Grey DeLisle Movies
- 2008
This Nickelodeon cell-animated series was built around the comic talents of Saturday Night Live regular Amy Poehler, who had introduced the title character's prototype during her previous gig on Uptight Citizens' Brigade. Poehler provided the voice for Bessie Higgenbottom, a motormouthed, hyperactive 9-and-3/4-year-old girl living in San Francisco. A member in good standing of the "Honeybee Scouts", Bessie had made it her mission in life to win every "Bee Badge" imaginable, which explains why she wore her scout uniform 'round the clock. Totally impervious to insults and criticism and completely oblivious to anyone else's feelings, Bessie spent her days relentlessly drilling her scout troop, and her nights imagining herself as a musclebound superhero, "The Mighty B". The girl was idolized by her 7-year-old brother Ben, who aspired to be The Mighty B's sidekick when he grew up, refusing to relinquish the dream even after Bessie chose a mercenary, torn-eared "wharf dog" named Happy Walter for the sidekick honor. The villain of the piece was Bessie's rival, nasty, indolent rich girl Portia Gibbons, who was never seen without her flunkey Gwen, who dreamed of being a fashion designer. Rounding out the cast was Penny's loyal troop member Penny, an oversized, slightly dimwitted girl who always surprised her compatriots with occasional flashes of brilliance. Created by the husband-wife team of Erik Wiese (Spongebob Squarepants and Cynthia True (Fairly OddParents and animated in an agreeably slapdash "bigfoot" fashion, The Mighty B was first telecast April 26, 2008, its TV debut coinciding with the release of Amy Poehler's theatrical feature Baby Mama. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Amy Poehler
A wicked warlock has cast a diabolical spell over Mystery, Inc. gang, and now it's up to Shaggy and Scooby-Doo to save the day. Join the lovable Great Dane and his easy frightened friend as they attempt to track down the Amazing Krudsky (voice of Wayne Knight), a second rate carnival magician who's using magic stolen from Princess Fairy Willow (voice of Hayden Panettiere) to transform everyone into grotesque Halloween monsters. If the dynamic duo can just hop on the Grim Reaper Railroad and make their way to Halloween land before Krudsky, perhaps they can retrieve the Goblin scepter from the Goblin King (voice of Tim Curry) and save the day. It's not an easy assignment, but fortunately Scooby and Shaggy have a little help from a friendly Jack O'Lantern and a flying broomstick that takes them on the ride of their lives. Additional voice talents include Jay Leno, Lauren Bacall, Wally Shawn, and Russi Taylor. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Frank Welker, Casey Kasem, (more)
When Scooby, Shaggy and the rest of the gang head out to Himalayas in order to solve a frosty mystery, the surprise that awaits them at their snowbound destination may prove their biggest challenge to date. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Frank Welker, Casey Kasem, (more)
- 2006
Based on the children's books by Dan Santat, the Disney animated series The Replacements concerned itself with a pair of orphan children, Riley and Todd, who took it upon themselves to order two "normal" foster parents from the Fleemco Replacement Parent Organization. Instead, they ended up with a mom who was a British superspy named Agent K and a dad who was a foolhardly movie stuntman named Dick Daring. And oh yes, Riley and Todd also fell heir to a Knight Rider-style talking automobile named C.A.R.T.E.R., or C.A.R. for short (its voice was wittily supplied by former "Man from U.N.C.L.E." David McCallum). Offering two fast-paced adventures per half-hour episode, The Replacements premiered September 8, 2006, on cable's Disney Channel, and not long afterward joined the weekend-morning lineup on Disney's sister network ABC. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2006
This animated series for preschoolers follows a happy yellow cat named Wubbzy as he explores the simple and delightful adventures that the world has to offer. Featuring a bright, lively animation style and a distinct, original musical soundtrack, the show teaches young viewers simple but important lessons about friendship and caring while always keeping the mood fun and entertaining. ~ Cammila Albertson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Grey DeLisle, Lara Jill Miller, (more)
- 2005
The daily, half-hour animated series Danger Rangers lived up to its title by teaching the kids at home how to avoid accidents in a light, entertaining fashion. The cast consisted of five lovable animals, members all of "Club Danger Rangers", dedicated to the proposition of showing themselves and others how to think and play safely, and how to deal with such everyday perils as fire, water, and heavy traffic. Gabriela or "Gabby" the bird was C.D.R.'s CEO, a strict but affectionate taskmaster and a fount of useful information; Kitty the cat was the brains of the operation, forever researching and testing new safety methods; Sully the Sea Lion was the self-styled "action hero" of the bunch; Burble the bear was the resident practical joker, albeit eminently well-informed in the realm of avoiding recreational hazards; Burt the turtle, youngest of the group, was also its "creative genius"; and Squeky the mouse was the most pugnacious and rebellious of the Rangers, whose occasional lapses into foolishness served as example to the young viewers. The only non-animal member of CDR was also non-human in the bargain: Fallbot, a silly, clumsy, overeager but well-intentioned robot. Though the "safety-first" material was potentially frightening to youngster, it was presented in a strictly comic and nonthreatening manner; and like many another prosocial series of this ilk, Danger Rangers was festooned with such concepts and catchphrases as "Play It Safe", "Danger Proof Plan" and "Danger Ranger Ready." In the United States, Danger Rangers debuted August 6, 2005, as a PBS daytimer. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2005
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When sleuthing archaeologist Velma travels to Egypt to attend a ceremony celebrating the unveiling of the newly restored Sphinx, the discovery of a hidden tomb threatens to unleash an ancient curse in this frightful feature-length mystery featuring everyone's favorite dog detective - Scooby-Doo. Upon discovering the ancient tomb of Eqyptian queen Cleopatra, Scooby and the gang find an ominous warning stating that all who enter will be turned to stone. As the mystery of the ancient tomb deepens, an army of the dead emerges to take revenge on those who would violate the eternal slumber of their revered ruler. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Frank Welker, Casey Kasem, (more)
- 2005
Virtually all of the episodes produced for The Fairly OddParents' fifth season consist of two animated adventures per half-hour show. As in years past, 10-year-old hero Timmy Turner, upset with his lot in life, prevails upon his wacky fairy godparents Wanda and Cosmo to grant his every wish -- usually with calamitous consequences. Among the season's best episodes are "Nega-Timmy," chronicling the chilling aftereffects of being permitted to do exactly the opposite of what your parents want; "Beach Bummed," a spoof of those old Charles Atlas magazine ads, with Timmy getting even with Francis the Bully by wishing himself into a muscular physique, only to be targeted for extermination by a "monster-response team"; "Just Desserts," wherein Timmy accidentally transforms Dimmsdale into the obesity capital of the world; "Catman Meets the Crimson Chin," or "It's no fun to be a superhero if you haven't got a fan club"; "Blondes Have More Fun," in which Wanda changes places with her sister Blanda; and "It's a Wishful Life," a spoof It's a Wonderful Life with a perverse closing twist. Best of all is "Go West Young Man," in which Wanda and Cosmo allow guest star Adam West (or at least, his voice) to enjoy the childhood that he never had. Also showcased this season is a 90-minute Fairly OddParents "movie," School's Out! The Musical, with a story conveniently compartmentalized to allow its breakup into three separate half-hour episodes should the need arise! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tara Strong, Daran Norris, (more)
- 2005
Created by Tim Cahill and Julie McNally Cahill, the half-hour cartoon series My Gym Partner's a Monkey managed to wrap up its title and its premise in a single package. Thanks to a bureaucratic snafu, 12-year-old human youngster Adam Lyon was transferred to Charles Darwin Middle School, where the teachers and students were all anthropomorphic animals. Regarded as "slow" because he lacked jungle smarts, Adam quickly gained acceptance by virtue of his "book smarts," which were far above those of his fellow students. Adam's best friend and gym partner was class clown Jake Spidermonkey; his classmates included underachiever Slips Python, the shy and gangly Ingrid Giraffe, and school bully Virgil "Bull" Sharkowski, who spoke in an incongruously high-pitched and squeaky voice. Among the adult authority figures were Principal Pixiefrog, gym teacher Coach Gillis (who conducted classes while swimming in a fish bowl), and drama instructor Miss Chameleon. Previewed by Cartoon Network on December 26, 2005, My Gym Partner's a Monkey was slated to join the cable service's weekly lineup on February 24, 2006. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nika Futterman, Tom Kenny, (more)
- 2004
From Fairly OddParents creator Butch Hartman, the half-hour animated series Danny Phantom was all about Danny Fenton, a shy, geekish freshman who attended Casper High. Thanks to an accident in the laboratory of his paranormal-expert father Jack, Danny was transformed into a half-human, half-phantom, endowed with ghostly superpowers. As "Danny Phantom", our hero periodically skipped out of school to save the world from a vast array of evil (and sidesplittingly funny) ghosts, spooks and phantoms. Meanwhile, Casper High's vice-principal and English teacher Mr. Lancer, in the anal-retentive tradition of all animated adult authority figures, imposed harsh punishments on Danny for his frequent absences--or at least, he tried to. Other characters included Danny's level-headed mom Maddie, his ultra-perfectionist sister Jazz, and his best friends, talkative techno-nerd Tucker Foley (whose various inventions were designed for maximum efficiency in the Ghost World where Danny spent of his time), and freewheeling Goth Girl and vegetarian Samantha "Sam" Manson. The bane of Danny's existence was bullying high school football star Dash Baxter, who often as not ended up embarrassed or humiliated thanks to Danny's spectral skills. Danny Phantom joined the Nickelodeon lineup on April 3, 2004, and later was seen as part of the weekend-morning schedule of Nickelodeon's sister network CBS. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David Kaufman, Rob Paulsen, (more)
- 2004
This American-made cartoon series was inspired by a real-life Japanese singing group, Puffy AmiYumi, comprised of Ami Onuki and Yumi Yoshimura. In animated form, Ami and Yumi traveled along the concert circuit (and the universe!) in their multi-purpose Puffy bus, which boasted all the comforts of home and constantly "morphing" interiors. The lively, fun-loving Ami and the laid-back but hard-working Yumi were staunch advocates of "cool," which was more than could be said for their mercenary, penny-pinching, and terminally un-cool manager Kaz (likewise based on a real person). When they weren't singing, the girls could be seen defending themselves against space aliens, computer-generated monsters, and crazy fans. Although professional voice actors were heard as Ami and Yumi, the actual girls appeared in the series' live-action wraparounds. Boasting three short segments per half-hour episode, the flash-animated Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi was unveiled by the Cartoon Network on November 18, 2004. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ami Onuki, Yumi Yoshimura, (more)
- 2004
Following up the events in the previous episode "Fearful Symmetry," "Ultimatum" probes further into the secret government conspiracy against the Justice Leaguers. The Ultimen, a newly formed and very popular superhero group led by the mysterious Max Lord, offer a helping hand to the Justice Leaguers, who are busy battling fire monsters on an oil rig. Later, however, the Ultimen violently turn against the "good guys" when they learn the truth behind their own origin -- and also the horrible fate that is in store for them. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Scott Rummel, James Sie, (more)
- 2004
Season four of the cartoon series The Fairly OddParents yields 14 half-hour episodes, most of them containing two separate stories, generally involving 10-year-old Timmy Turner and his enthusiastic but incompetent fairy godparents Wanda and Cosmo. Exceptions to the two story rule include the season opener, "The Big Superhero Wish" (what if real life was one big comic book) and "Shelf Life" (Tom Sawyer is brought to life to wreak havoc on Timmy's house and also to bedevil a variety of other literary characters), not to mention the special episode, "The Jimmy Timmy Power Hour," wherein the characters of the cell-animated Fairly OddParents meet the CGI cast of The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius, and brace of animated TV movies, Crash Nebula and Channel Chasers. Other choice season-four adventures include "Vicky Loses Her Icky," in which Timmy comes to regret his wish that his hateful babysitter Vicky turn nice; "Power Pals!," a battle royal between a group of Super Friend rip-offs and the "Anti-Timmy Force"; "Lights! Camera! Adam!," exposing an insidious plot to discredit Timmy's favorite comic-book character, the Crimson Chin (voiced by Jay Leno); and "Class Clown," proving that being the Funniest Boy on Earth has its drawbacks. Among the other highlights this season are "Baby Face," wherein Timmy wishes to revert to infanthood to avoid Francis the Bully; "New Squid in Town," a tour de force for Timmy's extraterrestrial pal Mark the Alien, who is searching for the "ideal" bride (that is, one that is even uglier than Mark!); "Genie Meanie Minie," in which an evil spirit is released from a lava lamp; and the follow-up episode "Back to the Norm," which finds Timmy's hateful teacher Mr. Crocker getting hold of the lamp and conjuring up a Road Runner-like cartoon -- with himself as an ersatz Wile E. Coyote. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tara Strong, Daran Norris, (more)
- 2003
Of the 17 half-hour episodes produced for season three of The Fairly OddParents, most contain two short, self-contained segments per show. This year's exceptions include the season opener, "Information Stupor Highway"; the Valentine's day show "Love Struck"; and "The Secret Origin of Denzel Crocker," the life story of the nasty teacher who is obsessed with proving that ten-year-old Timmy Turner has a pair of winged fairy godparents named Wanda and Cosmo. (Which, of course, Timmy does!) Highlights of the third season include "Movie Magic," in which Timmy wishes to be transformed into an "auteur" to impress the haughty Trixie Tang; "Most Wanted Wish," illustrates the perils of wanting to be "wanted"; "This is Your Wish," with Cosmo's magical mom wreaking havoc; "Engine Blocked," wherein Timmy is transformed into his dad's sportscar; and "Beddy Bye," featuring the voice of Jackie Mason as the Sandman, who is so mad he could plotz when Timmy wishes for a world without sleep. Also: Timmy uses an enchanted microphone to expose the evil of his babysitter Vicky in "Microphony"; comic book superhero The Crimson Chin (voiced by Jay Leno) is pitted against his liquidy adversary H2Olga in "Crime Wave"; Timmy's wish for complete silence backfires when he can't warn Dimmsdale of an approaching meteor in "Pipe Down!"; a Darth Vader action figure is not only brought to life, but repulsively replicated by a magic copying machine in "Hard Copy"; and Timmy's neighbors face the dual threat of an avalanche and the Abominable Snowman in "Snow Bound." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tara Strong, Daran Norris, (more)
- 2003
This half-hour cartoon series was an expansion of a recurring segment originally seen on the weekly animated offering Grim and Evil. The original series was divided between the adventures of the Grim Reaper (hood, scythe, skeletal body, and all), who somewhat against his will became the best bud of "live" youngsters Billy (the innocent one) and Mandy (the cynical one), and the exploits of an evil disembodied brain named Hector Con Carne, who attached himself to a stupid circus bear named Boskov. On their own, the escapades of Grim, Billy, and Mandy -- which took place, logically enough, in the town of Endsville -- proved sufficiently enjoyable to forsake all vestiges of Hector and Boskov. The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy debuted June 13, 2003, on cable's Cartoon Network. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Grey DeLisle, Grey Eagles, (more)
- 2002
As if the title didn't give the game away, the Saturday-morning cartoon series What's New Scooby Doo? was the latest incarnation of the animated franchise launched by Hanna-Barbera way back in 1969. Most of the familiar characters were still in attendance: garrulous great dane Scooby Doo, the funky Shaggy, handsome Freddy, gorgeous Daphne, and brainy Velma, who comprised the crime-solving "Mystery 5" (thankfully, the irritating Scrappy Doo was absent). Bringing the concept kicking and screaming into the 21st century, the youthful mystery-hunters were equipped with the latest computer and cell phone technology. Even so, it was business as usual, with the heroes and heroines proving that the ghost of the week was actually a very live human villain who would have gotten away with it "if it hadn't been for you meddling kids." Clearly created to capitalize on the blockbuster live-action Scooby Doo theatrical feature of 2002 (the theme song of both the film and TV series was performed by the Canadian group A Simple Plan, What's New Scooby Doo? premiered on September 14, 2002, on the WB network. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Casey Kasem, Frank Welker, (more)
