Barnyard Commandos

Barnyard Commandos
VHS cover of "Apple-Calypse Now"
StarringS. Scott Bullock
Thom Bray
Pat Fraley
Paul Hreppel
John Mariano
Bob Ridgely
Lennie Weinrib
Danny Wells
Country of originUnited States
France
No. of episodes4
Production
Executive producerFred Wolf
ProducersMurakami-Wolf-Swenson
Those Characters From Cleveland
Sachs, Finley Programming
Running time23 minutes
Original release
NetworkFirst-run syndication
ReleaseSeptember 4, 1990 (1990-09-04)

Barnyard Commandos is an action figure line created by toy designer James Groman for American Greetings Corporation and produced by Playmates Toys in 1989. A thirteen-episode French-American animated series was based on the figures the following year. Produced by Murakami-Wolf-Swenson and the French company IDDH. It features the vocal talents of S. Scott Bullock, Thom Bray, Pat Fraley, Paul Kreppel, John Mariano, Bob Ridgely, Lennie Weinrib, and Danny Wells. However, the series was not successful enough to merit further production of episodes.[1]

Plot

The property is based around the concept of farm animals who consumed radioactive materials left over from an abandoned military experiment, mutating them into hyper-intelligent, anthropomorphic paramilitary troops.[2] This consists of two "hilariously harmless" opposing teams: the R.A.M.S. (Rebel Army of Military Sheep) and the P.O.R.K.S. (Platoon of Rebel Killer Swine).

Revival

On June 19, 2020, it was announced CloudCo with partner Megalopolis Toys will make new Barnyard Commandos figures.[3]

Action figures

Two series of Barnyard Commandos were produced, each including several figures from both teams. Similar to Mattel's Food Fighters, the figures are non-poseable and made of soft, hollow plastic much like squeaky toys. They each include a weapon accessory that fastens onto the figure and a brief, humorous character description on the cardback.

Burger King also produced a series of tie-in toys as Kids' Meal premiums.

Series 1

R.A.M.S.

P.O.R.K.S.

  • General Hamfat Lardo
  • Private Side O'Bacon
  • Sergeant Shoat N. Sweet
  • Captain Tusker Chitlins

Series 2

R.A.M.S.

P.O.R.K.S.

  • Corporal Hy Ondahog
  • Staff Sergeant Blaster McBacon
  • Major Piggyback Gunner
  • Captain Hogg Wilde

Vehicles

  • Bacon Bomber
  • Pork Chopper
  • Pork-A-Pult
  • Ram Tank

Home video

Only four episodes of the series were released to four NTSC VHS tapes with one episode each.

  • Apple-Calypse Now
  • Back to the Farm
  • Treasure of Ram Pork Mountain
  • Ultimate Quest

References

  1. ^ Perlmutter, David (2018). The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 59–60. ISBN 978-1538103739.
  2. ^ Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. pp. 112–113. ISBN 978-1476665993.
  3. ^ "Deals of the Week: Justice, Blue Ant, 9 Story".