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Back to the Future: The Animated Series

Series, 1991, After the trilogy, Set in Hill Valley

Back to the Future: The Animated Series is #4 of 4 in release order and #4 of 4 in chronological order in the Back to the Future.

The story

An animated series for television based on the Back to the Future trilogy of feature films. Based on the highly successful Back to the Future movie trilogy, this series is set, um, "after" the events of the last film, as the adventures of Marty McFly and Doc Brown in their DeLorean time machine continue. Joining the ride is Clara, (Doc's wife from Back To The Future Part III,) Jules and Verne (their sons) Einstein the dog and Jennifer (Marty's girlfriend). And apparently there's a Tannen in every time as relatives of Biff keep popping up, and creating conflict. Mary Steenburgen and Tom Wilson reprise their roles from the movies. During live portions of the show, Christopher Lloyd reprised his role as Doc Brown and was joined by Bill Nye, who conducted experiments that were used in the show.

Back to the Future: The Animated Series recap

This cartoon picks up after Part III, in its own timeline, in 1991. Doc Brown lives on a farm in Hill Valley with his wife Clara, now a teacher, their sons Jules, a bookish boy who uses big words, and Verne, a popular, adventurous kid in a raccoon-skin cap, and their dog Einstein. Doc has a rebuilt DeLorean that folds into a suitcase and the time-travelling steam train. Marty McFly, now living in the present with his girlfriend Jennifer, joins the family on trips through history. In season 1, the Browns visit eras across the past and the future, usually meeting a Tannen ancestor or descendant who causes trouble, and a McFly relative. Biff Tannen and his son Biff Jr. remain the present-day bullies. Season 2 keeps the same formula of time-travel adventures. Christopher Lloyd appears in live-action scenes at the start and end of each episode as Doc, and Bill Nye performs a science experiment linked to the story.

Back to the Future: The Animated Series ending explained

The show ends with the episode Verne Hatches an Egg, in which Verne brings home a dinosaur egg and the family hides the baby brontosaurus that hatches. When Biff and his son capture it and sell it to a scientist, the Browns rescue it and take it back to its mother in prehistoric times. There is no series finale; the show was cancelled after its second season in 1992.

Where to watch Back to the Future: The Animated Series

Back to the Future: The Animated Series isn't on a US streaming service right now. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.

Ratings

IMDb 6.4/10

Where it fits

What to watch before Back to the Future: The Animated Series

In release order, the essentials before Back to the Future: The Animated Series (1991) are Back to the Future (1985), Back to the Future Part II (1989), and Back to the Future Part III (1990). Back to the Future: The Animated Series itself is optional in the Back to the Future order.

Cast