Heathcliff (1984 TV series)

Infobox Television
show_name = Heathcliff


caption =
show_name_2 = "Heathcliff and The Catillac Cats"
genre = Animated series
creator = Bruno Bianchi
George Gately
director = Bruno Bianchi
Michael Maliani
developer = LBS Communications, Inc.
McNaught Syndication Co.
presenter = DiC Entertainment
ICC TV Productions
FR3 (France)
starring =
voices = Mel Blanc
Donna Christie
Stanley Jones
Jeannie Elias
Danny Wells
narrated =
theme_music_composer =
opentheme =
endtheme =
composer = Haim Saban
Shuki Levy
country = USA
FRA
language = English
num_seasons = 2
num_episodes = 86
list_episodes =
executive_producer = Tetsuo Katayama
Jean Chalopin
Andy Heyward
producer = Jean Chalopin
Lori Crawford
supervising_producer = Robby London (1987)
asst_producer =
co-producer = Denys Heroux
editor =
story_editor =
location =
camera =
runtime = 30 minutes
network = First-run syndication
FR3 (France)
picture_format =
audio_format =
first_run =
first_aired = September 5, 1984
last_aired = 1987
preceded_by =
followed_by =
related = "Heathcliff" (1980)
website =
imdb_id = 0285371
tv_com_id = 9203

"Heathcliff" is an animated TV series that debuted on September 5, 1984. It was the second series based on the "Heathcliff" comic strip and was produced by DiC Entertainment. It ran in syndication until 1987 with a total of 86 episodes. The first show based on the comic strip was "Heathcliff", which debuted in 1980.

The first season ran for 65 episodes and the second season for 21 more. Each episode included a backup segment featuring The Catillac Cats, which is why this show is sometimes referred to as "Heathcliff and The Catillac Cats". While the series was on the air, a movie, aptly titled "", was released which was a compilation of segments from this show.

Reruns are not currently aired, but a few DVDs have been released. In 2004, UAV Corporation released two DVDs each with 9 segments from the show. Then, the following year, Shout! Factory released a set with the first 24 episodes of the show. Shout! Factory has since lost the rights to the show.

Theme song

Two versions of the "Heathcliff" (DiC series) theme song were made. In its original broacast run, the theme song began with the lines, "Cats and company have fun / Playing pranks on everyone," and returned to the "Cats and company" phrase often throughout the song. Perhaps in order to clarify any possible confusion about the name of the show, it was later replaced with a version that removed all references to "Cats and company." The second version began, "Heathcliff, Heathcliff, no one should / Terrify the neighborhood." The original theme song is featured in VHS releases, as well as in cable reruns.

Movie

"" was released January 17, 1986. It includes seven segments of the original show including:
*Heathcliff the TV Star
*Heathcliff's Double
*Siamese Twins
*Obdience School
*The Catfather
*Boom Boom Pussini
*Pop's Parole.

DVD releases

On February 24, 2004, UAV Entertainment released 2 best-of collections with each set featuring 9 select episodes from the series.

On September 20, 2005, Shout! Factory released "Heathcliff & the Catillac Cats" on DVD in Region 1 for the very first time. This 4-disc boxset features the first 24 episodes of the series digitally remastered. It is not known if the remaining episodes will ever be released as Shout! Factory has subsequently lost the distribution rights.

Cast

*Mel Blanc as Heathcliff
*Derek McGrath as Spike, Muggsy and Knuckles
*Marilyn Lightstone as Grandma and Sonja
*Ted Zeigler as Leroy, Grandpa and Mungo
*Donna Christie as Cleo and Iggy
*Stan Jones as Riff Raff, Wordsworth and the Milkman
*Jeannie Elias as Marcy and Willie
*Danny Wells as Raul and Bush
*Danny Mann as Hector and the Fish Market Proprietor
*Peter Cullen as additional voices

External links

* [http://www.ncircleentertainment.com/Content.aspx?id=NCheathcliff NCircle Entertainment: Buy Heathcliff DVDs]
*imdb title|id=0285371|name=Heathcliff and the Catillac Cats
*TV.com show|id=9203|title=Heathcliff and the Catillac Cats
* [http://www.dicentertainment.com/shows/index.php?show=26 DiC Entertainment]
* [http://www.retrojunk.com/details_tvshows/55-heathcliff/ Retro Junk]
* [http://www.retroland.com/pop_view.php?eid=646&cid=5&decade=1980 Retroland]
* [http://www.toyarchive.com/MiscHeathcliffBandaiCar.html Toy Archive - Transforming Car to Trailer House]
* [http://www.shoutfactory.com/selection/236/heathcliff_heathcliff_%26_the_catillac_cats.html Heathcliff and the Catillac Cats DVD official site]