News + Trends
For Comic Book Day: These are my favourite comics from my childhood
by Kim Muntinga
From Darkwing Duck to Adventures of the Gummi Bears: my favourite 90s kids’ TV shows (part 1)
9.10.2023
Translation: Katherine Martin
As a child of the 90s, I’m fond of reminiscing about the cartoons popular during that era. In the first of a two-part series of articles, I’ll introduce you to seven shows I still enjoy watching today.
Watching today’s kids’ TV programmes fills me with horror. What’s the deal with these terrible new shows? Angelo!, Bluey, Boy Girl Dog Cat Mouse Cheese, Miraculous, Paw Patrol and God knows what else. Seriously though, what is this rubbish? Heartless stories, transitions edited willy-nilly and art and animation styles with very little appeal. Unfortunately, numerous remakes have also fallen victim to this – a sad, noteworthy example being DuckTales. Though I loved the original version of the series, the cartoon’s new drawing style has butchered the remake for me.
To get around this, I’ll occasionally watch an old episode or enjoy one of the brilliant intros from the original series.
Below, I’ll introduce you to seven TV shows I absolutely loved as a kid. All of them bar one are Disney productions.
Ducktales (1987 – 1990)
Let’s kick things off with a classic. Created in the late 80s, Ducktales first made its way to Germany in 1989 before being broadcast on Disney Club from 1991 onwards. For the uninitiated – Disney Club was a kids’ entertainment show broadcast on Saturday afternoons and repeated on Sunday mornings. When I was a child, this was the very time I most enjoyed watching TV. I’d get up before my parents, turn on the telly and enjoy my favourite show. To this day, my parents still talk about the morning I took a call from one of my father’s colleagues. When the guy asked for my dad, who was supposed to be on call that weekend, I was so engrossed in the TV that I simply told him politely that my dad was still asleep and that I couldn’t wake him up.
The series centres around Scrooge McDuck, Donald Duck and their three nephews, Huey, Dewey and Louie. It also features guest appearances from famous comic characters such as Gyro Gearloose, Gladstone Gander and Magica de Spell. I’ve always been a fan of these classic Disney characters, be it in TV shows, films or comics. In celebration of National Comic Book Day recently, I wrote about my favourite childhood comics, including «Lustige Taschenbücher» the German-language comic-book stories about Duckburg.
TaleSpin (1990 – 1991)
Who doesn’t remember Disney’s absolute banger of a film, The Jungle Book? In my eyes, Baloo the Bear was evidently the secret star of the film. Friendly and easy-going, Baloo captured the hearts of many viewers, myself included. At the same time, the song The Bare Necessities became an anthem. This considered, it was only right that Disney would adapt Baloo and other prominent characters from the film for a TV show.
At the beginning of the series (spoiler alert!), a debt-ridden Baloo is forced to sell his air cargo freight business to young entrepreneur Rebecca Cunningham. After he takes the orphan Kid Cloudkicker under his wing, the two form the crew of the company’s only aeroplane. In addition to Baloo, altered versions of Louie the orangutan and Shere Khan the tiger also make an appearance. Although based on characters from The Jungle Book movie, they still clearly differ from their film-based counterparts.
It’s only now that I’ve started watching the films as an adult that I’m able to spot and understand references the series makes to contemporary events. Take the impoverished military dictatorship of Thembria or Louie’s Place as a stateless meeting point, for example. Baloo and Rebecca’s banter is reminiscent of old screwball comedies – two fundamentally different personalities, quick to exchange harsh words and get on each other’s nerves, while at the same time liking and respecting each other.
Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers (1989 – 1990)
Chip and Dale were two of my absolute favourite childhood heroes. With a little help from their friends Gadget Hackwrench, Monterey Jack and Zipper, the witty and charming chipmunk duo solve tricky cases over the course of 65 episodes. The five-strong rescue squad always stands up for what’s right, fighting against all manner of crimes. Their arch enemies are the mad scientist Professor Norton Nimnul and gangster boss Fat Cat.
What makes the show special is the friendship and interaction between the members of the rescue team, even though they’re really different. Chip and Dale in particular have contrasting personalities, so they often argue. Nevertheless, they’re always there for each other when needed or when the going gets tough. Meanwhile, Monterey Jack used to be a friend of Gadget Hackwrench’s dad. Ever since Gadget’s dad died when she was still a child, he’s taken care of her like a fatherly friend.
Last year, a live-action movie appeared on Disney+ as a sequel to the series.
Adventures of the Gummi Bears (1985 – 1991)
I’d guess just about everyone knows the Gummi Bear Gang’s theme song – at least everyone my age (36). The six valiant gummi bears (seven when Gusto joins the crew later) live in Gummi Glen, a secret, underground settlement in the forest of the fictional medieval kingdom of Dunwyn. The gang owe their name and powers to a magic potion (Gummiberry Juice) that gives them the ability to bounce like a rubber ball.
As for how Gummiberry Juice is made, that’s an ancient, and above-all, closely guarded secret. It’s only ever passed on from the guardian to her successor, which is also why the recipe isn’t written down anywhere. In the series, Grammi, the mother of the house and second oldest of the Gummi Bears, is responsible for brewing the magic potion.
The Gummi Bears’ adversary is the hot-tempered, power-hungry Duke Igthorn, who rules over Drekmore. He’s assisted by a squat little monster named Toadwart, as well as a bunch of clumsy yet strong ogres. Igthorn isn’t just out to get the Gummyberry Juice and its recipe. His main ambition is to conquer the kingdom of Dunwyn.
However, the Gummi Bears also make their fair share of friends over the course of the series. Prime examples include young Cavin, squire to Sir Tuxford, the highest-ranking knight at the castle, and Princess Calla, daughter of King Gregory. Together they protect the kingdom from the evil Igthorn and other dangers – often in secret.
Darkwing Duck (1991 – 1992)
True to the catchphrase «let’s get dangerous», masked superhero Darkwing Duck hunts down criminals over 91 episodes. Even so, he’s no ordinary superhero. Protecting his home city of St. Canard isn’t his only concern – he’s also set on achieving fame and accolades. His ham-fistedness often leads him to make mistakes. Otherwise, he jeopardises his missions with unnecessary drama and too much talking, often introducing himself in the third person. It’s only as the series progresses that he’s willing to accept more help from other characters. In fact, he’s often dependent on it.
At the beginning of the series, Darkwing Duck forms a small team. In the pilot episode, he takes in Gosalyn Mallard after her grandfather is murdered by Taurus Bulba’s underlings, and becomes her adoptive father. He also gets support from Launchpad McQuack, who’d previously made a name for himself in Ducktales. Even the timid boy next door, Honker Muddlefoot, who’s also Gosalyn’s best friend, often helps in the fight against evil.
Darkwing Duck’s greatest adversaries are the individual members of the Fearsome Five: Negaduck, Quackerjack, Megavolt, Dr Reginald Bushroot and the Liquidator. Quackerjack in particular was, and still is, one of my favourite characters from old kids’ TV shows: a rowdy michief-maker in a jester’s costume. Recognisable by his catchphrase «It’s playtime!», he’s utterly unpredictable and unscrupulous. His personality constantly veers between evil cunning and irrational stupidity.
The Darkwing Duck stories were also adapted into a comic strip as part of a special edition of «Lustige Taschenbücher».
Pinky and the Brain (1995 – 1998)
«Gee, Brain. What do you wanna do tonight?» – «The same thing we do every night, Pinky. Try to take over the world.» Never could a quote describe a series so perfectly. In each episode, the two talking lab mice try to put the genius yet nutty, egomaniacal Brain’s absurd plans for world domination into action. At the same time, the series often references and parodies well-known scenarios and stories from film, literature and society.
While Brain is highly intelligent, Pinky is very simple-minded. Even the series theme tune calls him «insane». He’s the exact opposite of Brain: childlike, absent-minded, dreamy, self-indulgent, playful and hyperactive. Not only that, but he has several verbal tics, often adding meaningless words such as «narf!» and «zort!» to the end of his sentences.
I find the story of these two polar-opposite lab mice amusingly entertaining, with the clever references in Brain’s world conquest scenarios proving particularly enjoyable. While the amount of comic relief might be off-putting to some adults, it definitely holds a certain charm for kids.
Gargoyles (1993 – 1997)
As a kid, I had an uncanny fascination for the gargoyles. Not just for the fabled creatures themselves, but for the dark feel of the series. Significantly more action-packed than many other animated series, it had me glued to the TV screen.
The gargoyles are mythical creatures, reminiscent of the statues you’d find on Gothic buildings. In the series, which is named after the creatures it revolves around, a group of Scottish gargoyles come back to life in modern-day New York City after a 1,000-year sleep. Their claim to fame? The creatures turn to stone during the day, springing into action at night.
Though usually nameless, the show’s creatures give themselves their own names so that people can tell them apart. The gargoyles clan consists of its leader Goliath, Hudson, Broadway, Lexington, Brooklyn, a dog-like creature named Bronx, Angela and Demona, who goes on to become their adversary.
In recent years, rumours have been circulating that Disney might turn the material into a live-action film. Series creator Greg Weisman revealed in an interview with Comingsoon.net that Jordan Peele (Get Out, Us) had submitted a pitch a few years back. Most recently, there were rumours this July that Kenneth Branagh (Thor, Belfast) had been hired by Disney to direct. Weisman, however, promptly denied this. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to find any more information or statements issued on the story.
In my follow-up article, you can expect a few more series, including Dinosaurs and The Animals of Farthing Wood. Just wait and see what’s in store for you. In the meantime, why not share your favourite cartoons from your childhood in the comments? Do you watch them with your own kids today?
More importantly, did you spot which non-Disney TV show snuck its way into this list? Let me know in the comments.
Header image: Disney
My interests are varied, I just like to enjoy life. Always on the lookout for news about darts, gaming, films and series.
21 comments
later