Like so many cartoons, Sky Dancers owed their presence to a popular toy line, launched in 1994 by Galoob Toys. Each of the dolls came equipped with a set of foam wings and a pull-string. When inserted into the accompanying base, one tug of the string would launch the dolls skyward, their wings spinning like a helicopter propeller. Based upon their successful sales, it was only a matter of time before the cherubic little dancers made their way to television in 1996, in the animated series, Sky Dolls.

The five girls, Jade, Angelica, Breeze, Camille and Slam were all students of the High Hopes Dance Academy under the tutelage of widowed instructor, Queen Skyla. Besides their vigorous dance studies, they helped the Queen protect her kingdom from the evil, green-skinned Skyclone, who also just so happened to be the Queen’s brother-in-law and was jealous that his brother had been chosen King over him. As a result, he killed the King, but if he wanted control of the Queen and her cohorts, he would have to also get control of the elusive Sky Swirl Stone, for that is where they got their lofty power from.

Although the series was introduced during the height of the toy’s popularity, including a marketing blitz that included McDonald’s toy giveaways, none of this was enough to give the series wings of its own, and Sky Dancers was unceremoniously grounded after only a single season.