Our Friend, Martin

Our Friend, Martin is a 1999 American direct-to-video animated children's educational film about Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement. The film follows two friends in middle school who travel through time, meeting Dr. King at several points during his life. It featured an all-star voice cast and was nominated for an Emmy award in 1999 for Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming More Than One Hour).

Directed by Rob Smiley and Vincenzo Trippetti. Produced by Andy Boron, Andy Heyward, Phillip Jones, Robby London, Michael Maliani, Judith Reilly and Janice Sonski. Written by Dawn Comer, Chris Simmons, Sib Ventress and Deborah Pratt. Story by Dawn Comer and Chris Simmons.

A Magical Movie Adventure Inspired by the Life of Martin Luther King, Jr. (taglines)

Mrs. Peck

• I'm not planning on standing here until my retirement kicks in.
• [seeing Maria and Kyle sneaking around to the back of the museum] Great. Now I'll have to give 'em the group rate.

Others

• Maria: I think I'm gonna lose my lunch, and I haven't even eaten it yet.
• Randy: [nearly being hit on his skateboard with Miles by Mr. Willis' bus-driving] Oh, man, even time travel is safer than this.
• Kyle: Following you dorks was a major mistake. I guess that's what happens when you read science-fiction comics on the toilet all the time.

Dialogue

Miles: When you're living in color, sports and entertainment are the only sure bets for making the big time.

Mrs. Clark: I'll tell that to General Colin Powell.

---

Miles: Besides, who's gonna know?

Mrs. Peck: [from behind Randy] Just the three of us.

---

Kyle: Where are we?

Miles: The March on Washington.

Maria: The March on Washington? That can't be. It was 1964.

Miles: '63, but who's counting?

---

Maria: Come on, spill.

Miles: What's to spill, Maria? I love baseball. Mrs. Peck said I can come in here and check out this old mitt again. It's a classic.

Maria: Yeah, right, and I invented Swiss cheese.

Kyle: Oh, cool, Maria. Can you pick me up a few pounds for free at...

Maria: Stop. Talk to the hand, Kyle.

Taglines

• A movie for kids... A message for everyone!
• A Magical Movie Adventure Inspired by the Life of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Voice cast

• Robert Ri'chard as Miles Woodman
• Lucas Black as Randy Smith
• Dexter King as Martin Luther King, Jr. at age 34
  • LeVar Burton (26 years old)
  • Jaleel White (15 years old)
  • Theodore Borders (12 years old)
• Jessica Garcia as Maria Ramirez
• Zachary Leigh as Kyle Langon
• Ed Asner as Mr. Harris
• Angela Bassett as Mrs. Woodman
• Danny Glover as Train Conductor
• Whoopi Goldberg as Mrs. Peck
• Samuel L. Jackson as Turner
• James Earl Jones as Daddy King
• Ashley Judd as Mrs. Dale
• Richard Kind as Mr. Willis
• Yolanda King as Christine King
• Susan Sarandon as Mrs. Joyce Clark
• John Travolta as Mr. Langon
• Adam Wylie as Sam Dale / Skip Dale
• Oprah Winfrey as Coretta Scott King
• Frank Welker as Bull Connor / Chihuahua / German Shepherds
• Nicole Palacio as Parker Marie
• Jess Harnell as Reporter #1 / Demonstrator #1
• Joe Lala as Reporter #2 / Demonstrator #2
• John Wesley as Man / Demonstrator #3
• Elizabeth Primm as Old Woman / Demonstrator #4
• Jodi Carlisle as the Additional Voices