Brief History of the Chipmunks
Alvin and the Chipmunks is an American animated music group created by Ross Bagdasarian, Sr. in 1958. The group consists of 3 Chipmunks Alvin, Simon and Theodore. The voices of the group were all performed by Bagdasarian, Sr, who sped up the playback to create high-pitched voices. In 1961-62 the Characters were featured on The Alvin Show. After the death of Bagdasarian, Sr in 1972, the Chipmunks voices were performed by his son Ross Bagdasarian, Jr. and the Chipettes voices by Janice Karman. The Alvin and the Chipmunks 80's TV show lasted 8 seasons 1983-90. In 1987 The Chipmunks had their first animated feature film, The Chipmunk Adventure, directed by Janice Karman and Ross Bagdasarian, Jr. From 1987-89 the show was now just called The Chipmunks. The final season in 1990 it was called The Chipmunks Go to the Movies. In that season the Chipmunks did spoofs on different movies. After the 80's series the Chipmunks had a few specials come out in the early 90's. Four years after the last special was released two new direct to video films came out. In 1999 Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein and in 2000 Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet the Wolfman. 4 CGI films have been made from 2007 to 2015. They were Alvin and the Chipmunks, Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakuel, Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked and Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip. In those movies the Chipmunks and the Chipettes for the first time were not voiced by Ross Bagdasarian, Jr or Janice Karman. In 2015 Alvinnn!!! and the Chipmunks a new animated TV series came out. The series is now on Season 4 and there will be a Season 5 which will air later.
The Characters
The Chipmunks: are managed by their adoptive father Dave Seville. In the 80's series the Chipmunks are placed on his door step as babies by Vinny the Chipmunks mother. In the Alvinnn!!! and the Chipmunks series we do not know yet how they meet Dave. Each of the Chipmunks has their own personalities. Alvin is the lead vocalist and the oldest brother of the Chipmunks. He also plays different instraments in the 80's series but in the Alvinnn!!! series he has only played the Guitar. His colour is red and his eyes are blue. Alvin is the mischievous troublemaker and is always getting his brothers into crazy schemes. Simon plays all kinds of instraments in the 80's series but mostly he plays the guitar and it is the same in Alvinnn!!! series. His colour is blue, has blue eyes and wears glasses. Simon is very intelligent and is the tallest of the Chipmunks. He tries to take charge when Alvin goes too far with one of his crazy schemes. Theodore mostly plays the drums in the 80's series and in the Alvinnn!!! series. His colour is green and he has green eyes but in the Alvinnn!!! series his eyes are brown. Theodore is chubby, emotional, shy and sensitive. He often holds the swing vote between his two brothers' choices of action.
The Chipettes: are the female versions of the Chipmunks but they are not exactly the same in terms of personalities. In the 80's series before season 3 the Chipettes lived in a tree house. Starting season 3 and beyond, Beatrice Miller became their adoptive mother. In the 80's series the Chipettes grew up as orphans in Australia. They then came to America to start their singing careers. In the Alvinnn!!! series we find out how they began to live in their tree house in the episode "The Tree House." Brittany is the lead singer and the oldest sister of the Chipettes. She can be vain and self-serving. She wears pink, has blue eyes and has amburn brown hair but in the Alvinnn!!! series she has blonde hair. Jeanette is the smarest of the Chipettes and is the tallest just like Simon. She has brown hair, green eyes in the 80's series and has glasses again just like Simon. In the Alvinnn!!! series she has purple eyes. She is shy from time to time. She gets along with Simon and they have a genuine friendship. Eleanor is the youngest sister of the Chipettes. She has blonde hair and has brown eyes but in the Alvinnn!!! series hse has green eyes. She has a lot in common with Theodore who she likes but is braver and more fit then Theodore in both the 80's series/Alvinnn!!! series.
What's Coming Next?
The big thing that is out right now is the Alvinnn!!! and the Chipmunks new TV show which started airing in 2015 internationally on various Nickelodeon channels. I have watched all the episodes to date via download because I live in Canada. I have written a review on the series and you can check it out via this link Alvinnn!!! and the Chipmunks Review. The review is about how the new series stacks up to the 80's series. Season 5 of the series started to air on February 23rd on Nickelodeon in the USA. There will also be a Season 6 and 7 which have been announced which means the series will not be over till after 2025 at the earliest.
