WildC.A.T.s (TV series)

"WildC.A.T.s" is a half-hour animated television series based upon the Jim Lee comic book of the same name. "WildC.A.T.s" is about the universal war between two prehistoric alien races. One of the races is the heroic C.A.T.s (Covert Action Team) while the other is the evil Daemonites.

Overview

Production and series run

The "WildC.A.T.s" television series was created in 1994 and aired on CBS. The series was created in large part to ape the popularity of Marvel's X-Men animated series that was airing on FOX around the same periodFact|date=February 2007. The series was produced by WildStorm Productions in association with Nelvana. Although DC Comics now owns the rights to the characters, FUNimation Entertainment is distributing the series' run on DVD, which was released on July 19, 2005.

"WildC.A.T.s" was another show, along with "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" and "Skeleton Warriors", that was grouped into the "Action Zone" gimmick that featured a fly-though robotic style pre-opening that eventually went into the show's opening sequence during its CBS run. The series was canned around the same time this gimmick was dropped (even though "TMNT" was allowed to retain the Action Zone gimmick until the end of its run two years later).

It had only thirteen episodes and a "watered down", family-friendly storyline (in particular, Voodoo was an adolescent rather than an ex-stripper). Despite being a cartoon geared towards children, "WildC.A.T.s" featured considerably impressive battles scenes, along with a propulsive rock soundtrack, in an effort to appeal to older kids as well. The show was also notable for its incredibly catchy theme song (performed by Sheree Jeacocke and Gerry Mosby).

The group was composed of all the original C.A.T.s. The major villain was Helspont, but the Troika and the Coda were featured. A parody of the series, "MadD.O.G.s", was seen during Alan Moore's run in the comics.

Differences between the comics and TV series

The main differences of the series and the comic books were:
*Jacob Marlowe, the Kherubim Lord Emp, was an ordinary human here.
*Warblade just discovered his powers when he becomes part of the group, in the first episode. Because of this, he was the group's rookie, a position occupied by Voodoo in the original 'C.A.T.s.
*Maul apparently couldn't change back to his human form.
*Void was a Kherubim artificial intelligence.
*Majestic was a villain, obsessed with finding the Orb and destroying the Daemonites.
*Max Cash was the older brother, and the leader of a gang called the Black Razors.
*Voodoo is a telekinetic in addition to being a telepath. Her origin is also considerably bowdlerized, with her comics career as an exotic dancer completely ignored.
*Zealot and Grifter became a couple by the series' end.

Episodes (original airdate in parentheses)

#Dark Blade Falling (10/01/94)
#Heart Of Steel (10/08/94)
#Cry Of The Coda (10/15/94)
#The Evil Within (10/29/94)
#The Big Takedown (11/12/94)
#Lives In The Balance (11/19/94)
#Soul Of A Giant (11/26/94)
#Betrayed (12/03/94)
#Black Razor's Edge (12/10/94)
#And Then There Were None (12/17/94)
#M.V.P. (6/03/95)
#Endgame, Part 1 (6/10/95)
#Endgame, Part 2 (6/17/95)

Cast

*Dennis Akayama - Dockwell (as Dennis Akiyama)
*Paul Mota - Maul
*Roscoe Handford - Zealot
*Janet-Laine Green - Void
*Ruth Marshall - Voodoo
*Sean McCann - Marlowe
*Dean McDermott - Warblade
*Colin O'Meara - Grifter
*Rod Wilson - Spartan
*Maurice Dean Wint - Helspont
*Len Carlson - Additional voices
*William Colgate - Additional voices
*Catherine Disher - Additional voices
*Sean Roberge - Additional voices
*David Bryant - Additional voices
*David Hemblin - Additional voices
*Chris Earle - Additional voices
*Dan Hennessey - Additional voices
*Jan Filips - Additional voices
*Lorne Kennedy - Additional voices
*Colin Fox - Additional voices
*Dave Nichols - Additional voices
*Nicky Guidagni - Additional voices
*Phillip Williams - Additional voices
*Elizabeth Hanna - Additional voices
*Bob Zeidel - Additional voices

Marketing tie-ins

A video game based on the TV series was published by Playmates Interactive Entertainment in 1995 for Super NES.

Credits

* Based on the comic book created by: Jim Lee and Brandon Choi
* Executive Producers: Patrick Loubert, Michael Hirsh, Jim Lee
* Co-Executive Producer: Toper Taylor
* Supervising Producer: Stephen Hodgins
* Coordinating Producer: Patricia R. Burns
* Producer: Hasmi Giakoumis
* Supervising Director: Bob Smith
* Story Editors: Bob Forward, David Wise
* Developed for Television by: David Wise
* Casting Director: Karen Goora
* Voice Director: Dan Hennessey
* Recording Coordinator: Elaine Justein
* Production Executive: Bob Higgins
* Production Supervisor: Steve Chadwick
* Overseas Animation Supervisor: David Simmons
* Production Manager: Lauri Towata
* Production Coordinator: Patricia Drury
* Storyboard Artists: Andrew Anthony, Patrick Archibald, Dell Barras, Shawna Cha, Travis Cowsill, Romeo Francisco, Curt Geda, Ernie Guanlao, Rick Hoberg, Elaine Hultgren, Rex Irvine, Brian Lee, Butch Lukic, Dan Nosella, Angel Pollard, J.C. Ponce, Steve Ressel, Bob Smith, Thom Tholen, Keith Tucker, Dan Veesenmeyer
* Designers: Rui Albino, David Baggley, Rich Dannys, Goran Delic, Rodney Dunn, Ben Jones, Mark Komza, Drazen Kosjanm, Brian Lee, Kurt Lehner, Grant Lounsbury, Ken Morrissey, Leif Norheim, Mark Petlock, Frank Reyes, Paul Rivoche, Troy Sullivan, Michael Tymochko, Dermot Walshe
* Design Coordinator: Glen Binmore
* Colour Stylist: Mary Aitken
* Background Stylists: Alex Hawley, Dimitri Kostic
* Paint Supervisor: Mary Bertoia
* Supervising Editor: Rob Kirkpatrick
* Post Production Managers: Ruth Pond, Lan Lamon
* Supervising Sound Editor: Mac Holyoke
* Picture Editor: Richard Bond
* Music Editors: Stephen Hudecki, Peter Branton, Anthony Crea, David Shaw
* Dialogue Editors: Keith Traver, Mark Grosicki, Melodie Vaughan, Scott McCrorie
* Pre Production Editors: Mike Reid, Sheila Murray, Rick Dubiel, Fred Spek, Darrell MacDonald, Ken Hurlbut, Shelley Mills-Hughes
* Sound Effects Editors: John Baktis, Eric Mattar-Hurlbut, Glenn Barna, Ryan Araki, Christopher Harris, Craig Marshall
* Assistant Picture Editor: Mhairi Kerr
* Video Transfers: David Bass, Aaron Holm
* Theme Song by: Sheree Jeacocke and Gerry Mosby
* Score by: Ray Parker and Tom Szczesniak
* Produced by: Parker Szczsmith Music Inc.
* Recording Engineer: Paul Shubat
* Re-Recording Engineer: Cory Mandell
* Additional Design Services: Funbag Animation Studios Inc.
* Additional Production Services: Bobtown Productions
* Directors: John Kafka and Russ Mooney
* Additional Production Facilities: A-1 Production, Inc.
* Online Editor: Frank Biasi
* Colourist: Bill Ferwerda
* Negative Cutting Services: Catherine Rankin Productions
* Laboratory Services: Magnetic North, Sounds Interchange, Multitrack Digital, Inc., International Image

External links

*imdb title|id=0251515|name=WildC.A.T.s: Covert Action Teams
*Tv.com show|id=9811|title=WildC.A.T.s
* [http://www.nelvana.com/shows/shows_template.asp?sid=45 Nelvana]
* [http://www1.funimation.com/wildcats/ FUNimation Productions, Ltd]
* [http://www.jumptheshark.com/topic/wild-cats-general-comments/2178 Jump The Shark - WildC.A.T.s]
* [http://www.comicbookresources.com/resources/tvthemes/ Theme Song]
** [http://www.comicbookresources.com/resources/tvthemes/ra/wildcats.ram RA]
** [http://www.comicbookresources.com/resources/tvthemes/mp3/Wildcats_96.mp3 MP3]
** [http://www.comicbookresources.com/resources/tvthemes/rm/wildcats.ram RM]