Dudley’s second season began the weekend of October 1-2, 1994 in Canada.
The show had lost most of its environmental sponsors but gained financial support from other sources. (See previous posts.) With a change in sponsors came a change in themes. And so it would be for the remainder of the series.
Season One taught how people should treat the world. Stories emphasized environmental protection and conservation.
Season Two dealt with how people should treat themselves. Good health and safety was promoted. Dudley and the gang tackled the topics of smoking, nutrition, fire safety, bigotry, and family life.
Season Three explored how people should treat each other. Stories involved dealing non-violently with bullies, the importance of keeping promises and the dangers of second-hand smoke.
Season Four focused on morality and self-esteem. Dudley and his friends tackled issues of jealousy, greed, self-confidence, and being anything you want to be.
Season Five entered philosophical territory by addressing free will, the nature of war, cheating, responsibility, peer pressure, sibling rivalry and the meaning of friendship.
“It’s got a lot of social value, but,” Peter Williamson pointed out, “it’s really fun. We didn’t want it to be dour. We really wanted to create contemporary fairy stories for children and their parents.”
“It had to be fun and campy,” Alex Galatis stressed. “We’ve created a surreal world that’s one-third cave, one-third forest, one-third la-la land.”
Sources: Scott Moore, Washington Post, April 2, 1995, The Adventures Of Dudley The Dragon, TV Week, p. Y56; Brad Oswald. Winnipeg Free Press, September 1, 1995, MIXED MEDIA—”TV’s Dudley the Dragon Set for BIG Time; Big-Screen Theatres Eyes for Two Local Sites,” p. C4; Suzanne Gill, Brandon Sun, September 30, 1994, Cover Story, TV Book pp. 1-2; John McKay, The Vancouver Sun, June 29, 1996, Dudley Does Right in U.S. Market,” p. C12; Kathy Kastner, Toronto Star, October 2, 1993, “He’s No Dud; Dudley the Dragon is joined by moppets, puppets and people in adventures that help children discover the world around them,” Section C, pg. SW4.
