Robert McFadden Movies
- 1987
Completed in 1985, Rankin/Bass' feature-length cartoon version of Kenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows had its network debut delayed several times; the film finally premiered on July 5, 1987. This adaption of the 1908 Grahame story was more faithful to the source that the enjoyable but overly slick 1949 Disney version Ichabod and Mr. Toad (ironically, the Rankin/Bass version was shown in the timeslot normally occupied by ABC's Disney Sunday Movie). This lighthearted tale of the foolish Mr. Toad and the attempts by his anthropomorphic-animal friends to keep Toad from making a fool of himself was wonderfully brought to life by the whimsically epicene voicework of Charles Nelson Reilly (as Toad), Roddy McDowall, Jose Ferrer and Eddie Bracken. The film's character design and background art brilliantly evoke the spirit of Kenneth Grahame's original illustrations. Since its initial telecast, Wind in the Willows has become a fixture of virtually every video rental store in the nation. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul H. Frees, Charles Nelson Reilly, (more)
- 1986
Entering its second season as the top-rated animated half-hour series in daily strip syndication, Thundercats supplies its fans with 65 new adventures pitting the super-powered feline-like protagonists against the monstrous minions of Mumm-Ra -- and, as usual, shamelessly promotes the multitude of Thundercat toys and action figures churned out by Leisure Concepts, Inc. This season offers quite a few multi-part stories, all of them eminently adaptable as two hour "specials" , beginning with the five-part opener ThunderCats Ho!, which introduces several new good-guy characters: Pumyra the female puma, Bengali the white tiger, and Lynxo the blind lynx, all transformed into full-fledged ThunderCats by group leader Lion-O. This is followed by another five-parter, "Mumm-Ra Lives," wherein the titular villain, presumably destroyed in the previous adventures, returns for more deviltry with the help of his powerful alter ego Ma-Mutt and a race known as the Luna-Tacks. In the process, viewers are introduced to another new Thundercat: Snarfer, the nephew of longtime regular Snarf. Twenty individual, self-contained episodes go by before the next five-part escapade, "ThunderCubs," which finds Panthro, Cheetara, Tygra, Snarf, and Snarfer regressing to childhood while passing through the Canyons of Youth on New Thundera. Then, it's 15 additional "single" episodes before viewers are treated to the five-part "Return to Thundera, in which the Thundercats make a return trip to their earthquake-shattered (but still amazingly intact) home planet. The 130th and final episode, "The Book of Omens," boils down to the ultimate showdown between Lion-O and Mumm-Ra -- with neither opponent utilizing the magic powers that are traditionally at their disposal. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert McFadden, Earl Hammond, (more)
- 1985
The daily, half-hour animated adventure series Thundercats was introduced with an extra-length "special" in January of 1985, with the series proper following eleven months later. Escaping the dying planet Thundera, a band of giant feline-like aliens with human characteristics journey to "Third Earth." Just before expiring, Jaga, the head of the Thundercats, passes the cudgel to young Lion-O, who is entrusted with the Sword of Omens, which enables himself and his comrades to possess super-powers. (In later episodes, Jaga will contact Lion-O from "The Astral World.") No sooner have they landed on Third Earth, however, than the Thundercats are assaulted by the mutant monstrosities of the planet Plun-Darr, led by the hideous living mummy Mumm-Ra. As the series progresses, Mumm-Ra will use his shape-shifting abilities to confound the "good guys"; the Thundercats will accrue such allies as the Ro-Bears and the Brute-Men; innumerable beasties, reprobates, and potential heroes will trod the ground of Third Earth, among them unicorns, pirates, living gargoyles, the enigmatic samurai Hachi-Man, the mechanical pest Wolfrat, the sheep-like (but far from sheepish) Bolkins, the indescribably horrible monster Mongra, Mumm-Ra's flunky The Driller (half power drill, half human), the teeny-tiny human race Micrits (not unlike Dr. Seuss' Whos of Whoville), and the megalomaniac Vultureman. And although it will seem that the Thundercats bear most of the brunt from unfriendly visitors, Mumm-Ra is in for some headaches of his own from his ancient mind-controlling enemy Wiz-Ra. Throughout, it remains vital for the Thundercats to sustain a generous supply of Thundrillium to retain their powers, and to avoid the Time Warp Prison.
Highlights include the two-part "Feliner," all about the Thundercats' efforts to keep their first airship aloft with the use of the hyperspace mega-condenser; and a five-part continuity, spread out over several weeks, wherein Lion-O must, on the occasion of his 20th birthday, go through a grueling rite of passage called an atonement in order to become True Lord of the ThunderCats. The last of Season one's 65 episodes is "Fond Memories," in which a visit to the Thundercats Hall of Fame proves to be an exhilarating experience when the pictures on the wall come to life...and Lion-O ends up battling himself! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Highlights include the two-part "Feliner," all about the Thundercats' efforts to keep their first airship aloft with the use of the hyperspace mega-condenser; and a five-part continuity, spread out over several weeks, wherein Lion-O must, on the occasion of his 20th birthday, go through a grueling rite of passage called an atonement in order to become True Lord of the ThunderCats. The last of Season one's 65 episodes is "Fond Memories," in which a visit to the Thundercats Hall of Fame proves to be an exhilarating experience when the pictures on the wall come to life...and Lion-O ends up battling himself! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert McFadden, Earl Hammond, (more)
- 1985
A puppet-animation feature, noted for artistic values and story line, The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus is based on a children's story by L. Frank Baum. In the Pagan tale, Santa grows old and nearer to his death, and the story of his life is relayed to immortals who must decide whether or not Santa Claus should be one of those who gets to live forever. Thus, the way Santa came to represent Christmas is explained from the time he was taken in as an orphan by the gods through the time he decided to make it his life's work to bring happiness to children by making and bringing them toys. ~ Sarah Sloboda, All Movie Guide
- 1980
Pinnochio struggles to earn enough money to buy his father Gepetto a Christmas present in this animated holiday puppet show. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1977
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An animated Fred Astaire stars in this animated holiday story, which offers a fanciful story of how the Easter Bunny came to be. Sunny (voice of Skip Hinnat) is an orphaned bunny rabbit who finds a home in Kidsville, a town populated entirely by children. Sunny makes himself useful in Kidsville by delivering eggs, which he colors to disguise them from mean-spirited monster Gadzooks. When Sunny learns that the neighboring town is has no children at all other than a boy ruler who is being kept under wraps by his aunt, Sunny and his pals come up with a plan to free him. The Easter Bunny Is Coming To Town was directed and produced by Jules Bass and Arthur Rankin Jr., who made a number of popular animated television specials in the 1960's and 70's. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1976
The Little Drummer Boy: Book 2 relates the further adventures of the youngster who played his drum for the Christ child. King Melchior introduces the boy to Simeon, who has used all of his money to create silver bells to announce the birth of the Son of God and has nothing left to pay his taxes. The singing and dancing tax collector Brutus confiscates Simeon's bells and the young hero and his friends must retrieve them. This animated story is narrated by Greer Garson and features the voice of Zero Mostel. ~ Sally Barber, All Movie Guide
