Widget the World Watcher
| Widget | |
|---|---|
Widget
|
|
| Genre | Animated comedy |
| Created by | Peter Keefe |
| Directed by | Tom Burton |
| Presented by |
Calico Creations Zodiac Entertainment |
| Voices of |
Russi Taylor Jim Cummings Kath Soucie Dana Hill |
| Theme music composer | Dale Schacker |
| Country of origin | United States, South Korea |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 65 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Peter Keefe |
| Producer(s) | Tom Burton |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Release | |
| Original network | Syndication, USA Network |
| Picture format | Color |
| First shown in | 1990 |
| Original release | 29 September 1990 – 19 December 1992 |
Widget also known as Widget, the World Watcher is an animated television series which debuted in syndication on September 29, 1990. The series ran for three seasons; in the first season (1990), it aired once a week (usually on Saturday or Sunday), and in the second season (1991), the series expanded to 5 days a week (Monday-Friday). The show featured environmentalist themes and was recognized by the National Education Association as recommended viewing for children.
The show focused on a 4-foot-tall (1.2 m), purple extraterrestrial from a planet within the Horsehead Nebula named Widget who could shapeshift (usually by spinning like a top into different forms, in early episodes he seems to still be getting used to his power). He and a group of young, human friends; brothers, Kevin, Brian and their teenage sister Kristine, would go through a number of adventures to protect the natural environment from those who wish to plunder or harm it. Later on they were joined by (fellow shapeshifter) Half-Pint, Widget's mischievous, overly-curious, hyperactive cousin. Widget is frequently accompanied by the Mega Brain, an extremely intelligent but somewhat clumsy being who appears as a floating head (with a transparent cranium) and floating hands.
The show was produced by Calico Creations to teach children about the dangers of pollution. Each episode would have Widget contending with a villain from either Earth or outer space wishing to exploit Earth's environment or natural resources, like Dr. Dante, Mega Slank, and his evil twin, Ratchet. In this respect, Widget, the World Watcher is very similar to Captain Planet and the Planeteers and Toxic Crusaders, as all those heroes attempt to save the Earth from ecological disaster. Even occasionally, combatting an entity/being created/mutated from copious pollution. For example, in one episode Widget battled a fellow shapeshifter; a sentient but hostile life form, disguised as a toxic ooze/slick, who was contaminating Earth's beaches and oceans.
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