Kissyfur - The 1986 animated series

December 16 2020

Kissyfur is an animated series for children that first aired on the American NBC network. The cartoons were produced by Jean Chalopin and Andy Heyward and conceived by Phil Mendez for DIC Animation City. The series was based on a half-hour NBC special called Kissyfur: Bear Roots and was followed by three more specials until its Saturday morning debut. The show ran for two seasons between 1986 and 1988.

The animated series tells the adventures of Gus and Kissyfur, a bear father and his son who had joined the circus. One day, the circus train derails and the bears flee, to a new life in the swamps of Paddlecab County, somewhere in the southeastern United States.

There, they protect the local swamp dwellers from the hungry and clumsy alligators Floyd and Jolene. Kissyfur and his father use the skills they have acquired from the circus world to create a boat tour business, which transports other animals and their products along the river.

Characters

Gus - Kissyfur's widowed father, owner of a Paddlecab company, takes the animals from one side of the swamp to the other. He can be a little silly at times, but he's a great father. He is the only one of all swamp parents who can take on both alligators, Floyd and Jolene, and make them escape.

Kissyfur - The son of Gus, the leader of the marsh pups and the title character of the series. He and his father worked in a circus, along with Kissyfur's mother, who died in a show accident. After the circus train they were in crashed, Kissyfur and his father stumbled upon Paddlecab County and has been living there ever since. He is an eight-year-old bear cub who loves to pretend and occasionally gets into trouble with the rest of the cubs.

Miss Emmie Lou - A blue bear wearing a flower behind one ear. She is the teacher in the swamp and has a southern accent. She is also a great cook and has a sister named Jimmie Lou and a cousin named Ernie. He is also sweet with Gus.

Charles - A warthog and Lennie's stubborn father, Charles thinks he has it all figured out most of the time, but he's usually more muscular than brainy. He's strong enough to take on Jolene, but not Floyd. He is one of only three adults to have been caught and nearly eaten by alligators, along with the Cackle sisters.

Howie - A mocking bird that can cast its voice and can imitate anything and everyone. This talent often gets him into trouble.
Uncle Shelby (voiced by Frank Welker) - A wise turtle who is the oldest in the swamp.

The Cackle Sisters - Two sister hens named Bessie and Claudette. Bessie talks and is very reserved and fair, while Claudette just chuckles, usually agreeing with what her sister says. They are usually seen guarding Floyd and Jolene on a large floating buoy and are ready to ring a bell whenever they see them. They are two of only three adults to be caught and nearly eaten by alligators, along with Charles.

Floyd - An alligator who, along with Jolene, is always on the lookout for a plan to catch the marsh pups so they can eat them for dinner (although if the opportunity arises, they can sometimes chase adults as well). He often makes stupid comments.

Jolene - A hot-tempered alligator wearing a red wig. She and Floyd always try to catch swamp pups so they can eat them for dinner (although if the opportunity presents itself, they can sometimes chase adults as well). It would be considered the brain between the two, but not by much. He has a low tolerance for Floyd's dullness, which usually leads to slapping him with his wig.

Flo's - A smug buzzard.

Swamp pups

Stuckey - A very dark indigo porcupine. He speaks slowly and is the quiet one in the group. He is also Duane's best friend and is the only marsh pup whose parents are not seen. He is also the only marsh pup not to speak in the pilot.

Beehonie - An eight-year-old white bunny who has a crush on Kissyfur. She is the only female swamp pup and at times tends to act as the voice of reason.

Duane - A pig who loves to clean and gets very angry if he gets dirty. He is Stuckey's best friend.

toot - A six-year-old beaver, Toot is the youngest of the marsh pups. Look up and idolize Kissyfur. He is Kissyfur's best friend. Her nose changes from pink to black in the second season.

Lennie - Charles's son, Lennie is ten years old and the oldest of the marsh pups. Technically he is the bully of the group. He tries to be tough, even if he sometimes fails if he's really afraid of something. He likes to be bossy and push other puppies around, even if he likes and cares about his friends. He often refers to Kissyfur as "Sissyface".
Ralph (voiced by Susan Silo) - A young Packrat who has a bad habit of stealing things from Paddlecab County residents.

Flip - A difficult chameleon that can change color. In the first season, he had a red color for the upper part of his body, yellow with red spots in the middle and blue with a blue spot in the middle. In season 2, he has a green body, with a yellow stomach, but he can still change color.

Donna - Miss Emmy Lou's niece. His only appearance is in the second special, “The birds and the bears”.

Episodes

Specials (1985-1986)
Four specials aired between 1985 and 1986. [6]

Bear Roots - Kissyfur is a circus bear cub who recently lost his mother, who was tragically killed during a circus show. After a particularly busy night performing in the circus, Kissyfur and his father, Gus escape captivity to live a better life in the forest. However, instead of living in peace, the two soon discover that their new home (the swamp), although much friendlier than the circus, has its share of dangers… namely the local alligators! Will Kissyfur and Gus be able to adapt to swamp life or will they be destined to become an alligator's meal?

The Birds & The Bears - The arrival of a new, feminine swamp pup has the boys producing a serious personality change (except Toot)! Is there a way to get them out of this new (and unpleasant) behavior, or are children doomed to be troublemakers and delinquents for the rest of their lives?

The Lady is a Chump - Gus hires a seemingly respectable nanny to take care of Kissyfur. but the "nanny" is really Floyd in disguise!

We are the Swamp - A massive drought has turned the swamp into a veritable wasteland, but what will happen when a buzzard tells its pups about a verdant oasis high in the clouds?

Season 1 (1986)

Here are the beef / jam wars

Kissyfur and the others have a hard time finding a good tree to build a tree house, but when Brutus the bull attacks… / The people of Paddlecab take refuge in a ruined mansion during a flood.

Humans must be crazy / to tell al dente!

Kissyfur and the Cubs befriend a robot, which they use to make their life easier. / Gus tries to hide a toothache from Kissyfur, but gets the wrong idea thinking Gus doesn't want him around.

Tailed / Haired Whale PI

Pups take care of a beached sick whale. When various items disappear, Kissyfur guides the pups to find the culprit, but the spotlight is on Ralph Packrat.

Home sweat at home / pop banged

Tired of seemingly endless chores and grueling tasks, the pups sneak away to build a clubhouse on an island away from the adults, but when they encounter alligators and the island's dangerous elements ... / Gus's constant sleep disrupts life in the swamp . When Shelby realizes Gus is hibernating, the puppies have to get spring to come quickly.

Bear crying wolf! / Egg McGuffin

Kissyfur and Howie's practical jokes put them in danger. / Kissyfur gives birth and hatches a stupid bird, causing more chaos than necessary for everyone involved.

Leave me a lion / The wish box

A circus friend of Gus, a lion visits the swamp. / Kissyfur and Toot find what they think is a magical box capable of granting wishes.

Gatoraid case / basket

A Gargantuan Gator who is more menacing than Floyd or Jolene goes to defeat Gus. During a hike, the Cubs find a human baby as they try to escape the alligators and avoid being spotted by the baby's family.

The Incredible Hunk / Hardy Double Bear

After Gus and Emmy Lou have a fight, the cubs see her with another bear. They try to break them. With the circus returning to the swamp, Lenny challenges Kissyfur to get the puppies and show them his old tricks.

Bearly a bodyguard / The duck who came to dinner

Tired of Lenny mistreating the puppies, Kissyfur hires Howie to act as his bodyguard. / A roaring duck moves in with Kissyfur and Gus after he pretends he's injured.

Season 2 (1988)

The Great Swami of the Swamp / The Game of Seashells

When Kissyfur learns of the legend of the Great Swamp Swami, Howie and the alligators decide to join in the fun. / When Shelby's shell disappears, it's up to Kissyfur to find out who the thief is.

Just in Time / Three are a crowd

Charles discovers an alarm clock and makes himself a timekeeper. / The warthog family's house catches fire, so Kissyfur invites them to stay with him and Gus. However…

My Fair Lenny / G'Day Gator and G'Bye

Lenny tries to impress a warthog girl by being charming, and at the same time being considered for his father's club "The Slobs". / When Shelby leads the cubs on a hike, they encounter an Australian wallaby fighting alligators.

Forked-tongued frog / Like father, like son

A frog convinces Beehonie that he really is a prince / Kissyfur and Gus swap places for a day.

Live Berries / Treasure of Toot

Kissyfur and Beehonie enter the berry juice business, but the difference of opinion divides the partners and the rest of the puppies. / Floyd and Toot both separately discover an abandoned ship full of candy. Lenny convinces Toot to show him where the treasure is.

Cub's Club / You are nothing but a hound

Duane and Lenny compete to determine who will be their club's official interior decorator. / Kissyfur and the others help an elderly dog avoid going to his owner's kennel.

Stuck with Stuckey / Flipzilla

Stuckey is hired to babysit Lenny's twin cousins. / Flip gains superpowers.

The new Kissyfur puppy / companion

Randolph the mole joins the cubs, but the others hesitate to go out with him because he can't see in daylight. / A monkey cosmonaut from the Soviet Union finds his way to Paddlecab County.

See you later, Annie Gator / Evilfur

The cubs and alligators oppose the new friendship between Toot and Jolene's granddaughter. When Kissyfur and Gus go on vacation, two bears who have escaped from a zoo take their place and wreak havoc in the swamp.

Swarm Out / Halo & Goodbye

Charles and Lenny's dump in the creek causes a chain reaction of events. / The puppies think Lenny died after an accident, so he pretends to be a ghost to get the puppies to do his bidding.

Rebel Racoon's Ballad / Somethin 'Cajun's Cookin'

Thinking Beehonie is interested in a free-spirited raccoon, Kissyfur begins acting recklessly to regain her friendship. / Emmy Lou's sister Jenny Lou comes to see her, so Miss Emmy opens a restaurant to impress her.

You have those baby blues / Home Sweet Swamps

Kissyfur's aunt Julia visits the swamp and gives birth to a son, and feeling ignored, Kissyfur goes to get their attention. / Due to a misunderstanding, when Julia and Bud and their son return to the circus, Kissyfur thinks about returning to the circus.

The Great Swamp Taxi Race / Weight doesn't want to not

Charles gets a gas boat to compete with Gus' paddle taxi service. / Thinking that Emmy Lou wants her to lose weight, Gus resorts to hypnosis but is mistakenly afraid of food.

Production

The show also aired on the BBC (as part of its But First This lineup becoming the only cartoon made for the BBC during that block), TCC and Nickelodeon in the UK, ATV World in Hong Kong, SABC1 and SABC2 in South Africa, TVP in Poland, TV3 in New Zealand, Sirasa TV & Channel one formerly MTV in Sri Lanka, SBT in Brazil, MediaCorp Channel 5 and Prime 12 in Singapore, JBC, SSTV and Television Jamaica in Jamaica, RTBin Brunei, Namibian Broadcasting Corporation in Namibia, GMA Network in the Philippines, Armed Forces Network in Germany, Canal + in France, Israeli Educational Television in Israel, NCRV in the Netherlands and Seven Network in Australia.

Technical data

Author Phil Mendez
country of origin United States
Original language English
Number of seasons 2
Number of episodes 26
Executive producers Jean Chalopin, Andy Heyward
Duration 30 minutes
Production company NBC Productions, DIC Animation City, Saban Entertainment (1988)
Original network NBC
Image format NTSC
Transmission date 13 September 1986 - 10 December 1988