Jonny Quest (TV series)

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This article is about the TV series. For the character, see Jonny Quest (character). For other uses, see Jonny Quest.
Jonny Quest
JQ S1 title card.png
Season 1's title card.
Created by Doug Widley
Network ABC
Syndication
Production company Hanna-Barbera
Distributor Screen Gems
Taft Broadcasting
Original release September 18, 1964March 11, 1965; September 14, 1986March 1, 1987
Run time 25 minutes
Starring Tim Matthieson
Don Messick
Mike Road
Danny Bravo
Scott Menville
Granville Van Dusen
Rob Paulsen
Jeffrey Tambor
Executive producer(s) William Hanna
Joseph Barbera
Producer(s) William Hanna
Joseph Barbera
Berny Wolf
Music composed by Hoyt Curtin
Ted Nichols
Writer(s) Doug Wildey
Mark Young
Director(s) William Hanna
Joseph Barbera
Oscar Dufau
Don Lusk
Ray Patterson (also supervising)
Rudy Zamora
Gordon Hunt (voices)
Animation director(s) Charles A. Nichols
Series navigation
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Second title card
JQ S2 title card.png
Season 2's title card.

Jonny Quest, also known as The Adventures of Jonny Quest, is an American animated action-adventure television series produced by Hanna-Barbera (H-B) for ABC. It ran from 1964 to 1965, airing 26 episodes that spanned one season. The series was canceled due to the high production costs, but given another shot between 1986 and 1987, airing a second season of 13 episodes on The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera programming block in syndicated markets. It was also referred to as The New Adventures of Jonny Quest to distinguish itself from the original '60s series. The new season is a diluted version of the original series where the danger remains the same, but the violence has been toned down. As a result of being made in the 1980s, there was also a greater focus on the science-fiction and monster elements far removed from the original series' realism; believable or unbelievable as it seemed.

In the series, Jonny's widowed father, Doctor Quest, is a renowned scientist from Florida called on by the fictional U.S. government Intelligence One to investigate paranormal phenomena from a scientific perspective. Due to the danger that comes with Doctor Quest's missions, the aforementioned government assigns Race Bannon to act as Jonny's bodyguard and tutor, as the son tags along, although Race tends to spend more time acting as a sidekick to Doctor Quest. Suffice to say, it's more of a "Doctor Quest" show than a "Jonny Quest" show, but kids aren't going to relate to a bearded guy in his 40s. Other characters include Hadji, a streetwise Indian child who was adopted by Doctor Quest, and Jonny's yappy, pint-sized dog, Bandit.

In a surprising move for the second season, they are also joined by — wait for it — a giant living statue named Hardrock. Hardrock never appeared again after this season, though he was parodied in The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest episode "Rock of Rages."

The original first season has been released on both DVD and Blu-ray Disc. The revamped second season has also been released on DVD.

Production

Development

Doug Wildey was assigned by Hanna-Barbera to create a series based on the radio drama adventure of Jack Armstrong, the All-American Boy. A test film was made, but plans fell through when the studio couldn't get the rights; a couple of shots made it into the opening sequence of Jonny Quest. Wildey then went back and reworked the concept.[1]

Wildey was influenced by Jackie Cooper and Frankie Darrow movies, along with the Terry and the Pirates comic strip, and at the behest of producer Joseph Barbera, the spy craze started by the 1962 James Bond film, Dr. No. According to Wildey, Barbera had seen that first film adaptation of the English superspy "and wanted to get in stuff like '007' numbers. Which we included, by the way, in the first [episode of] Jonny Quest. It was called 'Jonny Quest File 037' or something. We dropped that later; it didn't work. But that was his father's code name as he worked for the government as a scientist and that kind of thing."[1] Apart from Quest File 037, another one of its working titles would have been The Saga of Chip Baloo, although Wildey did not see that one as a serious choice. The name "Quest" was selected from a phone book due to its adventurous implications.[1]

In developing a pet for Jonny Quest, Wildey initially planned Bandit to be either a small white cheetah or a monkey. These ideas were overruled by Barbera, who insisted on making Bandit a bulldog. Unlike the other characters, who were designed by Wildey, Bandit was designed by animator Richard Bickenbach.[1] Wildey added Hadji as a friend to Jonny, after being dissatisfied with Jonny going in adventures with a dog all the time. Hadji was created because Wildey also wanted to add a minority that would work other than just "a black kid from the ghetto", which in his word was "the usual-thing".[1]

According to The Art of Hanna-Barbera book, Race Bannon's appearance was modeled after actor Jeff Chandler,[2] while his full name was created by combining the names of Race Dunhill and Stretch Bannon, from Wildey's earlier comic strips. Joseph Barbera also wrote that Race resembled the title character of the Terry and the Pirates comic strip.[3]

In an interview on the Amazing Heroes magazine, Wildey explained that he oversaw the writing of the show's scripts:[1]

I hesitate to use the word "control." If there was a script that came in that I didn't like I would make it known and it would be changed. In that way I had control. However, in many instances myself and Barbera, or Barbera and the writer, would work together and one way or another it would be straightened out, at which point if I had a storyboard that I felt could be jazzed up from a visual standpoint and still keep the flavor of the writing I would do it, there was also some control there.

- Doug Wildey, Amazing Heroes #95

Jonny's mother died off-screen before the start of the series, with Wildey seeing no need to explain what had caused it,[1] although the implication that foul play from his father's enemies may have had something to do with it. In retrospect, he wish he had after not realising he would be asked so many times about it.[1]

Season two (1986 revival)

According to Joseph Barbera's interview with Comico, the 1980s revival may have been initiated due to the growing trend of action-adventure films taking place in exotic locales, such as Indiana Jones and Romancing the Stone, as well as interest in movie studios turning Jonny Quest into a live-action feature.

In the pre-production phase — which was overseen by Mark Young — the season was intended to last as long as 39 episodes, with more backstory given to Race and Jezebel Jade's relationship, and a recurring role for the new young female character, Jessie Bradshaw. The former never made it onto the screen as Jezebel Jade didn't make it into one episode, while Jessie only appeared in one. One could say the significant reduction in episodes stopped these plans from happening, while on the other hand, it seems more of a production issue. Delving into more fleshed-out roles and the larger presence of female characters seemed to be less important than Hardrock.

Both these scrapped ideas, however, were brought back and even merged into one for the 1993 television film, Jonny's Golden Quest; Race and Jade had been both partners for Intelligence One and married for a brief time, which led to the conception of another girl called Jessie, who then had a recurring presence in the next 1995 film, Jonny Quest Versus the Cyber Insects, and the 1996-97 sequel series The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest, which removed the idea that Jade was Jessie's birth mother, so she could be reverted back to her original Eurasian appearance and role of mercenary/entrepreneur, and the new character of Estella Velasquez took on the mantle of a redheaded Caucasian who worked as an archaeologist.

Music

The theme song and a lot of the score were composed by Hoyt Curtin, but he did not remain throughout the season, leaving Ted Nichols to take over, although only Curtin is credited. Curtin returned to his role by the second season. Also in the second season, Joanne Miller was the music coordinator.

Episodes

Episode Original air date
1x01 September 18, 1964
1x02 September 25, 1964
1x03 October 2, 1964
1x04 October 9, 1964
1x05 October 16, 1964
1x06 October 23, 1964
1x07 October 30, 1964
1x08 November 6, 1964
1x09 November 13, 1964
1x10 November 20, 1964
1x11 November 27, 1964
1x12 December 4, 1964
1x13 December 11, 1964
1x14 December 18, 1964
1x15 December 25, 1964
1x16 December 31, 1964
1x17 January 7, 1965
1x18 January 14, 1965
1x19 January 21, 1965
1x20 January 28, 1965
1x21 February 4, 1965
1x22 February 11, 1965
1x23 February 18, 1965
1x24 February 25, 1965
1x25 March 4, 1965
1x26 March 11, 1965
2x01 September 14, 1986
2x02 September 21, 1986
2x03 September 28, 1986
2x04 October 5, 1986
2x05 October 12, 1986
2x06 October 19, 1986
2x07 November 2, 1986
2x08 November 9, 1986
2x09 November 16, 1986
2x10 November 23, 1986
2x11 December 7, 1986
2x12 December 14, 1986
2x13 March 1, 1987

Release

Dates are in order of release:

Cast

Crossovers

Title Number Original air date
Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law: "Bannon Custody Battle" 1 December 30, 2000
Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law: "Return of Birdgirl" 2 September 18, 2005
Tom and Jerry: Spy Quest 3 June 9, 2015

Legacy

In the 1990s, there were several other animated revival attempts, including two televised films, and a 52-episode long TV series called The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest. And yes, the adventures on this last one are REAL. The length of episodes was not due to a high viewership, but because of a contracted order that was to coincide with a multi-million dollar marketing strategy that was expected to take kids by storm, but unfortunately failed to succeed. The partial reason as to why was due to an extremely troubled production from the beginning, requiring a complete overhaul in the middle of the series with a new crew.

Since the '90s, a live-action film adaptation has been in demand, but not enough for an official greenlight, and has simply languished in development hell. Multiple writers and directors have tapped into the project, including Fred Dekker, Richard Donner, Peyton Reed, Chris Columbus, and Robert Rodriguez.

Alternate universe versions appeared in the Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated episodes "Pawn of Shadows" and Heart of Evil," which aired in 2011 and 2012, respectively.

In popular culture

WARNING: The following section contains content that may be seen as mature or offensive to some readers. Reader discretion is advised.
Main article: List of pop culture references to Jonny Quest
  • The second episode of Freakazoid! had a segment called "Doomsday Bet," for a one-off Toby Danger backup segment, which was a comedic spin on the Jonny Quest property, with Don Messick, Scott Menville, and Granville Van Dusen playing their doppelgangers.
  • In the Weekend Update sketch in the Saturday Night Live episode "Miranda Richardson/Soul Asylum," Rob Schneider contests the FFC's ruling that cartoons aren't educational because a cartoon such as Jonny Quest has pro-social values in positively showing gay men, with a picture beside him of Doctor Quest and Race.
  • The series is lampooned in the Evil Con Carne episode "Max Courage!" Major Dr. Ghastly requests a visit from her old mentor, Dr. Courage, to Bunny Island, which is a ploy to trap him and force him to help finish her build Hector Con Carne's Doomsday Machine. Dr. Courage, is a pastiche between Dr. Quest and Race, who has two biological sons, Rick and Max, the latter being a spoof on Jonny, and whom Dr. Courage prefers over to Rick. They also have a helpful pet weasel named Rascal. In the Courages' boat ride to and escape from Bunny Island, and Rascal's fight with the guard, the music is inspired by the Jonny Quest theme song. During the escape, they are also chased by frogmen based on what happened in "The Mystery of the Lizard Men." Max and Rick are voiced by Scott Menville and Quinton Flynn, respectively, both of whom had previously played an incarnation of Jonny; Menville in the second season, and Flynn in The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest.
  • In The Fairly OddParents TV movie Channel Chasers, Timmy zaps himself into a parody of Jonny Quest called Jonny Hunt. Jonny and his family ride a riverboat in the jungle trying to escape a giant scorpion-looking robot. Timmy, who is dressed like Jonny Quest, saves them from certain doom by using his magic TV remote to get rid of it. The team thanks him and invites him on dangerous missions in which he'll get to use deathly weapons. Timmy takes back a bazooka as a parting gift, which blows up half his house by accident as Jonny Hunt plays on his TV. At the end of the movie, Timmy uses a Jonny Hunt lunchbox as a time capsule, which his kids dig up 20 years later.
  • In the Recess episode "The Coolest Heatwave Ever," Gus revealed that he and his lieutenant father saved the world's economy after they captured DeSilvo while skiing in the Alps. DeSilvo's henchmen also chased them referred to as frogmen and Gus owned a Bandit-esque dog called Hoodlum. After DeSilvo was captured, Hoodlum barked, causing Gus and his father to laugh.
  • The series is parodied in the Mike Tyson Mysteries episode "My Favorite Mystery." Season three occasionally used an opening sequence with scenes from "My Favorite Mystery." Mike Tyson Mysteries was a co-production between Williams Street and Warner Bros. Animation and aired on Adult Swim.
  • In the 2018 film The Incredibles 2, Dash watches scenes from "Arctic Splashdown" on TV.

Venture Bros. connection

The Cartoon Network/Adult Swim series The Venture Bros. was a homage and parody of the series, with Dr. Venture and Brock Samson acting as parallels to Dr. Quest and Race, and Hank and Dean, the sons of Dr. Venture, were modeled after the adventurous spirit of Jonny (with Dean physically resembling him, combined with Fred Jones from Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!). The sons also had a dog called Scamp, who was based on Bandit. As time went on, the series was in fact to be revealed to be set within the same universe, with Brock and Race retconned to be working for the same organization. Adult versions of Jonny and Hadji later appeared, along with a semi-retired Dr. Zin (with Dr. Quest having died), although by that point Cartoon Network believed that further use, especially with Jonny Quest, was "screwing with licenses".[4] The names were then changed, blurring their shared universe somewhat.

There are guest appearances in "Ice Station Impossible," "Self-Medication," and "The Terminus Mandate," and allusions in the following episodes:

  • "Escape to the House of Mummies Part II:" There's a Jonny Quest-esque lunch box; Brock looks like Race wearing a red shirt.
  • "Fallen Arches:" Dr. Venture has a robot spy from the government.
  • "The Doctor is Sin:" Jonny and Hadji (called Rajni) cameo. Raj is an office worker for Jonas Venture, Jr.
  • "The Buddy System:" Jonny (now called Action Jonny) guest stars. Bandit and Dr. Quest are referred to.
  • "Dr. Quymn, Medicine Woman:" The "Q" insignia on Dr. Qymn's jet is in the same style as the original Jonny Quest logo.
  • "Orb:" The Rusty Venture cartoon has a Jonny Quest style intro.

Merchandise

Reading material

In one-shot comic adapting the first episode was published by Gold Key Comics in 1964. In the 80s, an ongoing Jonny Quest comic book series was finally published by Comico, which lasted 31 issues, along with several other limited series and specials.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Olbrich, David W. "Doug Wildey, an interview with the creator of Jonny Quest" Amazing Heroes #95 (ISSN 0745-6506), May 15, 1986, p. 34. Archived on July 8, 2011.
  2. ^ Sennett, Ted (October 30, 1989). The Art of Hanna-Barbera. Viking Studio Books. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  3. ^ Barbera, Joseph (May 1, 1994). My Life in 'toons: From Flatbush to Bedrock in Under a Century. Turner Publishing, Inc. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  4. ^ Hammer, Doc (July 31, 2018). Go Team Venture!: The Art and Making of The Venture Bros., page 61. Dark Horse Comics. Retrieved November 12, 2021.