''It's Punky Brewster'' is a 1985–1986

animated Animation is a method by which still figures are manipulated to appear as moving images. In traditional animation, images are drawn or painted by hand on transparent celluloid sheets to be photographed and exhibited on film. Today, most ani ...

spin-off Spin-off may refer to: *Spin-off (media), a media work derived from an existing work *Corporate spin-off, a type of corporate action that forms a new company or entity * Government spin-off, civilian goods which are the result of military or gove ...

of the live action television sitcom '' Punky Brewster''. It was animated by Ruby-Spears Productions. The show uses the same premise and main cast as its parent series, but also includes a magical sprite named Glomer. 26 episodes were produced over two seasons.

Synopsis

The series featured the voices of the original ''Punky Brewster'' cast as their respective characters. A new character, Glomer (voiced by Frank Welker), was added as the "leprechaun gopher". He came from Chaundoon, a city at the end of the rainbow and possesses various magical powers. One such power was the ability to transport Punky and her friends, Margaux, Cherie, and Allen, and at times her dog, Brandon, to any part of the Earth instantly. Some episodes included Glomer having to correct his own mistakes, as when he plays around with magic and transforms Henry into a statue of Julius Caesar. ''It's Punky Brewster'' is the series' unofficial name (''Punky'' when the show first premiered); on the title card and in TV listings, it was simply called ''Punky Brewster.'' In season 2, shows 4 through 13 had a first-run episode and a repeat from the first season. The series was canceled in September 1987, but reruns returned from October 1988 until September 1989 after NBC's live action pre-teen show '' 2 Hip 4 TV'' was cancelled. The show was syndicated as a revolving feature of '' Maxie's World'' during the 1989–1990 season.

Cast

Soleil Moon Frye Soleil Moon Frye (; born August 6, 1976) is an American actress, director, producer, and screenwriter. She began her career as a child actress at the age of two. When she was seven, Frye won the role of Penelope "Punky" Brewster in the NBC sitc ...

- Punky Brewster * George Gaynes - Henry Warnimont * Ami Foster - Margaux Kramer * Cherie Johnson - Cherie Johnson * Casey Ellison - Allen Anderson * Frank Welker - Glomer, Brandon (barking; speaking voice in "Brandon the Dialogue Dog")

Additional voices

René Auberjonois René Murat Auberjonois (; June 1, 1940 – December 8, 2019) was an American actor and director. He was best known for portraying Odo on ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' (1993–1999). He first achieved fame as a stage actor, winning the Tony A ...

(Season 1) *

Vince Edwards Vince Edwards (born Vincent Edward Zoine; July 9, 1928 – March 11, 1996) was an American actor and director. He was best known for his TV role as doctor Ben Casey and as Major Cliff Bricker in the 1968 war film '' The Devil's Brigade''. E ...

(Season 2) *

Pat Fraley Patrick Howard Fraley (born February 18, 1949) is an American voice actor and voice-over teacher, known as the voice of Krang, Casey Jones, Baxter Stockman and numerous other characters in the 1987 ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' animated tele ...

* Alejandro Garay (Season 2) *

Linda Gary Linda Gary (born Linda Gary Dewoskin, November 4, 1944 – October 5, 1995) was an American actress. Career Live-action appearances Gary worked as a voice-over artist in animation and also appeared in two live-action films, 1977's ''Joyride T ...

(Season 1) * Patty Glick (Season 2) * Renae Jacobs (Season 1) * Christina Lange (Season 1) *

Katie Leigh Katherine Elizabeth "Katie" Leigh Joseph (born December 16, 1958) is an American voice actress, best known for her roles as Sunni Gummi in '' Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears'', Zuzu in '' Poppy Cat'', Alex in the first two seasons of '' ...

* Joycelyne Lew (Season 1) *

Tress MacNeille Teressa Claire MacNeille (née Payne; born June 20, 1951) is an American voice actress, whose credits include voicing Dot Warner on the animated television series '' Animaniacs'', Babs Bunny on '' Tiny Toon Adventures'', Chip and Gadget Hackwren ...

* Mea Martineau (Season 1) * Janet Mays * David Mendenhall (Season 2) *

Scott Menville Scott David Menville (born February 12, 1971) is an American actor who is known for his voice work in animated films, television series and video games. Life and career Menville was born on February 12, 1971, to television animator and writer ...

- Chucky * Lilly Moon (Season 1) * Pat Musick (Season 1) * Denise Pickering (Season 1) * Hal Rayle (Season 1) * Josh Rodine (Season 1) * Neil Ross (Season 2) *

Shavar Ross Shavar Malik Ross (born March 4, 1971), is an American actor, film director, screenwriter, film producer, editor, photographer, author, online retail entrepreneur, and spiritual mentor and teacher. He is known for his recurring television role ...

(Season 2) Susie Garrett, who played Betty, and

T.K. Carter Thomas Kent Carter (born December 18, 1956) is an American actor. In films, he is mostly known for his many comedic performances, such as the street-smart Chester in '' Seems Like Old Times'' and the karaoke-singing Iceman in ''Ski Patrol''. He ...

, who played Mike, are the only regular cast members of the sitcom that did not appear in the series.

Episodes

Season 1 (1985)

Season 2 (1986)

Home media

The show was released on VHS in 1991, and several different tapes were made. The series is available on DVD as part of the ''Punky Brewster'' DVD releases. Each season also contains a certain number of episodes from it as a bonus feature. Due to music rights issues, "The Shoe Must Go On" is the only episode not released on DVD in the season box sets released by Shout! Factory; a song featured in that episode was "

Axel F "Axel F" is the electronic instrumental theme from the 1984 film '' Beverly Hills Cop'' performed by Harold Faltermeyer. It was an international number one hit in 1985. Background The title comes from the main character's name in the film, ...

" by Harold Faltermeyer, the theme to '' Beverly Hills Cop''.

Popular culture

* The series was parodied in the '' Robot Chicken'' episode "But Not In That Way" (aired February 8, 2009) with Soleil Moon Frye reprising Punky Brewster, Henry Warnimont voiced by Seth Green, and Glomer voiced by

Tom Kane Thomas Kane Roberts (born April 15, 1962) is a retired American voice actor. He is best known for his work in animation and video games, most notably in the '' Star Wars'' franchise. Career Kane began his voice-over career in 1977, at fifteen ye ...

References

External links

* {{Punky Brewster 1980s American animated television series 1985 American television series debuts 1986 American television series endings American animated television spin-offs American children's animated fantasy television series Animated television series about orphans English-language television shows NBC original programming Television series by Ruby-Spears Television series by Universal Television Television series by Sony Pictures Television Animation based on real people