Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue

1990 animated television special

Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue is a 1990 United States animated television special starring many characters from American animated television series at the time of its release.[1] Financed by McDonald's, it was originally shown on television in USA on April 21, 1990 on all four major American television networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX), and many other television stations.[2][3] McDonald's also released a VHS home video edition of the special distributed by Buena Vista Home Video.

ABC George H. W. and Barbara Bush Anti-drug message promo
7 Network Bob and Hazel Hawke Anti-drug message promo

How it was different in each country

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In USA, it was introduced on home video by President George H. W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush.

It was shown in Canada on the CBC, CTV, and Global Television Networks soon after it was shown in USA.

In Australia, it was shown in November 1990, where it was shown at the same time on Australia's three major TV stations (Seven Network, Nine Network and Network Ten), with Prime Minister Bob Hawke introducing it.[4]

It was shown in New Zealand in December 1990 on both TV One and Channel 2 at once, where New Zealand's Prime Minister Jim Bolger introduced it.

Production

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It was produced by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation and Southern Star Productions, and was animated outside of USA by Wang Film Productions Co., Ltd..

The story is about Michael, a young teenage boy who is using marijuana and alcohol. His younger sister Corey is worried about him. When Corey's piggy bank goes missing one morning, her cartoon toys come to life to help her find it. After finding it in Michael's room along with drugs, they work together to help him by taking him on a fantasy journey to teach him about how bad drug abuse can be.

Voices

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The various characters' owners let their characters be used for free because they thought it was a good thing that the special was doing.[5][6]

This TV show was the first time that Warner Bros. characters Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck were voiced by someone other than Mel Blanc. He had died shortly before the production,[7] and Jeff Bergman voiced them instead.[8]

References

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  1. "Cartoon special: Congressmen treated to preview of program to air on network, independent and cable outlets". Los Angeles Times. Times Mirror Company. April 19, 1990. Retrieved August 24, 2010.
  2. Bernstein, Sharon (April 20, 1990). "Children's TV: On Saturday, networks will simulcast 'Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue,' an animated feature on drug abuse". Los Angeles Times. Times Mirror Company. Retrieved August 24, 2010.
  3. "Hollywood and Networks Fight Drugs With Cartoon". The New York Times. April 21, 1990. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
  4. Toons join the drug war! TV Week, November 3, 1990
  5. Bernstein, Sharon (April 20, 1990). "That's Not All, Folks—Cartoons Join Drug War: Children's TV: On Saturday, networks will simulcast 'Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue,' an animated feature on drug abuse". Los Angeles Times. Times Mirror Company. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
  6. Gerstenzang, James; Decker, Cathleen (March 3, 1990). "Bush Praises TV for Enlisting Cartoon Heroes in War on Drugs President's visit: He brings his anti-drug message to Southland entertainment executives and schoolchildren". Los Angeles Times. Times Mirror Company. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
  7. Flint, Peter B. (July 11, 1989). "Mel Blanc, Who Provided Voices For 3,000 Cartoons, Is Dead at 81". The New York Times. Retrieved June 26, 2008. Mel Blanc, the versatile, multi-voiced actor who breathed life into such cartoon characters as Bugs Bunny, Woody Woodpecker, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Tweety Pie, Sylvester and the Road Runner, died of heart disease and emphysema yesterday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. He was 81 years old.
  8. "Jeff Bergman". behind the voice actors. Retrieved 6 June 2014.

Other websites

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