Lou Scheimer
Encyclopedia
Louis Scheimer is an Emmy and Grammy Award–winning American producer, one of the original founders of Filmation
, an animation company, and also an executive producer
of many of its cartoons (though only by name due to standardized crediting in most cartoons; Norm Prescott
received similar treatment).
, Tarzan's monkey companion in Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle
(1976–1981).
Scheimer was most pro-active in the creation of the cartoon He-Man and the Masters of the Universe
and Bravestarr
. Aside from being the executive producer, he was also co-credited for the series' musical score under the pseudonym Erika Lane, and became a voice actor for the show (as he had done for many of his company's previous productions), going under the pseudonym Erik Gunden. Scheimer's contribution to the cast was in fact most notable as he voiced several supporting characters, including Orko
(and other characters with a similar Smurfs-voice), Stratos, King Randor and others, due to severe budget restrictions. The animated series also pioneered a type of programming known as first-run syndication. Also a first was the storyline being based on an action figure
toy; prior to this time, FCC
regulations had prohibited any type of children's programming being based on a toy. Scheimer transformed He-Man from a graphically violent version of Conan the Barbarian
into a pro-social character, who imparted a life lesson to impressionable viewers in each episode.
Erika Scheimer
, Lou's daughter, also did supporting female voices and occasional voice-acting for young boy characters. She would later star in the follow-up series She-Ra
, which Scheimer also produced.
entitled Robin and the Dreamweavers. Robin, the first human ever born in cyberspace, battled the evil siren "Triple XXX" who desired an earthly body and gained power through mankind's baser carnal desires. The film, however, was never distributed.
Shortly thereafter, Scheimer underwent quadruple bypass surgery and was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. Erika Scheimer quickly took control of her father's company and shut it down.
Currently, Scheimer is providing consultation work for Gang of Seven (G7) Animation.
. He was also the voice of Legal Eagle and the Brown Hornet
's sidekick Stinger. He likewise served as the voice-over narrator during the opening credits
of the majority of Filmation shows and cartoons. In Jason of Star Command
and Space Academy
, he was consistently heard as generic voices over intercoms. In the live action Ghost Busters
series starring Forrest Tucker
alongside Larry Storch
with Bob Burns, his was the voice of "Zero," the unseen boss of the main characters.
, and one son Lane.
Filmation
Filmation Associates was an American production company that produced animation and live action programming for television during the latter half of the 20th century. Located in Reseda, California, the animation studio was founded in 1963...
, an animation company, and also an executive producer
Executive producer
An executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
of many of its cartoons (though only by name due to standardized crediting in most cartoons; Norm Prescott
Norm Prescott
Norman "Norm" Prescott was co-founder and executive producer at Filmation Studios. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, he began his radio career in the Hub, becoming program director at station WORL in the late 1940s. He went to work for Joseph E. Levine's Embassy Pictures Corp. in 1959, serving as...
received similar treatment).
Career
Early in Filmation's history, Scheimer also contributed a number of guest or secondary voices for the various productions. Amongst these was the voice of N'kimaNkima
Nkima is a fictional monkey character in Edgar Rice Burroughs's Tarzan novels, and in adaptations of the saga to other media, particularly comics.-Character:...
, Tarzan's monkey companion in Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle
Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle
Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle is an animated series created by the Filmation studio for CBS. There are a total of 36 episodes produced over the first four seasons....
(1976–1981).
Scheimer was most pro-active in the creation of the cartoon He-Man and the Masters of the Universe
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe is an American animated television series produced by Filmation based on Mattel's successful toy line Masters of the Universe...
and Bravestarr
Bravestarr
BraveStarr is an American space Western animated television series. The original episodes aired from September 1987 to February 1988 in syndication. It was created simultaneously with a collection of action figures. BraveStarr was the last animated series produced by Filmation and Group W...
. Aside from being the executive producer, he was also co-credited for the series' musical score under the pseudonym Erika Lane, and became a voice actor for the show (as he had done for many of his company's previous productions), going under the pseudonym Erik Gunden. Scheimer's contribution to the cast was in fact most notable as he voiced several supporting characters, including Orko
Orko
Orko is a fictional character from the Masters of the Universe franchise. He was not part of the original toy collection on which the show is based but, when he was created by the show's writers as comic relief, a toy figure of him was then manufactured. Orko appears in the 1980s Filmation series...
(and other characters with a similar Smurfs-voice), Stratos, King Randor and others, due to severe budget restrictions. The animated series also pioneered a type of programming known as first-run syndication. Also a first was the storyline being based on an action figure
Action figure
An action figure is a posable character figurine, made of plastic or other materials, and often based upon characters from a film, comic book, video game, or television program. These action figures are usually marketed towards boys and male collectors...
toy; prior to this time, FCC
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
regulations had prohibited any type of children's programming being based on a toy. Scheimer transformed He-Man from a graphically violent version of Conan the Barbarian
Conan the Barbarian
Conan the Barbarian is a fictional sword and sorcery hero that originated in pulp fiction magazines and has since been adapted to books, comics, several films , television programs, video games, roleplaying games and other media...
into a pro-social character, who imparted a life lesson to impressionable viewers in each episode.
Erika Scheimer
Erika Scheimer
Erika Scheimer is an occasional voice-actress in the cartoons of the defunct Filmation animation-studio. She is the daughter of Lou Scheimer, who was an integral member of Filmation and a voice actor in his own right....
, Lou's daughter, also did supporting female voices and occasional voice-acting for young boy characters. She would later star in the follow-up series She-Ra
She-Ra
She-Ra is a fictional character and the heroine in the Filmation cartoon and series of toys produced by Mattel called She-Ra: Princess of Power. She is the alter ego of Princess Adora and the twin sister of He-Man. She-Ra was intended to appeal to young girls in the same way that He-Man appealed to...
, which Scheimer also produced.
Later career
In the late 1990s, Scheimer returned to the field of animation. A Dutch investment company, Dreamweavers, NV., approached Lou with a concept based on an off-kilter Dutchman's renderings of characters aimed at young adults. Scheimer went into production on an animated feature filmFeature film
In the film industry, a feature film is a film production made for initial distribution in theaters and being the main attraction of the screening, rather than a short film screened before it; a full length movie...
entitled Robin and the Dreamweavers. Robin, the first human ever born in cyberspace, battled the evil siren "Triple XXX" who desired an earthly body and gained power through mankind's baser carnal desires. The film, however, was never distributed.
Shortly thereafter, Scheimer underwent quadruple bypass surgery and was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. Erika Scheimer quickly took control of her father's company and shut it down.
Currently, Scheimer is providing consultation work for Gang of Seven (G7) Animation.
Other voice roles
Lou Scheimer voiced characters for other Filmation cartoons besides He-Man. Most notably, he provided the voice to "Dumb Donald" on the long running Fat Albert and the Cosby KidsFat Albert and the Cosby Kids
Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids is an animated series created, produced, and hosted by comedian Bill Cosby, who also lent his voice to a number of characters, including Fat Albert himself. Filmation was the production company for the series. The show premiered in 1972 and ran until 1985...
. He was also the voice of Legal Eagle and the Brown Hornet
The Brown Hornet
The Brown Hornet was a show-within-a-show on the Filmation animated series Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids from 1979 to approximately 1984. The Brown Hornet was a show that Fat Albert's gang watched on a barely-working television in their clubhouse...
's sidekick Stinger. He likewise served as the voice-over narrator during the opening credits
Opening credits
In a motion picture, television program, or video game, the opening credits are shown at the very beginning and list the most important members of the production. They are now usually shown as text superimposed on a blank screen or static pictures, or sometimes on top of action in the show. There...
of the majority of Filmation shows and cartoons. In Jason of Star Command
Jason of Star Command
Jason of Star Command was a live action television series by Filmation which ran between 1978 and 1979. The show revolved around the exploits of space adventurer Jason and his colleagues, including Professor E.J. Parsafoot and the pocket robot "Wiki"...
and Space Academy
Space Academy
Space Academy was a live-action sci-fi children's television program produced by Filmation that originally aired Saturday mornings on the CBS television network, from September 10, 1977, to December 17, 1977. A total of fifteen half-hour episodes were made.-Cast:The program starred veteran actor...
, he was consistently heard as generic voices over intercoms. In the live action Ghost Busters
The Ghost Busters
The Ghost Busters was a live-action children's television series that ran from 1975, about a team of bumbling detectives who would investigate ghostly occurrences. Only 15 episodes were created....
series starring Forrest Tucker
Forrest Tucker
Forrest Tucker was an American actor in both movies and television from the 1940s to the 1980s. Tucker, who stood 190 cm tall and weighed 93 kg , appeared in nearly 100 action films in the 1940s and 1950s.-Early life:Forrest Meredith Tucker was born in Plainfield, Indiana, a son of...
alongside Larry Storch
Larry Storch
Lawrence Samuel "Larry" Storch is an American actor best known for his comic television roles, including voice-over work for top cartoon shows, including Mr...
with Bob Burns, his was the voice of "Zero," the unseen boss of the main characters.
Personal life
Scheimer was married to Jay Scheimer (died 2009), they have one daughter ErikaErika Scheimer
Erika Scheimer is an occasional voice-actress in the cartoons of the defunct Filmation animation-studio. She is the daughter of Lou Scheimer, who was an integral member of Filmation and a voice actor in his own right....
, and one son Lane.
External links
- LouScheimerProductions.org
- www.flashgordon.de Flash Gordon Community
- Comic-Con - 2005 Guest
- He-Man.org - He-Ro Series Bible
History
- Guide To Animated Star Trek - Filmation Associates
- Animated Views - A Fond Look Back At Filmation (Part 1) (October 31, 2004)
- Animated Views - A Fond Look Back At Filmation (Part 2) (December 10, 2006)
- LouScheimerProductions.com - My Dad: The Trend Setter (Archive)
Interviews
- He-Man.org - Playthings Interview (June 1987)
- The Unofficial Isis Appeciation Page - Interview (July 2002)
- Newsarama - Interview (Pt. 1) (June 28, 2006)
- Newsarama - Interview (Pt. 2) (July 5, 2006)
- Newsarama - Interview (Pt. 3) (July 12, 2006)
- Newsarama - Interview (Pt. 4) (July 18, 2006)
- Masters Cast - Comic-Con Interview (Quicktime) (July 30, 2006)
- Animation World Magazine - Interview (November 7, 2006)
- Retro Crush - David Teague Interview