| Freakazoid! | |
|---|---|
| Created by |
Steven Spielberg Bruce Timm Paul Dini |
| Starring |
Paul Rugg Edward Asner David Kaufman John P. McCann Tress MacNeille Googy Gress Tracy Rowe Craig Ferguson Jonathan Harris Frank Welker Jeff Glen Bennett Ricardo Montalban David Warner Maurice LaMarche Stephen Furst Stan Freberg Larry Cedar Corey Burton Joe Leahy |
| Country of origin | 
United States |
| No. of episodes | 24 |
| Production | |
| Running time | approx. 0:30 (per episode) |
| Original release | |
| Network | Kids' WB! |
| Release |
September 9,
1995 – June 1, 1997 |
Steven Spielberg Presents Freakazoid! is an American animated television series, created by Steven Spielberg and Warner Bros. Animation that aired for two seasons from 1995 to 1997. Bruce Timm, best known as a major principal of the DC animated universe, originally intended it to be a straightforward superhero action-adventure cartoon with comic overtones, but executive producer Steven Spielberg asked series producer/writer Tom Ruegger and the Animaniacs team to turn Freakazoid! into a flat-out comedy.
The show chronicles the adventures of the title character, Freakazoid, a manic, insane superhero who battles with a vast array of super villains. The show also features mini-episodes of adventures of other bizarre superheros.
Freakazoid! makes frequent use of stock footage which is often gratuitous and nonsensical, including the peaceful scene of a field of flowers ("Relax-O-Vision"), numerous people screaming ("Scream-O-Vision"), traditionally dressed Bavarians dancing and slapping each other, a man being shot in the belly with a cannonball and a man wrestling a bear.
Plot
The show's title character is the superhero alter ego of geeky teenager Dexter Douglas. Gaining his abilities from a rather spectacular computer bug (becoming absorbed into his computer and instantly gaining all the information on the Internet), Freakazoid has enhanced strength and endurance, extraordinary speed, agility, and, unfortunately, negligible amounts of sanity. In one episode he developed telekinetic powers, which he could only use when he was very angry, though this was only used in one episode, and never mentioned or used again. He also has the ability to assume the form of electricity and cover long distances instantaneously, although he just as often simply sticks his arms forward and runs while making swooshing sounds with his mouth, pretending to fly. These changes make him a powerful and fearsome force for upholding freedom and righteousness, unless he gets distracted by something like a bear riding a motorcycle. His greatest weakness, as he once explained to a villain, is that he can be imprisoned in a cage with graphite bars charged with negative ions. He also expresses a great (though understandable) aversion to " poo gas."
Dexter can change into and out of Freakazoid at will with the words "Freak out!" and "Freak in!" (respectively). When not in Freakazoid mode, Dexter looks and acts completely normal, and his family is unaware that anything has happened to him.
Characters
{{spoiler}}
Enemies
Freakazoid! features a number of campy villains and enemies, including:
- The Lobe, a super genius whose entire head appears to be a giant brain, voiced by David Warner. Despite his high intellect, he has very low self-esteem, once even having a scheme foiled by Freakazoid simply insulting the plan. No background information of any kind is given for The Lobe; not even his real name is revealed.
- Cave Guy, a thuggish blue caveman with upper-class diction, education, and taste, voiced by Jeff Glen Bennett. His real name is Royce Mumphries and he subscribes to The New Yorker. His voice is similar to that of Thurston Howell III's.
- Cobra Queen, a former shoplifter named Audrey Manatee whose encounter with an experimental cosmetic left in the sun too long transformed her into a cobra woman, with command over snakes and other reptiles, voiced by Tress MacNeille. In later episodes, Cave Guy and Cobra Queen are a couple. She often complained about the lack of light in her lair until Freakazoid suggested getting Japanese lanterns.
- Longhorn, a trucker and cat litter thief who underwent plastic surgery to make him resemble a longhorn bull, voiced by Maurice LaMarche. He loves country music and his truck, "Bessie Mae". Longhorn often seems to be angry; his voice resembles that of Johnny Cash.
- Armando Guitierrez, the man whose company, Apex Microchips (not to be confused with Apex Digital), designed the faulty Pinnacle chip responsible for Freakazoid's creation. Physically, Guitierrez resembles Ricardo Montalban (with the addition of an eyepatch), who provides the character's voice; at times he shows similarities to Khan Noonien Singh from Star Trek -- also played by Montalban. One of his reoccurring jokes is asking others to laugh with him.
- Candle Jack,
| Freakazoid! | |
|---|---|
| Created by |
Steven Spielberg Bruce Timm Paul Dini |
| Starring |
Paul Rugg Edward Asner David Kaufman John P. McCann Tress MacNeille Googy Gress Tracy Rowe Craig Ferguson Jonathan Harris Frank Welker Jeff Glen Bennett Ricardo Montalban David Warner Maurice LaMarche Stephen Furst Stan Freberg Larry Cedar Corey Burton Joe Leahy |
| Country of origin |
United States |
| No. of episodes | 24 |
| Production | |
| Running time | approx. 0:30 (per episode) |
| Original release | |
| Network | Kids' WB! |
| Release |
September 9,
1995 – June 1, 1997 |
Steven Spielberg Presents Freakazoid! is an American animated television series, created by Steven Spielberg and Warner Bros. Animation that aired for two seasons from 1995 to 1997. Bruce Timm, best known as a major principal of the DC animated universe, originally intended it to be a straightforward superhero action-adventure cartoon with comic overtones, but executive producer Steven Spielberg asked series producer/writer Tom Ruegger and the Animaniacs team to turn Freakazoid! into a flat-out comedy.
The show chronicles the adventures of the title character, Freakazoid, a manic, insane superhero who battles with a vast array of super villains. The show also features mini-episodes of adventures of other bizarre superheros.
Freakazoid! makes frequent use of stock footage which is often gratuitous and nonsensical, including the peaceful scene of a field of flowers ("Relax-O-Vision"), numerous people screaming ("Scream-O-Vision"), traditionally dressed Bavarians dancing and slapping each other, a man being shot in the belly with a cannonball and a man wrestling a bear.
Plot
The show's title character is the superhero alter ego of geeky teenager Dexter Douglas. Gaining his abilities from a rather spectacular computer bug (becoming absorbed into his computer and instantly gaining all the information on the Internet), Freakazoid has enhanced strength and endurance, extraordinary speed, agility, and, unfortunately, negligible amounts of sanity. In one episode he developed telekinetic powers, which he could only use when he was very angry, though this was only used in one episode, and never mentioned or used again. He also has the ability to assume the form of electricity and cover long distances instantaneously, although he just as often simply sticks his arms forward and runs while making swooshing sounds with his mouth, pretending to fly. These changes make him a powerful and fearsome force for upholding freedom and righteousness, unless he gets distracted by something like a bear riding a motorcycle. His greatest weakness, as he once explained to a villain, is that he can be imprisoned in a cage with graphite bars charged with negative ions. He also expresses a great (though understandable) aversion to " poo gas."
Dexter can change into and out of Freakazoid at will with the words "Freak out!" and "Freak in!" (respectively). When not in Freakazoid mode, Dexter looks and acts completely normal, and his family is unaware that anything has happened to him.
Characters
{{spoiler}}
Enemies
Freakazoid! features a number of campy villains and enemies, including:
- The Lobe, a super genius whose entire head appears to be a giant brain, voiced by David Warner. Despite his high intellect, he has very low self-esteem, once even having a scheme foiled by Freakazoid simply insulting the plan. No background information of any kind is given for The Lobe; not even his real name is revealed.
- Cave Guy, a thuggish blue caveman with upper-class diction, education, and taste, voiced by Jeff Glen Bennett. His real name is Royce Mumphries and he subscribes to The New Yorker. His voice is similar to that of Thurston Howell III's.
- Cobra Queen, a former shoplifter named Audrey Manatee whose encounter with an experimental cosmetic left in the sun too long transformed her into a cobra woman, with command over snakes and other reptiles, voiced by Tress MacNeille. In later episodes, Cave Guy and Cobra Queen are a couple. She often complained about the lack of light in her lair until Freakazoid suggested getting Japanese lanterns.
- Longhorn, a trucker and cat litter thief who underwent plastic surgery to make him resemble a longhorn bull, voiced by Maurice LaMarche. He loves country music and his truck, "Bessie Mae". Longhorn often seems to be angry; his voice resembles that of Johnny Cash.
- Armando Guitierrez, the man whose company, Apex Microchips (not to be confused with Apex Digital), designed the faulty Pinnacle chip responsible for Freakazoid's creation. Physically, Guitierrez resembles Ricardo Montalban (with the addition of an eyepatch), who provides the character's voice; at times he shows similarities to Khan Noonien Singh from Star Trek -- also played by Montalban. One of his reoccurring jokes is asking others to laugh with him.
- Candle Jack,