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Gadget Boy & Heather
Gadget Boy & Heather
from Wikipedia

Gadget Boy & Heather
Also known asGadget Boy (season 1)
Gadget Boy's Adventures in History (season 2)
GenreSuperhero
Comedy[1]
Based onInspector Gadget
by Bruno Bianchi
Andy Heyward
Jean Chalopin
Developed byPhil Harnage
Eleanor Burian-Mohr (season 2)
Directed byPascal Morelli
Charlie Sansonetti
Voices ofDon Adams
Tara Charendoff
Louise Vallance
Maurice LaMarche
Theme music composerMike Piccirillo
ComposersMike Piccirillo
Jean-Michel Guirao
Country of originFrance
United States
Original languagesFrench
English
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes52
Production
Executive producersAndy Heyward
Christian Davin
Robby London
Mike Maliani
ProducersPascal Morelli
Charlie Sansonetti
Running time30 minutes
Production companiesDIC Productions, L.P.
France Animation
Original release
NetworkM6 (France)
First-run syndication (U.S.)
ReleaseSeptember 9, 1995 (1995-09-09) –
March 7, 1998 (1998-03-07)

Gadget Boy & Heather is an animated television series co-produced between DIC Productions, L.P., France Animation, and M6.[2] The series originally debuted in September 1995 in first-run syndication in the United States on Bohbot Entertainment's Amazin' Adventures II block and in October 1995 on M6 in France on the channel's M6 Kid block.

Plot

[edit]

This series is about "Gadget Boy", a bionic kid detective with a personality similar to that of Inspector Gadget. Just as clumsy as the original Inspector Gadget, Gadget Boy was usually bailed out of situations by the more practical Heather, though he was also helped greatly by his myriad high-tech gadgets and extendable arms and legs.[3]

Gadget Boy's bionic implants were installed by Switzerland-based inventor Myron Dabble (voiced by Maurice LaMarche) who has an unrequited crush on Heather. Gadget Boy and Heather receive their assignments from Italy-based Chief Stromboli (also voiced by LaMarche), who, much like Chief Quimby, is a frequent, long-suffering victim of Gadget Boy's bungling. Gadget Boy is assisted by the beautiful and resourceful agent Heather (voiced by Tara Strong), a very tall equivalent of sorts to Penny (the difference being that Heather is in her early 20s). He is also assisted by a robotic dog named G-9 (also LaMarche), who serves as the "Brain" of this series, which shows through his morphing capabilities to get the gang out of the stickiest situations.

The main villain of this series, instead of Dr. Claw, is the mask-wearing six-armed villainess Spydra (voiced by Louise Vallance). Spydra is accompanied by Boris, a frequently abused, wisecracking, sarcastic vulture with a Russian accent, along with her twin henchmen Mulch and Houmous; they are all played by Maurice LaMarche.

The main title theme song was written and performed by Mike Piccirillo. Musical underscore composers were Mike Piccirillo and Jean-Michel Guirao.

Characters

[edit]

Heroes

[edit]
  • Gadget Boy (voiced by Don Adams, later Maurice LaMarche in English; Luq Hamet and later Élie Semoun in French) is a bionic police detective working for Interpol in New York City. Equipped by his dog, G-9, and assisted by Heather, he was conceived as a bionic "child" with the personality of a "perfect adult detective" (although as with the aforementioned Inspector Gadget, he is anything but). Much like Inspector Gadget, Gadget Boy is equipped with gadgets in his body while he is clumsy as Gadget but will use the gadgets to get out of sticky situations. The bionic implants were installed by the inventor Myron Dabble. Agent Heather bails Gadget Boy out of danger, though he was also helped greatly by his myriad high-tech gadgets and extendable arms and legs. However, Gadget Boy is usually seen with Heather and G-9, unlike Gadget, who in the original series, will usually inform Penny and Brain once he receives his assignment that the mission is too dangerous and that he will be going on the mission alone, and usually be convinced that a disguised Brain is a M.A.D. agent. Gadget Boy and G-9 appear to switch between being fully robotic to being half-robotic in different episodes. In "Gadget Boy and the Uncommon Cold", it is revealed that Gadget Boy is half-robot and thus catches a cold while G-9 does not. However, in "Boy Power of Babble", Gadget Boy is unaffected by the "babblizer ray" because he is half robot with a mechanical brain, whereas G-9 is completely robotic. As the original voice of Inspector Gadget, Adams voices Gadget Boy in a similar manner. Gadget Boy commonly says "Sowsers! Bowsers!", similar to Inspector Gadget's catchphrase, "Wowsers!"
  • Agent Heather (voiced by Tara Charendoff in English and Catherine Privat in French) is an Interpol agent and aide to Gadget Boy. Heather has a slim build with short auburn hair and blue eyes and wears a green jacket, white shirt, blue jeans and dark teal ballet shoes. She is a more resourceful agent and is the equivalent of Penny from Inspector Gadget, except Heather is much taller than Penny and appears to be in her early 20s. Her name is Estelle in the French version, and it is revealed in "Gadget Boy and the Wee Folk" that her bloodline is Irish.
  • G-9 (voiced by Maurice LaMarche) is Gadget Boy's robotic dog, similar to Brain. He can morph into anything and assists Gadget Boy to get him and his gang out of the stickiest situations. Gadget Boy and G-9 appear to switch between being fully robotic to being half robotic in different episodes. Although G-9 is a robot dog, in "Boy Power of Babble", G-9 is revealed to be half robot when he is affected by the "babblizer ray", enabling him the ability to speak in an old English, intelligent accent. Unlike Brain, G-9 is usually seen with Gadget Boy, and Gadget Boy does not mistake him for being an enemy agent, as opposed to when the original Inspector Gadget will usually, on the case, mistake Brain appearing incognito for being a M.A.D. agent.
  • Chief Drake Stromboli (voiced LaMarche) is the chief of Interpol with an Italian accent. Stromboli has white hair and a white mustache and gives Gadget Boy and Heather their assignments. Like Chief Quimby, Stromboli is a frequent, long-suffering victim of Gadget Boy's bungling. Assignments are printed on a long sheet of paper, often coming out of his tie, compared to the self-destructing paper on which Inspector Gadget will receive his messages, and don't blow up in his face.
  • Myron Dabble (voiced by LaMarche) is a bespectacled inventor working for Interpol. He is the man who, like von Slickstein, equipped Gadget Boy with his gadgets. Myron has an unrequited crush on Heather. In "Back to the Vulture", it is revealed that he was really born in Cleveland and speaks with a Swiss accent because he moved to Switzerland in his youth.

Villains

[edit]
  • Spydra (voiced by Louise Vallance in English and Monique Thierry in French) is the series' primary antagonist. Spydra wears a pink mask and has six arms, speaks in a loud voice, and is almost the female equivalent of Dr. Claw. Her primary goals are to bring down Gadget Boy and commit various grand crimes. Usually, Spydra is seen in her lair, much like Claw at his computer terminal, either in his castle or on the M.A.D.mobile, but does not run a large scale criminal organization similar to M.A.D. Also, Spydra's whole body can be seen, unlike Claw in the original series, where only his arms are seen and he is hiding behind a chair, and Spydra can get out of her chair. Spydra sports six arms and hides her face under a mask, occasionally removing it to use one of her main powers: the ability to petrify anyone who sees her real face. However, the unmasking is always offscreen or is obscured. Her pet is a vulture named Boris, whom she is usually abusive towards, often using alliterations to insult Boris. Spydra's minions are twin brothers Mulch and Hummus, the only recurring minions in the series, as opposed to the different recurring unnamed M.A.D. agents in Inspector Gadget (and sometimes a supervillain who will have a name and appear once, which is less apparent in the second season of the series). Her name is Arachna in the French version.
  • Boris (voiced by LaMarche) is Spydra's pet talking vulture. A long-suffering victim of Spydra's verbal abuse, Boris speaks in a Russian accent. He differs from M.A.D. Cat in that M.A.D. Cat is a foil to Claw, in which he will either be petted or pounded on, whereas Boris is only abused in many ways by Spydra, such as being insulted, thrown, or, in extreme cases, petrified by Spydra. He tends to remind Spydra he has a desk job and likes food.
  • Mulch and Hummus (both voiced by LaMarche) are twin brothers and Spydra's criminal henchmen, often sent to do her dirty work. The design of Mulch and Hummus is somewhat like the recurring M.A.D. agents from the original Inspector Gadget series; however, Mulch and Hummus are the only henchmen to Spydra, as opposed to a large number of M.A.D. agents working for Dr. Claw. The running gag is she can't tell them apart (Boris says Hummus is the one with the big nose).

Gadget Boy's Adventures in History

[edit]

The second season, produced in 1997 to fulfill E/I criteria, was titled Gadget Boy's Adventures in History. Here, the young detective has to stop the evil Spydra across time. This, like Inspector Gadget's Field Trip, aired on The History Channel. The series was later repeated on This is for Kids on This TV until September 23, 2011.

Adventures in History (along with Field Trip) would mark the final time Adams voiced the character in any form, as he retired in 1999 & later his death in 2005. Inspector Gadget's next appearance would be the series Gadget & the Gadgetinis (2002), where he was voiced by Maurice LaMarche.

Episodes

[edit]
SeasonEpisodesOriginally released
First releasedLast released
126September 9, 1995 (1995-09-09)March 16, 1996 (1996-03-16)
226September 6, 1997 (1997-09-06)March 7, 1998 (1998-03-07)

Season 1 (1995–1996)

[edit]
  1. Raiders of the Lost Mummies (9 September 1995): written by Christian Darcy, Jeffrey Scott, Jack Hanrahan, and Eleanor Burian-Mohr
  2. From Russia with Gadget Boy (16 September 1995): written by Christian Darcy, Jack Hanrahan, and Eleanor Burian-Mohr
  3. Don't Burst my Bubble (23 September 1995): written by Christian Darcy, Steve Pesce, and Eleanor Burian-Mohr
  4. Gadget Boy in Toyland (30 September 1995): written by Christian Darcy, Steve Pesce, and Eleanor Burian-Mohr
  5. Gadget Boy and the Wee Folk (7 October 1995): written by Christian Darcy, Jack Hanrahan, and Eleanor Burian-Mohr
  6. You Oughta Be in Paintings (14 October 1995): written by Christian Darcy, Steve Pesce, and Eleanor Burian-Mohr
  7. All That Gadgets Is Not Glitter (21 October 1995): written by Christian Darcy and Pat Allee
  8. Gadget Boy and the Great Race (28 October 1995): written by Christian Darcy and Aubrey Tadman
  9. Gadget Boy and the Ship of Fools (4 November 1995): written by Christian Darcy and Kevin Donahue
  10. Gadget Boy and the Uncommon Cold (11 November 1995): written by Christian Darcy and Kevin Donahue
  11. Double Double Toil and Dabble (18 November 1995): written by Christian Darcy, Jack Hanrahan, and Eleanor Burian-Mohr
  12. Gadget Boy Squadron (25 November 1995): written by Christian Darcy and Kevin Donahue
  13. My Gadget Guard (2 December 1995): written by Christian Darcy, Steve Pesce, and Eleanor Burian-Mohr
  14. Treasure of the Sierra Gadget (9 December 1995): written by Christian Darcy, Jack Hanrahan, and Eleanor Burian-Mohr
  15. Gadget Boy and the Dumpling Gang (16 December 1995): written by Christian Darcy, Jack Hanrahan, and Eleanor Burian-Mohr
  16. The Day the Gadget Boy Stood Still (6 January 1996): written by Christian Darcy, Steve Pesce, and Eleanor Burian-Mohr
  17. Monumental Mayhem (13 January 1996): written by Christian Darcy, Jack Hanrahan, and Eleanor Burian-Mohr
  18. Jurassic Spydra (20 January 1996): written by Christian Darcy, Jack Hanrahan, and Eleanor Burian-Mohr
  19. Gadget Boy's Tiniest Adventure (27 January 1996): written by Christian Darcy, Jack Hanrahan, and Eleanor Burian-Mohr
  20. Power of Babble (3 February 1996): written by Christian Darcy and Terence Taylor
  21. Pirate of the Airwaves (10 February 1996): written by Christian Darcy, Steve Pesce, and Eleanor Burian-Mohr
  22. Jaws and Teeth Too (17 February 1996): written by Christian Darcy and Jean Chalopin
  23. Eight Hands are Quicker Than Gadget Boy (24 February 1996): written by Christian Darcy and Kyle Gaither
  24. Boris for President (2 March 1996): written by Christian Darcy, Jack Hanrahan, and Eleanor Burian Mohr
  25. All Webbed Up, Nowhere to Go (9 March 1996): written by Christian Darcy, Jack Hanrahan, and Eleanor Burian-Mohr
  26. Vulture of the Bride (16 March 1996): written by Christian Darcy, Jack Hanrahan, and Eleanor Burian-Mohr

Season 2 (1997–1998)

[edit]
  1. The Vulture Has Landed (Neil Armstrong, 1969, Moon ) (6 September 1997): written by Steve Pesce and Eleanor Burian-Mohr
  2. The Long and Winding Wall (The Dragon King, China, 211 BC) (13 September 1997): written by Jack Hanrahan and Eleanor Burian-Mohr
  3. For Whom the Torch Rolls (Zeus, 400 BC, Olympia, Greece) (20 September 1997): written by Christian Darcy, Jack Hanrahan, Eleanor Burian-Mohr, and Louis Gassin
  4. Madame Spydra Fly (Matthew C. Perry, 1853, Japan) (27 September 1997): written by Jack Hanrahan and Eleanor Burian-Mohr
  5. An Ice Age Runs Through It (Somewhere in 70,000,000 BC) (4 October 1997): written by Steve Pesce and Eleanor Burian-Mohr
  6. The Three Gadgeteers (The Three Musketeers, 1617, Paris, France) (11 October 1997): written by Christian Darcy, Steve Pesce, Eleanor Burian-Mohr, and Louis Gassin
  7. Hot Time in Old Caves (Ned The Neanderthal, 750,000 BC, Southern France) (18 October 1997): written by Kevin Donahue
  8. Bionic Blunder from Down Under (James Cook, 1770, Australia) (25 October 1997): written by Steve Pesce and Eleanor Burian-Mohr
  9. Some Assembly Required (Henry Ford, 1909, Detroit, Michigan) (1 November 1997): written by Steve Pesce, Jack Hanrahan, and Eleanor Burian-Mohr
  10. Gadget-Stein (Mary Shelley, 1816, Geneva, Switzerland) (8 November 1997): written by Steve Pesce and Eleanor Burian-Mohr
  11. Ice Station Vulture (Robert Peary, 1909, North Pole) (15 November 1997): written by Christian Darcy, Steve Pesce, Eleanor Burian-Mohr, and Louis Gassin
  12. Coming In on a Web and Prayer (The Wright Brothers, 1903, Kitty Hawk, North Carolina) (22 November 1997): written by Christian Darcy, Steve Pesce, Eleanor Burian-Mohr, and Louis Gassin
  13. All's Fair at the World Fair (Inventors, 1939, Queens, New York) (29 November 1997): written by Steve Pesce and Eleanor Burian-Mohr
  14. A Whale of a Sail of a Tail (Sinbad The Sailor, 1300 BC, Phoenicia) (6 December 1997): written by Christian Darcy, Jack Hanrahan, Eleanor Burian-Mohr, and Louis Gassin
  15. An Extinct Possibility (Explorers, 1955, Africa) (13 December 1997): written by Steve Pesce and Eleanor Burian-Mohr
  16. A Knight to Remember (Henry III of England, 1216, England) (20 December 1997): written by Steve Pesce and Eleanor Burian-Mohr
  17. No Laughing Matter (Charlie Chaplin, 1920, Hollywood, California) (3 January 1998): written by Kevin Donahue
  18. It's Not Easy Staying Green (Hunters, 1970, Brazil) (10 January 1998): written by Jack Hanrahan, Eleanor Burian-Mohr, and Steve Pesce
  19. Just Fakir-ing It (Fakirs, 1928, India) (17 January 1998): written by Jack Hanrahan and Eleanor Burian-Mohr
  20. Go West Young Vulture (John Sutter, 1850, California) (24 January 1998): written by Jack Hanrahan and Eleanor Burian-Mohr
  21. These Are a Few of My Favorite Flying Things (Leonardo da Vinci, 1470, Florence, Italy) (31 January 1998): written by Steve Pesce and Eleanor Burian-Mohr
  22. Valley of the Vulture (King Tut, 1334 BC, Egypt) (7 February 1998): written by Jack Hanrahan and Eleanor Burian-Mohr
  23. The Time Land Forgot (Mayan Natives, 700 AD, Mexico) (14 February 1998): written by Christian Darcy, Jack Hanrahan, Eleanor Burian-Mohr, and Louis Gassin
  24. Three Brainiacs in a Fountain (Marie Curie, 1902, Paris, France, Louis Pasteur, 1864, Paris France & Albert Einstein, 1932, New York City, New York) (21 February 1998): written by Christian Darcy, Jack Hanrahan, Eleanor Burian-Mohr, and Louis Gassin
  25. A Gadget Boy Christmas All Around the World (Turkish bishops, 325 AD Turkey, Italians, Italy - 500 BC & Martin Luther, 1517, Wittenberg, Germany) (28 February 1998): written by Jack Hanrahan and Eleanor Burian-Mohr
  26. Back to the Vulture (Mrs. Dabble, 1957, Cleveland, Ohio) (7 March 1998): written by Christian Darcy, Steve Pesce, Eleanor Burian-Mohr, and Louis Gassin

Home media

[edit]

On May 28, 2003, Sterling Entertainment released a DVD/VHS titled "Gadget Boy Saves the World", containing four episodes (three on the VHS) of the series. The DVD was re-released by NCircle Entertainment in 2008 alongside another DVD titled "Along Came A Spydra", which also contained four episodes.

On February 21, 2012, Mill Creek Entertainment released Gadget Boy's Adventures in History - The Complete Series on DVD in Region 1 for the very first time. The 3-disc set featured all 26 episodes from the second season of the series and also contains bonus episodes from Johnny Test, The New Adventures of Nanoboy, World of Quest, Super Duper Sumos and The Wacky World of Tex Avery.[4] Mill Creek also released the first disc as a single DVD release titled "Stopping Evil Across Time" on the same day, containing the same bonus episode of Johnny Test.

Broadcast

[edit]

The first season originally aired on first-run syndication through Bohbot Entertainment's Amazin' Adventures II block, while Adventures in History and reruns of Season 1 aired on The History Channel until 2000.

In the United States, reruns were shown on Toon Disney between April 19, 1998, and January 5, 2002. From 2010 to September 2011, the series aired on This TV on their Cookie Jar Toons block. In the Philippines, it was aired on IBC from 1996 to 1999 through the Vintage Television block on a weekly basis before moving to GMA Network a year later.

As of 2022, the series is available to stream on Pluto TV.

In the United Kingdom, the series aired on BBC One and BBC Two on the CBBC block from 1997 to 2001; between 2002 and 2012 (approximately), it ran during the early hours of the morning on Cartoon Network and Boomerang.

From 1998 to 2000, the series was broadcast in Canada on Family Channel.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Gadget Boy & Heather is a French-American animated television series that aired from 1995 to 1998, featuring the misadventures of a young, bionic boy detective named Gadget Boy, who is assisted by his nanny and secret agent Heather along with their robotic dog G-9 in thwarting the schemes of the villainous spider-woman Spydra and her talking vulture sidekick Boris. The series, co-produced by DIC Entertainment, France Animation, and M6, consists of 52 episodes (26 per season) across two seasons, with the first season focusing on general crime-fighting escapades and the second rebranded as Gadget Boy's Adventures in History emphasizing educational historical themes. Created as a spin-off to the Inspector Gadget franchise, it stars Don Adams reprising a similar bumbling style as the voice of Gadget Boy, alongside Tara Strong as Heather, Maurice LaMarche as various characters including Boris and G-9, and other notable voice talent. Originally broadcast in syndication on the Amazin' Adventures block for its debut season, the show later aired on networks such as Fox Family Channel, The History Channel, and Toon Disney in the United States, gaining international distribution including on BBC's CBBC in the United Kingdom. Known for blending comedy, action, and light educational content, Gadget Boy & Heather highlights themes of teamwork and ingenuity through Gadget Boy's malfunctioning gadgets, often requiring Heather's competence to save the day.

Overview

Premise

Gadget Boy & Heather is an centered on Boy, a young bionic who, along with his and secret agent Heather and robotic dog G-9, thwarts the world-conquering schemes of the villainess Spydra and her henchmen, often involving thefts of inventions and chaotic plots. The show features 21-minute episodes that blend action, comedy, and science fiction elements, with the protagonists relying on gadget-based solutions to resolve contemporary crises in its first season. In the second season, retitled Gadget Boy's Adventures in History, the narrative shifts to incorporate time travel, where the heroes journey to pivotal historical events to prevent Spydra from altering the course of history, incorporating educational elements that tie the adventures to real historical facts. A key unique aspect is the emphasis on Gadget Boy's malfunctioning bionic gadgets, which frequently lead to comedic mishaps and unintended successes, mirroring the bumbling style of the original Inspector Gadget. The series is presented as a spin-off to , portraying Gadget Boy as the youthful version of the iconic inspector, sharing similar traits and thematic foundations in gadgetry and villainy.

Production

Gadget Boy & Heather was co-produced by DIC Productions, L.P., France Animation, and M6 as a spin-off of the series. The show was developed to appeal to younger audiences, incorporating educational elements focused on history in its second season, Gadget Boy's Adventures in History. It was directed by Pascal Morelli and Charlie Sansonetti. The series utilized traditional 2D cel animation, characterized by vibrant, cartoonish visuals typical of mid-1990s Western animation. Production took place in both and the , with an emphasis on dynamic gadget effects in action sequences and detailed recreations of historical settings during Season 2. The English voice cast featured as the initial voice of Gadget Boy, later replaced by ; as Heather; also voicing G-9, Boris, and Chief Strombolli; and as Spydra. The series comprises 52 episodes (26 per season) across two seasons and originally aired from September 9, 1995, to March 7, 1998.

Characters

Heroes

Gadget Boy serves as the central protagonist of the series, a young bionic detective employed by to combat international . Equipped with an array of built-in gadgets, including extendable arms and legs, he relies on inventive solutions to navigate challenges, though his clumsiness frequently leads to mishaps that endanger the mission. Despite these setbacks, his optimistic demeanor and quick thinking often turn the tide, embodying the show's blend of humor and heroism. Voiced by . Agent Heather acts as Gadget Boy's capable partner, officially posing as his to maintain cover while serving as a top-secret operative. Highly skilled in , espionage tactics, and high-speed driving, she steps in to resolve crises when Gadget Boy's gadgets malfunction or his inexperience prevails. Her competence provides essential balance to the team, offering strategic guidance and physical prowess that complements the group's gadget-dependent approach. Voiced by , Heather's portrayal emphasizes reliability and resourcefulness. G-9 functions as the team's loyal robotic canine companion, capable of into various forms such as or tools to aid in escapes and pursuits. Communicating through barks, beeps, and occasional digital displays, G-9 adds layers of utility and , with his transformations sometimes resulting in humorous malfunctions that heighten the adventure's lighthearted tone. Voiced by , G-9's design draws inspiration from classic robotic sidekicks, enhancing the protagonists' mobility and ingenuity. Chief oversees the team's operations as the stern yet supportive head of Interpol's division, delivering mission briefings via secure channels from his base in . His authoritative presence ensures focus amid chaos, providing directives that propel the heroes into action while occasionally offering paternal encouragement to Gadget Boy. Voiced by , Stromboli represents institutional backbone, fostering the group's cohesion through clear leadership. The heroes' dynamics revolve around a familial , with Heather's sibling-like bond to Gadget Boy enabling seamless collaboration, while G-9's versatility and Stromboli's oversight create a well-rounded unit capable of tackling global threats. This interplay highlights themes of teamwork, where individual strengths—Gadget Boy's innovation, Heather's expertise, G-9's adaptability, and Stromboli's strategy—interlock to overcome obstacles.

Villains

The primary antagonists in Gadget Boy & Heather are led by Spydra, a cunning and dramatic spider-themed whose overarching goal is through elaborate inventions and traps. Voiced by . She deploys robotic spiders and mechanical contraptions in her schemes, often delivering monologues that reveal her narcissistic personality and disdain for her foes. Spydra's operations escalate from stealing modern artifacts and technology in the first season to attempting historical in the second, such as altering key events to reshape the world in her favor. Assisting Spydra is Boris the Vulture, her loyal yet dim-witted avian henchman who serves primarily for flights but frequently bungles assignments in comedic fashion. Voiced by . His incompetence often stems from or snarky asides, yet he remains devoted to Spydra despite her abusive treatment, including alliterative insults. Spydra's human underlings, the bumbling twin henchmen and , handle the grunt work of guarding locations and operating machinery. Voiced by . Mulch is portrayed as the stronger but slower of the pair, relying on brute force that rarely succeeds, while Hummus is sneakier yet cowardly, prone to fleeing at the first sign of trouble. Their schemes are consistently foiled by the protagonists' gadget mishaps and coordinated efforts, highlighting the villains' hierarchical incompetence.

Episodes

Season 1 (1995–1996)

The first season of Gadget Boy & Heather comprises 26 episodes that aired from 1995 to March 1996 in syndication as part of Bohbot Entertainment's Amazin' block. These standalone stories follow young bionic detective Gadget Boy, assisted by agent Heather and robotic dog G-9, as they thwart the schemes of villainess Spydra and her henchmen across international locales. Production for the season was handled by DIC Productions in association with Animation, with each episode running approximately 22 minutes excluding commercials. , known for voicing , provided the voice for the titular character Gadget Boy in this initial run. The season emphasizes contemporary adventures in diverse global settings, including ancient ruins in , snowy streets of , emerald hills of , artistic galleries in , and bustling markets in , often highlighting Gadget Boy's trial-and-error use of his gadgets during infiltrations of Spydra's elaborate lairs.

Episode List

  • Raiders of the Lost Mummies: Gadget Boy embarks on his debut mission in Egypt, where he must safeguard a newly discovered netherworld gateway from Spydra's plot to unleash ancient evils.
  • From Russia with Gadget Boy: In Moscow, Gadget Boy protects priceless jewels once belonging to Ivan the Terrible from Spydra's attempted heist, navigating icy terrains and gadget mishaps.
  • Don't Burst My Bubble: Spydra schemes to manipulate children worldwide by tampering with popular trading cards to bend their wills, but Gadget Boy intervenes to burst her control mechanism.
  • Gadget Boy in Toyland: Spydra unleashes an army of mind-controlling evil toys to dominate playtime and extend her influence over youth, forcing Gadget Boy to dismantle her factory in a toy-filled battle.
  • Gadget Boy and the Wee Folk: Traveling to Ireland, Gadget Boy rescues the Leprechaun King from Spydra's grasp before she can seize the gold at the end of the rainbow for her criminal empire.
  • You Oughta Be in Paintings: In Paris, Gadget Boy races to prevent Spydra from defacing the Mona Lisa and replacing it with her own portrait as part of a broader art world takeover.
  • All That Gadgets Is Not Glitter: Amid a quest in China, Gadget Boy defends a legendary jacket containing the formula for fool's gold from Spydra, who plans to flood markets with counterfeit wealth.
  • Gadget Boy and the Great Race: During the European Grand Prix, Gadget Boy competes to stop Spydra from using the event as cover to pilfer continental treasures for her collection.
  • Gadget Boy and the Ship of Fools: Aboard a luxury cruise, Gadget Boy secures a priceless Fabergé egg from Spydra's nautical thieves, dealing with stormy seas and deceptive passengers.
  • Gadget Boy and the Uncommon Cold: Scaling Mount Kilimanjaro, Gadget Boy counters Spydra's deployment of an "Uncommon Cold Bomb" designed to unleash a global pandemic under her control.
  • Double Double Toil and Dabble: Spydra creates a malevolent clone of Gadget Boy to sabotage his reputation and missions, leading to a showdown where the real hero proves his identity.
  • Gadget Boy Squadron: In the Arizona desert, Gadget Boy disrupts Spydra's construction of a massive magnet to assemble a fleet of aerial drones for her air force domination.
  • My Gadget Guard: Protecting a mystical Prince of Rats in the Middle East, Gadget Boy uncovers Spydra's plot to exploit ancient lore for unlimited vermin-based espionage.
  • Treasure of the Sierra Gadget: Deep in Peru, Gadget Boy escorts a professor guarding a map to the lost city of El Dorado, fending off Spydra's jungle ambushes.
  • Gadget Boy and the Dumpling Gang: Going undercover, Gadget Boy infiltrates Spydra's gang of thieves posing as harmless cooks to halt a series of high-society artifact heists.
  • The Day the Gadget Boy Stood Still: In Washington, D.C., Gadget Boy confronts giant spider-like aliens engineered by Spydra, who demand tribute in exchange for planetary peace.
  • Monumental Mayhem: Across the Pacific, Gadget Boy neutralizes Spydra's crystals that animate famous statues into an unstoppable army for her conquest.
  • Jurassic Spydra: Gadget Boy exposes Spydra's secret amusement park, where she uses dinosaur DNA to breed prehistoric monsters for entertainment and extortion.
  • Gadget Boy’s Tiniest Adventure: Shrunk to microscopic size by a Spydra trap at a remote cabin, Gadget Boy relies on a micro-transmitter from G-9 to escape and counterattack.
  • Power of Babble: Immune to Spydra's device that induces worldwide gibberish via transmitted signals, Gadget Boy races to destroy the source before communication collapses.
  • Pirate of the Airwaves: Gadget Boy targets Spydra's massive antenna broadcasting brainwashing signals through children's television to build her legion of followers.
  • Jaws and Teeth Too: Beneath the ocean, Gadget Boy boards Spydra's shark-shaped submarine, which holds the world ransom over hijacked oil supplies.
  • Eight Hands Are Quicker Than Gadget Boy: Gadget Boy pursues Spydra's octopus-inspired robots stealing rare "Invincimetal" to forge an impenetrable shield for her fortress.
  • Boris for President: To sway an election, Spydra attempts a brain transfer to control the U.S. President, but Gadget Boy intervenes with his own political gadgetry.
  • All Webbed Up, Nowhere to Go: Gadget Boy chases Spydra into orbit aboard a hijacked space shuttle, where she plans to weaponize satellite webs for global surveillance.
  • Vulture of the Bride: At a major science fair, Gadget Boy defends against Spydra's kryptonite-like disk exploiting his one weakness, turning the event into a high-stakes gadget duel.

Season 2: Gadget Boy's Adventures in History (1997–1998)

The second season of the series, retitled Gadget Boy's Adventures in History, transformed the narrative into an edutainment format, where Gadget Boy invents a time machine that allows him, Agent Heather, and G-9 to journey through key historical eras and prevent Spydra from manipulating events to her advantage. This shift emphasized time-travel mechanics, with each adventure centered on real historical figures and periods such as the , ancient , and , blending action with lessons on history. The season premiered on The in 1997 and ran through 1998, featuring 26 half-hour episodes that concluded with segments presenting verified historical facts to reinforce educational value. Distinct from the contemporary spy adventures of the first season, this installment heightened the focus on tying fictional plots to authentic historical contexts, such as inventions, explorations, and cultural milestones, to promote conceptual understanding of the past among young audiences. The voice cast saw continuity with reprising his role as Gadget Boy, alongside as Agent Heather, as Chief Strombolli, and as Spydra, maintaining the whimsical tone while adapting to the time-hopping premise. The season's episodes are as follows, with brief synopses highlighting the time-travel elements and historical integrations where available:
  1. "The Vulture Has Landed" (September 6, 1997) - Gadget Boy and team time-travel to 1969 during the mission to thwart Spydra's attempt to seize a for her power schemes, encountering .
  2. "The Long and Winding Wall" (September 13, 1997) - Traveling to 211 BC , the heroes protect jade dragons and the construction of the Great Wall from Spydra's interference with the .
  3. "For Whom the Torch Rolls" (September 20, 1997) - In 400 BC , Gadget Boy intervenes in the ancient Olympics to stop Spydra from sabotaging the games under Zeus's watch.
  4. "Madame Spydra Fly" (September 27, 1997) - The group journeys to 1853 amid Commodore Matthew C. Perry's arrival, preventing Spydra from exploiting trade openings for her villainous ends.
  5. "An Ice Age Runs Through It" (October 4, 1997) - Set in 70,000,000 BC during prehistoric times, the team safeguards ancient artifacts from Spydra's prehistoric plunder in a frozen landscape.
  6. "The Three Gadgeteers" (October 11, 1997) - In 1617 Paris, France, Gadget Boy allies with to foil Spydra's plot against French royalty and swashbuckling intrigue.
  7. "Hot Time in Old Caves" (October 18, 1997) - Venturing to 750,000 BC in , the heroes aid Ned in defending cave dwellings from Spydra's early human disruptions.
  8. "Bionic Blunder from Down Under" (October 25, 1997) - In 1770 with Captain , Gadget Boy joins an Aboriginal tribe to counter Spydra's land-grab schemes during exploration.
  9. "Some Assembly Required" (November 1, 1997) - Time-jumping to 1909 , the team assists in protecting his from Spydra's industrial sabotage.
  10. "Gadget-Stein" (November 8, 1997) - In 1816 Geneva, Switzerland, Gadget Boy confronts Spydra's tampering with Mary Shelley's creation via a metabolizer device.
  11. "Ice Station Vulture" (November 15, 1997) - At the 1909 expedition with , the heroes rescue explorers from Spydra's satellite control plot in arctic conditions.
  12. "Coming In on a Web and Prayer" (November 22, 1997) - In 1903 , Gadget Boy aids the against Spydra's aviation interference during their flight experiments.
  13. "All's Fair at the World Fair" (November 29, 1997) - At the 1939 in , New York, the team defends inventors' robots from Spydra, who threatens the future of gadgetry itself.
  14. "A Whale of a Sail of a Tail"
  15. "An Extinct Possibility"
  16. "A Knight to Remember"
  17. "No Laughing Matter"
  18. "It's Not Easy Staying Green"
  19. "Just Fakir-ing It"
  20. "Go West Young "
  21. "These are a Few of My Favourite Flying Things"
  22. "Valley of the "
  23. "The Time Forgot"
  24. "Three Brainiacs in a "
  25. "A Gadget Boy All Around the World"
  26. "Back to the "

Release

Broadcast

Gadget Boy & Heather premiered in the United States on , 1995, through first-run syndication as part of Bohbot Entertainment's Amazin' II programming block. The series aired weekly episodes during its initial run, targeting children aged 6-11 with adventure-themed content. Reruns later appeared on Fox Family Channel, The , and , with the latter from April 1998 to January 2002. The second season, rebranded as Gadget Boy's in History, debuted on The on September 6, 1997, incorporating educational elements focused on historical settings. In , the series aired on the Family Channel from 1998 to 2000 following its initial international rollout. As a co-production involving France's M6 network, the show debuted there in October 1995 on the M6 Kid block, aligning with its European production roots. In the , it was broadcast on IBC from 1996 to 1999 as part of children's programming slots. The series later moved to on July 31, 2000, for additional airings. Internationally, Gadget Boy & Heather received distribution in regions including the and through local children's programming blocks, with the UK premiere on BBC's occurring on January 6, 1997. The overall broadcast run concluded in 1998, after which reruns sustained visibility on various kids' networks. No major viewership ratings data is available, though the show maintained a consistent schedule aimed at young audiences.

Home media

The home media distribution of Gadget Boy & Heather has primarily consisted of episodic compilations on and DVD in Region 1 format, with no official Blu-ray releases produced. These collections focus on select episodes rather than complete seasons for Season 1, while Season 2 has a complete release, reflecting limited commercial interest from major studios beyond initial . In May 2003, issued Gadget Boy Saves the World on , featuring three episodes from Season 1 ("Raiders of the Lost Mummies," "From with Gadget Boy," and "Don't Burst My Bubble"), and a corresponding DVD edition containing those three plus an additional episode ("Gadget Boy in King Arthur's Court"). The DVD was reissued in 2008 by NCircle Entertainment as Vol. 1: Gadget Boy Saves the World, retaining the same four-episode content. NCircle also released Along Came a Spydra on March 22, 2008, containing four additional Season 1 episodes. For the second season, Mill Creek Entertainment released Gadget Boy's Adventures in History: Stopping Evil Across Time on DVD on February 21, 2012, compiling the first 10 episodes (20 half-episodes) in a single-disc set. On the same date, they issued Gadget Boy's Adventures in History - The Complete Series, a 3-disc set with all 26 episodes. No official full-series box set covering both seasons has been issued by a major distributor, contributing to ongoing fan demand for comprehensive home video availability. As of November 2025, the series is accessible via free ad-supported digital streaming on and , offering full episodes without requiring purchase or subscription beyond platform access.

References

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