On 30th anniversary, Raccoons creator considers cartoon relaunch

The first broadcast of The Raccoons animated television series was on July 4, 1985.

Today, one day before the popular cartoon's 30th anniversary, Raccoons creator Kevin Gillis is talking about a relaunch.

Gillis thinks the time is ripe to bring back one of Canada's biggest animated television hits and he's looking for a Cyril Sneer (shown) to finance the venture.

Well, maybe not a Cyril Sneer.

"I think, frankly, I'd like to partner with somebody who can help it really take off in a new way," Gillis told the Canadian Press.

The news is of interest in Sault Ste. Marie because a large collection of animated cels from the 60-episode series is stored at the Art Gallery of Algoma.

On June 8, City Council passed a resolution asking Jasmina Jovanovic, Art Gallery of Algoma director, to appear at a future meeting to report on the status of the animation cels.

Jovanovic will also be asked to "offer any recommendations as to its potential benefit to the art gallery or city or as to its appropriate and legal disposition."

The cel process, in which cartoon characters were hand-painted on transparent sheets that were placed over a static background, is no longer used.

Gillis told CP that as many as 100 artists worked on the original episodes: between 50 and 70 animators, 25 colourists and six to eight background artists.

Today, the cost of making animated cartoons is less than half what it was 30 years ago.

If Gillis gets a chance to reboot The Raccoons, he will have a major decision to make.

"Do the obvious thing and age it up?" he asks.

"Is it Raccoons 10 years later? Or is it Baby Raccoons like Looney Tunes did, Muppet Babies did?"