Childhood Rematered: Episode 45 – Disney’s Gummi Bears

Chris Gravitt
June 29, 2017
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Episode 45- Disney’s Adventures of the Gummi Bears

The Gummi Bears was Disney’s first major attempt at an animated Television show going way back to 1985. It’s catchy theme song still gives the both of us flashbacks. It’s considered one of the cornerstones of early Disney animated Television. And was wildly popular at the time. So why doesn’t it have its own Amusement park ride, or a reboot? More importantly, does it deserve any of those things or should it stay lost to nostalgia? We ran the show through our 3 year old contributor to gauge her perspective. Listen along and see what the 3 of us thought!

Highlights: Michael Eisner, Art Vitello, Jymn Magon, JonTron, Silversher & Silversher, John Williams, TaleSpin, The Wuzzles, Bullwinkle, Bill Scott, Paul Winchell, Jim Cummings, June Foray, DuckTales, Pirates of the Caribbean, Lorenzo Music, The Real Ghostbusters, Katie Leigh, Darkwing Duck, Noelle North, Rob Paulsen Pinky and the Brain, Animaniacs, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Peter Cullen, Transformers, Optimus Prime, David Faustino, Married with Children, Jason Marsden, R.J. Williams, Young Hollywood, Tress MacNeille, Disneyland, Motor Boat Cruise

From Wikipedia:

Disney’s Adventures of the Gummi Bears is a Disney animated television series that first aired in the United States from 1985 to 1991. The series was the first animated production by Walt Disney Animation Television, and loosely inspired by the gummy bear candies; Disney CEO Michael Eisner was struck with inspiration for the show when his son requested the candies one day.^[5] The series premiered on NBC on September 14, 1985, and aired there for four seasons. The series moved to ABC for one season from 1989 to 1990 (airing alongside The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh as the Gummi Bears-Winnie the Pooh Hour), and concluded on September 6, 1991 as part of the Disney Afternoon television syndication package. Of the series’ 65 shows, 30 were double-features, consisting of two 11-minute cartoons, thereby bringing the series total to 94 distinct episodes overall. The show is well-remembered for its theme music, written by Michael and Patty Silversher and creation of “gummiberry juice” which was a type of magic potion, granting abilities, which allowed them to bounce away from their hunters.^[6]^[7]^[8]^[9] The theme was memorably performed by Joseph Williams, son of composer John Williams and one-time lead singer of Toto.^[10]