Jumanji (TV series) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jumanji |
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| Genre | Action Adventure Dark fantasy |
| Starring |
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| Theme music composer | Jim Latham |
| Composer(s) | Jim Latham |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 40 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
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| Running time | 22 minutes |
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| Picture format | NTSC (480i) |
| Audio format | Stereo |
| Original release | September 8, 1996 – March 11, 1999 |
| Chronology | |
| Preceded by | Jumanji |
| Followed by | Zathura: A Space Adventure |
Jumanji is an American animated TV show. It was inspired by the 1995 movie, which was based on a children's picture book from 1981. The series aired for three seasons, from 1996 to 1999. It first appeared on the UPN Kids block on UPN. Later seasons were shown through syndication by BKN.
The show was made by Adelaide Productions. It was the first show created by this company. Everett Peck designed the characters for the series.
Contents
The Story of Jumanji
Judy and Peter Shepherd are two kids who find a magical board game called "Jumanji." When they play, a "game clue" appears, and they get pulled into a dangerous jungle. They can only leave the jungle when they solve their clue.
Inside the game, they meet Alan Parrish. Alan has been trapped in Jumanji for many years because he never saw his own clue. Judy and Peter try to help Alan find his clue so he can finally escape. Sometimes, if Peter tries to cheat in the game, he turns into different animals. He often uses these animal abilities to help them.
The kids also help another player who was trapped even longer than Alan. This player, known as the Master of Jumanji, had seen his clue but couldn't solve it. With the kids' help, he realizes his clue was an illusion created by Jumanji. Once he accepts this, he is freed.
It turns out that Alan, when he first entered Jumanji, was not good at surviving. Future versions of Judy and Peter (from his perspective) actually helped him learn survival tricks. In return, a younger Alan helped them get back to their own time. But he later forgot meeting them.
In the first episode, Alan mentions that other players have been trapped in Jumanji over time. Not all of them survived the game. In the very last episode, Judy, Peter, and Alan use a special crystal to see the past. They discover Alan's clue and why he missed it. His mom called him for dinner right after he rolled the dice, and the clue appeared when his back was turned. Once Alan knew his clue, he solved it with Judy and Peter's help and finally escaped Jumanji. Outside the game, the kids decide to destroy the Jumanji board game forever.
The series shows that Jumanji itself seems to have a mind. It can even pull Judy and Peter into the jungle if they make it "angry."
Main Characters
Heroes of Jumanji
- Alan Parrish (voiced by Bill Fagerbakke) – Alan is Judy and Peter's friend inside Jumanji. He has been stuck in the game since he was a boy. He can only leave if he finds and solves his original clue. He was finally freed at the end of the show. Alan's worst fear is being trapped in Jumanji forever.
- Judy Shepherd (voiced by Debi Derryberry) – Judy is Peter's older sister. She is very smart, and her intelligence often helps them solve problems in Jumanji. She sometimes has problems with boys, as shown in different episodes.
- Peter Shepherd (voiced by Ashley Johnson as a kid, Cam Clarke as an adult) – Peter is Judy's younger brother. He is nine years old. Unlike his movie version, this Peter is a bit wild and often argues with his sister. He frequently cheats in the game and turns into various animals like a monkey, toucan, or warthog. He can also speak the Manji language.
Jumanji's Villains
Many dangerous characters live in Jumanji. Some appear only once, while others are seen more often.
- Van Pelt (voiced by Sherman Howard) – He is a big-game hunter who wants to collect everyone's heads as trophies. He hunts both people and animals without any mercy. Van Pelt especially hates Alan and tries to hunt him down.
- J.H. "Trader" Slick (voiced by Tim Curry) – Slick is a tricky merchant in Jumanji. He sells all sorts of items, from simple tools to powerful magical objects. He lives and sells his goods at a trading post in the jungle. He is a cunning swindler who often tricks people.
- Professor J.S. Ibsen (voiced by William Sanderson) – Ibsen is Jumanji's crazy scientist and a mechanical genius. He is actually a robot. He works for Jumanji, creating dangerous machines and obstacles like armored rhinos and acid-tongued frogs. He operates from a large factory.
- Captain Ishmael Squint (voiced by Charles Napier) – Squint is a cruel pirate who sails the Jumanji Sea. He lost his nose fighting a sea monster called the Draken. He is always seeking revenge or treasure.
- Stalker (voiced by Richard Allen) – Stalker is a mysterious, Grim Reaper-like villain. He is known as the Protector of Jumanji. He seems to represent "Game Over." He is very feared by other villains.
- Ashton Philips (voiced by Dabney Coleman) – Ashton Philips is a greedy adventurer. He thinks he is the bravest and best. He often betrays others, even Alan, Judy, and Peter.
- The Judge (voiced by Edward Asner) – The Judge is an ape-like lawkeeper. He presides over trials but is not fair. He condemns people without caring if they are innocent. His main weapon is a giant gorilla named "Justice."
Other Characters
- Aunt Nora Shepherd (voiced by Melanie Chartoff) – She is Judy and Peter's aunt and legal guardian. She sometimes gets pulled into Jumanji but believes it's just a dream.
- The Manji Tribe (Various Voices) – These are fierce warriors who wear tribal masks. They are led by Tribal Bob. They are usually hostile but have shown tolerance towards Alan, Peter, and Judy. They communicate with squeaks, clicks, and hand gestures.
- Officer Carl Bentley (voiced by Richard Allen) – He is a police officer in Judy and Peter's neighborhood. He was a friend of Alan Parrish when they were younger.
Voice Actors
- Bill Fagerbakke – Alan Parrish
- Debi Derryberry – Judy Shepherd
- Ashley Johnson – Peter Shepherd
- Melanie Chartoff – Aunt Nora Shepherd
- Tim Curry – Trader Slick
- Sherman Howard – Van Pelt
- Richard Allen – Stalker, Officer Bentley, Tribal Bob
- William Sanderson – Professor Ibsen
- Edward Asner – The Judge
- Dabney Coleman – Ashton Philips
- Charles Napier – Captain Ishmael Squint
- Tony Jay – The Master of Jumanji
Where to Watch
The Jumanji TV series was first shown on UPN Kids in 1996. Later seasons were shown on BKN. It also aired in other countries like the United Kingdom on CITV, Ireland on TRTÉ, and Russia on RTR. In Pakistan, it aired on Cartoon Network and later on Filmax and Aruj TV.
You can find episodes of the show on iTunes and Hulu. It was also rerun on Kabillion on Demand and is available on YouTube.
See also
In Spanish: Jumanji (serie de televisión) para niños
