Snap and Friends (1987 animated series)

***Snap and Friends*** is an American animated television variety show based on the *Snap and the Challengers* shorts created by Bill Burnett and Larry Huber and hosted by the mascot cartoon character Snap.

The show aired on Fox in March 1987 to September 1990, then on Fox Children's Network on September 1990 to September 1991, then on Fox Kids on September 1991 to October 1995, and then on Nickelodeon on October 1995 to June 1998.

The characters in this show later appeared in the *ChalkZone* animated shorts as the part of *Oh Yeah! Cartoons* on Nickelodeon.

## Characters

* **Snap** - A small, blue, humanoid drawing made by Rudy when he was only younger. Snap's appearance is that of a small superhero. He speaks with a Mid-Atlantic/Transatlantic accent, and he is adventurous and witty. He served as the main protagonist and the series mascot. Snap is originally Rudy's ideal superhero.
* **Rudolph Bartholomew "Rudy" Tabootie** - A shy 8 year old daydreamer and artist who is also an another main protagonist and serves as Snap's friend. He is responsible for "giving birth" to Snap on the chalkboard by drawing him fighting with Bull-Nerd, a caricature of Reggie Bullnerd.
* **Penelope Victoria "Penny" Sanchez** - A young Latina girl with glasses who is one of Rudy's classmates and his best human friend. She's also the same age as him. She first appeared in the *Snap and the Challengers* short, "Rudy's Makes a Story".
* **Reginald Ronicky Tracy Alousus Socrity Johnny Sunshine "Reggie" Bullnerd** - A bully at Rudy's school.
* **Horace T. Wilter** - Rudy's disgruntled teacher who hates cartoons.
* **Joseph Walter "Joe" Tabootie** - Rudy's optimistic, energetic, amiable, loving father who works at the local butchery shop.
	+ **ChalkDad** - Rudy's chalk father who is a caricature of Joe and also works at the butchery shop.
* **Mildred Trish "Millie" Tabootie** - Rudy's mother who enjoys yoga.
* **Queen Rapsheeba** - Chalk Land's song artist whom Snap has a crush on.
* **Blocky** - A light green block friend of Snap's and Rudy's first-ever drawing.
* **Skrawl** - A drawing who blames Rudy and Snap for being ugly and wants to destroy them.
* **Craniacs** - A series of robot drawings obsessed with collecting futuristic devices.

## Animated Shorts

### Snap and the Challengers

These shorts were originally from *The Ron Simpson Show* in 1985. In 1987, the shorts moved into *Snap and Friends* in a favor of new Ron Simpson sketch. These shorts features Snap as he fights crime in Chalk Land. These also appear as "we'll be right back" and "now we're back" signs in the later *Snap and Friends* episodes.

### Super Stick Figures

Aside from the *Snap and the Challengers* shorts, the show also had segments featuring a characters who are stick figures. Each segment was introduced by Snap, who was told by Rudy that he loves to draw stick people.

The shorts focuses on the orange stick figure and his friends, the red, blue yellow and green stick figures, who are troublemakers and are trying took over the real world when they came to life from a sketchbook. Their creator's name is never mentioned. These stick figures would later appear in the *Animator vs. Animation* shorts by Alan Becker.

## Promotions and Merchandises

### Commercials

When *Snap and Friends* became popular in 1987 to 1998, Snap, Rudy and Penny appeared in several commercials that promotes upcoming episodes. Snap appeared in the 1988 ad for Cheetos (with Chester Cheetah). Snap also appeared in the short-lived Long John Silvers commercials in 1995. In 1991, Snap appeared in the Walmart commercial, promoting the back-to-school sale. In 1997, Snap also appeared in the OfficeMax commercial where he ends up meeting Max, the stick figure mascot. Rudy, Penny and Snap appeared in the Burger King commercial in 1996. In 1994, Rudy and Snap appeared in the McDonald's commercial promoting the *Snap and Friends* toys.