Sylvanian Families (1987 TV series)

Sylvanian Families (animated series)

Company type	Television series
Industry	Animation
Founded	1987
Headquarters	United States
Products	Animated television series
Parent	DIC Animation City

Sylvanian Families is an animated series from 1987, created for syndication and inspired by the Sylvanian Families toy line developed by Epoch. The production was handled in the United States by DIC Animation City, with the animation work subcontracted to Japanese studios. Initially broadcast through first-run syndication, the show was later rebroadcast on The CBN Family Channel in the late 1980s and subsequently on PAX TV during the late 1990s.

Story

The narrative unfolds in the fictional land of Sylvania, where anthropomorphic animal characters called Sylvanians lead their daily lives. Each installment focuses on a human child facing personal difficulties who longs to visit Sylvania.

Voice cast

• Frank Proctor – Woodkeeper
• Len Carlson – Packbat / Wade Waters / Cliff Babblebrook / Rocky Babblebrook
• John Stocker – Gatorpossum / Grandpa Smoky Wildwood / Gruff Timpertop / Taylor Timbertop / Chester Thistlethorn
• Michael Fantini – Preston Evergreen
• Jeri Craden – Mama Honeysuckle Evergreen
• Thick Wilson – Grandpa Ernest Evergreen
• Ellen-Ray Hennessy – Grandma Primrose Evergreen
• Noam Zylberman – Rusty Wildwood
• Catherine Gallant – Hollie Wildwood
• Jeremiah McCann – Buster Slydale
• Lisa Coristine – Scarlette Slydale
• Brian Belfry – Papa Slick Slydale
• Diane Fabian – Mama Velvette Slydale / Grandma Flora Wildwood / Mama Ginger Wildwood
• Tabitha St. Germain (credited as Paulina Gillis) – Ashley Evergreen
• Chuck Shamata – Forrest Evergreen
• Tara Strong (uncredited) – Bridget (debut role)
• Cree Summer (uncredited) – Donny, Jessica
• Kerry Shale (uncredited) – Papa Herb Wildwood
• Marla Lukofsky (uncredited) – Jerry, Tracy, Prissy Thistlethorn, Willow

Characters

Protagonists

• The Evergreens (Bears): Forrest, Honeysuckle, Ernest, Primrose, Preston, Ashley, Dusty, Poppy
• The Babblebrooks (Rabbits): Rocky, Crystal, Cliff, Pearl, Bubba, Breezy, Sandy, Coral
• The Thistlethorns (Mice): Chester, Willow, Lester, Prissy, Barry, Heather
• The Chestnuts (Raccoons): Durwood, Pansy, Grover, Myrtle, Hoss, Charity
• The Wildwoods (Rabbits): Herb, Ginger, Smokey, Flora, Rusty, Hollie, Barkley, Juniper
• The Slydales (Foxes): Slick, Velvette, Buster, Scarlett, Skitter, Lindy
• The Timbertops (Bears): Taylor, Rose, Gruff, Fern, Bud, Daisy, Burl, Blossom
• The Waters (Beavers): Wade, Nancy, Roger, Misty, Bucky, Bubbles
• The Windwards (Rabbits): Hickory and Lily
• The Sweetwaters (Bears): Morris and Kelsey

Antagonists

• Packbat
• Gatorpossum (assistant to Packbat)
• The Slydales

Humans

• The Woodkeeper

Children characters

Donny, Joey, Grace, Maria, Charlie, Penny, Jack, Jonathan, Katie, Bridget, Jessica, Lisa, Chrissie, Robby, Sara, Sid, Jamie, Tracy, Diane (Di), Jerry & Susan, Mikey, Lori, Andy, Debra, Evan, Amelia.

Episodes

Nº	Title	Written by	Air date Home media In 1988, three VHS tapes of the series were launched in the United States by Golden Book Video and DIC Video, with two of these tapes containing three segments each and one featuring five segments. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s in the United Kingdom, MSD Video and Abbey Home Entertainment distributed a variety of tapes, including Sylvanian Families: The Movie, which presented multiple segments combined into a single feature-length presentation. Sterling Entertainment released two VHS tapes and DVDs in February 2004 titled The Big Adventure and Hoppily Ever After, each comprising three episodes (six segments), along with an additional segment included on the DVD versions. The segment "The Bear Facts" was also part of Sterling's 2003 Care Bears: To The Rescue DVD. In 2008, NCircle Entertainment re-released The Big Adventure. A UK DVD containing the first five episodes was issued by Maximum Entertainment in May 2004, followed by reissues from Lace DVD in 2007 and 2009. In Australia, Magna Home Entertainment released a complete two-disc collection featuring all 13 episodes in 2010.