Widget (TV series)


Widget is an animated children's television series created by Peter Keefe, and directed and produced by Tom Burton of Zodiac Entertainment, which debuted in syndication on September 29, 1990. The series ran for two seasons; in the first season, it aired once a week, and in the second season, the series expanded to weekdays. The show featured environmentalist themes and was recognized by the National Education Association as recommended viewing for children.

Overview

The show focused on a short purple extraterrestrial from the planet Widget who could shapeshift by spinning like a spinning top into different forms. He and a group of young human friends - brothers Kevin and Brian, and their veterinarian friend Kristine - protect the natural environment from those who wish to plunder or harm it. Later on they are joined by fellow shapeshifter Half-Pint, Widget's mischievous and overly-curious cousin. Widget is frequently accompanied by the Mega Brain, an intelligent but somewhat clumsy being who appears as a floating head and floating hands.
The show was produced by Calico Creations to teach children about the dangers of pollution. Each episode would have Widget contending with a villain from either Earth or outer space wishing to exploit Earth's environment or natural resources, like Dr. Dante, Mega Slank, and his evil twin, Ratchet. In this respect, Widget, the World Watcher is similar to Captain Planet and the Planeteers and Toxic Crusaders, as all those heroes attempt to save the Earth from ecological disaster. As in those series, Widget occasionally fought against malicious entities spawned by copious pollution. For example, in one episode Widget battled a fellow shapeshifter, a sentient but hostile life form, disguised as a toxic ooze/slick, who was contaminating Earth's beaches and oceans.
The TV series ran for 65 episodes: 13 in the first season, and 52 in the second season. The animation for the show was produced by South Korean studio Sei Young Animation.

Main characters

  • Widget the World Watcher is the courageous and heroic shapeshifting heliotrope alien and the title character.
  • Mega Brain is Widget's assistant. He is a rose pink floating head with floating glove-like hands. He has a transparent brain enclosed by a dome on top of his head.
  • Half-Pint is Widget's mischievous, overly-curious, hyperactive cousin, fellow shapeshifter and is the sky blue alien.
  • Kevin is Brian's older brother and a friend of Widget.
  • Brian is Kevin's younger brother and a friend of Widget.
  • Kristine is Brian and Kevin's veterinarian friend and a friend of Widget.
  • The Elders are Widget's guardians and Half Pint's uncle and aunt who give Widget an environmental emergency.

    Eco-Villains

  • Ratchet the World Trasher is a hot pink alien who is Widget's evil twin, who lives in an alternate dimension called Pollutia. Whereas Widget tries to save the world, Ratchet attempts to pollute it.
  • Bob and Betty are poachers who will capture animals to earn a profit.
  • Dr. Dante is the natural earth villain and a confidence trickster scientist.
  • Hubert Ratman is Doctor Dante's main minion who is willing to correct Dante most times he calls him "Ratty".
  • Mega Slank is the other natural outer space villain, who seems to have a grudge against Widget's kind and has the power to hypnotize animals.
  • Flim Flam McSham is a two-headed ringmaster who captures creatures from across the universe.
  • Gyp works alongside Flim Flam. She is a slave trader whose loyalty to Flim Flam is quite strong.
  • Mr. Beetlebug is a businessman who will ruin the environment for money.
  • Macro Brain is a supercomputer who was built by Mr. Beetlebug to pollute the air, and is always causing Mr. Beetlebug to sign papers and goes out of control.
  • Crocorilla is a crocodile/gorilla creature, who is one of Ratchet's minions.
  • Hyenaphant is an hyena/elephant creature, who is one of Ratchet's minions.
  • Roostuck is a rooster/duck creature, who is one of Ratchet's minions.
  • Piglion is a pig/lion creature, who is one of Ratchet's minions.
  • Bizzaro Brain is a floating head with a transparent brain who will do anything in his will to best Mega Brain.

    Episodes

Season 1 (1990)

Season 2 (1991–92)

Principal cast

Widget was produced by Zodiac Entertainment, a Studio City, California-based firm backed by British media company Central Independent Television. Zodiac President Kevin Morrison stated that in 1990, Widget was being broadcast on 80% of independent U. S. television stations and that in 1991, the show started being shown five times a week.
It also aired on TVO and Le Canal Famille in Canada and later on ITV, The Children's Channel, Sky One and Channel 4 in the UK, TV3 in Sweden, RTÉ1 and RTÉ2 in Ireland, Sjónvarpið in Iceland, Fun Channel in Chile, Bop TV, SABC1 and M-Net in South Africa, Saudi 2 in Saudi Arabia, Dubai 33 in the United Arab Emirates, KBS, KBS2 and American Forces Korea Network in Korea, Syndication, USA Network and UniMás in United States, TV1 and TV3 in Malaysia, Channel 55 in Bahrain, Canal+ and FR3 in France, ZBC TV in Zimbabwe, Channel One in Russia, Channel 5 in Singapore, KUAM-TV in Guam, NBC in Namibia, Swazi TV in Eswatini, TVP1, TVP2 and TVP Polonia in Poland, TV2 and TV3 in New Zealand, ProSieben and Armed Forces Network in Germany, TV3 in Estonia, IBC in the Philippines, RTB in Brunei, Canale 5 in Italy, Channel 2 in Israel, the ABC in Australia, Canal Panda in Spain and ANT1 in Greece.

Video games

The series spawned two video games. Widget was released on the NES in 1992 and Super Widget on the SNES in 1993, both published by Atlus.

Home Media

The series was released on VHS in multiple countries. 2 in the US, one featuring Widget's Great Whale Adventure and Gorilla My Dreams, and the other featuring Widget of the Jungle and Kona the Captive Whale.
The series had five VHS releases in Australia by ABC Video, and thus, a clip from Widget's Walkabout was featured in an ABC For Kids VHS promo from 1993-1997.

Accolades

The episode "Sort it Out" won an Environmental Media Award.