Fantastic Voyage

1 9 6 8 – 1 9 7 0 (USA)
17 x 30 minute episodes

This cartoon version of Fantastic Voyage was inspired by the original film (starring Racquel Welch) involving a shrunken submarine undertaking a variety of miniature missions, always with a twelve-hour time limit.

A team of US government scientists known as C.M.D.F (the Combined Miniature Defence Force) had been voluntarily shrunk to microscopic size in order to gain access to areas too small for normal-sized explorers.

Commander Jonathan Kidd led the crew, which travelled aboard a high-tech vehicle called the Voyager. With scientist Busby Birdwell (who built the ship) at the controls, the Voyager could dive underwater like a sub, fly through the air like a plane, or rocket off into space like a UFO.

The cartoon version also featured Professor Carter, biologist Erica Lane, and the mystical Guru, who possessed some kind of “mysterious power.” Whatever it was, it came in handy – in every episode, the crew faced unknown microscopic creatures, as well as shrunken enemy spies, all out to stop the CMDF.

While the animation was simple and the story lines even simpler, Fantastic Voyage won points for its ability to stay true to the original movie.

Each episode paid close attention to the detail of the miniature world, which was, without a doubt, the main hook of the show. The producers also refused to patronise their audience with simplistic dialogue, giving the show a more grown-up feeling.

The eyepatch-wearing captain, though, was a poor substitute for Raquel!

Commander Jonathan Kidd
Ted Knight
Guru
Marvin Miller
Dr Erica Lane
Jane Webb
Busby Birdwell
Marvin Miller
Professor Carter
Ted Knight
The Chief
Marvin Miller
Narrator
Ted Knight