Back to the Future (TV series) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Back to the Future |
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| Genre | Animation Adventure Comedy Sci-fi |
| Created by | Robert Zemeckis Bob Gale |
| Starring | Christopher Lloyd Bill Nye |
| Voices of | David Kaufman Dan Castellaneta Cathy Cavadini Mary Steenburgen Josh Keaton Thomas F. Wilson Troy Davidson Danny Mann |
| Theme music composer | Alan Silvestri |
| Opening theme | "Back in Time" |
| Ending theme | "Theme from Back to the Future" (Instrumental) |
| Composer(s) | Michael Tavera |
| Country of origin | United States France |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 26 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Bob Gale |
| Running time | 22 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Universal Cartoon Studios Amblimation Zaloom/Mayfield Productions Amblin Entertainment |
| Distributor | MCA-TV |
| Release | |
| Original network | CBS (U.S.) France 2 (France) Channel 4 (U.K.) |
| Audio format | CBS StereoSound (U.S.) Stereo (France) |
| Original release | September 14, 1991 – December 26, 1992 |
| Chronology | |
| Preceded by | Back to the Future: The Ride |
Back to the Future (also known as Back to the Future: The Animated Series) is a fun animated TV show. It's a sci-fi comedy and adventure series. The show is based on the famous live-action Back to the Future movies.
It ran for two seasons, with 13 episodes in each season. The show first aired on CBS from September 14, 1991, to December 26, 1992. You could also watch reruns until August 14, 1993. Later, it was shown again on Fox as part of the FoxBox block from March 22 to August 30, 2003.
Even though the show takes place after the movies, the creator Bob Gale said it's like a "what if" story. It's in its own timeline, separate from the movies. This animated series was also the first TV appearance for Bill Nye on a national show!
Contents
What is the Show About?
The story picks up after Back to the Future Part III. In 1991, Dr. Emmett Brown moved to a farm in Hill Valley. He lives there with his wife Clara, their sons Jules and Verne, and their dog, Einstein.
Just like in the movies, they travel through time! They use a special DeLorean car. It seems to have been rebuilt after it was destroyed in the third movie. This DeLorean now has cool voice-activated "time circuits." It can also instantly travel to different places and times. Plus, it can fold up into a suitcase! The characters also use the steam engine time machine that Doc invented at the end of the third film.
While Marty McFly is still a main character, the show mostly focuses on the Brown family. This is different from the movies, which were all about the McFly family. The movie villain, Biff Tannen, also appears often. You'll also see many relatives of the McFly, Brown, and Tannen families in different time periods.
Unlike the movies, which mostly stayed in Hill Valley, the show takes the characters to many exciting places. At the end of each episode, Doc Brown would do a science experiment. These experiments were often related to the episode's story. In the first season, Biff Tannen would even tell a joke after the credits! This was a nod to Thomas F. Wilson's (the voice of Biff) career as a stand-up comedian.
Meet the Characters
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- Marty McFly (voiced by David Kaufman) – Marty is the main character. He visits the Brown family a lot. He keeps traveling through time with Jennifer, Doc, and the rest of the Brown family on their adventures. Marty and Jennifer become students at Hill Valley College after finishing high school.
- Jennifer Parker (voiced by Cathy Cavadini) – Jennifer is Marty's girlfriend.
- Emmett "Doc" Brown (played by Christopher Lloyd in live-action parts, voiced by Dan Castellaneta in animated parts) – Doc is Marty's best friend and a brilliant inventor. He built the DeLorean time machine. In the first episode, the DeLorean is rebuilt with new features. He lives with Clara and their two sons, Jules and Verne.
- Einstein (voiced by Danny Mann) – Einstein is the loyal sheep dog who lives with Doc and his family. He is also Marty's friend.
- Clara Clayton Brown (voiced by Mary Steenburgen) – Clara is Doc's wife. She moved to the 20th century with her family. Clara is very welcoming and has settled well into modern life. She became a teacher at Hill Valley Elementary. Sometimes, she joins her husband, sons, and Marty on their time travel road trips.
- Jules Brown (voiced by Josh Keaton) – Jules is Doc's older son. He is very smart for his age, just like his dad. He uses big words and calls Marty "Martin." Jules is the best student in his class because he knows so much. However, he isn't very popular with other kids. He loves baseball and inventing. He often helps his dad solve problems.
- Verne Brown (voiced by Troy Davidson) – Verne is Jules' younger brother. He is charming and loves adventure. He almost always wears a raccoon skin cap. He often calls his brother "skunkhead." Unlike Jules, Verne is quite popular at school and has many friends, including Marty McFly. Verne also has a rivalry with Biff Tannen's son, Biff Jr.
- Biff Tannen (voiced by Thomas F. Wilson) – Biff is the great-grandson of Buford "Mad Dog" Tannen. He is the main villain in the present day. Most episodes feature his many ancestors or descendants instead. Biff also has a son, Biff Jr. (voiced by Benji Gregory). In the first season, Biff would tell a joke after the end credits.
Mary Steenburgen (who played Clara Clayton Brown) and Thomas F. Wilson (who played Biff Tannen) voiced their characters from the movies. Christopher Lloyd played Doc Brown in the live-action parts at the start and end of each episode. Dan Castellaneta voiced the animated Doc Brown. James Tolkan, who played Principal Strickland in the movies, voiced a character in one episode. Also, Bill Nye appeared as Doc Brown's Lab Assistant. He did science experiments related to the episode at the end of each show. Bill Nye was also the show's technical advisor. These segments later led to Bill Nye getting his own science show!
Episode Guide
The show has two seasons, each with 13 episodes.
Season 1 (1991)
| Season | Episodes | Originally aired | ||
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| First aired | Last aired | |||
| 1 | 13 | September 14, 1991 | December 14, 1991 | |
| No. overall |
No. in season |
Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | |
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| 1 | 1 | "Brothers" | John Hays and Phil Robinson | John Loy and John Ludin | September 14, 1991 | |
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Verne is upset with his brother, Jules. He runs away from home using the DeLorean. Doc, Marty, and Jules use the Time Train to find him. They find Verne during the American Civil War in 1864. General Beauregard Tannen's armies kidnap Marty. Jules and Verne end up on opposite sides of the war. During a big battle, the boys meet in the middle. The soldiers realize they are fighting their own brothers and family. Both sides stop fighting and chase after Doc, Marty, and the boys. This episode also shows how the word "butthead" started!
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| 2 | 2 | "A Family Vacation" | John Hays | Wayne Kaatz and John Loy | September 21, 1991 | |
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Doc takes Clara and the boys to the Middle Ages (year 1367) without asking them. He wants to escape technology. Clara gets mad, and Jules and Verne leave them. Clara is kidnapped by Lord Biffingham, and Doc is thrown into a dungeon. Jules and Verne meet Harold McFly (Marty's ancestor). His girlfriend, Jennivere, was also kidnapped by Lord Biffingham. Clara escapes and makes a hot air balloon. She rescues Doc and stops Biffingham's plan. Doc learns he should talk to his family before making big decisions.
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| 3 | 3 | "Forward to the Past" | Phil Robinson | Earl Kress | September 28, 1991 | |
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Doc and the boys go to prehistoric times to test a new invention. A Tyrannosaurus chases them! They escape with a friendly Pteranodon. Doc sees a meteor heading for Earth. He zaps it with his invention, saving Earth but draining the car battery. They use lemons to power the battery and go back to the future. But now, dinosaurs rule Earth! Doc realizes he must put the meteor back to fix history. This means their friend, Donny the Pteranodon, will go extinct. When they return, Verne befriends a little bird like Donny.
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| 4 | 4 | "Witchcraft" | John Hays | Mary Jo Ludin | October 5, 1991 | |
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Marty thinks Jennifer is dating someone else. The Browns are in Ancient Egypt when their time machine breaks. Marty gets a message that Doc and his family are in Salem, Massachusetts, during the Salem Witch Trials. Marty brings a new part for the time machine. Marty accidentally insults a girl named Mercy (a Tannen). She accuses him of being a witch! Marty is sentenced to a "water" test. Doc saves him with a makeshift scuba suit. Marty apologizes to Jennifer for not listening to her.
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| 5 | 5 | "Roman Holiday (aka Swing Low Sweet Chariot Race)" | Phil Robinson | Mark Klastorin, Michael Klastorin and John Ludin | October 19, 1991 | |
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Marty and Doc go to Ancient Rome to return library books. Jules and Verne sneak into the DeLorean. Marty insults Bifficus (a Tannen ancestor) and is challenged to a chariot race. Doc is mistaken for a slave and is about to be thrown to lions. The boys meet Judah, a slave, who helps them. Marty loses the race so the Roman Empire can fall as it should. Doc uses his holographic device to escape the lions. The boys help Judah become free.
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| 6 | 6 | "Go Fly a Kite" | John Hays | Randy Gale, Michael Zimbalist, John Loy and John Ludin | October 26, 1991 | |
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Jules teases Verne, saying he isn't smart like Doc and Jules. Verne uses his dad's photo invention and thinks Benjamin Franklin is his real dad. Verne goes back in time and messes with Franklin's electricity invention. All electricity goes out in present-day Hill Valley! Doc, Marty, and Einstein find Verne with Benjamin Franklin. Doc saves Verne from falling off a clock tower. Verne realizes he is Doc's son and is loved.
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| 7a | 7a | "Time Waits for No Frog" | Phil Robinson | Cliff MacGillivray, John Loy and John Ludin | November 2, 1991 | |
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Doc and Marty go to South America in 1532 to find a cure for Marty's athlete's foot. The cure is from an extinct frog. They meet a bad guy, Biffando (a Tannen ancestor). Marty and Doc are captured by Incas and put in a pit with many frogs. Doc uses a tuning fork to make the frogs go crazy. The Incas release them and stop Biffando from stealing gold. Doc and Marty bring some frogs home to help them survive.
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| 7b | 7b | "Einstein's Adventure" | Phil Robinson | Alex Herschlag | November 2, 1991 | |
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Einstein is asleep in the DeLorean when bank robbers steal it. The robbers activate the time circuits and go to Sydney, Australia, in 1790. Einstein falls out of the car. The robbers end up in an Australian prison. Einstein saves the crooks. When they return to the future, the crooks return the money and turn themselves in.
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| 8 | 8 | "Batter Up" | John Hays | Mark Hoffmeier, John Loy and John Ludin | November 9, 1991 | |
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Marty goes back to 1897 to help his ancestor, Pee Wee McFly, win a baseball game. Marty uses Doc's special glasses to hit like a pro. He helps Pee Wee win a game. But Pee Wee is scared because a gangster, Diamond Jim Tannen (a Biff ancestor), wants him to lose games. Marty, Jules, and Verne help Pee Wee win the championship, and Diamond Jim is arrested.
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| 9 | 9 | "Solar Sailors" | Phil Robinson | Earl Kress, John Ludin and John Loy | November 16, 1991 | |
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Jules gives his parents tickets for a space cruise in the year 2091. Clara and Doc take the DeLorean to the future. They board a solar sail ship. Jules and Verne find out the ship is in danger (sabotaged by Ziff Tannen, Griff Tannen's grandson). Doc and Clara try to fix the sails. Jules and Verne go to the future to help save their parents. Ziff is caught, and Doc and Clara return home safely.
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| 10 | 10 | "Dickens of a Christmas" | John Hays | Rick Cunningham, John Loy and John Ludin | November 23, 1991 | |
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Doc takes Marty and his family to 1800s London for a "Dickens" Christmas. Doc gives his pocket watch (with the DeLorean key) to Jules. A pickpocket steals the watch from Jules. Jules and Verne are caught by the pickpocket leader and forced to join his group. Ebiffnezer Tannen (a Biff ancestor) throws the toy shop owner, his family, and Clara into prison. Doc and Marty rescue the boys. Marty dresses as a ghost to teach Ebiffnezer a lesson. Ebiffnezer changes his mind and releases everyone.
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| 11 | 11 | "Gone Fishin'" | Phil Robinson | Wayne Kaatz and John Ludin | November 30, 1991 | |
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It's the "Father-Son Big Mouth Bass-Off," and the boys learn Doc is afraid of fishing. They use an invention to go into Doc's memory. They find out that when Doc was four, he fell into a river while fishing. The boys, with Marty, go back in time to stop the accident. They prevent it but create a new one, and Marty falls in. Little Emmett Brown becomes famous doing crazy stunts. A movie producer, D.W. Tannen (a Biff ancestor), plans a dangerous stunt. Marty and the boys save Emmett. Doc is now ready for the Bass-Off!
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| 12 | 12 | "Retired" | John Hays | Peyton Reed, Mark Gowen, John Ludin and John Loy | December 7, 1991 | |
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On April Fool's Day, Jules and Verne play pranks on Doc's inventions. Doc uses a broken machine and thinks he's used up almost all his brainpower. He retires from science. After trying other jobs, he goes back to the Cro-Magnon period. He realizes there's still so much to invent! Marty "borrows" one of Doc's broken inventions for a concert, causing a huge rainstorm and flood. Doc uses his tiny bit of "brain" to save everyone. The boys confess their pranks, and Doc goes back to science.
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| 13 | 13 | "Clara's Folks" | Phil Robinson | John Loy and Mary Jo Ludin | December 14, 1991 | |
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Verne, Jules, and Marty go back to 1850 Wyoming to meet Clara's mother on the Oregon Trail. Martha (Clara's mom) falls in love with Marty. This makes Clara disappear in the future! The boys and Marty must help Martha meet Daniel, their grandfather. Wild Bill Tannen (Buford "Mad Dog" Tannen's father) kidnaps Martha. Doc arrives with Daniel. Doc helps them escape a Grizzly Bear and a geyser. Daniel and Martha fall in love, and history is back on track.
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Season 2 (1992)
| Season | Episodes | Originally aired | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First aired | Last aired | |||
| 2 | 13 | September 19, 1992 | December 26, 1992 | |
| No. overall |
No. in season |
Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 1 | "Mac the Black" | John Hays | John Loy and John Ludin | September 19, 1992 | |
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Marty lies to Jennifer about a concert. Verne wants an earring, but Clara and Doc say no. Verne and Marty sneak to the Caribbean in 1697 to become pirates. Marty is mistaken for the famous pirate, Mac the Black. The real Mac the Black confronts Marty and Verne during a battle. Marty apologizes to Jennifer and tells her the truth.
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| 15 | 2 | "Put on Your Thinking Caps, Kids! It's Time for Mr. Wisdom!" | John Hays | Wayne Kaatz | September 26, 1992 | |
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Mr. Wisdom, a science show host and Verne's hero, visits Hill Valley. Verne and Marty bring him to Doc's lab. Doc is angry because Mr. Wisdom stole his invention in college. Later, Mr. Wisdom breaks into Doc's lab and steals the DeLorean. Doc, Marty, Jules, and Verne find him near the volcano Krakatoa in 1883. A crazy contest happens to see who the real genius is. Verne finds a new hero.
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| 16 | 3 | "A Friend in Deed" | N/A | Sean Derek, John Loy and John Ludin | October 3, 1992 | |
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Biff says he has an old legal paper from the 1800s for Jennifer Parker's ranch. He plans to make her family leave. Marty, Jules, and Verne go back to the Old West to find the truth. Marty learns that an outlaw Tannen ancestor cheated the Parkers out of their land. Marty joins the outlaw gang to stop the plan. When they return, the signature on the paper disappears. Marty finally gets a kiss from Jennifer!
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| 17 | 4 | "Marty McFly PFC" | =John Hays | Mary Jo Ludin | October 17, 1992 | |
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Verne hates dance lessons. Doc tells him he lost blueprints for a dance machine in a fire. Verne and Marty go back to 1944. Verne meets his dance instructor, Dorothy, as a young girl. Marty accidentally joins the Army. Verne dances with Dorothy. Verne rescues Marty from being drafted. At the Hill Valley Jitterbug Contest, Verne wins a trophy and gives it to Dorothy.
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| 18 | 5 | "Verne's New Friend" | John Hays | Mary Jo Ludin | October 24, 1992 | |
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Verne meets a new friend, Chris, who is great at baseball. Verne and Chris go to a comic book store. They see an old circus poster. Verne, Chris, and Marty go back to the 1930s to see the circus. The circus is in financial trouble. Farmer Tannen (a Biff ancestor) is about to take over. The star high-wire act quits. Verne and Chris take over the act. Verne finds out Chris is a girl! Chris saves Verne from a fall. Verne learns to accept "females" and saves a friendship.
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| 19 | 6 | "BraveLord and the Demon Monstrux" | John Hays | Wayne Kaatz | October 31, 1992 | |
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Verne is addicted to a video game called "BraveLord and Monstrux." Doc and Clara ground him. Jules and Marty try to help Verne play the game in his room using a device. Something goes wrong, and the game characters come to life! BraveLord appears in Verne's room, and Demon Monstrux goes to Biff's house. Doc is pulled into the game. Verne, Jules, Marty, and Clara must defeat Monstrux and get everyone back to their right places.
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| 20 | 7 | "The Money Tree" | N/A | Earl Kress | November 7, 1992 | |
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Jules is tired of being unpopular. Verne suggests growing a money tree. Jules becomes popular and rich, buying gifts for everyone. The news hears about the money tree. The FBI thinks it's fake money. Biff and Biff Jr. steal the tree. Marty and the Browns try to get it back. They realize money has changed their priorities and let the tree go. Biff and Biff Jr. are arrested. Jules keeps some of his new friends.
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| 21 | 8 | "A Verne by Any Other Name" | John Hays | Earl Kress | November 14, 1992 | |
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Kids at school tease Verne about his name. Verne wants a new name. He finds out his parents named him after Jules Verne. He and Marty go back to 1800s France to convince Jules Verne to change his name. That fails. They go to the Old West to convince Doc and Clara to pick a different name for baby Verne. The other name choices are not good! Verne bravely helps with his own birth. Clara and Doc name him Verne after a brave young man.
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| 22 | 9 | "Hill Valley Brown-Out" | Bob Gale | Wayne Kaatz | November 21, 1992 | |
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Doc causes another power outage in Hill Valley, affecting Founder's Day. Doc tries to fix the power plant to give free electricity. But his upgrades make everything electrical turn on and stay on! People can't turn off lights or appliances. Biff tries to run Doc out of town. Biff tries to "fix" the plant, causing explosions. The town turns to Doc to shut it down. There's no power for Founder's Day. An old man (from the past) reminds them how the first Founder's Day was celebrated without electricity. Everyone decides to celebrate the old way.
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| 23 | 10 | "My Pop's an Alien" | N/A | Story by: Mark Hoffmeier Mary Jo Ludin |
December 5, 1992 | |
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Marty parks the DeLorean. As comet Kahooey passes, Biff says aliens are coming and causes panic. Biff finds a "space craft" behind Doc's bushes. He thinks Doc is an alien! Marty, Jules, and Verne go back to 1967 to fix things. They find Doc built a flying craft to see the comet. Biff mistook it for an alien ship. Marty and the boys, in beekeeper suits, make Biff promise not to talk about "aliens." Doc is fine, and Biff tries to sell alien souvenirs.
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| 24 | 11 | "Super Doc" | N/A | Wayne Kaatz | December 12, 1992 | |
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Verne is pressured by a bully to swing over Deadman's swamp. Verne finds Doc and Marty. Marty is wearing Doc's new booster boots. Verne tells them his problem. Marty and the boys find out Doc was a wrestler in the 1950s but never entered the ring. Verne thinks if his dad was a wrestler, he'd be cool. Marty and the boys go back to make Doc compete. Doc gets hit on the head and thinks he's a superhero, Mega-Brain-Man! He causes trouble. Doc regains his memory and finishes the match, losing. He goes back to science. Verne declines the swamp challenge, saying he'll follow his instincts. The bully tries and falls in!
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| 25 | 12 | "St. Louis Blues" | N/A | Mark Valenti | December 19, 1992 | |
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Marty makes fun of Jennifer's hairdo and makes a date with another girl. Marty tries to use Doc's hair-cutting invention, but it makes his hair change styles wildly. The Browns are at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis. Marty and the boys go to find them. P.T. Tannen (Buford's son) kidnaps Marty and displays him as a "curiosity." Doc, Clara, and the boys save Marty. Marty breaks his date with the other girl and apologizes to Jennifer. They kiss.
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| 26 | 13 | "Verne Hatches an Egg" | John Hays | Mark Klastorin, Michael Klastorin, John Loy and John Ludin | December 26, 1992 | |
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Biff Jr. steals Verne's arrowhead for "Show and Tell." Verne will have to be in the school play if he doesn't have something. Verne complains to his parents, who say no to using the DeLorean. Verne sneaks into the DeLorean with Marty, who is studying dinosaurs. Verne takes a dinosaur egg back to the 20th century. It hatches into a brontosaurus! Verne, Jules, and Marty must hide the fast-growing dinosaur. Biff and Biff Jr. capture it and sell it to Mr. Wisdom, who plans to dissect "Tiny." Marty and the Brown family save the baby dinosaur and reunite him with his mother. Doc says Verne can use a baby tooth for Show & Tell.
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Where to Watch and Buy
Even though the show isn't on TV anymore, you can still find it! Nine VHS tapes and three laserdisc volumes of the series were released from 1993 to 1994. These had 18 of the 26 episodes.
The complete show was released on DVD for the first time on October 20, 2015. You could buy it by itself or as part of the Back to the Future: The Complete Adventures collection. This collection also includes all three movies! Plus, the first episode from each season (Brothers and Mac the Black) are bonus features in the Back to the Future: 30th Anniversary Trilogy set.
On June 14, 2016, Universal released a separate DVD for Season 1. Season 2 was released on September 13, 2016.
Awards and Recognition
The Back to the Future animated series won several awards!
- 1992 – Outstanding Film Sound Mixing – Jim Hodson, Bill Koepnick, and Harry Andronis (won)
- 1992 – Outstanding Film Sound Editing – Bill Koepnick, Russell Brower, Jim Hodson, Aaron L. King, Matt Thorne, and Mark Keatts (won)
- 1993 – Outstanding Film Sound Mixing – Ray Leonard and Paca Thomas (won)
- 1993 – Outstanding Film Sound Editing – Paca Thomas, Ray Leonard, Marc S. Perlman, and Melissa Ellis (won)
Comic Books and Toys
Comic Book Adventures
A comic book series was published by Harvey Comics. These comics told more stories about the animated show. There were two mini-series. The first had four issues, and the second had three issues, called "Forward to the Future." A "Special" issue also came out, reprinting parts of the first mini-series. Dwayne McDuffie wrote the comics, and Nelson Dewey did the art.
Action Figures
In August 2020, for the 35th anniversary of the Back to the Future movies, NECA made three action figures based on the animated series. These figures were Marty McFly, 'Doc' Brown and Einstein, and Biff Tannen. They were part of the "Toony Classics" line.
- Marty McFly came with a hoverboard and a guitar.
- Doc Brown included Einstein with his digital stopwatch collar, a remote control, extra hands, and goggles.
- The Biff Tannen figure had an extra head you could swap!
See also
In Spanish: Back to the Future (serie animada) para niños
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