Shazzan

2025-07-28T04:32:51Z

2405:6E00:28ED:4400:49F9:886C:C73F:3F54:

{{short description|American animated television series}}
{{about|the 1960s animated series|the falsely remembered 1990s film|Kazaam#Shazaam}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox television
| image = shazzan.jpg
| image_size = 250
| alt_name =
| genre = [[Adventure fiction|Adventure]] [[Action (fiction)|Action]]
| creator = [[Alex Toth]]
| director = [[Joseph Barbera]] [[William Hanna]]
| voices = [[Jerry Dexter]] [[Janet Waldo]] [[Barney Phillips]] [[Don Messick]]
| country = United States
| language = English
| theme_music_composer = [[Hoyt Curtin]]
| composer = Hoyt Curtin
| producer = Joseph Barbera William Hanna
| num_seasons = 1
| num_episodes = 18 (36 segments)
| list_episodes =
| company = [[Hanna-Barbera Productions]]
| runtime = 22 minutes (11 minutes per segment)
| channel = [[CBS]]
| first_aired = {{Start date|1967|09|09}}
| last_aired = {{End date|1968|01|20}}
}}
'''''Shazzan''''' is an American [[Animated series|animated television series]] created by [[Alex Toth]] and produced by [[Hanna-Barbera|Hanna-Barbera Productions]] that aired on Saturday mornings on [[CBS]] from September 9, 1967, to January 20, 1968, and continued in reruns until September 6, 1969.<ref name=Daytime>{{cite book |last1=Hyatt |first1=Wesley |title=The Encyclopedia of Daytime Television |date=1997 |publisher=Watson-Guptill Publications |isbn=978-0823083152 |url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofda00hyat/page/392/mode/2up|access-date=22 March 2020|page=393}}</ref> The series follows the adventures of two 12-year-old siblings, Chuck and Nancy, traveling around a mystical [[Arabian Peninsula|Arabian]] world, mounted on Kaboobie the flying camel. During their journey they face several dangers, but they are aided by Shazzan, a [[genie]] with magical powers.<ref name=Woolery>{{cite book |last1=Woolery |first1=George W. |title=Children's Television: The First Thirty-Five Years, 1946-1981, Part 1: Animated Cartoon Series |date=1983 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=0-8108-1557-5 |url=https://archive.org/details/childrenstelevis0000wool/page/256/mode/2up |access-date=22 March 2020 |pages=257–258}}</ref> 18 half-hour episodes were produced, made up of two 11-minute segments.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Erickson |first1=Hal |title=Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 |date=2005 |edition=2nd |publisher=McFarland & Co |isbn=978-1476665993 |page=732}}</ref>

==Plot==
Siblings Chuck (voiced by [[Jerry Dexter]]) and Nancy (voiced by [[Janet Waldo]]) come across a cave off the coast of Maine where they find a mysterious chest containing halves of a strange ring. When they first join the two halves of the ring, they end up transported back to the fabled land of the ''[[One Thousand and One Nights|Arabian Nights]]'' where they meet their [[Jinn|genie]] Shazzan (voiced by [[Barney Phillips]]). Shazzan creates a magical flying camel named Kaboobie (voiced by [[Don Messick]]) to serve as their mode of transportation and gives them gifts like an invisibility cloak and a magic rope. Shazzan tells Chuck and Nancy that he cannot return them home until they deliver the two halves of the ring to its rightful owner known as the Wizard of the 7th Mountain.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Markstein |first1=Don |website=Don Markstein's Toonopedia |access-date=2 April 2020 |url=http://www.toonopedia.com/shazzan.htm |title=Shazzan}}</ref>

Shazzan is very large, being able to hold Chuck, Nancy, and Kaboobie in the open palm of his hand. He is wise and jolly in nature, usually appearing with a cheerful "Ho-ho ho-HO!" and addressing the two children as his "little masters". Chuck and Nancy each wear one half of the broken ring, which has to be joined to bring forth their magical servant in times of danger or different villains.

Out of the one-shot villains, Shazzan, Chuck, Nancy, and Kaboobie had two villains they encounter more than once:

* Master of Thieves – A powerful sorcerer who leads a group of thieves.
* Demon in the Bottle – An evil demon imprisoned in a bottle that seeks vengeance on those who imprisoned him.

A frequent plot device is that the two teenagers became separated, most often by the act of a villain. They cannot summon the omnipotent genie until they manage to find each other. Once Shazzan materializes, it is extremely bad news for the villain.

==Style==
The series is similar in its style and production details to the other Alex Toth-created CBS Saturday morning cartoons of 1966–1968, relying heavily on music and sound effects earlier created for ''[[Jonny Quest (TV series)|Jonny Quest]]''. As is typical for both animated and live-action TV series of the era that revolve around an ongoing dilemma (''[[Space Ghost (TV series)|Dino Boy in the Lost Valley]]'', ''[[Moby Dick and Mighty Mightor]]'', ''[[Lost in Space]]'', ''[[Gilligan's Island]]'', ''[[Lidsville]]'', etc.), the heroes never resolve their long-term situation. Chuck and Nancy never find the ring's owner and thus never return to their American teenage lives.

==Voice cast==
The cast included:<ref name=Daytime/>

* [[Barney Phillips]] as Shazzan
* [[Jerry Dexter]] as Chuck
* [[Janet Waldo]] as Nancy
* [[Don Messick]] as Kaboobie

==Production==
After the success of ''[[Space Ghost (TV series)|Space Ghost]]'', [[CBS]]' head of daytime programming, [[Fred Silverman]], commissioned [[Hanna-Barbera]] to develop three new action-adventure series in the same vein for the [[1967–68 United States network television schedule (daytime)|1967–68 fall schedule]] consisting of ''[[The Herculoids]]'', ''Shazzan'', and ''[[Moby Dick and Mighty Mightor]]''.<ref name="ArtofHB">{{cite book |title=The Art of Hanna-Barbera: Fifty Years of Creativity |date=October 30, 1989 |last=Sennett|first=Ted|publisher=Studio |pages=|isbn=978-0670829781}}</ref> Speaking on the show several years later, Silverman lauded the creativity and artistry on display in the series while also noting the story problems that came from Shazzan's lack of weaknesses which coupled with high production costs resulted in the series being labeled a disappointment.<ref name= "ArtofHB"/>

==List of episodes==
Each half-hour episode consists of two 11-minute cartoons.

{{Episode table |background=#AE925B |overall= |title=
|airdate= |episodes=
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 1a
| Title = The Living Island
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1967|09|09}}
| ShortSummary = In order to give Kaboobie a rest, Chuck and Nancy land him on an island where they end up hunted by an evil [[Hunting|hunter]].
| LineColor=AE925B
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 1b
| Title = Master of Thieves
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1967|09|09}}
| ShortSummary = An underling of the Master of Thieves plans to steal Chuck and Nancy's rings in order to give them to his master.
| LineColor=AE925B
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 2a
| Title = Valley of the Giants
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1967|09|16}}
| ShortSummary = Chuck and Nancy travel through a valley which is inhabited by a [[cyclops]].
| LineColor=AE925B
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 2b
| Title = The Black Sultan
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1967|09|16}}
| ShortSummary = Chuck and Nancy encounter a [[prince]] that has been turned into a [[pig]]. He is on a mission to rescue his [[princess]] from a sleeping spell cast by the Black [[Sultan]].
| LineColor=AE925B
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 3a
| Title = The Underground World
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1967|09|23}}
| ShortSummary = While exploring some caverns, Chuck and Nancy are attacked by giant [[bat]]s.
| LineColor=AE925B
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 3b
| Title = Demon in the Bottle
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1967|09|23}}
| ShortSummary = Nancy and Chuck find themselves on an island and discover a bottle. They open it, and from it emerges the Evil Demon of the Bottle, who has been trapped for 4,000 years and wants revenge on the one who trapped him.
| LineColor=AE925B
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 4a
| Title = Ring of Samarra
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1967|09|30}}
| ShortSummary = While trying to save Princess Jasmine, Chuck and Nancy end up chased by giant [[bird]]s made of glass. It is soon discovered that the Evil Khan of El Jawali is holding her hostage in order to claim her father's Ring of Samarra.
| LineColor=AE925B
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 4b
| Title = City of Brass
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1967|09|30}}
| ShortSummary = While flying over the ocean, Chuck, Nancy, and Kaboobie get lost and land on a ship to ask for directions. They find a ship full of brass statues that come to life and capture them in order to make them their slaves.
| LineColor=AE925B
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 5a
| Title = The Evil Jester of Masira
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1967|10|07}}
| ShortSummary = The Evil [[Jester]] of Masira steals the secret Book of Evil Magic in a plot to overthrow the [[Viceroy]] of Masira and take over his kingdom.
| LineColor=AE925B
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 5b
| Title = The Master Wizard of Mizwa
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1967|10|07}}
| ShortSummary = Upon finding a garden, Chuck, Nancy, and Kaboobie end up captured by an evil wizard
| LineColor=AE925B
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 6a
| Title = Demon in the Bottle Returns
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1967|10|14}}
| ShortSummary = The Demon in the Bottle that Chuck, Nancy, and Shazzan had previously defeated returns for revenge. He manages to separate Chuck and Nancy so that they wouldn't summon Shazzan.
| LineColor=AE925B
|}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 6b
| Title = City of the Tombs
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1967|10|14}}
| ShortSummary = Chuck, Nancy, and Kaboobie fly over the Desert of the Dead only to be captured and taken to the City of the Tombs.
| LineColor=AE925B
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 7a
| Title = The Young Rajah of Kamura
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1967|10|21}}
| ShortSummary = Chuck and Nancy save a young [[Raja]]h from Kamura from certain death. Now they must fight to keep the evil Regent from claiming the throne
| LineColor=AE925B
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 7b
| Title = The Sky Pirates of Basheena
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1967|10|21}}
| ShortSummary = Nancy is captured by the Sky [[Piracy|Pirates]] of Basheena and it's up to Chuck to save Nancy.
| LineColor=AE925B
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 8a
| Title = The Forest of Fear
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1967|10|28}}
| ShortSummary = Chuck and Nancy travel through the Forest of Fear in order to find the Magical Tree of Tureen.
| LineColor=AE925B
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 8b
| Title = Sorceress of the Mist
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1967|10|28}}
| ShortSummary = The Sorceress of the Mist captures Nancy in order for her to become the next Sorceress of the Mist.
| LineColor=AE925B
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 9a
| Title = The Flaming Ruby
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1967|11|04}}
| ShortSummary = The [[Maharaja]]h wants to use Kaboobie to steal the Flaming Ruby of Eternal Truth.
| LineColor=AE925B
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 9b
| Title = Keys of the Zodiac
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1967|11|04}}
| ShortSummary = Chuck and Nancy fight an evil wizard who can summon his evil Twins of [[Gemini (constellation)|Gemini]] to steal the sultan's Keys of the Zodiac. The only problem is that the Twins of Gemini resemble Chuck and Nancy and it's up to Shazzan to prove their innocence.
| LineColor=AE925B
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 10a
| Title = Lord of the Shadows
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1967|11|11}}
| ShortSummary = The Lord of the Shadows sends some of his shadow creatures to steal the Jade Goddess from the [[Shah]] of Salim so that he can have its magical all-seeing powers.
| LineColor=AE925B
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 10b
| Title = The Diamond of El Rhapir
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1967|11|11}}
| ShortSummary = The Magician of the Mirrors captures Nancy at the time when she is holding the Diamond of El Rhapir. Chuck and Kaboobie must fly through the mirror to rescue her.
| LineColor=AE925B
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 11a
| Title = The Idol of Turaba
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1967|11|18}}
| ShortSummary = Chuck and Nancy witness a girl getting captured and taken behind a waterfall to a secret city which is made of porcelain and the river is made of clay. Note: This episode was adapted by Gold Key Comics in an issue of Hanna-Barbera's Super TV Heroes.
| LineColor=AE925B
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 11b
| Title = The Land of Neverwas
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1967|11|18}}
| ShortSummary = Chuck and Nancy are captured by the ruler of the Land of Neverwas as part of a plot to take revenge on the kindly Wizard of the 7th Mountain.
| LineColor=AE925B
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 12a
| Title = The Three Horsemen of Mandragora
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1967|11|25}}
| ShortSummary = Chuck and Nancy unwittingly release the Three [[Equestrianism|Horsemen]] of Mandragora upon being tricked by the Sultan.
| LineColor=AE925B
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 12b
| Title = A Thousand and One Tricks
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1967|11|25}}
| ShortSummary = Chuck and Nancy run into their friend the Rajah of Kamura who has been imprisoned in his own palace.
| LineColor=AE925B
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 13a
| Title = The Circus of Zahran
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1967|12|02}}
| ShortSummary = Chuck, Nancy, and Kaboobie arrive in the city of Zahran and visit the local [[circus]]. They end up stumbling onto a plot by the circus' [[Ringmaster (circus)|ringmaster]] to take over the city and take all of its treasures.
| LineColor=AE925B
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 13b
| Title = Baharum The Befuddled
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1967|12|02}}
| ShortSummary = Chuck and Nancy run into a genie named Baharum the Befuddled who is being controlled by the Master of Thieves.
| LineColor=AE925B
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 14a
| Title = The Impossible Quest of Nazir
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1967|12|16}}
| ShortSummary = Chuck and Nancy go to the Temple of Knowledge to ask the [[Wise old man|Sage]] of Nazir for directions to where the Wizard of the 7th Mountain lives. The Sage of Nazir has them perform two different tasks. Chuck and Nancy are unaware that an evil magician is posing as the Sage of Nazir and has the real Sage of Nazir imprisoned.
| LineColor=AE925B
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 14b
| Title = A Pound of Evil Magic
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1967|12|16}}
| ShortSummary = Chuck and Nancy set out to meet their friend the Viceroy of Rapport where the run into the evil Master Wizard of Mizwater who plots to destroy the Viceroy of Rapport's kingdom.
| LineColor=AE925B
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 15a
| Title = The Maze of Mercuraad
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1967|12|30}}
| ShortSummary = Chuck and Nancy get lost in the valley of the 5th Mountain when on their way to the 7th Mountain. They end up running into the valley's guardian Mercuraad who demands payment for them to pass.
| LineColor=AE925B
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 15b
| Title = The Magical Kingdom of Centuria
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1967|12|30}}
| ShortSummary = The Magical Kingdom of Centuria only appears on Earth for 12 Hours every 100 years in order to find a new king. Chuck and Nancy see Centuria appear and end up captured by its queen who plots to make Shazzan its king.
| LineColor=AE925B
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 16a
| Title = Nastrina of the Flames
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1968|01|06}}
| ShortSummary = While Chuck and Nancy are flying on Kaboobie, a magical cloud causes them to crash on an island where they find a princess being chased by a [[dragon]]. It soon turns out that the princess is really an evil sorceress named Nastrina who plots to destroy Shazzan.
| LineColor=AE925B
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 16b
| Title = Quest for the Magic Lamp
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1968|01|06}}
| ShortSummary = The Master of Thieves steals Aladdin's lamp. Chuck and Nancy team up with Aladdin to get his lamp back.
| LineColor=AE925B
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 17a
| Title = Raschid, the Apprentice Sorcerer
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1968|01|13}}
| ShortSummary = Kabala is an evil sorcerer who has a grudge against Shazzan. He sends his apprentice Raschid to find Chuck and Nancy in order to get to Shazzan.
| LineColor=AE925B
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 17b
| Title = Kahn of the North Wind
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1968|01|13}}
| ShortSummary = Chuck and Nancy's friend Shalimar is captured by an evil wizard named Kahn.
| LineColor=AE925B
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 18a
| Title = The Mirage Maker
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1968|01|20}}
| ShortSummary = The Mirage Maker kidnaps Kaboobie and a princess. Chuck and Nancy are forced by the Mirage Maker to deliver a message to the sultan for their safe release.
| LineColor=AE925B
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 18b
| Title = Mysterio, the Mini Magi
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1968|01|20}}
| ShortSummary = Chuck and Nancy are pursued by flying imps who apparently have a deal with an evil wizard to get the two so he can lure and capture Shazzan.
| LineColor=AE925B
}}
}}

==Other appearances==
Shazzan has appeared on an episode of ''[[Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law]]'' voiced by [[Maurice LaMarche]]. In the episode "Mufti Trouble," he had a long-standing rivalry with Mentok the Mindtaker. Chuck and Nancy also appeared in the episode.

Shazzan appeared in "The Final Encounter", an episode of ''[[Space Ghost]]''. It was last episode of the six part "The Council of Doom". Space Ghost falls in a trap that transports him to the dimension of Shazzan. Shazzan helps him defeat the Sultan of Flame and transports him back to his own dimension.

A satirized version of Shazzan named ''Shazzang!'' appeared as an animated short as part of [[Robert Smigel]]'s ''[[Saturday TV Funhouse]]'' feature on the late night sketch comedy series ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'', on the May 14, 2005 episode. The parody depicted the genie Shazzang quickly defeating the villain, but then maiming and executing the villain in an increasingly sadistic fashion, to the horror of Chuck, Nancy, and Kaboobie, eventually babbling about having to "please his dad". It is shown on the DVD version of the ''SNL'' special "The Best of TV Funhouse".

Shazzan appears in ''[[Jellystone!]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HAVgdujUWQ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/-HAVgdujUWQ| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=Jellystone! I Official Trailer I HBO Max Family|website=[[YouTube]]|date=June 24, 2021|access-date=June 24, 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref> voiced by [[Fajer Al-Kaisi]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Hemmert |first=Kylie |title=Jellystone!: Hanna-Barbera Characters Return in HBO Max Original Animated Series |url=https://www.comingsoon.net/tv/trailers/1179885-jellystone-hanna-barbera-characters-return-in-hbo-max-original-animated-series |website=Comingsoon.net|date=June 24, 2021}}</ref> This version is shown to be at normal size and is a love interest for [[Mildew Wolf]]. Shazzan does many vendor jobs and is often working as a ticket seller at the Jellystone Theatre. He mentions Kaboobie in the season 2 episode "Lady Danjjer: Is It Wrong to Long for Kabong?" where he gives a shoutout to him at the time when Shazzan was promoting his gourmet ice cream.

==Home media==
Two episodes of ''Shazzan'' were released on a Saturday morning cartoon compilation, along with a short video containing some background information. On April 3, 2012, [[Warner Archive Collection|Warner Archive]] released ''Shazzan: The Complete Series'' on DVD in region 1 as part of their [[Hanna–Barbera Classics Collection]]. This is a Manufacture-on-Demand (MOD) release, available exclusively through Warner's online store and Amazon.com. All episodes, while not perfect, have been remastered for this release.<ref>{{cite web|title=Shazzan! - 'The Complete Series' DVD Magically Appears at the Warner Archive...Today!|url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Shazzan-The-Complete-Series/16761|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120908085507/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Shazzan-The-Complete-Series/16761|archive-date=2012-09-08}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of works produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions]]
* [[List of Hanna-Barbera characters]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb title|0061294}}

{{Hanna-Barbera Super Heroes}}
{{Children's programming on CBS in the 1960s}}

[[Category:1967 American animated television series debuts]]
[[Category:1968 American television series endings]]
[[Category:1960s American animated television series]]
[[Category:1960s American children's television series]]
[[Category:American English-language television shows]]
[[Category:American teen animated television series]]
[[Category:Television shows about genies]]
[[Category:Television series by Hanna-Barbera]]
[[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:Animated television series about siblings]]
[[Category:CBS animated television series]]

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