- Taz-Mania
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For the videogame, see Taz-Mania (video game). For the Australian province, see Tasmania.
Taz-Mania Genre Animated comedy Created by Art Vitello Presented by Warner Bros. Animation Starring Jim Cummings as Taz Voices of Maurice LaMarche
Miriam Flynn
Debi Derryberry
Kellie MartinTheme music composer Richard Stone Opening theme Come to Taz-Mania by Jess Harnell and Jim Cummings Ending theme Come to Taz-Mania (Instrumental) Country of origin 
United StatesLanguage(s) English No. of seasons 4 No. of episodes 65 Production Executive producer(s) Jean MacCurdy
Tom RueggerProducer(s) Art Vitello Running time 30 minutes Broadcast Original channel Fox (Fox Kids) Original run September 1, 1991 – May 22, 1995 Taz-Mania is a cartoon sitcom produced by Warner Bros. Animation from 1991–1993, broadcast in the United States on Fox from 1991-1995. The show follows the adventures of the classic Looney Tunes character, Taz (The Tasmanian Devil) in the fictional land of Tazmania (based on Tasmania).[1]
Similar to other Warner Brothers cartoons of its time, such as Animaniacs and Tiny Toon Adventures, Taz-Mania frequently broke the fourth wall, and often made jokes showing that Taz could actually speak perfectly normally when he wanted to. The intro indicates that, in this rendering of Tasmania, "the sky's always yellow, rain or shine". The title song is performed by Jess Harnell and Jim Cummings.
Contents
Cast
- Jim Cummings - Taz, Buddy Boar, Bushwhacker Bob, Wendal T. Wolf
- John Astin - Bull Gator
- Dan Castellaneta - Mr. Thickley
- Debi Derryberry - Jake Tazmanian Devil
- Miriam Flynn - Jean Tazmanian Devil
- Maurice LaMarche - Hugh Tazmanian Devil, Drew Tazmanian Devil, Daniel Platypus, Willie Wombat
- Rosalyn Landor - Constance Koala, Mum
- Kellie Martin - Molly Tazmanian Devil
- Rob Paulsen - Didgeri Dingo, Axl, Dog, Francis X. Bushlad, Timothy Platypus, Emu
- Phil Proctor - Chief Bushrat
Characters
- Taz – Is the central character of the series and appears in every episode. The plots of most of the episodes are based upon the relationships various characters have with Taz. Taz is cast as teenager in most episodes and is way less ferocious than his original incarnation. He works as a bellhop at the Hotel Taz-mania.
- Hugh Tazmanian Devil – Taz's easy-going father. In many cases meant to be a parody of Bing Crosby and Bob Hope. Hugh likes orange juice and playing golf. Crosby was a famous pitch-man for orange juice, while Hope would perform stand-up comedy in golf attire. Hope and Crosby appeared together as a popular duo in many comedy films of the 1940's and 50's. Hugh's voice typically sounds like Crosby.
- Jean Tazmanian Devil – Taz's dedicated, doting mother.
- Molly Tazmanian Devil – Taz's teenage sister. Despite being more refined than her brother, she often shares his viscious nature, though in a more sibling-rivalry sense.
- Jake Tazmanian Devil – Taz's little brother, who like a typical little brother, often looking up to and idolizing Taz.
- Drew Tazmanian Devil – Taz's uncle, who acts like Bob Hope and sometimes joins his brother Hugh in playing golf. He and Hugh would occasionally travel together in episodes spoofing the Road to... movies, of which Bing Crosby and Bob Hope starred.
- Dog the Turtle – Taz's pet turtle, who acts like a dog.
- Bushwhacker Bob – Taz's loud, grouchy and incompetent boss. Owner of the Hotel Tazmania, he is largely self-centered and thinks very highly of himself, despite rarely doing any actual work and preferring to leave any and all tasks to his staff.
- Constance Koala – An enormous but gentle spirited koala who is the maid at the Hotel Taz-mania. She is quite fond of singing and dancing, despite her dancing often causing unintentional destruction.
- Mr Thickly – A multitalented and upbeat wallaby who works at the Hotel Tazmania, although his exact job title is unspecified. He enjoys doing favors for Taz but his incompetence usually results in mayhem. He also hosts Taz-manian Theater.
- Mum – Bushwhacker Bob's mother, who is much calmer and wiser than her son. Despite her son owning the Hotel Tazmania, Mum is the true backbone of the establishment. She is often quick to criticize her son, much to Bob's chargin, despite her accusations typically being true.
- Bull Gator and Axl – A pair of alligators who unsuccessfully try to trap Taz for the enjoyment of children all over the world. Bull is the leader of the trio, always acting in a confident and cheery attitude even while reprimanding Axl. Axl is Bull's hunter in training, constantly naive though often subject to Axl's "corrections." (Typically in the form of a mallet smashing.) They vaguely resemble Laurel and Hardy.
- Daniel and Timothy Platypus – Twin brothers (Timothy wears glasses) whose love for do-it-yourself projects usually end up causing trouble for Taz. They closely resemble Daffy Duck, in appearance and manner of speech.
- Didgeri Dingo – A self-serving dingo who pretends to be Taz's friend so he avoid dangerous situations and discomfort at Taz's expense. A scavanger, treasure hunter and chronic collector, he often takes advantage of Taz's strength and rabid nature to hunt rare treasures.
- Wendal T. Wolf – A neurotic Tasmanian wolf who is desperate for any type of friendship. He usually drives Taz crazy in his efforts to befriend him. His personality closely resembles that of Woody Allen.
- Francis X. Bushlad – A white skinned, red haired aboriginal boy who unsuccessfully hunts Taz as a rite of manhood. Despite their tribal society, he and his entire tribe behave and speak like highly intelligent, aristocratic businessmen.
- Buddy Boar – Behaves somewhat like Didgeri Dingo toward Taz although he is somewhat less selfish. He fancies himself a yuppie and spends much of the time talking on his cell phone. He was established early in the show as "Taz's best friend", although this was seemingly ill-received, reflected in several fourth-wall breaking moments by the show's characters. As such his appearances were uncommon.
- Willie Wombat – Originally cast in a Bugs Bunny-like role against Taz, Willie resents this typecasting and greatly admires Taz and his career. His determination to remain pacifistic and polite usually reverts to frustration and rage by the end of his episodes as fate conspires to lock him in a role as Taz's antagonist.
- The Keewee – Although somewhat resembling a kiwi, this silent bird can run as fast as the Road Runner, often being chased down by Taz in search of his lunch in the same nature of Wile E. Coyote.
- The Bushrats – A group of rats in tribal costume. They speak in an odd mix of real and nonsense languages that are appended by humorous subtitles.
Episodes
Production Code Title Prod. Year OAD Directors Writers 406-401 The Dog the Turtle Story 1991 9/7/1991 Douglas McCarthy Bill Kopp 406-402 Like Father, Like Son; Frights of Passage 1991 9/1/1991 Keith Baxter Mark Saraceni, Art Vitello, Keith Baxter, Bill Kopp 406-403 War & Pieces; Airbourne Airhead 1991 9/14/1991 Lenord Robinson Mark Saraceni 406-404 It's No Picnic; Kee-Wee ala King 1991 10/26/1991 Greg Duffell, Gary Hartle Mark Saraceni, Art Vitello, Henry T. Gilroy 406-405 A Devil of a Job 1991 10/12/1991 Douglas McCarthy Gordon Kent 406-406 Battling Bushrats; Devil in the Deep Blue Sea 1991 9/28/1991 Keith Baxter Bill Kopp, Chris Otsuki, Art Vitello 406-407 Woeful Wolf 1991 10/19/1991 Lenord Robinson Gordon Kent 406-408 Devil with the Violet Dress On; Kidnapped Koala 1992 9/12/1994 Gary Hartle Gordon Kent, Mark Saraceni 406-409 Mishap in the Mist; Toothache Taz 1991 11/9/1991 Keith Baxter; Douglas McCarthy Bill Kopp, Art Vitello 406-410 Here, Kitty, Kitty, Kitty; Enter the Devil 1991 11/2/1991 Keith Baxter, Art Vitello Chris Otsuki, Keith Baxter, Art Vitello 406-411 Bewitched Bob 1991 11/16/1991 Lenord Robinson Gordon Kent 406-412 Instant Replay; Taz and the Pterodactyl 1991 11/23/1991 Jon McClenahan Henry T. Gilroy, Art Vitello, Chris Otsuki 406-413 Pup Goes the Wendal; I'm OK, You're Taz 1991 12/14/1991 Douglas McCarthy Gordon Kent, Art Vitello; Mark Saraceni 406-414 Comic Madness; Blunders Never Cease 1991 12/7/1991 Keith Baxter Henry Gilroy; Art Vitello; Bill Kopp 406-415 Mall Wrecked; A Dingo's Guide to Magic 1992 11/21/1992 Lenord Robinson Henry Gilroy, Mark Saraceni, Art Vitello 406-416 Road to Tazmania 1992 9/13/1994 Gary Hartle Mark Saraceni 406-417 Boys Just Wanna Have Fun; Unhappy Together 1992 10/31/1992 Douglas McCarthy Mark Saraceni, Gordon Kent, Art Vitello 406-418 Amazing Shrinking Taz & Co. 1992 9/5/1992 Keith Baxter Bill Kopp, Art Vitello 406-419 Oh, Brother; Taz-Babies 1992 9/12/1992 Lenord Robinson Henry Gilroy, Mark Saraceni, Art Vitello 406-420 Taz-Manian Theatre; The Bushrats Must Be Crazy 1992 9/14/1994 Gary Hartle Gordon Kent, Art Vitello, Bill Kopp 406-421 Jake's Big Date; Taz Live 1992 9/19/1992 Douglas McCarthy Henry Gilroy, Mark Saraceni, Art Vitello 406-422 The Outer Taz-Manian Zone; Here, Kitty, Kitty, Kitty, Part 2 1992 10/10/1992 Keith Baxter Chris Otsuki, Gordon Kent, Art Vitello 406-423 Tazmania's Funniest Home Videos; Bottle Cap Blues 1992 10/17/1992 Lenord Robinson Bill Kopp, Henry Gilroy; Art Vitello 406-424 Heartbreak Taz; Just Be 'Cuz 1992 2/14/1995 Gary Hartle Gordon Kent, Bill Kopp 406-425 Sidekicked; Gone with the Windbag 1992 11/7/1994 Douglas McCarthy Mark Saraceni, Art Vitello, Bill Kopp, Gordon Kent 406-426 Return of the Road to Taz-Mania Strikes Back 1992 9/15/1994 Keith Baxter Mark Saraceni, Art Vitello 406-427 Taz Like Dingo 1992 9/16/1994 Lenord Robinson Henry Gilroy, Art Vitello 406-428 The Pied Piper of Taz-Mania; The Treasure of the Burnt Sienna 1992 9/19/1994 Gary Hartle Mark Saraceni, Gordon Kent 406-429 Not a Shadow of a Doubt; Nursemaid Taz 1992 9/20/1994 Keith Baxter Chris Otsuki, Art Vitello, Sindy McKay 406-430 Home Despair; Take All of Me 1992 9/21/1994 Doug McCarthy Bill Kopp, Gordon Kent, Mark Saraceni, Earl Kress 406-431 Bird-Brained Beast; Ready, Willing, Unable 1992 9/22/1994 Lenord Robinson Henry Gilroy, Bruce Morris 406-432 We'll Always Have Taz-Mania;Moments You've Missed 1992 9/23/1994 Gary Hartle Henry Gilroy; Art Vitello; Bill Kopp, Mark Saraceni 406-433 Food for Thought; Gone to Pieces 1992 11/7/1992 Keith Baxter Gordon Kent, Chris Otsuki, Art Vitello 406-434 A Midsummer Night's Scream; Astro Taz 1992 9/26/1992 Douglas McCarthy Mark Zaslove, Art Vitello, Mark Saraceni 406-435 Driving Mr. Taz; Mean Bear; Taz Museum 1992 11/8/1994 Lenord Robinson Gordon Kent, Bill Kopp, Art Vitello 406-436 Ticket Taker Taz; Taz2 1992 11/14/1994 Gary Hartle Sindy McKay, Mark Zaslove 406-437 Tazmanian Lullaby; Deer Taz; A Taz-Manian Moment 1992 10/3/1992 Keith Baxter, Art Vitello Keith Baxter, Chris Otsuki, Art Vitello 406-438 Hypnotazed; Mum's n' Taz's 1992 10/24/1992 Douglas McCarthy, Jon McClenahan Henry Gilroy, Gordon Kent, Art Vitello 406-439 Kee-Wee Cornered; But Is It Taz? 1992 11/14/1992 Lenord Robinson Gordon Kent, Art Vitello, Bill Kopp 406-440 Wacky Wombat; Molly's Folly 1992 10/9/1993 Gary Hartle Sindy McKay, Mark Zaslove, Art Vitello 406-441 Mutton for Nothing; Dr. Wendal and Mr. Taz 1992 11/15/1994 Keith Baxter Chris Otsuki, Art Vitello, Keith Baxter 406-442 The Man from M.A.R.S.; Friends for Strife 1992 11/28/1992 Doug McCarthy Bill Kopp, Art Vitello, Sindy McKay 406-443 Merit Badgered 1992 10/2/1993 Lenord Robinson Henry Gilroy, Art Vitello 406-444 Antenna Dilemma; Autograph Pound 1992 11/6/1993 Gary Hartle Gordon Kent, Art Vitello, Sindy McKay 406-445 A Flea for Me; A Young Taz's Fancy 1992 9/11/1993 Keith Baxter Chris Otsuki, Art Vitello, Keith Baxter 406-446 No Time for Christmas 1992 12/25/1993 Doug McCarthy Mark Zaslove, Art Vitello 406-447 Taz-Mania Confidential; The Platypi Psonic Psensation Psimulator 1992 11/21/1994 Lenord Robinson Alan Katz, Art Vitello, Sindy McKay 406-448 The Not-So-Gladiators; One Ring Taz 1992 11/22/1994 Gary Hartle Gordon Kent, Art Vitello, Sindy McKay 406-449 The Thing that Ate the Outback; Because It's There 1993 10/30/1993 Keith Baxter Chris Otsuki, Art Vitello, Mark Zaslove 406-450 Of Bushrats and Hugh 1993 9/25/1993 Doug McCarthy Henry Gilroy, Art Vitello 406-451 Never Cry Taz; Bully for Bull 1993 9/18/1993 Lenord Robinson Bill Kopp, Art Vitello 406-452 Retakes Not Included; Pledge Dredge 1993 2/6/1995 Gary Hartle Sindy McKay, Art Vitello, Gordon Kent 406-453 Bushlad's Lament; Taz-Mania Comedy Institute 1993 2/13/1995 Keith Baxter Keith Baxter 406-454 The Taz Story Primer; Ask Taz 1993 2/20/1995 Douglas McCarthy Alan Katz, Art Vitello, Mark Zaslove 406-455 Willie Wombat's Deja Boo-Boo; To Catch a Taz 1993 10/23/1993 Lenord Robinson Sindy McKay, Art Vitello, Gordon Kent 406-456 It's a Taz's Life; Gee Bull! 1993 2/27/1995 Gary Hartle Gordon Kent, Art Vitello; Mark Zaslove 406-457 Taz in Keeweeland; Stuck for Bucks; A Philosophical Taz Moment 1993 5/1/1995 Keith Baxter Chris Otsuki, Art Vitello 406-458 Yet Another Road to Taz-Mania 1993 5/8/1995 Douglas McCarthy Henry Gilroy, Art Vitello 406-459 Bad Luck Bottlecap; A Story with a Moral 1993 5/15/1995 Lenord Robinson Sindy McKay, Art Vitello, Alan Katz 406-460 Devil Indemnity 1993 10/16/1993 Gary Hartle Gordon Kent, Art Vitello 406-461 Taz and the Emu Egg; Willy Wombat's Last Stand; K-Taz Commercial 1993 11/13/1993 Keith Baxter Chris Otsuki, Art Vitello, Sindy McKay 406-462 Feed a Cold; Sidekick for a Day 1993 11/27/1993 Doug McCarthy Henry Gilroy, Art Vitello 406-463 One Saturday in Taz-Mania; Platypi on Film 1993 5/22/1995 Lenord Robinson Sindy McKay, Art Vitello, Mark Zaslove 406-464 Doubting Dingo; Sub Commander Taz 1993 11/20/1993 Gary Hartle Henry T. Gilroy, Art Vitello, Alan Katz 406-465 The Origin of the Beginning of the Incredible Taz-Man; Francis Takes a Stand 1993 5/2/1995 Keith Baxter Keith Baxter, Henry T. Gilroy, Chris Otsuki Video Games
Five video games based on the show were made, four by Sega for the Sega Master System/Sega Game Gear, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis and two licensed by Nintendo for the SNES and Game Boy.
DVD release
A DVD containing the first four episodes of the series was released in Europe in April 2010. Warner Bros. has not announced any further plans for DVD releases. Three VHS tapes were released in 1993.
Other Appearances
In the Duck Dodgers episode "M.M.O.R.P.D.", one of the forms that Duck Dodgers turns himself into is Axl. In this brief appearance, Axl's vocal effects are reprised by Rob Paulsen. Taz himself appears with Duck Dodgers in the episode "Deathmatch Duck".
References
- ^ Trusdell, Brian (May 28, 1995). "Focus : Warner's Toon Factory for the '90s" (in English). The Los Angeles Times (USA). http://articles.latimes.com/1995-05-28/news/tv-6798_1_tiny-toons/. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
External links
Warner Bros. animation and comics Looney Tunes
TV seriesThe Bugs Bunny Show · Tiny Toon Adventures (characters) · Taz-Mania · The Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries · The Looney Tunes Show (2002) · Baby Looney Tunes · Duck Dodgers (characters) · Loonatics Unleashed (characters) · The Looney Tunes Show (2011) (episodes)DC Comics Batman: The Animated Series · Superman: The Animated Series · The New Batman Adventures · Batman Beyond · Static Shock · Justice League · Teen Titans · Justice League Unlimited · The Batman · Krypto the Superdog · Legion of Super Heroes · Batman: The Brave and the Bold · Young Justice · Green Lantern: The Animated Series · Beware the BatmanScooby-Doo Other cartoons Animaniacs (characters) · Pinky and the Brain · The Plucky Duck Show · Pinky, Elmyra & the Brain · Coconut Fred's Fruit Salad Island · Detention · Freakazoid! · Histeria! · Ozzy & Drix · ¡Mucha Lucha! (characters) · Xiaolin Showdown · Tom and Jerry Tales · Johnny Test (characters) · Police Academy · The Dukes · Road Rovers · Ace Ventura: Pet Detective · Beetlejuice · The New Adventures of Zorro · Free Willy · The Cartoon Cartoon Show · Mad · Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue (TV film)Categories:- Looney Tunes
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