The Jackson 5ive (1971)
The Jackson 5ive was a Saturday morning cartoon series produced by Rankin/Bass and Motown Productions on ABC from September 11, 1971 until 14 October 1972; a fictionalized portrayal of the careers of Motown recording group The Jackson 5. The series was rebroadcast in syndication through Worldvision Enterprises during the 1984–1985 Saturday morning season, during a period when Michael Jackson was riding a major wave of popularity as a solo artist. The series was animated mainly in London at the studios of Halas and Batchelor, and some animation done at Estudios Moro, Barcelona, Spain. The director was Spanish-American Robert Balser.
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Episode 1 - Who's Hoozis?
Release Date: 1972-09-09The Jacksons are scheduled to perform at an outdoor concert, but when Michael discovers a talking "blues bird" (a play on "blues" and bluebird) and learns that the jazz-musician voiced bird and his nest, containing an egg soon to hatch, are in danger from bulldozers scheduled to tear down the concert park, Michael investigates. He learns a wealthy magnate named Hoozis owns the building overlooking the endangered park, and at once moves in to interfere. Hoozis is patterned after eccentric U.S. millionaire Howard Hughes.
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Episode 2 - Michael White
Release Date: 1972-09-16When he bumps his head in a bicycling accident, Michael dreams he is a storybook prince hiding in a tiny cottage where his brothers are dwarf-sized and warn him not to eat the poisoned apple a visiting crone soon offers (as in the story of Snow White). Naturally, Michael bites the apple and immediately collapses as though dead.
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Episode 3 - Groove to the Chief
Release Date: 1972-09-23Michael fantasizes about what it would be like to become Mayor of Los Angeles. His Hairy Godfather (back from the episode "CinderJackson") grants his wish and Michael discovers that it's a bigger job than he thought. The Hairy Godfather is the only character to play a recurring role in The Jackson 5ive besides Berry Gordy.
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Episode 4 - Michael in Wonderland
Release Date: 1972-09-30Before a show in the Wonderland theme park, Michael accidentally falls unconscious while testing a new roller coaster ride and dreams he is in Wonderland, where he encounters soul and funk-related versions of Wonderland's famous characters.
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Episode 5 - Jackson and the Beanstalk
Release Date: 1972-10-07Michael comes across magic beans that grow a beanstalk outside his and his brothers' Indiana apartment (as in the story of Jack and the Beanstalk). When he climbs to the top, he wanders a fabulous land and encounters the giant.
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Episode 6 - The Opening Act
Release Date: 1972-10-14A promoter books the brothers on a heavy radio tour schedule, while trying to find an opening act for their upcoming concert.