Travel through time with us as we go through a Retrospective of Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventures. The rock & roll, time traveling franchise begins in 1989 and continues to present day. With years of adventures, characters Bill and Ted not only appear in films. The iconic duo also appears in an animated series, video games, comic books, toys, live action series, and graphic novels. Just when the duo finds out they will fail their high school history class, they receive help from Rufus, a time traveler from the future. Bill and Ted use his time machine to travel back through history, returning with historical figures, to help them pass the class. With the start of their band, the duo rocks and rolls through every adventure. Follow along in our Retrospective of Bill & Ted as we dive into all their excellent adventures.
Join Us in a Retrospective of Bill & Ted
Join us in our Retrospective of Bill & Ted as we go through their excellent musical and time traveling adventures. We will travel through the years and look into each part of the franchise. Beginning with the 1989 film and continuing to present day, the franchise includes many incredible stories. Along with these, we will also mention the animated and live action series, other films released, video games, comic books, toys, and graphic novels.
Bill & Ted Films
First up on our Retrospective of Bill & Ted, we have the films titled Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey, and Bill & Ted Face the Music. These films sparked immense popularity for the films and featured the same actors starring in each film from 1989 to 2020. The time-traveling, music playing duo take on adventures throughout each film to help save the world with the help of Rufus and other friends.
Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure Film (1989)
The film opens with the character, Rufus, introducing us to his utopian society in the year 2688 in San Dimas, California. Rufus approaches his telephone booth time machine with the mission to make sure that Bill S. Preston and Theodore “Ted” Logan stay together to keep their band, Wyld Stallyns. Back in 1988, Bill and Ted hear the news of their failing history grade. Their teacher, Mr. Ryan, informs the two that they need an A+ on their final oral presentation in order to pass the class. Since the duo needs to pass history in order to graduate, and so Ted doesn’t get sent to a military academy, they need some help… fast!
Once the boys begin their history assignment, it becomes clear neither of them knows what to do. Just then, Rufus suddenly arrives in his time machine. He explains how the time machine works and can transport them to anywhere in time. The boys’ first stop in the time machine, Austria in 1805, get them Napoleon Bonaparte accidently returning back to present time, 1988. This gives them an incredible idea: to go back in time and bring people from history back to help them with their presentation.
When they face technical difficulties as they return from the past, Bill and Ted land in present time. They need to recount the situation to their past selves and get insight from Rufus on how to return. The two face difficulties as they introduce the historical figures to present day California. They end up successfully presenting their project in the form of a rock concert.
Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey Film (1991)
Ref. Found on billandted.fandom.com, all rights are reserved to the original designer and publisher. Shown for education and entertainment purposes.
In this film, Rufus works as a professor at Bill and Ted’s high school. With hopes to teach his students well, Rufus uses the time machine to bring back historical figures to teach his class. Rufus brings back Thomas Edison, Sir James Martin, Bach, as well as Ria Paschelle. Unfortunately, Chuck De Nomolos, who despised the society, steals the phone booth and sends evil robot versions of Bill and Ted back to the present to stop them from winning the Battle of the Bands. Now, in the present time, the boys’ band prepares for the contest. When the evil robot versions of Bill and Ted arrive, the real life versions of them die. This happens when the robots throw the duo off a cliff at Vasquez Rocks.
Now, Bill and Ted’s souls meet with the character, Death, who offers them an escape by playing games. After Death’s defeat, the duo notices they need to locate the smartest person in the universe in order to help them get robots to defeat Chuck De Nomolos. They meet the alien named Station who eagerly offers to help Bill and Ted. As they return to the mortal world with Station’s new robots, Chuck’s evil bots take the stage at the Battle of the Bands. Station’s bots easily defeat the evil ones and Ted’s father arrests Chuck De Nomolos. The duo then reunites with their fiancées and continue playing in their band together.
Bill & Ted Face the Music (2020)
The last film released for this franchise hit the screens in 2020. Written by both Chris Matheson and Ed Solomon, this film acts as the sequel and third addition to the Bill & Ted trilogy. Produced by Scott Krropf, Alex Lebovici, Davi Haring, Steve Ponce, Ed Solomon and Alex Winter, this film features more incredible adventures even years after the first two films.
The new mission of this film begins when, Bill and Ted (now middle-aged with wives and daughters) need to write a song that will unite all society to keep time periods from glitching into one another. In order to do this, Bill and Ted attempt to use Rufus’ phone booth to get the song from future versions of themselves. However, they come across the versions of themselves in progressively worse conditions. Their wives, also, return to the past to relive a happier time in their lives. With the advice of The Great Leader, a robot gets made to kill Bill and Ted in hopes to restore the world. Unfortunately, this creates a lot of trouble when the robot misses it’s target.
As the duo admits they couldn’t have written the song to save the world, they realize this might actually lie in their daughters’ hands. The girls then take action to put all pieces of the song together. As Bill and Ted wonder how to stretch the song across all space and time, their wives return and they use the phone booth to take infinite trips and hand out instruments all over the world to unite everyone.
Bill & Ted Television Series
Next up on our Retrospective of Bill & Ted we have the television series released. Bill & Ted now appear in an animated series for two seasons. The first season includes the same actors as the films while the second season features new voice actors. These new actors then appear in the live action series released in 1992. Continue following along with us as we dive into more excellent adventures from Bill & Ted.
Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventures Animated Series (1990)
This television series released in 1990 and consisted of two seasons of action-packed animation. The characters returned through the lens of animation for the first time. They took on the historical past together through many episodes. The first season released by Hanna-Barbera in 1990 and all episodes aired on CBS. The second season then switched over to a different production company and network. Produced by DIC Entertainment and airing on Fox Kids, the second season of Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventures also featured new voice actors. The actors were replaced with Fox beginning to produce a live action television series. This series released after Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey film in 1991. Although the live action series didn’t last long, this animated one featured those same actors in season two.
The first season of this animated series featured the same cast as the first movie with Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter, George Carlin, Bernie Casey, Danny Cooksey, and Peter Renaday. The second season then featured a new cast of voice actors to transition to the new live action series. This included Evan Richards (Bill), Christopher Kennedy (Ted), and Rick Overton (Rufus).
Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventures Live Action series (1992)
This 1992 live action television series of Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventures, created by Clifton Campbell, aired on Fox in the summer of 1992. Based on the 1989 film of the same name, this epic duo takes on some crazy excellent adventures. After the DIC Entertainment season of the animated film cancelled, the crew supplemented this live action series of the same name. The series originally intended to air during the 1991-1992 series but waited until Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey made a profit at the box office.
The series consisted of seven episodes featuring well- known historical figures as well as loved time traveling adventures. The episodes that made up the series include: Nail the Conquering Hero, As the Dude Turns, It’s a Totally Wonderful Life, Hunka Hunka Bill and Ted, Destiny Babes, Deja Vu, and Stand Up Guy. Along with this, an unaired piolet episode planned to make the screen.
Bill and Ted Video Games
The video games take up the next spot on our Retrospective of Bill & Ted. These games released in 1991 and 2023 feature the loved and epic characters again on screen through ultimate levels and missions. The first of these, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Video Game Adventure first released in 1991 for Nintendo. Bill & Ted’s Excellent Gameboy Adventure released in the same year as well and Bill & Ted’s Excellent Retro Collection released in 2023 continuing the franchise throughout decades.
Bill & Ted’s Excellent Video Game Adventure (1991)
Bill and Ted appear in this epic video game of 1991. Produced by LJN for the Nintendo Entertainment System, this game acts as a continuation on the duos’ previous excellent adventures. Since it features more exciting times for Bill and Ted, this game lives on indefinitely within the franchise. The player takes on the role of either Bill or Ted as they go back in time through 6 different levels. Their mission includes finding the kidnapped historical figures that were left in the wrong time period by the time-space rebels. The player travels around and rescues these twelve historical figures throughout the six different levels. In order to accomplish the mission, the player needs to locate “bait” to lure in the historical figure.
The player asks locals in the area to get clues on where to find the figures. However, when the locals catch Bill or Ted, they send them to jail where the player then needs to escape. To avoid this, the player will want to collect many items from the locals to stay alive. When going into the next level, the player must go through the circuits of time. Then, after returning from the circuits of time, the player receives your own concert performance. Along with this one, a Bill & Ted’s Excellent Game Boy Adventure: A Bogus Journey released in 1991 as well as a 2023 game titled Bill & Ted’s Excellent Retro Collection.
Bill & Ted’s Excellent Retro Collection (2023)
Ref. Found on billandted.fandom.com, all rights are reserved to the original designer and publisher. Shown for education and entertainment purposes.
Bill & Ted’s Excellent Retro Collection consisted of the two previous games. The game included Bill & Ted’s Excellent Video Game Adventure and Bill & Ted’s Excellent Game Boy Adventure: A Bogus Journey. With the games releasing more than 30 years earlier, Limited Run Games gave new and old fans a chance to play these games on current gaming consoles. This game released for the PlayStation 4 and 5 as well as the Nintendo Switch.
The nostalgia these games hold for some allows them to now relive those days of the past as well as capture in new fans through their current gaming consoles. These games play exactly like they did in 1991 with one new feature. The games are now able to save your place instead of starting over when you take a break. The release of Bill & Ted’s Excellent Retro Collection allows for more play abilities and keeps the magic of the franchise going for both new and old fans.
Bill & Ted Action Figures
The action figures released by Kenner in 1991 as well as Blitzway in 2020 appear next on this Retrospective of Bill & Ted. Kenner first released figures of the original characters as a marketing strategy for the second film, Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey. Kenner’s line of toys kept ultimate play abilities and scenes come to life for decades. Then, with the release of the 2020 film, Slideshow and Blitzway brought new action figures to the scene.
Kenner’s Action Figures (1991)
These figures released by Kenner in 1991 feature the hit characters of the franchise. Their line began first with Bill & Ted and then extended to other characters. These included characters such as Death and Rufus as well as the evil robot versions of Bill & Ted. The figures appear in bright painted colors with corresponding outfits for each character. Along with these, the facial expressions of each figure show personality and character. The original set, including Bill & Ted, also came with accessories. Guitars for the characters, speakers, and a representation of the time-traveling phone booth all released from Kenner for this amazing series of toys.
Kenner unfortunately discontinued the figures shortly after their release due to sales coming in less-than-expected. However, today, these toys see new light as vintage toy buyers see their significance and rarity.
Blitzway 2020 Action Figures
The release of these figures from Blitzway feature incredibly detailed versions of the favorite duo, Bill & Ted in 1/6 scale action figures. These figures design credits to a team of 9 artists to make them so incredibly detailed. Both figures each feature over 30 points of articulation and flexible soft arms, making them appear as life-like as possible. Along with these, the figures also come with two stands as well as 12 interchangeable hands. Each figure also comes with a very detailed costume with clothing, shoes, and other accessories. Accessories include 2 guitars, 6 bracelets, a watch, backpack, public phone, CD and case, notice poster, as well as a fabric wall banner. Blitzway not only brought to life these loved characters once again in new, realistic figures but they also rekindled the love for the figures by Kenner.
Bill & Ted Comics
Lastly, on our Retrospective of Bill & Ted, we have the comics. From 1991 to 2022, many different issues of comics released for these epic time-traveling characters. Bill & Ted appear in a total of seven different issues from Marvel, Boom!, Dark Horse, and Opus Comics. The first to come out, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Comic Book, released from 1991-1992 as a 12 volume series by Marvel. Bill & Ted’s Most Triumphant Return released next in 2015 as a 6 part series by Boom!. Boom! also released another 4 part series the following year in 2016 and a 5 part series in 2017. In 2020, Dark Horse came out with their 4 part comic series titled Bill & Ted are Doomed. Lastly, Opus Comics released two comic series in 2022 titled Bill & Ted Roll the Dice and Bill & Ted Present: Death.
These comics range over decades and provide many time-traveling adventures for fans through incredible pictures and stories. From 1991 to 2022, the franchise continues to introduce new fans from the next generation as more things release for Bill & Ted.
Final Thoughts
From 1989 to present day, many movies, television series, video games, toys, and comics released for the franchise. Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventures also released a limited time cereal and lots of other merchandise. Their time-traveling adventures hit popularity and brought the characters to life in many forms. Thanks for following along in our Retrospective of Bill & Ted!
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