Disney’s animated adventures of a young “street rat,” his royal girlfriend, pet monkey, flying carpet, and personal genie crossed over to TV in the fall of 1994, two years after the theatrical feature Aladdin. Coming on the heels of the direct-to-video sequel The Return of Jafar, the series picked up where that installment left off, with Aladdin still living on the streets of Agrabah, still unwed to beautiful and spunky Princess Jasmine.
Disney's Aladdin continued the fantasy/magic adventures of the feature films, carrying "Al" and Jasmine into peril among sorcerers, mermaids, thieves, and more. Monkey sidekick Abu and the fast-talking, shape-shifting Genie came along to help, as did sassy, complaining parrot Iago, formerly Jafar’s pet but now a grudgingly good guy. In place of movie villain Jafar, the series introduced evil sorcerer Mozenrath, inventor Mekanikles, and weaselly thief Abis Mal, among others.
Debuting simultaneously on Saturday morning and as part of the syndicated weekday Disney Afternoon, the show set a pattern for several future Disney series. Many of the films’ stars provided the voices of their TV counterparts, with Dan Castellaneta (the voice of Homer Simpson) filling in for Robin Williams in the Genie role.
Aladdin was a hit, capturing the films’ clever mix of fantastic adventure with off-the-wall comedy, usually from cynical Iago and the wisecracking Genie. After a successful run of original programs, the show continued in syndicated repeats and in a third feature, the direct-to-video Aladdin and the King of Thieves. |
