TaleSpin, part of the Disney Afternoon "back in the day" (see: early 90's) was a strange sort of experiment. Featuring a re-imagined Jungle Book world filled with boat planes, art deco buildings and sky pirates, Baloo and Kit Cloudkicker ran for a grand total of 65 episodes and were single-handedly responsible for my current love of art deco/steampunk/sky piracy. It's one of those cartoons that you fondly remember from your childhood, but watching it now you realize how horribly it was animated. Unlike something akin to Thundercats, however, Talespin actually had quite the interesting plot based on the grand, sweeping storylines back in the Carl Barks days of Uncle Scrooge (which was later turned into DuckTales). TaleSpin also had some great voice actors in it, including cartoon staples Jim Cummings, Lorenzo Music, Tress MacNeille, Roger Bumpass, Dan Castellaneta, Frank Welker, Rob Paulsen and... Sally Struthers?
--Chris
http://weeklygeekshow.com/2007/12/wayback_wednesday_talespin.php

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Product Description

Available for the first time ever on DVD, TALESPIN features beloved JUNGLE BOOK star Baloo the bear in his very own series. Happy-go-lucky pilot Baloo and his navigator Kit Cloudkicker are the intrepid flight crew for a cargo company owned by expert businesswoman Rebecca Cunningham. Throughout their travels, Baloo and Kit encounter familiar characters like the tree-swinging nightclub manager King Louie and corporate big shot Shere Khan. There's excitement at every turn as our heroes face off against Don Karnage and his band of evil Air Pirates, with only Baloo's skills and Kit's wits to save them. With three discs packed with laughs and thrills, the sky's the limit with TALESPIN!

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8259 in DVD
• Brand: Buena Vista Home Video
• Released on: 2006-08-29
• Rating: Unrated
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Box set, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 3
• Dimensions: 1.00 pounds
• Running time: 617 minutes

Features

• 3 Disc Set Baloo the bear returns in his very own series, available on DVD for the first time ever in this three disc set. When it comes to laughs and thrills, the sky's the limit! Includes pilot and first 23 episodes. Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: CHILDREN Rating: NR Age: 786936710359 UPC: 786936710359 Manufacturer No: 5190303

Amazon.com
The ever-swinging Baloo from Disney's Jungle Book has taken up flying and is now the proud pilot of his very own bush plane--problem is, Baloo's laid-back, "work only when you want to" attitude is definitely not conducive to running a thriving business. Add in a young orphan bear named Kit Cloudkicker who's befriended Baloo and stolen a valuable treasure from a band of pirates led by the evil Don Karnage and a newly graduated business major Rebecca Cunningham who's recently purchased the deeds to Baloo's plane and cabin, and you've got an animated series that simply explodes with adventure and conflict. This three-disc, animated DVD set includes the 1990 four-part television pilot and 23 additional one and two-part episodes. The plots encompass everything from piracy and circus performing, to childrearing, oil shortages, and the unexpected importance of good spelling, but what always remains constant is Baloo's willingness to stand up and fight for his friends and what is right, even in the face of the toughest enemy. Throughout his adventures, Baloo also encounters many old acquaintances from the jungle including the corporate maverick Shere Kahn and the ever-cool nightclub operator Louie. (Ages 3 to 10) --Tami Horiuchi