Raw Toonage

''Disney's Raw Toonage'' is a half-hour American Disney animated series that aired on CBS on September 19, 1992. The show was cancelled on December 5 after 12 episodes had been broadcast.

'' Bonkers'' and ''Marsupilami'' were spun off from this series in 1993. '' The Shnookums and Meat Funny Cartoon Show'' then was spun off from ''Marsupilami'' in 1995.

Cast

Main

* Jeff Bennett as Jitters A. Dog
* Rodger Bumpass as Grumbles the Grizzly
* Nancy Cartwright as Fawn Deer, Windy
* Jim Cummings as Bonkers D. Bobcat, Maurice, Norman, Don Karnage (guest star from ''TaleSpin'')
* Steve Mackall as Marsupilami

Guest stars

* René Auberjonois as Chef Louie (from ''The Little Mermaid'')
* Corey Burton as Ludwig Von Drake, Captain Hook (from ''Peter Pan''), Robin Hoof
* Christine Cavanaugh as Gosalyn Mallard (from ''Darkwing Duck'')
* Bill Farmer as Goofy (with his style from ''Goof Troop'')
* Frank Welker as Leonardo the Refined Lion
* Terry McGovern as Launchpad McQuack (from ''DuckTales'' and ''Darkwing Duck'')
* Russi Taylor as Webby Vanderquack (from ''DuckTales'')
* Samuel E. Wright as Sebastian (from ''The Little Mermaid'')
* Alan Young as Scrooge McDuck (from ''DuckTales'')

Crew

* Ginny McSwain – Dialogue Director
* Jamie Thomason – Talent Coordinator

Segment series

* ''Hosting'': A host segment which serves as a wraparound for other cartoons. (9 segments)
* ''HB'': A ''He's Bonkers'' segment series, starring Bonkers D. Bobcat. (11 segments)
* ''M'': A ''Marsupilami'' segment series. (16 segments)
* ''TTV'': Each of which is either a parody or a music video. (11 segments)
* Goofy starred in "Goofy's Guide to the Olympics" in the sixth episode.

History and production

The idea for the show had an unusual genesis. Walt Disney Television Animation was developing a 65-episode half-hour series for their Disney Afternoon block entitled '' He's Bonkers D. Bobcat''. The premise was similar to ''Who Framed Roger Rabbit'', as the series dealt with the lead character's adventures post-stardom. The actual production of this series was troubled. At the same time, Michael Eisner had purchased the rights to the popular Belgian comic strip Marsupilami. At some point, someone had the post-modern idea to actually make the cartoons that Bonkers had starred in before becoming a policeman, and ''Disney's Raw Toonage'' was born. ''Totally Tasteless Video'' was intended as a satire of popular culture. A host was added to give the show the familiar feel of the ''World of Disney'' show.

Due to the shorter production schedule, ''Disney's Raw Toonage'' was on the air before the above-mentioned half-hour show, thus adding some credibility to the back story. The show typically opens with an introduction by a famous character from Disney (such as Goofy with his style from '' Disney's Goof Troop''), who attempts to share some of their expertise with the audience; then the show has a few of the above-mentioned shorts chained in a row, rounding out the half hour.

The premise of the ''Bonkers'' segments is that Bonkers is a delivery person, usually assisted by Jitters A. Dog. Conflict is provided by Bonkers' unrequited love for Fawn Deer. Each of the ''Bonkers'' segments were eventually included in the half-hour "Bonkers" series, while every one but three ("Wannabe Ruler?", "The Young and the Nestless", and "Hot Spots") of the ''Marsupilami'' segments were not included in the half-hour "Marsupilami" series. The ''Marsupilami'' segments took the look of the character from the Belgian comic, but the characterization differs significantly; Marsupilami is more anthropomorphized, and speaks the language of the human characters fluently, Marsupilami in the comics can only say variations of "houba" and mimic sounds like a parrot. The secondary characters in Disney's Marsupilami series are completely different from those of the comics; in the Disney cartoons, Marsupilami is most often opposed by Norman, who appears in various different roles.

''Totally Tasteless Video'' did each show in a different style. They were story edited by Tom Minton, who later write ''Pinky and the Brain'' at Warner Bros. The first ''Totally Tasteless Video'' segment is a parody of movie coming attraction trailers, followed by a spoof on ''Doogie Howser, M.D.'' Other notable segments involve a badly animated superhero, a prehistoric spoof of ''Magnum, P.I.'', an exorchicken fighting chicken ghosts that haunt a family, and a Robin Hood twist in the Jay Ward style of cartoons. Larry Latham produced and directed the ''Bonkers'', ''Totally Tasteless Video'', and host segments; Ed Wexler produced and directed ''Marsupilami''. At least one of the ''Marsupilami'' cartoons was produced with the idea of a theatrical run in mind.

Reruns of the show were aired on Disney Channel, and Toon Disney. ''Disney's Raw Toonage'' was nominated for a Daytime Emmy in the category of outstanding writing in an animated program and Outstanding Music Direction and Composition in 1993. Music composed by Stephen James Taylor (character themes and underscore), Mark Watters, Eric Schmidt, Jerry Grant, Walter Murphy, and Craig Stuart Garfinkle.

References

External links

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{{Marsupilami

1990s American animated television series
1990s American anthology television series
1992 American television series debuts
1992 American television series endings
American children's animated anthology television series
American children's animated comedy television series
English-language television shows
CBS original programming
Television series by Disney Television Animation
Comedy franchises
Internet memes
Film and television memes
Bonkers (TV series)