Bucky O'Hare and the Toad Wars (Also known as Bucky O'Hare and the Toad Menace in Canada) is a French-American animated series created by Sunbow Productions, Marvel Productions, Abrams/Gentile Entertainment, Continuity Comics and the French company IDDH and distributed by Hasbro's subsidiary Claster Television. It was based on the cult comic Bucky O'Hare. Animated by AKOM, the show is remembered for its distinctive and popular theme tune.
It debuted in 1991 in the UK on the BBC, as well as in the United States.
Most of the ideas from the comic book were used for the cartoon, with three major differences: Bruce is transported into another dimension instead of killed, Willy can travel freely between Earth and the aniverse, and the omnipotent mouse is nowhere to be seen. The cartoon explored more of the aniverse and followed a loose unifying arc, with Bucky's home planet of Warren being captured by the toads in the season premiere and rescued in the finale (which was co-written by Neal Adams).
Bucky and his gang are members of the S.P.A.C.E organization, which stands for Sentient Protoplasm Against Colonial Encroachment.
Bucky O'Hare –- a green hare, captains a mammal spaceship named The Righteous Indignation. His crew was introduced in the comic and consisted of:
Jenny –– first mate and pilot, a cat from the planet Aldebaran (not to be confused with the star in the real life universe of the same name) with mysterious magical and psionic powers common to the females of her species. They include telepathy, astral projection, energy blasts, and healing. Because of the sacred precepts of Alderbaran, she keeps these powers secret from the other members of the crew, with the exception of Willy, to whom she serves as a kind of surrogate mother.
Willy DuWitt – – engineer, a pre-teen human from San Francisco who enters the Aniverse via a portal between the ship's photon accelerator and his own accelerator at home. He replaced Bruce, the former engineer, who was killed (or in the franchise's terms, had "attained oneness with the Aniverse"). Later, Willy became stranded in the Aniverse when his parents turned off the photon accelerator back in his room. Bucky and his crew decide to keep Willy a secret from the S.P.A.C.E organization and the Toads.
Deadeye Duck – – gunner, a four-armed former space pirate duck from Kanopis III. He is missing an eye, and is impatient and violent, preferring to let his four laser pistols do the talking for him. Speaks with a Scottish accent in the comics.
Blinky – – an advanced AFC ("Android" First Class). Has only one eye. Uses the phrase "Calamity and Woe!" to identify problem situations for Bucky and his crew-mates.
Bruiser – – Bruce's brother, a Betelgeusian Berserker Baboon who joins Bucky's team as space marine on the Righteous Indignation. He, like all berserker baboons, scares the toads out of their wits and loves to beat them up. He is dimwitted but well-meaning, and has great respect for Willy.
The members of the Toad Empire introduced are as follows:
KOMPLEX – – the undisputed ruler of the Toad Empire. This computer program was designed to run the consumerist toad culture but instead took it over and militarized it. Its name, in toad language, is an anagram for 'Feed me'.
Toad Air Marshall – – one of KOMPLEX's foremost commanders, with a uniform adorned with medals and a face covered in warts.
Toad Borg – – one of KOMPLEX's elite troops, part toad, part robot.
Storm Toads – – the mindless toad soldiers who serve as the primary attack force for the Empire.
Almost all the characters listed above are both from the comic book and the cartoon. Most of the new ones that were introduced are listed below.
Bruiser – Bruce's brother, a Betelgeusian Berserker Baboon who joins Bucky's team as space marine on the Righteous Indignation. He, like all berserker baboons, scares the toads out of their wits and loves to beat them up. He is dimwitted but well-meaning, and has great respect for Willy.
Commander Dogstar – Bucky's ally, captain of The Indefatigable, another frigate fighting against the toads.
Mimi LaFloo – A fox (so to speak) originally a captive of the toads, Mimi is rescued by Bucky and goes on to command her own mammal frigate, The Screaming Mimi. (eps. 4 and 10)
Toadborg – a large, purple cyborg second-in-command under KOMPLEX.
Frix and Frax – the Air Marshal's two bumbling subordinates.
Al Negator – a sleazasaur (bipedal crocodile) spy and mercenary frequently hired by the Air Marshal. He dresses and speaks in a manner consistent to the cajun people.
For other characters, see List of Bucky O'Hare characters.
BBC Video (September 3, 1992 – February 2, 1993)
Metrodome Distribution (October 11, 2004)
Mini Metro (February 26, 2007)
first-run syndication (September 8, 1991 – December 1, 1991)
