NEW ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN PLANET, THE: TWILIGHT OZONE {SEASON FIVE PREMIERE} (TV)
Summary
One in this series of animated programs featuring Captain Planet, the environmental superhero who, with the help of five special young people from around the world called Planeteers, battles eco-villains bent on destroying Earth.
Gaia asks the Planeteers to investigate a mysterious ailment plaguing livestock in countries throughout the southern hemisphere, causing them to go blind. They arrive in Chile, where they encounter a shepherd with a flock of sheep suffering not only from blindness, but intense boils and rashes as well. Linka and Gi gather information from a NASA research center and conclude that the cause is the hole in the ozone layer. The Planeteers then head to the Australian Outback, where they meet with their friend Sam, an environmental scientist, at a research center designed to study the ozone layer. Inside the center they see more mutated animals, and the center’s leader, Dr. Roddenberry, claims that they are helping these life-forms adapt to increased radiation from the weakening of the ozone layer. He refutes the Planeteers’ ideas about trying to fix the ozone layer itself by calling their experiments in adaptation “more marketable,” and noting that such an effort would require international cooperation to achieve.
Deep inside the compound the Planeteers are shocked to find Duke Nukem in a test chamber. He attacks them until Dr. Roddenberry calms him down, insisting that the Planeteers are only there for research. Dr. Roddenberry claims that despite Nukem’s earlier crimes, he is of great scientific value for his ability to thrive in conditions of deadly radiation. However, Dr. Roddenberry agrees to look at the Planeteers’ research and consider their ideas about repairing the ozone layer. When he voices a desire to look into ozone repair in addition to his research, Nukem interrupts and threatens Dr. Roddenberry; he believes that the repair of the ozone layer would ruin his chance to become a major figure in a world altered by radioactivity. Nukem attacks, expelling lethal amounts of radiation, knocking Dr. Roddenberry unconscious and forcing the Planeteers to flee.
The Planeteers summon Captain Planet, who easily defeats Nukem and wraps him in a lead pipe. However, Captain Planet becomes weaker as he carries Nukem away, owing to the weakened ozone layer and Nukem exposing him to harmful ultraviolet rays. He falls, and Nukem breaks free to attack a helpless Captain Planet. He is forced to disappear back into the Planeteers’ rings. Sam and the Planeteers attempt to flee from Nukem, but he blows up their jeep and forces them to flee through the Outback to reach civilization. They manage to hold off both Nukem and the hostile fauna of the Outback, but Nukem tries to lure them out of hiding by detonating canisters of CFCs in front of the research facility. The Planeteers put out the resultant fires, but Nukem captures Gi and forces them back inside the compound. However, a bevvy of news reporters arrive to cover the fight; Sam reveals that they are responding to a call he made earlier, and that Nukem’s rampage will have the effect of drawing media attention to the ozone research facility, thus educating the public about the dangers of ozone deterioration.
Nukem retreats for the time being as the sun goes down. The Planeteers summon Captain Planet again, hoping that this circumstance will be more favorable than last time. This time, Captain Planet takes proper precautions to protect himself from the sun, The news media looks on as Captain Planet easily defeats Nukem. The resultant media attention allows Dr. Roddenberry to call for protecting the ozone layer against industrial pollutants. The episode ends with advice about how to curb emissions of air pollutants in the home, and how to reuse and recycle waste materials. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: N/A
- DATE: September 10, 1994 10:00 AM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:23:40
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:36982
- GENRE: Animation
- SUBJECT HEADING: Animation
- SERIES RUN: TBS - TV series, 1990-1996
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Nick Boxer … Executive Producer, Writer, Lyrics
- Barbara Pyle … Executive Producer
- Ron Myrick … Producer
- Dan Gottlieb … Associate Producer
- Karenia Kaminski … Associate Producer
- Robert Alvarez … Animation Director
- Krislin Co., The … Animation Director
- TBS Production, Inc. … Developed by
- DIC Enterprises, Inc. … Developed by
- Sean Catherine Derek … Writer
- Laren Bright … Writer
- Lane Raichert … Writer
- Thomas Chase … Music by, Theme Music by
- Steve Rucker … Music by, Theme Music by
- Murray McFadden … Music by
- Timothy Mulholland … Music by
- David Coburn … Voice, Captain Planet
- LeVar Burton … Voice, Kwame
- Joey Dedio … Voice, Wheeler
- Janice Kawaye … Voice, Gi
- Scott Menville … Voice, Ma-Ti
- Kath Soucie … Voice, Linka
- Frank Welker … Voice, Suchi, Various
- Margot Kidder … Voice, Gaia
- Maurice LaMarche … Voice, Duke Nukem
- B.J. Ward … Voice, Federal Spokesman