View source for Wild C.A.T.s

{{For|the original comic book|WildC.A.T.s (comics)}}
{{Infobox television
| image                = Wild C.A.T.s cover .jpg
| caption              = DVD release cover
| alt_name             = ''Jim Lee's Wild C.A.T.S: Covert Action Teams''
| genre                = [[Superhero fiction|Superhero]]<br>[[Action fiction|Action]]<br>[[Adventure fiction|Adventure]]<br>[[Science fiction]]
| creator              = [[Jim Lee]]<br>[[Brandon Choi]]
| developer            = [[Bob Forward]]<br>[[David Wise (writer)|David Wise]]
| based_on             = {{based on|''[[Wildcats (comics)|Wild C.A.T.s]]''||Jim Lee|Brandon Choi}}
| writer               = David Wise<br>Brooks Wachtel<br>Rich Fogel<br>Mark Seidenberg
| director             = Bob Smith
| voices               = Rod Wilson<br>Roscoe Handford<br>[[Colin O'Meara]]<br>[[Ruth Marshall]]<br>[[Dean McDermott]]<br>Paul Mota<br>[[Sean McCann (actor)|Sean McCann]]<br>[[Janet-Laine Green]]<br>[[Maurice Dean Wint]]
| theme_music_composer =
| opentheme            = "Wild C.A.T.s" by [[Sheree Jeacocke]] and Gerry Mosby
| endtheme             =
| composer             =
| country              = United States<br>Canada
| language             = English
| num_seasons          = 1
| num_episodes         = 13
| list_episodes        = #Episodes
| executive_producer   = Jim Lee<br>[[Michael Hirsh (producer)|Michael Hirsh]]<br>Toper Taylor
| producer             = Hasmi Giakoumis
| editor               =
| runtime              = 22 minutes
| company              = [[WildStorm|WildStorm Productions]]<br>[[Nelvana]]
| channel              = [[CBS]]
| first_aired          = {{start date|1994|10|1}}
| last_aired           = {{end date|1995|1|21}} 
}}
'''''Wild C.A.T.S''''' is a half-hour animated television series based on the comics series [[Wildcats (comics)|of the same name]] and developed for television by [[David Wise (writer)|David Wise]]. It aired on [[CBS]] for one season from October 1, 1994, to January 21, 1995.<ref>{{cite book|last=Erickson|first=Hal|title=Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003|date=2005|edition=2nd|publisher=McFarland & Co|isbn=978-1476665993|page=908}}</ref> The series was produced by [[WildStorm|WildStorm Productions]] in association with [[Nelvana]].

==Overview==
When the evil Daemonites emerge from the shadows, multi-billionaire Jacob Marlowe assembles the Wild C.A.T.s, a team of warriors who are descendants of the heroic Kherubim race.<ref name="TheTopTens">{{cite web|url=https://www.thetoptens.com/worst-comic-book-animated-tv-shows/|title=Top Ten Worst Comic Book Animated TV Shows|author=TechnicallyIDoComics|website=The Top Tens|access-date=June 22, 2022}}</ref>

==Production==
{{confusing|section|date=May 2012}}
''Wild C.A.T.S'', along with ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987 TV series)|Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]'' and ''[[Skeleton Warriors]]'', was grouped into the "Action Zone" showcase that used a wraparound animated fly-though pre-credit sequence to bookend the three very different programs.{{citation needed|date=December 2010}} The series was canceled around the same time that the "Action Zone" concept was officially retired (although ''TMNT'' retained the "Action Zone" credit sequence until the end of its run two years later).{{citation needed|date=December 2010}} Following its cancellation, ''Wild C.A.T.s'' was picked up by [[USA Network]] and was aired as part of the ''[[USA Action Extreme Team]]'' block from 1995 to 1996.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}

The Wild C.A.T.s were composed of the original roster from the comic series. The major villain was Helspont, and the Troika and the Coda were featured as supporting characters. Mr. Majestic also made appearances, though not as a member of the group.

The series featured a [[Rock music|rock]] soundtrack, with the [[Theme music|theme song]] performed by [[Sheree Jeacocke]] and Gerry Mosby.

==Cast==
* Rod Wilson as Hadrian-7/Spartan and [[Mr. Majestic|Majestyk]]
* Roscoe Handford as [[Zealot (Wildstorm)|Lady Zannah / Zealot]]
* [[Colin O'Meara]] as [[Grifter (character)|Cole Cash / Grifter]]
* [[Ruth Marshall]] as [[Voodoo (Wildstorm)|Priscilla Kitaen / Voodoo]]
* [[Dean McDermott]] as [[Warblade (comics)|Reno Bryce / Warblade]]
* Paul Mota as Jeremy Stone / Maul
* [[Sean McCann (actor)|Sean McCann]] as Jacob Marlowe
* [[Janet-Laine Green]] as Void
* [[Maurice Dean Wint]] as [[Helspont]]
* [[Colin Fox (actor)|Colin Fox]] as Pike
* Dave Nichols as Attica
* Addison Bell as Slag
* [[Dan Hennessey]] as H.A.R.M.<ref>https://deadline.com/2024/11/dan-hennessey-dead-voice-actor-care-bears-inspector-gadget-x-men-tv-series-director-1236182060/</ref>
* [[Denis Akiyama]] as Dockwell
* Kristina Nicholl as Artemis
* Lorne Kennedy as Karillion
* Jim Millington as Zachary Forbes
* Bob Zidel as Professor Stone
* [[David Hemblen]] as Commander

==Episodes==
{{Episode table |background=#833F7D |overall=5 |title=20 |director=18 |writer=22 |airdate=16 |episodes=

{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=1
|Title=Dark Blade Falling
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1994|10|01}}
|DirectedBy=Bob Smith
|WrittenBy=David Wise
|ShortSummary=Computer expert and martial artist Reno Bryce is ambushed by Daemonite agents, but is saved by the Wild C.A.T.s, who reveal that he is a descendant of the Kherubim. When his true form is unveiled as Warblade, Bryce runs away, only to be captured and possessed by the Daemonites.
|LineColor=833F7D
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=2
|Title=Heart of Steel
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1994|10|08}}
|DirectedBy=Bob Smith
|WrittenBy=David Wise
|ShortSummary=After the Wild C.A.T.s stop the Troika from stealing top-secret data from Infidyne Corporation, Spartan reunites with Karyn, an Infidyne employee who was his old flame when he was still human. Karyn offers Spartan a second chance in life by regenerating his human body, but he is torn between his love for her and his duty as the team leader.
|LineColor=833F7D
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=3
|Title=Cry of the Coda
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1994|10|15}}
|DirectedBy=Bob Smith
|WrittenBy=Brooks Wachtel
|ShortSummary=The Eastern European nation of Yurgovia threatens its neighbors with a weapon that generates earthquakes, and Helspont wants it for his quest to find the Orb. Marlowe sends the Wild C.A.T.s to Yurgovia to destroy the weapon, but Zealot discovers that her former pupil Artemis has turned the Coda into mercenaries working with the Daemonites.
|LineColor=833F7D
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=4
|Title=The Evil Within
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1994|10|29}}
|DirectedBy=Bob Smith
|WrittenBy=Len Uhley
|ShortSummary=In order to take control of a spy satellite to help him locate the Orb, Helspont has the [[President of the United States]] possessed by a Daemonite. Meanwhile, after a falling out with Zealot, Voodoo goes AWOL and is led to believe that her parents are still alive and looking for her.
|LineColor=833F7D
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=5
|Title=The Big Takedown
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1994|11|12}}
|DirectedBy=Bob Smith
|WrittenBy=Bob Forward & David Wise
|ShortSummary=Following a breach at a Halo Enterprises lab by the Troika, Grifter brings in his former pupil Lonely to help improve the security system of Marlowe's company. When Void notices that Lonely has been tagged with a Daemonite tracking dart, the Wild C.A.T.s stage a contingency plan during Lonely's security breach test to prevent the Troika from stealing a powerful x-ray lens, but Lonely reveals his ulterior motive to Grifter.
|LineColor=833F7D
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=6
|Title=Lives in the Balance
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1994|11|19}}
|DirectedBy=Bob Smith
|WrittenBy=Rich Fogel & Mark Seidenberg
|ShortSummary=After wandering through space for thousands of years, the ancient Kherubim leader Majestyk awakens when his stasis pod crashes on Earth. He reveals to the Wild C.A.T.s that Helspont is after the Orb, but while Spartan's team is sent to [[Holland]] to foil a Troika diamond heist and Majestyk and Zealot teleport to [[Maryland]] to retrieve the quantum generator, Marlowe suspects Majestyk is hiding something inside the stasis pod.
|LineColor=833F7D
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=7
|Title=Soul of a Giant
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1994|11|26}}
|DirectedBy=Bob Smith
|WrittenBy=Bob Forward & Sean Catherine Derek
|ShortSummary=Helspont hires an archaeologist to search for an ancient tablet that contains clues leading to the Orb. Maul discovers that the archaeologist is none other than his father, who he has not seen since his transformation.
|LineColor=833F7D
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=8
|Title=Betrayed
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1994|12|03}}
|DirectedBy=Bob Smith
|WrittenBy=Bob Forward & Brooks Wachtel
|ShortSummary=During an attack at Halo Enterprises' headquarters, Marlowe is blasted with a Daemonite psionic transmitter. Warblade leaves to participate in a martial arts tournament in Japan, but when Helspont takes control of Marlowe's mind and jeopardizes the Wild C.A.T.s' mission in the [[Himalayas]], he must decide between winning the trophy and saving his teammates.
|LineColor=833F7D
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=9
|Title=Black Razor's Edge
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1994|12|10}}
|DirectedBy=Bob Smith
|WrittenBy=Bob Forward
|ShortSummary=Helspont locates the Orb, but in order to reach it, he plans to steal the U.S. government's new anti-missile laser. He also has the government's covert security team Black Razor track down and destroy the Wild C.A.T.s. Leading Black Razor is Max Cash, Grifter's estranged elder brother.
|LineColor=833F7D
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=10
|Title=And Then There Were None
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1994|12|17}}
|DirectedBy=Bob Smith
|WrittenBy=Bob Forward
|ShortSummary=The Daemonites locate and unearth the temple containing the Orb. The Wild C.A.T.s arrive at the temple to stop Helspont from reaching the Orb, but all but Voodoo fall into the temple's traps. Being the least experienced member of the team, she must fend off against Helspont while finding a way to free her teammates.
|LineColor=833F7D
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=11
|Title=M.V.P.
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1995|01|07}}
|DirectedBy=Bob Smith
|WrittenBy=Bob Forward
|ShortSummary=Helspont has the Wild C.A.T.s framed for attacking the President on national TV and arrested by the Black Razor. He also steals two nuclear missiles to blast out the temple containing the Orb and destroy the Wild C.A.T.s at [[Fort Knox]], but Marlowe uses his financial power to foil his plans.
|LineColor=833F7D
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=12
|Title=The End Game, Part One
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1995|01|14}}
|DirectedBy=Bob Smith
|WrittenBy=Rich Fogel & Mark Seidenberg
|ShortSummary=While the Wild C.A.T.s prevent the Daemonites from stealing an anti-gravity device at a NASA research facility, Grifter is hit by a stasis cannon by a possessed Lonely. Zealot pursues Lonely across the city to avenge her comatose lover while the rest of the team sends the device to a more secure location, unaware that it is an elaborate trap set by Helspont.
|LineColor=833F7D
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=13
|Title=The End Game, Part Two
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1995|01|21}}
|DirectedBy=Bob Smith
|WrittenBy=Bob Forward
|ShortSummary=Helspont has stolen the anti-gravity device and prepares a captured Zealot to become his newest servant. After being freed from Daemonite possession, Lonely rushes to Halo Enterprises to save Marlowe from being possessed. An injured Grifter awakens from his coma and heads for the Behemoth alone to rescue Zealot. Meanwhile, after Warblade cracks the Code of Threes, the Wild C.A.T.s return to the temple to release the Orb, but Voodoo realizes why it was sealed by the Elders in the first place.
|LineColor=833F7D
}}
}}

==Marketing tie-ins==
CBS published a one-shot comic book to promote the Action Zone time slot, featuring characters from ''Wild C.A.T.s'', ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'', and ''Skeleton Warriors''. The cover art was illustrated by Jim Lee.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.comiccollectorlive.com/title/ca7b37ad-489f-4e13-bb32-10ee2a4aa7c3/CBS-Presents-Action-Zone|title=CBS Presents Action Zone|website=Comic Collector Live|access-date=June 24, 2022}}</ref>

[[Playmates Toys]] released a ''Wild C.A.T.s'' toy line of six-inch action figures from 1994 to 1995. The characters featured in the toy line were Spartan, Grifter, Zealot (Kherubim Warrior and Coda Uniform versions), Warblade, Maul (standard and Flexon Combat Suit versions), Voodoo, Void, Helspont, Pike, and a generic Daemonite. Mr. Majestic, Max Cash (as Black Razor), Slag, and a color variant of Pike were released as part of the comics-oriented "Image Universe" sub-line. The Bullet Bike was the sole vehicle in the toy line. In addition, Playmates released giant 10-inch figures of Spartan, Grifter, and Maul.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.figurerealm.com/actionfigure?action=seriesitemlist&id=3482&figures=wildcats|title=Wildcats (Playmates)|website=Figure Realm|access-date=June 24, 2022}}</ref>

A video game based on the TV series was published by [[Playmates Interactive]] in [[1995 in video gaming|1995]] for the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super NES]], with Spartan, Warblade, and Maul as the only playable characters.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/snes/588848-wild-cats|title=Wild C.A.T.S. for Super Nintendo|website=[[GameFAQs]]|publisher=[[Red Ventures]]|access-date=June 24, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://comicbookvideogames.com/2015/08/24/review-jim-lees-wild-c-a-t-s-covert-action-teams-snes/|title=Review: Jim Lee's Wild C.A.T.S.: Covert Action Teams (SNES)|website=Comic Book Video Games|date=August 24, 2015|access-date=June 24, 2022}}</ref>

==Reception==
TechnicallyIDoComics of The Top Tens ranked ''Wild C.A.T.s'' at No. 5 on his list of the Top Ten Worst Comic Book Animated TV Shows, commenting that "choppy animation, sloppy voice-directing, and -- most importantly -- the most careless writing of any superhero cartoon I've ever witnessed as far as plot progression, character development, and dialogue are all concerned. Add an embarrassingly obnoxious theme song (lyrics and all), and you've got a recipe for disaster".<ref name="TheTopTens"/>

==Home media==
''Wild C.A.T.s'' was released on [[VHS]] by [[Sony Wonder]] from 1994 to 1996.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://vhscollector.com/movie/wild-cats-covert-action-teams-dark-blade-falling-heart-steel|title=Wild C.A.T.s: Covert Action teams - Dark Blade Falling / Heart of Steel|website=VHS Collector|access-date=June 24, 2022}}</ref> [[Funimation]] released the complete series on [[DVD]] on July 19, 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Jim-Lees-Wild-CATS-Covert-Action-Teams/3604|title=Jim Lee's WildC.A.T.S: Covert Action Teams DVD news: Full Announcement: Extras, Art, More!|publisher=TVShowsOnDVD.com|access-date=October 7, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610224620/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Jim-Lees-Wild-CATS-Covert-Action-Teams/3604|archive-date=June 10, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Jim-Lees-Wild-CATS-Covert-Action-Teams/2993|title=Jim Lee's WildC.A.T.S: Covert Action Teams DVD news: Complete '94 Cartoon Series Heads To DVD This Summer|publisher=TVShowsOnDVD.com|access-date=October 7, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150503113924/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Jim-Lees-Wild-CATS-Covert-Action-Teams/2993|archive-date=May 3, 2015}}</ref> The series is also available on [[Amazon Prime Video]] and [[Tubi]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Wildcats-Season-1/dp/B000W0GX04|title=Wildcats|publisher=[[Amazon Prime Video]]|access-date=June 25, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://tubitv.com/series/2406/wild-c-a-t-s|title=Wild C.A.T.s|publisher=[[Tubi]]|access-date=June 24, 2022}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Portal|1990s|Television|United States|Canada}}
* {{IMDb title|id=0251515|title=WildC.A.T.S: Covert Action Teams}}

{{WildCATs}}
{{Jim Lee}}
{{Children's programming on CBS in the 1990s}}
{{DC Comics animated TV series}}

[[Category:1990s American animated television series]]
[[Category:1990s American science fiction television series]]
[[Category:1994 American television series debuts]]
[[Category:1995 American television series endings]]
[[Category:1990s Canadian animated television series]]
[[Category:1990s Canadian science fiction television series]]
[[Category:1994 Canadian television series debuts]]
[[Category:1995 Canadian television series endings]]
[[Category:American children's animated action television series]]
[[Category:American children's animated adventure television series]]
[[Category:American children's animated science fantasy television series]]
[[Category:American children's animated superhero television series]]
[[Category:Canadian children's animated action television series]]
[[Category:Canadian children's animated adventure television series]]
[[Category:Canadian children's animated science fantasy television series]]
[[Category:Canadian children's animated superhero television series]]
[[Category:Animated television shows based on DC Comics]]
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[[Category:CBS television dramas]]
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[[Category:Television series by Nelvana]]
[[Category:Television series based on Image Comics]]
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[[Category:Wildcats (comics)]]
[[Category:CBS animated television series]]