7.2 /10 1 Votes
7.7/10 TV First episode date 1 September 1998 | 6.8/10 IMDb Country of origin United States | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Genre ComedyAdventureAnimation Created by Arlene KlaskyGábor CsupóSteve PepoonDavid SilvermanStephen Sustarsic Developed by Mark PalmerJeff AstrofMike Sikowitz Directed by Peter AvanzinoAnthony BellBecky BristowSylvia KeulenCathy MalkasianJeff McGrathCarol MillicanSteve ResselMark Risley Starring Lacey ChabertTom KaneFleaDanielle HarrisJodi CarlisleTim Curry Theme song The Wild Thornberrys Theme Song Cast | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
the wild thornberrys theme song hq episode opening credits nick animation
The Wild Thornberrys is an American animated television series that aired on Nickelodeon from 1998 to 2004, with reruns until 2007. The show returned to The '90s Are All That for one night, and aired on March 21, 2013. The show aired on Nicktoonsters in the United Kingdom. Following Shout! Factory's acquisition of the title in February 2011, all 5 seasons have been released on DVD.
Contents
- the wild thornberrys theme song hq episode opening credits nick animation
- Plot
- Production
- Critical reception
- DVD and digital releases
- Film
- Video games
- References
Plot
The series focuses around a nomadic family of documentary filmmakers known as the Thornberrys, famous for their televised wildlife studies. It primarily centers on the family's younger daughter Eliza, and her secret gift of being able to communicate with animals, which was bestowed upon her after having rescued a shaman masquerading as a trapped warthog.
The gift enabled her to talk to the Thornberrys' pet chimpanzee Darwin. Together, the pair frequently venture through the wilderness, befriending many species of wild animals along the way or realizing moral truths and lessons through either their experiences or a particular animal species's lifestyle, or simply assisting the creatures, by which they become acquainted, in their difficulties.
Production
The Wild Thornberrys was produced by Klasky Csupo for Nickelodeon. It premiered in September 1998, and was the first Nicktoon to exclusively use 22-minute stories (episodes of other Nicktoons usually featured two 10 – 11-minute stories, using 22-minute stories only on occasion).
The series was designed to have a focus on parents after focus groups run by Arlene Klasky and Gabor Csupo uncovered that children were talking about the real struggles of the parent-child relationship; this was opposed to Nickelodeon's view of only featuring kids in children's programming. Characters were designed to appeal to various demographics: the sarcastic teen for older girls and the jungle boy for younger boys. Meanwhile the main character, Eliza, was designed to appeal to the young girl demographic; Nickelodeon vice president Cyma Zarghami said: "She's not strikingly beautiful, but she is adventurous; she's independent; she's smart; she's funny."
Critical reception
Common Sense Media gave the series a rating of 5 stars, praising it for its ability to encourage young viewers to be empathetic toward animals", want to find out about other cultures and ways of life, and understanding the vastness and diversity of the world. Chicago Sun-Times noted the series was at the forefront of a new trend that saw parents being at the forefront of children's TV shows. Multichannel News thought the series was one of the best for children on TV. Knight Ridder called the series "sympathetic". The Native Voice complimented the series on its commitment to fun, adventure, detail, accuracy, and honesty.
By November 1998, the show had been averaging a 6.2 rating, second only to Rugrats. In December 1998, the show was the "most-watched new cartoon on television". In December 2000, the series was Nickelodeon's #2 show after Rugrats.
DVD and digital releases
Nickelodeon released all five seasons on DVD in Region 1 via Amazon.com through its CreateSpace Manufacture-on-demand program in 2010. Season 1 was released on June 24, 2010, Seasons 2 through 5 were released on December 1, 2010 All of these releases are now discontinued.
On February 16, 2011, it was announced that Shout! Factory had acquired the rights to the series and would be releasing season 1 on DVD on May 17, 2011. Season 1 was released on May 17, 2011 followed by Season 2, Part 1 on November 8, 2011. Season 2, Part 2 was released on April 24, 2012. Season 2, Part 3 was released on January 15, 2013, as a Shout Select title. Season 3 was released on June 11, 2013 as a Shout Select title. Seasons 4 and 5 were released in a box set on September 10, 2013 as a Shout Select title.
On December 1, 2015, Shout! Factory released The Wild Thornberrys: The Complete Series on DVD in Region 1.
In Australia, all 5 seasons have been released via Beyond Home Entertainment. A 13-disc set titled The Wild Thornberrys: The Essential Episodes was released on June 3, 2015.
♦ – Shout! Factory select title, sold exclusively through Shout's online store. (refers to region 1 releases)
Film
The franchise was extended through four movies (two television films and two theatrical films), which were released toward the end of the series' run: