Free Willy is an animated television series, inspired by the 1993 film of the same name. This television series was produced by Warner Bros. Television, Regency Enterprises and the Canadian company Nelvana for Warner Bros. Studios. The show, which aired for one season on American Broadcasting Company, continues the adventures of the orca Willy and Jesse, the boy who freed him from captivity as shown in the film. In retrospect, the series also anticipates multiple plot elements of the film sequel, Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home, released the following summer. The overarching conflict is reminiscent of Moby-Dick: a powerful oil baron, known to the main characters only as a cyborg called "The Machine" until the final episodes, loses his arm and part of his face to Willy while committing an environmental atrocity and wants revenge upon "that rotten whale... and his boy".
Free Willy (Season 1)
Truth Talker (Episode 1)
Air date: 1994-09-24
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: Jesse begins his new job at Misty Island Park. However, just as he meets Mr. Naugle, Randolph, and Marlene—the crew of the rescue center—he quickly becomes unpopular. His friend Willy, the orca, eats all the fish intended for the sick and injured animals. Shortly after, Jesse has a confrontation with Mr. Naugle, the center's director, and decides to quit his job abruptly. Then something extraordinary occurs: Jesse suddenly realizes that he can understand Willy, and the whale seems to understand him as well. Randolph, a Native American, explains to Jesse that there are children who can communicate with animals. Are Willy and Jesse soul brothers?
Cry of the Dolphin (Episode 2)
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: The parents of a baby dolphin have died because of barrels of toxic waste dumped in the sea. He is taken in at the station, and Marlene decides to name the clever little fellow Einstein. Einstein quickly wins everyone's hearts and soon becomes a full-fledged member of the Misty Island family. Meanwhile, Jesse and Willy are busy solving the case of the toxic waste dumps. They soon discover that the crooked Machine is behind it once again.
Stone (Episode 3)
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: Rockland Stone, also known as Machine, has devised a particularly cruel scheme this time: he uses sonar to disorient the whales. The crew from Misty Island attempts to assist a stranded whale, but their efforts quickly become nearly impossible. Suddenly, Rockland Stone arrives and offers his help with the rescue operation. Everyone is excited about his offer—except for Willy, who suspects the true intentions behind Stone's facade as an environmentalist.
Defenders of the Deep (Episode 4)
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: Annie is writing an article about environmental protection. She, along with Jesse and Marlene, has arranged to meet on Rockland Stone's new research vessel to gather more information. However, Jesse soon realizes that something is wrong on board. Why doesn’t Captain Frye want her there? Is the captain using the ship to dump toxic waste into the ocean?
The Eel Beast (Episode 5)
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: Jesse and Willy's trip takes an unexpected turn when Jesse encounters a giant eel while exploring underwater caves. When the eel threatens him, Jesse attempts to communicate with it and discovers that its anger stems from the radioactive waste that has transformed this once ordinary eel into a monstrous creature. Jesse quickly informs his friends at the Oceanographic Institute about the situation.
Cepholopod (Episode 6)
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: Machine remains fixated on eliminating Willy. This time, it deploys a giant squid to attack him. However, the creature poses a threat not just to Willy but to all the animals at the Oceanographic Institute. Together, Jesse, Marlene, and Randolph work to ensure the animals' safety while strategizing to outsmart the enormous squid.
Sealed Fate (Episode 7)
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: Lucille, the lovable seal, admires everything that humans do and tries to imitate them. When some unscrupulous characters come to the area and attempt to recruit her for a circus, she eagerly agrees. However, after a short time, Lucille realizes how awful it is to be a prisoner. She becomes even more delighted when Jesse and Willy arrive, promising to help her escape.
Shark Masters (Episode 8)
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: Misty Island is in turmoil: more and more sharks have been sighted recently, and they are even attacking people. Randolph, Marlene, and Jesse try to help, but only Jesse can truly make a difference. He manages to communicate with one of the sharks and discovers that Machine has stationed his submarine nearby. By attracting the sharks, he plans to drive the people out of the area so he can build his oil rigs without any disturbances. However, the unscrupulous villain hasn't accounted for Jesse and Willy.
Hope (Episode 9)
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: Lucille, the seal, reaches out to Jesse for assistance because there is an issue in Pelican Bay. For a while now, the birds have been laying eggs with such thin shells that they break before the chicks can survive. Jesse speaks with the pelicans and learns that DDT is being stored nearby in an old cannery. This herbicide poses a serious threat to wildlife. In response, Jesse informs his friends at the Oceanographic Institute about the situation.
Milestones (Episode 10)
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: Machine's greatest ambition remains to destroy his arch-enemy, Willy. This time, he is targeting the salmon, which play a crucial role in Willy's diet. Fortunately, Marlene, who has been working for years to help protect the endangered salmon, notices the impending danger in time. Without hesitation, Machine begins cutting down the old-growth trees in a nature reserve to pollute the rivers.
The Catch (Episode 11)
Runtime: 30 min
The Treasure of Misty Cove (Episode 12)
Runtime: 30 min
Ghost Ship (Episode 13)
Runtime: 30 min
Voyage of the Eco Ranger II (Episode 14)
Runtime: 30 min
Tip of the Iceberg (Episode 15)
Runtime: 30 min
The Hunted (Episode 16)
Runtime: 30 min
Paradise Found (Episode 17)
Runtime: 30 min
Pier Pressure (Episode 18)
Runtime: 30 min
Live and Let Dive (Episode 19)
Runtime: 30 min
Turmoil (Episode 20)
Runtime: 30 min
Yule Tide and Red Tide (Episode 21)
Runtime: 30 min
Seasons
Episodes 21