Rayman: The Animated Series
Rayman: The Animated Series | ||
---|---|---|
Published by | Ubi Soft | |
Developed by | Ubi Soft | |
Release date | 1999 | |
Genre | CGI animated series | |
Platforms | DVD, VHS, televised broadcast |
Rayman: The Animated Series is a computer-animated TV programme based on the Rayman video games series. It was produced in 1999 as an accompaniment to the release of Rayman 2 in the same year. Although it was planned to be a full 26-episode series, with 13-minute episodes,[1][2][3][4] and meant to be aired on TV worldwide the following year, the series was cancelled and only four episodes were aired in very few countries in Europe, notably France, Germany (in which it was aired on Super RTL) and the Netherlands.
The French daily newspaper Midi Libre reported in 2020 that six episodes had been produced,[5] but it is unclear whether this is a mistake or if an additional two episodes were produced but never released. Animator Émile Ghorayeb cited high costs[6] and "marketing reasons"[7] for the cancellation of the series, while L'Histoire de Rayman cited a lack of audience and poor writing.[8]
Plot
Rayman had already been captured by Admiral Razorbeard and is being held at Rigatoni's circus - a giant tent which floats from one location to another, where he is forced to do circus tricks. After being thrown in the dungeons, he soon meets four other prisoners, Betina, Cookie, Flips and Lac-Mac, who is the star of the circus show and therefore Rigatoni's favorite prisoner, and plans their escape. When they do escape, they end up on the run in the vast forest city of Aeropolis, where Inspector Grub is pursuing them under the orders of Rigatoni.
Characters
Protagonists
Antagonists
Episodes
- Lac-Mac Napping
- No Parking
- High Anxiety
- Big Date
- My Fair Lac-Mac[9] (cancelled)
Voice cast
English version
- Billy West – Rayman
- Carlos Alazraqui – Admiral Razorbeard, Cookie
- Danny Mann – Rigatoni, Lac-Mac, Inspector Grub
- Carolyn Lawrence – Betina (Lac-Mac Napping and No Parking)
- Lacey Chabert – Betina (High Anxiety)
- Kath Soucie – Betina (Big Date)
- Candi Millo – Additional voices
- Kate Donahue – Additional voices
- Brian Stepanek – Additional voices
French version
- Patrice Baudrier – Lac-Mac
- Philippe Bozo – Razorbeard
- Michel Elias – Inspector Grub
- Emmanuel Fouquet – Cookie
- Emmanuel Garijo – Rayman
- Catherine Hamilty – Additional voices
- Olivier Hémon – Rigatoni
- Patricia Legrand – Betina
- Marie Vincent – Additional voices
VHS and DVD releases
Although very rare, the Rayman: The Animated Series is available on VHS and DVD.[10][11] An English VHS was released in the United States and Australia, a French one can be found in France and Belgium, and a German one was bundled alongside some copies of Rayman. A DVD is also available, but only in France. Though the text on the cover is in French, the English and German versions are included as well as the French version. Some French copies of Rayman 2: The Great Escape on PC also contain the series on the same disc. An Australian release of Rayman 2 also claims to include the series on the disc, but this is not the case.
Ubisoft press kit (1999)
Screenshots
Work in process artwork
Gallery
Concept art
3D artwork
Storyboards
External links
References
- ↑ Rayman: The Animated Series press kit, An Interview with Yves Guillemot, https://raymanpc.com/wiki/script-en/images/c/c4/Rayman_TV_Interview_1999.pdf
- ↑ YouTube, IGN Trailer - Rayman: The Animated Series, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOLsxLp8HRk
- ↑ Ubisoft.com (via archive.org), Ubi Soft’s Beloved Rayman Sells Record-Breaking 4.2 Million Copies!, https://web.archive.org/web/20001213225300fw_/http://www.ubisoft.com/usa/corp/press/pr_raymantv0513.html
- ↑ Annecy.org, Sélection officielle 1999, fiche film : Rayman – No Parking, https://www.annecy.org/a-propos/archives:fr/1999:fr/selection-officielle/fiche-film:film-990227
- ↑ Midi Libre, Millau : Laurent Jennet, du coup de crayon aux dessins animés à la télévision, https://www.midilibre.fr/2020/08/20/millau-laurent-jennet-du-coup-de-crayon-aux-dessins-animes-a-la-television-9027009.php
- ↑ YouTube, Interview with Emile Ghorayeb | Animation Director | MPC (20:52), https://youtu.be/_Kc3H1KuOf0?t=1252
- ↑ Emilio Graphics, CV of Émile Ghorayeb, http://emilio3dgraphics.50megs.com/Documents/Emile%20Ghorayeb%20CV.doc
- ↑ L'Histoire de Rayman, Chapter 9 - La Raymania
- ↑ Emilio Graphics, Animation - Rayman, http://emilio3dgraphics.50megs.com/animation_Rayman.htm
- ↑ Ubisoft.com (via archive.org), Ubi Soft HITS THE SCREEN!, https://web.archive.org/web/20000528174722fw_/http://www.ubisoft.com/usa/corp/press/pr_raymantv1005.html
- ↑ IGN, Rayman Hits Video, https://uk.ign.com/articles/1999/12/02/rayman-hits-video