WithBattle, it was obvious the series was now over once and for all.

The suits at 20th Century Fox, however, had other ideas.

There was still too much money to be made off POTA merchandise.

Tune in next week to find out what happens!

The series lasted a single season before being cancelled, but Fox still wasnt satisfied.

A Saturday morning cartoon.

It was a potential godsend.

That was all the budget allowed for live action, but with a cartoon the sky was the limit.

If someone could draw it you could put it in the show.

Spaceships, big explosions, crowd scenes, monsters, whatever you like.

Make it flashy and zing-pow, and the kidsll eat it up.

Speaking of which, why not a breakfast cereal tie in?

DFE worked with people from Warner, from Hanna-Barbera, from Disney, from all over the place.

It would be his first and last directing job.

Even before the first frame was written or sketched, Wildey ran into a big problem.

TheApesfilms (and to a lesser degree the live-action series) were extremely violent.

It was simply part of the fun.

But at the time cartoon violence was a big no-no.

Ask them nicely to get into the cage?

Okay, venture to imagine the Saturday morning landscape in 1975.

Then you hit NBC.

The highly stylized artwork rests somewhere betweenJonny Quest(which Wildey worked on) and Ralph Bakshis fantasy films.

Then theres the story itself.

The point was driven home not only by the grim atmosphere, but the surprisingly sophisticated dialogue.

The voice talent on hand is serviceably straightfaced but unremarkable with two exceptions.

And the great Henry Corden plays the warmongering, human-hating General Urko.

If the name doesnt ring an immediate bell, Corden was the voice of Fred Flintstone.

Cordens voice is unmistakable.

As entertaining as that is, it can be a little distracting.

To the Planet of the Apes!

Anyway, back to the show.

By episode three other elements creep in as theApesuniverse begins to evolve.

They have electricity, televisions, and nightly newscasts.

Its with their introduction the show becomes more than a pastiche of references.

No big chases, no explosions, no Howitzers, even!

Worse still, whats with these monkeys using terms like specific gravity and aerodynamics?

What is this shit?

Kids tune in Saturday morning, they dont want continuing talky soap operas!

With all that sugar in their bloodstreams, they want a little zing-pow!

Plus there are lots of chases and explosions and shit.

I guess its easy to see why.

Its just a shame it didnt come along a little sooner.

Cartoon or no, it really did salvage the franchise reputation.

Or would have had anyone been paying attention.