#retro rewatch

 day*Sits in the Teacher’s Lounge and hears the bell ring.*

Hey everyone, Quinn the Loremistress of the Gay Canon here, and after a two month break due to depression I AM BACK! This time we’ll be doing a series of RETRO-Rewatches and thoughts on some old time favorite cartoons from my childhood! A quick disclaimer on this, I WILL BE tossing out QUEER / LGBTQIA* / GNC headcanons, story ideas and more. IF YOU DO NOT LIKE THIS then, um, whatever, go to another page :D

As this is my FIRST of the Retro-rewatches I’ll try to establish a frame here. First, I’ll go through about 5-7 episodes each with thoughts on each self-contained vingette. I’ll keep up my hottakes, and then lay out how I see a good fanfic or even fanon arising from this series. Since THIS SERIES deals with kids I want to emphasize that any and ALL story ideas I write will focus on College Age or more for things!

Anyway *Blows her Whistle* RECESS IS ON!

Episode 1

The Break In - We learn about the playground and the organizatino of its poli,tics and personalities. TJ, the leader of our gang, is captured after trying to get “The Good Food”. We get a good show off of the gang including Grethin’s intelligence Mikey’s drama, and Spinelli’s tenacity. Vince remains our sports star (which is perhaps a bit of an obvious racist stereotype here), and the one who refuses to just directly insult the King (Bob is himself pretty...over the top).

The New Kid - This episode speaks a lot to the school transfer experience. To me, it means a lot to see Gus standing up for himself and telling the kids his name. To me this sets up some nice ideas for some fae stories. Honestly, this story mostly focuses on how its important to deny erasure of yourself, and to rebel in the face of tyranny. That and how cool of a character every single member of the gang is!

Episode 2

The Experiment - We see the first example of the Jimmy Cratner stories and we learn how Butch got the white-streak in his hair. Of course, he gets the freak out from seeing his brother kiss a girl. This sets up our kiss experiment between Spinelli and TJ. Honestly, this is where I consider them a cute pair, but honestly not “destined” to date down the road. Plus, oh god, I do love the introduction of Randall as the evil little swindler.

The Great Jungle Gym Standoff - Old Rusty is going to replaced the iconic Jungle Gym must be replaced from years of slowly falling apart. The kids make a stand off and later their parents join them. I think ,this was one of the ones made before Gus’ arrival since he’s completely gone in this episode. It sets a nice tone though about how the kids see their playground and how their parents aren’t always against them.

Episode 3

Jinxed - Gus is introduced to the “KIds Unwritten Code of Honor” and the Jinx curse is dropped on him. The Ashley’s little dastardly intro is nicely done, as it shows how much these kids can be bullys. This episode really establishes Gus’ Lawful Good take on the Code. We’ll see this later during the Tattletale episode which makes it even far more interesting. Gotta love how Gus does a bad trade for a Harmonica and a bunch of music from the same instrument.

Officer Mikey - Wow Mikey sets his eyes on one of his silly hobbies (I say this because it’s part of the joke of the story). It does help that this is an example of how kids change their dreams on a whim at times. This is a typical trade and fetch quest story. The gang must bounce between various points so that they can make Mikey live his dream for a day. He immediately quits because it was too hard, almost unleashing the anger of Spinelli.

Episode 4

First Name Ashley - The eponymous “Ashleys” learn of Spinelli’s first name after Randall reveals it. The little snitch loses standing in Finster’s Outfit and thus begins the well known takeover of Spinelli into the Ashley’s. Luckily the gang manipulate the Clique rules of the playground to get her out. I like this story because it really builds the foundation for why the Ashley’s don’t the Gang. It also sets up one of the more interest dynamics between Ashley A and the others.

To Finster In Love - Finster finding love is an interesting story as while she’s seen a major antagonist along with Prickly in the series she really is a good person. Hank is a great character who really highlights the wonders of custodians in schools. It also shows how manipulative TJ and the kids can be. I think it really gives us a good idea that the playground has a pretty well established hierarchy and without it goes to hell, fast.

Episode 5

King Gus - King Bob is struck with laryngitis leading to us to see Gus become King. Originally a figurehead to the King’s advisors his head closely swells and he finds himself instituting a lot of tyrannical new decrees. The kids try to see King Gus and face the bereaucracy of the Playground. I do love how the Sixth Graders illustrate war via dodgeballs which is even more important with Gus’ background. Gus is quickly dethrone by King Bob and is sent back to being a nobody.

Big Brother Chad - Yes, we are introduce to geekdom, and we learn that Vince’s big bro is an Urkelesque geek. Honestly this particular episode really sets things up on how instead of being a toxic geek we need to be nice. Chad doesn’t look down on others he has fun with programming and playing 3D chess. He doesn’t see himself as anything bad. Vince’s werewolf dream of becoming a ageek is so over the top I fucking love it soooo much. NEATO!

Perhaps the best part of this particular vignette is how even Geeks should protect and can back their family.

Episode 6

My Fair Gretchin - A aptitude test shows Gretchin’s genius and she attempts her best to fail. This particular ep reveals Prickly’s focus on using achievements to become a Middle School Principal. Gretchin appears in the middle of a test dressed in a strange 80s / 90s styled outfit. Spouting weird dumb response such as Dennis Rodman is the President. What we learn later is she is allowed to stay while staying as a tutor to the rest of Third Street’s faculty.

Speedy We Hardly Knew Ye - The class hamster passes away and hte Gang decides to call for funeral. We learn an entire series of hamster generations has connected with a variety grades. Speedy the Hamster has been an icon of Third Street school extending their way all the way back to the current Bus Drivers which means people well into their forties knew Speedy. Hell, even the Mayor pops up.

The fact that they kept changing out the Hamsters and no one figured it out is just so bloody weird. It does make sense, if you want a long living pet for the Class for several years you’d do something like a Bearded Dragon or a Chinchilla. But Speedy himself like much in school represents a lot for kids even through the generations. The Canon - Thoughts!

So let’s begin Double Ashley aka Spinelli and Ashley A or Ashley B is perhaps one of my favorite possible pairings. Then there is Spinelli and Gretchin but honestly I prefer these two mixing up with the Ashleys since it shows nerd and preppy love!

Honestly, Recess has a lot of good opportunities for later life gay story telling. Kurst the Worst as a local baker dating Mikey would be adorbs. TJ and Laws as boyfriends and running their own game shop perhaps. Vince as a big time baller and supporting his friends while Gus is military veteran councilor. Skies are the limit here. So far I’ll focus on my favorite should be Gretchin and Spinelli, but nah and nope. I could easily seeing someone writing Gus or even Mikey as trans perhaps.

Who knows, I write Trans HP so who knows. I’ll have more thoughts once I sleep on these episodes and watch a few more!

Hottakes:

The intro of the New id wow those bring back memories of being singalled out in school.

Gus in the Jinx sitch is far more interesting when we see the Freudian expert show up.

Chad is a great non-creepy Geek and he has not obvious toxic masculinity.

Speedy was a nie hamster. Most Hamsters are not nice I say this as a bloody petcare specialist! Fuck those little devils!

Love how instead of Jesus Christ or God, the kids say “Mike”. I wonder who “MIKE” is.

Hey, we learned basic concepts of everyday math the Disney way a short time ago, so why not…SCIENCE the Public Broadcasting way?

“Did I Tell You About The Time…”

The reason everything happens was, believe it or not, the subject of a long-running television show created by the Children’s Television Workshop, based on an Australian television show called The Curiosity Show.  That program began in 1972, and taught children basic concepts of science.  Its hosts, Australian scientists Rob Morrison and Deane Hutton, served as consultants in the early planning stages of 3-2-1 Contact.  But rather than have middle-aged scientists host the program, the American version would have more relatable – read: younger – hosts.

This would work well later for PBS, but in 1980, we needed younger hosts!

3-2-1 Contact aired on select PBS member stations, with a first season of 65 episodes, beginning on January 14, 1980, and concluding three months later, on April 11th.  The reruns continued after that, with a second season premiering on October 17, 1983.  The second season set the standard by which the rest of the series would be based.

In the beginning, college students Marc, Trini, and Lisa (Leon W. Grant, Ginny Ortiz, and Liz Moses, respectively) were the show’s original hosts, and the setting was an on campus room called “The Workshop.”

When the series returned in 1983, there was a new cast of hosts who met in a suburban basement.  The hosts would change, and the series itself ran until November 1988, for a total of 225 episodes and eight specials.

During the 1991-1992 academic year, an edited series for school viewing, 3-2-1 Classroom Contact was created using segments from previously aired episodes.

But if you don’t remember anything else about the show, you remember…

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I’m not gonna lie, I get goosebumps over that.  It is the version of the theme I remember the best.

I grew up watching 3-2-1 Contact, as it was a regular part of my PBS-watching life that revolved around Sesame Street, Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood, Reading Rainbow, and Square One TV.  I was very young at the time – the first season premiered over two years before  I was born, and the second season didn’t start until I was about a year old. The original run of the series only went until I was six years old (felt longer than that!), but I have memories of watching the show, even if I don’t remember any of the episodes.  Again, it all goes back to that theme song.  Later on in life, after 3-2-1 Contact was long gone, another science show – featuring a slightly older guy in a bowtie – made practical everyday science fun all over again.

Before that though, a few “friends” taught us science through their experiences and adventures.  Let’s just say they knew how to make “CONTACT!” with their audience.

🙂

QUIIIIIIIIIIIET!!

Each week revolved around a different topic, with each episode (five per week) focusing on an aspect of that topic.  During the first week, Noisy/Quiet was the theme, and in the pilot episode (Episode 101 – January 14, 1980), production and processing of sound was the aspect explored.

After an awesome introduction on what this amazing new show is, we are shown the process of creating a theme song for this amazing new show.

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Oooooh, isn’t that incredible?!

Anyway, after that happens, we jump right into the action of the show – the “meat” of the concept, as you will.  We’re immediately thrown into noise, and the opposite of noise…quiet.  There’s a demonstration of sound, as done by “Bowser from Sha-Na-Na”…

We watch a demonstration of how phone lines – and even the good old-fashioned “tin cans with a string” work…

Is this my friend Mary?

…Meet Trini’s new “friend,” Stan the Robot, who is actually Guinness Book of World Records holder for “World’s Loudest Man” Stanley Lemkuil, who is in fact, not a robot, but a man of over 300 vocal sound effects and 100 vocal impressions…

…we watch a demonstration of a voiceprint machine, which deciphers real versus imitated noise.  For example, the sound of a bell, compared to Stan’s impersonation of a bell.

There’s a short a demonstrative cartoon from a “smart person” on how we talk.

And Marc works visits Bell Laboratories to watch a computer learning how to talk.

Wrapping up the the show is a segment that became a continuing series within the world of 3-2-1 Contact, The Bloodhound Gang.

They’re a group of kids who solve mysteries with science!

The Bloodhound Gang are on the case of Rosie, a “very educated” pig whose owner is trying to swindle a potential purchaser.  The purchaser is looking to make the pig part of an act, and rename her to “Empress Antoinette, The Pig with A College Education.”  His daughter calls the Bloodhound Gang to help get to the bottom of this, as her father is easily pliable, and the pig hasn’t spoken a word yet.

This segment usually was not solved in one episode, and would be spread out throughout the week.  Like the hosts of the show, the members of the gang changed over time.

By the time the Bloodhound Gang solves their mystery, it is the end of the program, but the beginning of a great concept that would last for seven seasons.

And it all started here, two years and nine months before I was born.

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Even though I would never have seen this episode in its original airing, I did watch this show regularly starting in the mid 1980s. I loved it, probably for the theme song, back then.  As an adult, I appreciate the topics, and how the show explains science in a simple and everyday use kind of way.  Nothing is overly difficult to understand, and it is hosted by relatable characters.  I wish I had been a little older when this was on, since I loved it as a kid, without really understanding what they discussed.

We watched an episode in my Chemistry class in eleventh grade (1999-2000), and for me, this is the kind of science I like.  This was always a subject area I was never good with, but when taught on a practical, everyday level, I get it.

And again, the theme song.  Who doesn’t love that.

Everything Happens…In This Video!

So, earlier in the article, I shared the “part one” video of the pilot episode.  The “part two” of this episode is everything after the theme song.  That part really did deserve its own video.

This part is the rest of the episode, roughly 21 minutes.  It goes by fast!

So go on, make CONTACT!, with the play button!

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And Now, You?

Do you remember 3-2-1 Contact, or the classroom version?  Did you watch it at home on your local PBS station, or in the classroom?  Any lessons stick with you, so many years later?  Were you a Bloodhound Gang fan?  Tell me your stories of making CONTACT!

And admit it, the theme…it gets you!

Have a great day!

In the last few Retro Rewatches, I’ve been covering one-off children’s specials, from puppets who know how to hug, stuffed bunnies who feel more than stuffed, a cartoon icon who learned math is, in fact, useful, and a Mongoose who bravely defends his territory, and his owners, against cobras.  All of these specials were ones I saw as a little kid, and some I hadn’t seen in years, other than a revisit as a teenager.  Today’s Retro Rewatch, while serving as the pilot for a series that didn’t really air as a series initially, qualifies because it has been quite a few years since I’ve seen it.

The (Sporadic) Adventures of Rainbow Brite

“Peril in the Pits” served as the pilot episode for Rainbow Brite, but it would be six months before the next episodes, a two-parter, aired.  The first six episodes were considered “specials,” and aired sporadically through 1984 and 1985, until after the release of Rainbow Brite and the Starstealer in November 1985.  Episode six aired in January 1986, and the second half of the series, episodes seven through thirteen, would air continuously from June 5, 1986, until July 24, 1986.  The entire series, all thirteen episodes, moved to the DiC syndication block Kideo TV.  That is more than likely how I saw the show in its entirety.  By that point (1987), Rainbow Brite had run its (first) course.

Surprisingly, the San Diego Zoo Adventure video eluded me until adulthood.  I still don’t know how that happened!

I mean, I have an idea of how it happened, but how did I not beg to see this when I was three years old?

Anyway, the Retro Rewatch.

I’m definitely going to watch the entire series at some point, which would mean quite a few Retro Rewatches in my future, but for today, I’m covering the first special, which serves as the pilot episode.

From June 27, 1984, this is Rainbow Brite’s first adventure on Earth…we assume.

“Peril in the Pits”

This is Brian.

He’s down, and tells his dog that he didn’t make “the team.”  He feels that nothing has gone right today, while ignoring the beautiful rainbow making itself known across the sky that his dog cannot otherwise ignore.

Meanwhile, a little girl riding her horse, with a furry companion of her own accompanying her, wonders what she has to do to get that boy to look at the rainbow, knowing that seeing the rainbow would make him happy.

Said girl unleashes the star sprinkles and magic from her color belt to plant the rainbow onto the ground…which the oblivious Brian walks right into.

He wasn’t supposed to walk into the rainbow, and the girl decides she needs to go and talk to him, despite Starlite’s objection about revealing themselves to the boy, who doesn’t seem to be overly upset with being covered in colors…yet.

Rainbow Brite comes down the rainbow and greets her new friend, who has “more questions than colors” about who she is, and how her horse flies.  So she introduces herself and Twink, but Starlite introduces himself.  “Staaaarlite…The Magnificent Horse, the Glory of the Galaxy.”

Pretty sure this is all mindblowing to Brian, until he realizes that he needs all these colors off of him, and informs Rainbow Brite that his father is a lawyer.

Whoah, whoah, when did he get all Entitled Brat who needs a Safe Space, whose Lawyer Daddy could sue the colors off of Rainbow Brite?

Rainbow’s solution is to help get the colors off (because she doesn’t wanna be sued an all, right?), but it means having to go to Rainbow Land!

On the way there, the two introduce themselves to each other.  The girl tells Brian she is Rainbow Brite!

Meanwhile, Murky Dismal is concocting a plan to rid Rainbow Land – and in turn, the world – of all colors, and make everyone gloomy.  Murky, along with his bumbling sidekick, Lurky, drive off in their Pollution Mobile (that’s not its real name) toward Rainbow Land to hatch their plan.

If they can stand all the colors on the way into Rainbow Land, that is.  They’re spotted by another one of those cute and cuddly creatures (this one is orange), who races off in his car to warn others of Murky and Lurky’s arrival.

Meanwhile, at Child Labor Land – er, Rainbow Land – other kids dressed similarly to Rainbow Brite, but with a single color work on mining the lands.  The babbling cuddly creature arrives and babbles to the kids, who understand his panic as Murky and Lurky are in Rainbow Land.  A boy in red, and a girl in orange (Red Butler and Lala Orange), decide that they’ll take care of Murky and Lurky.

According to their character descriptions, Lala Orange has a crush on Red Butler, albeit a secret one.  I guess this makes them the Fred and Daphne of Rainbow Land, since they’re going off together?

It sounded funny when I wrote it, friends.

Anyway, Murky brings his “Gloom Cloud,” which will make Rainbow so gloomy, she’ll be compliant enough to hand over her Color Belt.  It is at that moment that Rainbow Brite returns.  The other kids run to warn her of the situation, but of course, Murky and Lurky are hiding in the bushes.  Rainbow says she will never hand over her color belt, and a blast of the “Gloom Cloud” is countered with Star Sprinkles which hit Lurky and make him “full of pretty colors!”

And those colors clearly make him happy, wouldn’t you say?

A blast of the “Gloom Cloud” rids Lurky of all the pretty colors, and the two retreat from Rainbow Land, their plans foiled.

It won’t be the last time.  This is about 24 minutes, so it won’t take long for them to return.

Meanwhile, the two hide on a mountain, with plans to capture the Color Kids.  The kids check on their Star Sprinkle supply, when they get hit with the Gloom Cloud.  Compliant and moody, the Lala Orange, Red Butler, Patty O’Green, and Indigo accept their capture and go willingly with Murky into the cave.

That seemed to be a little too easy, wouldn’t you say?  I mean, even the My Little Pony characters kidnapped and taken hostage in Midnight Castle put up more of a fight than the Color Kids did.  It was all one spray of the Gloom Cloud and “we’re sad and moody.”  It all feels so…lazy.  And that, my friends, makes me sad.  I know it is a kiddie cartoon, I know it is the first episode, but I just don’t get it.  They’re supposed to be brave, and they don’t even try to put up a fight.

Oh heck, I’m just rambling on.  Moving on…

Rainbow successfully removes the colors from her new friend, and seriously, this is how she does it.

Brian braces himself like he’s getting a shot.  Look at that trembling and holding his breath!  All that worry, and it is over in four seconds!

Not over in four seconds, a potential rescue mission!

The sprites become frantic, informing Rainbow Brite and Starlite that Murky has captured the Color Kids, all because he wants her Color Belt.

Rainbow knows there is one thing she can do…rescue the kids!  With Brian along for the ride, she creates a rainbow that takes them to the Treacherous Pits, where the color kids are being held.  This is where her belt stops working, and causes Starlite to float in the air toward the pits!

Starlite cannot fly, but is able to break a potential fall and lands safely.  Unfortunately, he cannot fly (and can barely walk) in the pits, but is able to join the team when they set out in search of the Color Kids.  Rainbow informs Brian that if Murky were to get his hands on her Color Belt, the rest of the world would look like the pits.

Brian is appalled by the thought of this.  But hey, at least he won’t be getting his dad on Rainbow for what she did to him earlier.  There’s that.

Lurky is on lookout, and Murky uses blue Star Sprinkles he stole to disguise quicksand as water to entrap our heroes.  And of course Starlite, who refuses to look anything less than magnificent, sees the opportunity clean himself up and, well, leads himself to water.

Hasn’t he seen The Neverending Story?  This doesn’t end well!

Starlite becomes trapped in the quick sand, but Brian has an idea to form a chain to pull Starlite out.  Rainbow ends up in the quicksand with Starlite, and they very nearly sink.  It is the Color Belt, used as a rope, which saves them.

Seems this belt has more than one use, aside from The Most Important Use…providing all the colors!

But removing Rainbow’s belt proves disastrous, as the group is overtaken by their efforts, and weak and compliant (but not overcome by the Gloom Cloud!), they are put in a cage and captured by Murky, who now has the Color Belt for himself.  Again, it just seemed way too easy.  But I digress.  Now, he can succeed in removing all the color from Rainbow Land, which will remove all the color from the world.

In Rainbow Land, Murky dons the belt and uses it to make Rainbow Land lose its color.

Back in the pits, the Color Kids regain their grip on positivity and try to figure out a way to escape, until they find that everyone else has been captured.  When there seems to only be despair at the realization that Rainbow’s Color Belt is gone, it is Brian who pulls everyone together to plot an escape.

This boosts Rainbow’s morale, who says that they have hope, which doesn’t come from the belt, it comes from “inside us.”  It’s time for the group to get “unmurked,” and with the help of Brian’s baseball glove, Starlite (now magnificently unmurked!) kicks Twink to the top of the pits.

Seems dangerous, but it works.  Definitely the opposite of the “get captured” moments!

Meanwhile, Murky’s Gloom Cloud balloon is nearly ready to spread its dark gloom all over the world.  But Rainbow has escaped the Pits, and the group are ready to thwart Murky’s plans.  This involves climbing the rope to the Gloom Cloud balloon, and Brian successfully nabs the Color Belt from Murky. The balloon flies away, but Lurky lets too much air out, and the duo crash back into the cave, their plan a bunch of hot air.

Yeah, yeah.  Let me have my fun.

Easy come, easy go, the Color Belt is back in the right hands, and Murky has twelve more attempts to capture it from Rainbow Brite.

That’s not counting the movie.

Meanwhile, back at Rainbow Land, Rainbow’s adoring crowd of Sprites bid a newly-confident Brian goodbye, and Rainbow and Starlite help get Brian home.

His dog is happy to see him return.

Rainbow says goodbye to Brian, who responds (very shyly) in kind when Rainbow Brite tells Brian she will miss him.

Brian seems sad that his adventure is over, but Rainbow reminds “Grump Face” that next time there’s a rainbow, to “look up,” and that he might see her.  Brian promises he’ll look for her, and promises he won’t let things get him down.  He’s so confident, he says he is going to try out for the team again.

Didn’t they cut him?  How is he going to try out again?  Does he mean next time?

Ugh, I’ve got more questions than colors!

As Rainbow, Twink, and Starlite leave, and the Rainbow disappear behind them, Rainbow blows a kiss to Brian…

…who gets all bashful over that cute blonde girl with the flying horse.

As the familiar lyrics of Rainbow Brite’s theme play under the closing credits, thus ends Rainbow Brite’s first (documented) journey to Earth, and the first (that we’ve seen) encounter with Murky Dismal.  It won’t be her last.

As I said, he has twelve more attempts – ok, thirteen if you count the San Diego Zoo – to nab that Color Belt and destroy the world by removing all of its colors.  This also won’t be the last time we encounter Brian.  I do know he returns for the movie, but I haven’t seen the other episodes in a loooong time, so I’m guessing Rainbow Brite might need his help again?

We shall see.

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In all, not bad for a first outing.  The story itself has a lazy moment or two (the capture of the Color Kids, the stealing of the Color Belt).  I don’t know, it just seemed those moments could have had a little more effort written into them.  Like, why didn’t the Color Kids charge at Murky? I know I’m overthinking something that was mind-blowing for me when I was little.

I loved Rainbow Brite growing up, and even as an adult, I can remove my rose-colored nostalgia glasses to see through the childhood love and understand why I loved it so much.  It was fun (despite the lazy moments) and colorful.  As I said, for a first episode, it isn’t terrible.  It was actually entertaining.  The incidental music reminds me of Inspector Gadget, but there is a connection – Shuki Levy and Haim Saban.  Two composers that basically had their musical hands on everything 80s kids know and love.

Knowing that it wasn’t the human struggle to get through “Peril in the Pits,” I will most definitely watch the other specials/episodes of Rainbow Brite, and perhaps, the movie.

As for my next Retro Rewatch, I have a few ideas in mind, so I shall see which one comes to fruition.

Until then, if you see a rainbow, look up…

I’m kidding.  Like she’s ever going to come back.

I’d probably wind up with Joel McHale’s version of Rainbow Brite.

That’s my luck.

Have a great day!

…and it is all about hugging and love and cuddles.  Oh, and special effect fireworks anytime those displays of affection are shown.

Your hug feels like the Fourth of July!

I’ve been enjoying my Retro Rewatches, revisiting children’s short films that I haven’t seen in so many years.  In the last few weeks, I’ve watched the story of a brave Mongoose and his Cobra killing prowess, the story of a little boy and his beloved stuffed rabbit, and the always stubborn Donald Duck explore a “strange place,” but one that allows him to learn about the practical uses of mathematics.  I’ve thoroughly enjoyed these little trips back to things I haven’t seen since childhood.  Can we keep that streak going this week?

Well, maybe.  If the screenshot and featured image are any indication, this one may be a little tougher to get through.  But we’ll persevere!

The Characters Hallmark Created

Hallmark always cares to send the very best, and in turn they like to create the best too.  Their licensed characters are the stuff of memories – especially my beloved Rainbow Brite.  They’ve had other characters pop up over the years (especially during the licensed character craze of the 1980s), but Rainbow Brite continues to be the most memorable.  There is another group of equally cuddly creatures that popped up around the same time as Rainbow Brite and her friends, with their own land and characters.  They love to hug…alot.  More than alot…a bunch.  Perhaps you’ve heard of these characters?

A Bunch a Huggin’!

“The Hugga Bunch” is a series of chracters created by Hallmark, in conjunction with Parker Brothers and Kenner (for the toyline), first introduced in 1985 on greeting cards, and then as a toyline.

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This whole huggable creatures from Huggaland thing really took off, so naturally, with alot of exposure in both toy stores and at Hallmark, someone knew a good idea was afoot.  So, there was a one-off short film created specifically to promote the characters.

What resulted was the stuff of cuddly, cutesy, cheesy 1980s toy tie-in, with a dash of nightmare fuel.

Ahhh, 1985, you never disappoint.

Image: IMDb

I first saw this as a kid, revisited it about six years ago (pretty sure I planned on doing this type of article, but my heart wasn’t into writing at that time), and again on Monday.  My heart is in it right now, so let’s see how well this holds up.

So, as I – er, as the protagonist, Bridget – said…

“There’s Something Very Mystifying Going On…”

The Hugga Bunch tells the story of Bridget Severson, a seven-year-old who senses something strange is going on.  The story starts off with her recounting the day before, when her and her brother received gifts from her parents…

…not because it was a birthday, and not because Bridget had been extra good (she basically admits she hasn’t been), but because they are loved.

Sounds like bribery to me, but I’m cynical.

Bridget names her newest acquisition “Sweet William” (oh, her southern charm just oozes through the video!), and prepares for her day, but not before explaining her family setup – mom, dad, her computer-loving brother Andrew, Aunt Ruth, and Grams, as well as their house, which was her grandparents’ house until her grandfather died.  As she hugs her new penguin, the strangest thing happens…

She hears giggling through the mirror in her bedroom.

A quick inspection of her closet yields nothing, and apparently, this has happened a few times to her recently.  Anytime she hugs something in the vicinity of her mirror, she hears the giggling.

At breakfast, her family passes off what she hears as “imaginary people,” which is apparently normal for girls her age.

Not normal for girls her age?

How she dresses up those pancakes.

Pancake, peanut butter, strawberries, and eggs and bacon, made into a sandwich.

Yikes, is this kid pregnant?  I like strange combinations of food, and even I’m not weird enough to group this stuff together! I’m thinking she plans on using this as bait, but nothing beyond the breakfast table conversation builds on this unusualness.

Mystifying indeed.

Anyway, Bridget is troubled by what her mom, dad, and Aunt Ruth are talking about in regards to her and her brother Andrew’s grandmother.  Her wonderful brother informs Bridget that all the hushed conversation around them is because their parents are putting Grams “out to pasture,” by moving grandmother to a retirement home.  Bridget is appalled by this idea, since she’s family and is loved.  The adults believe she needs to be around people her own age, but Bridget is distraught at the idea that the only person in the family that truly knows how to hug is not going to be living there anymore.

I wonder if that revelation ruined Bridget’s appetite for her amazing creation.

Up in the attic, Bridget has a heart-to-heart with her grandmother about the current situation.  Grandma reassures her that she isn’t going away forever, and that Bridget will still get to see her.  But Bridget believes there has to be a way to keep her grandmother at home with them, where she belongs.

Back in her room, she has a tea party and dotes on her toys, which causes the fireworks again.  But this time, a surprise visitor makes itself known.

All those giggles, and now…someone comes through the mirror!

This visitor introduces herself as “Huggins,” and has come through because of the hugs Bridget gives.

Man, this looks like Kenner was trying to cash in on those lucrative Cabbage Patch Kids sales, and thought colorful hair would be a good idea.  I’m sure the actual dolls were cute, but these puppets just…wow.

Anyway, Huggins arrived because Bridget gives good hugs, but informs Bridget that she could help her find a way to keep Grams in their home.

After a little exploration in the house that results in Huggins winding up in the washing machine and stealing Andrew’s St. Louis Cardinals hat (because she likes it), she offers to take Bridget back through the mirror to Huggaland, to meet the bookworm and find out the best solution to her problem.

Bridget walks through the looking glass and winds up in Huggaland, where the other Hugga Bunches and the babies live.  She loses a shoe in her bedroom as she walks through, but it is ok – the ground is cushioned enough that she could go without her other shoe.

After a musical number and so much hugging, Huggins and her friend Huggsy take Bridget to the Bookworm.

I’m actually weirded out by Huggsy’s attire.  Suspenders, bowtie, and no shirt?  Does he think he’s a Chippendales dancer?  And he decides he likes Andrew’s hat for himself, so he wears it.

The group ventures to the Bookworm, who is not really the most forthcoming with answers to what Bridget needs.  All she wants is a way to make her grandmother young so she never has to move to the retirement home.  And she needs to wrap all of this up by 4:30 that afternoon, because that’s when grandmother is leaving.

The bookworm informs Bridget (after much persistence and worry on her part) that instant youth is attained by eating the fruit of the Youngberry Tree. There’s only one such tree, and it grows in the Land of Shrugs.  But…no one ever comes back from the Land of Shrugs.  Bridget is undeterred by this – she just wants to keep Grams at home, where she belongs.

And if finding Youngberries means the Path of Least Resistance – er, the sideways sidewalk – in the Land of Shrugs, then so be it.  So she – along with Huggins and Huggsy – take the plunge into the Land of Shrugs through one of the books on the mountain.

Bridget, Huggins, and Huggsy encounter the Hairy Behemoth, but believe even he can be cured of his “behemoth ways” with a hug.

Of course they’d think that.

Turns out that the Hairy Behemoth is actually Hodge Podge the Elephant, an elephant who faints out of fear.  He was told by Queen Admira that he wasn’t a cowardly, forgetful elephant, but the Hairy Behemoth.  And now that he is his true self, he helps Bridget and her new Not Muppet Friends get to the Queen Admira’s castle to raid her Youngberry tree, the only such tree in the land.

They find the tree, but they also find the greatest overactor ever…QUEEN ADMIRA!

This actress clearly loves the part, and she plays it with all the passion of Faye Dunaway depicting Joan Crawford.  Such grace, such splendor, such…hamminess!

Queen Admira loves her “beauty ritual,” plucking a berry off the Youngberry Tree.  The taste is obviously objectionable, but one an hour is what she needs.  They keep her “so young, so divine, so beautiful.”

And no, Bridget can’t have even one berry.  And how dare Bridget ask for one, or have better acting skills or a better complexion than Queen Admira!

Bridget’s despair turns to insistence, but it is all for nothing, as Queen Admira freezes Bridget as a forever statue in her castle.

This was the part that always scared me!

Still a better actress, even when completely quiet and statue-like.

Huggsy and Huggins are thrown into a cell with a fainted Hodge Podge, but they find a way out of the cell and back to Bridget.

And of course, they also figure out a way to save their new friend.

Take a wild guess how.

You’re good at this.  Or it is just so predictable.

Bridget, now unfrozen, is determined to gain access to that tree, and spots the key to do so.  The group hurries to fill a glass jar with Youngberries and get the heck out of there (Bridget’s got a deadline, after all), and in the process, drop the key next to the tree.

The group is nearly caught in the act, but they manage to escape from Queen Admira, who is in need of her next beauty treatment.

However, the key winds up inside the glass casing that the tree is held in, and Queen Admira is unable to reach it as the encasing closes down on the tree.

The effects are disastrous for Queen Admira (both the special and the consequential), as she rapidly ages to death.

Of course, her overacting ages too, and we get to watch as Queen Admira dies onscreen.

All that because she missed on beauty treatment of Youngberries.

I remember seeing something similar happen on MacGyver, except it was due to exposure to a chemical process that rapidly aged a woman and her beloved dog to death.  It was terrifying!  This, however…I keep picturing Faye Dunaway as Joan Crawford, so I’m actually laughing.  Good lord, I hope Bridget got enough for Grams, can’t have this happening to her!

Bridget, Huggins, and Huggsy hurry back through The Land of Shrugs (which they manage to escape!), and through Huggaland to get to the mirror before it is too late.  Bridget grabs her discarded shoe, but as she steps back through the mirror…disaster strikes.

She drops all the berries on the ground, and they all disappear.

Not actual dialogue:

“Gram’s as good as dead!”

“Oh, don’t say that!  She’s still alive!”

“But she won’t be young!  She has to go away now!”

Hey, considering the affect not having one Youngberry – missing a single beauty treatment! – had on Queen Chews the Scenery, Grams is probably better off.

After that, Bridget has to confront another sadness…her brother and his refusal to love, hug, or care.  All Bridget wants is for Andrew to hug Grams and show his love, so maybe she won’t have to go.

The way she delivers this heartbreaking plea (seriously, this girl is a good actress!), you’d think Grams was going off to die tomorrow.

As the family says its tearful goodbyes to Grams, who is only moving away, but will be seen plenty at her new place, Bridget pleads silently to Andrew to show some love.

He does, and it works.  It all works.

The parents are so devastated by the reactions of their children that Daddy Severson decides they can’t let Grams go to the retirement home and be “put out to pasture.”

So it is official – Grams is staying!  She will get to age gracefully in the home with her grandchildren and family around.

Heck, even the stoic Aunt Ruth breaks down over the emotional display.  You’d think the Hugga Bunch visited this family and taught them how to hug and love!

Later on (I’m assuming that night), Andrew is looking for his St. Louis Cardinals cap, and asks Bridget about it.  As she tries to conjure up an explanation for it, it gets handed through the mirror, and she quickly puts it on his head.

All is right with the world, and Bridget, now alone in her room, waves to her mirror, because I’m sure Huggins can see her.

The closing credits are a re-tread of everything that happened in the special, along with the theme song.  But we are left with the knowledge that Grams gets to stay, there is something on the other side of the mirror (besides clothes), and that Andrew got his hat back.

All is right with the world, indeed.

The Specifics

The Hugga Bunch originally aired on television on June 19, 1985 (according to Internet Movie Database), produced on a budget of $1.4 million, the most expensive for a television special at that time, and even earned a Primetime Emmy for special effects.  It was later released on home video (likely how I saw it, I was 2 1/2 in June 1985), Beta, and Laserdisc by Children’s Video Library.  Along with some merchandising (toys, records, books), the Hugga Bunch seemed to go off into licensed character heaven sometime in the mid-1980s.  There isn’t a ton of information about the dolls other than their existence (which is the most important part).  Hallmark hasn’t brought them back either, and this special has never seen a DVD or Blu-Ray release.  Unfortunately (perhaps?), it is safe to say that Hallmark has clearly put them “out to pasture.”

Not nearly as harsh as when Andrew Severson says that in reference to Grams going to live in a retirement home.

My Reaction

It’s all so…cheesy.

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed this as a kid, and even as an adult, I liked it, but with a cynical edge.  The dialogue is a bit hokey, but I don’t expect anything less from a children’s movie.  What I did expect was the kind of acting that comes with children’s movies.  What I saw (at least from the human actors) was competent actors.  Queen Admira, even though she reminded me way too much of Faye Dunaway as Joan Crawford, was so good at being so over the top.  That part clearly was meant to be played nothing less than such, and she delivered.

And I won’t lie, I remember seeing this as a little kid, and being so scared of Queen Admira freezing Bridget!

Gennie James, the girl who played Bridget, is a good actress. I’ve seen her in other roles, and she conveys emotion beautifully.  Her prominent southern accent is so sweet, it is hard not to love her.  The funny thing is, her family clearly doesn’t come off as being from the south (especially her brother).  It’s a children’s movie, so it is easier to overlook that little detail.

The puppetry is definitely not Jim Henson and The Muppets, but it is decent.  Creepy, but decent.  I love Hodge Podge the Elephant’s design, and how he is operated.

I did Gypsy in high school, and part of the musical’s Vaudeville act was a “moo cow named Caroline,” which was a cow suit operated with two people.  I wore the costume for the – absolute truth – back half of the cow.  Now, you’ll laugh, but it actually was not easy.  I had to be bent over and dancing.  Not difficult dance steps, but I had to dance and be in sync with the front half.  I remember being so unhappy that I got that part (and not one of the cool dancing parts that I had auditioned for), but it was fun, and I did get to do some background dancing.  Plus, the loud applause during curtain call was awesome!

In all, if you really love your nostalgia with a tinge of cheese coupled with the feels of familiarity and puppets, I give my ringing endorsement.

I’m a captive audience, what can I say?

Watch The Hugga Bunch!

Image: IMDb

At 48 minutes, The Hugga Bunch is a bit longer than the other Retro Rewatches I’ve done, but it is cute and engaging, if not a bit weird and dated looking.  As 1980s kid fare goes, it was exciting to watch as a kid.  As nostalgia, it is cheesy, but it is still fun.

As for the “bonus” The Making Of from the video, I have yet to find that anywhere.  But the complete special is on YouTube, and that, my friends, is all that matters!

Upload via radioguy

Next week, Allison’s Written Words is paying tribute to the 40th anniversary of a classic comedy, giving it the respect it deserves.  More on that next week.  The week after, we’ll shift back to Retro Rewatch territory with another childhood watched culled from the archive.

Have a great day!

So opens the story of a toy rabbit whose lofty ambition is to be as Real as he feels he is, and how the boy who loves him believes him to be.

I remember having a copy of The Velveteen Rabbit.  I think I got it for Christmas in second grade.  I even brought it to school one time for a Reading class partner project in sixth grade.  It’s been 25 years, so I don’t remember what the project was.  Something to do with children’s literature.  I’ve always liked the story and the lesson taught by it.  But before I read the story of a stuffed rabbit with dreams, I saw an animated version of the story.  It was a beautifully-told story, probably one of the better kid-lit-turned-animated shorts I’ve seen.  At least, that’s how I remember it being.  Does it still hold up today?

Like last week’s treatment of Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, I’m giving The Velveteen Rabbit the benefit of a long overdue retro rewatch.

All questions will be answered, after rewatching the 1985 animated adaptation of The Velveteen Rabbit!

A Rabbit Gets The Cartoon Treatment

The Velveteen Rabbit is a 1985 animated adaptation of the Margery Williams story of the same name.  It is one of several adaptations of the story, and the second animated version to be made in 1985, the other being a special produced by Hanna-Barbera Australia and airing as an ABC Weekend Special.  The version I saw as a kid was produced by Canadian animation company Atkinson Film-Arts, part of their Cartoon Classics.  The special originally aired on CTV in Canada, and HBO in the United States, and saw home video release in the United States by Family Home Entertainment.

The rabbit is given as a gift to a young boy on his birthday, and taken to the nursery, where the other toys do not believe he belongs. The soldiers, in what will become a subplot of the story, move the Rabbit, who is without fancy windup mechanics and shiny paint, to the other side of the nursery, with the forgotten toys.

The Skin Horse, the oldest toy in the nursery, takes on the care of The Velveteen Rabbit.  The Skin Horse, a toy passed down in the story from the boy’s uncle, had been loved so much that his tail had lost its hair, and his stitches had come loose, but he believed in the beauty of the Velveteen Rabbit, and tells him that you are real if you’re loved.

One night, as a thunderstorm scares the young boy, his Nanny brings him the Velveteen Rabbit to comfort him to sleep.

It works, and the boy and his beloved stuffed rabbit become inseparable.

And as the rabbit begins to feel the kind of Real that comes from being loved, some of the toys in the nursery resent him, especially the soldiers.  Their plan to overthrow the Velveteen Rabbit is foiled by the boy (inadvertently) when he opens the bedroom door and crushes the soldiers against the wall.

It is on that night that the boy proclaims his “old toy” to be “Real,” which is all the Velveteen Rabbit needs to hear to believe it.

The soldiers, in a subplot, continue their efforts to unseat the Velveteen Rabbit as the boy’s favorite toy…despite their growing fondness of the toy.

The rabbits in the forest discover The Velveteen Rabbit, and while they know he’s a rabbit, they question how real he is when he doesn’t respond to them.

It is on the night of the sixteenth (yes, seriously, sixteenth) attempt that not only is their plan foiled, but that the boy becomes ill.

The doctor orders convalescence and isolation for the boy, and the Velveteen Rabbit stays by his side through it all, feeling as real as he ever could be by his young owner’s side.  As the boy recovers, he is to go to the seashore with his family for holiday.

The doctor orders everything in the room – sheets, clothing, and especially the Velveteen Rabbit – be removed from the room and destroyed.

Everything is to be burned in a fire, but when this is being done, the Rabbit drops out of the sack he is placed in, and forgotten about.

And wouldn’t you know it, the soldiers are softies and want to save the Velveteen Rabbit from being burned in the fire.

One night, after longing for the life he had with the boy, and for his friend, the Skin Horse, the Rabbit cries a real tear, which summons a fairy.

The fairy knows that crying a Real Tear makes one real, and will make the rabbit as Real as he believes he is.

The seasons change, and in the spring, the rabbits are near the boy’s home.  He goes outside, and sees a Rabbit which looks very familiar to him, very much like the toy he loved and lost when he was sick.  The Rabbit hasn’t forgotten those times, and the boy wants him to come closer to him.

However, temptation draws the Rabbit away…

And as the narrator says, “only the Skin Horse knew the truth, but then, he had been in the nursery a long, long time.”

Reaction

The story of loving a toy so much that it becomes part of your life and your every step resonates well with anyone.  We’ve all had that one very special toy (or probably many over the years) that we loved, and included in everyday play.  It kept us safe, it stayed with when we needed it the most, and to us, it was real.

There weren’t any fairies that looked like Moon Dreamers dolls, but we could probably pretend play that fairy with those dolls.

Image: YouTube

It’s not just me, right?  You see the resemblance?

As I said, I had the book when I was a kid, I think it was a Christmas present when I was eight years old.  I used it for a partner project in reading class in sixth grade (darned if I know what the project was about).  The home video of this special was released in 1987, and I probably saw it around then.  Seeing the preview on a different Family Home Entertainment video brought back memories of seeing this cartoon.

As for the cartoon itself, it is cute.  The story and dialogue is cute, and the animation is pretty standard for Atkinson Film-Arts, thankfully without ugly-looking Care Bears.  I know I said I didn’t like Atkinson’s efforts with the Care Bears franchise, but I used to watch The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin as a little kid, and the animation on that series was quite good, and very faithful to the animation in the books.

The story here is slightly different from that of the book – the boy is given the rabbit as a birthday gift, and placed in bed with him during a thunderstorm, not for Christmas, and not in place of a lost toy as in the book.  The toy soldier subplot is obviously meant to pad out the plot, but is funny and does not detract from the actual plot.  I also don’t think the “girl rabbit” infatuation was part of the original story, as The Velveteen Rabbit just goes off with the other rabbits.  The boy still does seem to recognize his familiarity.  That makes the Rabbit feel all the more special.

The Velveteen Rabbit himself is adorable, a cute little sack of a stuffed toy with beautiful button eyes.  The animators stayed faithful to the design of the toy through their own style of animation, and that truly makes this work.

Did I enjoy it?  Absolutely.  It was worth the time.  Like Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, at 24 minutes and change, it is a quick – and adorable watch!

Upload via WØEPD – Rabbit Ears TV

I had mentioned there being another animated version by Hanna-Barbera in 1985. I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen it.  I just watched a few minutes on YouTube, and it doesn’t look familiar.  I’ll give it a shot, but it doesn’t qualify for a “Retro Rewatch.”  I’m betting it is cute and in the vein of Hanna-Barbera, but I’m partial to this version.

And Now, You!

Have you seen this version of The Velveteen Rabbit, or any other version?  I’d love to hear your stories of a toy you loved so much, it was “Real” to you!

I have a few ideas I’m kicking around for Retro Rewatches, the aim is to choose one for next week.

It is a great problem to have ideas and no clue what to write about first, don’t you think?

Have a great day!