Chip y Dale al rescate

Everybody has a series of some sort that started them on a path of what they come to expect from nearly everything else in the genre proceeding it, whether it be a "Batman", a "Star Wars", or more aptly in my case, "Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers". It was released in '89 to be one of 4 original series on a new 2-hour block of cartoon TV known as the Disney Afternoon. Perfect timing for me, what being around 7 years old. Upon first seeing it I became enthralled. It seems that everyone also has a character whom they feel they can identify with in some degree. I remember being a somewhat scatterbrained kid...goofy, funny, if even also bucktoothed. And I want(ed) a shirt like Dale's pretty bad.

Over the years, I've found that, even having evolved into supposed adulthood, good cartoons are hard to come by and stay with. When I saw the series as a little kid, there was no way I could've pointed out all the little nagging errors in it, like sometimes slippery animation, thoroughly worn music and tired sound effects. Rather, they were counter-balanced with interest by the intriguing concept of a band of tree-residing rodents out to further the cause of justice, no matter how seemingly small the battle.

Just how could the police solve crimes like widespread cheese disappearances, mysterious weather patterns or potential citywide destruction...from a record player? Well, they can't. They don't have the necessary perspective. They aren't 2 and a half inches tall. Naw, these cases are best left for Chip, Dale, Gadget, Monterey Jack and his winged pal, Zipper. Of course, not every team is a perfect unit. Chip might over-analyze a case, leading to missing out on an opportunity to act. Gadget's latest gadget is liable to act in an un-anticipated way. Monty's next rush to action might get the gang in a bit of a pinch. And Dale...well, a "creative" solution is a creative solution, after all. Might just not work, though.

So then, why are the chronicles of diminutive crime-fighters so awesomely excellent? I find that, among many reasons, there don't seem to be many cartoons that can practice what they preach without doing just that. Teamwork, detective work, creativity and tolerance can be extolled without preaching, and to boot, while having fun! Cunning and eccentric baddies like the aptly named Fat Cat don't stand a chance against this well-oiled machine...no matter how well-thought out a devious star constellation rouse is.

It's really quite amazing how Disney's bargain-basement cartoon of the bunch came to be one of the most well-received of them. Of other Disney Afternoon favorites like "Duck Tales", "TaleSpin", and "Darkwing Duck", this is the least expensive to produce, and as aforementioned, my favorite. It just goes to show that a mix of the old-fashioned Disney magic and awesome character interactions make the show over "special effects". About 16 years after the fact, I find this show has not aged, despite my more discriminating tastes, and has remained my all-time favorite cartoon series. Whenever my inner child wells to the surface, I still pop in a long-ago-recorded VHS episode. And dare I say, I hold the series in such high regard that if the latest and greatest can't stack up to the Rescue Rangers, it's just not old-fashioned enough.

"Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers" gets a well-earned 10 of 10 stars.

Though essentially a children's program, Chip N' Dale's Rescue Rangers possesses that wonderful quality which makes it enjoyable to both young and old alike. The story follows four noble-minded rodents and a house fly who solve mysteries and generally help people, and others, in need. The villains are often hysterical and their diabolical schemes hilariously absurd. There is physical comedy aplenty and enough action to keep the wee ones interested. Meanwhile, the not-so-wee ones will be recognizing referenes to everything from Rocky and Bullwinkle to The Fly. The voice acting is clever, and the charaters are easy and likeable.

Of the five main charaters, Chip is the sharp-witted, responsible one. That of course means he often has to play the unfortunate straight man to the others' hijinks. Dale is the silly, fun-loving one who likes to play jokes (usually on Chip) and basically have a good time. Monterey Jack's the affable, adventurous Aussie wth a nose for trouble and even more so for cheese. Monterey's "little pally" Zipper the housefly courageosly performs feats above and beyond the call of duty of a "household pest." Gadget is the MacGyver of the group. She's an absent minded, though unquestionably brilliant, engineer who can make just about anything out of practically nothing.

It's fun. It's funny. It's the Rescue Rangers. Enjoy!

The Rescue Rangers is one of those rare children's programs that actually gets better as the viewer gets older. The writing is clever, the characters are easily likeable, and the capers the furry heros solve are delightfully absurd. Movie fans will also find parodies of films like The Fly and The African Queen as well as numerous pop references. The surprisingly three-dimentional heros are best part. Chip is dutiful, quick-witted, and resourceful. Of course, this means he often plays the straight-man for the others' antics. Dale, in many ways, is Chip's antithesis. He's fun-lovng and goofy, and he has a penchant for playing practical jokes.

Gadget is about the most atypical female character in all of cartoons. She's an absent-minded if brilliant mechanic who tends to solve most of the team's more urgent problems with her lever, unusual, and often dangerous inventions. Monterey Jack is an adventureous Aussie with a love for brawling and an even greater love for cheese. The really cool thing about Monterey is that he can both be a leader like Chip and a joker like Dale. Monterey's "little pally" Zipper rounds out the team as the courageous and surprisingly strong musca domestica.

In brief, this is a cartoon show about a gang of animals--two chipmunks, two mice, and a common housefly--who live together in a tree and solve crimes and have various adventures together. But it's so much better than it sounds from that simple description. The writing is witty with sharp, consistent characterizations, both of the Rescue Rangers themselves and of all the various villains and minor characters. The background music is catchy and the plots are inventive, random, silly and at the same time serious, without being preachy or heavy-handed in giving "morals" at all.

As for the basics of the show, the Rescue Rangers are composed of Chip--intelligent and determined with a streak of mischief that only occasionally surfaces; Dale--goofy and often trying to prove himself, and also to bring out Chip's goofy side; Monterey Jack--worldly and generally in control of the situation, except of course when it comes to cheese; Gadget--brilliant and absent-minded and sometimes startlingly wise; and Zipper--plucky and enthusiastic and loyal. But all of that can be found in any summary of the show; it doesn't capture what is so great about the show. None of the characters are even close to one-dimensional, and their interactions are complex, witty and fascinating, and can't even be summarized briefly.

Just as interesting are the "bad guys"--the main recurring ones are Fat Cat and his gang, and Professor Nimnul, a self-proclaimed unappreciated genius. The villains are witty, entertaining, ironic, outrageous, and just plain funny. And in general the show avoids the issue of "good vs. evil" directly; the plots typically revolve around the Rescue Rangers thwarting some scheme of a villain to gain power or wealth in unlawful ways (although some episodes don't even have an identifiable villain), but you're not made to hate the villains at all, only to disapprove of their selfishness or greed. In terms of subtle moral messages, I would say that this show shows (not preaches) the value of teamwork, the idea that everyone deserves help, and that selfishness and greed will get you nowhere in the end.

But the moral messages are not the main reason to watch this show, although they're important to the charm of the show. I started watching it when I was about four, and it's stuck with me throughout my life, becoming a central part of our family culture even when we go years without actually watching an episode. If a show can be judged by how often it gets quoted or referenced in everyday life, then Rescue Rangers has been the best and most important show in my life. So many of the lines and references have worked their way into my regular vocabulary, lines that are witty or clever or insightful or just plain funny. So often my dad and I find ourselves making analogies to RR episodes while having serious discussions. On the surface the plots may seem entertaining but not "deep" in a traditional dramatic sense, but believe me, the wit of the plots and characters and dialogue seeps into your thoughts in ways that will surprise you. It's fun and entertaining, and in a subtle way, very meaningful.

Overall, I wouldn't be who I am now without this show. I find that it's written with a depth of cleverness, references, wit, and character development that isn't quite matched in any of the other Disney Afternoon shows (with Gummi Bears coming closest). It's funny, entertaining, and deep, and I'd recommend it to anyone of any age who's willing not to be cynical about watching a show about crime-solving rodents. It's more than worth it.

Chip and Dale Rescue Rangers was a fun cartoon and it was one of my favorites that was on the Disney Afternoon along with Darkwing Duck, Bonkers, DuckTales, Tale Spin, Mighty Ducks, Gargoyles, Timon and Pumbaa and Quack Pack. Chip and Dale Rescue Rangers would be solving improbable mysteries and crimes in every fun filled episode! I always liked Dale because he is so goofy and nuts like I am. I remember that this was one of the shows that I would sometimes watch with my older sister. This show came out a year after I was born. This is another good cartoon that brings back so much good memories of my childhood. It's too bad now a days Disney has crappy cartoons on the air that are just unoriginal and suck! But overall great cartoon.