Fievel's American Tails
Encyclopedia
Fievel's American Tails is an American/Canadian animated
television series, produced by Steven Spielberg
's Amblimation
animation studio, Nelvana
, and Universal Cartoon Studios. It aired for one season in 1992, and continued Fievel's adventures from the film An American Tail: Fievel Goes West
(1991). The series was universally panned by critics and fans alike, resulting in low ratings which ultimately led to the show's cancellation
In 1993 and 1994, MCA/Universal Home Video released eight episodes on four VHS
video-cassettes and two Laserdisc volumes. These have been the only home video
release of the cartoon, at least in the United States. In the United Kingdom
, the 12-episode series was released on six video-cassettes in 1995. Episodes have been released on DVD
in France
, Germany
, and Italy
. Universal currently has no plans to release the show on DVD in the United States, as of November 19, 2009.
In Russia, the cartoon, dubbed in Russian but retaining the original English titles and names, was broadcast on First Channel Russian Television
in summer 1996 with Woody Woodpecker
. Repeat airings were broadcast in Spring 2002 and Winter 2005.
Don Bluth
, the director of the original American Tail film, had no involvement with the series. Phillip Glasser
and Dom DeLuise
were the only two actors from the original film to reprise their roles, as Fievel and Tiger respectively. Cathy Cavadini
, however, did reprise the role as Tanya, whom she voiced in the second film, taking over the role from Amy Green.
season 1
Animation
Animation is the rapid display of a sequence of images of 2-D or 3-D artwork or model positions in order to create an illusion of movement. The effect is an optical illusion of motion due to the phenomenon of persistence of vision, and can be created and demonstrated in several ways...
television series, produced by Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg
Steven Allan Spielberg KBE is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, video game designer, and studio entrepreneur. In a career of more than four decades, Spielberg's films have covered many themes and genres. Spielberg's early science-fiction and adventure films were seen as an...
's Amblimation
Amblimation
Amblimation was the animation production arm of Steven Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment, and was active from 1989 until about 1997.The feature animation studio was located in London, England, UK...
animation studio, Nelvana
Nelvana
Nelvana Limited is a Canadian entertainment company founded in 1971 known for its work in children's animation. It was named by founders Michael Hirsh, Patrick Loubert and Clive A. Smith after a Canadian comic book superheroine created by Adrian Dingle in the 1940s...
, and Universal Cartoon Studios. It aired for one season in 1992, and continued Fievel's adventures from the film An American Tail: Fievel Goes West
An American Tail: Fievel Goes West
An American Tail: Fievel Goes West is a 1991 American animated film produced by Steven Spielberg's Amblimation animation studio and released by Universal Pictures. It is the sequel to An American Tail, and the fourth installment in terms of the series' fictional chronology...
(1991). The series was universally panned by critics and fans alike, resulting in low ratings which ultimately led to the show's cancellation
In 1993 and 1994, MCA/Universal Home Video released eight episodes on four VHS
VHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
video-cassettes and two Laserdisc volumes. These have been the only home video
Home video
Home video is a blanket term used for pre-recorded media that is either sold or rented/hired for home cinema entertainment. The term originates from the VHS/Betamax era but has carried over into current optical disc formats like DVD and Blu-ray Disc and, to a lesser extent, into methods of digital...
release of the cartoon, at least in the United States. In the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, the 12-episode series was released on six video-cassettes in 1995. Episodes have been released on DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. Universal currently has no plans to release the show on DVD in the United States, as of November 19, 2009.
In Russia, the cartoon, dubbed in Russian but retaining the original English titles and names, was broadcast on First Channel Russian Television
Channel One (Russia)
Channel One is the first television channel to broadcast in the Soviet Union. The channel was renamed Ostankino Channel 1 in 1991, after the Soviet Union broke up and the Russian SFSR became the Russian Federation. According to a recent government publication, the Russian government controls 51%...
in summer 1996 with Woody Woodpecker
Woody Woodpecker
Woody Woodpecker is an animated cartoon character, an anthropomorphic acorn woodpecker who appeared in theatrical short films produced by the Walter Lantz animation studio and distributed by Universal Pictures...
. Repeat airings were broadcast in Spring 2002 and Winter 2005.
Don Bluth
Don Bluth
Donald Virgil "Don" Bluth is an American animator and independent studio owner. He is best known for his departure from The Walt Disney Company in 1979 and his subsequent directing of animated films such as The Secret of NIMH , An American Tail ,The Land Before Time , and All Dogs Go to Heaven ,...
, the director of the original American Tail film, had no involvement with the series. Phillip Glasser
Phillip Glasser
Phillip Glasser is an American actor and producer. He is best known for the role of Fievel Mousekewitz in the animated films, An American Tail and An American Tail: Fievel Goes West, and the television series Fievel's American Tails.In the late 1990s he played the role of Eugene in NBC Saturday...
and Dom DeLuise
Dom DeLuise
Dominick "Dom" DeLuise was an American actor, comedian, film director, television producer, chef, and author. He was the husband of actress Carol Arthur from 1965 until his death and the father of: actor, director, pianist, and writer Peter DeLuise; actor David DeLuise; and actor Michael DeLuise...
were the only two actors from the original film to reprise their roles, as Fievel and Tiger respectively. Cathy Cavadini
Cathy Cavadini
Catherine Janet "Cathy" Cavadini is an American voice actress and singer. Most famous as the voice of Blossom on Cartoon Network's animated television series The Powerpuff Girls and Tanya Mousekewitz in An American Tail: Fievel Goes West and Fievel's American Tails. She is also the successor voice...
, however, did reprise the role as Tanya, whom she voiced in the second film, taking over the role from Amy Green.
Episode list
13 half-hour episodes were produced:season 1
- Fievel, the Lonesome Ranger
- Law and Disorder
- Little Mouse on the Prairie
- The Gift
- A Case of the Hiccups
- The Legend of Mouse Hollow
- Babysitting Blues
- The Lost Mother Lode
- A Mouse Known as Zorrowitz
- Mail Order Mayhem
- Aunt Sophie's Visit
- That's What Friends Are For
- Bell the Cats
Characters
- Fievel MousekewitzFievel MousekewitzFievel Mousekewitz is the main character of the movies An American Tail and An American Tail: Fievel Goes West, the TV series "Fievel's American Tails", "An American Tail: The Treasure of Manhattan Island" and "An American Tail: The Mystery of the Night Monster."...
: A little mouse. - Tanya Mousekewitz: Fievel's older sister.
- Yasha Mousekewitz: Fievel's baby sister.
- Papa Mousekewitz: Fievel's father
- Mama Mousekewitz: Fievel's mother
- Cat R. Waul: Fievel's arch-nemesis.
- Sweet WilliamSweet WilliamDianthus barbatus is a species of Dianthus native to southern Europe and parts of Asia which has become a popular ornamental garden plant. It is a herbaceous biennial or short-lived perennial plant growing to 30–75 cm tall, with flowers in a dense cluster of up to 30 at the top of the stems...
: One of Cat R. Waul's cronies. - Chula the Tarantula: Fievel's other arch-nemesis, and Cat R. Waul's sidekick. A caricature of Butch CassidyButch CassidyRobert LeRoy Parker , better known as Butch Cassidy, was a notorious American train robber, bank robber, and leader of the Wild Bunch Gang in the American Old West...
. - Jack: One of Fievel's school mates. Most likely from Australia.
- Jorge: Another one of Fievel's school mates.
- Tiger: The only cat friend of the Jewish-Russian mouse family
- Mr. J. M. Schimmel: The rat who owns the mouse sized general store in Green River.
- Clint Mousewood: One of Fievel's heroes. – from "Mail Order Mayhem" A caricature of Clint EastwoodClint EastwoodClinton "Clint" Eastwood, Jr. is an American film actor, director, producer, composer and politician. Eastwood first came to prominence as a supporting cast member in the TV series Rawhide...
. - Hambone: The dog guard on the train. – from "The Gift"
- Sidney: One of Fievel's more spoiled classmate. First appears in Law and Disorder.
- Aunt Sophie: A relative of the Mousekewitz family. – from "Aunt Sophie's Visit"
- Dr. Travis T. Hiprocates: A traveling doctor that gave away hiccup sweets. – from "A Case of the Hiccups". A caricature of Sigmond Freud.
- Miss KittyMiss KittyMiss Kitty may refer to:* Kali Troy, an American voice actor known as "Miss Kittie"* Miss Kittin, a musical performer* Stacy Carter, a former professional wrestler with the ring name Miss Kitty...
: Tiger's girlfriend. – from "Law and Disorder". A caricature of Dorothy GibsonDorothy GibsonDorothy Gibson was a pioneering American silent film actress, artist's model and singer active in the early 20th century. She is best remembered as a survivor of the sinking of the RMS Titanic.-Early life and career:...
. - Mr. Ironside: The school teacher, probably a mole.
- Dog: The dog who guards the jail house.
- Lorna Holcombe: A girl in Fievel's class.
- Patty Paris: The baker. A caricature of Ona MunsonOna MunsonOna Munson was an American actress perhaps best known for her portrayal of prostitute Belle Watling in Gone with the Wind .- Career :...
's Belle Watling from Gone with the WindGone with the WindThe slaves depicted in Gone with the Wind are primarily loyal house servants, such as Mammy, Pork and Uncle Peter, and these slaves stay on with their masters even after the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 sets them free...
.
Cast
- Phillip GlasserPhillip GlasserPhillip Glasser is an American actor and producer. He is best known for the role of Fievel Mousekewitz in the animated films, An American Tail and An American Tail: Fievel Goes West, and the television series Fievel's American Tails.In the late 1990s he played the role of Eugene in NBC Saturday...
as Fievel - Dom DeLuiseDom DeLuiseDominick "Dom" DeLuise was an American actor, comedian, film director, television producer, chef, and author. He was the husband of actress Carol Arthur from 1965 until his death and the father of: actor, director, pianist, and writer Peter DeLuise; actor David DeLuise; and actor Michael DeLuise...
as Tiger - Susan SiloSusan SiloSusan Silo is an American actress and voice actress.-Early life and career:She was born in New York City, New York. Her acting career started in television on an episode of The Jack Benny Show. Silo also co-starred with Larry Blyden, Dawn Nickerson, and Diahn Williams in the NBC sitcom Harry's...
as Mama - Lloyd Battista as Papa
- Cathy CavadiniCathy CavadiniCatherine Janet "Cathy" Cavadini is an American voice actress and singer. Most famous as the voice of Blossom on Cartoon Network's animated television series The Powerpuff Girls and Tanya Mousekewitz in An American Tail: Fievel Goes West and Fievel's American Tails. She is also the successor voice...
as Tanya and Yasha - Dan CastellanetaDan CastellanetaDaniel Louis "Dan" Castellaneta is an American actor, voice actor, comedian, singer and screenwriter. Noted for his long-running role as Homer Simpson on the animated television series The Simpsons, he voices many other characters on The Simpsons, including Abraham "Grampa" Simpson, Barney Gumble,...
as Chula and Mr. Schimmel - Gerrit GrahamGerrit GrahamGerrit Graham is an American actor and songwriter. He's appeared in such films as Used Cars, TerrorVision, National Lampoon's Class Reunion, and Greetings, where he worked with Brian DePalma for the first time...
as Cat R. Waul - Kenneth MarsKenneth MarsKenneth Mars was an American television, movie, and voice actor. He may be best-remembered for his roles in several Mel Brooks films: the insane Nazi playwright Franz Liebkind in 1968's The Producers, and the relentless Police Inspector Hans Wilhelm Fredrich Kemp in 1974's Young Frankenstein...
as Sweet William - Hal RayleHal RayleHal Rayle is an American voice actor. He has done many roles for both animated series and live action movies.-Career:Rayle has had a number of voice acting jobs over his career. Rayle's animated series roles include Lieutenant Commander Steele in SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron, Pipes, Snarl and...
as Clint Mousewood - Arthur BurghardtArthur BurghardtArthur Burghardt is an American actor known for portraying Dr. Jack Scott on the soap opera One Life to Live.His first movie appearance was as the Great Ahmed Kahn in Network . A prolific voice actor during the 1980s, his most celebrated roles were Destro in the animated series G.I. Joe and...
as Hambone - Cynthia Ferrer as Miss Kitty
- Patricia ParrisPatricia ParrisPatricia Parris is an American voice actress, who provided the voice of Daisy Duck in Mickey's Christmas Carol and Shelly on Jabberjaw ....
as Aunt Sophie - Akemi OkamuraAkemi Okamurais a Japanese voice actress and narrator from Tokyo who works for Mausu Promotion. She has had at least one song appear on the NHK program Minna no Uta. Okamura made her debut as Fio Piccolo in the 1992 film Porco Rosso.-Television Animation:...
as Fievel (Japanese version) - Mayuko AokiMayuko Aokiis a Japanese voice actress who has worked on several anime and video game productions. Mayuko Aoki also sang the FINAL FANTASY X-2 VOCAL COLLECTION / YUNA * 4 tracks* .- Roles :Anime:* Aquarian Age - Sign for Revolution - Yoriko Sannou...
as Tanya (Japanese version) - Taeko KawataTaeko Kawatais a Japanese voice actress who was born in Tokyo. She is employed by 81 Produce. Her name is sometimes misromanized as Taeko Kawada.-TV Anime:*Azuki-chan *Cardcaptor Sakura *Casshern Sins...
as Yasha (Japanese version)
Credits
| Executive Producer | Steven Spielberg Steven Spielberg Steven Allan Spielberg KBE is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, video game designer, and studio entrepreneur. In a career of more than four decades, Spielberg's films have covered many themes and genres. Spielberg's early science-fiction and adventure films were seen as an... |
| Production Executives | Frank Marshall Kathleen Kennedy |
| Executive Production Consultant | David Kirschner |
| Created by | David Kirschner |
| Executive Story Editors | Hank Saroyan J.R. Young |
| Story Editors | Sam Graham Chris Hubbell |
| Produced by | Michael Hirsh Michael Hirsh (producer) Michael Hirsh is a Belgian-born Canadian citizen. He has been a significant figure in the Canadian television industry, or more specifically children's programming, since the 1980s.-Personal life:... Patrick Loubert Patrick Loubert Patrick Loubert was one of the founders of the Canadian animation studio, Nelvana Limited, along with Clive A. Smith and Michael Hirsh. He has produced, and executive-produced, much of the company's most memorable fare.... Clive A. Smith Clive A. Smith Clive A. Smith is a British expatriate director and animator who, with Michael Hirsh and Patrick Loubert, founded Canadian animation studio Nelvana in 1971... |
| Supervising Producer | Stephen Hodgins |
| Line Producer | Peter Hudecki Peter Hudecki Peter Hudecki is an animator. He directed the Roseanne Barr animated series Little Rosie, and was Chief Modelmaker for Gemini and Emmy award winning series Rolie Polie Olie.-Biography:... |
| Directed by | Lawrence Zelig Jacobs |
| Assistant Director | Paul Riley |
| Voice Director | Kelly Ward Kelly Ward Kelly Ward is an American actor and voice director for TV animation. He is most famous for his role as T-Bird's Putzie in Grease.-Films and TV:... |
| Casting | Maria Estrada |
| Production Supervisor | Steve Chadwick |
| Production Manager | Ruta Cube |
| Unit Director | Claude Chiasson |
| Production Coordinators | Jocelyn Hamilton Mike DeMonna Martina Moody |
| Designers | Frank Nissen Charles E. Bastien Chuck Gammage Ross Campbell Joe Goesslin Robert Walton Patrick Rowsome Blayne Burnside Steven K. Manning Stephen Wood |
| Posers | Lynn Reist David Boudreau Alan Knappett |
| Design Coordinator | Patty Beausoleil |
| Layout Supervisor | Tony Tarantini |
| Layouts | Dale DesRochers Ron Wilson Chris Minz Rob Sadler Chad Hicks Frank Ramirez Brad Markewitz Michel Daze |
| Storyboard | Bob Smith Raymond Jafelice John Yee John Flagg Vince Natali Andrea Robbins |
| Storyboard Cleanup Supervisor | Dave Quensnelle |
| Color Designer | Rebecca Barclay |
| Paint Supervisor | Mary Bertoia |
| Backgrounds | Kellie Jobson |
| Theme Song Written and Performed by | Hank Saroyan Robert Irving |
| Music by | Milan Kymlicka |
| Supervising Editor | Rob Kirkpatrick Rob Kirkpatrick -Biography:Rob Kirkpatrick was born and raised in upstate New York. He received his Bachelor’s from Rutgers University, his Master’s degree from the State University of New York at New Paltz, and his Doctorate from Binghamton University. After graduate school, he began a career as an acquisitions... |
| Post Production Manager | Lan Lamon |
| Supervising Sound Editor | Steve Cole |
| Picture Editors | Richard Bond Karen Saunders Evan Landis Peter Riley |
| Supervising Pre-Production Editor | Darrell MacDonald |
| Supervising Breakdown Editor | Rick Dubiel |
| Recording and Transfer Technians | Mike Reid Richard Stobiel |
| Additional Production Facilities | Wang Film Production Co. Ltd. [Bardel Animation Ltd. The Hollywood Cartoon Company |
| Negative Cutting Services | Catherine Rankin Productions |
| Laboratory Services | Command Post and Transfer Corporation Access Post Production Audio Inc. The Filmhouse Group |