Season 3 • Episode 6
LatestWait: The Beatles try to get the Prince of Krapotkin back to the castle before his Princess can marry someone else. SINGALONGS: Penny Lane and Eleanor Rigby I'm Only Sleeping: John falls asleep while reading a story about the King Arthur legend to some children. He dreams that he helps Merlin slay a dragon.
The Beatles is an American animated television series featuring the fanciful and musical misadventures of the popular English rock band of the same name. It ran from 1965 to 1969 on ABC in the US. The series debuted on September 25, 1965 and ended on September 7, 1969. A total of 39 episodes were produced. The series was shown on Saturday mornings at 10:30 AM EST until the 1967 third season when it was moved to 12:00 PM EST. For the fourth season, which consisted of reruns, the series was shown at 9:30 AM EST on Sunday mornings. Each episode has a name of a Beatles song, so the story is based on its lyrics and it is also played at some time in the episode. The original series was rebroadcast in syndication by MTV in 1986 and 1987 and on the Disney Channel. The series was a historical milestone as the first weekly television series to feature animated versions of real, living people.
Production
First animated series starring real living people—history, baby!
Sound
Actual Beatles recordings elevate glorified slideshow to art.
Practical Effects
Chaotic limited animation—every frame looks like it escaped.
Creator
Al Brodax
Paul Frees
John Lennon / George Harrison (voice) (uncredited)
Lance Percival
Paul McCartney / Ringo Starr (voice) (uncredited)
Julie Bennett
(voice) (uncredited)
John Lennon
Self (vocals musical segments) (uncredited)
Paul McCartney
Self (vocals musical segments) (uncredited)
George Harrison
Self (vocals musical segments) (uncredited)
Ringo Starr
Self (vocals musical segments) (uncredited)
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This series pioneered the 'animated band' concept later perfected by Gorillaz and Jem and the Holograms—your nostalgia has grandparents.
The real Beatles famously hated their cartoon counterparts, with Lennon later calling it 'boring' and 'bullshit'—savage, but fair.
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