The Beatles, also referred to as The Beatles Cartoon, is an animated television series featuring representations of the popular English rock band of the same name.[1] It was originally broadcast from 1965 to 1967 on ABC in the United States, with reruns airing until 1969.
| The Beatles | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Comedy Musical |
| Created by | Al Brodax |
| Written by | Al Brodax Bruce Howard Heywood Kling Dennis Marks Jack Mendelsohn |
| Directed by | Jack Stokes Graham Sharpe Ron Campbell Jim Hiltz Ray Leach John Dunn Bob Godfrey Tony Gearty Tom McDonald Frank Andrina Barry Helmer Mike Jones |
| Voices of |
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| Theme music composer | Lennon–McCartney |
| Opening theme |
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| Ending theme | "The Beatles End Theme" (1964) |
| Composer | The Beatles (songs) |
| Country of origin |
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| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 39 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Al Brodax |
| Producers | Al Brodax Mary Ellen Stewart George Dunning Leon Becker Jack Gettles |
| Running time | 18
min (UK Version) 30 Min (Full Version) |
| Production companies |
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| Original release | |
| Network |
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| Release | 25 September 1965 – 21 October 1967 |
| Related | |
| Yellow Submarine (1968) | |
The series debuted on 25 September 1965, with new episodes airing until 21 October 1967.[2] A total of 39 episodes were produced. The series was shown on Saturdays at 10:30 AM EST until the third season in 1967, when it was moved to 12:00 PM EST. Reruns aired from 1968 to 1969 at 9:30 AM EST on Sundays.[3] Each episode is named after a Beatles song, with a plot based on its lyrics, and it is also played in the episode. The series was rerun on MTV in 1986 and 1987 and on The Disney Channel beginning in 1989 on Fridays at 5 PM.[3][4]
The series was a historical milestone, as it was the first weekly television series to feature animated versions of real, living people.[5]
Production overview
editThe series consisted of short animated stories intended to set up visual illustrations of Beatles songs. In addition, there were sing-along sequences with simpler imagery complementing the full lyrics of particular songs. The songs were taken from the albums up to Revolver as well as non-album singles up to "Strawberry Fields Forever"/"Penny Lane".
The series depicted the band in their early "moptop-and-suit" look, which was also depicted in the 1964 live-action film A Hard Day's Night, even though the band had moved beyond it during the series' run. The producers attempted to acknowledge the band members' contemporary appearances with photographs of them in the series' title sequences during its production run.
The Beatles borrowed Richard Lester's fast-cutting directorial style of A Hard Day's Night and its 1965 follow-up, Help!. Hal Erickson writes in Television Cartoon Shows that the frenetic cuts "[gave] the series its breezy pace and comic impudence — which often had to compensate for some distressingly sloppy animation and infantile scripting".[6]
The band members were not involved with the series' production beyond the use of their music recordings. US actor Paul Frees voiced John Lennon, George Harrison, and Brian Epstein (and provided additional voices), while Lance Percival voiced Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. The female voices were provided by Julie Bennett and Carol Corbett. At first, the Beatles dismissed the series because of its poor quality.[7] However, it is reported that the band members enjoyed the cartoon in later years.[8]
Initially, the opening credits theme was a guitar riff from "A Hard Day's Night" segueing into "Can't Buy Me Love", over a cartoon sequence of the group running down a fire escape, echoing a scene in A Hard Day's Night. The second season's opening theme was "Help!", while the third season's opening theme was "And Your Bird Can Sing", over a different cartoon sequence.
Although uncredited, Dennis Marks, along with Jack Mendelsohn, Heywood Kling and Bruce Howard, wrote all 39 episodes of the series.[9]
Most of the episodes of the series were produced by Artransa Park Film Studios in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia,[10] and George Dunning's company TVC Animation in London,[11] with some episodes made in Hollywood,[8] with a crew supervised by veteran cartoon writer John W. Dunn.[8]
Depiction of the Beatles
edit
Each Beatles figure was a loose and exaggerated description of themselves, with John and Paul wearing a blue collar-less suit and tie, and George and Ringo wearing navy blue turtlenecks and light blue blazer jackets. All of them wore matching blue drainpipe trousers and Beatle Boots.
John Lennon
editJohn is described as being the leader, with a mop-top that is slightly shorter than the others. He has a bulbous chin and small eyes, and his movements are short and aggressive. He gestures with his hands in a mocking “showbiz" manner, especially when giving orders, showing that he does not take his job as leader seriously. He slouches rather than sits, and will often pull funny faces then immediately stop. He uses a sideways look to talk to somebody, and looks away after giving an order. He tends to use sarcastic, dry humour, and is lazy and laid-back. Additionally, he is often malicious, especially towards George and Ringo. Despite this, he cares about the band members and will do anything for them.
Paul McCartney
editPaul is shown as the second-in-command of the band. He is the most poised and stylish of the four, and his mop-top is the neatest among them. He has a fine face, with eyebrows that are wide and far apart and eyes that are partly closed and open when he is excited or frightened. He uses his hands, with fingers spread apart, to express himself when talking, and he looks straight at who he is talking to. He gets excited when John makes suggestions, and when excited he puts his hand over his mouth. When he is making suggestions or comments, especially when suggesting mischief, he covers it up by assuming a mockingly innocent look; eyes wide and head tilted to one side. Like John, Paul uses dry and sarcastic humor and is happy-go-lucky and laid-back. Despite this, he is always willing to help others.
Paul and Ringo are the two characters who sound closest to their real-life counterparts. His character is the only left-hander, while in real life both he and Ringo are left-handed.
George Harrison
editGeorge has an angular and wry figure and is about the same height as Paul, with a mop-top that is longer in the back compared to the others. His shoulders are hunched when he is standing or leaning, and he appears to be frowning, since his eyebrows become thicker near his nose. His chin and nose are long and thin, with sunken cheeks. His figure is emphasized when he walks, especially on the knees. He often leans against something, with his shoulders hunched, hands in his pockets, and his legs crossed. He never looks at who he's speaking to, and he closes his eyes for short periods when talking.
He often uses dry, witty humor and easily succumbs to peer pressure. George has a diverse accent which is unlike any particular accent; it sounds similar to an Irish accent. George has been shown to be fascinated with various cultures and is occasionally superstitious. He and Ringo often do work for John and Paul, such as in the episode "Do You Want to Know a Secret", where they carry the bands' luggage into their vacation cottage. He cares about the band members and helps them when needed.
Ringo Starr
editRingo is the most sympathetic Beatle, and he is calm, gentle, and innocent. His mop-top is the longest and shaggiest of the four, and at times almost covers his eyes. His trademark features include his nose and expressive eyes and his exaggerated laugh. He often smiles, but when he is not, he has a look of curiosity or sadness on his face, with his upper lip protruding in a wavy line. His expressions and humor are usually deadpan, but he is occasionally expressive. Although he is the eldest Beatle, born three months before John, he is the smallest of the four, with a thin neck that gets smaller as it reaches the base and a small chin. When he walks, his limbs, hands, and feet move loosely. His clothes often appear to be oversized, especially his Beatle Boots and blazer jacket.
During the song portions of the episodes, he often shakes his head and mop-top around with a goofy expression when drumming. He gets along best with George, and like him shows interest in various cultures. He often makes bad puns and jokes that only he finds funny. During the introductions to the Sing-Along segments, he substitutes for the prop-man, who is often absent, and sets the stage according to John, Paul, or George's description, often to their surprise or chagrin. It is revealed in the episode "Money" that Ringo's mother dropped him as a baby, as he says that "Me mother dropped me once". Ringo, like Paul, is also left-handed, although in "I'll Be Back" he plays a guitar right-handed.
He is often the subject of the show's slapstick humor, being the butt of jokes and the victim of pranks or bad luck. His bad luck often results from his naivety, curiosity, and unawareness of danger. In the episode "Good Day Sunshine", he becomes depressed and upset and thinks that he is a jinx for misfortunes, as it rained at Carny Island on the Beatles' weekends, and is described in the episode as being a "sourpuss". He feels better after John, Paul, and George sing "Good Day Sunshine" for him and show him how to have fun again.
Brian Epstein
editBrian Epstein acts as the Beatles' manager. He is rarely seen or mentioned; he is mostly mentioned in the episode "Please Mr. Postman". In the episode, the Beatles run out of money after Ringo purchases fifteen rings which are taken by autograph collectors, and they need to contact Epstein for money. Epstein finally appears in the beginning of the episode "Thank You Girl", but only his arm is seen as he grounds the Beatles for gaining weight after dining on French cooking. Epstein and the other real-life Beatles appear in a lost deleted scene featuring the series' production.
His appearance in the series and his habit of smoking is a homage to the series' creator, Al Brodax.
List of episodes
editSeason 1 (1965–66)
edit| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "A Hard Day's Night" | Graham C. Sharpe | |||
| "I Want to Hold Your Hand" | Jack Stokes | |||||
|
While in Transylvania, The Beatles try rehearsing in a haunted castle with "monstrous" visitors, including a vampire, a ghost, a werewolf, and a witch, with a parody of Boris Karloff. To hide from their fans, the Beatles run inside a diving bell, which drops them into the ocean with a lovesick octopus. Sing Alongs: Not A Second Time / Devil In Her Heart | ||||||
| 2 | 2 | "Do You Want To Know A Secret" | John Dunn | |||
| "If I Fell" | Ray Leach | |||||
|
The Beatles go to Dublin, Ireland for the weekend where they meet a female leprechaun named Wilhelmina Morris. John is kidnapped by Dr. Dora Florahyde and Igor, who want John's brain for their monster. Sing Alongs: A Hard Day's Night / I Want To Hold Your Hand | ||||||
| 3 | 3 | "Please Mr. Postman" | Jack Stokes | |||
| "Devil In Her Heart" | Graham C. Sharpe | |||||
|
Ringo loses 15 rings he bought with all of the Beatles' earnings and they are expecting a telegram from manager Brian Epstein for more money. While in Transylvania, Ringo wanders into the woods, where he meets a witch who wants him for a husband. Sing Alongs: If I Fell / Do You Want To Know A Secret | ||||||
| 4 | 4 | "Not A Second Time" | Jack Stokes | |||
| "Slow Down" | Graham C. Sharpe | |||||
|
Trying to get away from their fans, The Beatles abandon their flight and land in Africa, but three girls keep tracking them down. The Beatles are on the way to the town Ringo Ravine (named after Ringo) until they encounter a donkey named "Gold Nose" that smells gold. Sing Alongs: Baby's In Black / Misery | ||||||
| 5 | 5 | "Baby's In Black" | Graham C. Sharpe | |||
| "Misery" | John Dunn | |||||
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Paul gets kidnapped by Professor Psycho, who wants Paul to marry his creation Vampiress, half girl and half bat. the Beatles go to a wax museum to see themselves, but a vampire who's hiding there from the police chases them. Sing Alongs: I'll Get You / Chains | ||||||
| 6 | 6 | "You've Really Got A Hold On Me" | Jack Stokes | |||
| "Chains" | ||||||
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In Africa, Ringo asks a medicine maker named Jack to help fix the Beatles' flat tire. Jack then turns a worm into a snake and it lusts for Ringo. On a cruise ship, Ringo gets accidentally knocked out and dreams that he's Captain Bligh from the movie Mutiny on the Bounty (1962). Sing Alongs: Slow Down / Honey Don't | ||||||
| 7 | 7 | "I'll Get You" | Snav Sniekus | |||
| "Honey Don't" | Graham C. Sharpe | |||||
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In Africa after escaping from their fans, the Beatles run into hunter Alan Watermain (a parody of the H. Rider Haggard character Allan Quatermain) and go out big-game hunting. Ringo is mistaken as a bull rider, and the cowboys send him to ride on a super-tough bull named Honey. Sing Alongs: You've Really Got A Hold On Me / Any Time At All | ||||||
| 8 | 8 | "Any Time At All" | Jack Stokes | |||
| "Twist and Shout" | Tony Gearty | |||||
|
The Beatles imagine themselves as the Three Musketeers (Plus One) while they are on a tour at a museum in France and try to rescue a "lady in distress". The Beatles attend an art show where a girl tries to be like other artists, so they inspire her with music. Sing Alongs: I'll Be Back / Little Child | ||||||
| 9 | 9 | "Little Child" | Graham C. Sharpe | |||
| "I'll Be Back" | Ray Leach | |||||
|
A Native American girl on a Texas Indian reservation wants to prove that girls are as good at trapping as boys are by trapping the Beatles. The mayor of a Texas town gives Ringo a golden guitar as a gift, only for it to be stolen by three men, prompting the Fab Four to hunt for the thieves and get the guitar back. (The song "Ticket to Ride" is heard at the beginning of this episode.) Sing Alongs: Long Tall Sally / Twist And Shout | ||||||
| 10 | 10 | "Long Tall Sally" | Tom McDonald | |||
| "I'll Cry Instead" | Graham C. Sharpe and Ron Campbell | |||||
|
While the Beatles are staying at a castle for the night during a fog, John and Ringo try on a couple of cursed armor suits and start to fight each other. After signing too many autographs in Japan, George's hand gets swollen and suffers "autographitis", so his bandmates take him to a hand doctor but end up in a karate class by mistake. Sing Alongs: I'll Follow The Sun / When I Get Home | ||||||
| 11 | 11 | "I'll Follow the Sun" | John Dunn | |||
| "When I Get Home" | Jack Stokes | |||||
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The Beatles' car breaks down and they are captured by a highwayman who happens to be a car repairman. The Beatles explore Notre Dame in Paris where they later meet its famous hunchback Quasimodo. Sing Alongs: I'll Cry Instead / Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby | ||||||
| 12 | 12 | "Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby" | Graham C. Sharpe and Ron Campbell | |||
| "I Should Have Known Better" | Jack Stokes | |||||
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After spending the night at a temple in Japan during a rainstorm, the Beatles are mistaken for the ancestors of four girls. The Beatles are in Rome trying to find a theater to rehearse, and their last resort is the Coliseum. Sing Alongs: I'm A Loser / I Wanna Be Your Man | ||||||
| 13 | 13 | "I'm A Loser" | Jack Stokes | |||
| "I Wanna Be Your Man" | Snav Sniekus | |||||
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In Hollywood, Ringo gets hired as a stuntman by Incredible Pictures Inc. and keeps getting pulverized in many scenes. In Rome, the Beatles buy a statue of the Goddess of Music made from stolen gold coins melted down and sculpted. Sing Alongs: No Reply / I'm Happy Just To Dance With You | ||||||
| 14 | 14 | "Don't Bother Me" | Jack Stokes | |||
| "No Reply" | Ray Leach | |||||
|
The Beatles are in a rush to get to Barcelona from Rome, but they're being chased by two spies who are after their songbook "New Beatle Songs", marked "Top Secret" (the Beatles movie Help! and Oddjob from the James Bond movie Goldfinger are spoofed). In Japan, the Beatles are warned by a Charlie Chan-lookalike police detective about a master-of-disguise jewel thief named Anyface, and things become complicated when Anyface shows up disguised as Paul. Sing Alongs: It Won't Be Long / I Should Have Known Better | ||||||
| 15 | 15 | "I'm Happy Just To Dance With You" | Bob Godfrey | |||
| "Mr. Moonlight" | ||||||
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The Beatles are in a Roman street festival where Paul wins a dancing bear named Bonnie. The Beatles meet Professor Ludwig Von Brilliant, who is on a mission to view an eclipse. After being adrift at sea, they escape from an island on a submarine. Sing Alongs: Don't Bother Me / Can't Buy Me Love | ||||||
| 16 | 16 | "Can't Buy Me Love" | Graham C. Sharpe and Ron Campbell | |||
| "It Won't Be Long" | ||||||
|
John is given a friendship ring from a Polynesian tribal chief, which means he must marry the chief's New York-accented daughter who dislikes pineapples. While picnicking in Japan, John goes for a swim in a pond with shrinking potion in it and gets shrunk, making the other Beatles think John is a Beatle doll and chase after him. Sing Alongs: Anna (Go to Him) / Mr. Moonlight | ||||||
| 17 | 17 | "Anna (Go to Him)" | Graham C. Sharpe and Ron Campbell | |||
| "I Don't Want To Spoil The Party" | Frank Andrina | |||||
|
In Japan when Paul gets lured into a ghost ship called "Ah-Nah", the other Beatles dash off to the rescue before they lose Paul for good. Rather than go with John to a museum, Paul, George and Ringo sneak away and go to Greenwich Village for some fun time at a Beatnik party. Sing Alongs: Matchbox / Thank You Girl | ||||||
| 18 | 18 | "Matchbox" | Graham C. Sharpe and Ron Campbell | |||
| "Thank You Girl" | Snav Sniekus | |||||
|
In Hawaii, rather than stay at hotels, John buys a trailer for the group to stay in. They later encounter a group of Hawaiians who are evacuating from a volcano. When they sneak away from their manager to get something to eat at a French restaurant, the Beatles somehow enroll in a cooking course. Sing Alongs: I Don't Want To Spoil The Party / Help! | ||||||
| 19 | 19 | "From Me To You" | Graham C. Sharpe and Ron Campbell | |||
| "Boys" | Jack Stokes | |||||
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In Hawaii, a surfer named Surf Wolf challenges George to a surfing duel. Note: The opening title erroneously shows "With Love From Me To You". The Beatles participate in a Mr. Hollywood Contest in California. Sing Alongs: Please Mr. Postman / I Saw Her Standing There | ||||||
| 20 | 20 | "Dizzy Miss Lizzy" | Graham C. Sharpe and Ron Campbell | |||
| "I Saw Her Standing There" | Bob Godfrey | |||||
|
John and Paul secretly sign George up to an ice boat race, and he partners up with a girl named Lizzy. In Madrid, when John and Paul visit a restaurant, John develops a hot foot with ashes in his boot and a woman named Rosita falls for him, causing her boyfriend Jose to challenge John to a duel. Sing Alongs: Ticket To Ride / From Me To You | ||||||
| 21 | 21 | "What You're Doing" | Graham C. Sharpe and Ron Campbell | |||
| "Money (That's What I Want)" | Jack Stokes | |||||
|
While The Beatles are on a fishing trip, Ringo runs into gypsies, one of whom falls for him and wants to marry him, so to save Ringo George comes in as a woman claiming he is engaged to Ringo. John puts Ringo in charge of keeping their money safe in his jacket pocket, but Ringo later is being followed by a mystery man at a carnival who is after the money. (The song "Help!" is heard at the beginning of this episode.) Sing Alongs: Dizzy Miss Lizzy / All My Loving | ||||||
| 22 | 22 | "Komm Gib Mir Deine Hand" | Ray Leach | |||
| "She Loves You" | Snav Sniekus | |||||
|
The Beatles visit the Bavarian Alps and end up on a mission to climb up a mountain with the dog Gunthar to put up their own flag on top. (The song "Slow Down" is heard in the background). On board a ship, the Beatles are about to rescue a girl who they think is held as a prisoner, resulting in her boyfriend, a knife thrower, coming to her defense...with knives. Sing Alongs: Bad Boy / Tell Me Why | ||||||
| 23 | 23 | "Bad Boy" | Graham C. Sharpe and Ron Campbell | |||
| "Tell Me Why" | Jack Stokes | |||||
|
In the Bavarian Alps again, the Beatles encounter a runaway named Hans who wants to be a Beatle, prompting the Fab Four to run after him with their music (in which Paul plays the bass right-handed) and take him back home. In Spain, Ringo is the jockey of a donkey that can run like a horse whenever she hears loud music. (Before the song begins, the count-off is taken from "I Saw Her Standing There".) Sing Alongs: Please Please Me / Hold Me Tight | ||||||
| 24 | 24 | "I Feel Fine" | Jack Stokes | |||
| "Hold Me Tight" | Barrie Helmer and Mike Jones | |||||
|
Paul thinks Hollywood's all phony, and actor Dick Dashing attempts to prove him wrong by putting Paul in some different movie scenes. In New York, George and Ringo visit the Statue of Liberty, where they spot a man with a package which they think is a bomb. Sing Alongs: What You're Doing / There's A Place | ||||||
| 25 | 25 | "Please Please Me" | Jack Stokes | |||
| "There's A Place" | ||||||
|
In Madrid, a bull named El Taco gets knocked out, and the Beatles decide to help out the bullfight with Ringo as the matador and John and Paul as the bull. John's sympathy helps a trained ape named Mr. Marvelous to escape from the television studio and go exploring the outside world. Sing Alongs: Roll Over Beethoven / Rock and Roll Music | ||||||
| 26 | 26 | "Roll Over Beethoven" | Jack Stokes | |||
| "Rock and Roll Music" | ||||||
|
The Beatles are on their way home after visiting New York City until Paul gets grabbed by an elephant named Beethoven (before the song begins, the count-off is taken from "I Saw Her Standing There".). The Beatles are invited to play at the Duke's Palace, but they are mistaken for a string quartet. Sing Alongs: I Feel Fine / She Loves You | ||||||
Season 2 (1966)
edit| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | 1 | "Eight Days A Week" | Jack Stokes | |||
| "I'm Looking Through You" | ||||||
|
A great movie lover named Lips Lovelace loses his ability to kiss. Paul decides to take his place in the studio with a leading lady who falls for him. The Beatles are in Egypt. They are wandering around in a pyramid until Ringo encounters a ghost who wants a body, and he chooses Ringo's. Sing Alongs: Run For Your Life / Girl | ||||||
| 28 | 2 | "Help!" | Jack Stokes | |||
| "We Can Work It Out" | ||||||
|
Paul and Ringo go to a fashion show in Paris, but the designs are stolen by a thief named Jacques Le Zipper. Paul chases Jacques to the Eiffel Tower, and has trouble with heights. George becomes superstitious. The Beatles encounter the Lucky Wizard who is really a thief trying to give them bad luck and rob their money. Sing Alongs: The Night Before / Day Tripper | ||||||
| 29 | 3 | "I'm Down" | Jack Stokes | |||
| "Run For Your Life" | ||||||
|
The Beatles are on a tour at a wine factory in France where Ringo accidentally knocks down a vat of wine. If it does not get fixed in two hours, the factory will go out of business. (John plays an organ with his elbow during the song's solo, referencing John Lennon doing the same during the recording sessions.) The Beatles are on a tour at the Palace of Versailles. Ringo gets knocked out by a statue, and dreams about the days of Marie Antoinette. Sing Alongs: Eight Days A Week / Paperback Writer | ||||||
| 30 | 4 | "Drive My Car" | Jack Stokes | |||
| "Tell Me What You See" | ||||||
|
The Beatles help a young man and his girlfriend get their old jalopy running in a car race, the Popsville Hot Rod Race. While visiting "the man of a thousand faces", The Beatles fool around with his makeup machine and change into different characters. (John briefly imitates Jimmy Durante and Swee'Pea from Popeye makes a cameo.) Sing Alongs: Yesterday / We Can Work It Out | ||||||
| 31 | 5 | "I Call Your Name" | Jack Stokes | |||
| "The Word" | ||||||
|
Ringo is convinced to release his pet frog Bartholomew in the swamp. Later a movie producer offers a filming deal to Ringo and the frog, and the Fabs have dashed off to find Bartholomew. The Beatles are being punished after gazing at the unveiled faces of a harem. The only way to get out of the situation is to say the password: "love". Sing Alongs: She's a Woman (original broadcast, replaced in later broadcasts with a repeat of "I Feel Fine") / Wait | ||||||
| 32 | 6 | "All My Loving" | Jack Stokes | |||
| "Day Tripper" | ||||||
|
The Beatles are in India where they learn how to charm an animal at an "Indian Charm Skool". When the animal is revealed to be a tiger, they use music to tame it when it is about to claw John and Ringo. (The song "Love You To" is heard in the beginning of this episode). After watching the movie The Way Out Creatures From Planet Glom, the Beatles take a trip out into space with a beautiful woman who is actually an alien taking them on a one-way trip 23 billion miles from Earth. Sing Alongs: I'm Looking Through You / Nowhere Man | ||||||
| 33 | 7 | "Nowhere Man" | Jack Stokes | |||
| "Paperback Writer" | ||||||
|
The Beatles walk into a cave for some exploring which is a home of a hermit who wants to be alone. He tries to get rid of them, but no luck. Each of the Beatles write fictional stories of how they met with Ringo as a theatre actor, Paul as a scientist, George as a secret agent, and John as a war pilot. Sing Alongs: And I Love Her / Michelle | ||||||
Season 3 (1967)
edit| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34 | 1 | "Penny Lane" | Jack Stokes | |||
| "Strawberry Fields Forever" | ||||||
|
In a spoof of James Bond, the Beatles are jealous of a detective named James Blonde who gets more attention from many women, so the Fab Four head to their hometown of Liverpool to stop a robbery on Penny Lane so they can be heroes. Traveling with their driver James, the Beatles use music to add colour and happiness to the lives of the children at an orphanage, a reference to Strawberry Field in Woolton, a suburb of Liverpool. John sums up the experience with "It's all in the mind, you know." Sing Alongs: Good Day Sunshine / Rain | ||||||
| 35 | 2 | "And Your Bird Can Sing" | Jack Stokes | |||
| "Got To Get You Into My Life" | ||||||
|
The Beatles and a couple of hunters hunt for a rare bird called a green double-breasted tropical woosted that can sing anything, including "Hound Dog" and "She Loves You". The Beatles are in India, learning how to escape from their bodies from Swami Rivers. It works, but the problem is that the souls' bodies are moving by themselves, and they must get them before it's too late. ("Love You To" is heard in the background) Sing Alongs: Penny Lane / Eleanor Rigby | ||||||
| 36 | 3 | "Good Day Sunshine" | Jack Stokes | |||
| "Ticket To Ride" | ||||||
|
Ringo thinks he's a jinx. When the Beatles arrive at Carney Island, it starts to rain (for the fourth weekend in a row), but the boys' music turns the rainy day back into a sunny day which makes Ringo happy. (The song "Little Child" is heard at the end of this episode.) The Beatles each have their own hobby: Paul paints, George builds a three-eyed robot, John writes and Ringo collects "birds" (which is English slang for girls). Paul releases the only one Ringo caught and he runs after her. Sing Alongs: Strawberry Fields Forever / And Your Bird Can Sing | ||||||
| 37 | 4 | "Taxman" | Jack Stokes | |||
| "Eleanor Rigby" | ||||||
|
The Beatles are delivering tons of money to pay their income tax. When they get knocked out by flying money bags, they dream they're back in the days of Robin Hood, but Paul keeps insisting "He never happened!" A group of children claim that an elderly woman named Eleanor Rigby is a witch. The Fab Four tell them the truth about Eleanor Rigby in a song and get them to see her in a new way. (The song "I Feel Fine" is heard at the end of this episode.) Sing Alongs: Got To Get You Into My Life / Here, There and Everywhere | ||||||
| 38 | 5 | "Tomorrow Never Knows" | Jack Stokes | |||
| "I've Just Seen a Face" | ||||||
|
The Beatles fall into a well and end up in the inner world with foreign natives (Maya civilization). The chief wants the Fabs to marry his daughters, and they began to run away. (The song "Love You To" is heard during this episode.) Ringo loses his singing voice. For treatment, his three mates send Ringo to a haunted house to scare his voice back. Sing Alongs: She Said She Said / Long Tall Sally (repeat) | ||||||
| 39 | 6 | "Wait" | Jack Stokes | |||
| "I'm Only Sleeping'" | ||||||
|
The Prince of Krapotkin's girlfriend is in grave danger. The Beatles help him to save her from the Prime Minister who wants to marry her. John falls asleep while telling a story to a couple of children. In his dream he volunteers to help King Arthur and Merlin slay a vicious dragon. However, John and his mates opt instead to play music to put the dragon to sleep. Sing Alongs: Penny Lane (repeat) / Eleanor Rigby (repeat) | ||||||
Reception
editThe series was an instant ratings hit on ABC in the Saturday morning time slot after it debuted on 25 September 1965 at 10:30 AM ET.[3] It racked up a 13 score (or 52 share), then unheard of in daytime television. The series was sponsored by the A. C. Gilbert Company, the Quaker Oats Company and the Mars Candy Company.[3] For the third season in 1967, the series was moved to Saturdays at noon.
Originally, the Beatles disliked the cartoon; however, as time went on they grew to like it. In 1972, Lennon commented, "I still get a blast out of watching the Beatles cartoons on TV." In 1999, Harrison said, "I always kind of liked [the cartoons]. They were so bad or silly that they were good, if you know what I mean, and I think the passage of time might make them more fun now."[11]
The series was syndicated worldwide on television and cable after the original run ended in 1969. In 1986 and 1987, new generations were introduced to the series when it was rebroadcast by MTV and also by The Disney Channel. On MTV, the series was shown on Saturday and Sunday mornings at 10 AM ET or 7 AM PT. On The Disney Channel, the series was shown on Fridays at 5 PM beginning in 1989. Mark Hamill was a guest host of the MTV run of the series in 1987.
Legacy
editThe Beatles' views of the cartoon series discouraged them from participating significantly in the later animated feature film, Yellow Submarine, whose producer, Al Brodax, and director, George Dunning, had also been involved in the production of the animated series. Only when the band saw and were impressed by the Yellow Submarine's finished footage did they realize the film was a more ambitious creation. As a result, they agreed to appear in a short live-action epilogue for it. Lance Percival provided the voice of Fred in that film.
In December 2004, McFarlane Toys released a line of figures based on the cartoon series, featuring all four band members with their instruments. In 2005, they released a boxed set featuring cartoon figures of all four band members with instruments, plus an alligator figure, speakers, and a radio. Apple Corps Ltd. purchased the rights to the series in the early 1990s. There has been popular demand for Apple Corps to issue a remastered release of the series on DVD.[5]
References
edit- ^ Perlmutter, David (2018). The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 69. ISBN 978-1538103739.
- ^ Woolery, George W. (1983). Children's Television: The First Thirty-Five Years, 1946-1981. Scarecrow Press. pp. 43–44. ISBN 0-8108-1557-5. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
- ^ a b c d "TV.com". Archived from the original on 23 September 2020. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
- ^ Boca Raton News, July 21, 1989, page 9C.
- ^ a b Animators & Creators. Archived 23 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. pp. 127–128. ISBN 978-1476665993.
- ^ Axelrod, Mitchell. Beatletoons: The Real Story Behind The Cartoon Beatles. Wynn, 1999,
- ^ a b c Axelrod 1999.
- ^ Marcus, Laurence (14 February 2004). "The Beatles (cartoon Series): Cartoon adventures of the world's most famously successful group". televisionheaven.co.uk. Retrieved 2 June 2011.
- ^ The background of The Beatles cartoon television series.
- ^ a b Womack, Kenneth (2007). Long and Winding Roads: The Evolving Artistry of The Beatles. New York: Continuum Books. p. 101. Womack quotes the interviews with Lennon (1972) and Harrison (1999) via a reference to Axelrod, Mitchell (1999). Beatletoons: The Real Story Behind the Cartoon Beatles. Pickens: Wynn.
Sources
edit- DenniLu Company. Officially Licensed by Apple Corps Ltd.
- Axelrod, Mitchell. Beatletoons: The Real Story Behind The Cartoon Beatles. Wynn, 1999.
- Lenburg, Jeff. Encyclopedia Of Animated Cartoons. Checkmark Books, 1999.
- Lehman, Christopher P. American Animated Cartoons of the Vietnam Era: A Study of Social Commentary in Films and Television Programs, 1961–1973. McFarland, 2007.
- TV.com. Archived 23 September 2020 at the Wayback Machine
- The Big Cartoon Database.