SWAT Kats FAQ (second try!)

From: Dana Uehara <duehara_at_cisk.atmos.Ucla.EDU>
Date: Tue, 15 Aug 95 20:08:03 PDT

Here's my second attempt at posting the FAQ (my first attempt bounced).
As always, please let me know if you have any comments or corrections
to the FAQ. Thanks!

--
Last Updated
Fri Aug 11 16:34:05 PDT 1995
       SWAT Kats:  The Radical Squadron Frequently Asked Questions
       ===========================================================
_SWAT Kats:  The Radical Squadron_ is an animated series created in
1993 by two French-Canadian brothers, Christian Tremblay and Yvon
Tremblay.  Using their self-taught drawing skills and their own money,
they managed to sell their creation of anthropomorphic felines,
otherwise known as "Kats", to Hanna-Barbera.
H-B produced 23 episodes of the SWAT Kats, 13 for the first season
(1993-94) and 10 for the second season (1994-95).  The second season
fell three episodes shy of a full set because, in the middle of
production, Turner Entertainment ordered H-B to cancel production of
the series.  The reason that Turner gave at the time was because the
show wasn't moving merchandise -- although the series hardly had any
merchandise to begin with!  Therefore, Turner decided to yank the show
even though it had been doing very well in the ratings.  <shrug>  Go
figure.
Three episodes were storyboarded and the voice tracks laid down, but
are currently still in limbo (and may very well become the "lost
episodes" of the series).
The *real* reason that Turner cancelled the series is a mystery, however;
it may have been canned because of its violence and not because of its
lack of merchandise.  In fact, there should be some merchandise hitting
the store shelves this summer:
- Action figures (produced by Remco) of some of the characters, including
	T-Bone, Razor, Dark Kat, Doctor Viper -- due out in August
- Video releases of some of the episodes -- due out in the first week
	of July
- Video game for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (none for Sega
	yet, unfortunately) -- due out in the first week of July
Update:  all of the above have been sighted, but somewhat sparsely and
randomly.  Suggestion:  check out a K-Mart if you can.
The Cartoon Network is currently running episodes of the Kats -- Monday
through Friday, 6 PM Eastern/3 PM Pacific.  TBS will not carry the 
series beyond its current run.
Currently available is a poster, which has been seen at the K-Mart in
Inglewood, CA; other locations may also carry it (at least one other
place outside of CA has it), but you may have to hunt for it.
The animation studios involved in 'Kats production are Hanho Heung-Up
and Mook, the former being a Taiwan studio and the latter a Japanese
studio.  Both seasons' episodes show an anime (Japanimation) influence,
especially the second season's episodes, which were animated entirely by
Mook.  Christian Tremblay apparently wanted Mook to do all of the
episodes, but found it uneconomical to do so.
What's the proper spelling of 'SWAT Kats'?  Most likely it's the way
it's being spelled in the FAQ.  The full title is, of course:  "SWAT
Kats:  The Radical Squadron", but there's been some question as to
whether the word "SWAT Kats" should be written as a single word (i.e.,
"SWATKats").  And yes, it's with a "K", not a "C".
T-Bone's and Razor's ages?  According to Christian Tremblay, they're
both in their mid-20s, but T-Bone is most definitely older.
Trivia tidbit:  Razor and T-Bone were initially named "Chuck" and
"Yaeger", after the famous test pilot.
Write your local station that carries the SWAT Kats (and/or TBS)!  Tell
them how much you like the series!  You can also write H-B at:
	Hanna-Barbera Cartoons Inc.
 	3400 Cahuenga Blvd. West
	Hollywood, CA  90068
When you write, you might want to include demographical information
about yourself, such as your age, sex and geographic location. 
Hanna-Barbera is apparently very interested in learning who are fans of
the 'Kats, so make yourself known!
Pet peeve:  Animations are NOT for children!!!
FTP address for 'Kats stuff:  pumadyne.rat.org, /pub/rat/kats.  
Lotsa gifs/jpegs and other goodies there.  Sound bytes coming soon...?
	
Web page:  Yes, the 'Kats have their own web page (not official, but
at least it's there):  'http://rat.org/kats'.  For details, send email
to 'rat_at_rat.org'.
For the die-hard 'Kats fans:
- To join a fan club (currently unofficial):  email Walt Koziol
  (wkoziol_at_delphi.com).
- A fanzine, KATATONIC, is also in the works and will be available for
  a limited run (contact Timothy Fay [fayxx001_at_maroon.tc.unm.edu] for
  details).
==========================================================================
FAQ maintained by:  Dana Uehara (razor_at_netcom.com)
Acknowledgements/Contributors:
	Andy Hill (chance_at_unix.infoserve.net)
	Timothy Fay (fayxx001_at_maroon.tc.unm.edu)
	Paul Hurley (rat_at_rat.org)
-- 
=========  Dana Uehara (duehara_at_atmos.ucla.edu, razor_at_netcom.com)  ==========

Received on Tue Aug 15 1995 - 23:52:03 PDT