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The term “classic” gets tossed around rather loosely these days but when it comes to Disney, their movies have rightfully earned that title. Their films have garnered worldwide acclaim and are beloved by generations of viewers who grew up with them.
Currently, Disney is in the works to create multiple series based on their modern films like Zootopia and Moana but this isn’t their first foray into turning their movies into TV series. Most of them have been forgotten but many classic Disney films received their own TV shows.
10 The Jungle Cubs Was Disney’s Answer To Muppet Babies
Back in the ’80s and ’90s, there was a string of spin-off shows that depicted characters from popular movies and TV shows as children going on misadventures. Oddly enough, The Jungle Cubs was one of those films which showed Baloo, Bagheera, Shere Khan, Hathi, Kaa, and King Louie as kids.
What’s stranger is that this show claims that they were all friends at one point despite this never being mentioned in the films. Still, it was a popular kid-friendly show that taught lessons about friendship and the changes that come with growing up. A shame that it didn’t end with an explanation as to how their friendships fell apart but probably for the best.
9 The Mighty Ducks Revolved Around A Team of Alien-Fighting, Hockey-Playing Ducks
The Mighty Ducks was a charming sports film with a few inaccuracies about a ragtag team of underdogs receiving a washed-up coach that helps them turn their losing streak around. The TV show it received has nothing to do with that. The show centers around a group of hockey-playing anthropomorphic ducks from another dimension who get stranded on Earth and become professional hockey players.
All the while facing off against the evil, invasive aliens known as the Saurians. What’s more mind-boggling than the premise is that it included the recurring voice talents of Tim Curry, Tony Jay, and Ian Ziering.
8 101 Dalmations Had Animated Series In the 1990s & 2010s
Long before Cruella or 101 Dalmatian Street came into the picture, there was 101 Dalmations: The Series. A show about the plethora of dogs moving to a farm in the country with their owners and getting into hijinks with the farm animals.
All the while, Cruella De Vil plots to acquire the farm through sinister means with her lackeys, Horace and Jasper. The show is goofier and less grounded than the original movie and shifts Cruella’s priorities away from making fur coats out of puppies. It wouldn’t be the last time they tried to sanitize her character and tone down her evilness.
7 Toy Story Gave Buzz Lightyear His Own Show
Although Buzz Lightyear is just a toy, and a great one at that, a spin-off show revealed that he is based on a character from Buzz Lightyear of Star Command. A show following the adventures of the eponymous space ranger and his quirky teammates defending the galaxy against the forces of evil.
The series does a surprising job at serving as a stand-alone series that builds a unique universe separate from Toy Story. Aside from Buzz, Emperor Zurg, and the Little Green Men, the rest of the cast are original characters with distinct designs and personalities. It might be one of the few shows worthy of a revival.
6 Aladdin: The Animated Series Is A Fine Follow-up To the Film
With the success of Aladdin, it only made sense that it received an animated series on Disney Afternoon. Taking place after the home movie The Return of Jafar, the show follows Aladdin, Jasmine, and Genie as they get into mystical escapades along with a reformed Iago.
Scott Weinger, Linda Larkin, and Gilbert Gottfried reprised their roles as Aladdin, Jasmine, and Iago, respectively, but Genie was recast and voiced by Dan Castellaneta. The show stayed faithful to the first film and helped expand upon Aladdin and Jasmine’s relationship as they faced villains as memorable as Jafar. It even got a cross-over with another Disney TV show featuring a zero to hero.
5 Hercules: The Animated Series Showed What He Was Like As A Blossoming Hero
Hercules was Disney’s first attempt at dipping their toes into adapting stories from Greek mythology but it wasn’t their last. An animated series was made and set before Hercules became a hero back when he was still training and in high school.
Pairing him up with Icarus and Cassandra as he foiled Hades’s plans to conquer Olympus and facing other mythological figures like King Midas and Loki. The show delves deep into Greek lore but it also contains numerous contradictions that conflict with the movie. On its own, it’s a fine show and features Tate Donovan and James Woods returning as Hercules and Hades.
4 The Legend of Tarzan Is Surprisingly Faithful To The Original Books
Disney seemed to place a lot of faith in Tarzan after it became a financial success. It would explain why they created Tarzan: The Legend Continues. It centers on Tarzan’s life with Jane as he protects his jungle home with the help of Terk and Tantor against savage animals and treacherous humans.
The show explores Tarzan adjusting to leading the gorillas and Jane adapting to jungle life while occasionally introducing bizarre new elements like a hidden valley of dinosaurs and a forgotten kingdom ruled by the magical Queen La and her leopard men. Strange as this is, these are all plot points from the original Tarzan books, making this a moderately faithful adaptation.
3 Timon & Pumba From The Lion King Got Their Own Show
To say that Timon & Pumbaa was an odd show would be a severe understatement. While The Lion King was grounded in some realism, Timon & Pumbaa felt like Disney’s attempt at making a knock-off Looney Tunes or Hanna Barbera cartoon.
The titular duo would regularly venture out of the jungle and into cities, forests, and other countries where they’d get into all sorts of trouble. Occasionally, there would be episodes dedicated to Zazu or Scar’s hyenas and Simba would make rare appearances. Apart from sharing these characters, the ties between this and the movie are paper-thin.
2 Emperor’s New Groove Sent Kuzco Back To School
While Emperor’s New Groove may not hold the same weight as other Disney classics, it is a comedic gem people still remember fondly. Apparently, it was enough to warrant the creation of The Emperor’s New School, a series where Kuzco is forced to enroll in Kuzko Academy and graduate to keep his throne.
Naturally, Yzma plots against Kuzco and tries to sabotage him every step of the way. While the show retcons Kuzco a bit to keep him bratty, it does a swell job at retaining the comedic edge from the film.
1 The Little Mermaid Got A Prequel Series
Set before the film of the same name, The Little Mermaid: The Series follows the adventures of Ariel and her adventures under the sea. The original voice cast returned to reprise their roles of Ariel, King Triton, Sebastian, and Ursula and a slew of original characters were added to the roster.
It gave viewers more of the undersea world Ariel was raised in and placed her in more perilous situations. What’s most notable was that it featured a deaf Latina mermaid named Gabriella inspired by a real little girl who loved the film but succumbed to cancer. Truly a commemorable act and a rare moment of inclusivity for animation in the ’90s.
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