If you liked the Tasmanian Devil in the Bugs Bunny cartoons, then good news, he has his own show. I always got up in the morning to watch this show on Saturday mornings. I liked the theme tune and the interesting things that happened. Taz has a family now, a Mum, a Dad, a younger sister and a little brother. Taz works in Hotel Tasmania (some episodes) as the cleaner, run by Bushwacker Bob and his Mom, and his work buddies Constance the female Koala bear and Mr Thickley the kangaroo. There were some other good characters throughout the show as well. These include: the Platopus brothers, Digeree Dingo, Francis the Bushlad, Bull and Axel the hunters, Buddy Boar, Willy Wombat and many more. The kids will like it. Very good!
16 Reviews
One of the underrated
kikiboo_815 May 2022
Nice serie
stefanozucchelli9 August 2022
One of the Taz-mania directors
ooberman-28 September 2005
It's wonderful that so many of you have such fond memories of Taz-mania. It was probably the most enjoyable two years of my animation career. Unfortunately, Warner Animation seems to have disowned the show. But in it's initial run, it tied Tiny Toons as the highest rated animated series that year! It was also nominated for best written daytime series. Taz-mania suffered from not being a Steven Spielberg Presents... show. If you remember Tiny Toons And Animaniacs had Mr. Spielberg's name on them. Taz-mania was a top rated series in spite of Warner Bros. giving it the short shrift. I did catch it several years ago on Cartoon Network or Nickelodeon, I can't remember which, but I don't think it's been broadcast in more than ten years.
Such an underrated series!
TheLittleSongbird3 March 2012
As a kid I liked Taz-Mania very much but re-watching the show after many years I like it even more. Taz-Mania is such a fun, underrated little show, with so much to like. The animation has so much vibrancy and colour especially in the backgrounds that make you wish you were there, and the theme song is one of the catchiest ones I've heard in a while. While I had always considered the writing and slapstick smart and funny, as an adult I could also appreciate it for how sophisticated it was, something that for some reason I missed from a child perspective. The story lines were bright and breezy, not as formulaic as I expected them to be. The characters are very engaging with great, memorable personalities, and I have to say Taz-Mania changed my perception of Taz. The show actually to me expanded on the slightly bland personality he had(especially opposite Bugs) in the Looney Tunes cartoons and here he is rather sweet and likable. I love the family members, his boss and the hunters just as much, while some of the characters have the occasional annoying moment the lively personalities really grow on you. The voice acting, from some of the best voice actors of the day(Jim Cummings, Rob Paulsen, Maurice LaMarche and more), I have no qualms with at all. 10/10 Bethany Cox
Why hasn't more people seen this show?
banzaibill26 June 2002
Considering how famous Taz as a character is as part of all the Looney Tunes franchise, it's surprising how relatively unknown the show has become. To me, it's one of the greatest if not the greatest animated series ever.
All episodes are fast-paced and entertaining, blending usually inventinve slapstick, parody and satire with slick, intelligent dialogue (except for the always brief-spoken Taz), sometimes going full out into sheer"wackyness" but there's always a plot behind it. In fact a lot of it is deeper and more meaningful than it might seem at first!
The writers managed to keep the show open-ended and unpredictable, and it could probably have gone on much longer than it did. There was a few sharkjumping moments (the eating contest, the third "Road to Taz-Mania" episode and Wendal trying to be like Taz) but the rest is worth seeing for yourself. And beware! There's a bit of Taz in all of us...
All episodes are fast-paced and entertaining, blending usually inventinve slapstick, parody and satire with slick, intelligent dialogue (except for the always brief-spoken Taz), sometimes going full out into sheer"wackyness" but there's always a plot behind it. In fact a lot of it is deeper and more meaningful than it might seem at first!
The writers managed to keep the show open-ended and unpredictable, and it could probably have gone on much longer than it did. There was a few sharkjumping moments (the eating contest, the third "Road to Taz-Mania" episode and Wendal trying to be like Taz) but the rest is worth seeing for yourself. And beware! There's a bit of Taz in all of us...
Not the Simpsons, but still a sophisticated combination of satire and slapstick
tomthedog20 July 1999
Taz-Mania is not a cartoon for children -- or at least, not only for children. How many children are going to understand Taz's father Hugh is a thinly disguised Bing Crosby? Or that Hugh's brother, who makes occasional guest appearances, is Bob Hope, and the episodes featuring him are take-offs on the Hope-Crosby Road movies? How many children will identify the neurotic Wendell T. Wolf as a Woody Allen impersonation? Even the adults may overlook Taz's nemesis Francis X. Bushlad as a reference to Francis X. Bushman (look him up if you must), or perhaps they might not make the connection between Francis's super-rich, gadabout father and Jim Backus as Thurston Howell III.
The sophistication extends beyond the characters to the very structure of many of the cartoons. Many of the characters break the fourth wall to address the audience. Often their commentary is on the absurdity of cartoon conventions, such as falling from a cliff, or being smashed by a giant boulder, which adds an extra level of humor to these cartoon conventions when they are inevitably inflicted upon the characters commenting upon them.
Some characters go beyond breaking the fourth wall and addressing the audience, and actually confront their creators: writers, producers, directors. When Taz the actor steps away from Taz the character and laments, in a cultured, refined, and eloquent manner, that his dialogue is limited to "spit-growl", you know you've come across a gem that never had a chance to shine.
Taz-Mania was a mixture of equally hilarious wit and slapstick that was squandered in the pre-adolescent Power Ranger/Bobby's World gutter. It still airs in reruns on the Cartoon Network; catch it if you can.
The sophistication extends beyond the characters to the very structure of many of the cartoons. Many of the characters break the fourth wall to address the audience. Often their commentary is on the absurdity of cartoon conventions, such as falling from a cliff, or being smashed by a giant boulder, which adds an extra level of humor to these cartoon conventions when they are inevitably inflicted upon the characters commenting upon them.
Some characters go beyond breaking the fourth wall and addressing the audience, and actually confront their creators: writers, producers, directors. When Taz the actor steps away from Taz the character and laments, in a cultured, refined, and eloquent manner, that his dialogue is limited to "spit-growl", you know you've come across a gem that never had a chance to shine.
Taz-Mania was a mixture of equally hilarious wit and slapstick that was squandered in the pre-adolescent Power Ranger/Bobby's World gutter. It still airs in reruns on the Cartoon Network; catch it if you can.
A Saturday morning cartoon gem that sadly faded into obscurity!
Beta_Gallinger24 December 2009
There are many TV shows I remember from my childhood, but of them all, this was perhaps my favourite! I was first introduced to it in late 1994, when I was eight years old, and I would watch and tape it every Saturday morning. In more recent years, I have sometimes rewatched episodes on tape, and have very recently managed to see almost every episode online, many of which I never saw in my childhood, maybe even the majority of them. It turns out that like certain other TV shows I watched in the 90's, this one isn't just for kids!
The Tasmanian Devil (a.k.a. Taz), a character who appeared in several Looney Tunes cartoons in the 50's and 60's, has his own show here. He still spins around in a whirlwind, sometimes through trees and rocks and drilling holes in the ground, and still makes sounds, rarely speaking in complete sentences (though he occasionally shows that he CAN talk normally). He also still loves to eat, and is capable of consuming mass quantities in one gulp! However, unlike the earlier cartoons, he is a teenager in a family of five here. His parents are Jean and Hugh, both loving, caring, laid back parents, but they're also misguided and absurdly tolerant of Taz's behaviour, and virtually nothing makes them angry! Taz is the eldest of three siblings. The middle sibling is Molly, who is often seen talking on the phone with friends, and her favourite band is New Chips off the Block (obviously based on boy band New Kids on the Block). The majority of the conflict in the family is between Molly and Taz. The youngest is a playful young boy named Jake. These family members are all more advanced than Taz, and always talk normally. The family has a pet turtle that acts like a dog, and Uncle Drew, who appears in three episodes, the "Road to Taz-Mania" trilogy. He has a rather unsteady relationship with Hugh, his brother, as they like to insult each other.
Taz's family members don't appear in every episode, as there are many other recurring characters. In his early cartoons, Taz was known mainly as a vicious but dimwitted predator of Bugs Bunny, and is sometimes the predator in episodes of this show as well, such as the ones with Kiwi, who never makes a sound but is extremely clever! On the other hand, there are also episodes in which Taz is the prey, when Bull Gator and his idiot sidekick, Axel, try to capture him for the "zoo-going children" to see, or when Francis X. Bushlad tries capture him so he can earn his manhood in his tribe! Other characters include: Bushwacker Bob, Taz's arrogant, selfish, lazy, short-tempered boss at the hotel where he works; Mum, Bob's mother, who runs the hotel with him; Digeri Dingo, a selfish, lazy, scheming dingo dog who loves to use Taz; Wendel T. Wolf, a Tasmanian wolf who believes he is the last of his species; the Platypus brothers, Timothy and Daniel, pseudo-handymen who think they are scientific geniuses; Constance Koala, a huge, strong koala bear who likes to dance and sing, and works at the hotel with Taz; Mister Thickley, another co-worker at the hotel, a wallaby who tries to be the most beloved character; Buddy Boar, Taz's deal making pal; the Bushrats, a tribe of rats who talk with subtitles; and Willie Wombat, who appears in several later episodes, a friendly wombat who struggles to try and get a better role in the show. Whichever character(s) Taz is with in the land of Tazmania, it's bound to lead to slapstick chaos!
Watching episodes of this show now, I can still admire it for the animation (with beautiful backgrounds usually featuring yellow skies), musical scores, characters, etc., just like I did fifteen years ago, but it obviously isn't exactly the same. As one would expect, there's a lot of slapstick mayhem (with Taz often the victim), but there's also some satire/parodying I wouldn't have understood as a kid, with such episodes (or segments of episodes) as "Ticket Taker Taz" and many others. I also have more appreciation for some of the characters than I used to, including Taz's lovable family, with his over-affectionate mother and babbling, orange juice-loving father, with his catchphrase, "blah blah blah yackety shmackety," and the way they sweet-talk each other! There are so many lovable characters outside the family as well, plus some comically mean-spirited ones! Basically, all the characters contribute something to the show, though obviously some more than others. For the most part, "Taz-Mania" is consistently funny, with physical humour, satire, the antics of Taz and sometimes other characters, the main character's adventures, etc. The show also has a talented voice-over cast.
This early 90's cartoon series was a success during its run, but unfortunately, it doesn't exactly seem like it ever was successful now. The show sadly doesn't seem to be nearly as widely remembered as "Tiny Toon Adventures" and "Animaniacs", two other Warner Bros. cartoons from the same decade. It wouldn't have hurt if the show had lasted longer than it did, and if it were as popular as it deserves to be, it would have been released on DVD years ago, around the time they started making "Simpsons" DVD sets! And yet, there still hasn't been a DVD release of the cartoon, and reruns seem scarce. If it could get more recognition, I'm sure it could appeal to so many kids and adults alike, which I'm sure it did in its heyday! So, regardless of your age, if you like cartoons, and know a way to see episodes of "Taz-Mania", it could be well worth watching!
The Tasmanian Devil (a.k.a. Taz), a character who appeared in several Looney Tunes cartoons in the 50's and 60's, has his own show here. He still spins around in a whirlwind, sometimes through trees and rocks and drilling holes in the ground, and still makes sounds, rarely speaking in complete sentences (though he occasionally shows that he CAN talk normally). He also still loves to eat, and is capable of consuming mass quantities in one gulp! However, unlike the earlier cartoons, he is a teenager in a family of five here. His parents are Jean and Hugh, both loving, caring, laid back parents, but they're also misguided and absurdly tolerant of Taz's behaviour, and virtually nothing makes them angry! Taz is the eldest of three siblings. The middle sibling is Molly, who is often seen talking on the phone with friends, and her favourite band is New Chips off the Block (obviously based on boy band New Kids on the Block). The majority of the conflict in the family is between Molly and Taz. The youngest is a playful young boy named Jake. These family members are all more advanced than Taz, and always talk normally. The family has a pet turtle that acts like a dog, and Uncle Drew, who appears in three episodes, the "Road to Taz-Mania" trilogy. He has a rather unsteady relationship with Hugh, his brother, as they like to insult each other.
Taz's family members don't appear in every episode, as there are many other recurring characters. In his early cartoons, Taz was known mainly as a vicious but dimwitted predator of Bugs Bunny, and is sometimes the predator in episodes of this show as well, such as the ones with Kiwi, who never makes a sound but is extremely clever! On the other hand, there are also episodes in which Taz is the prey, when Bull Gator and his idiot sidekick, Axel, try to capture him for the "zoo-going children" to see, or when Francis X. Bushlad tries capture him so he can earn his manhood in his tribe! Other characters include: Bushwacker Bob, Taz's arrogant, selfish, lazy, short-tempered boss at the hotel where he works; Mum, Bob's mother, who runs the hotel with him; Digeri Dingo, a selfish, lazy, scheming dingo dog who loves to use Taz; Wendel T. Wolf, a Tasmanian wolf who believes he is the last of his species; the Platypus brothers, Timothy and Daniel, pseudo-handymen who think they are scientific geniuses; Constance Koala, a huge, strong koala bear who likes to dance and sing, and works at the hotel with Taz; Mister Thickley, another co-worker at the hotel, a wallaby who tries to be the most beloved character; Buddy Boar, Taz's deal making pal; the Bushrats, a tribe of rats who talk with subtitles; and Willie Wombat, who appears in several later episodes, a friendly wombat who struggles to try and get a better role in the show. Whichever character(s) Taz is with in the land of Tazmania, it's bound to lead to slapstick chaos!
Watching episodes of this show now, I can still admire it for the animation (with beautiful backgrounds usually featuring yellow skies), musical scores, characters, etc., just like I did fifteen years ago, but it obviously isn't exactly the same. As one would expect, there's a lot of slapstick mayhem (with Taz often the victim), but there's also some satire/parodying I wouldn't have understood as a kid, with such episodes (or segments of episodes) as "Ticket Taker Taz" and many others. I also have more appreciation for some of the characters than I used to, including Taz's lovable family, with his over-affectionate mother and babbling, orange juice-loving father, with his catchphrase, "blah blah blah yackety shmackety," and the way they sweet-talk each other! There are so many lovable characters outside the family as well, plus some comically mean-spirited ones! Basically, all the characters contribute something to the show, though obviously some more than others. For the most part, "Taz-Mania" is consistently funny, with physical humour, satire, the antics of Taz and sometimes other characters, the main character's adventures, etc. The show also has a talented voice-over cast.
This early 90's cartoon series was a success during its run, but unfortunately, it doesn't exactly seem like it ever was successful now. The show sadly doesn't seem to be nearly as widely remembered as "Tiny Toon Adventures" and "Animaniacs", two other Warner Bros. cartoons from the same decade. It wouldn't have hurt if the show had lasted longer than it did, and if it were as popular as it deserves to be, it would have been released on DVD years ago, around the time they started making "Simpsons" DVD sets! And yet, there still hasn't been a DVD release of the cartoon, and reruns seem scarce. If it could get more recognition, I'm sure it could appeal to so many kids and adults alike, which I'm sure it did in its heyday! So, regardless of your age, if you like cartoons, and know a way to see episodes of "Taz-Mania", it could be well worth watching!
Great underrated cartoon from the 90s
rufrocko10 April 2019
I used to love watching this cartoon when I was a kid in the earl 90s, the intro music is catchy and there are some funny parts in the episodes, I even loved the sega genesis taz video games, good animation and just overall very memorable, I hope a complete series gets released on dvd soon, cartoons like taz mania was a show I watched when everything in life was more fun, I miss those days, like I knew I would
Great animated series!
Movie Nuttball9 August 2004
When this show was on I watched it every time I could! I thought that the characters were really funny and all had great personalities. The animation in My opinion was crisp, clean, and really clear. Not to mention beautiful! Most of the characters in this show are like the older Looney Tunes characters that we all love. These I believe are just as funny and as talented. In fact, Some of them are arguably funnier than the originals! The things that goes on in this series' cartoons are in My opinion nuts which that is what makes them hilarious! There are so many to like and laugh at and the silly things they do! If you like the original Looney Tunes then I strongly recommend that you watch Taz-Mania!
Movie Nuttball's NOTE:
If you like Taz-Mania then I also recommend Tiny Toon Adventures and Animaniacs!
Movie Nuttball's NOTE:
If you like Taz-Mania then I also recommend Tiny Toon Adventures and Animaniacs!
Funny Cartoon Series
StreepFan12610 May 2002
Not a bad show! Was part of a very popular Saturday Morning lineup that probably attributed to its success. Not as good as the rest of the lineup, but still funny. Included were many members of Taz's family including his valley girl sister, his laid back father, his action figure playing brother, and his mother, who was a typical mother! Hard to find on video, but if you can, I'd try and rent it.
A childhood favorite
Rectangular_businessman21 May 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Taz, along with Daffy, is one of my favorite characters from the Looney Tunes gang.
I guess this show was a key factor in said preference. Back then in the nineties, Warner had plenty of entertaining shows the whole family could watch, with lots of clever gags and a charming characterization.
Taz here had a somewhat different personality in comparison with the original shorts where he appeared, being quite nicer, and with a somewhat more childish behavior, but he still was entirely recognizable as the classic character created by Robert McKimson.
A shame all the new characters created for this series (including Taz family) never apparead in any other Looney Tunes media again. And a it's such a shame modern Looney Tunes cartoons lack of the same charm and wit they used to have back then.
I guess this show was a key factor in said preference. Back then in the nineties, Warner had plenty of entertaining shows the whole family could watch, with lots of clever gags and a charming characterization.
Taz here had a somewhat different personality in comparison with the original shorts where he appeared, being quite nicer, and with a somewhat more childish behavior, but he still was entirely recognizable as the classic character created by Robert McKimson.
A shame all the new characters created for this series (including Taz family) never apparead in any other Looney Tunes media again. And a it's such a shame modern Looney Tunes cartoons lack of the same charm and wit they used to have back then.
Taz hates water
DarthBill9 April 2004
After the success of "Tiny Toons", Warner Brothers finally gave the Taz-Manian devil a shot at his own show, naturally, in the form of a teenager. The teen Taz would raise hell all over the outback in his endless pursuit for food and the elusive kiwi. His parents were the laid back Hugh and loving Jean, his little sister was the obnoxious Molly and his little brother was the fun loving Jake. Taz had a pet turtle that apparently thought itself a dog. In order to make money on the side, Taz worked in a hotel for an obnoxious guy with a red beard and glasses and his sweet natured old mom. His friends included the cell phone wielding Buddy Boar (who later became a director), Didgeri Dingo, an ultra-cool and eternally scheming jerk who exploited everyone, particularly Taz, for all they were worth to suit his own ends, an idiot kangaroo, two brilliant and socially thick headed platypus brothers, and a giant kawala bear co-worker. His enemy, as it were, was Francis Bushlad, a coming of age tribal boy trying to earn his manhood and secure his succession as the next tribal leader by capturing Taz and usually failing miserably. And there were some tribal rats in there somewhere, a wolf with a Woody Allen complex, and two crocodile hunters (the leader sounding suspiciously like Gomez from "The Addmas Family") who wanted to capture Taz "for the children" and like Francis, they often failed miserably.
Taz's hobbies, aside from eating, include collecting comic books, bottle caps, and skate boarding.
While probably not as edgey as "Tiny Toons" this was still a fun romp and took a memorable pot shot at the New Kids on the Block once. And of there was also a memorable Hitchcock parody. Keep an eye out for it.
Taz's hobbies, aside from eating, include collecting comic books, bottle caps, and skate boarding.
While probably not as edgey as "Tiny Toons" this was still a fun romp and took a memorable pot shot at the New Kids on the Block once. And of there was also a memorable Hitchcock parody. Keep an eye out for it.
Who could not love this show?
Op_Prime4 August 2000
This was the kind of cartoon that children would love but could also appeal to a more mature audience. It had a charm similar to the classic Warner shorts. Filled with slapstick and many inside jokes, this show was great. Catch the reruns on Cartoon Network.
Fairly Annoying Cartoon
Big Movie Fan18 June 2002
I have reviewed many cartoon shows on the IMDB and I do enjoy cartoons but Taz-Mania was not one of my favourites. I liked the look of it before I first saw it in 1991 but it was annoying.
Being a fan of Warner Brothers cartoons I decided to stick with the whole series in case it got better. Taz-Mania was a very annoying creature and very ugly as well. Perhaps it didn't help that the animal was a Tazmanian Devil-perhaps they should have used a kangaroo or something.
As I said, I stuck with the show for awhile in case it got better. In all honesty, there were times when I did laugh but overall, Taz-Mania was an annoying little creature who provided no enjoyment for me.
But what does an adult like me know anyway? Kids will no doubt enjoy it. I would recommend it to kids of a young age.
Being a fan of Warner Brothers cartoons I decided to stick with the whole series in case it got better. Taz-Mania was a very annoying creature and very ugly as well. Perhaps it didn't help that the animal was a Tazmanian Devil-perhaps they should have used a kangaroo or something.
As I said, I stuck with the show for awhile in case it got better. In all honesty, there were times when I did laugh but overall, Taz-Mania was an annoying little creature who provided no enjoyment for me.
But what does an adult like me know anyway? Kids will no doubt enjoy it. I would recommend it to kids of a young age.
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