Steven Spielberg presents Freakazoid! is an animated television series created by Bruce Timm and Paul Dini and developed by Tom Ruegger for Kids' WB. The series chronicles the adventures of the title character, Freakazoid, a manic, insane superhero who battles with an array of super villains. The show also features mini-episodes of adventures of other bizarre superheroes. It was the third animated series produced by the collaboration of Steven Spielberg and Warner Bros. Animation during the 1990s.
Bruce Timm, best known as a major principal of the DC animated universe, originally intended it to be a straightforward superhero action-adventure cartoon with comic overtones, but executive producer Steven Spielberg asked series producer and writer Tom Ruegger and the Animaniacs team to turn Freakazoid! into a flat-out comedy. The show is similar to fellow Ruegger-led programs such as Animaniacs, and the humor is unique in its inclusions of slapstick, fourth wall firings, parody, surreal humor and pop cultural references.
The series was one of the first to debut on the new Kids' WB Saturday morning block of The WB, on September 9, 1995. The series lasted for two seasons, finishing with 24 episodes, the final one broadcast on June 1, 1997. Although the series originally struggled in the ratings, reruns on Cartoon Network and a fan following have elevated the series to become a cult hit. Warner Brothers even considered renewing the series for a third season, but deemed it too expensive.
The show has been confirmed to be part of the launch line-up for MeTV Toons.
Post-series syndication[]
In Italy, along with Tiny Toon Adventures, Animaniacs and Pinky and the Brain was shown on Rai and later Mediaset. In Japan, along with Tiny Toon Adventures was shown on TV Asahi.