Nightmare Ned
Encyclopedia
Nightmare Ned was a short-lived animated television series
which ran from April 19, 1997 to August 9, 1997 on ABC
. Based on a homonymous video game developed by Creative Capers Entertainment
, the show focuses on the life of Ned Needlemeyer (voiced by Courtland Mead
), a 10-year-old boy that deals with his daily problems through dark, quirky nightmare
s. The show ran over budget, and was cancelled after only 12 episodes were produced.
The show had Donovan Cook
as its producer and director. Cook previously created 2 Stupid Dogs
for Cartoon Network
.
. Developed by Creative Capers Entertainment
and published by Disney Interactive Studios, the game feature Ned as he travels through five different adventure portals such as The Graveyard, The Alcatraz Elementary School, The Medical Nightmare, The Attic, Basement and Beyond, and The Bathroom. You start at the Quilt, where you can choose from 5 of the nightmare worlds. You only have 8 times to go to the Quilt, but there are secret passages in each portal that take you to another portal. There is one "shadow creature" for every portal. Throughout a portal, by defeating creatures and completing tasks, a small part of the shadow creature is revealed. There are 3 pieces for each. After each section is completed, the shadow creature becomes someone (or something) from reality who is connected with that issue. In the Graveyard Nightmare, the shadow creature turns into Ned's grandfather at the end, because Ned was worried about him dying. In the Medical Nightmare, the creature turns into a nurse named Dr. Klutzchnik. Ned was scared about getting sick and having to get a shot. In the Alcatraz Elementary School, the creature turns into Billy, a bully who just wanted to be friends with Ned. Ned simply wanted him to stop calling him "Melonhead". In the Attic, Basement and Beyond, the creature turns into a girl named Sally with a weird doll whom she calls "Sandy Patty Cake". She found it in the trash. Finally, in the Bathroom Nightmare, the creature turns into Ned's bathroom toilet who, in the nightmare, can talk. There are two endings to the game. The "bad" ending is when you use up all 8 "Quilt tries". Ned ends up still being scared of everything. The "good" ending is where Ned wakes up and isn't scared. As a result, the shadow creatures don't know what to do anymore.
Animated cartoon
An animated cartoon is a short, hand-drawn film for the cinema, television or computer screen, featuring some kind of story or plot...
which ran from April 19, 1997 to August 9, 1997 on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
. Based on a homonymous video game developed by Creative Capers Entertainment
Creative Capers Entertainment
Creative Capers Entertainment is an animation studio founded by Terry and Sue Shakespeare and David Molina in 1989. Based in Montrose, California, it specializes flash and hand-drawn animation in various feature films, television series, commercials, and CD-ROM and video games...
, the show focuses on the life of Ned Needlemeyer (voiced by Courtland Mead
Courtland Mead
Courtland Robert Mead is an American actor.Mead was born in Mission Viejo, California, the son of Denise and Robert Mead and brother of twin sisters Lauren and Candice Mead. In the 1994 film Dragonworld he played the part of young Johnny McGowan, a young boy who finds a dragon egg on his...
), a 10-year-old boy that deals with his daily problems through dark, quirky nightmare
Nightmare
A nightmare is an unpleasant dream that can cause a strong negative emotional response from the mind, typically fear or horror, but also despair, anxiety and great sadness. The dream may contain situations of danger, discomfort, psychological or physical terror...
s. The show ran over budget, and was cancelled after only 12 episodes were produced.
The show had Donovan Cook
Donovan Cook
Donovan R. Cook III is an American film director and animator, best known for creating, directing and producing the animated series 2 Stupid Dogs and directing the Disney animated features Return to Never Land and Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers.Donovan Cook was born in Antioch,...
as its producer and director. Cook previously created 2 Stupid Dogs
2 Stupid Dogs
2 Stupid Dogs was an American animated television series created by Donovan Cook and produced by Hanna-Barbera and Turner Program Services that originally ran from September 5, 1993 to February 13, 1995 on TBS. The main segments of the show featured two dogs, "Big Dog" and "Little Dog". The Big Dog...
for Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network is a name of television channels worldwide created by Turner Broadcasting which used to primarily show animated programming. The channel began broadcasting on October 1, 1992 in the United States....
.
Video game
The show was based on a computer game, released in 19971997 in video gaming
-Events:*October 4 — Gunpei Yokoi dies after a double car accident.*November – Interactive Entertainment Merchants Association launched.*3rd annual E3...
. Developed by Creative Capers Entertainment
Creative Capers Entertainment
Creative Capers Entertainment is an animation studio founded by Terry and Sue Shakespeare and David Molina in 1989. Based in Montrose, California, it specializes flash and hand-drawn animation in various feature films, television series, commercials, and CD-ROM and video games...
and published by Disney Interactive Studios, the game feature Ned as he travels through five different adventure portals such as The Graveyard, The Alcatraz Elementary School, The Medical Nightmare, The Attic, Basement and Beyond, and The Bathroom. You start at the Quilt, where you can choose from 5 of the nightmare worlds. You only have 8 times to go to the Quilt, but there are secret passages in each portal that take you to another portal. There is one "shadow creature" for every portal. Throughout a portal, by defeating creatures and completing tasks, a small part of the shadow creature is revealed. There are 3 pieces for each. After each section is completed, the shadow creature becomes someone (or something) from reality who is connected with that issue. In the Graveyard Nightmare, the shadow creature turns into Ned's grandfather at the end, because Ned was worried about him dying. In the Medical Nightmare, the creature turns into a nurse named Dr. Klutzchnik. Ned was scared about getting sick and having to get a shot. In the Alcatraz Elementary School, the creature turns into Billy, a bully who just wanted to be friends with Ned. Ned simply wanted him to stop calling him "Melonhead". In the Attic, Basement and Beyond, the creature turns into a girl named Sally with a weird doll whom she calls "Sandy Patty Cake". She found it in the trash. Finally, in the Bathroom Nightmare, the creature turns into Ned's bathroom toilet who, in the nightmare, can talk. There are two endings to the game. The "bad" ending is when you use up all 8 "Quilt tries". Ned ends up still being scared of everything. The "good" ending is where Ned wakes up and isn't scared. As a result, the shadow creatures don't know what to do anymore.
Voice cast
- Harry AndersonHarry AndersonHarry Laverne Anderson is an American actor and magician.-Early life:Born in Newport, Rhode Island, Anderson was a street magician before becoming an actor.-Career:...
as the Graveyard Shadow/Grampa Ted Needlemeyer - Jeff CesarioJeff CesarioJeff Cesario is an American comedian and writer, who has written for Dennis Miller Live and The Larry Sanders Show...
- Steve Coon
- Jill Fischer as the Attic, Basement and Beyond Shadow/Sally
- David HolmesDavid Holmes (actor)David Holmes is a former British actor and stunt performer.-Career:He was the stunt double for Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter in the first six of the Harry Potter film series. Also goes by the name Taylor Potter Cividino while living in Eloy, AZ...
- Michael O'Malley
- Edie McClurgEdie McClurgEdie McClurg is an American character actress. She is known for her perky North Central dialect , common to persons from Middle America.-Career:...
as the Storytelling Dragon - Courtland MeadCourtland MeadCourtland Robert Mead is an American actor.Mead was born in Mission Viejo, California, the son of Denise and Robert Mead and brother of twin sisters Lauren and Candice Mead. In the 1994 film Dragonworld he played the part of young Johnny McGowan, a young boy who finds a dragon egg on his...
as Ned - Lani MinellaLani MinellaLani Minella is a voice actress who has voiced in over 500 computer and video games as well as several TV and anime series. She is best known for voicing Nancy Drew, Millie Strathorn, Loulou the Parrot and Freddie in the Nancy Drew computer games, Ivy Valentine in the Soulcalibur video game...
as Mrs. Needlemeyer - Kathy NajimyKathy NajimyKathy Ann Najimy is an American actress, most notable as Olive Massery on the television series Veronica's Closet, Sister Mary Patrick in Sister Act and the voice of Peggy Hill on the animated television series King of the Hill. Prior to her film work, she was best known for two Off Broadway shows...
- Alexandra WentworthAlexandra WentworthAlexandra Wentworth is an American comedienne, actress and author who starred in Head Case on Starz.-Early life:...
as the Medical Shadow/Dr. Klutzchnik- Additional voices by Kyle Kozloff
Characters
- Ned Needlemeyer: The show's protagonist. He is a 10-year-old boy who deals with his troubles through his nightmares. Voiced by Courtland MeadCourtland MeadCourtland Robert Mead is an American actor.Mead was born in Mission Viejo, California, the son of Denise and Robert Mead and brother of twin sisters Lauren and Candice Mead. In the 1994 film Dragonworld he played the part of young Johnny McGowan, a young boy who finds a dragon egg on his...
. - Ed Needlemeyer: Ned's father. He constantly tries to help Ned with his problems, but this does not occur often. Voiced by Brad GarrettBrad GarrettBradley "Brad" Garrett is an American actor, voice actor, stand-up comedian, and professional poker player. Throughout he has appeared in numerous television and film roles....
. - Mrs. Needlemeyer: Ned's mother. She is the only one in the family who tries to understand Ned's nightmares. Voiced by Victoria JacksonVictoria JacksonVictoria Jackson is an American comedian, actress, satirist and singer best known as a cast member of the NBC television sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live from 1986 to 1992....
. - Amy Needlemeyer: Ned's baby sister.
- Conrad and Vernon: Two bullies who constantly pick up on Ned. They are named after Conrad VernonConrad VernonConrad Vernon IV is an American director, writer, and voice actor, best known for his work on the DreamWorks animated films Shrek 2 and Monsters vs...
, who served as one of the storyboard artists of the show. Conrad is voiced by Kevin West, while Vernon is voiced by 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,...
.
Episode list
| # | Title | Original Airdate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ned's Life as a Dog | 4/19/1997 |
| 1 | A Doll's House | 4/19/1997 |
| 2 | Robot Ned | 4/26/1997 |
| 2 | Dapper Dan | 4/26/1997 |
| 3 | Monster Ned | 5/3/1997 |
| 3 | The Ants | 5/3/1997 |
| 4 | Magic Bus | 5/10/1997 |
| 4 | 'Til Undeath Do Us Part | 5/10/1997 |
| 5 | Headless Lester | 5/17/1997 |
| 5 | My, How You've Grown, Part 1 | 5/17/1997 |
| 5 | My, How You've Grown, Part 2 | 5/17/1997 |
| 6 | Tooth or Consequences | 5/24/1997 |
| 6 | Show Me the Infidel | 5/24/1997 |
| 7 | Willie Trout | 5/31/1997 |
| 7 | House of Games | 5/31/1997 |
| 8 | Girl Trouble | 6/7/1997 |
| 8 | Canadian Bacon | 6/7/1997 |
| 9 | Abduction | 6/14/1997 |
| 9 | Bad Report Card | 6/14/1997 |
| 10 | Testing...Testing... | 6/21/1997 |
| 10 | The Accordion Lesson | 6/21/1997 |
| 11 | Along for the Ride | 6/28/1997 |
| 11 | Steamed Vegetables | 6/28/1997 |
| 12 | Lucky Abe (One Cent Ned) | 8/09/1997 |
| 12 | The Dentist | 8/09/1997 |
| 12 | The Ballad of Vernon & Conrad | 8/09/1997 |