ALF: The Animated Series

ALF: The Animated Series (also known as ALF on Melmac) is an American animated television series that aired on NBC for 26 episodes from September 26, 1987, to January 7, 1989.

ALF: The Animated Series was a prequel and animated spinoff of the prime time series ALF, which also aired on NBC from 1986 to 1990. Paul Fusco, the creator and puppeteer of ALF in the live-action series, was the only cast member to reprise his role; none of the human characters from the prime time ALF appeared in the animated series, due to its nature as a prequel and its setting being on Melmac rather than Earth. ALF Tales was a spin-off of the series, which also aired on NBC on Saturdays from September 1988 to December 1989. The two ALF animated series ran concurrently during the 1988–89 season as the ALF & ALF Tales Hour.

Setting
The series is a prequel to ALF, depicting ALF's life on his home planet of Melmac before it exploded and he came to Earth. Since the name ALF was given to him after his arrival on Earth, he is instead known by his original name, Gordon Shumway. The puppet ALF appears at the beginning and end of the episode, talking to the viewers in the Tanner family's garage and either setting up the episode as if he were writing his memoir "Melmac Memories" and commenting on it afterwards, reading fan mail, or describing what his life was like on Melmac. The visual look of the series was created by lead character designer Fil Barlow.

The format of the series is that of a situational comedy, or sitcom, with much of the humor deriving from the characters partaking in ordinary activities, but in an alien environment.

The Gordon/ALF from the series is one of the cartoon characters featured in Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue.

Plot
Gordon Shumway is a teenager who lives in suburban East Velcro on the planet Melmac with his parents Bob and Flo, his brother Curtis, his younger sister Augie, and their dog Neep. He has two friends, Rick and Skip, and a girlfriend, Rhonda, who, along with him, are members of the Melmacian Orbit Guard. The show also features supporting characters, such as the fortune teller Madame Pokipsi and the villainous Larson Petty and his sidekick Eggbert.

The Shumway Family

 * Gordon (Gordo) Shumway / ALF (voiced by Paul Fusco) – The protagonist. A resident of East Velcro and member of the Melmacian Orbit Guard.
 * Bob Shumway (voiced by Thick Wilson) – Gordon's father. He works at a mayonnaise factory and is an amateur inventor.
 * Flo Shumway (voiced by Peggy Mahon) – Gordon's mother.
 * Curtis Shumway (voiced by Michael Fantini) – Gordon's younger brother.
 * Augie Shumway (voiced by Paulina Gillis ) – Gordon's younger sister.
 * Neep – The Shumway family's pet, a dog-like creature called a vespa.
 * Harry – The Shumway family's pet, a bird-like creature called a Westfellman Smulk.

Melmacians

 * Rhonda (voiced by Paulina Gillis) – Gordon's girlfriend, who is secretly an accomplished pilot.
 * Skipper "Skip" (voiced by Rob Cowan) – One of Gordon's friends
 * Rick Fusterman (voiced by Paul Fusco) – One of Gordon's friends.
 * Spudder – Curtis' friend.
 * Stella (voiced by Ellen-Ray Hennessy) – A waitress at the Cats Up Diner.
 * Eddie – The owner of the Cats Up Diner.
 * Madame Pokipsi (voiced by Deborah Theaker) – A fortune teller.
 * Colonel Cantfayl (voiced by Len Carlson) – A colonel in the Orbit Guard and Sargent Staff's superior.
 * Sargent Staff (voiced by Len Carlson) – A sergeant in the Orbit Guard and Gordon, Skip and Rick's superior officer, whom Gordon is often at odds at.
 * Freda Fusterman (voiced by Marla Lukofsky)
 * Tillie (voiced by Marla Lukofsky)
 * Jane Appalling (voiced by Marla Lukofsky)
 * TV Announcer (voiced by Marla Lukofsky)

Villains

 * Larson Petty (voiced by Thick Wilson) – The main antagonist of the series. He is an alien who attempts to invade Melmac. He has two offsiders, Eggbert and Sloop (both voiced by Dan Hennessey)
 * Louie the Pruner - A villain and owner of a salad dressing empire.
 * Sonny - The son of Louie the Pruner.

Episodes
Each episode is bookended by ALF talking about his upcoming book, Melmac Memories, about his life on Melmac during his first year in the Orbit Guard.

Home media
On May 30, 2006, Lionsgate Home Entertainment released both the first nine episodes of ALF: The Animated Series as ALF Animated Adventures – 20,000 Years in Driving School and Other Stories; and the first seven episodes of ALF Tales entitled ALF and The Beanstalk and Other Classic Fairy Tales on DVD in Region 1.

Some episodes can also be found in the special features section of the collectors edition release of the original live action series.

The complete series was remastered and subsequently released on October 17, 2023, by Shout! Factory in the DVD box set ALF: The Complete Series (Deluxe Edition). The box set release also included the original 1986–90 sitcom, ALF Tales and Project: ALF.