Tim astride Luno.

LUNO THE WHITE STALLION

Original Medium: Theatrical animation
Released by: Terrytoons
First appeared: 1963
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For a long time, Terrytoons, one of the studios producing animated cartoons during the Golden Age of Hollywood animation, was known for typical 1930s-style cartoon shorts starring Dinky Duck, Gandy Goose, Oil Can Harry and the like. Even during the '40s and well into the '50s, Terry, far from a radically innovative company, …

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… clung to that '30s style. Then founder Paul Terry sold out, and the studio was suddenly thrust into the modern world, with characters like Clint Clobber, Gaston Le Crayon and Hashimoto-San.

Luno was one of the products of that late Terrytoons era, appearing well into the declining years of theatrical animation, when MGM had already folded its animation department and Warner Bros. wasn't far from doing the same. He was introduced in The Missing Genie, directed by Connie Rasinski (one of the old Terrytoons hands, whose output had included Mighty Mouse, Heckle & Jeckle etc.) and released on June 19, 1963.

The real star of Luno's series (like that of Fairly OddParents) was a little boy named Tim, who possessed a supernatural means of embarking on fabulous adventures. In this Tim's case, it was a toy-sized figure of a winged horse, which was transformed into a full-sized, living winged horse when he said "Winged horse of marble white, take me on a magic flight." The series title was taken from the name of the horse.

These magic flights weren't limited present-day reality. Luno often took Tim to historic or prehistoric times, or to worlds of myth or legend. The only thing necessary was that the destination be able to provide an exciting adventure for its young viewers.

In that initial outing, Tim's voice was done by Norma MacMillan, who was also heard as Gumby and Davey. But in subsequent appearances, he was voiced by Dayton Allen (James Hound, Fearless Fly). Luno was always done by Bob McFadden (Cool McCool, Frankenberry).

Only six Luno cartoons were made for theatrical release, but the series was continued for about a dozen more for television. There, Luno appeared as a back segment in shows starring Astronut, Deputy Dawg and others.

Terrytoons didn't exactly end, but gradually lost its identity among the subsidiaries of is new owner, CBS TV. Luno, like other Terrytoons properties, became part of a syndicated package of cartoons that included Mighty Heroes, Possible Possum and others. But eventually, that package stopped appearing on TV. Luno hasn't been seen there in decades.

— DDM

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