Battletoads: The Forgotten Cartoon

In the early 1990s, Rare and Nintendo collaborated to create a beloved video game franchise known as Battletoads. However, few people know that a cartoon pilot was developed to accompany the games. Released in 1992, the Battletoads cartoon pilot episode aired on television for only a brief period before being cancelled.

The show's backstory was written by Guy Miller, a Rare employee at the time, and published in Nintendo Power. The pilot served as a prequel to the video game franchise, introducing fans to Bird, Princess Angelica, and Professor T., who join forces to stop the evil Dark Queen from stealing Angelica's magical amulet.

The cartoon featured the trio transforming into anthropomorphic toads with superhuman strength and the ability to change their arms and legs into weapons. Set in Oxnard, California, the show followed three Junior High Schoolers as they battled against evil forces. The pilot episode was released on VHS tape in the United States on January 15, 1994.

Despite the release of a VHS tape and comic-style ads in GamePro magazine claiming that the series would continue, Battletoads never made it to full animated series status. The reason for this remains unclear, but it's believed that the show was an attempt to capitalize on the popularity of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Battletoads - The Cartoon - Pilot Episode - Battletoads TV Show

The cancellation of Battletoads was not the only instance where a cartoon pilot failed to take off. DiC Entertainment would later try their hand at producing Street Sharks and Extreme Dinosaurs, both of which also failed to gain traction.

Despite its short-lived existence, the Battletoads cartoon remains an interesting footnote in the history of video game adaptations. For fans of the classic games, it's a fascinating glimpse into what could have been if the show had continued.

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