The Raccoons and the Lost Star
Encyclopedia
The Raccoons and the Lost Star was a precursor TV Special
to the animated series The Raccoons
and debuted in 1983. It came after the first two Raccoons seasonal specials, which were The Christmas Raccoons
in 1980 and The Raccoons on Ice
in 1981. There are some thematic elements that don't exist in the first specials, such as the Raccoons' world being separate from that of the humans. In the United States
, where The Raccoons specials were in the top 10 in Nielsen ratings
, The Raccoons and the Lost Star was the number one children's show in syndication at the time.
is playing with his human owners, Tommy and Julie, when their father, Dan the Forest Ranger tells them that there is a surprise that takes the humans inside their cabin. As Schaeffer takes a brief nap, he is awoken by a glowing red plane that lands in front of the cabin. Schaeffer goes to investigate, but the pilot gets a call from his commanding officer to return to his base. Panicking, Schaeffer climbs into the passenger seat of the plane and is flown away from Earth
and to a strange jungle planet. Upon his arrival to a giant base filled with rockets and missiles, he's chased by the forces of the Imperial Commander Cyril Sneer, but manages to lose them. While exploring the jungle, Schaeffer runs into Sophia Tutu, a friend of his from the planet Earth, although Sophia doesn't seem to know Schaeffer. Sophia takes Schaeffer to meet Broo, her pet sheepdog puppy. Meanwhile, we find out that Cyril Sneer plans to conquer Earth with the help of a magic star (which Broo wears around his neck). The star has enough power to fire up his war machines and missiles to raid the planet. He sends out his army to hunt down every animal in the jungle, in case if they know the whereabouts of the star.
Meanwhile, Sophia, Broo, and Schaeffer are captured by the Raccoons (Bert, Ralph, and Melissa). The trio are the only animals left in the jungle, and plan to put an end to Cyril Sneer's evil ways. They free Sophia, Broo, and Schaeffer after they find out that they are on their side. Sophia then meets up with her boyfriend Cedric Sneer and finds out that Cyril is Cedric's father. The Raccoons and Schaeffer plan to free all the jungle animals from Cyril's clutches and successfully do so. However, Cyril eventually sends his army to round up the animals again, which gets the Raccoons to do the same thing all over again. While watching security tapes, Cyril notices that Broo has the star and plans to stop the Raccoons once and for all. That night, Cyril discovers a "jungle rendezvous" Cedric is having with Sophia and he follows him to a place where he can get the star. After foiling their meeting, Cyril captures the Raccoons, Sophia, and Schaeffer while seizing the star en route to destroying earth. Cyril plans to leave for Earth the next morning while leaving our heroes on the island, set for destruction shortly after Cyril's departure. However, Broo has managed to escape from Cyril's clutches and helps his friends escapes from maximum security. The Raccoons and the other animals escape from Cyril's clutches while destroying his fortress in the process.
After everyone and everything is safe, Schaeffer feels a longing to go back to Earth, so Bert flys him back via airplane. It turns out that all of this was a dream and none of the events had happened. Schaeffer awakes from his sleep and sees that Dan, Tommy, and Julie reveal their surprise to him, which turns out to be Broo. Schaeffer realizes that maybe his adventure wasn't a dream after all.
to the animated series The Raccoons
The Raccoons
The Raccoons is a Canadian animated television series which was originally broadcast from 1985 to 1991 with four preceding television specials beginning in 1980. The series was created by Kevin Gillis, and produced at Atkinson Film-Arts first-hand from 1984 to 1985, then at Hinton Animation Studios...
and debuted in 1983. It came after the first two Raccoons seasonal specials, which were The Christmas Raccoons
The Christmas Raccoons
The Christmas Raccoons is the first of four television specials before the main animated television series succedding it, The Raccoons, took place. It was first broadcast on December 17, 1980.-Plot:...
in 1980 and The Raccoons on Ice
The Raccoons on Ice
The Raccoons on Ice is the second of four specials leading up to the television series The Raccoons. It initially aired on December 20, 1981.-Plot:...
in 1981. There are some thematic elements that don't exist in the first specials, such as the Raccoons' world being separate from that of the humans. In the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, where The Raccoons specials were in the top 10 in Nielsen ratings
Nielsen Ratings
Nielsen ratings are the audience measurement systems developed by Nielsen Media Research, in an effort to determine the audience size and composition of television programming in the United States...
, The Raccoons and the Lost Star was the number one children's show in syndication at the time.
Plot
One night in the Evergreen Forest, Schaeffer the sheepdogOld English Sheepdog
The Old English Sheepdog is a large breed of dog which was developed in England from early herding types of dog. The Old English Sheepdog has very long fur covering the face and eyes...
is playing with his human owners, Tommy and Julie, when their father, Dan the Forest Ranger tells them that there is a surprise that takes the humans inside their cabin. As Schaeffer takes a brief nap, he is awoken by a glowing red plane that lands in front of the cabin. Schaeffer goes to investigate, but the pilot gets a call from his commanding officer to return to his base. Panicking, Schaeffer climbs into the passenger seat of the plane and is flown away from Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
and to a strange jungle planet. Upon his arrival to a giant base filled with rockets and missiles, he's chased by the forces of the Imperial Commander Cyril Sneer, but manages to lose them. While exploring the jungle, Schaeffer runs into Sophia Tutu, a friend of his from the planet Earth, although Sophia doesn't seem to know Schaeffer. Sophia takes Schaeffer to meet Broo, her pet sheepdog puppy. Meanwhile, we find out that Cyril Sneer plans to conquer Earth with the help of a magic star (which Broo wears around his neck). The star has enough power to fire up his war machines and missiles to raid the planet. He sends out his army to hunt down every animal in the jungle, in case if they know the whereabouts of the star.
Meanwhile, Sophia, Broo, and Schaeffer are captured by the Raccoons (Bert, Ralph, and Melissa). The trio are the only animals left in the jungle, and plan to put an end to Cyril Sneer's evil ways. They free Sophia, Broo, and Schaeffer after they find out that they are on their side. Sophia then meets up with her boyfriend Cedric Sneer and finds out that Cyril is Cedric's father. The Raccoons and Schaeffer plan to free all the jungle animals from Cyril's clutches and successfully do so. However, Cyril eventually sends his army to round up the animals again, which gets the Raccoons to do the same thing all over again. While watching security tapes, Cyril notices that Broo has the star and plans to stop the Raccoons once and for all. That night, Cyril discovers a "jungle rendezvous" Cedric is having with Sophia and he follows him to a place where he can get the star. After foiling their meeting, Cyril captures the Raccoons, Sophia, and Schaeffer while seizing the star en route to destroying earth. Cyril plans to leave for Earth the next morning while leaving our heroes on the island, set for destruction shortly after Cyril's departure. However, Broo has managed to escape from Cyril's clutches and helps his friends escapes from maximum security. The Raccoons and the other animals escape from Cyril's clutches while destroying his fortress in the process.
After everyone and everything is safe, Schaeffer feels a longing to go back to Earth, so Bert flys him back via airplane. It turns out that all of this was a dream and none of the events had happened. Schaeffer awakes from his sleep and sees that Dan, Tommy, and Julie reveal their surprise to him, which turns out to be Broo. Schaeffer realizes that maybe his adventure wasn't a dream after all.
Cast
- Len CarlsonLen CarlsonLen Carlson was a Canadian voice actor on many animated television series from the 1960s onward, an occasional live-action TV actor, and a Kraft Canada TV pitchman during the 1970s and 1980s...
- Bert Raccoon / Pig General - Michael MageeMichael MageeMichael Magee was a Canadian actor and author. He was known for voicing the antagonist Cyril Sneer and his pet dog Snag in the Canadian animated series The Raccoons....
- Cyril Sneer / Snag - Bob DermerBob DermerBob Dermer is a children's entertainment actor who first made his contributions to Canadian television starting with the 1976 series Readalong....
- Ralph Raccoon / Bears - Dottie WestDottie WestDottie West was an American country music singer and songwriter. Along with her friends and co-recording artists Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn, she is considered one of the genre's most influential and groundbreaking female artists...
- Melissa Raccoon - Carl BanasCarl BanasCarl Banas is a Toronto born radio personality and actor. As a TV actor he appeared in the series Wojeck as police detective Byron James, and provided voices for numerous TV series and features. He was also known as a radio personality on Toronto radio station CKFM-FM, later and more famouly known...
- Schaeffer / Bears - Fred Little - Cedric Sneer / Pig General
- Sharon Lewis - Sophia Tutu / Broo
- John SchneiderJohn Schneider (television actor)John Richard Schneider III is an American actor and singer. He is best known for his portrayal of Bo Duke in the 1980s American television series The Dukes of Hazzard, and as Jonathan Kent on Smallville, a 2001 television adaptation of Superman.Alongside his acting career, Schneider performed as a...
- Dan the Forest Ranger - Nick Nichols - Pig General
- Tammy Bourne - Julie
- Hadley KayHadley KayHadley Kay is a Canadian-born voice actor who appeared in the first two Care Bears movies: as the voice of magician Nicholas in The Care Bears Movie and as the villain Dark Heart in Care Bears Movie II: A New Generation. He also voiced P.C...
- Tommy - Rich LittleRich LittleRichard Caruthers "Rich" Little is a Canadian-American impressionist and voice actor. He has long been known throughout the world as a top impersonator of famous people, resulting in his nickname, "The Man of a Thousand Voices"....
- Narrator
Songs And Performers
- John SchneiderJohn SchneiderJohn Schneider is the name of:*John Schneider , American football player*John Schneider , Seattle Seahawks executive...
- "Calling You", "Shining", "One More Night" (duet), "Friends" (duet) - Dottie WestDottie WestDottie West was an American country music singer and songwriter. Along with her friends and co-recording artists Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn, she is considered one of the genre's most influential and groundbreaking female artists...
- "Lions & Tigers", "Fallin', Fallin'"