Jackson 5ive: The Complete Animated Series

In 1971, beloved family pop group the Jackson Five hit Saturday morning TV in animated form for a cartoon series produced by Rankin/Bass. Serving up a mix of comedy, light-hearted adventure, and music, the show featured voice actors (Joel Cooper as Jermaine, Donald Fullilove as Michael, Mike Martinez as Tito, Edmund Sylvers as Marlon, and Craig Grandy as Jackie), and each episode included two complete songs by the actual Jackson Five, such as “ABC,” “I'll Be There,” “I Want You Back,” and “Never Can Say Goodbye.” The Jackson Five are all cute, fun-loving lads, traveling to concerts in a family jalopy (when not flying coach), detouring on comic adventures (accidentally getting drafted, being mistaken for outlaws in the Wild West, crash landing on a desert island), and being aided by Michael's pet snake, Rosie, and a pair of mice named Ray and Charles. Diana Ross reportedly voices herself in the pilot (a storybook rewrite of the group's discovery), and Paul Frees takes on an entire supporting cast of male characters. Overall, this is, like, pretty groovy, with the funky music-video breaks sporting images and strobing rainbow colors right out of Peter Max posters. More likely to appeal to nostalgic adults than contemporary kids, this compilation presenting all 23 episodes from 1971-72 is recommended. (S. Axmaker)