Kidd Video
Encyclopedia
Kidd Video was a Saturday morning cartoon
created by DiC Entertainment
in association with Saban Entertainment. Its original run was on NBC
from 1984 to 1985, but continued in reruns on the network until 1987, when CBS
picked the show up. Reruns have also aired in syndication.
The show was dominated by an MTV
-esque, music video theme. Each episode featured at least one action sequence set to a popular song, and the heroes would often distract their enemies by showing current music videos, and sneak off while the enemies were entranced. Each episode also ended with a live-action music video by Kidd Video and his band (the band was also called "Kidd Video"). Other pop cultural current events featured heavily in the show as well: the characters often break danced to relax, rode on skateboards, and one episode was devoted entirely to video games. The visual style of the cartoon itself was heavily influenced by the more surreal videos showing on MTV
, and by album artwork of the era, by artists like Roger Dean.
The band was created specifically for the show; they performed their own songs and they provided the voices for their cartoon counterparts. At the end of some episodes, the live action band would be shown once again performing a music video, such as "A Little TLC". The music videos produced by Kidd Video then became very popular in Israel
, which then produced fan merchandise such as coloring books and chocolate bars with images of the band.
Saturday morning cartoon
A Saturday morning cartoon is the colloquial term for the animated television programming that has typically been scheduled on Saturday mornings on the major American television networks from the 1960s to the present; the genre's peak in popularity mostly ended in the 1990s while the popularity of...
created by DiC Entertainment
DiC Entertainment
DIC Entertainment was an international film and television production company. In addition to animated television shows such as Ulysses 31 , Inspector Gadget , The Littles , The Real Ghostbusters , Captain Planet and the Planeteers , and the first two seasons of the English adaptation of...
in association with Saban Entertainment. Its original run was on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
from 1984 to 1985, but continued in reruns on the network until 1987, when CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
picked the show up. Reruns have also aired in syndication.
Premise
The title sequence explained the plot; Kidd Video and his band of the same name (played by live-action performers in the first half of the title sequence) were kidnapped by a villain named Master Blaster, and transported to Master Blaster's home dimension, a cartoon world called The Flipside. They were rescued by a fairy named Glitter, and subsequently spent each episode of the series either helping to free the denizens of the Flipside from Master Blaster's rule, or trying to find a way back to the "real world". Master Blaster, who seemed to be a cartoonization of a corrupt rock manager or music executive, flew around the sky in his floating castle, which resembled a giant jukebox.The show was dominated by an MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
-esque, music video theme. Each episode featured at least one action sequence set to a popular song, and the heroes would often distract their enemies by showing current music videos, and sneak off while the enemies were entranced. Each episode also ended with a live-action music video by Kidd Video and his band (the band was also called "Kidd Video"). Other pop cultural current events featured heavily in the show as well: the characters often break danced to relax, rode on skateboards, and one episode was devoted entirely to video games. The visual style of the cartoon itself was heavily influenced by the more surreal videos showing on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
, and by album artwork of the era, by artists like Roger Dean.
The band was created specifically for the show; they performed their own songs and they provided the voices for their cartoon counterparts. At the end of some episodes, the live action band would be shown once again performing a music video, such as "A Little TLC". The music videos produced by Kidd Video then became very popular in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, which then produced fan merchandise such as coloring books and chocolate bars with images of the band.
Characters
- Kidd Video (portrayed and voiced by Bryan Scott) - Lead singer and guitarist of Kidd Video.
- Carla (portrayed and voiced by Gabrielle Bennett) - The drummer of Kidd Video who often exclaims "Ay-Ay-Ay!"
- Whiz (portrayed and voiced by Robbie RistRobbie RistRobert Anthony Rist is an American actor and musician.-Acting and voiceover work:As a child, Rist played Cousin Oliver in the final six episodes of The Brady Bunch. With the regular children all getting older, his inclusion was intended to reintroduce cute younger children to the series...
) - The nerdy guitar and keyboard player of Kidd Video who had a pet robot toolbox named "Toolbot" in the second season. - Ash (portrayed and voiced by Steve Alterman) - The clumsy keyboardist of Kidd Video also plays bass and saxophone
- Glitter (voiced by 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...
) - A fairy that befriends Kidd Video's band. She saved them from Master Blaster as seen in the intro.
- Master Blaster (voiced by Peter RenadayPeter RenadayPeter Renaday is an American voice actor.-Film:*The Aristocats as the truck driver*Scooby-Doo and the Witch's Ghost as Mr.McKnight-TV series:*Angel as The Beast's Master...
) - The primary villain of the series. He brought Kidd Video's band to the flipside to be his musical slaves until Glitter freed them.
- Copycats - A trio of anthropomorphic cats that serve as Master Blaster's minions. They get their name because they always lip-synch to their songs. They consist of:
- Cool Kitty (voiced by Robert TowersRobert Towers-Animated roles:* Doctor Dolittle - Various Animals* Kidd Video - Cool Cat* Pole Position - Additional Voices-Film roles:* Masters of the Universe - Karg* Switch - Mental Patient...
) - The leader of the Copycats. - Fat Cat (voiced by Marshall EfronMarshall EfronMarshall Efron is an American humorist originally known for his work on the listener-sponsored Pacifica radio stations WBAI New York and KPFK Los Angeles, and later for the PBS television show The Great American Dream Machine...
) - The overweight member of the Copycats. - She-Lion (voiced by 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...
) - The female member of the Copycats.
- Cool Kitty (voiced by Robert Towers
Season 1
- To Beat the Band -
- The Master Zapper -
- Woofers and Tweeters -
- Barnacolis -
- The Pink Sphinx -
- Cienega -
- The Lost Note -
- Music Sports -
- Chameleons -
- Euphonius and the Melodius Dragon -
- Professor Maestro -
- Grooveyard City -
- The Stone -
Season 2
- The Dream Machine -
- Double Trouble -
- No Place Like Home -
- Having a Ball -
- Old Time Rocks that Roll -
- Starmaker -
- Narra Takes a Powder -
- Race to Popland -
- Master Blaster Brat -
- Twilight Double Header -
- A Friend in Need -
- Pirates and Puzzles -
- Who's in the Kitchen with Dinah? -
Cast
- Bryan Scott - Kidd Video
- Steve Alterman - Ash
- Robbie RistRobbie RistRobert Anthony Rist is an American actor and musician.-Acting and voiceover work:As a child, Rist played Cousin Oliver in the final six episodes of The Brady Bunch. With the regular children all getting older, his inclusion was intended to reintroduce cute younger children to the series...
- Whiz - Gabrielle Bennett - Carla
Voices
- Michael Bell -
- 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...
- Glitter - 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...
- Toolbot - Peter RenadayPeter RenadayPeter Renaday is an American voice actor.-Film:*The Aristocats as the truck driver*Scooby-Doo and the Witch's Ghost as Mr.McKnight-TV series:*Angel as The Beast's Master...
- Master Blaster - Marshall EfronMarshall EfronMarshall Efron is an American humorist originally known for his work on the listener-sponsored Pacifica radio stations WBAI New York and KPFK Los Angeles, and later for the PBS television show The Great American Dream Machine...
- Fat Cat - 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...
- She-Lion - Robert TowersRobert Towers-Animated roles:* Doctor Dolittle - Various Animals* Kidd Video - Cool Cat* Pole Position - Additional Voices-Film roles:* Masters of the Universe - Karg* Switch - Mental Patient...
- Cool Kitty
Crew
- Michael Bell - Casting and Voice Director
- Marsha Goodman - Casting and Voice Director
- Ginny McSwainGinny McSwainGinny McSwain is a voice actor, voice casting director, and animation production professional from Los Angeles, CA.McSwain graduated from Stephens College in 1974, before moving to Los Angeles...
- Casting and Voice Director - Howard MorrisHoward MorrisHoward Morris was an American comic actor and director who was best known for his role as Ernest T. Bass on The Andy Griffith Show.- Life and career :...
- Voice Director