ALF: The Animated Series (also known as ALF on Melmac) is a 30-minute Saturday morning animated series that aired on NBC for 26 episodes from September 26, 1987, to January 7, 1989.
ALF: The Animated Series was a prequel and animated spinoff of the prime time series ALF, which had also aired on NBC from 1986 to 1990.
Paul Fusco, the creator and puppeteer of ALF in the live-action series, was the only cast member to reprise his role in voice form; none of the human characters from the prime time ALF appeared in the animated series, due to the shows premise revolving around ALF (Gordon Shumway) traveling to various places on his home-world of Melmac.
ALF Tales was a spin-off from the series that also ran on NBC on Saturdays from September, 1988 to December, 1989.
The two ALF animated series ran concurrently during the 1988–89 season as the ALF & ALF Tales Hour.
Synopsis
Setting
This show is a prequel to the live action sitcom ALF, depicting ALF's life back on his home planet of Melmac before it exploded.
Since the original character's name of "ALF" was an acronym for "Alien Life Form", it is never used in the animated series except for its title.
The main character is Gordon Shumway who is normally referred to as "Gordon".
In each episode the puppet ALF from the sitcom appears at the introduction and conclusion of the episode, talking to the television viewers; either setting up the episode as if writing his memoirs "Melmac Memories" and commenting on it afterwards, reading fan mail or describing what his life was like on Melmac.
The visual look of the series was created by the lead character designer Fil Barlow.
The format of the series has the standard setup of a situational comedy, or sitcom, as its premise, in the style of The Flintstones or The Jetsons and it predates the non-Tracey Ullman Show episodes of The Simpsons, which has a similar family arrangement of two parents, three children and a dog; The Simpsons Tracey Ullman Show shorts, which debuted in April 1987, featured two parents and three children, but, unlike ALF:The Animated Series, would not feature any sort of pet as part of the family arrangement.
Much of the humor arises from the characters taking part in ordinary everyday activities set in an alien and surrealistic environment.
Gordon/ALF from this series is one of the cartoon characters featured in Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue.
Plot
Gordon Shumway is a fairly normal teenager living in suburban East Velcro with his parents Bob and Flo, brother Curtis, young sister Augie and their dog Neep on the planet Melmac.
He spends time hanging out with his friends Rick and Skip who call him "Gordo", and he has a girlfriend named Rhonda.
Sometimes the quartet would report for mandatory duty with the Melmacian Orbit Guard.
The show includes an array of quirky supporting characters, which include the fortune-smeller Madame Pokipsi and the villain Larson Petty with his offsider Eggbert.
Characters
The Shumway Family
Gordon (Gordo) Shumway / ALF (voiced by Paul Fusco) – The star of the show.
Bob Shumway (voiced by Thick Wilson) – Gordon's father.
He works at a mayonnaise factory and is an amateur inventor.
Flo Shumway (voiced by Peggy Mahon) – Gordon's mother.
Curtis Shumway (voiced by Michael Fantini) – Gordon's little brother.
Augie Shumway (voiced by Paulina Gillis) – Gordon's little sister.
Neep – The Shumway family's pet dog.
He is officially called a "vespa."
Harry – The Shumway family's pet bird, a Westfellman Smulk.
Melmacians
Rhonda (voiced by Paulina Gillis) – Gordon's girlfriend and secretly an accompilshed pilot.
Skipper "Skip" (voiced by Rob Cowan) – One of Gordon's close friends
Rick Fusterman (voiced by Paul Fusco) – One of Gordon's close friends who has a persistent stutter.
Spudder – Curtis' friend.
Stella (voiced by Ellen-Ray Hennessy) – A cafe waitress.
Madame Pokipsi (voiced by Deborah Theaker) – The fortune smeller.
Colonel Cantfayl (voiced by Len Carlson) – A colonel in the Orbit Guard.
Sargent Staff (voiced by Len Carlson) – A sergeant in the Orbit Guard.
Larson Petty (voiced by Thick Wilson) – The primary villain of the series who makes attempts to invade Melmac.
Eggbert (voiced by Dan Hennessey) – Larson Petty's offsider.
Sloop (voiced by Dan Hennessey) – Larson Petty's  other  offsider.
Episodes
Season 1 (1987–88)
Season 2 (1988–89)
Home media
On May 30, 2006, Lionsgate Home Entertainment released both the first nine episodes of ALF: The Animated Series as ALF Animated Adventures – 20,000 Years in Driving School and Other Stories; and the first seven episodes of ALF Tales entitled ALF and The Beanstalk and Other Classic Fairy Tales on DVD in Region 1.
Some episodes can also be found in the special features section of the collectors edition release of the original live action series.
See also
List of animated spinoffs from prime time shows
Notes
References
External links
Category:1980s American animated television series Category:1987 American television series debuts Category:1989 American television series endings Category:ALF (TV series) Category:American animated television spin-offs Category:American children's animated comic science fiction television series Category:American children's animated space adventure television series Category:American prequel television series Category:Animated television series about extraterrestrial life Category:Animated television series about teenagers Category:English-language television shows Category:NBC original programming Category:Television series by DIC Entertainment Category:Television series by Lorimar Television Category:Television series by Saban Entertainment Category:Television series created by Paul Fusco Category:Television series created by Tom Patchett Category:
Television series set on fictional planets Category:Television series by Lorimar-Telepictures
