Uploaded June 2020 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
The JM Archives is proud to present the second in a three-part interview series with Animation writer, producer, executive: Robby London. In this interview, Robby speaks of being hired to oversee DIC animated productions, producing for Saturday Morning and Syndicated Markets, Working to create multiple licensed television shows, DIC Executive Andy Heyward, developing Captain Planet and the Planeteers with Ted Turner, developing a James Bond Cartoon that he wasn't able to produce, working with celebrities like John Candy and so much more. I want to thank Mr. London for taking the time out of his schedule to speak with us about his career. Special thanks also to Christopher Inoa for research assistance with this interview
This interview was recorded via Skype on May 14th 2020 with additional pick ups for clarity taking place on June 3rd and 17th 2020. This interview is the property of the JM Archive and The Spider's Lair Studios. Any work referencing this material must give written and/or oral credit to the interview and its source. This interview may not be excerpted or re-posted without expressed written or oral permission from the Spiders Lair Studios.
0:00 On being the Executive Vice President of Creative Affairs at DIC and what that entailed initially
0:57 On early shows he produced at DIC and the differences between producing for a network and producing for syndication
3:15 On working on The Real Ghostbusters and how producing for DIC was different from producing for Filmation
9:24 On working on The New Archies for DIC
11:02 On Beverly Hills Teens
14:58 On which corporate license holders were the most challenging to work with and which ones were the most fun
17:55 On working with MGM television on Hello Kitty's Furry Tale Theater
18:34 On developing the Saturday morning animated version of ALF
23:10 On the animated version of Dennis the Menace and the executives with General Mills Advertising agency.
25:29 On the New Adventures of Beany and Cecil and the difficulties of working with The Clampett Estate, ABC and John Kricfalusi and giving Chuck Lorre one of his early television writing jobs
37:22 On sneaking risque material past network censors and what was and was not justifiable in regards to taste
39:57 On producing the first animated special featuring the character Barbie: Barbie and the Sensations
41:34 On overseeing Hey Vern! It's Ernest
46:08 On Camp Candy with John Candy
51:49 On voice-over director Marsha Goodman
52:53 On a voice-over session incident with Milton Berle
54:12 On Alvin and the Chipmunks, Ross Bagdasarian Jr. and Cliff Ruby and Elana Lesser
55:53 On the development of five Nintendo based cartoons (Super Mario Bros. Super Show, The Legend of Zelda, Captain N: The Game Master, The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World)
57:25 On King Koopa's Kool Kartoons
59:42 On developing The Legend of Zelda cartoon
1:01:29 On using Canadian based voice talent and how it was beneficial
1:03:16 On being proud of the talent DIC discovered and gave opportunity to
1:04:25 On The animated series COPS (Central Organization of Police Specialists) and writers Bruce and Reed Shelley
1:08:00 On the Children's Television Act, Making G.I. Joe episodes with pro-social messages, making shows that were "Edju-tainment", Being recruited by and later becoming Chairperson of the non-profit advocacy group: Mediascope and on how Educational Requirements were met on animated shows.
1:22:03 On working with Ted Turner to develop and create Captain Planet and the Planeteers
1:31:35 On initial agreements to have Tom Cruise voice Captain Planet, how and why he ultimately did not play the part and other celebrities that came to work on the project
1:36:35 On reactions to Captain Planet and the Planeteers depictions of sludge from certain sewage workers in the United States
1:41:07 On the production of Celebrity/Fad based shows: Wish Kid, Hammerman and New Kids on the Block
1:44:58 On touring with The New Kids on the Block
1:52:22 On developing the premise for James Bond Jr., Working with the Broccoli estate and James Bond producers and why DIC did not ultimately produce the series
2:04:34 On developing the cartoon version of Where's Waldo
2:08:57 On DIC being acquired by ABC and eventually being acquired by Disney and what that meant for the company
The JM Archives is proud to present the second in a three-part interview series with Animation writer, producer, executive: Robby London. In this interview, Robby speaks of being hired to oversee DIC animated productions, producing for Saturday Morning and Syndicated Markets, Working to create multiple licensed television shows, DIC Executive Andy Heyward, developing Captain Planet and the Planeteers with Ted Turner, developing a James Bond Cartoon that he wasn't able to produce, working with celebrities like John Candy and so much more. I want to thank Mr. London for taking the time out of his schedule to speak with us about his career. Special thanks also to Christopher Inoa for research assistance with this interview
This interview was recorded via Skype on May 14th 2020 with additional pick ups for clarity taking place on June 3rd and 17th 2020. This interview is the property of the JM Archive and The Spider's Lair Studios. Any work referencing this material must give written and/or oral credit to the interview and its source. This interview may not be excerpted or re-posted without expressed written or oral permission from the Spiders Lair Studios.
0:00 On being the Executive Vice President of Creative Affairs at DIC and what that entailed initially
0:57 On early shows he produced at DIC and the differences between producing for a network and producing for syndication
3:15 On working on The Real Ghostbusters and how producing for DIC was different from producing for Filmation
9:24 On working on The New Archies for DIC
11:02 On Beverly Hills Teens
14:58 On which corporate license holders were the most challenging to work with and which ones were the most fun
17:55 On working with MGM television on Hello Kitty's Furry Tale Theater
18:34 On developing the Saturday morning animated version of ALF
23:10 On the animated version of Dennis the Menace and the executives with General Mills Advertising agency.
25:29 On the New Adventures of Beany and Cecil and the difficulties of working with The Clampett Estate, ABC and John Kricfalusi and giving Chuck Lorre one of his early television writing jobs
37:22 On sneaking risque material past network censors and what was and was not justifiable in regards to taste
39:57 On producing the first animated special featuring the character Barbie: Barbie and the Sensations
41:34 On overseeing Hey Vern! It's Ernest
46:08 On Camp Candy with John Candy
51:49 On voice-over director Marsha Goodman
52:53 On a voice-over session incident with Milton Berle
54:12 On Alvin and the Chipmunks, Ross Bagdasarian Jr. and Cliff Ruby and Elana Lesser
55:53 On the development of five Nintendo based cartoons (Super Mario Bros. Super Show, The Legend of Zelda, Captain N: The Game Master, The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World)
57:25 On King Koopa's Kool Kartoons
59:42 On developing The Legend of Zelda cartoon
1:01:29 On using Canadian based voice talent and how it was beneficial
1:03:16 On being proud of the talent DIC discovered and gave opportunity to
1:04:25 On The animated series COPS (Central Organization of Police Specialists) and writers Bruce and Reed Shelley
1:08:00 On the Children's Television Act, Making G.I. Joe episodes with pro-social messages, making shows that were "Edju-tainment", Being recruited by and later becoming Chairperson of the non-profit advocacy group: Mediascope and on how Educational Requirements were met on animated shows.
1:22:03 On working with Ted Turner to develop and create Captain Planet and the Planeteers
1:31:35 On initial agreements to have Tom Cruise voice Captain Planet, how and why he ultimately did not play the part and other celebrities that came to work on the project
1:36:35 On reactions to Captain Planet and the Planeteers depictions of sludge from certain sewage workers in the United States
1:41:07 On the production of Celebrity/Fad based shows: Wish Kid, Hammerman and New Kids on the Block
1:44:58 On touring with The New Kids on the Block
1:52:22 On developing the premise for James Bond Jr., Working with the Broccoli estate and James Bond producers and why DIC did not ultimately produce the series
2:04:34 On developing the cartoon version of Where's Waldo
2:08:57 On DIC being acquired by ABC and eventually being acquired by Disney and what that meant for the company
