ÒWith hockey, all things are possible.Ó -- Grin INTERGALACTIC HOCKEY-PLAYING SUPERHERO DUCKS?!?! BUENA VISTA TELEVISIONÕS ÒMIGHTY DUCKSÓ TEAM UP FOR HOCKEY-COMEDY-ACTION (AND SAVING THE PLANET FROM IMPENDING DOOM) Ian Ziering, Jim Belushi, Tim Curry and Dennis Franz Lend Their Voices to New Animated Series Premiering on "The Disney Afternoon" and ABCÕs Saturday Morning Line-Up Hold on to your helmets, hockey-sci-fi-action-comedy-animation fans! The Mighty Ducks have arrived! No, theyÕre not the beat-all-odds Mighty Ducks hockey team from the two hit Disney films (ÒThe Mighty DucksÓ and ÒD2: The Mighty DucksÓ). And nope, theyÕre not exactly the popular, real-life NHL Mighty Ducks hockey team based in Anaheim, California. WeÕre talking about a new, ahem, breed of Mighty Ducks: a dynamic team of intergalactic, crime-fighting, hi-tech-smart, goal-scoring, zanily hilarious, hockey-star- superheroes, starring in televisionÕs wildest new animated adventure series. The ÒMighty DucksÓ make their smash debut on Earth with three premiere appearances. A one-hour special scheduled to air on Friday, September 6 on ÒThe Disney Afternoon,Ó (check local listings) is followed by encore performances Friday, September 6 at 8:30 PM (ET/PT) on ABC, and Saturday Morning, September 7 at 9:00 AM(ET)/8:00 AM(PT) on ABC. In addition, a prime-time special hosted by Ben Savage and featuring a ÒMighty DucksÓ episode back-to-back with Buena Vista TelevisionÕs other new duck- related series, ÒQuack Pack,Ó will also air in syndication this Fall (check local listings for date and time). Twenty-six original episodes of the series are being produced this season: thirteen half-hour episodes will air Fridays on ÒThe Disney Afternoon,Ó the award-winning two-hour syndicated children's programming service; and, thirteen additional episodes will air exclusively on the ABC Saturday Morning line-up. Mixing action, comedy, hockey, and ducks in ways that have never before been attempted by humans, ÒMighty DucksÓ follows the adventures of six young half- human/half-ducks who have traveled across the galaxy to save the Earth from their arch enemy, the very reptilian Dragaunus, and his equally odious henchmen . . . and to play some serious hockey. At the Anaheim Pond (home of the real-life Mighty Ducks hockey team), the Mighty Ducks take the ice in the arena before crowds of hockey-loving fans. But below the rink, in their secret, super-cool-hi-tech headquarters, they strategize the defense of civilization from DragaunusÕ plans to enslave it. And when theyÕre not thrilling their fans with hockey magic or saving the world with the help of specially made puck-launchers, duck sabers, martial arts, and their way-out-there, sarcastic, self-deprecating sense of humor, they hang out at the mall across the street. ÒÔMighty DucksÕ pushes the boundaries of an animated series,Ó says Dean Valentine, President, Walt Disney Television and Walt Disney Television Animation. ÒThe comic book action, larger-than-life villains, and action set pieces provide kids with plenty of eye candy, while the witty dialogue makes the series fun for grownups as well.Ó TheyÕre Talking Duck ÒMighty DucksÓ racks up the points with a championship voice cast. Ian Ziering (ÒBeverly Hills 90210Ó) sets the pace as the DucksÕ team captain, the courageous Wildwing. Funnyman Jim Belushi (ÒRace the Sun,Ó ÒMr. DestinyÓ) voices Phil, the teamÕs brash, no-deal-is-ever-a-bad-deal business manager whoÕs always on the lookout for the next merchandising opportunity. Film star Tim Curry (ÒThe Rocky Horror Picture ShowÓ) is the bad-guy Saurian Overlord Dragaunus; Dennis Franz (ÒNYPD BlueÓ) brings his distinctive Andy Sipowicz-style to Police Officer Klegghorn, who harbors strong suspicions about the DucksÕ heroic exploits; and ESPN sports anchor Roy Firestone calls the shots as the Anaheim Pond announcer. Several guest voices also join the all-star line-up, including David Hyde-Pierce, the Emmy-winning star of ÒFrasier,Ó who lends his talents to the unctuous Baron von Lichtenstamp, a hunting fanatic determined to capture the ducks for a very special duck pate. Real-life Mighty Ducks hockey star Guy Hebert also voices an animated character -- himself. From Duckworld to Our World It all starts long ago in the icy universe of Duckworld, where hockey is more than just a way of life -- it is a sacred art. Duckworld was taken over by the dark forces of the Saurian Overlords and, after centuries of destruction, the last remaining Overlord, the dastardly Dragaunus, escapes with his henchmen through a dimensional gateway to a parallel universe -- and our planet. Totally bummed out at having their hockey interrupted, a scrappy band of rebels -- the Mighty Ducks -- follow Dragaunus, vowing to end his evil rampage once and for all. Using their amazing hockey skills as a cover, the Ducks do their best to thwart the villainÕs efforts to steal all the electricity on earth or find the Proteus Chip that will power the all- destroying ray-cannon. Along the way, they try to help each other adjust to their new home and their Òstrange ducks in a strange landÓ situation, as well as dodge their manager PhilÕs latest attempt to land a fast-buck endorsement deal. (ÒServes me right getting mixed up with an animal act!Ó Phil complains.) The ÒMighty DucksÓ team consists of Wildwing (Ziering), the daring, idealistic young team captain who is transformed into a superhero when he wears The Mask (a goalie mask with special powers enabling him to become a superhero); Nosedive (Steve Mackall), WildwingÕs ÒwisequackingÓ younger brother whose headstrong attitude often leads him and his teammates into trouble; Tanya (April Winchell), the teamÕs whiz-bang scientific expert; Grin (Brad Garrett) who uses a lethal (and often hilarious) combination of brute strength and Zen philosophy to thwart his enemies (ÒNo one who plays the noble sport of hockey can be all bad,Ó quoth Grin); Duke LÕOrange (Jeff Bennett), a former cat burglar who now employs his style and charm to fight crime; and Mallory (Jennifer Hale), a dangerous martial arts expert with a fondness for shopping. The Team Behind the Team ÒMighty DucksÓ producer/director Joe Barruso recently joined Walt Disney Television Animation from his Emmy Award-winning stint on FoxÕs ÒWhere on Earth is Carmen Sandiego?Ó He is joined by story editor David Wise, a uniquely talented writer who has scored animation awards since he was eight, and won his first Emmy for the cartoon version of ÒStar TrekÓ while still a teenager. ÒÔMighty DucksÕ pairs hard-edged action with an absolutely wild sense of fun to play out stories against a backdrop of real danger,Ó Barruso explains. ÒAt the same time all this action is happening, the characters break the fourth wall to create layers of comedy.Ó Wise notes, ÒWe went for an eclectic mix of characters -- a sort of ÔDirty DozenÕ- ÕSeven SamuraiÕ combination of wildly disparate personalities brought together by a single unifying goal -- both on and off the ice. All our players have more than one layer -- theyÕre not at all simple cartoon characters. And the humor acts like a blast of nitroglycerine into a fuel mixture, to take the adventure to a higher level -- the two elements supercharge each other.Ó The hockey games, used to help advance the story, arenÕt simple either. Barruso and his crew have worked hard to make the hockey segments as accurate as possible in terms of uniforms, equipment and the rink itself. Working from computer-generated drawings, the animation team has recreated the interior world of the Anaheim Pond. Barruso also screened hours of real-life hockey footage to capture the essence of a stride, a swing or a slapshot. ÒJoe and David make a fantastic team,Ó says Barry Blumberg, Vice President of Series Development for Walt Disney Television Animation. ÒWe thought the combination of DavidÕs unique brand of smart and funny action comedy and JoeÕs innovative, always- take-chances style of animation would result in something new and different -- and it most definitely has.Ó ÒMighty DucksÓ is produced by Walt Disney Television Animation for Buena Vista Television, subsidiaries of The Walt Disney Company. Joe Barruso is Supervising Producer, David Wise as Story Editor and Writer, with Doug Murphy and Frank Squillace serving as Directors. The President of Walt Disney Television Animation is Dean Valentine. # # # Contacts: Buena Vista Television Laurel Whitcomb (818) 560-2740 ÒIt ainÕt over Ôtill the third period buzzer.Ó -- Duckworld goalie-philosopher Check Hardwing