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The Wild Thornberrys

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The Wild Thornberrys
The Wild Thornberrys, left to right, Nigel, Marianne (with camera), Eliza (with glasses) and Darwin (the ape) on a vine, Donnie (with Nickelodeon Hair), and Debbie (sitting down)
Created byArlene Klasky
Gabor Csupo
Steve Peppon
David Silverman
Stephen Sustaric
Directed byMark Risley
StarringLacey Chabert
Tom Kane
Flea
Danielle Harris
Jodi Carlisle
Tim Curry
Country of origin United States
No. of seasons4
No. of episodes91 (list of episodes)
Production
Running time22 Minutes
Original release
NetworkNickelodeon
ReleaseSeptember 1, 1998 –
June 11, 2004

The Wild Thornberrys is an American animated television series that aired on Nickelodeon from 1998 to 2004. It was rerun in the USA on Nickelodeon and occasionally Nicktoons Network until 2007.

Premise

The series follows the Thornberrys, as they travel the world in their "comvee" (a convertible/RV) looking for rare animals to film. Their youngest daughter, Eliza, is the main character. Thanks to an African shaman, Eliza has the power to speak to animals. She can speak to the family's pet chimpanzee, who is also her best friend. She travels the world with her family and usually helps animals solve their problems. The show currently airs on Nicktoonsters in the UK.

At the beginning of every episode, Eliza recites a monologue, which is then followed by the theme music. It states the basic premise of the show, and provides a brief back story so anyone new to the show would understand what's going on.

Production

The Wild Thornberrys was produced by Klasky Csupo for Nickelodeon. It premiered in September 1998, and was the first Nicktoon to exclusively use 22-minute stories (episodes of other Nicktoons usually featured two 13-minute stories, using 22-minute stories only on occasion).

Broadcast history

Characters

Main article: List of The Wild Thornberrys characters
Elizabeth "Eliza" Thornberry
Voiced by Lacey Chabert, Eliza is the main character, who (unknown to most) gained the ability to speak with animals after an encounter with an African shaman (as shown in the episode "Gift of Gab"). Eliza is portrayed as a geek by her extensive zoological knowledge and her glasses and braces. She has long red hair that is usually worn in pigtails, and occasionally a ponytail. She almost always wears a yellow shirt and red and yellow shorts, though later in the series she sports other clothes. Eliza began the series as a 12-year old girl but finishes the series as a 14-year old girl.
Deborah "Debbie" Thornberry
Voiced by Danielle Harris, Debbie is a typical teenage girl, interested in music and fashion, who longs for a normal suburban life, but her parents' job deprives her of this. Despite being rough around the edges, she does care for Eliza. She commonly wears an orange camisole, a green jacket, blue jeans (with holes in them) and brown shoes. In "The Wild Thornberrys Movie," she learns Eliza's secret, but if she tells anyone she'll become a baboon. It is shown in the episode "Chew If by Sea" that Debbie suffers from chronic seasickness. Debbie is 17.
Sir Nigel Thornberry
Voiced by Tim Curry, Nigel is the only child of Radcliffe and Cordelia (since none of his family members said he had any siblings) travels around the world with his family making wildlife documentaries for his own show. He resembles the late Steve Irwin and David Attenborough, and speaks with an English accent. He somewhat resembles Lt. Col. Algernon Hawthorne in It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, played by Terry-Thomas. He is easily excited and is usually calm, even in the face of danger, and his catchphrase is "Smashing!" Nigel was knighted by the Queen of the United Kingdom, and offered a job as a teacher in England. Much to his mother's disapproval, Nigel turned down the queen's offer.
Marianne Hunter Thornberry
Voiced by Jodi Carlisle, Marianne is Nigel's wife and operates the film camera. Marianne is a strong woman, often the voice of reason, and sometimes loses patience with Nigel. She is usually the one to take on disciplinary duties, forcing Eliza to stay in the confines of the comvee, or forcing Debbie to complete her schoolwork.
Darwin Thornberry
Voiced by Tom Kane, Darwin is a chimpanzee who travels with the family, and a loyal companion and pet to Eliza. He usually wears a regular sleeveless shirt with blue stripes and blue shorts. He speaks with a distinct upper-class British accent. He tries to be the voice of reason to Eliza, however she rarely takes his advice, since he is almost always hesitant to follow her plans. He was found by Eliza, and was the first animal she ever talked to.
Donald Michael "Donnie" Thornberry
Voiced by Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and occasionally Macaulay Culkin, Donnie is a feral boy who (as revealed in the 2001 4-part TV movie, "The Wild Thornberrys: The Origin of Donnie") was raised by orangutans after his real parents were killed by poachers, before the Thornberrys adopted him. He commonly wears a pair of shorts and he loves to eat bees. He talks very wildly and incoherently, though in Rugrats Go Wild, the Wild Thornberrys and Rugrats crossover film, he is revealed to be talking backwards. Donnie is 5, but turns 6 in "The Origin of Donnie."

Eliza's Speaking Animals

Episodes

Main article: List of The Wild Thornberrys episodes
Season Ep # First Airdate Last Airdate
Season 1 20 September 1, 1998 April 1, 1999
Season 2 37 August 16, 1999 March 27, 2000
Season 3 20 September 12, 2000 May 14, 2001
Season 4 14 August 18, 2001 June 11, 2004

Films

Three movies have been released:

References


External links


Preceded by Nicktoons
September 1, 1998 		Succeeded by
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