The Wild Thornberrys facts for kids
This page is about the series. For the 2002 film, see The Wild Thornberrys Movie.
Quick facts for kids The Wild Thornberrys |
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| Genre | Adventure Nature Geography Comedy |
| Created by | Arlene Klasky Gábor Csupó Steve Pepoon David Silverman Stephen Sustarsic |
| Developed by | Mark Palmer Jeff Astrof Mike Sikowitz |
| Directed by | Peter Avanzino Anthony Bell Becky Bristow Sylvia Keulen Cathy Malkasian Jeff McGrath Carol Millican Steve Ressel Mark Risley |
| Voices of | Lacey Chabert Tom Kane Flea Danielle Harris Jodi Carlisle Tim Curry |
| Composer(s) | Drew Neumann |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 5 |
| No. of episodes | 91 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Arlene Klasky Gábor Csupó |
| Producer(s) | Christine Ferriter Maureen Iser Krist-Ann Pehrson Sheila M. Anthony |
| Running time | 23 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Klasky Csupo Nickelodeon Animation Studio |
| Distributor | MTV Networks |
| Release | |
| Original network | Nickelodeon |
| Picture format | 480i (4:3 SDTV) |
| Original release | September 1, 1998 – June 11, 2004 |
The Wild Thornberrys is an exciting animated TV show that first aired on Nickelodeon. It ran from 1998 to 2004.
The show is about the Thornberry family. They are filmmakers who travel the world. They make amazing documentaries about wildlife. The main character is Eliza, the younger daughter. She has a special secret: she can talk to animals!
Besides the TV series, there were also movies. These included two TV films and two movies shown in theaters.
Contents
The Thornberrys' Adventures
This is me, Eliza Thornberry, part of your average family. I've got a dad, a mom, and a sister. There is Donnie, we found him. And Darwin, he found us. Oh, yeah, about our house. It moves, because we travel all over the world. You see, my dad hosts this nature show, and my mom shoots it. Okay, so we're not that average. And between you and me, something amazing happened... and now I can talk to animals. It's really cool, but totally secret. And you know what? Life's never been the same.
The series follows the Thornberrys as they travel the globe. They live in a special mobile home. They film animals in their natural habitats. The main focus is on Eliza, who is 12 years old. She gained her amazing power to talk to animals after helping a shaman.
This gift lets her talk to Darwin, the family's pet chimpanzee. Eliza and Darwin often explore the wilderness together. They meet many wild animals. They also learn important lessons about life and nature. Sometimes, they even help animals in trouble.
Episodes
The Wild Thornberrys is an exciting American cartoon TV show made by Arlene Klasky, Gábor Csupó, and others for Nickelodeon. It's all about the Thornberry family, who are nature filmmakers. The dad, Nigel Thornberry, is a British filmmaker, and his wife, Marianne, is the camera operator.
Their daughters, Debbie and Eliza, travel with them around the world. They explore different places to film animals in their natural homes. The family travels in a special vehicle called the ComVee, which is also their home on these adventures. They also have Donnie, a wild boy they adopted, and Darwin, a chimpanzee who can be a bit scared sometimes.
Eliza, the younger sister, has a secret superpower: she can talk to animals! The show explains how she got this amazing ability in an episode called "Gift of Gab" during season 2.
The show first aired on September 1, 1998, and had 5 seasons with a total of 91 episodes. The very last episode was shown on June 11, 2004. Each episode was about 22 minutes long. Besides the TV show, the characters also appeared in a movie called The Wild Thornberrys Movie. They even teamed up with characters from another popular cartoon, Rugrats, in the movie Rugrats Go Wild.
About the Show's Seasons
The Wild Thornberrys had 5 seasons and a special pilot episode. Here's a quick look at when they aired and how many episodes each season had:
- Pilot: September 1, 1998
- Season 1: September 1, 1998 – April 1, 1999 (20 episodes)
- Season 2: August 16, 1999 – March 27, 2000 (37 episodes)
- Season 3: September 12, 2000 – May 14, 2001 (20 episodes)
- Season 4: August 18, 2001 – June 1, 2002 (6 episodes)
- Season 5: February 3, 2003 – June 11, 2004 (8 episodes)
- Films: December 20, 2002 – June 13, 2003
Episode Guide
Pilot Episode (1998)
- Pilot
- Original Air Date: September 1, 1998
- Location: Kenya
- Summary: The Thornberrys need to film a black rhino to save their show's funding. Eliza, Darwin, and Donnie find it, but Donnie accidentally makes the rhino charge! This episode was only on VHS, not DVD.
Season 1 (1998–99)
- 1. Flood Warning
- Original Air Date: September 1, 1998
- Location: Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
- Summary: Debbie drives the ComVee and loses control, sending it into a muddy river. A storm washes it away. Everyone gets separated and faces hungry East African lions. Eliza must outsmart them.
- 2. Dinner With Darwin
- 3. Bad Company
- 4. Gold Fever
- Original Air Date: September 10, 1998
- Location: Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
- Summary: Eliza and Debbie find an old treasure map. They search for gold, but once they find it, they start fighting over who gets to keep it.
- 5. Matadi or Bust
- Original Air Date: September 15, 1998
- Location: Matadi, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Summary: The Thornberrys need to catch a freighter in Matadi. Eliza finds out that Kip and Biederman are on board with a captured hippo. While helping the hippo escape, Eliza, Darwin, and Donnie fall into the river.
- 6. Temple of Eliza
- 7. Vacant Lot
- Original Air Date: September 22, 1998
- Location: Brazil
- Summary: A giant machine is destroying the Amazon forest. Nigel and Marianne seek government help. Eliza teams up with Amazon animals to fight the machine.
- 8. Only Child
- Original Air Date: October 1, 1998
- Location: Brazil
- Summary: The Thornberrys are by the Amazon River. Eliza is fascinated by a freshwater dolphin. Debbie meets a local teenage girl, making Eliza wonder if the girl is a dolphin in human form.
- 9. Iron Curtain
- 10. Valley Girls
- Original Air Date: October 13, 1998
- Location: Uganda
- Summary: In Uganda, Debbie and Eliza argue over a tape player. They accidentally release the ComVee's brake, and it gets stuck in a muddy river. They must work together with mountain gorillas to free it.
- 11. Blood Sisters
- Original Air Date: October 27, 1998
- Location: Andes, Peru
- Summary: The family visits a bat expert in the Andes. Eliza gets scared by stories about vampire bats. It turns out the "expert" is an imposter, and Eliza must help the real one.
- 12. Eliza-cology
- Original Air Date: November 5, 1998
- Location: Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
- Summary: On the Galapagos Islands, Eliza helps a finch get food, accidentally messing up the island's natural food chain.
- 13. Flight of the Donnie
- 14. Naimina Enkiyio
- 15. Lost & Foundation
- 16. Nigel Knows Best
- Original Air Date: March 18, 1999
- Location: Peru
- Summary: Eliza and Nigel climb the Andes. Nigel is very overprotective, which annoys Eliza. She wanders off alone just as a blizzard hits.
- 17. The Great Bangaboo
- 18. Rumble in the Jungle
- 19. The Dragon and the Professor
- Original Air Date: March 30, 1999
- Location: Rinca, Indonesia
- Summary: Eliza desperately wants to see a Komodo dragon. Her plans are stopped when her homeschooling teacher arrives. Donnie gets a rash, and Nigel gets the chicken pox.
- 20. Born to Be Wild
Season 2 (1999–2000)
- 21. Rebel Without a Trunk
- Original Air Date: August 16, 1999
- Location: Solapur, Maharashtra, India
- Summary: Marianne tries to bond with Eliza while riding elephants. Eliza and a playful elephant cause trouble, burning their campsite and encountering a Bengal tiger.
- 22. Pal Joey
- Original Air Date: August 17, 1999
- Location: Tasmania, Australia
- Summary: Eliza babysits a mischievous baby kangaroo (joey). She learns it's harder than she thought, especially after a close call with Tasmanian devils. Marianne plans a prom for Debbie.
- 23. Rain Dance
- Original Air Date: August 18, 1999
- Location: Namib Desert, Namibia
- Summary: The ComVee breaks down in the desert with no water. The family performs a rain ritual shown on a nearby stone. Luckily, it works, and rain pours down.
- 24. Darwin Plays the Palace
- Original Air Date: August 19, 1999
- Location: Solapur, Maharashtra, India
- Summary: Kip and Biederman capture Darwin and sell him to a rajah for entertainment. Eliza follows a trail of kumquats to the palace and must sneak in to save Darwin.
- 25. Stick Your Neck Out
- 26. No Laughing Matter
- Original Air Date: August 24, 1999
- Location: Serengeti Plain, Tanzania
- Summary: Eliza frees a spotted hyena that doesn't know how to survive in the wild. Eliza tries to teach it, but it only learns when a warthog threatens them.
- 27. Chimp Off the Old Block
- Original Air Date: August 25, 1999
- Location: Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Summary: Darwin takes Eliza to his chimpanzee group. Eliza struggles with their strict rules, putting Darwin in a tough spot. She learns why the rules are important after a leopard attack.
- 28. Koality & Kuantity
- 29. Chew if by Sea
- Original Air Date: August 30, 1999
- Location: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and India
- Summary: Eliza can't bear to leave her wombat friend, Emily, when they leave Australia. Emily secretly comes along, forcing Eliza to constantly create a wombat habitat to keep her alive.
- 30. Clash of the Teutons
- Original Air Date: August 31, 1999
- Location: Great Dividing Range, NSW/Qld/Vic., Australia
- Summary: The Thornberrys meet the Fensterkopfs, who make fake documentaries. Their son lies to Eliza, getting them stuck on a cliff. After barely escaping an avalanche, everyone learns the importance of truth.
- 31. You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yeti
- Original Air Date: September 1, 1999
- Location: Nepal
- Summary: Nigel's old mentor, thought to be lost, is now living as a yeti to protect snow leopards. Eliza discovers his identity and helps him stop a construction project, with help from a real yeti.
- 32. On the Right Track
- 33. Polar Opposites
- Original Air Date: September 7, 1999
- Location: Greenland, Denmark
- Summary: A friendly polar bear named Wanuug is wrongly accused. Eliza tries to protect him. A dangerous polar bear attacks Eliza, but the townspeople stop it, and Wanuug is safe. Debbie gets a job at a diner.
- 34. Two's Company
- Original Air Date: September 8, 1999
- Location: Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
- Summary: Eliza learns "Lonesome Jake" the Galapagos tortoise is the last of his kind. She finds "Samantha" and tries to bring them together, but playing matchmaker is harder than it looks.
- 35. Show Me the Bunny
- Original Air Date: September 13, 1999
- Location: Lappland, Finland
- Summary: Eliza saves an Arctic hare from a determined stoat. She learns that even small, seemingly weak animals can be strong.
- 36. Reef Grief
- Original Air Date: September 14, 1999
- Location: Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia
- Summary: Eliza takes on too many responsibilities. She has to put on scuba gear to save a clumsy Nigel and the ComVee, which is stuck under the dangerous waters of Australia's Great Barrier Reef.
- 37. Thornberry Island
- Original Air Date: September 15, 1999
- Location: Uncharted Island in the Pacific Ocean
- Summary: The Thornberrys get stuck on a deserted island. At first, they enjoy the beauty, but soon realize being stranded isn't as fun as it seems.
- 38. Dances With Dingoes
- Original Air Date: September 16, 1999
- Location: Uluru, Northern Territory, Australia
- Summary: Debbie finds Eliza talking to dingoes and threatens to tell their parents. Eliza, fearing she'll lose her powers, gets help from Aboriginal Australians to make Debbie think it was all a dream.
- 39. Tamper-Proof Seal
- 40. You Otter Know
- Original Air Date: October 20, 1999
- Location: Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia
- Summary: In Russia, Eliza meets friendly sea otters. An oil tanker ruptures, causing a spill. Eliza takes it upon herself to save the otters from the oil.
- 41. Have Yourself A Thornberry Little Christmas
- Original Air Date: November 29, 1999
- Location: Namib Desert, Namibia
- Summary: Eliza tries hard to help animals survive tough times on the Skeleton Coast. Her good intentions, however, end up costing her family their holiday cheer and Christmas dinner.
- 42. The Kung and I
- Original Air Date: February 16, 2000
- Location: Kalahari Desert, Botswana
- Summary: The Thornberrys visit the !Kung people. Everyone is surprised when Debbie can "click talk." Eliza is jealous but gets over it during a !Kung healing ceremony.
- 43. Dear Diary
- 44. Black and White and Mom All Over
- Original Air Date: February 21, 2000
- Location: Chongqing, China
- Summary: A baby panda bear becomes attached to Debbie. Eliza doubts Debbie's parenting skills until a monsoon shows Eliza that Debbie is more capable than she thought.
- 45. A Tiger by the Tail
- Original Air Date: February 22, 2000
- Location: Ussuri River, Russia
- Summary: Eliza meets Kalla the Siberian tigress again, but Kalla turns on her. Eliza's Grandma Sophie helps her overcome her fears.
- 46. Forget Me Not
- Original Air Date: February 24, 2000
- Location: Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
- Summary: The Thornberrys visit Nigel's friend Jomo to find an elephant named Rebecca that Nigel saved years ago. Eliza bonds with Rebecca, but sadly, Rebecca is old and ready to pass away.
- 47. Song for Eliza
- Original Air Date: February 25, 2000
- Location: Kahoolawe, Hawaii
- Summary: Eliza tries to swim with humpback whales. Darwin accidentally drops Debbie's boombox, making a loud noise that stops the whales' singing. Eliza tries to fix things.
- 48. Gift of Gab
- Original Air Date: February 26, 2000
- Location: Nigeria
- Summary: This episode goes back in time to show how Eliza met Darwin and how she got her special power to talk to animals.
- 49. Luck Be an Aye-Aye
- Original Air Date: March 4, 2000
- Location: Madagascar
- Summary: Donnie kidnaps an aye-aye as a pet. Eliza must return the "bad luck" animal home before villagers hunt it. Nigel and Marianne search for a chameleon.
- 50. Bogged Down
- Original Air Date: March 6, 2000
- Location: Philippines
- Summary: In the Philippines, Nigel is stung by a poisonous stonefish. Eliza must go into a dark, mysterious bog to get the antidote before it's too late.
- 51. Monkey See, Monkey Don't
- 52. Where the Gauchos Roam
- Original Air Date: March 13, 2000
- Location: Argentina
- Summary: The Thornberrys join a cattle drive with Marianne's old friend. Her son, Miguel, isn't good at riding. Eliza helps him gain confidence.
- 53. A Shaky Foundation
- Original Air Date: March 13, 2000
- Location: Victoria Falls
- Summary: The Foundation's head son, Tom, visits and splits up Nigel and Marianne. He treats Eliza like a child until he crashes the ComVee in a river. Eliza's quick thinking saves everyone.
- 54. Cheetahs Never Prosper
- 55. Gobi Yourself
- 56. Every Little Bit Alps
- Original Air Date: March 27, 2000
- Location: Switzerland
- Summary: Eliza is scared to tell her friend Ben she can't snowboard. Meanwhile, an ibex is afraid to stand up to another ibex.
- 57. Pack Of Thornberrys
- Original Air Date: March 27, 2000
- Location: Yellowstone National Park, Idaho/Montana/Wyoming
- Summary: Eliza and Debbie fight a lot, and Debbie wants to go to boarding school. Eliza encourages her. But meeting a lone gray wolf teaches Eliza that families, like wolf packs, belong together.
Season 3 (2000–01)
- 58. Dragon Me Along
- Original Air Date: September 12, 2000
- Location: The Great Wall, China
- Summary: Eliza visits her Chinese pen pal, Ling. She sees some pandas and tries to save them from someone she thinks is a poacher.
- 59. Time Flies
- Original Air Date: September 19, 2000
- Location: Everglades, Monroe County, Florida
- Summary: It's Nigel's birthday. The girls and Darwin explore the Everglades in an airboat. They get lost and drop Nigel's new watch/compass overboard. A Swamp Witch and a hungry alligator make getting it back very hard.
- 60. Tyler Tucker, I Presume?
- Original Air Date: October 2, 2000
- Location: Democratic Republic Of The Congo
- Summary: Eliza's competitive cousin, Tyler, joins them in the Congo. The ComVee breaks down, so they take a small boat. Tyler doesn't realize the dangers of the wild and almost causes a disaster.
- 61. Critical Masai
- Original Air Date: October 3, 2000
- Location: Masai Steppe, Tanzania
- Summary: Eliza and Tyler compete to see who is braver near a Masai village. Their courage is truly tested when they get caught in a lightning storm on the Savannah.
- 62. Horse Sense
- Original Air Date: October 3, 2000
- Location: Mongolia
- Summary: In Mongolia for the Naadam Festival, Eliza wants to enter a horse race. She picks a reliable horse but wants to ride a wild horse. She gets more than she expected when she tries.
- 63. Queen of Denial
- 64. Island Trade
- 65. Birthday Quake
- Original Air Date: October 6, 2000
- Location: Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
- Summary: For his 13th birthday, Tyler and Eliza visit elephants. An earthquake hits just as Tyler's parents are coming to pick him up.
- 66. The Legend of Ha Long Bay
- Original Air Date: October 10, 2000
- Location: Ha Long Bay, Vietnam
- Summary: Eliza finds a mysterious creature while filming manta rays with Nigel.
- 67. Spirited Away
- Original Air Date: October 28, 2000
- Location: Oaxaca, Mexico
- Summary: The family prepares for the "Day of the Dead" ceremony. Eliza meets a girl who talks about spirits. When Donnie puts a valuable ring in bread, Eliza and Debbie search for it, getting help from a mysterious woman.
- 68. A Family Tradition
- Original Air Date: November 22, 2000
- Location: Ankarana Reserve, Madagascar
- Summary: The Thornberrys are in Madagascar for Thanksgiving. Grandma Sophie invites them home, but Nigel and Marianne need to film a fossa. Eliza and Debbie decide to stay and spend the holiday as a family.
- 69. Happy Campers
- 70. New Territory
- Original Air Date: December 4, 2000
- Location: Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory, Australia
- Summary: The Thornberrys meet the Gibsons when their ComVee runs out of gas. Eliza befriends Bethany, who uses a wheelchair. They go land sailing, and Bethany helps Eliza escape a crocodile. They argue but find a way to make up.
- 71. The Anniversary
- Original Air Date: December 11, 2000
- Location: Mount Fuji, Japan
- Summary: Marianne's parents visit for their 50th anniversary near Mount Fuji. Grandpa Frank, despite health issues, insists on climbing the mountain with Eliza and Darwin.
- 72. Happy Old Year
- 73. All Work and No Play
- Original Air Date: January 12, 2001
- Location: Lake Baikal, Siberia, Russia
- Summary: In Siberia, Nigel and Marianne film a Eurasian lynx. Debbie and Eliza are supposed to take inventory but sneak off. Debbie goes to town, and Eliza explores a beaver dam. An unexpected storm causes trouble for everyone.
- 74. Operation: Valentine
- Original Air Date: February 14, 2001
- Location: Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia
- Summary: The ComVee breaks down. Eliza nearly falls while climbing a mountain to escape an angry eagle. She needs an appendix operation, but getting to the hospital is difficult.
- 75. Hello, Dolphin!
- Original Air Date: February 19, 2001
- Location: Shark Bay, Western Australia, Australia
- Summary: Nigel and Marianne film dangerous tiger sharks. Eliza swims with dolphins. Debbie gets dumped by her e-mail boyfriend. The kids take a boat out with the dolphins and get unexpected visitors.
- 76. April Fool's Day
- Original Air Date: April 1, 2001
- Location: Okavango Delta, Botswana
- Summary: It's April Fools' Day, and the Thornberrys are playing jokes on each other. When Tyler and Eliza encounter quicksand and a lion, they learn not to make fake alarms.
- 77. Gem of a Mom
Season 4 (2001–02)
- 78-81. The Origin of Donnie
- Original Air Date: August 18, 2001
- Location: Borneo, Indonesia
- Summary: It's Donnie's "birthday." Nigel and Marianne need to film an orangutan. Donnie searches for his birth family, making Eliza worry he'll leave them. A forest fire starts, and Donnie is blamed. Eliza must prove his innocence and get animals to safety. Marianne and Nigel get lost in a cave. Debbie and Sophie help fight the fire. Everyone reunites, and they learn the truth about Donnie's real parents.
- 82. The Trouble With Darwin
- Original Air Date: October 31, 2001
- Location: Tanzania
- Summary: The Thornberrys are in Tanzania for Dr. Jane Goodall's chimpanzee sanctuary opening. Eliza is excited to meet her idol, but Dr. Goodall isn't impressed with Darwin. Eliza runs off with Darwin, and they encounter poachers.
- 83. Hot Air
- Original Air Date: June 1, 2002
- Location: Rotorua, New Zealand
- Summary: The Thornberrys visit a Māori gathering. Debbie flirts with a young Māori man. Eliza and Darwin fight. Darwin leaves, and Eliza befriends a brushtail possum who gets her stuck in a hot air balloon. Darwin must come to Eliza's rescue.
Season 5 (2003–04)
- 84. The Wild Snob-Berry
- 85. Ice Follies
- Original Air Date: February 4, 2003
- Location: Glacier Bay National Park, Panhandle, Alaska
- Summary: Shane and Eliza's canoe tips over in the water. Luckily, Debbie is there to save them.
- 86. Fool's Gold
- 87. Clash and Learn
- 88-89. Sir Nigel
- Original Air Date: March 30, 2003
- Location: Cairngorm, Scotland, United Kingdom
- Summary: The Thornberrys visit Nigel's parents in Scotland before Nigel is knighted by the Queen. Nigel's mother wants him to teach at Oxford, which upsets Eliza but excites Debbie. Eliza saves golden eagles from poisoned meat. After being knighted, Nigel chooses to continue his show instead of teaching.
- 90. Look Who's Squawking
- Original Air Date: April 4, 2003
- Location: McMurdo Station, Ross Dependency (New Zealand), Antarctica
- Summary: Filming Emperor penguins in Antarctica, Eliza practices being a vet. She finds a wounded penguin but accidentally separates it from its mate and egg. She borrows a snow speeder to fix her mistake.
- 91. Eliza Unplugged
- Original Air Date: June 11, 2004
- Location: Behm Canal, Panhandle, Alaska
- Summary: Shane is leaving to go back to being a pop star. Eliza needs to tell him how she feels before it's too late. They have a small fight, and Shane runs off. Eliza must find him to make up and share her true feelings. Marianne worries about her daughters growing up. Shane says goodbye to everyone and shares a kiss with Eliza before his plane leaves.
Films
- The Wild Thornberrys Movie
- Released: December 20, 2002
- Rugrats Go Wild
- Released: June 13, 2003
See also
In Spanish: Anexo:Episodios de Los Thornberrys para niños
Meet the Characters
Main Characters
- Eliza (voiced by Lacey Chabert) is a 12-year-old girl. She has red braids, glasses, and braces. Her secret power is talking to animals. She must keep this power a secret. If she tells anyone, she will lose it! Her best friend is Darwin, her chimpanzee sidekick.
- Nigel (voiced by Tim Curry) is Eliza's dad. He is also Debbie and Donnie's father. He is Marianne's husband. Nigel is British and very enthusiastic. He hosts the family's wildlife documentaries. He loves adventure and is always cheerful.
- Marianne (voiced by Jodi Carlisle) is Eliza's mom. She is also Debbie and Donnie's mother. She is Nigel's wife. Marianne is the camera person for their nature show. She is smart and helps keep the family safe.
- Donnie (voiced by Flea) is a wild boy. The Thornberrys adopted him. He was raised by gorillas in DR Congo. His parents were lost in the wild. Donnie is about 4 or 5 years old. He speaks in grunts and sounds.
- Debbie (voiced by Danielle Harris) is Eliza's 16-year-old older sister. She is a typical teenager. She loves fashion and music. Debbie is the only family member who knows Eliza's secret. She was warned she would turn into a baboon if she ever told anyone!
- Darwin (voiced by Tom Kane) is the Thornberrys' pet chimpanzee. He wears a striped tank top and blue shorts. He talks with a fancy British accent. Darwin is Eliza's loyal friend and often joins her adventures.
Other Important Characters
- Neil Biederman (voiced by Michael Jeter & Jerry Sroka) and Kip O'Donnell (voiced by Keith Szarabajka) are animal poachers. They are enemies of the Thornberrys.
- Tyler Tucker (voiced by Jonathan Taylor Thomas) is Eliza and Debbie's cousin. He is a bit older than Eliza. He is a know-it-all but cares about his cousins.
- Shane G. (voiced by Christopher Masterson) is a pop star. He travels with the family for a while. He helps promote wildlife protection.
- Santusa (voiced by Tia Texada) is a friendly Llama.
- Bim (voiced by Greg Ellis) is a Koala with a British accent. Eliza, Darwin, and Donnie become his friends.
- Shango (voiced by Bradley Pierce) is an African Elephant Eliza meets.
- Phaedra (voiced by Jane Wiedlin) is another female African Elephant.
- Zita (voiced by Andrea Thompson) and Mali (voiced by Christina Pickles) are also African Elephants.
- Juka (voiced by Marquise Wilson) is a leader from the Massai people. His wise grandfather is Makai (voiced by Courtney B. Vance & Steve Harris).
- Ben (voiced by David Gallagher) is a friend of Eliza's.
- Dr. Jomo (voiced by Brock Peters) is a police officer and a friend of Nigel.
- Sri Mayasandra (voiced by Alan Henry Brown) is a scientist. He helped find Donnie.
- Baru (voiced by Cara DeLizia) is a young Proboscis monkey. He helps Eliza find her family.
- Boga (voiced by Adam Baldwin) is a male African rhinoceros.
- Saiful (voiced by Pamela Adlon) and Tano (also voiced by Pamela Adlon) are a Cheetah Cub. Eliza helps Tano find his mother.
- Shi Shou (voiced by Dionne Quan) is a baby panda. Mei-Mei (voiced by Bai Ling) is her mother.
- Conal (voiced by Michael Gough) is a Hawk. His wife is Brianag (voiced by Laraine Newman).
Guest Animals
Many famous voice actors played different animals in the show:
- Skoot (voiced by William H. Macy) is a male reindeer.
- Joey (voiced by Tom Kenny) is a baby Kangaroo.
- Rosie (voiced by Cree Summer) is a "teenage" Asian elephant.
- Kito (voiced by Georg Stanford Brown) is a leader jaguar.
- Wanuug (voiced by Danny Cooksey) is a polar bear.
- Karroo (voiced by David Ogden Stiers) is an Aye-aye.
- Rebecca (voiced by Marion Ross) is an elephant Eliza saved.
- Jake (voiced by Robert Morse) and Samantha (voiced by Phyllis Diller) are two tortoises Eliza helped.
- Winema and Pava (voiced by Kelly McGillis & Peter Onorati) are leader Gray Wolves.
- Collin (voiced by Bill Brochtrup) is a Common dolphin.
- Jane Goodall (as Herself) appeared in one episode.
How the Show Was Made
The Wild Thornberrys was created by Klasky Csupo for Nickelodeon. It first aired on September 1, 1998. This show was special because each episode was 22 minutes long. Other Nicktoons often had two shorter stories in one episode.
The creators wanted the show to focus on parents and children. They found that kids liked talking about real family relationships. This was a new idea for children's TV shows at the time.
Where to Watch
The show aired again on "Nick on CBS" from 2002 to 2004. It also played on Nicktoonsters in the United Kingdom.
You can also find The Wild Thornberrys on DVD. The complete series was released on DVD in 2015.
Video Games
Several video games were made based on the show:
- The Wild Thornberrys: Animal Adventures was released for PlayStation in 2000.
- The Wild Thornberrys: Rambler came out for PC and Game Boy Color in 2000.
- The Wild Thornberrys Chimp Chase was released for the Game Boy Advance in 2001.
Movies
The Thornberry family also starred in three movies:
- The Origin of Donnie (2001): This TV movie tells Donnie's story before he joined the Thornberrys.
- The Wild Thornberrys Movie (2002): This movie was shown in theaters. It was even nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song!
- Rugrats Go Wild (2003): This movie was a crossover! It brought together characters from Rugrats and The Wild Thornberrys.
Awards and Recognition
The Wild Thornberrys won several awards for its positive messages. It received the Environmental Media Award multiple times for its children's animated category. It also won Genesis Awards for its animated children's programming, recognizing its focus on animal welfare. The show was also nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Animated Program.
See also
In Spanish: Los Thornberrys para niños
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