Beethoven is a 1994 American Saturday morning cartoon television series loosely based on the 1992 motion picture of the same name. The series was produced by Northern Lights Entertainment and Universal Cartoon Studios, and aired for one season on CBS Saturday Mornings, with 13 episodes with two 10 minute segments produced. Dean Jones, who played Dr. Varnick in the film, voiced the role of George Newton. Nicholle Tom, who played teenage daughter Ryce in the film and Beethoven's 2nd, was the only cast member from the films to reprise her role in the series, partly due to her presence in CBS's own prime time series, The Nanny, in where she was contractually obliged to portray the Maggie Sheffield character.
Contents
Premise
The Newton family love Beethoven, their St. Bernard dog, but the father, George, has his moments with Beethoven, who gets in different mishaps time after time. When not with the Newton family, Beethoven spends time with three other dogs, Sparky (the stray from the first film), Ginger, and Caesar.
Unlike the films (except Beethoven's Christmas Adventure and Beethoven's Treasure Tail), Beethoven has a speaking voice, at least among the other animals. The same plot was used in another animated series, Free Willy, where the main character also could talk.
Cast
Dean Jones as George Newton
J.D. Daniels as Ted Newton
Bill Fagerbakke as Caesar the Great Dane
Brian George as Mr. Huggs, Ted's anxious Guinea pig who almost never agree's to leave his cage
Tress MacNeille as Ginger the Collie
Joel Murray as Beethoven, the dog named after the German composer Ludwig van Beethoven.
Joe Pantoliano as Sparky, the Jack Russel Terrier/Dachshund Mix an Energetic yet Snarky Stray who's suspicious about Human Behavior and Human Appliances
Francesca Marie Smith as Emily Newton
Kath Soucie as Alice Newton
Nicholle Tom as Ryce Newton
Maurice LaMarche as Doberman
Additional voices
René Auberjonois
Hank Azaria as Killer the Poodle
Gregg Berger as Mailman
Mark Campbell
Dan Castellaneta as Blind Shep (in "Scent of a Mutt")
Christine Cavanaugh as Rosebud (in "Cyrano de Beethoven")
Brian Cummings
E.G. Daily as Peanut (in "Puppy Time")
Stephen DeStefano
Paul Dooley
David Doyle as Blind Shep (episode "The Mighty Cone-Dog")
Jess Harnell as Singing Donut (in "The Big One")
Bill Henderson
Dana Hill as Timmy (in "The Kindergarten Caper")
Tony Jay as Watson (in "Scent of a Mutt")
Scott Menville
Art Metrano
Tim Neil
John Schuck
Pamela Segall
Justin Shenkarow as Roger (in "Mr. Huggs Wild Ride")
Crew
Paul Germain - producer, story editor and voice director
Production
In March 1994, it was announced Universal Animation Studios would be producing an animated series based on Beethoven for broadcast on CBS in Fall of that year.
Home release
Universal and Gaiam released episodes of the show on VHS. In July 2020, the series became available on the Peacock streaming service.