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Earthworm Jim is an American animated television series based on the video game with the same name, which appeared on Kids' WB[1][2] for two seasons from September 9, 1995, to December 13, 1996. The series follows the adventures of an earthworm named Jim who is turned into a superhero by a robotic super suit.[3] The video game and show were created by Doug TenNapel.[4]

Premise[]

Most episodes involve the series' numerous villains attempting to reclaim the super suit, rule/destroy/freeze/knock over the universe, or otherwise causing mayhem throughout the galaxy. Other problems facing Jim include returning his neighbor's eggbeater and finding a new power source after his suit is depowered. Also, the show breaks the fourth wall with characters often talking to the audience and the narrator.

Episodes begin with a cold opening of Earthworm Jim and Peter Puppy in some peril that has nothing to do with the main plot or the previous episodes, with little explanation of how they got into the mess. In between parts (generally before or after the commercial break), there is a short side-story, generally featuring one of the villains doing a more natural part of life, usually without any involvement from Jim. These can range anywhere from Psy-Crow going through a career change, Evil the Cat disguising himself as a movie star in order to make his evil plans known to the world, or Professor Monkey-For-A-Head attending group therapy and always ending with the line: "and now, back to Earthworm Jim." The end of every episode involves Jim or any other character being crushed by a cow, a play on the first game of the series (in the first stage, the player launches a cow into the sky, only to have it crush the Princess upon the game's ending).

Characters[]

Main article: List of Earthworm Jim characters

Most of the main characters from the show originated from characters introduced in the Earthworm Jim (1994) and Earthworm Jim 2 (1995) video games. Peter Puppy becomes Jim's sidekick and friend and Princess What's-Her-Name his love interest. Many villains from the game, including Evil the Cat and his assistant Henchrat, Psy-Crow, Bob the Killer Goldfish, Queen Slug-for-a-Butt and Professor Monkey-For-A-Head also appear in the show.

Additionally, some original characters were also created for the show, and were then in turn integrated into video games released after the TV series. For example, Evil Jim, an evil duplicate of Earthworm Jim created for the show, went on to be the main antagonist for the game Earthworm Jim: Menace 2 the Galaxy.

Voice cast[]

The voice director for the series was Ginny McSwain.

Main[]

  • Dan Castellaneta as Earthworm Jim, Evil Jim, Turns-His-Eyelids-Inside-Out Boy (in "Sidekicked", "Lounge Day's Journey into Night"), Jim's Four Brains, The Grim Reaper (in "The Wizard of Ooze", For Whom the Jingle Bell Tolls"), Jaepius: God of Puns (in "Assault and Battery"), Abraham Lincoln (in "Sword of Righteousness")
  • Jeff Bennett as Peter Puppy, Narrator, The Hamsternator, Evil Peter, Puce Dynamo, President of the United States (in "The Origin of Peter Puppy"," "Peanut of the Apes"), The Great Worm Spirit (in "The Anti-Fish")
  • Charlie Adler as Professor Monkey-For-A-Head, The Doorman of The Gods (in "Assault and Battery"), Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (in "For Whom the Jingle Bell Tolls"), Superhero #1
  • Jim Cummings as Psy-Crow, Bob The Killer Goldfish, Johnny Dactyl (in "Assault and Battery"), Walter (in "Conqueror Worm", "Lounge Day's Journey into Night", "The Wizard of Ooze"), Zantor: Master of The Flying Toupée (in "Sidekicked", "Lounge Day's Journey into Night"), The Sword of Righteousness (in "The Sword of Righteousness"), Phlegmaphus: God of Nasal Discharge (in "Assault and Battery"), Lower Back-Pain Man, The Giant Fur-Bearin' Trout (in "The Anti-Fish"), Santa Claus (in "For Whom the Jingle Bell Tolls")
  • Edward Hibbert as Evil the Cat
  • John Kassir as Snott, Henchrat
  • Andrea Martin as Queen Slug-For-A-Butt, The Torch Singer
  • Kath Soucie as Princess What's-Her-Name, Evil Princess, Johnny Dactyl's Mom (in "The Exile of Lucy"), Perpsichore: Goddess of Disco (in "Assault and Battery"), Cody (in "Peanut of the Apes")

Additional[]

  • Gregg Berger as Superhero #2
  • S. Scott Bullock as various
  • Miriam Flynn as Malice the Dog (in "Evil in Love")
  • Brad Garrett as The Lord of Nightmares (in "Evil in Love")
  • Lisa Kaplan as various
  • Danny Mann as Archbug (in "Queen What's-Her-Name", "For Whom the Jingle Bell Tolls")
  • Edie McClurg as various
  • Dee Dee Rescher as The Purple Alien
  • Kevin Michael Richardson as The Anti-Fish (in "Anti-Fish")
  • Ben Stein as Rosebud The Nameless Beast (in "The Great Secret of the Universe"), Dr. Houston (in "The Origin of Peter Puppy")
  • Billy West as The Sturgeon (in "Lounge Day's Journey into Night"), Morty (in "Lounge Day's Journey into Night")
  • April Winchell as Mrs. Bleverage, Ilene (in "Lounge Day's Journey into Night")

Production[]

The series was created by Doug TenNapel and produced by Universal Cartoon Studios along with AKOM, Flextech Television Limited, and Shiny Entertainment.[5]

Episodes[]

Two seasons of the series were produced, for a total of 23 episodes.

Series overview[]

Season Episodes Originally aired
First aired Last aired
1 13 Template:Start date Template:End date
2 10 Template:Start date Template:End date


Season 1 (1995–1996)[]

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Season 2 (1996)[]

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Broadcast history[]

In the United States, the show was aired on Kids' WB on WB Television Network.[2][6] In the UK, it was shown on Channel 4 and TCC (The Children's Channel) in the 1990s, and in the 2000s, the show has seen occasional reruns on Nickelodeon. The cartoon was broadcast in the Republic of Ireland on RTÉ Two from 12 September 1996 to 1997.[7]

Media[]

The show was released in the UK onto 3 VHS tapes in 3 volumes covering 2 episodes on each video in the 90s but these are now out of print and considered rare.

On June 1, 2011, Via Vision Entertainment released the complete series as a 5-disc set in Australia and New Zealand.[8]

The complete series was intended to receive a U.S. DVD release from Visual Entertainment on Template:Start date, but was delayed right before release to late October.[9][10] The set includes all 23 episodes on 3 discs, and is currently available on Amazon.com.[11]

Name Release Date Episodes Region Additional Information
Vol. 1: Bring Me the Head of Earthworm Jim / Sword of Righteousness Template:Start date 2 VHS Includes animation featurette.
Vol. 2: Conqueror Worm / Day of the Fish Template:Start date 2 VHS Includes animation featurette.
Vol. 3: Assault & Battery / Trout! Template:Start date 2 VHS Includes animation featurette.
Vol. 4: The Book of Doom / The Egg Beater Template:Start date 2 VHS Includes animation featurette.
Earthworm Jim: The Complete Series Template:Start date 23 4 Includes no bonus features.
Earthworm Jim: Complete Series Template:Start date 23 1 Includes no bonus features.

Reception[]

The Earthworm Jim television series received generally positive reviews from critics and audiences, for being one of Doug TenNapel's best creations, and having the originality of the 1994 video game of the same name.

Legacy[]

Aspects of the show, such as newly created characters, or art style, were later implemented in future video games Earthworm Jim 3D and Earthworm Jim: Menace 2 the Galaxy. Two Earthworm Jim comic book series, in the US and UK, were also created to tie into the animated series.[12]

A line of action figures based on the show was released by Playmates Toys. The series included several variants of Earthworm Jim, as well as Peter Puppy, Princess Whats-Her-Name, Bob the Killer Goldfish, #4, Evil the Cat, Henchrat, Major Mucus and Psy-Crow.[13] A mountable "pocket rocket" was also available as well as a rare mail-in repainted figure of Earthworm Jim in a green suit.

References[]

  1. Mendoza, N.F. (October 22, 1995). "WB Raises the Animation Ante". Retrieved on 23 March 2011. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 Gamasutra Staff (2008-04-22). "Interplay, TenNapel Partner For Earthworm Jim Game, Cartoon Revival".. Gamasutra. Retrieved on 2008-04-24.
  3. (2018) The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows. Rowman & Littlefield, page 117. ISBN 978-1538103739. 
  4. (2005) Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003, 2nd, McFarland & Co, page 298–300. ISBN 978-1476665993. 
  5. Johnson, Greg (December 17, 1995). "A Company and an Artist from Orange County Work to Turn Video Game Character Earthworm Jim Into a Multimedia Star", The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved on 27 August 2010. 
  6. "'Toon In: MDK Comes to Life as an Animated Series". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 101. Ziff Davis. December 1997. p. 30.Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.
  7. Template:List journal
  8. Earthworm Jim: The Complete Series. www.viavision.com.au. Archived from the original on 2012-04-24. Retrieved on 2011-05-25.
  9. Earthworm Jim DVD news: Delay for Earthworm Jim – The Complete Series. TVShowsOnDVD.com. Archived from the original on 2012-11-20. Retrieved on 2012-11-26.
  10. Earthworm Jim DVD news: New Release Date for Earthworm Jim – The Complete Series. TVShowsOnDVD.com. Archived from the original on 2012-11-30. Retrieved on 2012-11-26.
  11. Earthworm Jim: The Complete Series. "Earthworm Jim: The Complete Series: Charles Adler, Jeff Bennett, Dan Castellaneta, Jim Cummings, Edward Hibbert, John Kassir, Andrea Martin, Kath Soucie, Danny Mann, Ben Stein, Kevin Michael Richardson, April Winchell, Na: Movies & TV".. Amazon.com. Retrieved on 2012-11-26.
  12. Ramsay, Morgan (3 June 2015). "Online Game Pioneers at Work".. Apress. Retrieved on 21 May 2019.
  13. "Earthworm Jim (Playmates) – Action Figure Checklist".. Figurerealm.com. Retrieved on 2011-05-25.


External links[]

  • Template:Tv.com show
  • Earthworm Jim at Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Archived from the original on June 4, 2016.


Template:Doug TenNapel


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