- Cards
- TV series
- Voice cast Main Additional Voices
- Episodes Season 1 (1982–83) Season 2 (1983–84)
- Other media
- Home media releases
- References
- External links
{{Infobox television
|show_name = Shirt Tales
|image = Shirt Tales.png
|caption =
|genre = {{Plainlist|
}}
|creator = Janet Elizabeth Manco {{small|(original characters)}}
|director = {{Plainlist|- George Gordon
- Carl Urbano
- Rudy Zamora
- Bob Hathcock {{small|(Season 1 only)}}
- Oscar Dufau {{small|(Season 2 only)}}
- John Walker {{small|(Season 2 only)}}
- Ray Patterson {{small|(supervising director)}}
}}
|theme_music_composer = Hoyt Curtin
|opentheme = "Shirt Tales"
|endtheme = "Shirt Tales" {{small|(Instrumental)}}
|composer = Hoyt Curtin
|country = United States
|language = English
|network = NBC
|executive_producer = {{Plainlist|- William Hanna
- Joseph Barbera
}}
|producer = {{Plainlist|- Kay Wright
- Iwao Takamoto {{small|(creative producer)}}
}}
|editor = Gil Iverson
|company = Hanna-Barbera Productions
|distributor = Taft Broadcasting
Warner Bros. Television (currently)
|num_seasons = 2
|num_episodes = 23 (46 segments)
|list_episodes =
|runtime = {{Plainlist|- 22 minutes (whole)
- 12 minutes (separate)
}}
|picture_format =
|audio_format =
|first_run =
|first_aired = {{Start date|1982|9|18}}
|last_aired = {{End date|1984|1|30}}
|related =
|website =
}}Shirt Tales are characters that were created in 1980 by greeting card designer Janet Elizabeth Manco, and were featured on Hallmark Cards greeting cards. The characters were adapted into an animated series for television by Hanna-Barbera Productions, which first aired in 1982 on NBC. CardsHallmark Cards released the homonymous line of greeting cards with animal characters wearing T-shirts upon which was a message. Those cards were among Hallmark's best sellers at that time, which led the company to team with Hanna-Barbera Productions to adapt the Shirt Tales into a Saturday morning cartoon, which premiered on NBC on September 18, 1982. The card line remained, but faded shortly after the show left broadcast television in 1985. TV seriesThe animated Shirt Tales cartoon featured Tyg Tiger (in orange), Pammy Panda (in pink), Digger Mole (in light blue), Rick Raccoon (in red), and Bogey Orangutan (in green, so called because he spoke using a Humphrey Bogart-style voice). They lived in Oak Tree Park and wore shirts which flashed various brightly lit messages reflecting the characters' thoughts. They spent their time teasing the park custodian, Mr. Dinkel, and battling crime in and out of their hometown of Mid City. They zipped around the world in a vehicle known as the STSST (Shirt Tales' SuperSonic Transport) which could operate as a car, jet, boat, submarine, and other forms of transportation. Though most law enforcement agencies knew of the Shirt Tales as crime fighters by reputation, few people seemed aware that they were talking animals—including Mr. Dinkel, whom the group often had to trick to keep their secret safe. Each episode was divided into two 11–minute segments. After the success of the thirteen episodes in Season 1, ten episodes were created for Season 2. However, the show was semi-rebooted and Kip Kangaroo (in yellow) was added to the cast of characters without context for her joining the Shirt Tales. There is also a difference in leadership among the Shirt Tales, in which for the first season Rick appeared to be the de facto leader, but in the second season is instead Tyg. Also several stories in Season 2 either omit Rick altogether or give him a minor role in the story. The second season also added some superhero elements to the dynamic of the group as well, most notably the color of all their T-shirts changing to a bright red color when "Shirt Tale Time" is called for. Buck Beaver (in whitish blue) helped the Shirt Tales use a tree as a bridge in "The Big Foot Incident" and helped them build an ark in "Dinkel's Ark". In "Moving Time", four cousins from out west were introduced for this episode only: Prairie Dog Pete (in red with black vest), Fillmore Fox (in green), Violett Skunk (in yellow), and Hoozitz Owl (in lavender). In "Back to Nature", Cubby Bear (in red) helped the Shirt Tales when a wild bear had Mr. Dinkel chased up a tree. Following the initial run on NBC, Shirt Tales aired on CBS during the 1984–1985 Saturday morning season, replacing The Biskitts in their time slot. CBS aired selected episodes from its two-season NBC run until March 23, 1985, when The Biskitts were returned to the time slot for the rest of the 1984–1985 season. On March 23, 1985, Shirt Tales was pulled from broadcast television for good, and the Hallmark franchise faded not long after as well. The show continued for a number of years as part of USA Network's Cartoon Express block and on Cartoon Network, but also continues to be broadcast in selected countries around the world, including Boomerang. Voice castMain{{div col}}- Nancy Cartwright – Kip Kangaroo (Season 2 only)
- Robert Allen Ogle – Digger Mole
- Patricia Parris – Pammy Panda
- Steve Schatzberg – Tyg Tiger/Rick Raccoon (Episode 4 only)
- Ronnie Schell – Rick Raccoon
- Fred Travalena – Bogey Orangutan
- Herb Vigran – Mr. Dinkel
- William Woodson – Commissioner (Season 1 only)
{{div col end}}Additional Voices{{div col|colwidth=22em}}- Richard Balin (Season 1) –
- Joe Besser (Season 1) – Elmo the Elephant (Elephant on the Loose)
- Joey Camen (Season 2) –
- Victoria Carroll (Season 2) –
- Brian Cummings –
- Walker Edmiston (Season 1) –
- Marshall Efron (Season 1) –
- Bernard Erhard (Season 2) –
- Laurie Faso (Season 1) –
- Ernest Harada (Season 2) –
- Bob Holt (Season 2) –
- Buster Jones (Season 2) –
- Stanley Jones (Season 1) –
- Sherry Lynn (Season 1) –
- Tress MacNeille (Season 1) –
- Kenneth Mars (Season 1) –
- Joseph Medalis (Season 1) –
- Howard Morris (Season 2) – Shutter McBugg (Double Exposure)
- Henry Polic II (Season 1) –
- Tony Pope –
- Robert Ridgely (Season 1) –
- Michael Rye (Season 1) –
- Marilyn Schreffler –
- R.J. Segall (Season 1) –
- Michael Sheehan (Season 1) –
- Hal Smith –
- John Stephenson (Season 1) – Game Master (The Game Masters), Museum Tour Guide (The Humboldt Ghost), The Humboldt Ghost (The Humboldt Ghost), Ebenezer Creepling (The Humboldt Ghost)
- Andre Stojka (Season 1) –
- Jimmy Weldon (Season 2) –
- Frank Welker (Season 1) – Figby the Cat (Figby, the Spoiled Brat Cat)
- Ted Zeigler (Season 1) –
{{div col end}}EpisodesSeason 1 (1982–83)No. in
series | No. in
season | Title | Story by | Original air date{{Episode list | EpisodeNumber=1 | EpisodeNumber2=1 | Title=The Case of the Golden Armor / Crumbling's Circus Caper | WrittenBy=The Case of the Golden Armor: Bob Ogle
Crumbling's Circus Caper: Tom Dagenais | 1982|09|18}} | ShortSummary= | LineColor=FF9900
}}{{Episode list | EpisodeNumber=2 | EpisodeNumber2=2 | Title=The Game Masters / Shirt Napped | WrittenBy=Shirt Napped: Jim Ryan
The Game Masters: Tom Dagenais | 1982|09|25}} | ShortSummary= | LineColor=FF9900
}}{{Episode list | EpisodeNumber=3 | EpisodeNumber2=3 | Title=The Big Foot Incident / Elephant on the Loose | WrittenBy=Elephant on the Loose: Bob Ogle
The Big Foot Incident: Tom Dagenais | 1982|10|02}} | ShortSummary= | LineColor=FF9900
}}{{Episode list | EpisodeNumber=4 | EpisodeNumber2=4 | Title=Horsin' Around / Mission Mutt | WrittenBy=Horsin' Around: Bob Ogle
Mission Mutt: Jim Ryan | 1982|10|09}} | ShortSummary= | LineColor=FF9900
}}{{Episode list | EpisodeNumber=5 | EpisodeNumber2=5 | Title=Vacation for Dinkel / Wingman | WrittenBy=Wingman: Jim Ryan
Vacation for Dinkel: Tedd Anasti | 1982|10|16}} | ShortSummary= | LineColor=FF9900
}}{{Episode list | EpisodeNumber=6 | EpisodeNumber2=6 | Title=The Humboldt Ghost / Figby, the Spoiled Brat Cat | WrittenBy=The Humboldt Ghost: Bob Ogle
Figby, the Spoiled Brat Cat: Hank Saroyan | 1982|10|23}} | ShortSummary= | LineColor=FF9900
}}{{Episode list | EpisodeNumber=7 | EpisodeNumber2=7 | Title=Digger Runs Away / The Commissioner Is Missing | WrittenBy=Digger Runs Away: Tedd Anasti
The Commissioner Is Missing: Misty Stewart | 1982|10|30}} | ShortSummary= | LineColor=FF9900
}}{{Episode list | EpisodeNumber=8 | EpisodeNumber2=8 | Title=Raiders of the Lost Shark / The Terrible Termites | WrittenBy=The Terrible Termites: Jim Ryan
Raiders of the Lost Shark: Tedd Anasti | 1982|11|06}} | ShortSummary= | LineColor=FF9900
}}{{Episode list | EpisodeNumber=9 | EpisodeNumber2=9 | Title=Moving Time / Back to Nature | WrittenBy=Moving Time: Tom Ruegger
Back to Nature: Gary Stamm | 1982|11|13}} | ShortSummary= | LineColor=FF9900
}}{{Episode list | EpisodeNumber=10 | EpisodeNumber2=10 | Title=Save the Park / Pam-dora's Box | WrittenBy=Save the Park: Tom Dagenais
Pam-dora's Box: William Hasley | 1982|11|20}} | ShortSummary= | LineColor=FF9900
}}{{Episode list | EpisodeNumber=11 | EpisodeNumber2=11 | Title=Hapless Hound / The Very Buried Treasure | WrittenBy=Hapless Hound: John Graham
The Very Buried Treasure: Janis Diamond, Allan Heldfond | 1982|11|27}} | ShortSummary= | LineColor=FF9900
}}{{Episode list | EpisodeNumber=12 | EpisodeNumber2=12 | Title=Nearsighted Bear / The Magical Musical Caper | WrittenBy=The Magical Musical Caper: Janis Diamond, Allan Heldfond
Nearsighted Bear: Jim Ryan | 1982|12|04}} | ShortSummary= | LineColor=FF9900
}}{{Episode list | EpisodeNumber=13 | EpisodeNumber2=13 | Title=Dinkel's Ark / The Duke of Dinkel | WrittenBy=Dinkel's Ark: Tom Dagenais
The Duke of Dinkel: Tom Ruegger | 1982|12|11}} | ShortSummary= | LineColor=FF9900
}} |
Season 2 (1983–84)No. in
series | No. in
season | Title | Story by | Original air date{{Episode list | EpisodeNumber=14 | EpisodeNumber2=1 | Title=Bogey Goes Ape / The Rain, the Park and the Robot | WrittenBy=Bogey Goes Ape: Glenn Leopold
The Rain, the Park and the Robot: Glenn Leopold, Cliff Roberts | 1983|9|17}} | ShortSummary= | LineColor=834079
}}{{Episode list | EpisodeNumber=15 | EpisodeNumber2=2 | Title=Digger's Three Wishes / Digger's Double | WrittenBy=Bob Ogle | 1983|9|24}} | ShortSummary= | LineColor=834079
}}{{Episode list | EpisodeNumber=16 | EpisodeNumber2=3 | Title=Kip's Dragon / Double Exposure | WrittenBy=Kip's Dragon: David Detiege
Double Exposure: Jim Ryan | 1983|10|1}} | ShortSummary= | LineColor=834079
}}{{Episode list | EpisodeNumber=17 | EpisodeNumber2=4 | Title=Taj Mahal Tyg / Brass Bogey | WrittenBy=Taj Mahal Tyg: Glenn Leopold, Cliff Roberts
Brass Bogey: Bob Ogle | 1983|10|8}} | ShortSummary= | LineColor=834079
}}{{Episode list | EpisodeNumber=18 | EpisodeNumber2=5 | Title=The Outer Space Connection / The Forbidden Island | WrittenBy=The Outer Space Connection: Janis Diamond
The Forbidden Island: John Bates | 1983|10|15}} | ShortSummary= | LineColor=834079
}}{{Episode list | EpisodeNumber=19 | EpisodeNumber2=6 | Title=Saturday Night Shirt Tales / Dinkel's Buddy | WrittenBy=Saturday Night Shirt Tales: Cynthia Friedlob, John Semper
Dinkel's Buddy: Alan Burnett, Jeff Segal | 1983|10|22}} | ShortSummary= | LineColor=834079
}}{{Episode list | EpisodeNumber=20 | EpisodeNumber2=7 | Title=Pleasure Valley / The Ghost Out West | WrittenBy=Pleasure Valley: Dan DiStefano
The Ghost Out West: David Detiege | 1983|10|29}} | ShortSummary= | LineColor=834079
}}{{Episode list | EpisodeNumber2=8 | Title=T.J.'s Visit / The Big Set-up | WrittenBy=T.J.'s Visit: David Detiege
The Big Set-up: Jim Ryan | 1983|11|5}} | EpisodeNumber=21 | ShortSummary= | LineColor=834079
}}{{Episode list | EpisodeNumber=22 | EpisodeNumber2=9 | Title=Kip's Toy Caper / Dinkel's Gift | WrittenBy=Kip's Toy Caper: Cynthia Friedlob, Glenn Leopold, Cliff Roberts, John Semper
Dinkel's Gift: Alan Burnett, Jeff Segal | 1983|11|12}} | ShortSummary= | LineColor=834079
}}{{Episode list | EpisodeNumber=23 | EpisodeNumber2=10 | Title=Mayhem on the Orient Express / The Cuckoo Count Caper | WrittenBy=Cynthia Friedlob, John Semper | 1983|11|19}} | ShortSummary= | LineColor=834079
}} |
|---|
Other mediaThere were also two musical book-and-record sets released by K-tel International under the "Castle Rock" imprint: A Song Saves the Park, and Sunrise Surprise. However, both sets use sound-alikes for the voices, and are presented differently from typical read-alongs. Home media releasesIn 1986, a VHS release of the series was issued by Worldvision Home Video and Kids Klassics, it contained the first full-length episode from Season 2 and the first segment of another episode from that season. On September 16, 2014, Warner Archive released Shirt Tales: The Complete Series on DVD in Region 1 as part of their Hanna–Barbera Classics Collection.[1] References1. ^The Shirt Tales - 'The Complete Series' of the '80s Cartoon is Now on DVD!
External links- {{IMDb title|0085090}}
- {{tv.com show|shirt-tales}}
{{Children's programming on NBC in the 1980s}}{{Children's programming on CBS in the 1980s}} 10 : 1982 American television series debuts|1984 American television series endings|1980s American animated television series|NBC network shows|Television series by Hanna-Barbera|CBS network shows|American animated television programs featuring anthropomorphic characters|Hallmark Cards|American children's animated adventure television series|American children's animated fantasy television series |