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September 1971 - September 1973, ABC
Rankin/Bass Productions
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atterned after The Beatles
cartoon series, The Jackson 5ive was based on the Motown
recording artists The Jackson Five, a group of five brothers who
took the music world by storm in the early 1970s with their hit
singles "I Want You Back," "ABC," "The Love You Save," and "I'll
Be There." Stories for the cartoon series revolved around the
comic misadventures of the group's members while performing gigs
or promoting their music career. Two of the group's songs were
performed each episode, accompanied by psychedelic visual
montages incorporating imagery that was in some way related to
the songs' lyrics.
The youngest brother, Michael
Jackson, became by far the most famous of the brothers in his
subsequent solo career as a recording artist, but even at an
early age his star power exceeded that of his siblings.
The focus
the cartoon series placed on Michael's character, which was only
slightly apparent in the beginning, became more pronounced as
the series progressed. Fantasy elements that were sometimes
incorporated into the stories also became more common in later
episodes.
In addition to Michael, who at
the time the cartoon was created was 13 years old, The Jackson
Five was made up of (in order of youngest to oldest) Marlon,
Jermaine, Tito and Jackie.
Three of
Michael's pets were also incorporated into the series - a snake
named Rosie and two mice by the names of Ray and Charles. Often
enough, actions taken by the pets played a major
contribution in resolving the Jackson brothers' latest dilemma.
The series
lasted for two seasons of original episodes. In its second
season the show was renamed The New Jackson 5ive Show, which
didn't involve any real change to the series' format other than
an alteration to the title card and voice over that announced
the name of the show during the opening segment. |