Journey to the Center of the Earth (TV series)

Journey to the Center of the Earth is an American science fiction Saturday-morning cartoon, consisting of 17 episodes, each running 30 minutes. Produced by Filmation in association with 20th Century Fox Television, it aired from September 9, 1967, to September 6, 1969, on ABC Saturday Morning. It featured the voice of Ted Knight as Professor Lindenbrook/Sacknussem. It was later shown in reruns on Sci Fi Channel's Cartoon Quest.

It appears to have taken the 1959 film, Journey to the Center of the Earth, as its starting point rather than Jules Verne's original 1864 novel; e.g., including the character of Count Sacknussem and Gertrude the duck. However, it moved even further away from Verne's novel than the 1959 film did.

There are currently no plans to release the series on DVD and/or Blu-ray Disc from 20th Century Studios Home Entertainment, although most of the series is available for viewing on YouTube.

Opening narration
"Long ago, a lone explorer named Arne Sacknussem made a fantastic descent to the fabled lost kingdom of Atlantis at the Earth's core. After many centuries, his trail was discovered: first by me, Professor Oliver Lindenbrook, my niece Cindy, student Alec McEwen, our guide Lars and his duck Gertrude. But we were not alone. The evil Count Sacknussem, last descendant of the once noble Sacknussem family, had followed us... to claim the center of the Earth for his power-mad schemes. He ordered his brute-like servant, Torg, to destroy our party. But the plan backfired, sealing the entrance forever. And so, for us, began a desperate race to the Earth's core... to learn the secret of the way back. This is the story of our new journey to the center of the Earth!"

Series credits

 * Directed By Hal Sutherland
 * Co-Directed By Norm McCabe, Lou Zukor
 * Production Designer: Don Christensen
 * Layout: Wes Herschensohn, Marilee Heyer, Ken Hultgren, Ray Jacobs, Mel Keefer, Dan Noonan
 * Storyboards: Jan Green, Sherman Labby
 * Background Supervisor: Ervin Kaplan
 * Backgrounds: Venetia Epler, Martin Forte, Jack Healey, Ted Littlefield, Lorraine Morgan, Paul Xander
 * Animators: Bob Bransford, Clark Davis, Otto Feuer, Ed Friedman, George Grandpre, Bill Hajee, Bob Kirk, Clarke Mallery, Jack Ozark, Amby Paliwoda, Virgil Raddatz, Lenn Redman, Len Rogers, Virgil Ross, Herb Rothwill, Bob Trochim, Xenia
 * Ink and Paint Supervisor: Martha Buckley
 * Assistant Ink and Paint Supervisor: Betty Brooks
 * Animation Check: Ruth Craig, Renee Henning, Barbara Koponen, Ann Oliphant, Jane Philippi, Marion Turk
 * Editorial Supervisor: Joseph Simon
 * Assistant Film Editor: Lester Meisenheimer
 * Film Coordinator: June Gilham
 * Production Coordinator: Joe Lynch
 * Production Assistant: Greg Kirsanoff
 * Background Music Composed By John Gart
 * Music Supervised By Gordon Zahler
 * Sound By Ryder Sound Service
 * Color By Technicolor
 * Voice Talents Of Ted Knight, Pat Harrington, Jr., Jane Webb
 * Produced By Lou Scheimer And Norm Prescott