Widget, the World Watcher

I was eight years old when I first saw this cartoon, and think I was ten when I last saw it. I'm 21 now, so it's been a while, but about three years ago, while looking through the credits of voice actor Jim Cummings on IMDb, I came across "Widget, the World Watcher", which brought back memories! As a Canadian, the only station I ever saw this show on was TVO, and if it wasn't aired on that station, I would have never heard of it, but they did air it, and I liked it a lot!

Widget was a little purple shape-shifting alien who lived in a cave on Earth, and was known as a "World Watcher". Each episode would show him on a mission to fight evil and pollution, and help protect the planet, whether it was aliens or humans causing the trouble! To help him on his missions, there was the intelligent but goofy MegaBrain, a being with only a floating head and a pair of hands. The top of MegaBrain's head was see-through, so you could see his brain. Also accompanying Widget on his missions were two young Earthling brothers named Brian and Kevin.

This show could entertain kids with its exciting adventures, interesting characters, humour, etc. From what I remember, most of the humour was provided by MegaBrain, a very funny character. The show also had a catchy theme song, one which I recently got to hear again on Youtube. Unfortunately, it appears the cartoon was always pretty obscure, and at one point back in elementary school, I remember some of my peers were familiar with it, but I don't think too many of them were. I guess episodes of "Widget, the World Watcher" are very rare now, and I doubt it will ever be shown of TV again, but at least some people who were kids in the '90s still have fond memories of it, including me.

I used to watch Widget when I was in kindergarten, every single day before I left. I loved that show!! I'm the only one out of every single person I know that ever watched it...it's like it just disappeared. I'd watch it if they brought it back!!

As a college student, conversations concerning old cartoons constantly come up. They bind us all together. It always starts with Ninja Turtles, then some Ducktales, classics like Thundercats and Transformers. But when we start delving into more obscure cartoons that we all loved, we all get really excited. Eek the Cat, that show that was on after Garfield, and of course, Captain Planet. I always surreptitiously bring up Widget the World Watcher and always I get blank stares, even after I describe the show and sing the theme song. I liked Widget way more than captain planet and they were usually on back to back. Now Captain Planet is fondly remembered and widget is completely forgotten. Why? BTW- my favorite episode was the one where everyone was lured into a mini-mall with no exits and they were all trapped in a consumerist lifestyle with no way out. Considering most cartoons go hand in hand with consumerist culture (duh, they're on TV,) I think it's pretty cool that this cartoon existed. I agree with the other guy who posted here, Widget is awesome. (And I too began to question whether I made Widget up.)

Amazing, I been asking people over the years, "do you remember Widget?" and the reply is always no, but I sure do, and because everyone I've asked said no, I also thought I made up the show. I enjoyed the show a great deal, it started my day off right, so I know how you feel, I would watch the show if I could, for sure! I loved IT!!!!

If they had it on TV, I'd introduce it to my children, and watch it with them for sure.

It was a great show! This is my opinon though.

If you come accross a tape, let me know, I would love to have a copy.

"Widget" was one of the better enviromental shows they played down here on Rede Globo de Televisão [RGDT] that was not from Japan nor Canada. Most of the US or Latino stuff played was too preachy or it talked down to young audiences. However, Widget (US/Philipine co-production) fit neither of those stereotypes.

The plot focuses around shapeshifting alien (title character) and his race, plus, a talking brain robot and psychic kids noticing the disasters that takes place on Earth and Widget's homeworld, so they must try to enlighten the ignorant and punish the wrong-doing aliens that cannot survive on earth and pollute it with their own chemicals or introduce foreign species to interfere with Earth.

From some sources I have heard, this cartoon was made, due to the fact of the high pollution rate in the Philipines (or at least Manilla anyways), so Pinay animations and various Philipina and America companies decided to come up with this concept.