Back to the Future – The 1991 animated series

January 24 2024

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In the world of television entertainment, few series have captured the imagination and hearts of audiences like "Back to the Future: The Animated Series." An animated transposition of the famous film trilogy, this series, produced in 1991 by Universal Cartoon Studios in collaboration with Wang Film Productions Company, Amblin Entertainment, BIG Pictures and Universal, offered a new dimension to the story loved by generations.

Marty McFly - Back to the Future (Back to the Future: The Animated Series)

The series, consisting of two seasons for a total of 26 episodes, of which only 24 broadcast in Italy, was not renewed for a third season due to the decline in viewers. Despite this, it remains a cult in the hearts of fans. Interestingly, although the series is set after the events of the films, Bob Gale, one of the original creators of the trilogy, has stated that the animated series and comics exist in their own alternate time universe, separate from the official continuity.

The plot resumes after the conclusion of “Back to the Future – Part III”. Dr. Emmett L. Brown, now settled in Hill Valley in 1991 with his wife Clara and their children Julius and Verne, continues his temporal adventures. The DeLorean, the iconic time machine, has been rebuilt and improved, now featuring voice-activated time circuits and the ability to travel instantly to different places and times.

If in the films the focus was on the McFly family, the series focuses more on the Brown family. Marty McFly still remains a main character, and the antagonist Biff Tannen makes frequent appearances, keeping the connection with the original saga alive. A distinctive element of the series is the exploration of exotic locations, unlike the films, which mainly took place in Hill Valley.

Each episode begins with a live appearance by Doc Brown (played once again by Christopher Lloyd) who introduces the plot, and ends with an experiment, often linked to the episode. Additionally, the first season includes post-credits segments with Biff Tannen telling jokes, an homage to Thomas F. Wilson's comedic career.

The series also marked the television debut of Bill Nye, who became known as "the science guy." His presence added an additional layer of scientific and educational interest to the series.

“Back to the Future: The Animated Series” remains a brilliant example of how a franchise can evolve while keeping its original spirit alive. While it hasn't enjoyed the longevity of other '90s animated series, its cultural impact and faithfulness to the original source continue to make it a fan-favorite series and a gem in the history of television animation.

The Characters of “Back to the Future: The Animated Series”

“Back to the Future: The Animated Series” brought to the small screen a fascinating ensemble of characters, each with their own peculiarities and adventures over time. Here is an overview of the main characters:

Marty McFly: Voiced by Luigi Rosa in Italian and by David Kaufman in the original, Marty is the main protagonist. He spends a lot of time at Doc's house, where he participates in numerous temporal adventures with Jennifer, Doc and the Brown family. A student at Hill Valley College after graduating from Hill Valley High School, Marty is known for his resourcefulness and adventurous spirit. In the episode “Daddy's an Alien,” Marty pretends to be actor Michael J. Fox to fool Doc.
Emmett L. “Doc” Brown: Voiced by Giorgio Melazzi in Italian and by Dan Castellaneta in the original, Doc is the inventor of the time machine and Marty's best friend. He lives with his wife Clara and their two sons, Julius and Verne. Christopher Lloyd plays Doc in the flesh in the introductory and final segments of each episode.
Einstein: The faithful sheepdog of Doc, Clara, Julius and Verne. Voiced by Danny Mann, Einstein is known for his intelligence and ability to autonomously drive the DeLorean and the Time Engine.
Clara Clayton-Brown: Voiced by Dania Cericola in Italian and by Mary Steenburgen in the original, Clara is Doc's wife from the 19th century. She has adapted well to life in the twentieth century, working as an elementary school teacher in Hill Valley and occasionally joining time travellers.
Julius Eratosthenes Brown: Voiced by Davide Garbolino in Italian and by Josh Keaton in the original, Giulio is Doc and Clara's eldest son. Very intelligent and studious, he loves science and often helps his father in his research. Although he is not very popular at school, he has a crush on his classmate Franny Philips.
Verne Newton Brown: Voiced by Veronica Pivetti in Italian and by Troy Davidson in the original, Verne is Giulio's younger brother. Characterized by a cheerful and adventurous demeanor, he loves video games and has many friends at school, including Marty and Biff Jr.
Biff tannen: Voiced by Pietro Ubaldi in Italian and by Thomas F. Wilson in the original, Biff is the descendant of Buford “Mad Dog” Tannen and the antagonist of the series. The various incarnations of him in different eras are a constant source of trouble for the other characters.
Jennifer Parker: Voiced by Debora Magnaghi in Italian and by Cathy Cavadini in the original, Jennifer is Marty's girlfriend and appears sporadically in the series.

The series has the distinction of having Mary Steenburgen and Thomas F. Wilson reprising their original roles from the film trilogy, while Christopher Lloyd appeared in the live-action segments. Additionally, the presence of Bill Nye as Doc Brown's lab assistant and technical advisor to the series added a unique and educational touch to these already beloved characters.

Emmett L. "Doc" Brown - Back to the Future: The Animated Series

Episodes of “Back to the Future: The Animated Series”

1st Season of 1991

“Back to the Future: The Animated Series” is a series that explores temporal adventures through episodes full of fantasy and humor. Here is a review of his stories:

"Brothers": A sibling conflict between Jules and Verne leads the latter to escape into the past using the DeLorean. The Brown family and Marty must travel to the height of the American Civil War to find him. Here, Jules and Verne accidentally find themselves deployed in opposing armies, revealing the madness of war as the soldiers realize they are fighting against their own relatives. The funny episode also reveals the origins of the word “butthead”.
"The holidays": In an attempt to escape technology, Doc takes his family back in time to the Middle Ages, but ends up causing Clara to be kidnapped by the evil Lord Biffingham. An action-packed adventure follows, culminating in Clara's heroic rescue and family reconciliation.
"A jump in the past“: Doc's prehistoric experiment hits a snag when a meteorite threatens Earth. After destroying it, they discover that they have altered the future, dominated by dinosaurs. A painful farewell to their pteranodon friend Donny marks their return to normalcy.
“The Enchantment”: In Salem during the witch trials, Marty is mistakenly accused of witchcraft. An episode that mixes humor and history, with Marty learning the importance of listening and understanding before judging.
“Roman Gladiators”: Doc and Marty visit ancient Rome, where Marty finds himself challenged to a chariot race by Bifficus. An exciting adventure that tests their ingenuity and team spirit.
“Go Fly a Kite”: Verne, believing he is not a real Brown, travels back in time to meet Benjamin Franklin, ultimately learning the importance of family belonging and unconditional love.
“Time Waits for No Frog” / “Einstein's Adventure”: A double episode that takes Doc and Marty to South America for medical treatment and Einstein on an unexpected adventure in Australia with bank robbers in 1790.
“Batter Up”: Marty helps his ancestor Pee Wee McFly in the 1897 baseball series, taking on gangster Diamond Jim Tannen in a mix of sports and history.
“Solar Sailors”: A futuristic space journey turns into a dramatic rescue when the Brown family must stop Ziff Tannen's plans in 2091.
“Dickens of a Christmas”: A trip to 1800s London to experience a Dickensian Christmas turns into an adventure to save Clara and others from the evil Ebiffnezer Tannen.
“Gone Fishin'”: A trip to the past to help Doc overcome his fear of fishing turns into a hilarious adventure that culminates in a lesson in life and courage.
“Retired”: Doc retires from science after a prank from Jules and Verne, but a disastrous rock concert forces him to return to his inventions to save the day.
“Clara's Folks”: A trip to 1850s Wyoming to meet Jules and Verne's maternal grandparents leads to a romantic entanglement that threatens to erase Clara's existence.

Each episode of “Back to the Future: The Animated Series” is a unique mix of history, science and entertainment, enriched by Bill Nye's short lessons, which add an educational touch. This animated series not only extends the “Back to the Future” universe but also offers a fun and clever way to explore various historical periods and scientific themes.

2st Season of 1992

The second season of “Back to the Future: The Animated Series” takes viewers on an even more exciting adventure full of unforgettable episodes. Here is an overview of the episodes:

“Mac the Black”: Verne longs for an earring and ends up traveling to the Caribbean of 1697, where he and Marty get caught up in battles between pirates and the Spanish Armada. Marty comes face to face with the real Mac the Black in an episode full of action and twists.
“Put on Your Thinking Caps, Kids! It's Time for Mr. Wisdom!”: Verne meets his hero, Mr. Wisdom, but discovers that he is a thief who stole an invention of Doc's. A scientific duel takes place between the two geniuses, with Verne finding a new hero to admire.
“A Friend in Deed”: Marty travels to the Old West to save Jennifer's ranch from a Biff ancestor who scammed his family. An episode that shows the value of friendship and justice.
“Marty McFly PFC”: Verne travels to 1944 to meet his dance teacher as a young man, while Marty accidentally finds himself in the army. An episode that mixes history and entertainment.
“Verne's New Friend”: Verne befriends a girl named Christina during a visit to a 30s circus. An episode that teaches the importance of friendship and tolerance.
“BraveLord and the Demon Monstrux”: Verne becomes addicted to a video game, which accidentally comes to life. Doc and family must save the day in an episode that explores the line between reality and fiction.
“The Money Tree”: Jules grows a money tree to become popular, but greed takes over. An adventure that explores the dangers of wealth and true friendship.
“A Verne by Any Other Name”: Verne, dissatisfied with his name, travels to the past to convince Jules Verne to change it. A journey through time that strengthens identity and self-acceptance.
“Hill Valley Brown Out”: A blackout caused by Doc in Hill Valley leads to an alternate Founder's Day, with pioneer-style celebrations. An episode that celebrates simplicity and community.
“My Pop's an Alien”: Biff convinces the town that Doc is an alien, leading Marty, Jules, and Verne to travel to 1967 to resolve the misunderstanding. An episode that plays with paranoia about aliens and understanding.
“Super Doc”: Verne finds out that Doc was a wrestler in the 50s and travels through time to make sure he gets in the match. An episode that explores courage and self-acceptance.
“St. Louis Blues”: Marty uses an unperfected hair cutting machine, resulting in disastrous results. An adventure that teaches the importance of apologies and respect.
“Verne Hatches an Egg”: In the last episode of the series, Verne brings back in time a dinosaur egg that hatches in Hill Valley, creating chaos. An adventurous ending that celebrates family and friendship.

Each episode of this second season of “Back to the Future: The Animated Series” is a unique mix of adventure, humor and life lessons, enriched by Bill Nye's short science lessons, which add an additional level of education and entertainment. The series continues to be a beloved classic that enchants both young and old.

Production

“Back to the Future: The Animated Series” is not only an extension of the famous film trilogy, but a true jewel of 90s television. Produced by the then newly formed Universal Cartoon Studios, the series experienced two seasons full of space-time adventures, broadcast by CBS from 14 September 1991 to 26 December 1992, with subsequent reruns until 14 August 1993. Despite its short duration, the series has left an indelible mark thanks to its quality and originality.

The Production and the Voice Cast The series is notable for the participation of some actors from the original films. Mary Steenburgen and Thomas F. Wilson lent their voices to the characters of Clara Clayton Brown and Biff Tannen, respectively. Christopher Lloyd played Doc Brown in the live-action segments, while the animated character was voiced by Dan Castellaneta. James Tolkan also guest-voiced, although in a different role than Principal Strickland.

Another distinctive element of the series was the presence of Bill Nye, a well-known scientist and popularizer, in the final segments of each episode. Nye not only conducted science experiments related to the episodes' plot, but also served as a technical consultant, helping to make the series educational as well as entertaining.

The acronym The opening theme is a modified version of the song "Back in Time" by Huey Lewis and the News, already known from the films. The theme song sequence is a tracking shot that crosses various historical periods and sees Doc Brown and the main characters aboard the DeLorean. In the second season, the theme song was replaced by a montage of scenes from the first season, retaining the original theme song.

International Prizes The series achieved considerable success at the Daytime Emmy Awards, winning awards for excellence in sound mixing and sound editing in both 1992 and 1993. These awards highlight the technical quality of the production, which effectively combined narrative and sound elements .

Home-Video Editions Fans of the series had the opportunity to relive it thanks to the home-video editions. Initially available on VHS and laserdisc, the series was later released on DVD. 2015 saw the sale of the complete series on DVD, packaged alongside the original films in “Back to the Future: The Complete Adventures Collection.” Some episodes were also included in the commemorative box sets for the 30th and 35th anniversary of the trilogy.

Cultural Heritage and Impact Despite the failure to produce a third season due to low ratings, “Back to the Future: The Animated Series” remains a milestone in the field of animated series. Its unique mix of adventure, humor and science has captured the imagination of an entire generation, making it an unforgettable classic for lovers of the film trilogy and beyond. The series demonstrated how a successful franchise can be expanded in creative and original ways, leaving a lasting mark on the entertainment landscape.

Technical sheet of “Back to the Future: the animated series”

Original title: Back to the Future: The Animated Series
Original language: English
country of origin: United States, France
Authors: Robert Zemeckis, Bob Gale
Executive producer: Bob Gale
Manufacturers: John Loy, John Ludin
Music: Michael Tavera
Main theme composer: Alan Silvestri
Opening theme: “Back in Time”
Closing theme: “Theme from Back to the Future” (instrumental)
Production studio: Universal Cartoon Studios, Zaloom/Mayfield Productions, BIG Pictures, Amblin Television
Original broadcast network: CBS (US), France 2 (France), Channel 4 (UK)
First TV in the United States: September 14, 1991 – December 26, 1992
Seasons: 2
Episodes: 26 (complete series)
Episode duration: 22 minutes

Dubbing and Main Characters

Christopher Lloyd: Doc Brown (live-action segments)
Bill nye: Doc Brown's lab assistant (live-action segments)
Original voices:
- David Kaufman: Marty McFly
- Dan Castellaneta: Doc Brown (animated segments)
- Cathy CavadiniJennifer Parker
- Mary Steenburgen: Clara Clayton Brown
- Josh Keaton: Julius Eratosthenes Brown
- Troy Davidson: Verne Newton Brown
- Danny Mann: Einstein (vocal effects season 1)
- Hal Rayle: Einstein (vocal effects season 2)
- Thomas F. Wilson: Biff Tannen

Broadcast in Italy

Network: Italia 1, Channel 5
First TV in Italy: 1992
Episodes broadcast: 24/26 (92% Complete)
Episode duration: 22 minutes
Main genre: Science Fiction, Comedy
Other genres: Animation, Adventure

“Back to the Future: The Animated Series” stood out for being an animated extension of the famous film trilogy, maintaining the essence and spirit of the adventures of Marty McFly and Doc Brown. The series successfully combined elements of science fiction, comedy and adventure, with an engaging soundtrack and a top-notch voice cast.