Categorized as a children's program, "Disney's DuckTales, "adapted from the classic comics, debuted in 1987 as a five-day-a-week program, a first in animation, in more ways than one. The careful attention to detail, the outstanding vocal talent assembled (with special kudos to "Mr. Ed's" own Alan Young as the unflappable "Uncle Scrooge," June Foray, legendary voice artist, as "Mrs. Beakley" and "Magica de Spell," Teremce McGovern as the intrepid yet awkward pilot Lauchpad McQuack, and Kathleen Freeman, so good in season three as "Mrs. Quackshell)), and vivid and witty writing, never condescending to the intended audience, elevated this show from others shown in the afternoon hours.
Many of the episodes, though simple enough in storytelling for the smaller viewer to understand, had enough cultural and historical references to satisfy the more "adult" members of the audience. Uncle Scrooge, his three nephews (Huey, Dewie, and Louie), Mrs. Beakley and her granddaughter Webigail, along with pilot McQuack, embarked on adventures that took them to such exotic locales as the Antarctic, the jungles of South America, the British Isles, and even The Orient. They also traveled, on occasion, through time, journeying to the days of ancient Greece/Rome, the days of King Arthur, and even the era of the dinosaur.
Some of the best installments parodied popular culture. One second-season episode was a jab at disaster films of the early 70's. "The Hindentanic" featured characters that skewered the likes of filmmaker Irwin Allen, composer Burt Bacharach and his music, astronomer Carl "billions and billions" Sagan, veteran screen star Gloria Swanson. It also laid waste to such cinematic fare as "The Swarm," "Meteor," "The Poseidon Adventure," the "Airport" films, and real life disasters (the sinking of the Titanic and the explosion of the Hindenberg). All the stereotypes, so common to stories based on disasters, are in the show and are ripe for the puns and in-jokes that abound.
This singular episode provides a brief look at the creative geniuses behind one of the best children's programs of all time.
Many of the episodes, though simple enough in storytelling for the smaller viewer to understand, had enough cultural and historical references to satisfy the more "adult" members of the audience. Uncle Scrooge, his three nephews (Huey, Dewie, and Louie), Mrs. Beakley and her granddaughter Webigail, along with pilot McQuack, embarked on adventures that took them to such exotic locales as the Antarctic, the jungles of South America, the British Isles, and even The Orient. They also traveled, on occasion, through time, journeying to the days of ancient Greece/Rome, the days of King Arthur, and even the era of the dinosaur.
Some of the best installments parodied popular culture. One second-season episode was a jab at disaster films of the early 70's. "The Hindentanic" featured characters that skewered the likes of filmmaker Irwin Allen, composer Burt Bacharach and his music, astronomer Carl "billions and billions" Sagan, veteran screen star Gloria Swanson. It also laid waste to such cinematic fare as "The Swarm," "Meteor," "The Poseidon Adventure," the "Airport" films, and real life disasters (the sinking of the Titanic and the explosion of the Hindenberg). All the stereotypes, so common to stories based on disasters, are in the show and are ripe for the puns and in-jokes that abound.
This singular episode provides a brief look at the creative geniuses behind one of the best children's programs of all time.