Journey to the Center of the Earth (TV series) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Journey to the Center of the Earth |
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| Genre | Animation |
| Written by |
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| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 17 |
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| Running time | 30 minutes |
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| Distributor | Disney–ABC Domestic Television |
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| Original network | ABC |
| Original release | September 9, 1967 – September 6, 1969 |
Journey to the Center of the Earth is an exciting American science fiction Saturday-morning cartoon. It has 17 episodes, and each one is 30 minutes long. The show was made by Filmation with 20th Century Fox Television. It first aired on ABC on September 9, 1967, and ran until September 6, 1969.
The cartoon features the voice of Ted Knight as Professor Lindenbrook. It was later shown again on the Sci Fi Channel's Cartoon Quest.
This cartoon was inspired by the 1959 movie Journey to the Center of the Earth. It didn't follow Jules Verne's original 1864 novel very closely. For example, it included characters like Count Saknussen and Gertrude the duck, who were in the movie but not the book. The cartoon even went further away from Verne's original story than the movie did.
You can't buy the series on DVD or Blu-ray right now. However, most of the episodes are available to watch online on YouTube.
Exploring the Earth's Core: The Story Begins
The cartoon starts with a special message. It tells us about a brave explorer named Arne Saknussen. He once traveled deep inside the Earth to a legendary place called Atlantis.
Many years later, Professor Oliver Lindenbrook finds clues to Arne's journey. He decides to follow the path with his niece Cindy, his student Alec McEwen, their guide Lars, and Lars's duck, Gertrude.
Facing Dangers: The Evil Count Saknussen
But the explorers are not alone on their adventure. An evil character named Count Saknussen is also trying to reach the Earth's core. He is a descendant of the original Arne Saknussen. The Count wants to control the center of the Earth for his own selfish plans.
Count Saknussen orders his strong servant, Torg, to stop Professor Lindenbrook's group. However, the plan goes wrong. The entrance to the Earth's core gets sealed forever. Now, both groups are trapped inside. They must race to the Earth's core to find a way back to the surface. This is the exciting start of their new journey!
Adventures in the Earth's Depths: Episode Guide
The series follows Professor Lindenbrook and his friends as they face many challenges. They meet strange creatures and discover hidden worlds. Here's a look at some of their adventures:
| Episode No. | Title | Original Air Date | Short Summary |
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| 1 | "Arena of Fear" | September 9, 1967 | |
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The explorers help a scary-looking beast. It turns out to be friendly. Later, a giant caveman captures the beast and Professor Lindenbrook. The caveman makes the beasts chase Lindenbrook, but the friendly beast remembers his kindness and saves him.
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| 2 | "Caveman Captives" | September 16, 1967 | |
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Lars hurts his arm fighting a Pterodactyl. Lars and Cindy get separated from the Professor and Alec. Professor Lindenbrook and Alec are then captured by a tribe of prehistoric cavemen.
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| 3 | "The Creative World" | September 23, 1967 | |
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Wolf Men, who are working with Count Saknussemm, capture Alec. While the Professor tries to rescue him, Lars and Cindy team up with the Wolf Men’s enemies, who are descendants of ancient Druids.
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| 4 | "Creatures of the Swamp" | September 30, 1967 | |
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A primitive tribe captures Lars and traps him underwater. The rest of the group gets help from another tribe. Soon, Alec, Count Sacnussem, and Torg are also captured by the enemy.
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| 5 | "The Doomed Island" | October 7, 1967 | |
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Their boat is attacked by creatures that are half-human and half-spider. Lindenbrook and his friends end up on a magnetic island. Alec and Cindy are put into a water-filled crater. Lindenbrook and Lars are forced to build a boat for the island's tribe. Count Sacnussem and Torg are not in this episode.
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| 6 | "The Frozen Furies" | October 14, 1967 | |
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Chief Hok of The Frozen Furies is drilling ice from underground glaciers. Lindenbrook wants to stop their drilling to save the surface world. Count Sacknussem and Torg are also not in this episode.
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| 7 | "The Labyrinth Builders" | October 21, 1967 | |
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Human-like creatures that look like bees capture Lindenbrook, Lars, Cindy, and Torg. They imprison them in a giant hive and plan to cook them with hot honey. Alec, Gertrude, and Count Sacnussem work together to rescue them.
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| 8 | "Land of the Dead" | October 28, 1967 | |
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Alec gets caught in a whirlpool and ends up in the Land of the Dead. He is separated from the others.
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| 9 | "The Living City" | November 4, 1967 | |
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The travelers cross an underground desert in a makeshift sand boat. They find a deserted city where a mysterious force turns insects, statues, and even mummies against them.
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| 10 | "The Living Totems" | November 11, 1967 | |
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The explorers meet the Living Totems. These totems are angry about a stolen diamond. They believe all humans are only capable of violence.
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| 11 | "Moths of Doom" | November 18, 1967 | |
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Lindenbrook, Lars, Saknussemm, and Torg are put in jail by "The Controllers." This happens while they are passing through a land full of insects.
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| 12 | "Ocean of Destruction" | November 25, 1967 | |
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Crossing a dry ocean bed, Lindenbrook and his group find various lost ships. These include The Flying Dutchman. The ships are controlled by Frog People who act and dress like pirates.
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| 13 | "Perils of Volcano Island" | December 2, 1967 | |
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Near the volcanic Destruction Canyon, the Lindenbrook Expedition finds a map by Arne Saknussemm. Alec, Cindy, and Gertrude are hit by a strange gas that turns them to stone. Count Saknussemm takes them hostage to trade for the map.
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| 14 | "Return of Gulliver" | December 9, 1967 | |
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The Land of Giants is the setting for a war. This war is between the Giants and the Lilliputian People from across the river.
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| 15 | "Revenge of the Fossils" | December 16, 1967 | |
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Lindenbrook accidentally brings fossils of Earth’s first civilization back to life with fire. These Fossil Beings want to rule the world themselves, even though Saknussemm tries to make them his slaves.
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| 16 | "Sleeping Slaves of Zeerah" | December 23, 1967 | |
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Zeerah’s Soldiers capture the Lindenbrook Party. They are taken before the sorceress Queen Mortia. Professor Lindenbrook tries to convince her that he has his own magic powers.
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| 17 | "Trail of Gold" | December 30, 1967 | |
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Professor Lindenbrook and his friends finally find the golden city of Atlantis. They believe they have found their way back to the surface world, but is it true?
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