Free Willy (TV series)

Did You Know?

• The first season was released through Amazon Prime Video and iTunes in October 2011, while the second season has yet to be released.
• The series never received a home video release in North America, but a double box VHS set was released in the United Kingdom during the mid-1990s.
• The overarching conflict is reminiscent of Moby-Dick: a powerful oil baron loses his arm and part of his face to Willy while committing an environmental atrocity.

Plot

Jesse has been adopted by the Greenwoods and moved from Seattle to the Pacific coast, where he works at the Misty Island Oceanic Reserve. There, Randolph—his Haida mentor from the film—also works. In the first episode, Jesse discovers he can talk to and understand animals; Randolph explains that Jesse is a Truth Talker. This ability allows Willy and other sea creatures to have full personalities and play prominent roles. Jesse and Randolph work with head biologist Mr. Naugle and research assistant Marlene, who study a dolphin named Einstein and a sea lion named Lucille, teaching them behavioral communication with humans. The main villain is a cyborg called The Machine, who holds Willy responsible for the loss of his arm and part of his face. A flashback reveals that The Machine's submarine was destroyed upon encountering Willy, hurling him into another ship's propeller. When not using his submarine to cause environmental havoc, he dons a mask and glove and runs an oil company under his former identity, Rockland Stone. The Machine uses synthetic henchmen called Amphonids, made from radioactive clay and toxic waste, who often make costly errors. Jesse constantly fights The Machine's schemes to destroy Willy—such as releasing deadly parasites or creating a giant squid—and to despoil the ecosystem with garbage, toxic waste, and oil. Meanwhile, Jesse tries to influence businessman Mr. Stone to adopt environmentally friendly practices through his publicist, P. R. Frickey.

Voice cast

Zachary Bennett voices Jesse, a boy abandoned by his mother. Paul Haddad voices Willy, the killer whale and Jesse's best friend. Michael Fletcher plays Randolph Johnson, Willy's keeper and Jesse's mentor. Ron Lea and Sheila McCarthy voice Jesse's foster parents, Glen and Annie Greenwood. New characters include Neil Crone as Mr. Naugle, Rachael Crawford as Marlene, Geordie Johnson as Ben Shore, Andrew Sabiston as P. R. Frickey, Gary Krawford as Rockland Stone (The Machine), James Kidnie as the Amphonids, Kevin Zegers as Einstein the dolphin, and Alyson Court as Lucille the sea lion.