Wild C.A.T.s

For the original comic book, see WildC.A.T.s (comics).

Wild C.A.T.s
DVD release cover
Also known asJim Lee's Wild C.A.T.S: Covert Action Teams
GenreSuperhero
Action
Adventure
Science fiction
Created byJim Lee
Brandon Choi
Based on
Wild C.A.T.s
by
  • Jim Lee
  • Brandon Choi
Developed byBob Forward
David Wise
Written byDavid Wise
Brooks Wachtel
Rich Fogel
Mark Seidenberg
Directed byBob Smith
Voices ofRod Wilson
Roscoe Handford
Colin O'Meara
Ruth Marshall
Dean McDermott
Paul Mota
Sean McCann
Janet-Laine Green
Maurice Dean Wint
Opening theme"Wild C.A.T.s" by Sheree Jeacocke and Gerry Mosby
Country of originUnited States
Canada
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes13
Production
Executive producersJim Lee
Michael Hirsh
Toper Taylor
ProducerHasmi Giakoumis
Running time22 minutes
Production companiesWildStorm Productions
Nelvana
Original release
NetworkCBS
ReleaseOctober 1, 1994 (1994-10-01) –
January 21, 1995 (1995-01-21)

Wild C.A.T.S is a half-hour animated television series based on the comics series of the same name and developed for television by David Wise. It aired on CBS for one season from October 1, 1994, to January 21, 1995.[1] The series was co-produced by WildStorm Productions & Nelvana.

Overview

When the evil Daemonites emerge from the shadows, multi-billionaire Jacob Marlowe assembles the Wild C.A.T.s, a team of warriors who are descendants of the heroic Kherubim race.[2]

Production

Jim Lee's talent agency, Creative Artists Agency, suggested Lee consider adapting some of his characters to animated series due to the success of X-Men: The Animated Series creating a demand for superhero across the networks.[3] CAA set up a meeting between Lee and Canadian animation studio Nelvana, with Lee pitching Wild C.A.T.s to the studio with Nelvana showing Lee their work on Cadillacs and Dinosaurs which sold Lee on working with the studio on the series.[3] Lee and Nelvana pitched Wild C.A.T.s to CBS who were receptive to the series and put the show into development.[3]

CBS had also acquired options on Savage Dragon, Freak Force, and Youngblood with CBS eventually passing on Freak Force with the intention of creating a 90-minute block of animated series based on Image Comics' characters to compete against the successful X-Men: The Animated Series on Fox Kids.[4] Wild C.A.T.s was eventually picked up to series while CBS passed on Savage Dragon and experienced a contentious fallout with Youngblood creator Rob Liefeld over content changes mandated by the network which Liefeld refused to entertain.[4][5]

Wild C.A.T.S, along with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Skeleton Warriors, was grouped into the "Action Zone" showcase that used a wraparound animated fly-though pre-credit sequence to bookend the three very different programs. In March 1995, CBS announced that Wild C.A.T.S would not be returning for a second season.[6]

The series was canceled around the same time that the "Action Zone" concept was officially retired (although TMNT retained the "Action Zone" credit sequence until the end of its run two years later). Following its cancellation, Wild C.A.T.s was picked up by USA Network and was aired as part of the USA Action Extreme Team block from 1995 to 1996.

The Wild C.A.T.s were composed of the original roster from the comic series. The major villain was Helspont, and the Troika and the Coda were featured as supporting characters. Mr. Majestic also made appearances, though not as a member of the group.

The series featured a rock soundtrack, with the theme song performed by Sheree Jeacocke and Gerry Mosby.

Cast

Episodes

No.TitleWritten byOriginal release date
1"Dark Blade Falling"David WiseOctober 1, 1994 (1994-10-01)
Computer expert and martial artist Reno Bryce is ambushed by Daemonite agents, but is saved by the Wild C.A.T.s, who reveal that he is a descendant of the Kherubim. When his true form is unveiled as Warblade, Bryce runs away, only to be captured and possessed by the Daemonites.
2"Heart of Steel"David WiseOctober 8, 1994 (1994-10-08)
After the Wild C.A.T.s stop the Troika from stealing top-secret data from Infidyne Corporation, Spartan reunites with Karyn, an Infidyne employee who was his old flame when he was still human. Karyn offers Spartan a second chance in life by regenerating his human body, but he is torn between his love for her and his duty as the team leader.
3"Cry of the Coda"Brooks WachtelOctober 15, 1994 (1994-10-15)
The Eastern European nation of Yurgovia threatens its neighbors with a weapon that generates earthquakes, and Helspont wants it for his quest to find the Orb. Marlowe sends the Wild C.A.T.s to Yurgovia to destroy the weapon, but Zealot discovers that her former pupil Artemis has turned the Coda into mercenaries working with the Daemonites.
4"The Evil Within"Len UhleyOctober 29, 1994 (1994-10-29)
In order to take control of a spy satellite to help him locate the Orb, Helspont has the President of the United States possessed by a Daemonite. Meanwhile, after a falling out with Zealot, Voodoo goes AWOL and is led to believe that her parents are still alive and looking for her.
5"The Big Takedown"Bob Forward & David WiseNovember 12, 1994 (1994-11-12)
Following a breach at a Halo Enterprises lab by the Troika, Grifter brings in his former pupil Lonely to help improve the security system of Marlowe's company. When Void notices that Lonely has been tagged with a Daemonite tracking dart, the Wild C.A.T.s stage a contingency plan during Lonely's security breach test to prevent the Troika from stealing a powerful x-ray lens, but Lonely reveals his ulterior motive to Grifter.
6"Lives in the Balance"Rich Fogel & Mark SeidenbergNovember 19, 1994 (1994-11-19)
After wandering through space for thousands of years, the ancient Kherubim leader Majestyk awakens when his stasis pod crashes on Earth. He reveals to the Wild C.A.T.s that Helspont is after the Orb, but while Spartan's team is sent to Holland to foil a Troika diamond heist and Majestyk and Zealot teleport to Maryland to retrieve the quantum generator, Marlowe suspects Majestyk is hiding something inside the stasis pod.
7"Soul of a Giant"Bob Forward & Sean Catherine DerekNovember 26, 1994 (1994-11-26)
Helspont hires an archaeologist to search for an ancient tablet that contains clues leading to the Orb. Maul discovers that the archaeologist is none other than his father, who he has not seen since his transformation.
8"Betrayed"Bob Forward & Brooks WachtelDecember 3, 1994 (1994-12-03)
During an attack at Halo Enterprises' headquarters, Marlowe is blasted with a Daemonite psionic transmitter. Warblade leaves to participate in a martial arts tournament in Japan, but when Helspont takes control of Marlowe's mind and jeopardizes the Wild C.A.T.s' mission in the Himalayas, he must decide between winning the trophy and saving his teammates.
9"Black Razor's Edge"Bob ForwardDecember 10, 1994 (1994-12-10)
Helspont locates the Orb, but in order to reach it, he plans to steal the U.S. government's new anti-missile laser. He also has the government's covert security team Black Razor track down and destroy the Wild C.A.T.s. Leading Black Razor is Max Cash, Grifter's estranged elder brother.
10"And Then There Were None"Bob ForwardDecember 17, 1994 (1994-12-17)
The Daemonites locate and unearth the temple containing the Orb. The Wild C.A.T.s arrive at the temple to stop Helspont from reaching the Orb, but all but Voodoo fall into the temple's traps. Being the least experienced member of the team, she must fend off against Helspont while finding a way to free her teammates.
11"M.V.P."Bob ForwardJanuary 7, 1995 (1995-01-07)
Helspont has the Wild C.A.T.s framed for attacking the President on national TV and arrested by the Black Razor. He also steals two nuclear missiles to blast out the temple containing the Orb and destroy the Wild C.A.T.s at Fort Knox, but Marlowe uses his financial power to foil his plans.
12"The End Game, Part One"Rich Fogel & Mark SeidenbergJanuary 14, 1995 (1995-01-14)
While the Wild C.A.T.s prevent the Daemonites from stealing an anti-gravity device at a NASA research facility, Grifter is hit by a stasis cannon by a possessed Lonely. Zealot pursues Lonely across the city to avenge her comatose lover while the rest of the team sends the device to a more secure location, unaware that it is an elaborate trap set by Helspont.
13"The End Game, Part Two"Bob ForwardJanuary 21, 1995 (1995-01-21)
Helspont has stolen the anti-gravity device and prepares a captured Zealot to become his newest servant. After being freed from Daemonite possession, Lonely rushes to Halo Enterprises to save Marlowe from being possessed. An injured Grifter awakens from his coma and heads for the Behemoth alone to rescue Zealot. Meanwhile, after Warblade cracks the Code of Threes, the Wild C.A.T.s return to the temple to release the Orb, but Voodoo realizes why it was sealed by the Elders in the first place.

Marketing tie-ins

CBS published a one-shot comic book to promote the Action Zone time slot, featuring characters from Wild C.A.T.s, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Skeleton Warriors. The cover art was illustrated by Jim Lee.[8]

Playmates Toys released a Wild C.A.T.s toy line of six-inch action figures from 1994 to 1995. The characters featured in the toy line were Spartan, Grifter, Zealot (Kherubim Warrior and Coda Uniform versions), Warblade, Maul (standard and Flexon Combat Suit versions), Voodoo, Void, Helspont, Pike, and a generic Daemonite. Mr. Majestic, Max Cash (as Black Razor), Slag, and a color variant of Pike were released as part of the comics-oriented "Image Universe" sub-line. The Bullet Bike was the sole vehicle in the toy line. In addition, Playmates released giant 10-inch figures of Spartan, Grifter, and Maul.[9]

A video game based on the TV series was published by Playmates Interactive in 1995 for the Super NES, with Spartan, Warblade, and Maul as the only playable characters.[10][11]

Reception

TechnicallyIDoComics of The Top Tens ranked Wild C.A.T.s at No. 5 on his list of the Top Ten Worst Comic Book Animated TV Shows, commenting that "choppy animation, sloppy voice-directing, and -- most importantly -- the most careless writing of any superhero cartoon I've ever witnessed as far as plot progression, character development, and dialogue are all concerned. Add an embarrassingly obnoxious theme song (lyrics and all), and you've got a recipe for disaster".[2]

Home media

Wild C.A.T.s was released on VHS by Sony Wonder from 1994 to 1996.[12] Funimation released the complete series on DVD on July 19, 2005.[13][14] The series is also available on Amazon Prime Video and Tubi.[15][16]

References

  1. ^ Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. p. 908. ISBN 978-1476665993.
  2. ^ a b TechnicallyIDoComics. "Top Ten Worst Comic Book Animated TV Shows". The Top Tens. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c Galvan, Dave (September 1994). "WildM.A.N." Wizard magazine. Wizard magazine. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  4. ^ a b Galvan, Dave (June 1994). "Cut & Print". Wizard magazine. Wizard magazine. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  5. ^ Galvan, Dave (June 1994). "Cut & Print". Wizard magazine. Wizard magazine. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  6. ^ Staff (March 1995). "Cyberforce on TV". Wizard magazine. Wizard magazine. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  7. ^ "Dan Hennessey Dies: Voice Actor for 'Care Bears' Braveheart Lion, 'Inspector Gadget's Chief Quimby & 'X-Men' TV Series Director Was 82". November 20, 2024.
  8. ^ "CBS Presents Action Zone". Comic Collector Live. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  9. ^ "Wildcats (Playmates)". Figure Realm. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  10. ^ "Wild C.A.T.S. for Super Nintendo". GameFAQs. Red Ventures. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  11. ^ "Review: Jim Lee's Wild C.A.T.S.: Covert Action Teams (SNES)". Comic Book Video Games. August 24, 2015. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  12. ^ "Wild C.A.T.s: Covert Action teams - Dark Blade Falling / Heart of Steel". VHS Collector. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  13. ^ "Jim Lee's WildC.A.T.S: Covert Action Teams DVD news: Full Announcement: Extras, Art, More!". TVShowsOnDVD.com. Archived from the original on June 10, 2015. Retrieved October 7, 2013.
  14. ^ "Jim Lee's WildC.A.T.S: Covert Action Teams DVD news: Complete '94 Cartoon Series Heads To DVD This Summer". TVShowsOnDVD.com. Archived from the original on May 3, 2015. Retrieved October 7, 2013.
  15. ^ "Wildcats". Amazon Prime Video. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
  16. ^ "Wild C.A.T.s". Tubi. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
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