Kidd Video

Infobox Television
show_name = Kidd Video


caption =
genre = Animated series
creator = DiC Entertainment
Saban Entertainment
director = Bernard Deyriès
Richard Raynis
Bud Schaetzle
developer =
presenter =
starring =
voices = Steve Alterman
Gabriele Bennett
Cathy Cavadini
Marshall Efron
Peter Renaday
Robbie Rist
Bryan Scott
Susan Silo
Robert Towers
narrated =
theme_music_composer =
opentheme =
endtheme =
composer =
country = USA
language =
num_seasons =
num_episodes = 26
list_episodes =
executive_producer = Jean Chalopin
Andy Heyward
Haim Saban
producer = Tetsuo Katayama
Shuki Levy
Bud Schaetzle
supervising_producer =
asst_producer = Rudy Zamora
co-producer =
editor =
story_editor =
location =
camera =
runtime = 21 minutes
network = NBC
picture_format =
audio_format =
first_run =
first_aired = September 15 1984
last_aired = September 6 1986
preceded_by =
followed_by =
related =
website =
imdb_id = 0086743
tv_com_id = 4382

"Kidd Video" was a Saturday morning cartoon airing on NBC (CTV, in Canada) from 1984 to 1987 created by DiC Entertainment in association with Saban Entertainment.

Premise

The title sequence explained the plot; Kidd Video and his band (played by live-action performers in the first half of the title sequence) were kidnapped by a villain named "Master Blaster", and transported to Master Blaster's home dimension, a cartoon world called "The Flipside". They were rescued by a fairy named "Glitter", and subsequently spent each episode of the series either helping to free the denizens of the Flipside from Master Blaster's rule, or trying to find a way back to the "real world". Master Blaster, who seemed to be a cartoonization of a corrupt rock manager or music executive, flew around the sky in his floating castle, which resembled a giant jukebox, and his henchmen were a group of anthropomorphic cats called "The Copycats".

The show was dominated by an MTV-esque, music video theme. Each episode featured at least one action sequence set to a popular song, and the heroes would often distract their enemies by showing current music videos, and sneak off while the enemies were entranced. Each episode also ended with a live-action music video by Kidd Video and his band (the band was also called "Kidd Video"). Other pop cultural current events featured heavily in the show as well: the characters often break danced to relax, rode on skateboards, and one episode was devoted entirely to video games. The visual style of the cartoon itself was heavily influenced by the more surreal videos showing on MTV, and by album artwork of the era, by artists like Roger Dean.

The band itself was composed of:
*Kidd Video: Lead singer and guitarist
*Carla: The drummer, who often exclaims "Ay-Ay-Ay!"
*Whiz: The nerdy guitar and keyboard player, who had a pet robot toolbox named "Toolbot" in the second season
*Ash: The clumsy keyboardist also plays bass and saxophone

The band was created specifically for the show, they perform their own songs and they provided the voices for their cartoon counterparts.

Main cast

*Bryan Scott ... Kidd Video (voice)
*Steve Alterman ... Ash (voice)
*Robbie Rist ... Whiz (voice)
*Gabrielle Bennett ... Carla (voice)
*Peter Renaday ... Master Blaster (voice)
*Robert Towers ... Cool Kitty (voice)
*Marshall Efron ... Fat Cat (voice)
*Susan Silo ... She-Lion (voice)
*Hal Rayle ... Toolbot (voice)
*Cathy Cavadini ... Glitter the fairy

Miscellany

Whiz's Subaru Brat was teleported into the Flipside along with the band and transformed into a giant yellow vehicle (reminiscent of the Beatles' Yellow Submarine) called the "Kiddmobile" when the band members turned into cartoons.

Glitter, the fairy who saved the band members when they first arrived in the Flipside and serves as their guide, gains temporary super-strength and super-speed whenever she sneezes. Most episodes, at some point, involve the band getting stuck somewhere and having to find pepper, pollen, chalk dust, or some other kind of powder to make Glitter sneeze so she can use her super-strength to save them. Other members of her race appeared in one episode, including her nephew, who had the same sneezing induced super-strength.

In a handful of episodes, Master Blaster attempts to capture other musicians from Earth to exploit their music, but only one (Lionel Richie) is referred to by name.

Although most of the songs that Kidd Video performed were written by the show's creators, "A Little TLC" was co-written by Lynsey De Paul and Terry Britten. In addition, one video was a cover of "Where Did Our Love Go" by The Supremes (possibly inspired by Soft Cell's cover of the same song).

In very early episodes it put an emphasis on the live action band which was then forced into the Flipside by the Master Blaster and they needed to find a way home. Towards the end of the series run it appeared the group found their way back home to the real world and would sometimes return to the Flipside to help others in need.

In later episodes a music video usually plays in the middle of a show, often as a ploy by the band to distract someone so they can escape, reminiscent of the "musical chase scenes" that originated in the classic animated series "Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!".

When the series was re-run in syndication in later years, all the music videos had to be removed to avoid paying royalties. The pop music that played in the background during certain animated sequences was replaced using original songs played by the band.

The program was pre-empted on many NBC affiliates because of local programming at the time.

Credits

*Executive Producers: Haim Saban, Jean Chalopin, Andy Heyward
*Supervising Director: Bernard Deyries
*Director of Live Action: Bud Schaetzle
*Creative Supervisor: Jean Chalopin
*Assisted by: Lori Crawford, Rita Rokisky
*Production Executive: Thierry P. Laurin
*Associate Producer: Rudy J. Zamora
*Production Coordinator: Barbara Stoddard
*Written and Story Edited by: Jim Carlson, Terrence McDonnell
*Casting and Voice Directors: Howard Morris, Michael Bell, Marsha Goodman, Ginny McSwain
*Recorded at: L.A. Recording, Buzzy's Studio, Dennis Harris, Village/MRI, Sound Connection Studio
*Storyboard Supervisor: Eddie Fitzgerald
*Storyboard Artists: Michael Swanigan, Kevin Altieri, Victor Dal Chele, Gary Payn, Tom Marnick
*Background Designers: Richard Raynis, Marek Buchwald
*Assistant Background Designer: Charles Payne
*Character Designers: Tim Gula, Barbara Pizinger
*Layout Supervisor: Jim Simmon
*Timing Director: Carol Beers
*Animation Timer: Becky Bristow
*Timing and Checking Supervisor: Myrna Bushman
*Live Action Segments by: High Five Productions
*Produced by: Bud Schaetzle, Martin Fischer
*Production Manager: Bret Wolcott
*Directors of Photography: Tom Ackerman, Daryn Okada
*Assistant Director: Rabia Dockray
*Assistant to the Producers: Alison Dockray
*Live Action Casting: Meg Lieberman Casting, Irene Cagen
*Writers: Jeff Book, Kevin Clyne, Carole Markin, Don McGlynn, Bud Schaetzle, Martin Wiley
*Art Directors: Kathe Klopp, Priscilla Beroud, Christina Essmana
*Editors: Michael Soloman, Craig Matthewson, Scott Wollin, Steve Purcell
*Costumes: Nanci Grossi
*Makeup: Cervantes Lab
*Hair: Manny Montoya, Alex Garza
*Production Assistants: Jerry Simer, Andrew Dimitroff, Theresa Abrook, Lisa Wolfson, Rick Phillips, Allen Posten, Ned Truslow
*Music Engineer: Nick Carr
*Music by: Shuki Levy, Haim Saban
*Music Coordinator: Noam Kaniel
*Post Production Executive: W.R. Kowalchuk Jr.
*Post Production Services by: Animation City Editorial Services Inc.
*Editorial Supervisor: Robert S. Birchard
*Videotape Supervisor: Patty Hayes
*Music Supervisor: Marty Wereski
*Re-Recorded at: B&B Sound Studios
*Effects Editors: Virginia Ellsworth, Karen Doulac, Bruce D. Fortune
*Music Editor: Marty Wereski
*Associate Supervising Editor: Jon Johnson
*Sound Engineer: Michael Cochran
*Assistant Editor: Adrianna Cohen
*Editorial Coordinator: Alison Cobb
*Format Editor: James Briley
*Produced by: Haim Saban, Jean Chalopin, Andy Heyward, Shuki Levy

DVD Release

DIC Entertainment currently has no plans to release the animated series on DVD at this time.

External links

*imdb title|0086743
*tv.com show|4382
* [http://www.kvflipside.org/ Kidd Video Flipside: A Kidd Video Fanpage]
* [http://www.myspace.com/kiddvideogroup Kidd Video on Myspace: Kidd Video Fans Unite!]
* [http://www.80scartoons.net/toons/kiddvideo.html 80's Cartoon Central] - Profile of Kidd Video