Aladdin (animated TV series)
Aladdin is an American animated television series based on the 1992 animated feature film of the same name and produced by Walt Disney Television Animation. It aired from September 5, 1994, to November 25, 1995, concluding exactly three years to the day from the release of the original film. Despite the animated television series premiering four months before the first sequel, the direct-to-video film The Return of Jafar, it takes place afterward. The second and final animated sequel was the 1996 direct-to-video film, Aladdin and the King of Thieves.
The series was produced by Alan Zaslove and Tad Stones, who were known for their work on Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers and Darkwing Duck. Many of the films' stars provided the voices of their TV counterparts, with the exceptions of Dan Castellaneta, filling in for Robin Williams, as The Genie, until Williams later returned to reprise his role in Aladdin and the King of Thieves, and Val Bettin as the Sultan.
The series originally aired as a preview on Disney Channel in early 1994, and in September of that year it began airing concurrently on the syndicated The Disney Afternoon block and on Saturday mornings on CBS. Disney Channel reran the series from 1997 until 2000. The show was shown on Toon Disney from April 1998 until December 2008.
Plot
The series is set in the fictional sultanate of Agrabah. It takes place one year after the original film, and is set after the second film. Aladdin, now engaged to Princess Jasmine, embarks on numerous adventures with his companions, both within and outside of Agrabah. These adventures often include solving mysteries, finding treasures, and encountering various enemies, such as Abis Mal, Mechanicles, Mozenrath, and Mirage.Episodes
A total of 86 episodes were produced, making this series one of the few exceptions to Disney's then-limit of 65 episodes. The direct-to-video film Aladdin and the King of Thieves serves as the series finale. It was followed by a guest appearance on November 24, 1998, in "Hercules and the Arabian Night", an episode of Hercules: The Animated Series.Characters
Main
- Aladdin was originally a street urchin who stole food to survive, but his life changed when he met and fell in love with Jasmine, the Princess of Agrabah. Aladdin is engaged to marry Jasmine and will eventually become Prince and eventually Sultan. He learns of his future responsibilities while protecting the kingdom from monsters, sorcerers and other dangers.
- Genie is one of Aladdin's best friends. Freed from his lamp and able to use his magic freely, Genie helps Aladdin in his adventures to protect Agrabah. However, Genie's magic does not always work successfully, as his powers had been reduced once he was freed. He describes his powers as "semi-phenomenal, nearly cosmic".
- Princess Jasmine was forced by her father to marry a prince, but her life changed for the better when she ran away from home and met and fell in love with the man of her dreams, Aladdin. Jasmine is no ordinary princess as she is strong-willed, independent, defiant yet loving and kind-hearted. She is quite flirty and seductive. She wants to live a life where she is free to make her own choices and to not let others control her. Now with more independence, Jasmine starts to experience things that she had never done before.
- Iago : Though he may have cleaned up his act, Iago is still very greedy and constantly wishes to have riches and power in his life. Iago sometimes causes trouble for the gang as he leads them on treasure hunts that turn out to be dangerous. Though he may be quick-tempered, Iago has a good heart deep down and always does the right thing in the end. Iago also has the talent of being able to imitate other peoples' voices.
- Abu is the charming, mischievous, yet closest friend of Aladdin. Abu is known to be a master thief and has his eyes set on gold and jewels. Abu and Iago have become good friends and work together on many occasions to gain money and riches beyond their wildest dreams.
- Magic Carpet is a loyal friend who was once a resident of the Cave of Wonders' treasure room. He is the mode of transportation for Aladdin and his friends, as well as a constant games partner for Genie.
- The Sultan is Jasmine's kind-hearted father, ruler of Agrabah, who allowed the engagement between her and Aladdin.
Other characters and villains
- Eden
- Dhandi
- Abis Mal
- Haroud Hazi Bin
- Sadira
- Mozenrath
- Amin Damoola / Queen Deluca's Brother #1
- Mechanicles
- Razoul / Prince Wazoo / The Sand Monster / Dominus Tusk / Hamar / Akbar / Queen Deluca's Brother #2
- Rajah / Hakim / Fazal / Nahbi / Xerxes / Queen Deluca's Brother #3
- Arbutus / General Gouda
- Khartoum
- Fasir
- Mirage
- Aziz
- Minos / King Zahbar
- Fatima
- Uncouthma
- Chaos
- Saleen
- Malcho
- Caliph Kapok / Amok Mon Ra
- Thundra
- Queen Deluca
- Ayam Aghoul
- Magma
- Sootinai / Merc
- Ajed Al Gebraic
- Nefir Hasenuf
- Queen Hippsodeth
- Sultan Pasta Al Dente
- Scara
- Shaman
- King Mamood
- Kwanseer
Animation
The animated television series was animated by Walt Disney Television Animation (Australia) Pty. Limited, Walt Disney Animation Japan, Inc., Toon City Animation, Inc., in Manila, Philippines, Kennedy Cartoons in Manila, Philippines and Kennedy Cartoons in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Guimarares Productions in São Paulo, Brasil, Moving Images International in Manila, Philippines, Animal-ya, Tama Productions, Wang Film Productions Co., Ltd., Sunwoo Animation Co., Ltd., Jaime Diaz Producciones S.A., and Pacific Rim Productions, Inc. The additional production facilities for Walt Disney Animation Inc.-animated episodes are Tama Production, Jade Animation, Light Foot, Nakumara Productions, Studios CATS, Studios Fuga, Studios Robin, Takahashi Productions, and Unlimited Energee.Home media
VHS and LaserDisc releases
Nine VHS cassettes and two double-feature LaserDiscs containing eighteen episodes of the series were released in the United States and Canada.| VHS name | Episode titles | Release date | Stock number |
| Aladdin's Arabian Adventures: Creatures of Invention | "Getting the Bugs Out" & "The Sands of Fate" | July 21, 1995 | 5361 |
| Aladdin's Arabian Adventures: Magic Makers | "Never Say Nefir" & "The Citadel" | July 21, 1995 | 5363 |
| Aladdin & Jasmine's Moonlight Magic | "Moonlight Madness" & "Some Enchanted Genie" | January 10, 1996 | 6704 |
| Aladdin's Arabian Adventures: Fearless Friends | "Much Abu About Something" & "The Day the Bird Stood Still" | February 28, 1996 | 6716 |
| Aladdin's Arabian Adventures: Team Genie | "Sneeze the Day" & "Genie Hunt" | February 28, 1996 | 6715 |
Princess Collection - Jasmine's Enchanted Tales
| VHS name | Episode titles | Release date | Stock number |
| Princess Collection - Jasmine's Enchanted Tales: The Greatest Treasure | "Garden of Evil" & "Elemental, My Dear Jasmine" | April 7, 1995 | 4081 |
| Princess Collection - Jasmine's Enchanted Tales: Jasmine's Wish | "Do the Rat Thing" & "Bad Mood Rising" | April 7, 1995 | 4083 |
| Princess Collection - Jasmine's Enchanted Tales: True Hearts | "Eye of the Beholder" & "SandSwitch" | February 28, 1996 | 6718 |
| Princess Collection - Jasmine's Enchanted Tales: Magic and Mystery | "The Secret of Dagger Rock" & "Forget Me Lots" | February 28, 1996 | 6719 |
Australia and New Zealand releases
Twelve VHS cassettes containing 24 episodes of the series were released in Australia and New Zealand. The series' home video releases from North American and Europe were also available on VHS, LaserDisc and Video CD in Asia, the Middle East, South Africa, and South America.| VHS name | Episode titles | Release date |
| Aladdin's Arabian Adventures : Aladdin to the Rescue | "The Spice is Right" & "Fowl Weather" | February 2, 1996 |
| Aladdin's Arabian Adventures : Genie in a Jar | "The Prophet Motive" & "Mudder's Day" | February 2, 1996 |
| Aladdin's Arabian Adventures : Treasures of Doom | "To Cure a Thief" & "My Fair Aladdin" | February 2, 1996 |
| Aladdin's Arabian Adventures : Creatures of Invention | "Getting the Bugs Out" & "The Sands of Fate" | October 18, 1996 |
| Aladdin's Arabian Adventures : Magic Makers | "Never Say Nefir" & "The Citadel" | October 18, 1996 |
| Aladdin's Arabian Adventures : Fearless Friends | "Much Abu About Something" & "The Day the Bird Stood Still" | March 21, 1997 |
| Aladdin's Arabian Adventures : Team Genie | "Sneeze the Day" & "Genie Hunt" | March 21, 1997 |
| Aladdin's Arabian Adventures : Aladdin & Jasmine's Moonlight Magic | "Moonlight Madness" & "Some Enchanted Genie" | August 15, 1997 |
| Aladdin's Arabian Adventures : The Magic Mask | "The Secret of Dagger Rock" and "The Ethereal" | August 15, 1997 |
| Aladdin's Arabian Adventures : Winner Takes Aladdin | "Strike Up the Sand" and "SandSwitch" | August 15, 1997 |
| Aladdin's Arabian Adventures : The Magic Trap | "Lost and Founded" & "Web of Fear" | August 15, 1997 |
| Aladdin's Arabian Adventures : Sea No Evil | "Sea No Evil" & "When Chaos Comes Calling" | August 15, 1997 |
DVD releases
The series has not been fully released on DVD, but on March 14, 2005, three episodes of the series were released on the Jasmine's Enchanted Tales: Journey of a Princess DVD release. Also, four episodes were released as part of the Disney Princess DVD titles, all of which were also available on VHS.| DVD name | Episode titles | Release date | Note |
| Disney Princess Stories: Volume 1 | "Bad Mood Rising" | September 7, 2004 | |
| Disney Princess Party: Volume 2 | "SandSwitch" | February 15, 2005 | |
| Disney Princess Stories: Volume 2 | "Love at First Sprite" | February 15, 2005 | |
| Jasmine's Enchanted Tales: Journey of a Princess | "Elemental, My Dear Jasmine", "Garden of Evil" & "Do the Rat Thing" | March 14, 2005 | |
| Disney Princess Stories: Volume 3 | "Eye of the Beholder" | September 6, 2005 |