The Itsy Bitsy Spider (TV series)

The Itsy Bitsy Spider is a 1993–1996 American animated fantasy-comedy television series. It was based on the Itsy Bitsy Spider short film produced by Hyperion Animation. It was broadcast on the USA Network's USA Cartoon Express.[1] 26 episodes were produced over two seasons.[2]

The Itsy Bitsy Spider
GenreAdventure
Fantasy
Slapstick
Created byMatthew O'Callaghan
Directed byConrad Vernon
Mike Mitchell
Stephen J. Anderson
Voices ofFrancesca Marie Smith
Frank Welker
Matt Frewer
Charlotte Rae
Jonathan Taylor Thomas
Music byMichael Muhlfriedel
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes26
Production
Production companiesHyperion Animation
Paramount Television
Original release
NetworkUSA Network
ReleaseOctober 31, 1993 (1993-10-31) –
September 15, 1996 (1996-09-15)

Overview

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The series revolves around a little girl named Leslie McGroarty who is befriended by a four-eyed spider named Itsy, and two adversaries, the Exterminator and her teacher Adrienne. The series focuses mainly on the Exterminator's futile attempts to rid the world of the arachnid pest his job calls for.

Characters

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  • Leslie McGroarty (voiced by Francesca Marie Smith) is a perky, imagination, cute and playful young city girl. Leslie loves things like bicycling, skateboarding, studying karate, bugs, eating candy and other tomboysih things. Leslie has short black hair. She wears circular shaped glasses, a light blue dress with puffed sleeves and a red belt, white socks and black Mary Jane shoes. Leslie had the magical ability to shrink herself to bug size. She is the protagonist of the series.
  • Itsy Bitsy (voiced by Frank Welker) is a harmless country spider. He is Leslie's best friend. Itsy Bitsy is also the protagonist of the short film. According to an episode, "Miss Muffet Roughs It", Itsy was a baby with his parents, living in his country life. Frank Welker also voices Adrienne's evil orange cat, Langston.
  • Adrienne Van Leydon (voiced by Charlotte Rae) is the main antagonist of the series.
  • George (voiced by Jonathan Taylor Thomas) is Leslie's love interest.

Episodes

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Season 1

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  1. One Flew Over the Spider's Web
  2. Itsy Gets Cooking
  3. Enter the Spider
  4. Troop Itsy
  5. Garden of Itsy
  6. The Bug Shops Here
  7. Itsy Ships Out
  8. Big Top Itsy
  9. Downhill Itsy
  10. Itsy Does Hollywood
  11. Miss Muffet Roughs It
  12. Nutcracker Cha-Cha-Cha
  13. Basic Insect

Season 2

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  1. Spider in Spurs
  2. Itsy's Favorite Haunt
  3. Code Purple
  4. Beach Blanket Spider
  5. Big Time Spider
  6. Deep Space Spider
  7. Short Order Spider
  8. Spider Sense
  9. It's a Zoo Itsy
  10. State Fair Itsy
  11. Spider at Work
  12. Something Fore Itsy
  13. Sugar Coated Spider

International broadcasts

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Country Channel Year
USA USA Network 1993–1996
Nordic Nickelodeon 1996–1999
Israel Kids' Channel Late 1990s
Asia STAR Plus 1994–1997
UK CBBC 1995-2002

References

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  1. ^ Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. pp. 436–437. ISBN 978-1476665993.
  2. ^ Crump, William D. (2019). Happy Holidays—Animated! A Worldwide Encyclopedia of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year's Cartoons on Television and Film. McFarland & Co. p. 221. ISBN 9781476672939.
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