"Crusader Rabbit" (1949) TV series 1949-1957

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Creators:

Alexander Anderson
Jay Ward

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3

Release Date:

1 September 1949 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Family | Comedy

Plot Keywords:

Character Name In Title

Cast

Vern Louden	...	Ragland T. Tiger / ... (23 episodes, 1950-1957)
Roy Whaley	...	Narrator / ... (23 episodes, 1950-1957)
Russ Coughlan	...	Dudley Nightshade / ... (16 episodes, 1950-1957)
GeGe Pearson	...	Crusader Rabbit / ... (13 episodes, 1957)
Lucille Bliss	...	Crusader Rabbit (10 episodes, 1950-1952)

Also Known As:

"Crusader Rabbit" (USA) (syndication title)

Runtime:

5 min (455 episodes) | 60 min (13 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White (1949) | Color (1957)

Filming Locations:

111 Sutter Street, San Francisco, California, USA

Company:

Creston Studios

Trivia:

This was producer Jay Ward's first animated series and the first made-for-television cartoon series, but since it was sold city by city, and not directly to a network it isn't always recognized as the first animated TV-series, despite being broadcast in 1949, earlier than any other animated TV-series.

First Made for TV Cartoon Series set High Standards

Okay, no one would ever claim that CRUSADER Rabbit (or any made for TV animation) was anything to compare to SNOW WHITE or FANTASIA. The economics of the situation wouldn't allow for that. The animation on these TV cartoons was as good as it had to be, not any better. Someone once dubbed them "Illustrated Radio".

CRUSADER RABBIT did set a high standard, though for the story line and format.One can see how a blueprint for future series emerged from the first story. Take colorful "funny animal" characters with memorable names. Put them into a serialized adventure story. Add plenty of humorous situations and other characters, often with names which are a play on well known people or places in the real world. Finally, use a lot of "in" jokes and humor to please older folks, not off color you understand, but on a level that the kids won't usually understand.

With CRUSADER as with so many characters since, the kids follow the story line and the adults appreciate the humor.

I'm still a fan after over a half a century.