Where's Wally? (TV series) explained

Creator:	Martin Handford
Developer:	Rowby Goren
Creative Director:	Mike Gornall
Narrated:	Jim Cummings
Starring:	Townsend Coleman Brad Garrett Julian Holloway Dave Workman
Composer:	Michael Tavera
Country:	United States United Kingdom
Language:	English
Num Episodes:	13 (and four specials)
Executive Producer:	Martin Handford Andy Heyward (TV series) Peter Orton (TV series)
Director:	Stephan Martiniere (direct-to-video episodes)
Producer:	Peter Aries (TV series) Michael Cornall (direct-to-video episodes)
Editor:	Richard S. Gannon Trudy Alexander Kris Glispin
Runtime:	25 minutes
Company:	The Waldo Film Co. DIC Enterprises (TV series) HIT Communications PLC (TV series)
Network:	CBS (CBS Kid TV) (United States) ITV (CITV) (United Kingdom)

Where's Wally? (called Where's Waldo? in North America) is an animated television series production based on the Where's Wally? books by Martin Handford, animated by DIC Enterprises, HIT Communications PLC and The Waldo Film Company. The television series aired on CBS in the United States and ITV in the United Kingdom for one season^[1] with a series of four episodes being released straight-to-video following afterwards. The program's opening song "Where's Wally?" was composed by Michael Tavera. The distribution rights to the show are currently held by Mattel Television.

Plot

The show follows the adventures of Wally/Waldo and his dog Woof, who were already established stars of the Where's Wally? picture book series. The cartoon Where's Waldo? went beyond the books' original concept, giving the characters depth and giving reasons for their adventures.

Wally/Waldo and his dog Woof travel to distant lands, solving mysteries and lending a helping hand wherever they could. With the help of his magic walking stick, Wally/Waldo could travel through space and time or travel to far off magical lands. Often sent by Wizard Whitebeard to help solve a puzzle, or mysteries, Where's Waldo? was a 1/2 hour puzzle of clues and riddles. The evil Waldo lookalike Odlaw was the show's villain, constantly plotting to steal Waldo's magic stick. In each episode Odlaw would team up with the other villains from the far-off lands to help get the magic stick, while Waldo and Woof teamed up with other land's "good-guys" to help with their problems. Waldo stayed true to the books' premise by means of the "Waldo's Minutes", during which the screen froze for a full minute so the viewer at home could try to find Wally. This kind of segment aired twice per episode.

Characters

Wally/Waldo (voiced by Townsend Coleman) - Wally is the star of the Where's Wally? series. The character is known for his distinct wardrobe of a red and white striped shirt, blue jeans, brown boots, red and white striped socks, glasses, and his red and white bobbled hat. He has traveled all over the world, through time, and to distant magical lands. Waldo is not the only one like him; he comes from the Land of Waldos, which is a land filled with Waldos just like him. Waldo is always ready for an adventure with his walking stick in hand, and trusty dog Woof by his side. His favorite hobbies are reading and collecting things from his many travels. The character's age is unknown and his height is described as "tallish" and weight as "lightish". Wally is very good-natured and has a optimistic attitude, often being seen with a smile on his face. Waldo first appeared in 1987 in the book Where's Wally?. Over the years Wally's appearance changed only slightly.
Woof (voiced by David Workman) - Woof is Wally's dog and good friend. Woof originally belonged to Wilma, but over the years became Waldo's dog. Woof comes from the Land of Woofs, which is a land full of dogs like him. Like his owner, Woof sports a red and white bobbled hat, glasses, and a red and white striped suit. Woof sets off with Waldo on his travels with his bone, but always seems to lose it. Woof is shy and easily scared. He gets so scared at many of the places he travels to that he hides, leaving only his tail showing. In the classic Waldo books, only Woof's tail can be spotted. Woof first appeared in 1990 in .
Wizard Whitebeard (voiced by Brad Garrett impersonating Rodney Dangerfield) - the magical, fun-loving, humorous Wizard Whitebeard often visits Waldo with one of his many magical scrolls (something he always ends up losing). Wizard Whitebeard is recognizable by his red robe, blue hat, long white beard, his bare feet, and his striped staff. Whitebeard is the one with the magic that allows Waldo and his friends to travel to all the magical and far off lands. While there are rumors stating that he is the father of Wenda, these have not been confirmed and are not considered canon. Wizard Whitebeard first appeared in 1989 in the book .
Odlaw (voiced by Julian Holloway) - Odlaw is the villain of the Where's Waldo? series. He is "mean, nasty, loathsome and disgusting". His number of good deeds are few and all he cares about is getting his hands on Waldo's magic walking stick. His wardrobe includes a black and yellow striped shirt, black jeans, boots, dark glasses, yellow and black bobbled hat, and a slick moustache. Odlaw seems to be something of an evil twin to Waldo, and it is later confirmed by the revelation that he comes from Odlaw's Swamp, where hundreds of other Odlaws live, which is a parallel to the Land of Waldos. Odlaw can be really clumsy, so he always ends up getting hurt. Odlaw's name comes from "Waldo" spelled backwards. He first appeared in 1991 in the book where his role was like an "Anti-Waldo".
Wenda: Wenda is Waldo's best friend. The character is the "one who takes the pictures" according to the intro of The Wonder Book, but she always loses her camera. Wenda was featured in the Where's Waldo? television series, in the episode "The Living Exhibits". She first appeared in 1991 in Where's Waldo: The Magnificent Poster Book along with her twin sister, Wilma, who, however, has not been seen since. Wenda's wardrobes include a red and white striped shirt, blue skirt, red and white striped stockings, glasses, and red and white bobbled hat.

The series was narrated by Jim Cummings.

Voice cast

Townsend Coleman as Wally/Waldo
David Workman as Woof
Brad Garrett as Wizard Whitebeard
Julian Holloway as Odlaw
Jim Cummings as Narrator

Additional voices

Crew

Susan Blu - voice and casting director
Marsha Goodman - casting director
Stephanie McCorkle - talent coordinator

International changes

To meet the needs of international viewers in the United States and Canada, a second audio track was recorded using the same vocal actors – the name "Wally" was replaced entirely with "Waldo", the name of the books' character in the United States and Canada. Other international versions were produced dubbed in entirely in German, French, Spanish, Italian, Japanese and other languages (many times with Wally's name being changed to match that country's name from the original books).

Episodes

Direct-to-video episodes (1992)

Following the conclusion of the TV series, a series of four direct-to-video specials were created that took advantage of the VCR technology. The entire voice cast, except for Julian Holloway as Odlaw, was replaced for these episodes. The first two releases were released in 1992 by GoodTimes Home Video, while the other two didn't see the light of day until July 1997, when they were released by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment through the Fox Kids Video imprint.

Home media

DVD release

The animated show was released in Australia on May 7, 2009 with Where's Wally? Vol. 1 – My Left Fang. As of February 2013, Mattel Television has yet to announce any plans for a US DVD release of the show, but the episodes were previously released on videocassette in the 1990s by Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, Fox Kids Video, and CBS Video.

UK VHS releases

Abbey Home Entertainment (Tempo Video) (1992–1994)

VHS title	Release date	Episodes
Where's Wally? My Left Fang	1992	"My Left Fang", "Forest Women", "The Great Ball Game"
Where's Wally? It's a Gruel, Gruel World	1993	"It's A Gruel, Gruel World", "Draining The Deep", "The Underground Hunters"
Where's Wally? The Land of the Carpet Flyers	1993	"The Land of the Carpet Flyers"
Where's Wally? The Land of the Lost Pyramid	1994	"The Land Of The Lost Pyramid", "Ahead Of The Future", "The Unfriendly Giant"
Where's Wally? The Biggest Ever Video	1994	"A Stone Age Story", "Viking Fling", "The Living Exhibits", "It's A Gruel, Gruel World", "Draining The Deep", "The Underground Hunters", "My Left Fang", "Forest Women", "The Great Ball Game"
Where's Wally? The Unfriendly Giant	1994	"The Unfriendly Giant", "The Land Of The Lost Pyramid"

Awards

The Where's Wally? cartoon was nominated for the "1992 annual Young Artist Award" for Outstanding New Animation Series but lost the award to (also on CBS). The show lasted only one season on CBS airing 13 episodes between September 14 and December 14, 1991, before being cancelled because of low ratings (as a result of direct competition from NBC's juggernaut Saved by the Bell and ABC's The Bugs Bunny and Tweety Show). Reruns of the episodes aired on CBS until September 5, 1992.

Merchandise

In 1992, Little, Brown and Company released two Waldo books based on the adventures and characters from the Where's Waldo? TV Show. Fun with Waldo and More Fun with Waldo, featured print versions of many of the "Waldo Minute" freeze-frame scenes, along with new puzzles and things to spot in each picture.

Reboot series

In 2019, a reboot entitled Where's Waldo?, produced by DreamWorks Animation Television, premiered on Universal Kids on July 20.

Notes and References

Book: Erickson . Hal . Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 . 2005 . 2nd . McFarland & Co . 978-1476665993 . 903–904.