The Oz Kids is an American animated fantasy comedy-drama television series produced by Hyperion Animation based on The Wizard of Oz, L. Frank Baum's 1900 children's novel, and its various sequels. The series premiered on September 14, 1996, on ABC. 26 episodes were produced.[1]
The Oz Kids | |
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Also known as | Little Wizard Stories |
Genre | Adventure Comedy drama Fantasy Serial |
Created by | Willard Carroll |
Starring | Julianne Michelle Eric Lloyd Shay Astar |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 1 |
No. of episodes | 26 (only 9 were released) |
Production | |
Producers | Willard Carroll Thomas L. Wilhite John Bush |
Running time | 23 minutes (per episode) 40–89 minutes (per VHS) |
Production companies | Hyperion Animation Meldac Canal + D.A. Wang Film Productions |
Release | |
Original network | ABC (1996) Direct-to-video (1996–1997) |
Picture format | NTSC |
Audio format | Dolby Surround |
Original release | September 14 (1996-09-14) – November 9, 1996 (1996-11-09) |
The two main characters of this series are both human: Dot and Neddie (the children of Dorothy and Zeb). The minor characters are Boris and Bela (the children of the Cowardly Lion), Tin Boy (the son of the Tin Woodman), Scarecrow Jr. (the son of the original Scarecrow), Jack Pumpkinhead Jr. (the son of the original Jack Pumpkinhead), Frank, (the son of the Wizard), and Andrea, (the daughter of Glinda).
From October 1996 to March 1997, some episodes of The Oz Kids were released in the form of nine VHSs by Paramount Home Video.
No. | Title | Summary | Release Date |
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1 | Toto, Lost in New York | Andrea, daughter of Glinda, who dresses like Ozma, accidentally sends Toto to New York in a hot air balloon made by Frank. 8-year-old Kansas farm girl Dot Hugson, the leader of the Oz Kids, her 5-year-old brother Neddie Hugson and the other kids (Scarecrow Jr., Tin Boy, Boris, Bela, Jack Pumpkinhead Jr. and Frank) must follow the course set by Frank's computer to take them to him. When they arrive, their balloon is trashed, and they meet Rick, a homeless man who has adopted Toto. The strange appearance of some of the kids keeps plans to return from going smoothly, but are affected much more so by a clash of cultures. | September 14, 1996 (TV) October 1, 1996 (VHS) |
2 | The Nome Prince and the Magic Belt | Prince Otto finds one of Nome King's 1908 tunnels under Oz to the Emerald City. Boris accidentally opens a box that holds Dot's beloved magic belt. While the kids try to keep their parents from finding out what happened, Otto steals the belt and turns all of the Oz Kids except Dot into glass figurines. It's up to Dot to save her friends, get her Magic Belt back, and get back to the Emerald City before their parents find out!
Note: Andrea is mentioned but not appear in this episode. |
September 21, 1996 (TV) October 1, 1996 (VHS) |
3 | Underground Adventure | An earthquake stirs up yet another adventure for Dot and the Oz Kids (including Andrea). What begins as an innocent bus trip for Frank (the Wizard's son) turns into a wild underground ride for all the kids as they encounter dragonettes, merry-go-round mountains, an enormous teddy bear and more! Neddie is having a hard time counting and stays with Aunt Scraps.
Note: This is the only time Frank has a lead role. |
September 28, 1996 (TV) February 18, 1997 (VHS) |
4 | Who Stole Santa? | The Oz Kids and their new buddy, the elf Wisk, try to find St. Nick, who has been kidnapped. Can they find Santa before Christmas, which will arrive in just a few weeks?
Note: Andrea and Jack Pumpkinhead Jr. didn't appear in this episode. |
October 5, 1996 (TV) October 1, 1996 (VHS) |
5 | Christmas in Oz | The Oz Kids' names are not included on the invite list for the upcoming Christmas celebration, Andrea and Otto try to teach the other party-goers a lesson. But will their plan backfire?
Note: A sequel to Who Stole Santa. Christmas in Oz is also released on DVD. The characters from The Brave Little Toaster, The Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars and The Brave Little Toaster to the Rescue make a cameo in this episode. |
October 12, 1996 (TV) October 1, 1996 (VHS) |
6 | The Monkey Prince | After reading one of Dot's fairy tales, Neddie programs the computer to take himself and Toto to China. Once there, they are met by the spoiled Monkey Prince who steals the computer. Unless Dot and the other Oz Kids can find them, Neddie and Toto Jr. will never get back to Emerald City, but it was all in a dream.
Note: This is the first time Neddie has a lead role. Frank is mentioned with the mumps and Jack Pumpkinhead Jr. didn't appear in this episode. |
October 19, 1996 (TV) February 18, 1997 (VHS) |
7 | Journey Beneath the Sea | Jack Pumpkinhead, a pal of the Oz Kids, who wants to take a boat ride with all of his friends. During the ride, the boat begins to sink and Jack and the Oz Kids enter the water. There they discover two mermaids who take them on a magical and adventurous underwater excursion. When Zog and the sea devils try to ruin their fun, the adventure gets more wild and exciting than Dot, Neddie and the Oz Kids ever expected.
Note: Andrea didn't appear in this episode. |
October 26, 1996 (TV) March 11, 1997 (VHS) |
8 | Virtual Oz | Prince Otto has no friends, so he decides to force Dot and the Oz Kids into a virtual reality computer game presented to them at Scraps' baby shower. Unfortunately, Betty, the patchwork baby gets into the game and overflows the number of players, trapping them in a deteriorating program from which they have little chance of escape. Otto had no wish to actually harm them, and must try to get them out.
Note: Neddie is mentioned with hay fever, but didn't appear in this episode. |
November 2, 1996 (TV) October 1, 1996 (VHS) |
9 | The Return of Mombi | Mombi, an evil witch, has returned to Emerald City, kidnapping the Oz adults, good witch Glinda and the Nome King! Now it's up to Dot, Neddie and the Oz Kids to save Oz from Mombi's dark powers.
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November 9, 1996 (TV) February 18, 1997 (VHS) |
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Children's programming on the American Broadcasting Company in the 1990s | |
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