Yogi the Easter Bear
Encyclopedia
Yogi the Easter Bear is an animated
TV special
from Hanna-Barbera
first aired on syndication on April 3, 1994 starring Yogi Bear
. This was the last time Don Messick
voiced both Boo Boo and Ranger Smith
(his last being Arabian Nights
which was also first aired in 1994). Messick died in 1997.
is nervous. His boss the Supreme Commissioner (portrayed as a strict military-type general, with a physical appearance similar to Smith's original appearance on The Huckleberry Hound Show) is attending Jellystone Park with his two grandchildren that intend to participate in the park's annual Easter celebration. Concerned about making sure the event goes off perfectly, Ranger Smith picks out an Easter Bunny
suit and orders a truckload of candy for the celebration. He then proceeds to threaten Yogi with deportation
to Siberia
if he disobeys the Ranger's orders. Ranger Smith then asks his guard, Mortimer, to watch over the Easter candy truck. Mortimer, however, is legally blind. Undaunted by Smith's threats, Yogi steals the Easter Bunny outfit and dupes Mortimer into thinking he is the real Easter Bunny. Mortimer is fooled, and Yogi helps himself to the entire truck.
Ranger Smith is furious, but Boo Boo
offers to find the real Easter Bunny to fix things. Ranger Smith is struck by Boo Boo's kind offer but is unbelieving; nevertheless, he accepts Boo Boo's offer. Yogi and Boo Boo seek out the Grand Grizzly in the mountain to see if he knows anything about the Easter Bunny's whereabouts (everyone knows where Santa Claus lives, but nobody knows where the Easter Bunny lives). After the Grand Grizzly ends a rant about not being able to hook up his cable and get Wheel of Fortune
on his old-style AM radio, he instructs the two to seek the "big ears in the sky," which turn out to be a geologic formation similar to Rabbit Ears Pass
although smaller and green. They climb the mountain only to find that the Easter Bunny has been kidnapped.
Behind the kidnapping is a diminutive and deranged corporate executive named Paulie, hellbent on replacing all of the world's Easter egg
s with plastic
ones, and a massive but dim-witted sidekick named Ernest, who Paulie hired as a spokesperson and is always seen in a yellow bunny suit. Yogi and Boo Boo follow a trail of jelly bean
s to the executive's factory, where the Easter Bunny is being held captive above a vat of molten plastic. Posing as health inspectors, Yogi and Boo Boo successfully free the Easter Bunny only to find that his supplier, Millicent the Magical Easter Chicken, is the real source of the Easter eggs. Paulie hears wind of the plot, and a race to reach the chicken commences. However, the chicken's tough-as-nails guard dog
refuses to let anyone near the chicken's domicile, except for the costumed Ernest, who the dog mistakes for the real Easter Bunny. Yogi and Boo Boo, after using a giant slingshot
to crash through the henhouse's roof, abduct the chicken and escape for Jellystone Park before Ernest can reach the henhouse. A madcap chase after the chicken begins, with the Easter Bunny getting injured (usually by falling off a cliff) at least three times.
Meanwhile, back at Jellystone Park, Ranger Smith is trying in vain to impress the crowd at the Easter celebration, which has no candy and no Easter Bunny. The stunts he tries either are ridiculously lame or fail spectacularly, and the boss's children show no response but a few sarcastic claps and a stern look. The boss is on the verge of firing Ranger Smith when the Easter Bunny (miraculously healed of his injuries), Millicent the Chicken, Yogi and Boo Boo conveniently fall in to save the day. The boss changes his mind and instead promotes Ranger Smith, and Ranger Smith apologizes to Boo Boo for not believing in the Easter Bunny.
released Yogi the Easter Bear on DVD in Region 1 on February 8, 2005. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006FO5MS The special was re-released together with the 2010 film Yogi Bear
in a limited DVD double pack on March 22, 2011.
Animation
Animation is the rapid display of a sequence of images of 2-D or 3-D artwork or model positions in order to create an illusion of movement. The effect is an optical illusion of motion due to the phenomenon of persistence of vision, and can be created and demonstrated in several ways...
TV special
Television special
A television special is a television program which interrupts or temporarily replaces programming normally scheduled for a given time slot. Sometimes, however, the term is given to a telecast of a theatrical film, such as The Wizard of Oz or The Ten Commandments, which is not part of a regular...
from Hanna-Barbera
Hanna-Barbera
Hanna-Barbera Productions, Inc. was an American animation studio that dominated North American television animation during the second half of the 20th century...
first aired on syndication on April 3, 1994 starring Yogi Bear
Yogi Bear
Yogi Bear is a fictional bear who appears in animated cartoons created by Hanna-Barbera Productions. He made his debut in 1958 as a supporting character in The Huckleberry Hound Show. Yogi Bear was the first breakout character created by Hanna-Barbera, and was eventually more popular than...
. This was the last time Don Messick
Don Messick
Donald Earl "Don" Messick was an American voice actor best known for his work for Hanna-Barbera. Perhaps his most well-known voice creations include Scooby-Doo, Papa Smurf, and Dr. Benton Quest....
voiced both Boo Boo and Ranger Smith
Ranger Smith
Ranger John Francis Smith is a fictional character in the Yogi Bear cartoon series.-Character:A former US Army soldier, he is the serious and stern authority figure in Jellystone Park, in contrast to the antics of the troublesome Yogi, and he greatly disapproves of Yogi's picnic basket thievery.In...
(his last being Arabian Nights
Scooby-Doo in Arabian Nights
Arabian Nights is a 1994 television special produced by Hanna-Barbera and premiered on syndication on September 3, 1994. It is animated with bright colors, stylized character designs and a flater style to the previous television movies, and musically scored by veteran animation composer Steven...
which was also first aired in 1994). Messick died in 1997.
Plot
Ranger SmithRanger Smith
Ranger John Francis Smith is a fictional character in the Yogi Bear cartoon series.-Character:A former US Army soldier, he is the serious and stern authority figure in Jellystone Park, in contrast to the antics of the troublesome Yogi, and he greatly disapproves of Yogi's picnic basket thievery.In...
is nervous. His boss the Supreme Commissioner (portrayed as a strict military-type general, with a physical appearance similar to Smith's original appearance on The Huckleberry Hound Show) is attending Jellystone Park with his two grandchildren that intend to participate in the park's annual Easter celebration. Concerned about making sure the event goes off perfectly, Ranger Smith picks out an Easter Bunny
Easter Bunny
The Easter Bunny or Easter Rabbit is a character depicted as a rabbit bringing Easter eggs, who sometimes is depicted with clothes...
suit and orders a truckload of candy for the celebration. He then proceeds to threaten Yogi with deportation
Deportation
Deportation means the expulsion of a person or group of people from a place or country. Today it often refers to the expulsion of foreign nationals whereas the expulsion of nationals is called banishment, exile, or penal transportation...
to Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
if he disobeys the Ranger's orders. Ranger Smith then asks his guard, Mortimer, to watch over the Easter candy truck. Mortimer, however, is legally blind. Undaunted by Smith's threats, Yogi steals the Easter Bunny outfit and dupes Mortimer into thinking he is the real Easter Bunny. Mortimer is fooled, and Yogi helps himself to the entire truck.
Ranger Smith is furious, but Boo Boo
Boo Boo (Yogi Bear)
Boo-Boo Bear is a Hanna-Barbera cartoon character on The Yogi Bear Show. Boo-Boo is an anthropomorphic bear cub in a bow tie, who is a friend to Yogi Bear. Boo-Boo often acts as Yogi Bear's conscience. He tries to keep Yogi from doing things he should not do, and also to keep Yogi from getting...
offers to find the real Easter Bunny to fix things. Ranger Smith is struck by Boo Boo's kind offer but is unbelieving; nevertheless, he accepts Boo Boo's offer. Yogi and Boo Boo seek out the Grand Grizzly in the mountain to see if he knows anything about the Easter Bunny's whereabouts (everyone knows where Santa Claus lives, but nobody knows where the Easter Bunny lives). After the Grand Grizzly ends a rant about not being able to hook up his cable and get Wheel of Fortune
Wheel of Fortune (U.S. game show)
Wheel of Fortune is an American television game show created by Merv Griffin, which premiered in 1975. Contestants compete to solve word puzzles, similar to those used in Hangman, to win cash and prizes determined by spinning a large wheel. The title refers to the show's giant carnival wheel that...
on his old-style AM radio, he instructs the two to seek the "big ears in the sky," which turn out to be a geologic formation similar to Rabbit Ears Pass
Rabbit Ears Pass
Rabbit Ears Pass is a high mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of northern Colorado in the United States.The pass straddles the continental divide at the southern end of the Park Range along the boundary between Grand and Jackson counties...
although smaller and green. They climb the mountain only to find that the Easter Bunny has been kidnapped.
Behind the kidnapping is a diminutive and deranged corporate executive named Paulie, hellbent on replacing all of the world's Easter egg
Easter egg
Easter eggs are special eggs that are often given to celebrate Easter or springtime.The oldest tradition is to use dyed or painted chicken eggs, but a modern custom is to substitute chocolate eggs, or plastic eggs filled with confectionery such as jelly beans...
s with plastic
Plastic
A plastic material is any of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic solids used in the manufacture of industrial products. Plastics are typically polymers of high molecular mass, and may contain other substances to improve performance and/or reduce production costs...
ones, and a massive but dim-witted sidekick named Ernest, who Paulie hired as a spokesperson and is always seen in a yellow bunny suit. Yogi and Boo Boo follow a trail of jelly bean
Jelly bean
Jelly beans are a small bean-shaped type of confectionery with a hard candy shell and a gummy interior which come in a wide variety of flavors. The confection is primarily made of sugar.-History:...
s to the executive's factory, where the Easter Bunny is being held captive above a vat of molten plastic. Posing as health inspectors, Yogi and Boo Boo successfully free the Easter Bunny only to find that his supplier, Millicent the Magical Easter Chicken, is the real source of the Easter eggs. Paulie hears wind of the plot, and a race to reach the chicken commences. However, the chicken's tough-as-nails guard dog
Guard dog
A guard dog, an attack dog or watch dog is a dog used to guard against, and watch for, unwanted or unexpected people or animals. The dog is discriminating so that it does not annoy or attack familiar people.-Barking:...
refuses to let anyone near the chicken's domicile, except for the costumed Ernest, who the dog mistakes for the real Easter Bunny. Yogi and Boo Boo, after using a giant slingshot
Slingshot
A slingshot, shanghai, flip, bean shooter or catapult is a small hand-powered projectile weapon. The classic form consists of a Y-shaped frame held in the off hand, with two rubber strips attached to the uprights. The other ends of the strips lead back to a pocket which holds the projectile...
to crash through the henhouse's roof, abduct the chicken and escape for Jellystone Park before Ernest can reach the henhouse. A madcap chase after the chicken begins, with the Easter Bunny getting injured (usually by falling off a cliff) at least three times.
Meanwhile, back at Jellystone Park, Ranger Smith is trying in vain to impress the crowd at the Easter celebration, which has no candy and no Easter Bunny. The stunts he tries either are ridiculously lame or fail spectacularly, and the boss's children show no response but a few sarcastic claps and a stern look. The boss is on the verge of firing Ranger Smith when the Easter Bunny (miraculously healed of his injuries), Millicent the Chicken, Yogi and Boo Boo conveniently fall in to save the day. The boss changes his mind and instead promotes Ranger Smith, and Ranger Smith apologizes to Boo Boo for not believing in the Easter Bunny.
Cast
- Greg BursonGreg Burson-Biography:Greg Burson was given the responsibility of voicing Bugs Bunny in the 1995 Carrotblanca, a well-received 8-minute Looney Tunes cartoon originally shown in cinemas alongside The Amazing Panda Adventure and The Pebble and the Penguin...
- Yogi BearYogi BearYogi Bear is a fictional bear who appears in animated cartoons created by Hanna-Barbera Productions. He made his debut in 1958 as a supporting character in The Huckleberry Hound Show. Yogi Bear was the first breakout character created by Hanna-Barbera, and was eventually more popular than... - Don MessickDon MessickDonald Earl "Don" Messick was an American voice actor best known for his work for Hanna-Barbera. Perhaps his most well-known voice creations include Scooby-Doo, Papa Smurf, and Dr. Benton Quest....
- Boo Boo BearBoo Boo (Yogi Bear)Boo-Boo Bear is a Hanna-Barbera cartoon character on The Yogi Bear Show. Boo-Boo is an anthropomorphic bear cub in a bow tie, who is a friend to Yogi Bear. Boo-Boo often acts as Yogi Bear's conscience. He tries to keep Yogi from doing things he should not do, and also to keep Yogi from getting...
, Ranger SmithRanger SmithRanger John Francis Smith is a fictional character in the Yogi Bear cartoon series.-Character:A former US Army soldier, he is the serious and stern authority figure in Jellystone Park, in contrast to the antics of the troublesome Yogi, and he greatly disapproves of Yogi's picnic basket thievery.In... - Charlie AdlerCharles Adler (voice actor)Charles Michael "Charlie" Adler is an American voice actor and voice director. His most famous voice credits include The Smurfs, Brandy and Mr. Whiskers, Tiny Toon Adventures, SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron, Cow and Chicken, Aaahh!!! Real Monsters, I Am Weasel and Rocko's Modern Life...
- Paulie - Gregg BergerGregg BergerGreggory "Gregg" Berger is an American voice actor, who is known for his longtime role as Odie the dog from the Garfield franchise...
- Clarence - Marsha ClarkMarsha ClarkMarsha Clark is an American actress, best known for her roles in soap operas, including the second Hillary Bauer on Guiding Light, the third Tina Lord on One Life to Live and Judge Karen Fitzpatrick on Days of our Lives...
- Female Ranger - Jeff DoucetteJeff DoucetteJeff Doucette is an American television and film actor. Doucette has appeared in over 92 films and television series which include Bedazzled, That '70s Show, Malcolm in the Middle, Murphy Brown, Invasion, "Gilmore Girls", Desperate Housewives, Newhart, Little House on the Prairie, Highway To...
- Ernest - Ed Gilbert - Guard Dog
- Rob PaulsenRob PaulsenRobert Fredrick "Rob" Paulsen III , sometimes credited as Rob Paulson, is an American voice actor, best known as the voice behind Raphael from the 1987 cartoon of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Yakko Warner and Dr...
- Easter BunnyEaster BunnyThe Easter Bunny or Easter Rabbit is a character depicted as a rabbit bringing Easter eggs, who sometimes is depicted with clothes...
, Male Ranger - Jonathan WintersJonathan Winters-Early life:Winters was born in Bellbrook, Ohio, the son of Alice Kilgore , a radio personality, and Jonathan Harshman Winters II, an investment broker. He is a descendant of Valentine Winters, founder of the Winters National Bank in Dayton, Ohio...
- Ranger Mortimer
Home Media releases
Warner Home VideoWarner Home Video
Warner Home Video is the home video unit of Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., itself part of Time Warner. It was founded in 1978 as WCI Home Video . The company launched in the United States with twenty films on VHS and Betamax videocassettes in late 1979...
released Yogi the Easter Bear on DVD in Region 1 on February 8, 2005. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006FO5MS The special was re-released together with the 2010 film Yogi Bear
Yogi Bear (film)
Yogi Bear is a 2010 American live-action film adaptation of the Hanna-Barbera cartoon series The Yogi Bear Show directed by Eric Brevig. The film stars Dan Aykroyd, Justin Timberlake, Tom Cavanagh, Anna Faris, T. J. Miller, Nate Corddry, and Andrew Daly....
in a limited DVD double pack on March 22, 2011.
External links
- Yogi the Easter Bear at The Internet Movie Database