The Mighty Ducks (franchise)
The Mighty Ducks is an American media franchise composed of a trilogy of three live-action films released in the 1990s by Walt Disney Pictures, an animated, an upcoming live-action [|sequel television series], and a real-world National Hockey League hockey team. The movies revolve around a Twin Cities ice hockey team, composed of young players that stick together throughout various challenges. Despite its negative reviews by movie critics, the trilogy's commercial success paved the way for the franchise's expansion.
The franchise has various releases in other media, including theme park and hotel attractions.
Film
''The Mighty Ducks'' (1992)
After being pulled over for drunk driving, attorney Gordon Bombay is sentenced to community service, coaching hockey. There, he meets the "District 5" peewee hockey team, perennial losers who finish at the bottom of the league standings year after year. They are shut out every game and lose by at least five goals. The players learn Bombay was once a player for the Hawks, an elite team in the same league, but left hockey because of the embarrassment that followed after a failed attempt at a penalty shot at the end of regulation, causing them to lose in overtime, costing them a peewee championship. With the help of Coach Bombay, and a desperately needed infusion of cash and equipment, the players learn the fundamentals of the sport. Soon enough, the District 5 team start winning games and manage to make the playoffs, reaching the finals and adding new player Adam Banks, an ex-Hawk who is a talented player and an asset for the Ducks. Bombay faces the Hawks, the team he grew up playing for, still led by Jack Reilly, the same coach Bombay played for. Fittingly, the Ducks win the title game on a penalty shot by Bombay's protégé, Charlie Conway. The movie was released in the UK, South Africa as Champions. It was directed by Stephen Herek.''D2: The Mighty Ducks'' (1994)
Inspired by his own players, Bombay decides to try out in the minor leagues and becomes the star player for the fictional Minnehaha Waves, with an easy pathway to the NHL. After a career-ending knee injury, he is offered a chance to coach a team representing the United States in the Junior Goodwill Games. For this, he reunites his Ducks and introduces them to five new players from across the country to form Team USA. However, the lure of celebrity becomes a distraction to both Bombay and the players, and reality kicks in when they lose against Team Iceland in an embarrassing defeat. Frustrated, Bombay drives his players even harder, yet Team USA continues to suffer, until they come across a street hockey team who teaches them how to play like "the real Team USA". New player Russ Tyler, who earlier mocked Team USA during its matches, is recruited into the roster. Bombay realizes the most important thing is to have fun and after a change in attitude, the Ducks redeem themselves by working up the playoff ladder to meet Team Iceland in the finals. Team USA proves to be a match for Iceland, but the game ends in a tie, resulting in a shootout, which resulted in Team USA winning.''D3: The Mighty Ducks'' (1996)
The movie shifts focus from Bombay to protégé Charlie Conway. Charlie and his teammates are awarded scholarships to Eden Hall Academy, a prestigious Minnesota high school Bombay attended. Their arrival is met with hostility from the varsity team, as well as Bombay's hand-picked successor, Ted Orion, whose emphasis on defensive two-way hockey irks Charlie. Not wanting to be on a team led by Orion, who he believes to be a washed-up former professional player, Charlie leaves the team, but rejoins as he learns the truth about Orion from Bombay. Charlie and Orion quickly bond in time for the JV-Varsity Showdown, and thanks in large part to the work of Charlie, the Ducks win on a shorthanded goal in the dying seconds of the game from unlikely goal scorer Greg Goldberg.Television
Animation
Mighty Ducks: The Animated Series, aired on the American Broadcasting Company for one season consisting of 26 episodes, from 1996-1997. Created in a collaboration between Marty Isenberg, Robert N. Skir, and David Wise, the show ran regularly during The Disney Afternoon block. The series takes place in a futuristic alternate anthropomorphic-universe, and follows the adventures of humanoid-duck superheroes.The series theme song, written by Carl Swander Johnson, was performed by Mickey Thomas of Jefferson Starship and Starship fame.
Live-action
In January 2018, it was announced that a television series based on the original films was in the early stages of development at ABC Signature Studios, with screenwriter Steven Brill and producer Jordan Kerner being attached to the series. By February of the same year it was announced that the series is being created as exclusive content for Disney+ streaming service.By November 2019, the plot was announced to center around a 13-year-old boy - whose mother helps him assemble a new team, find a coach and build a rink where they can play - when he gets kicked off the junior division of the Mighty Ducks hockey team. In February 2020, it was announced that Emilio Estevez will reprise his role as Coach Gordon Bombay in the series. The series was scheduled to begin production in February 2020, with principal photography taking place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Main cast and characters
;;; NHL CameosEach movie showcases a cameo appearance by National Hockey League players:
- The Mighty Ducks - Mike Modano and Basil McRae.
- D2: The Mighty Ducks - Chris Chelios, Cam Neely, Luc Robitaille, and Wayne Gretzky.
- D3: The Mighty Ducks - Paul Kariya; who at that time, had also been captain for the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.
Fictional team roster
| No. | Player | Hometown | Position | D1 | D2 | D3 |
| 00 | Guy Germaine | St. Paul, MN | F | |||
| 1 | Terry Hall | Minneapolis, MN | F | |||
| 2 | Tommy Duncan | Minneapolis, MN | D | |||
| 4 | Lester Averman | Brooklyn Park, MN | F | |||
| 5 | Tammy Duncan | Minneapolis, MN | F | |||
| 6 | Julie Gaffney | Bangor, ME | G | |||
| 7 | Dwayne Robertson | Austin, TX | F | |||
| 9 | Jesse Hall | Minneapolis, MN | F | |||
| 11 | Dave Karp | Minneapolis, MN | D | |||
| 16 | Ken Wu | San Francisco, CA | F | |||
| 18 | Connie Moreau | Minneapolis, MN | F | |||
| 21 | Dean Portman | Chicago, IL | D | |||
| 22 | Luis Mendoza | Miami, FL | F | |||
| 24 | Peter Mark | Minneapolis, MN | D | |||
| 33 | Greg Goldberg | Philadelphia, PA | G/D | |||
| 44 | Fulton Reed | Stillwater, MN | D | |||
| 56 | Russ Tyler | Los Angeles, CA | D | |||
| 96 | Team Captain Charlie Conway | Minneapolis, MN | F | |||
| 99 | Adam Banks | Edina, MN | F |
Additional production and crew details
Reception
Box office performance
Critical and public response
Legacy
The Mighty Ducks series has become a cult classic. Several professional athletes have expressed their appreciation for the series, with NFL Houston Texans' J.J. Watt and MLB Philadelphia Phillies' Bryce Harper among the trilogy's fans.NHL team
Following the financial success of the first film, the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim hockey team were founded in 1993, by The Walt Disney Company. The franchise was accepted by the NHL in December 1992, with an entrance fee of $50 million. Additionally, at a brand-new Anaheim Arena was created for the team, located a short distance east of Disneyland. The team's name was derived from the 1992 Disney film, of [|the same name]. Philadelphia-arena management specialist Tony Tavares was appointed as the team president, while Jack Ferreira, became the Mighty Ducks' general manager. Ron Wilson was selected to be the first head coach in the team's history. During the 1993 NHL Entry Draft, the Mighty Ducks drafted as their fourth overall pick Paul Kariya, whose career would be the face of the franchise for years thereafter. The initial roster had the lowest payroll in the NHL at only $7.9 million.Under the leadership of team captain Troy Loney, the team finished the season at 33–46–5, a record-breaking number of wins for an expansion team. The Mighty Ducks sold-out 27 of 41 home games, and filled the Arrowhead Pond to 98.9% of its season capacity. Licensed merchandise shot to number one in sales among all NHL clubs. This was aided by the team's merchandise presence in Disney's theme parks and Disney Stores. The Walt Disney Company sold the franchise in 2005 to Henry and Susan Samueli, who along with then-general manager Brian Burke, changed the name of the team to the Anaheim Ducks before the 2006–07 season.
Season statistics
| Color/symbol | Explanation |
| Conference champions |
In other media
Video game
An electronic, handheld LCD game titled, Mighty Ducks and based on the [|animated series of the same name], was released in 1996. The game was developed, created, and released by Tiger Electronics.Theme park attractions
Mighty Ducks: Pinball Slam
At the now-defunct DisneyQuest locations, Mighty Ducks: Pinball Slam featured as one of the theme park attractions. Opened by Disney Regional Entertainment, the line of limited, smaller-scaled locations included a number of indoor interactive rides and activities. The concept was short-lived and though there were meant to be various locations in numerous cities, the company ultimately opened two locations.The ride itself allowed the audience to "become" a pinball in a gigantic projected pinball game; by rocking their "duck" back and forth, up to twelve players at a time control their corresponding pinball on the screen, attempting to collect the most points throughout the duration of the ride.