"Return to the Planet of the Apes" (1975) TV series 1975-1976

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

6 September 1975 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Adventure | Sci-Fi

Plot:

While on a mission, three astronauts in their space ship get caught in a time vortex. They return to Earth in the year A.D. 3979 and discover that intelligent apes are now the highest form of life.

Plot Keywords:

Astronaut | Based On Film | Chimpanzee | Gorilla | Simian Fiction

Cast

Austin Stoker	...	Jeff Allen (13 episodes, 1975)
Philippa Harris	...	Dr. Zira (13 episodes, 1975)
Henry Corden	...	General Urko (13 episodes, 1975)
Richard Blackburn	...	Dr. Zaius (13 episodes, 1975)
Edwin Mills	...	Dr. Cornelius (13 episodes, 1975)
Claudette Nevins	...	Nova / ... (13 episodes, 1975)
Tom Williams	...	Bill Hudson (13 episodes, 1975)

Series Directed by
Doug Wildey		(13 episodes, 1975)

Series Writing credits
Pierre Boulle		(13 episodes, 1975)
David H. DePatie		(13 episodes, 1975)
Friz Freleng		(13 episodes, 1975)
Larry Spiegel		(6 episodes, 1975)
John Barrett		(3 episodes, 1975)
Jack Kaplan		(3 episodes, 1975)
Bruce Shelly		(2 episodes, 1975)
John Strong		(2 episodes, 1975)

Series Produced by
David H. DePatie	....	producer (13 episodes, 1975)
Friz Freleng	....	producer (13 episodes, 1975)
Doug Wildey	....	associate producer (13 episodes, 1975)

Series Original Music by
Dean Elliott		(13 episodes, 1975)

Series Film Editing by
Allan R. Potter		(13 episodes, 1975)
Rick Steward		(13 episodes, 1975)

Series Production Management
Lee Gunther	....	in charge of production (13 episodes, 1975)

Series Art Department
John Dorman	....	graphic designer (13 episodes, 1975)
Hak Ficq	....	graphic designer (13 episodes, 1975)
Moe Gollub	....	graphic designer / storyboard director (13 episodes, 1975)
Jan Green	....	storyboard director (13 episodes, 1975)
Zygamond Jablecki	....	graphic designer (13 episodes, 1975)
Earl Martin	....	graphic designer (13 episodes, 1975)
John Messina	....	graphic designer (13 episodes, 1975)
Norly Paat	....	graphic designer (13 episodes, 1975)
Tony Sgroi	....	graphic designer (13 episodes, 1975)
Leo Swenson	....	graphic designer (13 episodes, 1975)
George Wheeler	....	graphic designer (13 episodes, 1975)
Doug Wildey	....	storyboard director (13 episodes, 1975)

Series Sound Department
Steve Orr	....	production mixer (13 episodes, 1975)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
John Burton Jr.	....	camera operator (13 episodes, 1975)
Larry Hogan	....	camera operator (13 episodes, 1975)
Ray Lee	....	camera operator (13 episodes, 1975)

Series Animation Department
Edwin Aardal	....	animator (13 episodes, 1975)
Cullen Blaine	....	animation director (13 episodes, 1975)
Jim Brummett	....	animator (13 episodes, 1975)
Jack Foster	....	animator (13 episodes, 1975)
Lee Halpern	....	animator (13 episodes, 1975)
Bob Kirk	....	animator (13 episodes, 1975)
Greg Marshall	....	xerographer (13 episodes, 1975)
Mary O'Loughlin	....	background artist (13 episodes, 1975)
Joe Roman	....	animator (13 episodes, 1975)
Janice Stocks	....	animator (13 episodes, 1975)
Richard H. Thomas	....	background supervisor (13 episodes, 1975)
Gertrude Timmins	....	ink and paint supervisor (13 episodes, 1975)
Reuben Timmins	....	animator (13 episodes, 1975)
Don Watson	....	background artist (13 episodes, 1975)
Bob Richardson	....	lead animator (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
Robert T. Gillis	....	editing supervisor (13 episodes, 1975)

Series Music Department
Eric Rogers	....	conductor (13 episodes, 1975)
Joe Siracusa	....	music editor (13 episodes, 1975)
Eric Tomlinson	....	music mixer (13 episodes, 1975)

Series Other crew
MacDonald Stearns	....	anthropological dialogue researcher: UCLA Department of Germanic Languages (13 episodes, 1975)

Production Companies

• DePatie-Freleng Enterprises (DFE)
• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Distributors

• 20th Century Fox Television (1975) (USA) (all media)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1975-1976) (USA) (TV)

Other Companies

• Producers' Sound Service  sound by (as Producers' Sound Service, Inc.)

Runtime:

USA:24 min (13 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Company:

DePatie-Freleng Enterprises (DFE)

Trivia:

Ted Knight did the voiceover in the opening credits for this show.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "House M.D.: Don't Ever Change (#4.12)" (2008)

A Fine Sequel

This was a great cartoon series (for its time) and a fine sequel to the original series. As in the original novel by Pierre Boulle, the apes have a technologically advanced society, with tv, radio, and self-propelled vehicles. The episodes were generally exciting and well written. Unlike most cartoon series, the characters evolved as the series progressed. There were continuity links to previous episodes. The art direction was outstanding; a given as it was handled by Doug Wildey, creator of Jonny Quest.

If there is a fault with the series, aside from some of the dialogue, it was the voice acting. It often came across as flat and emotionless. But, the plots often made up for this flaw. It was certainly the equal of the live tv series; better in some ways, as it wasn't constrained by construction budgets. They could realize an advanced world, without having to build the sets.

This is definitely worth seeing if you are a fan of the Ape series. Now, if only it would be released, officially, on DVD.