currently 23 years old.
 * Rocky Raccoon (voiced by Rob Paulsen) - A Brooklyn-accented friend of Mike Fox. He is 23 years old like his best friend. He is shown to be a liar and a cheater, and is the sneaky type for a raccoon. But deep down, he still has a soft spot for his best friend. Being a money-grubbing cheapskate and would do anything to get rich with his money-making schemes, he is paired with Mike in comic everyday situations while leaving Mike in the role of "straight-man".
 * Mr. Grizzly (voiced by Brad Garrett) - Mike and Rocky's short-tempered neighbor in the show. He is the owner of the Woodland Burger fast food restaurant.
 * Marilyn Fox (voiced by Tara Strong) - Mike's love interest on the show. She works at the Woodland Coffee Shop.
 * Bonnie Raccoon (voiced by B.J. Ward) - Rocky's love interest.
 * Vincent 'Vinny' Coonini (voiced by Tony Sirico) - Rocky's twin cousin. His personality is the opposite of Rocky's money-grubbing and con-man ways.
 * Edwin G. Bearington (voiced by Dan Castellaneta) - a wealthy British-accented loud-mouthed bear who likes to talk about his life experiences posessions. Mike seems to have respect from him, but Rocky finds him annoying.
 * Emily Bearington (voiced by Tress MacNeille) - Edwin's beautiful wife.
 * Philip Bearington (voiced by Seth Green) - Edwin and Emily's teenage son.

Supporting

 * TBA and TBA Raccoon (voiced by Maurice LaMarche and Kath Soucie, respectively) - Rocky's parents. The mother is caring, good-natured, and has compassion and understanding. The father's personality is identical to that of his son, as his son follows in his father's footsteps.
 * Marshall and Miriam Fox (voiced by Jeff Bennett and Candi Milo, respectively) - Marilyn's parents.

Production
The series marks the first time that Universal Cartoon Studios developed a sitcom, following the steps of rival studios. In the mid-90s, the studio's major hits were the television adaptions of Back to the Future, AnAmerican Tale, Earthworm Jim and, most recently, Casper the Friendly Ghost. By the time that the series started its development, a Rocky and Bullwinkle-esque show featuring Woody Woodpecker and starring Joe Alaskey as the voice of the character (later reworked as The New Woody Woodpecker Show, with Billy West as the voice of the title character, premiering in 1999) was also pitched to the studio.

Animation
All of the episodes are animated at Toon City Animation in the Phillipines, both Rough Draft Studios and AKOM Production Company in South Korea, and Wang Film Productions in Taiwan, respectively. Like The Spooktacular New Adventures of Casper, this show uses digital ink and paint for the entire series.

Music
In order for the show to feel more like a real sitcom, the music for the series have to deviate from the standard for animated cartoons, which traditionally followed the works of Carl Stalling.

Episodes
See List of episodes

Voice cast

 * Michael J. Fox as Mike Fox
 * Rob Paulsen as Rocky Raccoon

Home media
The show was released on DVD by Universal Studios Home Entertainment, complete with beautiful color correction and restoration done overseas at TBA.

Trivia

 * The show is influenced by The Simpsons, The Ren and Stimpy Show, Beavis and Butt-head and Rocko's Modern Life, being also considered as a predecessor to Regular Show and The Looney Tunes Show.
 * Gags and a few storylines were recycled from Taylor's previous show, Disney's Bonkers.
 * Vinny's voice and mannerisms would be later recycled for a homonymous character on Family Guy (also voiced by Sirico), who served as Brian Griffin's temporary replacement.