Paw Paws


Paw Paws, also known as Paw Paw Bears, is an American children's animated television series that first aired in 1985 and 1986. It debuted as part of the weekday/weekend morning programming block The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera.
This cartoon introduced the cartoon world to Susan Blu, who went to do the original voice of Arcee in Hasbro's cartoon series The Transformers as well as many other animated characters.
The series name is a play on the paw paw, a fruit cultivated by Native Americans and indigenous to North America, and a play on words with a bear's paw. Reruns of the show formerly aired on Cartoon Network and later Boomerang.

Plot

A group of Native American bear cubs defending themselves from their enemies, The Meanos, led by the evil sorcerer Dark Paw. Dark Paw and his henchmen were after the Paw Paws' three large wooden totems, Totem Bear, Totem Tortoise, and Totem Eagle. The totems also served as the tribe's protectors, coming to life when needed through means of Princess Paw Paw's Mystic Moonstone, which she wore around her neck, to defend the village.
Much like other Hanna-Barbera programs of The Smurfs, The Biskitts, Shirt Tales, Snorks or Pound Puppies, the bears had names that denoted their personalities—Laughing Paw, Medicine Paw, Bumble Paw, etc. Brave Paw and Princess Paw Paw tended to be the leads, riding into adventures on their magical flying ponies, while aging Wise Paw served as tribal advisor. The mascot of the group was a tiny dog by the name of PaPooch.

Characters

Paw Paws

  1. The Big Spill
  2. The Wishing Star Crystal
  3. The Flying Horse Napper
  4. The Creepy Cave Creature
  5. The Greedie Greenies
  6. The Rise of the Evil Spirits
  7. The Genie-athalon
  8. The Golden Falcon
  9. Honey of a Robbery
  10. Tot 'em Termi' Nation
  11. Waif Goodbye to the Paw Paws
  12. The Dark Totem Pole Monster
  13. Dark Paw Under Wraps
  14. Genie Without a Lamp
  15. Egging Dark Paw On
  16. Two Heads Are Better than One
  17. The Great Paw Paw Turnaround
  18. The Lost Lake Monster
  19. Totem Time Trip
  20. S'no Business
  21. The Zip Zap 4-D Trap

    Merchandising

A line of Paw Paws toys were produced by Applause in 1985. Princess Paw Paw, Brave Paw, Mighty Paw, Pupooch, Medicine Paw, the Meanos and other characters were produced as PVC figurines ranging from 2" to 3" tall. The figurines had accessories, like a canoe or a cart. Pupooch was also produced as a plush toy. These were only produced for a short time and are rare today.

Cast

One of many children's animated series of the 1980s, Paw Paws didn't leave a lasting impression on many viewers. In 2014, listing it among twelve 1980s cartoons that did not deserve remembrance, io9 characterized it as "Obviously, Hanna-Barbera was wrong. And kind of racist."

Home media

On April 9, 2019, Warner Archive released Paw Paws: The Complete Series on DVD in region 1 as part of their Hanna-Barbera Classics Collection.