Paw Paws
Native American bear cubs defend their village with magical totems.
The Paw Paws, also called Paw Paw Bears, is an American cartoon from Hanna-Barbera that aired in 1985 and 1986. It was part of the morning block The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera. The title is a pun on the paw paw fruit, native to North America and grown by Indigenous peoples, as well as a wordplay on a bear’s paw. Reruns of the show formerly aired on Cartoon Network and later Boomerang.
Quick Facts
- Executive producers
- William Hanna; Joseph Barbera
- Producer
- Berny Wolf
- Theme music
- Hoyt Curtin
- Director
- Art Davis
- Oscar Dufau
- Don Lusk
- Carl Urbano
- Rudy Zamora
- Alan Zaslove
- Opening theme
- "Paw Paw Bears"
- Ending theme
- "Paw Paw Bears" (Instrumental)
- Company
- Hanna-Barbera Productions
- Country
- United States
Facts from the source article.
Plot
In a hidden forest, a tribe of Native American bear cubs called the Paw Paws battled the Meanos, a group led by the evil sorcerer Dark Paw. Dark Paw sought the tribe’s three large wooden totems—Totem Bear, Totem Tortoise, and Totem Eagle—which acted as the village’s protectors. Princess Paw Paw wore a Mystic Moonstone around her neck, and when needed, the stone brought the totems to life to defend the settlement. Following the Hanna-Barbera tradition, each bear had a name that reflected its personality, such as Laughing Paw, Medicine Paw, and Bumble Paw. The main characters were Brave Paw and Princess Paw Paw, who rode magical flying ponies on their adventures, while the elderly Wise Paw served as the tribe’s advisor. The group’s mascot was a tiny dog named PaPooch.
Characters
Wise Paw, voiced by John Ingle, serves as the head of the Paw Paw tribe, being both its eldest and most knowledgeable member. His daughter, Princess Paw Paw, voiced by Susan Blu, is a kind and attractive figure who looks after everyone in the village. She possesses the Mystic Moonstone, which can animate the Totem Bear, Turtle, and Eagle. By blowing a whistle, she calls her flying horse, Flying Cloud. Later in the show, Flying Cloud develops a romantic bond with the Black Stallion and gives birth to two foals. Brave Paw, voiced by Thom Pinto, is the Princess’s closest companion. He is bold and always ready to save his fellow Paw Paws from harm and battle evil. Alongside the Princess, he is the only other Paw Paw with a flying horse, named Golden Thunder, whom he summons from Thunder Mountain just by saying his name. Mighty Paw, voiced by Robert Ridgely, is the tribe’s largest and strongest member, though he is somewhat slow-witted. Laughing Paw, voiced by Alexandra Stoddart, is younger than the Princess and known for her playful nature. Her pet puppy, PaPooch, with vocal effects by Don Messick, is faithful and brave but frequently lands in trouble; his name is a twist on the Narragansett word papoose. Trembly Paw, voiced by Howard Morris, is the tribe’s coward, preferring to flee from danger, though he occasionally performs heroic acts. Medicine Paw, voiced by Jerry Dexter in an impression of W. C. Fields, is the tribe’s shaman, though he is something of a fraud. The Totem Animals are the village’s primary defenders, awakened by the Mystic Moonstone in the Princess’s hands to repel the Meanos. Totem Eagle sits at the top and provides air travel. Totem Bear, with vocal effects by Frank Welker, is the middle animal. Totem Turtle is at the bottom and handles water transport. The Meanos are the main villains of the series. Their chief, Dark Paw, voiced by Stanley Ralph Ross, wields a magic staff that he uses to zap enemies and even other Meanos who annoy him. Slippery Paw is known more for his greasy hair than his brains, though he is still smarter than Bumble Paw. Bumble Paw, voiced by Frank Welker, is the shortest and most foolish of the group. Aunt Pruney, voiced by Ruth Buzzi, is Dark Paw's aunt and a witch who rides a vacuum cleaner instead of a broom. She complains that her nephew never calls or writes and is often disappointed at his failures. Aunt Pruney and Wise Paw knew each other personally. The Greedy Greenies are green slimy monsters seen in a few episodes. They are mostly featureless except for a pair of eyes and have voracious appetites. They live in a hidden underground complex near the Paw Paw village. Intruders are lowered into a pool of slime that covers the victim and eventually assimilates them, transforming them into a Greenie. Even Dark Paw is afraid of them. Their leader is the Great Greenie. Eugene the Genie, voiced by Scatman Crothers, is a cat-like genie who is a friend of the Paw Paws. He has magic powers and a sassy attitude, especially towards Dark Paw. Nice Paw is a former Meano who used to be called Nasty Paw. He was abducted by aliens, who reprogrammed his mind and forced him into reforming. Nice Paw has since traveled with the aliens and often returns to Earth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which network aired Paw Paws?
Paw Paws aired on Syndicated.
When did Paw Paws first air?
Paw Paws first aired on 15 September 1985.
When did Paw Paws end?
Paw Paws last aired on 2 February 1986.
More in 1980s American Animated Television Series
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