7 /10 1 Votes
Genre Animated comedy Directed by Tom Burton First episode date 29 September 1990 Number of seasons 3 | 7/10 IMDb Created by Peter Keefe Theme music composer Dale Schacker Final episode date 19 December 1992 Number of episodes 65 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Presented by Calico Creations
Zodiac Entertainment Voices of Russi Taylor
Jim Cummings
Kath Soucie
Dana Hill Networks Australian Broadcasting Corporation Cast Jim Cummings, Kath Soucie, Russi Taylor, Peter Cullen, Tress MacNeille Similar Mr Bogus, Twinkle - the Dream Being, Denver - the Last Dinosaur, Captain Planet and the Plane, The Smoggies | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Widget also known as Widget the World Watcher is an animated television series which debuted in syndication on September 29th, 1990. The series ran for 3 seasons; in the first season (1990), it aired once a week (usually on Saturday or Sunday), and in the second season (1991), the series expanded to 5 days a week (Monday-Friday). The show featured environmentalist themes and was recognized by the National Education Association as recommended viewing for children.
Contents
Widget the world watcher intro opening
Overview
The show focused on a 4-foot-tall (1.2 m), purple extraterrestrial from a planet within the Horsehead Nebula named Widget who could shapeshift (usually by spinning like a top into different forms, in early episodes he seems to still be getting used to his power). He and a group of young, human friends; brothers, Kevin, Brian and their teenage sister Kristine, would go through a number of adventures to protect the natural environment from those who wish to plunder or harm it. Later on they were joined by (fellow shapeshifter) Half-Pint, Widget's mischievous, overly-curious, hyperactive cousin. Widget is frequently accompanied by the Mega Brain, an extremely intelligent but somewhat clumsy being who appears as a floating head (with a transparent cranium) and floating hands.
The show was produced by Calico Creations to teach children about the dangers of pollution. Each episode would have Widget contending with a villain from either Earth or outer space wishing to exploit Earth's environment or natural resources, like Dr. Dante, Mega Slank, and his evil twin, Ratchet. In this respect, Widget, the World Watcher is very similar to Captain Planet and the Planeteers and Toxic Crusaders, as all those heroes attempt to save the Earth from ecological disaster. Even occasionally, combatting an entity/being created/mutated from copious pollution. For example, in one episode Widget battled a fellow shapeshifter; a sentient but hostile life form, disguised as a toxic ooze/slick, who was contaminating Earth's beaches and oceans.
The TV series ran for 65 episodes, 13 in the first season, 40 in the second season, and 12 in the third season.
It also aired on TVO in Canada, ITV and later Channel 4 in the UK and the ABC in Australia (6 July 1992 - 1 December 1995).
Characters
Principal cast
Additional voices
Production and distribution
Widget was produced by Zodiac Entertainment, a Studio City, California-based firm backed by British media company Central Independent Television. Zodiac President Kevin Morrison stated that in 1990, Widget was being broadcast on 80% of independent U. S. television stations and that in 1991, the show started being shown five times a week.
Video Games
The series spawned two video games. Widget was released by Atlus on the NES in 1992 and Super Widget also by Atlus on the SNES in 1993.
Accompanying Soundtrack
Peter, Paul and Mary - Puff The Magic Dragon