The Raccoons facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Raccoons |
|
|---|---|
Title card
|
|
| Genre | |
| Created by | Kevin Gillis |
| Directed by | Kevin Gillis |
| Voices of |
|
| Narrated by | Geoffrey Winter |
| Theme music composer |
|
| Ending theme | "Run with Us" by Steve Lunt (Season 1), Lisa Lougheed (Seasons 2–5) |
| Country of origin | Canada |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 5 |
| No. of episodes | 60 (plus 4 specials) (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Sheldon S. Wiseman |
| Producer(s) | Kevin Gillis |
| Running time | 25 mins |
| Production company(s) |
|
| Release | |
| Original network | CBC |
| Original release | July 4, 1985 – August 28, 1992 |
The Raccoons is a popular Canadian animated television series that aired on CBC in Canada and Disney Channel in the U.S. It first started with three TV specials in the early 1980s, followed by the main series from 1985 to 1991. The show was created by Kevin Gillis.
Contents
About the Evergreen Forest Friends
The series is mostly about Bert Raccoon and his friends, the married couple Ralph and Melissa Raccoon. Bert lives with them in their home, the "Raccoondominium." Their main goal is to protect their home, the Evergreen Forest, from the greedy aardvark millionaire, Cyril Sneer. Cyril is a businessman who often tries to destroy the forest for his own gain.
However, the Raccoons, with help from their friends, always manage to save the forest. Their friends include Schaeffer, a kind Old English Sheepdog; Cedric, Cyril's son; and Sophia Tutu, Cedric's girlfriend. As the show goes on, Cyril Sneer starts to change. He becomes less of a villain and more of a character who sometimes helps the Raccoons, learning to be more responsible.
Originally, the show had a hidden world where a human forest ranger and his kids lived, unaware of the animal characters. But in the second season, the human characters were removed. The story then focused entirely on a world of smart, human-like animals with their own cities, transportation, and media. Ralph's family also became more important, especially his young nephew Bentley, who is great with computers, and his niece Lisa, who is an athletic teenager.
The Raccoons was different from many cartoons of its time. It blended action, humor, and even a bit of romance in a way that was still easy for younger viewers to understand. The main lessons in the series often focused on environmentalism, teaching viewers about protecting nature. It also taught important ideas about friendship and teamwork.
Episodes of The Raccoons
Meet the Characters
Main Characters
- Bert Raccoon (voiced by Len Carlson) - Bert is the main character. He lives with Ralph and Melissa and is their best friend. Bert is full of energy and imagination, always looking for new adventures. Even though he can be impulsive and make silly choices, he has a very kind heart.
- Ralph Raccoon (voiced by Bob Dermer) and Melissa Raccoon (voiced by Linda Feige (season 1) and Susan Roman (seasons 2–5)) – Ralph and Melissa are a happily married couple. They let Bert live with them. Ralph usually puts up with Bert's silly actions, knowing Bert means well, but he can get frustrated. Ralph also started the "The Evergreen Standard" newspaper. Melissa is the most sensible of the three raccoons. She often guides the boys and enjoys a good laugh when Bert or Ralph are silly, or when Cyril's plans go wrong.
- Cedric Sidney Sneer (voiced by Marvin Goldhar) – Cedric is Cyril Sneer's son and Bert Raccoon's best friend. He is a bit nerdy and will inherit his father's money. He has a crush on Sophia and can get nervous around her. At first, he was very quiet and did whatever his dad said, but he slowly became more confident.
- Schaeffer (voiced by Carl Banas) – Schaeffer is a big, friendly Old English Sheepdog and a good friend to the Raccoons. He started out seeming a bit slow, but he quickly became one of the smartest characters. He later opened the Blue Spruce Cafe and helps with the newspaper's technology.
- Broo (voiced by Sharon Lewis) – Broo is a sheepdog puppy who seems to think Bert is his owner. He became a regular character after the human characters left the show.
- Sophia Tutu (voiced by Sharon Lewis) – Sophia is Cedric's girlfriend. She is a great swan glider and diver. She looks more human-like than Cedric or Cyril, even though she is an aardvark. She is very feminine but also enjoys riding bikes and even competed in the Evergreen Games.
- Cyril Sneer (voiced by Michael Magee) – Cyril is an aardvark with a long, pink nose. He started as the main villain, a very greedy businessman and Cedric's father. As the series went on, he became less mean, though he still liked money. He truly loves his son and wants him to take over the family business. He also has a soft spot for Ralph's nephew and niece, Bentley and Lisa. Cyril takes promises very seriously.
- Snag (voiced by Michael Magee) – Snag is Cyril and Cedric Sneer's pet dog. He has blue fur and a bad temper, but he loves Cedric and once saved him from a fire.
- The Pigs (voiced by Nick Nichols, Keith Hampshire, and Len Carlson) – These are Cyril's three clumsy helpers. They are usually called Pig One, Two, and Three in the credits. Fans sometimes call them Lloyd, Boyd, and Floyd.
- The Bears (voiced by Len Carlson, Bob Dermer, and Carl Banas) – The Bears are Cyril Sneer's other helpers. They work for him as servants, soldiers, or spies.
- Bentley Raccoon (voiced by Noam Zylberman and Stuart Stone) – Bentley is George and Nicole's son. He is very good with computers and is a typical younger kid who sometimes gets upset about small problems. He often prefers Bert's company, and Cyril Sneer thinks highly of him. He was first introduced as Ralph's cousin but later became his nephew.
- Lisa Raccoon (voiced by Lisa Lougheed) – Lisa is Ralph's niece and Bentley's older sister. She is a teenage basketball player who became a big character in Season 5. She looks taller and more human-like than her raccoon relatives, similar to how some voice actors look like their characters.
Supporting Characters
- Dan the Forest Ranger (voiced by Murray Crunchley) – Dan takes care of the Evergreen Forest. He is the father of Tommy and Julie and owned Schaeffer and Broo in the early specials and Season 1. He is a single father.
- Tommy (voiced by Noam Zylberman) – Tommy is Ranger Dan's son and Julie's younger brother. He was one of Schaeffer and Broo's first owners.
- Julie (voiced by Vanessa Lindores) – Julie is Ranger Dan's daughter and Tommy's older sister. She was also one of Schaeffer and Broo's first owners.
- Mr. Mammoth (voiced by Carl Banas) – Mr. Mammoth is a rhinoceros and the richest, most powerful character in the show. He mumbles, and his assistant translates what he says.
- Sidekick (voiced by Rick Jones and Dan Hennessey) – Sidekick is Mr. Mammoth's canary assistant who translates his boss's mumbles.
- Mr. Knox (voiced by Len Carlson) – Mr. Knox is a southern crocodile businessman and a friend of Cyril Sneer. He owns the K.N.O.X. TV company. He and Cyril are friendly rivals.
- Lady Baden-Baden (voiced by Bob Dermer) – Lady Baden-Baden is a rich, dramatic hen who marries Mr. Knox. She used to be a theater actress and loves supporting the arts. She later becomes the mayor of the Evergreen Forest.
- Professor Witherspoon Smedley-Smythe (voiced by Len Carlson) – A goat who runs the Evergreen Museum.
- Dr. Canard (voiced by Len Carlson) – A duck who is Cyril's doctor.
- Mr. Willow (voiced by Carl Banas) – A friendly polar bear who owns Willow's General Store.
- Mrs. Suey-Ellen Pig (voiced by Nonnie Griffin) – The mother of the Pigs. She appears in two episodes.
- Milton Midas (voiced by Len Carlson) – An eagle businessman and a trickster. He was responsible for polluting the fishing hole in one episode.
- George and Nicole Raccoon (voiced by Dan Hennessey and Elizabeth Hanna) – George is Ralph's older brother, and Nicole is his sister-in-law. They are the parents of Bentley and Lisa Raccoon. George hosts a cooking show called "Chef Surprise" on KNOX-TV.
Voice Actors and Characters
Main Voices
- Len Carlson – Bert Raccoon / Boyd (Pig Two) / Floyd (Pig Three) / Mr. Knox / Other Voices
- Michael Magee – Cyril Sneer / Snag
- Bob Dermer – Ralph Raccoon / Lady Baden-Baden / Other Voices
- Linda Feige – Melissa Raccoon (1985–1986)
- Susan Roman – Melissa Raccoon (1987–1991) / Other Voices
- Marvin Goldhar – Cedric Sneer / Other Voices
- Sharon Lewis – Sophia Tutu / Broo
- Carl Banas – Schaeffer / Bears / Mr. Mammoth / Mr. Willow
- Nick Nichols – Lloyd (Pig One) (1983–1990; 1991)
- Keith Hampshire – Lloyd (Pig One) (1990–1991)
- Murray Cruchley – Dan the Forest Ranger
- Noam Zylberman – Tommy / Bentley Raccoon (1987–1990)
- Stuart Stone – Bentley Raccoon (1990–1991) / Danny
- Vanessa Lindores – Julie
- Dan Hennessey – George Raccoon / Sidekick (1990)
- Elizabeth Hanna – Nicole Raccoon
- Lisa Lougheed – Lisa Raccoon
- Geoffrey Winter – Narrator
Additional Voices
- Debra McGrath – Nurse Peck
- Les Lye – Samaritan "Sammy" Sneer
- Rick Jones – Sidekick (1985–1987)
- Derek Diorio – Haggis Lamborgini
- Pauline Rennie – Aunt Gertie
- Nonnie Griffin – Mrs. Suey-Ellen Pig
- Bob Segarini – Woodchuck Berry
- Barry Bailey – Troy Malone
- Jeremiah McCann – Bonneville Knox
- Peter Messaline – The Great Tromboni
- Kay Hawtrey – Miss Primrose
- Bruno Gerussi – Edward Miller
- Barbara Frum – Miss Barbara LaFrum
- Theresa Sears – Ingrid Bellamour
- Terrence Scammell – Classmate #1
- Tara Charendoff – Donna
- Lisa Yamanaka - Patty
How The Raccoons Were Made
Show's Beginning
The idea for The Raccoons started in the 1970s with Kevin Gillis. He worked with a columnist named Gary Dunford, and they got the idea for Ralph Raccoon from a real-life event at a cottage. Gillis then teamed up with lawyer Sheldon S. Wiseman, who helped gather a group of animators, musicians, and writers. Together, they created the first special, The Christmas Raccoons, which aired in 1980.
This first special was very popular in Canada, the U.S., and the UK. Its success led to three more specials: The Raccoons on Ice, The Raccoons and the Lost Star, and a direct-to-video special, The Raccoons: Let's Dance!. In 1984, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and the Disney Channel helped fund the main TV series, which cost about $4.5 million to make.
Music of the Show
The series had a cool new wave style soundtrack. The main theme song, "Run with Us", was sung by cast member Lisa Lougheed in most seasons. In the first season, a different version was sung by Stephen Lunt. Other singers like Luba, Rita Coolidge, Rupert Holmes, Leo Sayer, and John Schneider also performed songs for the specials.
The background music was created by Kevin Gillis and Jon Stroll. It was mostly played by the National Arts Centre Orchestra from Ottawa, Canada, though they were given different names in the credits. Many of the instrumental songs used in the series were first recorded for The Raccoons and the Lost Star and then used again.
Animation Style
From 1979 to 1985, a Canadian animation studio called Atkinson Film-Arts animated the four specials and the first season of the series. After that, starting in 1986, Hinton Animation Studios took over and animated the rest of the show, from seasons 2 to 5.
Where to Watch The Raccoons
The Raccoons aired on CBC in Canada from 1985 to 1991. In the U.S., it was shown on The Disney Channel from 1985 to 1992. It was also shown in other countries, including the UK on the BBC.
Over the years, the show has been released on different home video formats like VHS, Laserdisc, and Betamax. In 2003, the show was released on DVD for the first time, with special features like character bios. These DVDs are now out of print. Later, in 2007 and 2009, more DVD sets were released in Europe.
You can also find The Raccoons online! In 2009, the first season became available on iTunes in Canada, and in 2010, in the United States. The first two seasons were also available on Netflix for a while. As of June 2020, you can watch full episodes of the series on YouTube. Since March 2023, a new 4K remastered version of the series has been airing on Boomerang Canada.
The Raccoons' Impact
The Raccoons left a lasting mark!
- In 1990, Bert and Lisa Raccoon were chosen as the mascots for the Canadian Olympic team.
- The show's theme song, "Run with Us", was even featured in the 2011 movie Hobo with a Shotgun.
- In January 2022, the show was featured in the first episode of the TV series Son of a Critch.
- New children's novels based on the series were published in 2024.
See also
In Spanish: Los Mapaches para niños
