Alvin and the Chipmunks (1983 TV series) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Alvin and the Chipmunks |
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Series title card (seasons 1–5)
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| Genre | Comedy Musical Sitcom Adventure |
| Created by | Ross Bagdasarian Jr. Janice Karman |
| Written by | Ross Bagdasarian Jr. Janice Karman Various |
| Directed by | Charles A. Nichols (Seasons 1–5) Rudy Larriva (Season 1) John Kimball (Season 1) |
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| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 8 |
| No. of episodes | 102 (168 segments) (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Running time | Approx 22 minutes (11 minutes per segment) |
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| Distributor | Lorimar-Telepictures (1988–1989) Warner Bros. Domestic Television (1989–1990) |
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| Original network | NBC |
| Picture format | Color |
| Audio format | Mono (1983-1990) Stereo (1990-1991) |
| Original release | September 17, 1983 – December 1, 1990 |
| Chronology | |
| Preceded by | The Alvin Show (1961–1962) |
| Followed by | ALVINNN!!! and the Chipmunks (2015–present) |
Alvin and the Chipmunks was a popular American animated TV show. It starred the famous singing chipmunks: Alvin, Simon, and Theodore. The show aired on NBC from 1983 to 1990. It was a follow-up to their first TV series, The Alvin Show, which aired in the early 1960s.
A big change in the show was the introduction of the Chipettes. These were three female chipmunks: Brittany, Jeanette, and Eleanor. They had their own human caretaker, Miss Beatrice Miller. The Chipettes joined the cast in 1986.
In 1987, a movie called The Chipmunk Adventure was released. It showed the Chipmunks and Chipettes traveling around the world. Later, for its final season in 1990, the show changed its name to The Chipmunks Go to the Movies. In this season, each episode made fun of a famous Hollywood film.
Contents
Meet the Characters
This section introduces the main characters of the show.
The Chipmunks
These are the three main brothers who love to sing and have adventures.
- Alvin Seville: He is the oldest brother and the leader. Alvin is known for being a talented troublemaker. He often causes chaos, but he is also sweet and kind-hearted.
- Simon Seville: The middle brother and the tallest. Simon is very smart and usually the most responsible. He is the realist of the group.
- Theodore Seville: The youngest brother. Theodore is sensitive and very lovable. He enjoys food and is often the sweetest of the three.
The Chipettes
These are the female chipmunks who are often the Chipmunks' friends or on-and-off girlfriends.
- Brittany Miller: The oldest sister and Alvin's counterpart. She can be a bit self-centered, but she truly cares about others.
- Jeanette Miller: The middle sister and the tallest. Jeanette is very smart, like Simon. However, she is shy and can be clumsy.
- Eleanor Miller: The youngest sister and Theodore's counterpart. She loves food and cooking, just like Theodore. Eleanor is also athletic and often stands up for herself.
Human Characters
These are the people who care for the Chipmunks and Chipettes.
- David (Dave) Seville: He is the Chipmunks' adoptive father, songwriter, and manager. Dave's patience is often tested by Alvin's antics. He frequently yells his famous line, "ALVINNN!!!" Despite the challenges, he loves all his boys very much.
- Miss Beatrice Miller: She is the kind and sometimes forgetful adoptive mother of the Chipettes.
Animal Friends
The Chipmunks also had some animal companions.
- Cookie Chomper III: This was the Chipmunks' first pet, a stray kitten. They kept him a secret from Dave for a while. Dave eventually let them keep him.
- Lilly: After Cookie Chomper III passed away, the Chipmunks adopted Lilly, a puppy, from a shelter.
The Chipmunks' Birth Mother
- Vinny: The Chipmunks' birth mother. They found her after a long search. She explained that she had to leave them with Dave during a very harsh winter to keep them safe. She saw how happy they were with Dave and decided they were better off with him. Alvin eventually understood and forgave her. The brothers stayed in touch with their mother.
Voice Actors
Many talented people gave voices to the characters in Alvin and the Chipmunks.
Main Voices
- Ross Bagdasarian, Jr. voiced Alvin, Simon, and Dave Seville. He also did many other male voices.
- Janice Karman voiced Theodore, Brittany, Jeanette, and Eleanor. She also did many other female voices.
- Dody Goodman voiced Miss Beatrice Miller.
- Thomas H. Watkins voiced Uncle "Adventure" Willy and Lilly the dog.
Other Voices
Many other actors contributed their voices to the show, including:
Episodes and Seasons
The series first aired on September 17, 1983, on NBC. It was originally called Alvin and The Chipmunks.
Show Title Changes
- From 1983 to 1988, the show was known as Alvin and The Chipmunks.
- In 1988, the show's name changed to simply The Chipmunks.
- For its final season in 1990, the show was renamed The Chipmunks Go to the Movies. In this season, every episode was a funny take on popular Hollywood films.
Where the Show Aired
After its run on NBC, the show was shown on other channels:
- From 1995 to 1997, it aired on Nickelodeon.
- From 1998 to 2002, Cartoon Network aired 65 episodes of the series.
- In Canada, it aired on Teletoon Retro from 2008 until that channel closed in 2015.
- It also aired on Boomerang for a short time in 2011.
