Real Ghostbusters

The Real Ghostbusters is the American animated television series based on the 1984 film Ghostbusters. It premiered in 1986 and concluded in 1991.¹ The series was produced by DiC Enterprises (also styled DiC Entertainment) in association with Columbia Pictures Television, the studio now known as Sony Pictures Television, with distribution tied to Coca-Cola Telecommunications.¹ The show carries on the work of paranormal investigators Dr. Peter Venkman, Dr. Egon Spengler, Dr. Ray Stantz, and Winston Zeddemore, along with their secretary Janine Melnitz and their mascot ghost Slimer.

The word "Real" was added to the title because of a dispute with Filmation, which was producing its own competing Ghost Busters cartoon at the same time. During its run the program was expanded and retitled Slimer! and the Real Ghostbusters, giving the popular Slimer character his own segments alongside the main team.¹

Voice cast

The animated series recast the roles originated by the film's actors. Dr. Egon Spengler was voiced by Maurice Lamarche, and Frank Welker voiced both Dr. Ray Stantz and Slimer.¹ Dr. Peter Venkman was originally voiced by Lorenzo Music. Music was later replaced by Dave Coulier, who carried the role for the remainder of the series.¹² Winston Zeddemore was voiced first by Arsenio Hall and, after Hall departed, by Buster Jones.¹

Lamarche has described that although the auditioners did not want him to impersonate Harold Ramis, he did so anyway and got the part. By later accounts of the recasting, Bill Murray remarked that Music's Venkman sounded more like Garfield than like himself, a factor cited in the decision to replace Music.² Murray would himself go on to voice Garfield in the live-action films. Ernie Hudson, who played Winston in the film, was the only original film actor who auditioned to reprise his role for the animated series, and he did not get the part.