The Addams Family (1992 TV series)

The Addams Family is an American animated television series produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions and based on the eponymous comic strip characters by Charles Addams. It is the second cartoon show to feature the characters (the first was the 1973 series, also produced by Hanna-Barbera), and ran from September 12, 1992, to November 6, 1993, on ABC. The series' development began in the wake of the successful 1991 Addams Family feature film. Two seasons were produced. It remained part of ABC's Saturday Morning lineup until it was replaced by Fudge in January 1995.

Premise
The series focuses on the Addams Family at their ancestral home in the fictional town of Happydale Heights. Much of the plot lines focus on mostly the family dealing with an issue concerning their lives, which they seek to resolve. In some stories, the Addams find themselves dealing with the Normanmeyer family who seek to exploit their situation or thwart their schemes in order to be rid of them from the town; the exception being the family's only son, who is friends with the Addams children. Most episodes focus on a single story, concluding with the Addams celebrating their success with a family dance.

As with the 1973 series, the macabre nature of the Addams family was toned down in order to be acceptable for children. An example of this is Gomez's love of cigars not being shown, along with his response to his wife's use of foreign languages being reduced to a mere kissing frenzy. In addition, writers also ensured that the plots for episodes followed a similar nature to those written for other Saturday morning cartoons of the period.

Voice cast



 * John Astin as Gomez Addams - The actor reprised his role from the 1960s TV series
 * Nancy Linari as Morticia Frump Addams
 * Debi Derryberry as Wednesday Addams
 * Jeannie Elias as Pugsley Addams
 * Rip Taylor as Uncle Fester
 * Carol Channing as Granny Frump
 * Jim Cummings as Lurch - The actor also voiced several other minor characters in the series
 * Pat Fraley as Cousin Itt
 * Rob Paulsen as Norman Normanmeyer - The actor based on the character's voice on an impersonation of Paul Lynde
 * Edie McClurg as Normina Normanmeyer
 * Dick Beals as Norman "N.J." Normanmeyer Jr.

Additional voices were provided by Ernest Harada, Susan Silo, Pamela Segall, Marcia Wallace, and Héctor Elizondo

Production
New artistic models of the characters were used for this series, though still having a passing resemblance to the original comics. Lurch, for instance, has blue skin in the animated series. The Addams Family Theme, re-recorded with a basso profondo lead vocal, was reused as the theme for the series.

Merchandise
Playmates Toys produced a series of nine action figures based on the Addams Family animated series. This includes Gomez, Morticia, Uncle Fester, Lurch, Pugsley, and Granny among others. Each figure includes multiple points of articulation, accessories, and a biography card on their cardback. No commercial was ever made for this. Books were also produced.