Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue is a 1990 American animated drug-abuse prevention television special starring many characters from American animated television series at the time of its release. Financed by McDonald's, Ronald McDonald Children's Charities, it was originally simulcast for a limited time on April 21, 1990 on all four major American television networks (by supporting their Saturday morning characters): ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox, and most independent stations, as well as various cable networks. McDonald's also released a VHS home video edition of the special distributed by Buena Vista Home Video, which opened with an introduction from President George H. W. Bush, First Lady Barbara Bush and their dog, Millie. It was produced by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation and Southern Star Productions, and was animated overseas by Wang Film Productions Co., Ltd.. The musical number "Wonderful Ways to Say No" was written by Academy Award-winning composer, Alan Menken and lyricist Howard Ashman, who also wrote the songs for Disney's The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and Hercules.
The plot chronicles the exploits of Michael, a young teenage boy who is using marijuana as well as stealing and drinking alcohol. His younger sister, Corey, is constantly worried about him because he started acting differently which also becomes a concern for his parents (who are also starting to notice his changes). When Corey's piggy bank goes missing one morning, her cartoon tie-in toys come to life to help her find it. After discovering it in Michael's room along with his stash of drugs, the cartoon characters proceed to work together to do an intervention and take him on a fantasy journey to teach him the risks and consequences a life of drug abuse can bring.
Cast and characters[]
- Jason Marsden – Michael
- Paul Fusco – Alf
- Ross Bagdasarian Jr. – Alvin, Simon
- Jeff Bergman – Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck
- Jim Cummings – Winnie the Pooh, Tigger
- Townsend Coleman – Dad, Michaelangelo
- Joey Dedio – The Dealer
- Janice Karman – Theodore
- Danny Goldman – Brainy Smurf
- Frank Welker – Slimer, Hefty Smurf, Baby Kermit
- Don Messick – Papa Smurf
- Lorenzo Music – Garfield
- Laurie O'Brien – Mom, Baby Piggy
- Lindsay Parker – Corey
- George C. Scott – Smoke
- Russi Taylor – Baby Gonzo, Huey, Dewey, and Louie
- Wayne Collins, Georgi Irene, Aaron Lohr, and Joe Ranft – Additional Voices
International broadcast[]
| Country | Network | Introductory speaker | Local title |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, USA Network, Syndication, Univision, Telemundo, MTV, Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, Lifetime, BET, TBS SuperStation, TNT, PBS, American Forces Network, WPIX, WGN-TV, KTLA, KTVT, WKBD-TV, KHTV, WVTV, KSTW, KWGN, KPLR-TV, WWOR-TV, WSBK-TV | George H. W. Bush and Barbara Bush President and First Lady of the United States |
Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue |
| Australia | Seven Network, Nine Network, Network Ten | Bob Hawke and Hazel Hawke Prime Minister and Spouse of the Prime Minister of Australia | |
| Canada (English) | CBC Television, CTV, Global, Syndication | Brian Mulroney Prime Minister of Canada | |
| New Zealand | Television One, Channel 2, TV3 | Jim Bolger Prime Minister of New Zealand | |
| Chile | La Red, UCV Televisión, TVN, Megavisión, Chilevisión, Canal 13, Telenorte | Marta Larraechea Bolívar First Lady of Chile |
Estrellas de los dibujos animados al rescate |
| Mexico | Canal de las Estrellas, Canal 5, Canal 9 | Carlos Salinas de Gortari President of Mexico | |
| Spain | TVE1, TVE Internacional, Antena 3, Canal Sur, Telemadrid, TVG, ETB2, Canal Nou, Galavisión, Tele 5, Canal+ | Queen Sofía of Spain Queen consort of Spain | |
| Brazil | Rede Manchete | N/A | Astros do Desenho Animado contra as Drogas |
| Canada (French) | SRC, Super Écran, Canal Famille, Radio-Québec, TVA, TQS, Syndication | N/A | Les Personnages animés préférés à la rescousse |
| Germany | ARD, ZDF, RTL, Sat.1, ProSieben, Kabel 1, Tele 5, NDR, SDR, Hessen | Annemarie Renger Vice President of the Bundestag and Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board of McDonald’s Kinderhilfe |
Comic-Stars gegen Drogen |
| Hans-Dietrich Genscher Vice Chancellor of Germany | |||
| Italy | Rai Uno, Rai Due, Italia 1, Canale 5, TMC | Giulio Andreotti Prime Minister of Italy |
I nostri eroi alla riscossa |
| Poland | TVP1, TVP2, TVP Regionalna, TVP Polonia, Polsat, Polsat 2, TVN, RTL 7, Nasza TV, Canal+, HBO, TV Niepokalanów, TMT, Hallmark Channel, Romantica, Wizja 1, Polonia 1, Fox Kids | N/A | Tajemnica zaginionej skarbonki |
| Russia | Channel 1 Ostankino | N/A | Герои мультфильмов приходят на помощь |