101 Dalmatians: The Series is an animated program that was based on Disney’s 101 Dalmatians franchise, though the content of the series contains more similarities with Dodie Smith’s original 1956 novel, The Hundred and One Dalmatians, though several elements from the movie adaptations were adapted into the series. While the series made its debut in 1997, the episodes aired in an unorthodox fashion, as ABC had twelve episodes that aired exclusively on their network while the other fifty-three episodes aired in syndication. However, the episodes in syndication started airing before ABC’s episodes did, though since ABC proclaimed their episodes were the true debut of the series, it is considered that the twelve ABC episodes were the first season of the series while the fifty-three syndication episodes were the second season of the series.

The series primarily focuses on the adventures and misadventures of three Dalmatian puppies: Lucky, Rolly and Cadpig. They have recently moved to the farm when their pets, Roger and Anita Dearly, decided that there wasn’t enough room for one-hundred and one Dalmatians in the city, and that the city had too much crime. While the Dalmatians were reluctant to move at first, they soon discover that the countryside has plenty of unique opportunities for adventure and excitement, so they try to make the most out of their situation and they often look for entertaining ways to spend each day. However, they’re not alone on the farm, as they’ve made plenty of new friends, including a chicken named Spot, who longs for nothing more than to be a real Dalmatian. Spot instantly becomes the fourth member of Lucky, Rolly and Cadpig’s posse and they’re usually always be one another’s side.

Shortly after moving onto the farm, the Dalmatians discover that Cruella De Vil, their longtime arch-nemesis who once tried to kill them off and use their fur in her fashion designs, wants Roger and Anita to sell the farm to her, as she wishes to expand her mansion onto the farm. Despite the fact that the Dearlys have expressed no interest in selling the farm, it isn’t beneath Cruella to employ cheap tricks and dirty tactics to trick or force the Dearlys into selling their farm, though Cruella is aided by her pet ferret, Scorch, who hates the Dearly Dalmatians as much as she does, as well as Horace and Jasper Badun, two bumbling brothers whom Cruella once employed in the past. Cruella also has a tendency to receive help from her relatives in order to find ways of acquiring the deed to the Dearly Farm, though the Dalmatians believe they’ll be able to stop Cruella at every turn if they work together and use their friendship to their advantage.

Life on the farm continues in Cruella’s absence, however, and the Dalmatians often spend their time just trying to enjoy themselves. While they’re forced to participate in the Bark Brigade, a cadet instruction school that all puppies are expected to join, they often shirk their responsibilities so that they can do things that are more exciting in a growing pup’s eyes. They like to head down to Hiccup Hole, the local river, in order to swim and perform dives off of the tree branches, though kicking it back and watching television in the barn is also another favorite pastime of the Dearly Dalmatians. While their parents, Pongo and Perdita, don’t always let them do everything that they want to do, Lucky, Rolly and Cadpig tend to do whatever they feel is best for the current situation, especially since they have a live for the moment attitude; though Spot tends to try to be the voice of reason in most instances.

There are many other things that take place on the farm and the Dalmatians tend to find themselves dragged into a series of events that are caused by some of their fellow denizens on the Dearly Farm. Though through all their woes and troubles, Lucky, Rolly, Cadpig and Spot are loyal friends and they use their friendship to overcome the greatest of obstacles and perform unimaginable feats in order to save the day and enjoy themselves along the way. Catch the pups for yourself on Disney’s 101 Dalmatians: The Series; though the series is currently no longer airing on television since Toon Disney removed it from its schedule in order to expand upon their Jetix block, so that it could air throughout the night.