Sylvanian Families is a syndicated animated series based on the Sylvanian Families merchandising franchise developed by Epoch.[1] The series was produced in the United States by DIC Animation City with the animation being produced in Japan. It was first broadcast in 1987 in first-run syndication, with reruns on The CBN Family Channel in the late 1980s[2] and PAX TV during the late 1990s.[1]
Story
In a land called Sylvania, anthropomorphic animals called Sylvanians live and do normal lives. In each episode, a human child wishes that he or she could visit Sylvania when they have problems.
Dam Busters: 7-year-old Donny wishes that he was strong just like his big brother. In the Sylvanian world, he assists Preston and Grandpa Ernest with their new invention. Meanwhile, Packbat sends Gatorpossum to destroy a dam to flood the Sylvanians.
Outfoxing the Foxes: 6-year-old Joey wishes he was wise to other people's tricks. In the Sylvanian world, he helps the Wildwoods with their carrot picking, but Buster and Scarlett keep snatching them. Joey comes up with a plan to save the carrot vault from Packbat's plunder.
2
"Grace Under Pressure / Fraidy Cats"
Phil Harnage (Grace Under Pressure) Jim Lenahan (Fraidy Cats)
September 25, 1987 (1987-09-25)
Grace Under Pressure: 7-year-old Grace wishes she was less clumsy. In the Sylvanian world, she assists Myrtle and Ashley with both babysitting and mail delivery, while Packbat awaits to hinder their process.
Fraidy Cats: 6-year-old Maria wishes she were not afraid of the dark. In the Sylvanian world, she helps Daisy and Holly prepare for a party, but Gatorpossum captures them. Maria releases them and they all manage to thwart Packbat's plan to spoil the party.
The Bear Facts: 7-year-old Charlie is an amateur detective who wishes that he had something to investigate. In the Sylvanian world, he helps solve the mystery behind an acorn theft that Mayor Gruff is accused of.
Fool’s Gold: 7-year-old Penny wishes that she had treasure to give to her family. In the Sylvanian world, she goes on a scavenger hunt with Rusty and Grover in Packbat's house that ends with Grover being kidnapped. Penny helps find a treasure to give Packbat in exchange for Grover's release.
4
"Know It All / School Daze"
Steve Robertson and John Vornholt (Know It All) John Howard (School Daze)
October 9, 1987 (1987-10-09)
Know It All: 9-year-old Jack wishes people would stop telling him off. In the Sylvanian world, he helps Bud to thwart the Slydales' beehive theft, but Jack is pretty hasty. With some advice from Mrs. Timbertop, Jack and Bud put an end to the theft once and for all.
School Daze: 6-year-old Jonathan wishes never to go to school again. In the Sylvanian world, he plays hookey with Rusty and Lester. Packbat gets Buster to help destroy the school, but Mr. Thistlethorn thwarts the attempt.
5
"Double Trouble / Cooking Up Trouble"
Martha Moran (Double Trouble) Eleanor Burian-Mohr and Jack Hanrahan (Cooking Up Trouble)
October 16, 1987 (1987-10-16)
Double Trouble: 7-year-old Katie wishes she was happy again. In the Sylvanian world, she assists Ashley and Breezy with babysitting, but later Packbat kidnaps the lot of them. They all get loose and lead Packbat into a trap.
Cooking Up Trouble: 7-year-old Bridget wishes she could eat much sweet food. In the Sylvanian world, she assists Hollie and Rusty with Grandma Pearl's bad cooking, which Gatorpossum substitutes for himself trying to spoil the Ginger Festival.
6
"Daddy's Little Girl / Beauty and the Beast"
Phil Harnage
October 23, 1987 (1987-10-23)
Daddy’s Little Girl: 6-year-old Jessica thinks that her father doesn't love her anymore after her parents' divorce. In the Sylvanian world, she runs across the forest with Ashley’s father to cure Ashley and Skitter after they eat poisonous toadstools. When she attends Ashley's family picnic afterward, Jessica learns that people can love each other even when they're apart.
Beauty and the Beast: 8-year-old Lisa wishes she was beautiful. In the Sylvanian world, she goes with Rusty to the beauty contest, but Packbat captures her along with Rusty and Scarlett. After their escape, Lisa wins the beauty contest.
7
"The Wheel Thing / Muddy Waters"
Jean Ann Wright (The Wheel Thing) Steve Robertson and John Vornholt (Muddy Waters)
October 30, 1987 (1987-10-30)
The Wheel Thing: 7-year-old wheelchair bound Chrissie loves reading stories to her brother, but wishes she could go on her own adventure. In the Sylvanian world, Packbat is plotting to sneak through the golden door by disguising as Chrissie and stealing her wheelchair.
Muddy Waters: 8-year-old Robby never wants to bathe again. In the Sylvanian world, he helps Rusty stop the Slydales from contaminating the water with skunk cabbages.
8
"There's No Place Like Home / Tough Enough"
David Ehrman (There’s No Place Like Home) Antonio G. Ortiz and Carmella Ortiz (Tough Enough)
November 6, 1987 (1987-11-06)
There's No Place Like Home: 7-year-old Sara wishes that her mother could stay home more often instead of working so much. In the Sylvanian world, she goes camping with Ashley and Breezy and all of them get lost. When Ashley and Breezy's mothers rescue them, Jessica realizes how much working mothers can love their children.
Tough Enough: 7-year-old Sid thinks it is fun to pick on his little brother when he was sent to bed very early. In the Sylvanian world, he learns a lesson in humility when he teams up with Buster and Packbat to dig a trench at the river.
9
"Hip to Be Bear / Feud for Thought"
Eleanor Burian-Mohr and Jack Hanrahan (Hip to Be Bear) Martha Moran (Feud for Thought)
November 13, 1987 (1987-11-13)
Hip to Be Bear: 6-year-old Jamie wishes his grandparents were "cooler". In the Sylvanian world, he helps the Evergreens rescue Dusty and Poppy from Gatorpossum.
Feud for Thought: 7-year-old Tracy wishes she had a perfect family. In the Sylvanian world, she helps Rusty Wildwood with his grandparents' anniversary party, but it doesn't go as planned.
10
"Stand by Your Dad / My Brother's Keeper"
Temple Mathews (Stand by Your Dad) Lisa Maliani (My Brother’s Keeper)
November 20, 1987 (1987-11-20)
Stand By Your Dad: 7-year-old Diane (Di for short) wishes that her father wasn't a garbageman. In the Sylvanian world, she helps Preston save the recycling center from being destroyed by Packbat and Gatorpossum.
My Brother’s Keeper: 7-year-olds Susan and Jerry are siblings who are constantly fighting. In the Sylvanian world, they learn to put aside their differences and stop an avalanche created by Packbat.
11
"Boy's Intuition / Here Come the Brides"
Brynne Stephens (Boy's Intuition) Eleanor Burian-Mohr and Jack Hanrahan (Here Come the Brides)
November 27, 1987 (1987-11-27)
Boy's Intuition: 8-year-old Mikey wishes that other boys would stop calling him a sissy because he likes to babysit and play with dolls. In the Sylvanian world, he helps prevent Buster's siblings from being kidnapped by Packbat and Gatorpossum.
Here Come the Brides: 7-year-old Lori worries about her mother remarrying. In the Sylvanian world, she helps the families with a double wedding, which Packbat is plotting to stop.
12
"Founders Keepers / Little Ms. Woodkeeper"
Phil Harnage
December 4, 1987 (1987-12-04)
Founders Keepers: 8-year-old Andy wishes that someone would tell him a good bedtime story. In the Sylvanian world, he goes to the Founders' Day campout and hears a story about the first settlers of the Sylvanian Forest.
Little Ms. Woodkeeper: 8-year-old Deborah wishes that she could be the next Woodkeeper and do something exciting. In the Sylvanian world, she helps destroy a makeshift dam that Packbat has built at the top of a waterfall.
13
"Hoppily Ever After / Really Amelia"
Eleanor Burian-Mohr and Jack Hanrahan (Hoppily Ever After) Steve Robertson and John Vornholt (Really Amelia)
December 11, 1987 (1987-12-11)
Hoppily Ever After: 8-year-old Evan is an only child, whose father is fixing to marry a woman who has two children of her own. In the Sylvanian world, he helps the families after Packbat and Gatorpossum steal their wedding feast.
Really Amelia: 7-year-old Amelia wishes that she was a hero like her namesake Amelia Earhart. In the Sylvanian world, she helps Preston save the crops by piloting his plane and using it to scare away Packbat.
Home media
Golden Book Video, in association with DIC Video, released three VHS tapes of the series in the United States in 1988. Two of the tapes contained three segments, while the other one contained five.
In the United Kingdom, MSD Video and Abbey Home Entertainment released many tapes of the series throughout the 80's and 90's. One of the tapes was known as Sylvanian Families: The Movie, which despite the name, just featured segments edited together to form a film.
In February 2004, Sterling Entertainment released two VHS/DVD's, titled The Big Adventure and Hoppily Ever After, each containing 3 episodes (6 segments). An extra segment was included on the DVD versions. The first segment from episode 3: "The Bear Facts" was also included on the Care Bears: To The Rescue DVD from the same company a year prior. The Big Adventure was reissued by NCircle Entertainment in 2008.
In May 2004, Maximum Entertainment released a DVD in the United Kingdom that contained the first 5 episodes of the series. This DVD was reissued in 2007, and again in 2009 by Lace DVD.
In Australia in 2010, Magna Home Entertainment released a 2-disc set containing all 13 episodes of the series.
References
^ abcdefghijklmnopqrstErickson, Hal (2005). "The Sylvanian Families". Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949–2003. Vol. 2 (M–Z). McFarland & Company. p. 819.
^"Daytime listings". The News-Messenger. 1989-09-22. p. 23. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
^Damian Inwood. "Pi Theatre, Independent Vancouver Theatre >> The Baroness and the Pig". Archived from the original on April 25, 2012. Retrieved October 30, 2011. That's what Vancouver actresses Diane Brown and Tabitha St. Germain do with the delightful black comedy, The Baroness and the Pig. (...) St. Germain – better known to Vancouver audiences as Paulina Gillis – plays the Baroness as a naïve gentlewoman, full of prissy mannerisms and twittering, bird-like movements.
.png)
