The Rocketeer (TV series) explained

Alt Name:	Rocketeer (UK and other countries)
Genre:	Superhero Adventure Comic science fiction
Developer:	Nicole Dubuc
Theme Music Composer:	Beau Black
Opentheme:	"Rocketeer to the Rescue", performed by Tammy Infusino
Endtheme:	"Heart of a Hero", performed by Tammy Infusino
Country:	United States
Language:	English
Num Seasons:	1
Num Episodes:	22 (42 segments)
Producer:	Peter Anderson Donna Smith Sammy Rivkin
Runtime:	22 minutes
Company:	Wild Canary Animation Icon Creative Studio, Inc.
Network:	Disney Junior
Based On:	The Rocketeer by Dave Stevens

The Rocketeer (titled Rocketeer internationally) is an American animated children's television series. It premiered on Disney Junior and Disney Channel in the United States on November 8, 2019, and on November 10 on Disney Junior in Canada.^{[1] [2]} Based on the comic book superhero of the same name by Dave Stevens and inspired by the 1991 film,^[3] the series focuses on Katherine "Kit" Secord,^[4] a 7-year-old girl who receives the family jet pack for her 7th birthday.^[5] The Rocketeer was aimed for toddlers.^[6]

While the series received generally positive reviews from critics, it was cancelled after one season.^[7]

Premise

In the town of Hughesville, seven-year-old Kit Secord learns she is secretly next in line to become The Rocketeer, a jet pack-wearing superhero who can fly. Armed with her cool new gear and secret identity, Kit takes to the skies to protect Hughesville and its residents from danger. Assisting her on her heroic adventures are her best friend Tesh, bulldog sidekick Butch, and airplane mechanic grandfather Ambrose Secord.

Characters

Main

• Katherine "Kit" Secord (voiced by Kitana Turnbull^[8]) is a 7-year-old girl who receives the family jet pack for her 7th birthday which reveals that she is next in line to become the Rocketeer, Hughesville's very own local town hero. She is the great-granddaughter of Cliff Secord. When operating as the Rocketeer, Kit's catchphrase is "Never fear, I'm the Rocketeer." She is a new character introduced in this series. It is possible that she is named after Hollywood actress Katharine Hepburn even though she made no appearance within The Rocketeer franchise.
• Ambrose Secord (voiced by Frank Welker^[9]) is an 84-year-old man, Kit's grandfather and the son of Cliff Secord who works as a mechanic at the Hughesville Airport.
• Mitesh "Tesh" Cheena (voiced by Callan Farris^[10]) is Kit's 8-year-old best friend who serves as Ground Control when Kit takes to the skies. He is also the inventor of the hi-tech gadgets and upgrades for her jet pack. Tesh is the inventor of Kitcom and the Kit Tracker.
• Butch (vocal effects provided by Frank Welker^[11]) is Kit's pet bulldog and sidekick.

Recurring

• Dave Secord (voiced by Billy Campbell^[12]) is Kit's father who is a stunt pilot, which is where Katie gets her passion for flying. Campbell also played Cliff Secord, the original hero in the film, reprising his role in a newsreel seen in the episode "First Flight".
• Sareena Secord (voiced by Kathy Najimy^[13]) is Kit's mother who works as the manager and chef of the Bulldog Café.
• Valerie d'Avion (voiced by Navia Robinson) is Katie's flight school classmate and aspiring pilot whose parents own the Valkyrie Flight Academy. She owns her own plane called the Korsican Skyfang 75. Her superhero identity is the Valkyrie.
  • Snickerdoodle (vocal effects provided by Frank Welker) is Valerie's pet chihuahua.

Villains

• Laura (voiced by Maria Bamford) and Harley (voiced by Kari Wahlgren) are two thieving sisters who like stealing things to use in their heists which often has them running from the authorities and the Rocketeer. Harley serves as the brains of the group and Laura has a ditzy personality. They are a clear homage of the golden-age comedy duo Laurel and Hardy.
• Sylvester Slapdash (voiced by Maurice LaMarche) is a thief and a master of disguise who utilizes many costumes in his capers. He is also known as the "Costumed Bandit". Sylvester is a homage of early 20th Century vaudeville actor and quick change artist Sylvester Schaffer Jr.
  • Lilith (vocal effects provided by Frank Welker) is Sylvester's pet ferret. Lilith is a homage to Sylvester Schaffer Jr.'s wife and assistant Lily Kruger.
• The Great Orsino (voiced by Charlie Adler) is a magician that targets Kit's jet pack so that he can become the first flying magician.
  • Deany (voiced by Parvesh Cheena) is the Great Orsino's hapless assistant. In "Super Deany", it is revealed that Deany has an engineering background where he helped to fix the Rocketeer's jet pack. His name is a play on Harry Houdini which is reinforced by frequent dialog of "Who? Deany".
• Doctor Doodlebug (voiced by Luca Padovan) is a kid genius who wears pillbug-themed armor. He invents machines suitable for his schemes out of the garbage that he steals.
  • Newton (voiced by D. C. Douglas) is an A.I. that resides in Doctor Doodlebug's wristwatch. Newton advises his master on the course of action to take.
• Xena Treme (voiced by Stephanie Lemelin) is an extreme sports athlete with a big ego that she masks with a laid-back personality who is determined to stay on the top through whatever means possible.
• Cast-Iron Chef (voiced by Ted Allen) is a food truck chef who will target any secret recipes in order to improve his business. He wields a high-tech gauntlet that enables him to use any kitchen tool it contains. In "Sitti's Visit", it was revealed that his recipe-targeting motive comes from the fact that his father never let him in on his family recipes. Kit and Sitti persuade him to drop the recipe-targeting motive and create his own cookbook.
• Norman Sinclair (voiced by Raphael Alejandro) is the descendant of Neville Sinclair and heir to Sinclair Air. He conspires to become the new Rocketeer by taking the jet pack from Kit so that he can impress his father. He once pulled this off enough for Kit to enlist Valkyrie, Sylvester Slapdash, and Doctor Doodlebug into getting it back.

Hughesville citizens

• Lucille (voiced by Marianne Muellerleile) is an old lady who works as a cashier at the Bulldog Café.
• Alfonzo (voiced by Eric Bauza) is a sous chef at the Bulldog Café.
• Officer Crowfoot (voiced by Robbie Daymond) is a Native American police officer who arrests the bad guys thwarted by the Rocketeer.
• Mayor Primshell (voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson) is the mayor of Hughesville.
• Richard (voiced by Julian Edwards) is a boy who resides in Hughesville.
  • Taffy is Richard's cat that is often rescued by the Rocketeer.
• Mr. Coleman (voiced by Eugene Byrd) is Kit's teacher at the Valkyrie Flight Academy.
• Ben (voiced by Antonio Raul Corbo) is a boy who is Kit's classmate at the Valkyrie Flight Academy.
• Logan (voiced by Ian Chen) is a boy who is Kit's classmate at the Valkyrie Flight Academy.
• River (voiced by Kai Zen) is a girl who is a fellow Trailblazer to Kit and Tesh.
• Farmer McGinty (voiced by Mark L. Taylor) is an elderly farmer.
• Goose (voiced by Roger Craig Smith) is a clown that wears an airplane costume.
• Malcolm (voiced by Carlos Alazraqui) is an air traffic controller who works at Hughesville's air field.
• Aarush Cheena (voiced by Rahul Kohli) is Tesh's father, owner of Cheena Hardware, and Scoutmaster of the Hughesville Trailblazers.
• Chandi Cheena (voiced by Sarayu Rao) is Tesh's mother.
• Sonal Udana Cheena (voiced by Sarayu Rao) is Tesh's baby sister born in "Special Delivery". Her middle name Udana, which means "flying", is in honor of the Rocketeer.
• Irma Philpot (voiced by Susan Silo) is an old lady who lives near Hughesville.
  • The Critter Gang are a group of animals that are friends with Irma. They consist of a moose, a hawk, a raccoon, two foxes, and some squirrels.
• Chantal d'Avion (voiced by Yvette Nicole Brown) is Valerie's mother and co-owner of the Valkyrie Flight Academy.
• Captain Michael d'Avion (voiced by Imari Williams) is Valerie's father, Navy Captain, and co-owner of the Valkyrie Flight Academy.

Broadcast

The Rocketeer premiered on Disney Junior, Disney Channel, and DisneyNOW on November 8, 2019.^{[14] [15]} The series debuted internationally on Canada's Disney Junior on November 10, 2019. It debuted in Latin America on April 6, 2020, and in Spain, it was previewed on July 20, 2020, and it officially premiered on September 28, 2020. The Rocketeer debuted on Disney+ in the United Kingdom in October 2020. The series aired on Southeast Asia's Disney Junior and France's Disney Junior in 2021. It was released on Southeast Asia's Disney Junior and France's Disney Junior in 2021. It premiered on Rai YoYo and Disney+ in Italy and on Dutch Disney Channel in the Netherlands in 2021.

The series ended on July 25, 2020.^[16] Following the final episode, the series went into hiatus, before unexpectedly getting cancelled.^[17] While no exact reason was said, a direct sequel to the film was announced for Disney+ the following year, hinting that the series' end was to make way for the new movie.^[18]

Reception

Critical response

Merrill Barr of Forbes called The Rocketeer an "adorable" series, writing, "It’s sweet, charming, aware of itself and filled to the brim with the kind of positive messaging every program of its type should be striving for. There will be no reason for any parent to not sit their child down in front of this one come premiere time."^[19] Emily Ashby of Common Sense Media gave The Rocketeer a grade of four out of five stars, praised the depiction of positive messages and role models, saying that the characters challenge gender stereotypes and that Kit is eager, determined, and fearless, saying, "Every story sees the hero learn a valuable lesson that is further illustrated as events play out, reinforcing positive themes."^[20]

Accolades

!Year!Award!Category!Nominee(s)!Result!Ref.

2020	Daytime Emmy Awards	Outstanding Performer in a Preschool Animated Program	Maurice LaMarche		^[21] ^[22]
		Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Preschool Animated Program	Eric Lewis, Jay Culliton
		Outstanding Sound Editing for a Preschool Animated Program	Otis Van Osten, James Miller, Jason Oliver, Eric Lewis, Tommy Sarioglou
		Outstanding Writing for a Preschool Animated Program	Nicole Dubuc, Greg Johnson, Brian Hohlfeld, Kendall Michele Haney, Claudia Silver
		Outstanding Main Title for an Animated Program	Michael Daedalus Kenny

External links

• on DisneyNOW

Notes and References

1. Web site: October 10, 2019 . Disney Junior's "The Rocketeer" Premieres Friday, Nov. 8, on Disney Channel, Disney Junior and DisneyNOW . The Futon Critic.
2. Web site: Aguilar . Matthew . July 27, 2019 . Disney's The Rocketeer Cartoon Adds Two New Cast Members . 2019-08-27 . ComicBook.com.
3. Web site: Trumbore . Dave . November 6, 2019 . The Rocketeer: Disney Junior's New Animated Series Takes to the Skies . 2023-09-06 . . en.
4. Web site: Bonaime . Ross . August 30, 2021 . ‘The Rocketeer’ Getting New Disney+ Film, With David Oyelowo Possibly Starring . 2023-09-06 . . en.
5. Web site: Trumbore . Dave . February 27, 2018 . 'The Rocketeer' Set to Return … As an Animated Disney Junior Series? . February 27, 2018 . Collider.
6. Web site: Dick . Jeremy . August 31, 2021 . The Return of The Rocketeer Is Coming to Disney+ from Producer David Oyelowo . 2023-09-06 . . en.
7. Web site: Moreno . Miguel . November 8, 2022 . The Rocketeer 2 Looks Less Likely After Disappointing Update . 2023-09-06 . . en.
8. Web site: Voice Of Kit – Behind The Voice Actors . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230816152931/https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/Puppy-Dog-Pals/Bingo/ . 2023-08-16 . 2023-08-16 . Behind The Voice Actors . . Check marks indicates role has been confirmed using screenshots of closing credits and other reliable sources.
9. Web site: Voice Of Grandpa Ambrose – Behind The Voice Actors . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230816152931/https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/Puppy-Dog-Pals/Bingo/ . 2023-08-16 . 2023-08-16 . Behind The Voice Actors . . Check marks indicates role has been confirmed using screenshots of closing credits and other reliable sources.
10. Web site: Voice Of Tesh – Behind The Voice Actors . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230816152931/https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/Puppy-Dog-Pals/Bingo/ . 2023-08-16 . 2023-08-16 . Behind The Voice Actors . . Check marks indicates role has been confirmed using screenshots of closing credits and other reliable sources.
11. Web site: Voice Of Butch – Behind The Voice Actors . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230816152931/https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/Puppy-Dog-Pals/Bingo/ . 2023-08-16 . 2023-08-16 . Behind The Voice Actors . . Check marks indicates role has been confirmed using screenshots of closing credits and other reliable sources.
12. Web site: Voice Of Dave – Behind The Voice Actors . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230816152931/https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/Puppy-Dog-Pals/Bingo/ . 2023-08-16 . 2023-08-16 . Behind The Voice Actors . . Check marks indicates role has been confirmed using screenshots of closing credits and other reliable sources.
13. Web site: Voice Of Sareena – Behind The Voice Actors . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230816152931/https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/Puppy-Dog-Pals/Bingo/ . 2023-08-16 . 2023-08-16 . Behind The Voice Actors . . Check marks indicates role has been confirmed using screenshots of closing credits and other reliable sources.
14. Web site: Frye . Jim . November 8, 2019 . 5 Ways Disney Junior’s New The Rocketeer Series Was Inspired by the 1991 Film . 2023-09-06 . . en-US.
15. Web site: Bankhurst . Adam . October 10, 2019 . Disney Junior's The Rocketeer to Premiere This November . 2023-09-06 . . en.
16. Web site: The Rocketeer Season 1 Episodes . 2023-09-06 . . en.
17. Web site: March 27, 2021 . The Rocketeer Cancelled Without Season 2 On Disney Junior . July 26, 2021 . TV Scorecards.
18. Web site: D'Alessandro . Anthony . 2021-08-30 . 'The Rocketeer' Making A Comeback On Disney+ With David Oyelowo Producing & Circling To Star; Ed Ricourt Penning . 2021-08-30 . . en-US.
19. Web site: Barr . Merrill . ‘The Rocketeer’ Review: The Adorable Children’s Cartoon It Needs To Be . 2023-09-06 . Forbes . en.
20. Web site: Ashby . Emily . The Rocketeer TV Review Common Sense Media . 2023-09-06 . . en.
21. Web site: The Emmys . May 21, 2020 . NOMINEES ANNOUNCED FOR THE 47TH ANNUAL DAYTIME EMMY® AWARDS . June 10, 2020 . The Emmys.
22. Web site: The Emmys . May 21, 2020 . Nominees announced for the 47th annual daytime Emmy® awards . June 10, 2020 . The Emmys.