The Flintstone Kids

The Flintstone Kids is an American animated television series produced by Hanna-Barbera. It is an alternative incarnation of the studio's original animated series The Flintstones. The series depicts juvenile versions of the main characters from the original show. It aired from September 13, 1986, to November 14, 1987, on ABC. Unlike the previous shows, this was the first Flintstones series not to have a laugh track.

Overview
The program follows the adventures of Fred Flintstone, Barney Rubble, Wilma Slaghoople, Betty McBricker and Dino as tweens. They share their preadolescence with their friends Nate Slate (Fred's future boss), Philo Quartz and rich girl Dreamchip Gemstone. They also deal with their bully Rocky Ratrock and his Badrotten Bunch consisting of Tarpit Tommy, Flab Slab, Janet Granite, and Rocky's dog Stalagbite.

Plot and segments
This series featured the following segments:

The Flintstone Kids
The "main" segment of the show. It would either be a single half-hour episode (only in the first season) or a segment.

Flintstone Funnies
Freddy, Barney, Wilma and Betty dream of exciting fantasy adventures. This segment was dropped in the second season.

Dino's Dilemmas
The adventures and misadventures of Freddy's pet dinosaur Dino.

Captain Caveman and Son
The adventures of Captain Caveman (returning from Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels) with his son Cavey Jr. as they fight bad guys like the evil genius Mr. Bad. This segment was actually a "show within a show" whereby Captain Caveman and Son is a TV show watched by the main characters at Fred's home, where the "fourth wall" is broken frequently.

Episodes
The segments indicate in colors by which characters starred in them:
 * Blue = The Flintstone Kids (25 segments)
 * Light Blue = Flintstone Funnies (13 segments)
 * Magenta = Dino's Dilemmas (19 segments)
 * Red = Captain Caveman and Son (19 segments)

Season 2 (1987–88)
Four of these episodes contains a new short followed by repeats of two shorts from season 1.

Voice cast

 * Charlie Adler as Cavey Jr. ("Captain Caveman and Son" segment)
 * Bever-Leigh Banfield as Mayor of Bedrock ("Captain Caveman and Son" segment)
 * Michael Bell as Mr. Billy Bad ("Captain Caveman and Son" segment)
 * Mel Blanc as Dino, Bob Rubble, Captain Caveman ("Captain Caveman and Son" segment)
 * Susan Blu as Dreamchip Gemstone, Janet Granite
 * Hamilton Camp as Barney Rubble, Flab Slab, Cragmire
 * Henry Corden as Ed Flintstone, Edna Flintstone
 * Julie Dees as Wilma Slaghoople (1986–1987), Mica Slaghoople, Mickey Slaghoople, Tarpit Tommy
 * June Foray as Grandma Cavemom ("Captain Caveman and Son" segment)
 * Elizabeth Lyn Fraser as Wilma Slaghoople (1987–1988)
 * Kenneth Mars as Narrator ("Captain Caveman and Son" segment)
 * Scott Menville as Freddy Flintstone (1987–1988)
 * Bumper Robinson as Philo Quartz
 * Marilyn Schreffler as Rocky Ratrock, Flo Rubble
 * B.J. Ward as Betty McBricker, Mrs. Rockbottom, Dusty Rubble
 * Lennie Weinrib as Freddy Flintstone (1986–1987), Police Commissioner ("Captain Caveman and Son" segment)
 * Frank Welker as Nate Slate, Stalagbite, Fang, Brick McBricker

Home media
On May 4, 2010, Warner Home Video released Saturday Morning Cartoons 1980s, Volume 1, a compilation release which features episodes from various 80's cartoons including an episode from The Flintstone Kids. On March 11, 2014, Warner Home Video released The Flintstone Kids: Rockin' in Bedrock, a 2-disc set featuring 10 episodes from the first season, on DVD in Region 1.

Critical response
Common Sense Media gave the series a three out of five stars, saying: "Bedrock, the early years: cute and more P.C."

Awards
In 1988, Mary Jo Ludin and Lane Raichert were given the Humanitas Prize for the show's episode "Rocky's Rocky Road".

Other appearances
Cavey Jr. appears in the Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law episode "Evolutionary War", voiced by Maurice LaMarche.

Cavey Jr. appears in Jellystone! voiced by Dana Snyder.