10 TV Spin-Offs Of The Disney Renaissance (1989-1999)

"It's as though I watched it, for the very first tiiiiiiime....."

The following is a list of 10 TV spin-offs Disney made back when they decided to capitalize on their sudden rebound from the depths of commercial box office failure back in the 1970s and 1980s, by guaranteeing almost every blockbuster franchise its own TV show. For this list, the spin-offs will be listed in the ascending order in which its original film was released in that certain year. It will also be based on both animated films & live-action films. Spin-offs segments of these spin-offs will not be allowed (Sorry, Marsupilami).

1. Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1997-2000)

St. Clare Entertainment/Walt Disney Television/Disney-ABC Domestic Television / Via youtube.com

Based on the 1989 Summer box office hit starring Rick Moranis, this Canadian-produced TV version had Peter Scolari take over the role of inventor Wayne Szalinski, as the show expands on a variety of experiments gone wrong other than just being shrinked. The show ran on syndication for 3 seasons & 66 episodes from 1997 to 2000.

2. The Little Mermaid (1992-1994)

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Based on the Fall 1989 blockbuster that placed Disney animated feature films back into relevancy after a long streak of commercial failures since the death of its founder, the TV series that aired on CBS's Saturday morning block actually served as a prequel to the original film. Some of the cast from the film returned to play their original roles, including Jodi Benson returning to her role as its main character Ariel. It lasted 3 seasons & 31 episodes, airing from 1992 to 1994 when CBS chose not to renew it for another season.

3. Sing Me a Story with Belle (1995-1999)

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Based on the 1991 hit film "Beauty & the Beast" that nabbed an Oscar nomination for Best Picture, this PBS-like educational live-action spin-off now had Belle running her very own book & music shop along with her new friends Big Book, Harmony the Cat, & bookworms Lewis & Carroll. It also had an intro that paid homage to the film's opening scene & a theme song so catchy, that it might squeeze the Ducktales theme or Frozen's "Let It Go" out of your head.

In each episode, modern-day kids or the local villagers would come to her shop in order to solve real life problems either concerning them or the main characters themselves, and such problems would be solved by telling stories paired up with the show's original songs that tell about each story's life lessons & morals. And what made it unique was that the stories & songs were emphasized to the home audience using animated shorts from the Disney archives. At the end of the program, a list of 3 recommended books were shown on screen that were based on the themes & lessons emphasized in each episode.

Despite being one of the lesser-known spin-offs due to early timeslots & lack of promo time, 'Sing Me a Story' managed to last for 4 seasons & 65 episodes (The first 3 in syndication and the fourth on Disney Channel), airing from September 1995 to December 1999, making it the lengthiest spin-off on this list (premiering on the same weekend as "Timon & Pumbaa" and lasting 3 months longer).

4. The Mighty Ducks (1996-1997)

Anaheim Ducks/Disney Television Animation/Disney-ABC Domestic Television / Via youtube.com

Loosely based on the live-action film franchise & the NHL hockey team in Anaheim that was owned by Disney at the time, this animated TV version centered around hockey-playing humanoid ducks from another galaxy in a planet called "Puckworld", who travel to another dimension to planet Earth to play in the NHL as a legitimate team in Anaheim, while at the same time, trying to battle their Saurian enemies hell-bent on enslaving their original home planet to make enough weapons to conquer the entire universe. Despite winning a Daytime Emmy, the show never caught on, and lasted only one season on the newly Disney-owned ABC network & on its syndicated Disney Afternoon block for 26 episodes from 1996 to 1997.

5. Aladdin (1994-1995)

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Based on the 1992 movie, the TV show followed its direct-to-video sequel "The Return of Jafar", in which Aladdin is now engaged to Princess Jasmine, although he's still living on the streets of Agrabah. Almost everyone returned to their original roles for the show except for the late great Robin Williams as the Genie (Now played by Dan Castellaneta). Despite lasting only one year, 3 full seasons & 86 episodes were squeezed in thanks in part to heavy carriage from The Disney Channel, CBS, and the syndicated Disney Afternoon block.

6. The Lion King's Timon & Pumbaa (1995-1999)

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A spin-off of 1994's "The Lion King", this more- widely known spin-off follows the showstopping Meerkat-Warthog duo's misadventures in the jungle as well as in other parts of the world. This show was one of the last Disney TV shows ever to air on CBS before Disney's purchase of its permanent ABC network home. The show was a signature favorite of CBS's Saturday morning block until its "shark jump", when an abrupt change in writers & directors narrowed its target audience in favor of only younger children, which subsequently destroyed its ratings and caused CBS to cancel Timon & Pumbaa after 3 seasons & 85 episodes.

7. Buzz Lightyear of Star Command (2000-2001)

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Based on the Buzz Lightyear character in the 1995 Pixar film Toy Story, this animated spin-off followed Buzz Lightyear (Patrick Warburton) & his Star Command team as they attempt to foil Evil Emperor Zurg's plots to rule the galaxy. It lasted only one year, 2 seasons, and 65 episodes, with the 1st season on UPN & the 2nd on ABC's One Saturday Morning block.

8. 101 Dalmations (1997-1998)

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Although its original animated feature was before the Renaissance period, this TV series was also based on the 1996 live-action reboot. The show focuses on puppies Lucky, Rolly, and Cadpig, as they try to unfoil Cruella's new plot to steal the Dearly Farm. It lasted 2 seasons & 65 episodes, airing both on syndication & ABC's One Saturday Morning block.

9. Hercules (1998-1999)

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Unlike the prequel of The Little Mermaid and the sequel of Aladdin, Disney's Hercules (Based on the 1997 film of the same name) was a spin-off that actually took place in the events which occur midway through the original film. However, there was one fact that the show ignored from the original film: Hades thought Hercules to have been dead through out the first 18 years of his life. In the TV series, both characters interact with each other while Herc was still attending high school. The show lasted 2 seasons & 65 episodes, airing both in syndication and on One Saturday Morning.

10. The Legend of Tarzan (2001-2003)

Disney Television Animation/Disney-ABC Domestic Television / Via youtube.com

Finally, we look at the last spin-off the Disney Renaissance gave us, The Legend of Tarzan. Based on the 1999 movie, this show picks up where it left off, as Tarzan now adjusts to his new role as the leader of the apes after defeating Clayton. 2 seasons aired on UPN from 2001 to 2003, and had a 39-episode run.