Toonsylvania
Toonsylvania is an American animated television series, which ran for two seasons in 1998 on the Fox Kids Network block in its first season, then was moved to Monday afternoons from September 14, 1998, until January 18, 1999, when it was cancelled. It was executive produced in part by Steven Spielberg, as DreamWorks' first animated series.
The show had recurring cartoon series that appeared in each episode. Unlike Animaniacs, Toonsylvania did not have a wide range of characters and almost every episode had the same component segments. The main segments were "Frankenstein", "Night of the Living Fred", "Attack of the Killer B Movies", "Igor's Science Minute", and "Melissa Screetch's Morbid Morals".
Plot summary
''Frankenstein''
A typical episode of Toonsylvania starts with a cartoon series called "Frankenstein" about the adventures of Dr. Vic Frankenstein, his assistant Igor who always sets out to prove that he is a genius like his master, and their dim-witted Frankenstein Monster known as Phil.During the season two restructuring, Igor, Dr. Vic Frankenstein and Phil interact with a variety of new characters, including a snooping next-door neighbor Seth Tuber, who was based on Norman Bates from Psycho. He interacted with his "immobile" mother by putting his hand over his mouth and talking into it. There was also a typical Transylvanian angry mob that was, in fact, a cheerful group of Beatles-esque hipsters. Most of these new characters were voiced by Paul Rugg, who also improvised many of their lines.
Remote control gags
Before the second cartoon, there is an animated vignette where Igor is on the couch with Phil and tries to use the remote control, only for a problem to occur before the TV turns on to show the cartoon in question.''Night of the Living Fred''
A segment about a family of zombies that consists of Fred Deadman, his sister Ashley Deadman, his mother Stiffany Deadman, and his father Dedgar Deadman. This segment was created by cartoonist Mike Peters.''Attack of the Killer B-Movies''
Sometimes, a parody of a B-list horror movie would air instead of a "Night of the Living Fred" cartoon. Most of them involve Ace Deuce, Professor Man, Professor Man's daughter whose name and occupation keeps getting changed, Ace's friend Newark, and the general of an army fighting different monstrous threats.''Igor's Science Minute''
A short segment where Igor gives a science lesson that always ends in disaster.''Melissa Screetch''
When Phil does something bad, Igor punishes him by reading a horror tale from the book "Melissa Screetch's Morbid Morals". It involves a bratty girl named Melissa Screetch who does not heed the warnings of adults like her mother and suffers the consequences for it one way or another. After the story is told, something tied in with the story happens with Igor and Phil. The segment was created by Chris Otsuki.During season two, Melissa Screetch starred in a new segment called "The Melissa Screetch Show". Whenever Melissa was disappointed with a friend or a family member, she would go home and cover herself under her bed sheets where she pretended to host a show. She then had her transgressor on as a guest star and often did away with them in an ironic manner.
Production
Second season changes
In season two, Bill Kopp and Jeff DeGrandis left the show and were replaced by Paul Rugg. The series' format changed into more of a sitcom style.The backup segments to re-materialize in season two were the B-movie parodies, some "Night of the Living Fred" installments, and Melissa Screetch in a new segment called "The Melissa Screetch Show".
Series overview
Episodes
Season 1 (1998)
Note: All episodes in this season were directed by Jeff DeGrandis.Season 2 (1998–99)
Music
The music for the series was written by Michael Tavera, Keith Baxter, Christopher Neal Nelson, John Paul Given, Christopher Klatman and Thom Sharp. The main title song was written by Steve Bernstein and Julie Bernstein with lyrics by Paul Rugg.Cast
- David Warner – Dr. Vic Frankenstein
- Wayne Knight – Igor, Igor's reflection
- Brad Garrett – Phil, Bunny Wunny, Andromeda King, various
- Nancy Cartwright – Melissa Screetch
- Jim Cummings – Army general, Coach, Mr. Big, Santa Claus, various
- Matt Frewer – Dedgar Deadman
- Jess Harnell – Dedgar Deadman, Wink Dracula, Johnny Vermin, Igor's singing voice, various
- Jonathan Harris – Seth Tuber
- Tom Kenny – Ace Deuce, various
- Valery Pappas – Stiffany Deadman, Professor Man's Daughter, Melissa Screetch's mother, various
- Paul Rugg – Seth Tuber's mom, various
- Kath Soucie – Ashley Deadman, Mrs. Screetch, Kyle Screetch, Female Tooth Fairy, Andromeda Queen
- Billy West – Fred Deadman, Newark/Hoboken, Toy Store Clerk/Mall Clerk, Male Tooth Fairy, Dr. Earl Schwartzberg, various
Additional voices
- Charlie Adler – Customer, Dr. Vic's grandmother, various
- Steve Bean -
- Jocelyn Blue – Mama Bear, Gertrude
- Corey Burton – Mr. Death, Debbie the bank robber
- Cam Clarke – Waiter
- Kate Donahue –
- Sandy Fox – Darla Doiley, Baby Bear, various
- Josh Gilbert
- Bill Kopp – various
- Vince Montello –
- Byrne Offutt –
- April Winchell – Liz
Crew
- Bill Kopp – Executive Producer, Writer, Creator, Voice Director
- Jeff DeGrandis – Producer, Director
- Steven Spielberg – Executive Producer
- Keith Baxter – Writer
- Kate Donahue – Voice Director
- Lee Mendelson – Creative Consultant
- Chris Otsuki – Creator, Writer
- Mike Peters – Creator, Writer
- Kris Zimmerman - Voice Casting
Home media releases
In 2014, Netflix in Latin America streamed the entire series.