Police Academy (TV series)

Police Academy (also known as Police Academy: The Animated Series) is a 1988 American animated television series based on the Police Academy series of films.[1] The show was produced by Ruby-Spears Enterprises for Warner Bros. Animation. It aired weekdays and lasted two seasons for a total of 65 episodes.[2]

This article is about the animated TV series. For the live-action series, see Police Academy: The Series.
Police Academy
Title card
Also known asPolice Academy: The Animated Series
GenreAnimated comedy
Based onPolice Academy, by Pat Proft & Neal Israel
Directed by
Voices ofRon Rubin
Dan Hennessey
Howard Morris
Greg Morton
Len Carlson
Don Francks
Denise Pidgeon
Tedd Dillon
Theme music composerScott Thomas Canfield
Opening theme"They Wear the Blue", performed by The Fat Boys
ComposerJohn Debney
Country of originUnited States
Canada
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes65 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
ProducerLarry Huber
Running time22 minutes
Production companiesRuby-Spears Enterprises
Warner Bros. Animation
Toei Animation
DistributorLBS Communications
Warner Bros. Television
Release
Original networkSyndication (United States)
Original releaseSeptember 10, 1988 (1988-09-10) –
September 2, 1989 (1989-09-02)

Some episodes feature a crime boss named Kingpin. His keen intelligence, girth, and stature are very similar to the Marvel Comics character of the same name. Other new characters were added to the show as well. Among them were a group of talking police dogs called the Canine Corps. They were made up of Samson (the bulldog leader), Lobo (the noble yet clumsy husky), Bonehead (the dimwitted giant St. Bernard), Chilipepper (the excitable chihuahua), and Schitzy (the only female golden retriever with an identity crisis). The theme song is performed by the Fat Boys, who also make an appearance in two episodes as House's Friends: Big Boss, Cool and Mark. Robert Folk's theme for the movies is used, uncredited, over the closing credits.

The animated series was more popular in Europe, especially in Italy.

Synopsis

The animated series takes place chronologically between the fourth and fifth films.

Thirteen characters are re-created for this animated version, including a team of Academy graduates led by Carey Mahoney, a likeable rogue bachelor boy, who unconsciously—and consistently—does his best to make life miserable for Captain Harris and his knucklehead assistant Sgt. Proctor.

Mahoney's friends include the aptly named Moses Hightower, sound effects master Larvell Jones, trigger-happy Eugene Tackleberry, sweet and timid Laverne Hooks, hardened Debbie Callahan, colossal House, and the duo of reformed gang member Zed McGlunk and his best buddy, Carl Sweetchuck.

Eric Lassard is the highly respected (albeit dreamy) Commandant, and Academy newcomer The Professor is also on hand, and also the cadets new friends, the K-9 Corps, a group of police dogs, and stocking the crime-fighting heroes with an endless supply of wacky gadgets as they combat a motley crew of Kingpin and other recurring villains such as Numbskull, The Claw, Mr. Sleaze, Lockjaw, and Amazona.

Characters
  • Carey Mahoney – The most clever among the cadets. Mahoney is always ready to lend a hand to his companions. He is the patrol partner of Larvell Jones.
  • Larvell Jones – Mahoney's usual sidekick. He is a martial arts master, but his main talent is beatboxing – he is able to imitate all manner of noises, including sirens, gunfire, helicopters, and so forth.
  • Carl Sweetchuck – Sweetchuck is the most cowardly of the group. He is very accident prone and oblivious to the harm caused by his clumsiness. His patrol partner is Zed.
  • Zed McGlunk – Zed is the messy and unkempt member of the group. Zed usually drags his partner along in his wily and erratic pursuits.
  • Moses Hightower – Hightower is known for his great size and physical strength. His stature often comes into play when the characters find themselves in situations in which bars must be bent or walls need to smashed through. He is patrol partner with Laverne Hooks.
  • Laverne Hooks – Hooks is small, soft-spoken, and passive. However, she has shown herself capable of being extremely forceful and loud in situations in which she is provoked.
  • Thomas "House" Conklin – "House" is known for his large frame and his congenial nature. He is always hungry and proves himself to be cowardly. He patrols with Sweetchuck and Zed and often accompanies them in their escapades.
  • Eugene Tackleberry – Characterized by a pronounced jaw and almost always wears sunglasses and helmet, is a weapons fanatic. He has a weakness for his fellow patrol Callahan. He often uses the armored car of the police which he usually wrecks. He is fond of using a bazooka.
  • Debbie Callahan – Is the statuesque beauty of the group who is extremely resilient and has a beautiful singing voice.
  • Capt. Thaddeus Harris – Always carries a walking stick and is almost always in the company of his sidekick Proctor. He often tries to humiliate the officers in order to gain a promotion, but fails miserably.
  • Sgt. Carl Proctor – Is Capt. Harris' dim witted lieutenant.
  • Capt. Ernie Mauser - Is a captain and head of the K-9 corps. He became good friends with Mahoney and his gang. He acts similar to Hurst when facing up to Harris' shenanigans.
  • Com. Eric Lassard – The easygoing and idealistic commandant.
  • Professor – He is the inventor of numerous devices.
  • K-9 corps – They are trained dogs. They can talk, but only to themselves and other animals.

Villains (criminals)
  • Kingpin – He is the largest of all the bandits of various episodes of the series, and together makes a great ceremony to the Council of Crime. He is a parody of Marvel Comic's Kingpin. He is drawn as overweight, bald and always wearing a white suit.
  • Weasel and Wooley – Kingpin's henchman.
  • Numbskull – A not-too-bright criminal who uses a trick helmet to bash through the walls of his robbery targets.
  • Mr. Sleaze
  • Claw
  • Phoenix Amazona – A roller derby star turned thief. She is a childhood friend of Callahan's.
  • Lockjaw
  • The Clown Gang
  • The Phantom
  • The London Bridge Gang
  • The Phantom of the Opera
  • George and Lenny
  • Seedy McLeech
  • Mr. Crameneil
  • The Highway Robbers (Auntie Bertha and Cousins Ed and Ned)
  • Madame Zelda and the Land Pirates
  • Krantz
  • The Magnificent Mystopholes
  • Dr. Kamaleon
  • Mr. Bimmelman
  • Flung Hi
  • The Hang Ten Gang
  • Mr. Glitch and Cratchit
  • Waxen Wayne
  • Barracuda and his Diamond Gang
  • Muggsy
  • King Neptune
  • Ace, Queen of Hearths and Chester
  • Dr. Mackle, Miss Bomb and Marsupialman
  • Falcon
  • Big Sal
  • Fox
  • Mr. Watkips and Watso
  • Lady Tina and Smalto
  • Skull Ned and the Rock Gang
  • Sheikh and the Guards
  • The Incredible Shandar – A magician who uses reflective material to make his targets seem to disappear.
  • Maxine
  • Krutz and his gang
  • The Mexican Gang
  • Slik and his gang
  • Pop Corn and Family
  • Bad Knight and his Throttle Gang
  • The Twin Humongo
  • Professor Pilpers/Bates
  • Jaguar
  • Mr. Shee, Pork, Squitty and Fufy the crocodile
  • Big Burger
  • Mr. Ego and Charles
  • Prof. Pherril and Pack
  • Dr. Deadstone
  • The Hillbilly Sheriff and Jack
  • Noxo
  • The Junkman John Lurid and Freker
  • Mob Balsom
  • Old Clyde Barrow, Bonnie and Butch
  • Lidya and Pongo
  • Schubert Von Schuters
  • Robin Good – A parody of Robin Hood, who claims to give his stolen goods to the poor, but in fact he just keeps it.
  • Tex and Mulgrew

Voice cast

Main
  • Ron Rubin as Carey Mahoney
  • Dan Hennessey as Zed McGlunk, Eugene "Tack" Tackleberry
  • Howard Morris as Carl Sweetchuck, Professor
  • Greg Morton as Larvell Jones, Moses Hightower
  • Len Carlson as Capt. Thaddeus Harris
  • Don Francks as Thomas "House" Conklin, Sgt. Carl Proctor
  • Denise Pidgeon as Debbie Callahan, Laverne Hooks
  • Tedd Dillon as Com. Eric Lassard

Additional

Crew

In other languages
  • Italian: Scuola di polizia (Police School)
  • Spanish: Loca academia de policía/locademia de policía (Crazy Police Academy)
  • Hungarian: Rendőrakadémia (Police College)
  • Lithuanian: Policijos akademija (Police Academy)
  • Arabic: أكاديمية الشرطة (Police Academy)

Other media

VHS

Police Academy was released through chronological volumes on VHS. At least 6 volumes were released, each including two episodes:

  • 1° The Good, the Bad, and the Bogus + Cops and Robots
  • 2° The Phantom of the Precinct + My Mummy Lies Over the Ocean
  • 3° Worth Her Weight Gold + Westward Ho Hooks
  • 4° Numbskull's Revenge + Mr. Sleaze Versus Lockjaw
  • 5° Proctor, Call a Doctor! + Puttin' on the Dogs
  • 6° Little Zed & Big Bertha + Lights, Action, Coppers

DVD

On December 11, 2012, Warner Archive released Police Academy: The Animated Series - Volume 1 with 30 episodes on DVD in region 1. This is a Manufacture-on-Demand (MOD) release, available exclusively through Warner's online store and Amazon.com.[3]

Action figures

Kenner produced a line of Police Academy action figures based on the animated series. Each features multiple points of articulation and comical accessories. Two accessories, included with Claw and Eugene Tackleberry, would be reused for the Joker figures in Kenner's Dark Knight Collection.[4] Five of the vehicles and playsets planned were left unproduced; however, the Copper Corner playset would later be released through the Argentinian company Josca.[5]

Series 1 (1988)
  • Carey Mahoney and Samson Dog
  • Claw with Mouser Cat
  • Eugene Tackleberry with Armed Flak Vest
  • Larvell Jones and Bullhorn
  • Moses Hightower and Meter Reader Scooter
  • Mr. Sleaze with Fodo Dog
  • Numbskull with Smashing Helmets
  • Zed and Police Skateboard

Series 2 (1988)
  • Captain Harris (mail-away)
  • S.W.A.T. Eugene Tackleberry with Fistzooka
  • Flung Hi with Crazy Karate Gear
  • Kingpin with Thief-Trap Safe
  • Karate Larvell Jones

Special Assignment Rookies (1989)
  • Undercover Carey Mahoney
  • Snack Attack House with Hoagie Blaster
  • Stakeout Sweetchuck (mail-away)
  • Sky Glidin' Zed with Hang Glider

Vehicles and playsets (1988)
  • Crazy Cruiser
  • Crash Cycle
  • Precinct Police Station
  • Copper Corner (released through Josco)

Comic books

Based on the cartoon series, Marvel comics released a short-lived comic book series under its "Star Comics" imprint.

Outsourced production work

Stations
CityStation
Atlanta WGNX 46[6]
Baltimore WNUV 54
Bloomington WYZZ 43[7]
Boston WLVI 56[8]
Charlotte WJZY 46[9]
Chicago WPWR 50[10]
Cincinnati WSTR 64[11]
Cleveland WBNX 55[12]
Detroit WXON 20[13]
Dubuque KOCR 28[14]
Flint WSMH 66[15]
Fort Worth KTXA 21[16]
Green Bay WGBA 26[17]
Houston KTXH 20
Huntsville WZDX 54[18]
Indianapolis WXIN 59[19]
Lexington WDKY 56[20]
Los Angeles KCOP 13
Louisville WBNA 21
Miami WDZL 39[21]
Milwaukee WVTV 18[22]
Minneapolis KTMA 23[23]
Montreal CFJP 35[24]
New York WPIX 11[25][26]
Norfolk WTVZ 33[27]
Oklahoma City KOKH 25[28]
Orlando WKCF 18[29]
Pensacola WJTC 44[30]
Philadelphia WPHL 17[31]
Pittsburgh WPTT 22[32]
Providence WPRI 12[33]
Raleigh WLFL 22
Red Deer CKRD 6[34]
Savannah WJCL 22[35]
Seattle KTZZ 22[36][37]
St. Louis KDNL 30
Tampa Bay WFTS 28
Toronto CIII 41[38]
Washington, D.C. WDCA 20[39]
Waterbury WTXX 20[40]
Winston-Salem WNRW 45[41]
York WPMT 43[42]

References
  1. Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. pp. 630–631. ISBN 978-1476665993.
  2. Perlmutter, David (2018). The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 470. ISBN 978-1538103739.
  3. "Police Academy: The Animated Series - A 'Volume 1' DVD Has Been Scheduled by the Warner Archive!". Archived from the original on 2012-12-01.
  4. Action Figures - Movies - The Dark Knight Collection BatmanYTB.com. Retrieved February 6, 2008.
  5. STA: Police Academy: Produced!!! Copper Corner Playset Boxed ToyArchive.com (2000). Retrieved February 6, 2008.
  6. "Retro: Atlanta, GA, Monday November 6, 1989 3 Independents". Radio Discussions. March 22, 2015.
  7. "WYZZ FOX 43 Bloomington, IL - Monday 06/11/1990". Radio Discussions. September 29, 2007.
  8. "RETRO BOSTON TV- THANKSGIVING 1989". Radio Discussions. September 22, 2006.
  9. "Retro: Spartanburg, SC, Friday, April 6, 1990". Radio Discussions. June 30, 2018.
  10. "Retro: Chicago, Friday, December 7, 1990". Radio Discussions. December 1, 2018.
  11. "Retro: Cincinnati/ Dayton, Ohio...Tuesday November 20, 1990". Radio Discussions. May 10, 2014.
  12. "Retro Cleveland/Akron: Tuesday, February 20, 1990". Radio Discussions. January 11, 2011.
  13. "Retro: Detroit, MI, Monday October 1, 1989 3 Independents". Radio Discussions. December 23, 2014.
  14. "Retro: Cedar Rapids-Dubuque, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 1990". Radio Discussions. January 18, 2010.
  15. "Retro: Owosso, MI, Wednesday, December 20, 1989". Radio Discussions. July 8, 2017.
  16. "Retro: Dallas/Fort Worth, Wednesday, Apr 25, 1990". Radio Discussions. April 23, 2020.
  17. "Retro: Northern WI/Western UP MI Wed July 31, 1991". Radio Discussions. October 23, 2007.
  18. "Retro: Florence/Huntsville, AL, Monday, October 30, 1989". Radio Discussions. August 21, 2017.
  19. "Retro: Indianapolis/Terre Haute/Lafayette, IN - Tuesday, January 23, 1990". Radio Discussions. May 6, 2018.
  20. "Retro: Louisville/Lexington/Cincinnati, Monday, 9/10/90". Radio Discussions. December 1, 2005.
  21. "Retro: WDZL 39 in Miami, FL, Monday, October 9, 1989". Radio Discussions. November 27, 2014.
  22. "Retro: Milwaukee, WI, Monday October 2, 1989 2 Independents". Radio Discussions. March 27, 2015.
  23. "Cartoons on syndication in Minneapolis, MN from 1983-1994". Radio Discussions. May 14, 2014.
  24. "Retro: New Brunswick Sat, May 22, 1993". Radio Discussions. May 22, 2013.
  25. "Retro: Norwalk, CT, Tuesday, July 30, 1991". Radio Discussions. February 25, 2018.
  26. Police Academy: The Series (1990 Cartoon Promo) on YouTube
  27. "Retro: Norfolk-Portsmth-Newpt Nws-Hampton Rd- Tuesday, April 16, 1991". Radio Discussions. June 7, 2019.
  28. "Retro: Oklahoma City - Week of October 15, 1989". Radio Discussions. January 5, 2019.
  29. "Retro: Orlando and Central FL, Tue. December 4th, 1990". Radio Discussions. December 2, 2013.
  30. "WJTC schedule, July 1991". Radio Discussions. February 10, 2015.
  31. "Cartoons that aired in Philadelphia from 1987-1996". Radio Discussions. November 21, 2014.
  32. "Retro: Pittsburgh/Ohio & Mahoning Valleys Mon, May 20, 1991". Radio Discussions. May 7, 2013.
  33. "Retro: Boston/Manchester/Providence Sat, Feb 23, 1991". Radio Discussions. February 22, 2010.
  34. "Retro: Calgary Wed, July 21, 1993". Radio Discussions. July 21, 2011.
  35. "Retro: Savannah, GA, Wednesday, January 10, 1990". Radio Discussions. October 28, 2017.
  36. "Retro: Seattle/Tacoma, Wednesday, Jan. 9th, 1991". Radio Discussions. September 27, 2012.
  37. Police Academy - The Series - Cartoon - Animated - Commercial (1989) on YouTube
  38. "Retro: Southern Ontario Thurs, May 30, 1991". Radio Discussions. May 30, 2011.
  39. "Retro: Baltimore/DC/Lancaster, Tuesday, December 12, 1989". Radio Discussions. December 8, 2018.
  40. "CONNECTICUT TV- Tuesday March 13, 1990". Radio Discussions. February 17, 2006.
  41. "Retro: North Carolina, 9/14/91". Radio Discussions. August 25, 2005.
  42. "Retro: Baltimore/DC/Lancaster, Wednesday, August 22, 1990". Radio Discussions. November 4, 2017.
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