Wheelie and the Chopper Bunch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wheelie and the Chopper Bunch |
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Title card
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| Genre | Animation |
| Directed by | Charles A. Nichols |
| Voices of | Frank Welker Judy Strangis Paul Winchell Lennie Weinrib Don Messick |
| Theme music composer | Hoyt Curtin |
| Composer(s) | Hoyt Curtin |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 13 (39 segments) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | William Hanna Joseph Barbera |
| Producer(s) | Iwao Takamoto |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Hanna-Barbera Productions |
| Distributor | Warner Bros. Television Distribution |
| Release | |
| Original network | NBC |
| Picture format | Color |
| Audio format | Mono |
| Original release | September 7 – November 30, 1974 |
Wheelie and the Chopper Bunch is an American animated television series, produced by Hanna-Barbera, which originally aired for one season on NBC from September 7 to November 30, 1974. The show aired for 13 half-hour episodes.
With an ensemble voice cast consisting of Frank Welker, Judy Strangis, Don Messick, Paul Winchell and Lennie Weinrib, the show follows an anthropomorphic car named Wheelie and a trouble-making motorcycle gang called the "Chopper Bunch". The series was produced by Iwao Takamoto, executively produced by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera and directed by Charles A. Nichols. An accompanying comic book series, with contributions from artist John Byrne, debuted in May 1975, although he quit while finishing his second issue as he was unsatisfied with his creative control and felt he was overcompensated for his work. Other artists completed the series, which totaled seven comic books.
This series was commonly grouped together with Speed Buggy (1973) and Wonder Wheels (1977–78) due to the similarities in plot and characters. Reception-wise, several critics reacted negatively to the violence and portrayal of motorcycles in the series, prompting viewers to write letters to NBC in hopes that the show would be pulled off the air. It has since been released on DVD as part of Warner Bros.' Archive Collection on a three-disc set.
Contents
Premise
The series takes place in a world of anthropomorphic vehicles and centers on Wheelie, his girlfriend Rota Ree, and a motorcycle gang known as the Chopper Bunch. A writer for Cycle World described the premise of the show: "Wheelie, a car, is the hero, and the villains are a bunch of choppers who do everything dirty to get Wheelie, the clean, all-American car." Nearly every episode of the series focused on the Chopper Bunch attempting to outsmart Wheelie, despite their continual failed attempts. The show negatively depicted motorcycles and motorcyclists, and the Chopper Bunch typically received consequences for their actions, which sometimes involved the police.
Characters
- Wheelie (Frank Welker) is a red racing/stunt car resembling a Volkswagen Beetle. Depicted as heroic with humanlike capabilities, Wheelie often finds himself having to contend with the Chopper Bunch, a group of hoodlum motorcycles. Wheelie can only communicate in car horn 'beeps' and 'honks' that the other characters can understand, and also in words and symbols that flash on his windshield, including "Charge!" (accompanied by a bugle call and group shout) whenever he is aroused or angered.
- Rota Ree (Judy Strangis) is Wheelie's devoted girlfriend who is frequently subjected to the unwanted affections of Chopper.
The Chopper Bunch:
- Chopper (Frank Welker), the leader. He is jealous of Wheelie and wants only to get rid of him or at least make his life miserable, and to steal Rota Ree for himself.
- Revs (Paul Winchell) who always talks in spoonerisms. Winchell's performance was very similar to that of the original Scrubbing Bubbles TV commercials from 1973.
- Hi-Riser (Lennie Weinrib) who is unintelligent.
- Scrambles (Don Messick), a minibike and the smallest and slowest member of the Chopper Bunch. He is also the one who constantly advises against most of the Bunch's schemes, but Chopper never listens to him until after the fact, at which point Scrambles endlessly shouts "I told ya! I told ya! I told ya!".
- Captain Tuff (Paul Winchell), a hardened, no-nonsense police cruiser.
- Deputy Fishtail (Don Messick) a police motorcycle and eager rookie obsessed with catching the Chopper Bunch, but whose attempts usually wind up ensnaring Captain Tuff instead.
Messick and Weinrib also provided voices for several other minor characters.
Episodes
| No. | Title | Original air date | |
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| 1 | "Get a Doctor" / "A Day at the Beach" / "Ghost Riders" | September 7, 1974 | |
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Get a Doctor: To mess with Wheelie, the Chopper Bunch persuades him to believe that he is greatly ill and needs to visit the doctor, despite being in perfect health.
A Day at the Beach: Rota Ree and Wheelie visit the beach for a day of relaxation, which is interrupted by the Chopper Bunch. Ghost Riders: After the death of his uncle, Wheelie inherits a junkyard which he plans to operate; however, Chopper is jealous of the acquired business and plans to scare Wheelie away and run it himself. |
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| 2 | "Double Cross Country" / "The Infiltrator" / "The Stunt Show" | September 14, 1974 | |
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Double Cross Country: In a motor race where a date with Rota Ree is the grand prize, both Wheelie and Chopper enter in hopes of winning first.
The Infiltrator: C.C., the newest member of the Chopper Bunch, is asked to spy on, and set traps for, Wheelie. The Stunt Show: Chopper, jealous that Wheelie is the main act in a stunt show, plans to ruin the event in order to make Wheelie look bad. |
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| 3 | "Razzle Dazzle Paint Job" / "The Autolympics" / "The Delivery Service" | September 21, 1974 | |
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Razzle Dazzle Paint Job: Wheelie wins a complimentary paint job ticket at a local paint shop, so Chopper plots to steal the ticket and get the deal for himself.
The Autolympics: During the Autolympics, Chopper hopes to ruin Wheelie's chances of winning a gold medal by sabotaging the event. The Delivery Service: Rota Ree's uncle, a delivery truck, is unable to delivery his goods to their rightful owners because he is ill, so Wheelie promises to help out, despite Chopper's desire to delay the deliveries. |
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| 4 | "The Big Bumper" / "Surprise Party" / "On the Town" | September 28, 1974 | |
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The Big Bumper: Chopper befriends the Big Bumper and asks him to ruin Wheelie's life, much to Wheelie's dismay.
Surprise Party: In an effort to make amends, Chopper suggests a truce between himself and Wheelie, although Wheelie cannot tell if the offer is genuine or not. On the Town: After being upset one too many times, Wheelie chases the Chopper Bunch around town with the help of Captain Tuff and Fishtail. |
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| 5 | "Black Belt Fuji" / "Our Hero" / "Wheelie Goes Hawaiian" | October 5, 1974 | |
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Black Belt Fuji: An Oriental car named Black Belt Fuji visits Motor City and has Wheelie show him around town, despite Chopper's attempts to mess up the tour.
Our Hero: A scooter named Susie becomes lost, so the "Rescue Squad" and Wheelie decide to locate and save her before Chopper can and thus receive all of the credit. Wheelie Goes Hawaiian: Wheelie and Rota Ree travel to Hawaii to compete in a race that Chopper enters just to annoy Wheelie. |
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| 6 | "The Inspection" / "The Old Timer" / "The Copter Caper" | October 12, 1974 | |
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The Inspection: Chopper and his friends plan to ruin a mandatory inspection that Fishtail has prepared for Wheelie to pass.
The Old Timer: While escaping the Chopper Bunch, Wheelie finds an old car in need of help, but also needs to stay hidden from Chopper. The Copter Caper: Wheelie and Rota Ree go on a picnic that is interrupted by a police helicopter that is actively searching for Chopper and his friends. |
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| 7 | "Dr. Crankenstein" / "Bulldozer Buddy" / "Happy Birthday, Wheelie" | October 19, 1974 | |
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Dr. Crankenstein: Doctor Crankenstein, a psychotic scientist, creates a monster car named Moto, but needs the brain of another vehicle in order to control it, so he hopes to capture either Wheelie or Chopper.
Bulldozer Buddy: Wheelie becomes acquainted with a friendly bulldozer, who promises to help Wheelie when he is in trouble with Chopper. Happy Birthday, Wheelie: On Wheelie's birthday, Rota Ree and he visit an amusement park, while Captain Tuff and Fishtail hope to capture Chopper to prevent any chaos. |
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| 8 | "Wheelie, the Super Star" / "Down on the Farm" / "Roadeo" | October 26, 1974 | |
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Wheelie, the Super Star: On the set of a movie, Chopper decides to sabotage Wheelie's position as a stunt double during one of the scenes.
Down on the Farm: Rota Ree's uncle is unable to maintain his farm for a brief period, so Wheelie fills in for him and completes his chores. Roadeo: Both Wheelie and Chopper decide to enter a local rodeo, much to the dismay of Wheelie. |
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| 9 | "Carfucious Says" / "Mighty Wheelie" / "Camping with a Go Go"" | November 2, 1974 | |
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Carfucious Says: After Wheelie befriends a new car named Carfucious, the Chopper Bunch decides to try to ruin the newfound friendship.
Mighty Wheelie: Wheelie decides to take it upon himself to stand up to the Chopper Bunch. Camping with a Go Go: Rota Ree's nephew, Go Go, goes on a camping trip with his aunt and Wheelie, although Chopper tries to disrupt their fun. |
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| 10 | "Lenny Van Limousine" / "Snow Foolin" / "Wheelie in Paris" | November 9, 1974 | |
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Lenny Van Limousine: A rich vehicle named Lenny Van Limousine pays Chopper to force Rota Ree to go on a date with Lenny, despite her relationship with Wheelie.
Snow Foolin' : Wheelie plans to have fun during a snowstorm, which Chopper has decided to ruin. Wheelie in Paris: At the Grand Prix in Paris, Wheelie is running late to the event, so Chopper attempts to make him miss it completely. |
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| 11 | "Dragster Net" / "Dragula" / "Boot Camp" | November 16, 1974 | |
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Dragster Net: In the town of Motor City, Deputy Fishtail and Captain Tuff try to find the perpetrators of a series of robberies throughout the community.
Dragula: A vampire drag race car who is capable of transforming into a vampire bat relentlessly tries to feed on the oil of other vehicles, including Wheelie. Boot Camp: After enlisting in the army, the Chopper Bunch pursues Wheelie in hopes that he will get in trouble during basic training. |
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| 12 | "Dr. Cykll and Mr. Ryde" / "Johnny Crash" / "Wheelie and the Smoke Eater" | November 23, 1974 | |
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Dr. Cykll and Mr. Ryde: Wheelie goes to see Dr. Cykll for his annual checkup, unaware that the good doctor has concocted a potion that he drinks to turn himself into Mr. Ride.
Johnny Crash: Chopper finds out that Wheelie has been invited to be a guest on the Johnny Crash Show and decides to ruin the appearance. Wheelie and the Smoke Eater: Acting as a firefighter, Wheelie learns that the Chopper Bunch reaches out similarly in order to upstage him. |
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| 13 | "Friday the Thirteenth" / "Wings of Wheelie" / "Wheelie's Clean Sweep" | November 30, 1974 | |
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Friday the Thirteenth: It is Friday the 13th and Wheelie is worried that the Chopper Bunch will try their best to scare him.
Wings of Wheelie: Wheelie, wanting to learn how to fly, decides to take lessons which are interrupted by the Chopper Bunch, hoping that he will crash while practicing. Wheelie's Clean Sweep: Filling in for Rota Ree's dad, who is a street sweeper, Wheelie cleans the streets of Motor City, unbeknownst to the fact that Chopper is watching his every move. |
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See also
In Spanish: Astuto Wheelie para niños
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