Rob Paulsen Movies

Popular action figure G.I. Joe was reinvented in animation form in this pilot for the daily syndicated cartoon series of the same name. In keeping with the new marketing strategy established by Hasbro Toys, "G.I. Joe" was no longer an individual, but instead a team of specially trained guerilla fighters, led by Clayton M. "Hawk" Abernathy. The villains of the piece were the members of Cobra, led by Cobra Commander and his Darth Vader-like lieutenant (and frequent rival), Destro. In their first adventure, the Joes were obliged to collect three rare elements vital to a weapon that would counter Cobra's deadly M.A.S.S. device, which allowed the bad guys to transfer matter anywhere at any time for their own evil purposes. Written by Ron Friedman, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero was made available as either a two-hour animated special or as a five-part miniseries, bearing the individual episode titles "The Cobra Strikes," "Slave of the Cobra Master," "The Worms of Death," "Devil's Cauldron," and "The Stake in the Serpent's Heart." The miniseries version was originally shown on American television from September 12 through 16, 1983. It was followed in 1984 by another miniseries, G.I. Joe: The Revenge of Cobra, and in 1985 by the daily syndicated G.I. Joe series proper. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Acknowledging the excellent response to the syndicated 1983 cartoon miniseries G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, Hasbro Toys commissioned a sequel, G.I. Joe: The Revenge of Cobra, which aired the following year. The plot is set in motion when the evil organization Cobra steals the laser core from the cannon of the G.I. Joe team. With this element, Cobra creates the Weather Dominator, wreaking havoc upon the earth's atmospheric and ecological balance. The Joes manage to neutralize the Dominator with an energy feedback, whereupon the machine's three most vital components are scattered to various parts of the world. For the balance of the story, both the Joes and the Cobras struggle to recover those precious components. Several new characters (and potentially marketable action figures) were introduced in the course of the story, notably the villainous Zartan and the Drednoks. As with the first G.I. Joe cartoon project, this one was offered as either a two-hour "movie" or as a five-part miniseries, its individual episodes bearing the titles "In the Cobra's Pit," "The Vines of Evil," "The Palace of Doom," "Battle on the Roof of the World," and "Amusement Park of Terror." Written by Ron Friedman, G.I. Joe: The Revenge of Cobra first aired in the United States from September 10 through 14, 1984. One year later, the daily G.I. Joe series proper was entered in syndication. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Columbia Pictures spent as estimated $8 million dollars on this laughless sex comedy that crashes and burns before ever leaving the ground. Two bumbling boneheads who are kicked out of flying school decide to remain airborne by becoming stewardesses. Bathroom humor, sight gags, and the prerequisite nudity are the lowlights of this forgettable film. The only interest is the appearance of former Playboy bunny Yuliis Ruval. This dog makes Porky's seem like Shakespeare. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

A middle eastern shiek is being terrorized by a band of outlaws riding robotic horses. Dr. Quest is summoned to put an end to the villains' activities. Only trouble is, the steel nags are completely impervious to weapons -- and they also have the capacity to kill. First broadcast on September 21, 1986, as part of the "Funtastic World of Hanna Barbera" syndicated series, "Nightmare of Steel" was later incorporated in the standard Jonny Quest package, along with the "classic" episodes from 1964-1965. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Twenty-one years after ending its original ABC prime-time run in 1965, the Hanna Barbera animated adventure series Jonny Quest was revived with 13 brand-new episodes as a component of the weekend syndicated package "Funtastic World of Hanna Barbera." All of the original characters were revived: globetrotting research scientist, Dr. Benton Quest; his tousled-haired son, Jonny; Jonny's bodyguard-tutor, Race Bannon; his mystical young Indian friend, Hadji; and the pet bulldog, Bandit. Of the original voice actors, only Don Messick (as Dr. Quest and Bandit) and Victor Perrin (as perennial villain Dr. Zin) were heard on the later series. In the sixth of the "new" episodes, another member of the Quest team was introduced, a "Monolith Man" named Hardrok. Slightly better animated than the original -- and with markedly wittier dialogue as well as a refreshing increase in its sci-fi-fantasy content -- the Jonny Quest (1986 series) was later incorporated in the same package as the 26 "original" Jonny Quest episodes. Under the blanket title "Classic Jonny Quest," this manifest was seen on cable's Cartoon Network from 1992 to 1995. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Dr. Quest leads his team to Scandanavia, there to embark upon an archeological expedition. In the course of events, the team comes across the frozen body of a huge Viking ape, who, when thawed, turns out to be very much alive. The furry orange beast turns out to be a likeable fellow, and as a result, the Quest Team pulls a "reverse King Kong", rescuing Vikong from hostile villagers and mercenary carnival hucksters. "Vikong Lives" originally aired on October 19, 1986, as part of the weekend syndicated series "Funtastic World of Hanna Barbera," before it was incorporated into the standard Jonny Quest rerun package. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Dr. Zin, the Quest team's perennial nemesis from the 1964-1965 run of Jonny Quest, returns in the October 5, 1986, episode "Deadly Junket." Kidnapping Jessie Bradshaw, the daughter of a prominent rocket scientist, Zin hopes to use the girl as a bargaining chip in his efforts to seize control of her father's rocket-brain technology. The plucky Jessie manages to escape, ending up in the protection of Dr. Quest and his son Jonny -- who soon begins to wonder why the resourceful girl would ever need anyone's protection. This "new" episode of Jonny Quest (1986 series) originally aired as a component of the weekend "Funtastic World of Hanna Barbera" package. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Dr. Quest's latest invention is a computer brain which can pilot aircraft faster and safer than any mere mortal. Unhappy that the invention will put a lot of good pilots out of work, Quest's associate, Race Bannon, tries to prove that the brain is not infallible by racing a computerized plane. Alas, he is captured by a mad aviator named Skyborg, who holds Race responsible for the accident which left him horribly disfigured. Seeking revenge, Skyborg intends to steal the brain and auction it to the highest bidder. The climax of this episode, an old-fashioned aerial dogfight, is reminiscent of the 1965 Jonny Quest adventure "Shadow of the Condor" (albeit with better animation). "The Scourge of Skyborg" first aired on November 23, 1986, as part of the weekend "Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera" syndicated package. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

While excavating an archaeological site in Tibet, a scientist friend of Dr. Quest completely vanishes. Investigating, the Quest team discover that the scientist was attacked by an army of clay statues, zealously guarding the tomb of an ancient Chinese emperor. Unfortunately, Dr. Quest and his colleagues have now also disturbed the emperor's resting place, and they too are slated for elimination. "Secret of the Clay Warriors" was first telecast on November 9, 1986, as a component of the syndicated "Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera" cartoon omnibus. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Dr. Quest is invited to the London museum, there to determine the origins of a mysterious crystal skull. Unfortunately, an ancient Druidic cult is also interested in the skull -- so much so that they're willing to kill in order to steal the artifact. It is up to the Quest team to prevent the cult from unleashing the skull's awesome and horrifying powers upon the modern world. "Skullduggery" made its syndicated TV bow on March 1, 1987, as part of the weekend "Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera" package. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This made-for-TV animated feature stars only two regular members of the Mystery Machine gang: Scooby Doo and Shaggy (although Scrappy, a late addition to the series, is also present). In place of Freddy, Velma, and Daphne, we have Googie, Shaggy's girl friend. It seems that Shaggy and company are now involved in race car driving. By coincidence, in far-off Transylvania, Count Dracula is getting ready for the annual Monster Car Race -- a race that features such familiar faces as Frankenstein's Monster and his bride, the Mummy, Genghis Kong, and a pair of witches. Normally, the Werewolf is a part of the race, but he has fled this year and nothing Dracula can do will bring him back. As he desperately needs a werewolf for the race, Dracula sends the Hunch Bunch -- a pair of deformed brothers -- to America, where they transform Shaggy into a werewolf. Dracula tells Shaggy that he will take the spell off of him and return him to normal -- but only if he wins the Monster Car Race. That turns out to be easier said than done, especially since Dracula does everything in his power to see that Shaggy will lose and remain a werewolf forever. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide

In this action-comedy, an eccentric detective ends up working with a lost gnome who has accidentally burrowed up from his subterranean world. He is searching for something valuable he lost so he can win the heart of a winsome gnomette. Wacky mayhem ensues. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide