The Surprising True Story Behind the ’Air Bud’ Franchise
I have a deep nostalgia for the Air Bud franchise. I feel like it was meant to be that way since I’m an animal person and Air Bud (1997) released the same year that I was born. If I think too long about how long that’s been, I get a bit existential and super sad. But that’s me getting ahead of myself with the story behind this franchise. It has grown into something I never could have imagined when I was younger and watched the movie for the first time.
There are so many Air Bud movies now—I didn’t even know about until I did some research. It’s actually incredible to see how far and how long this story and ones like it have endured in pop culture. Yes, some of the spinoffs take the original concept a little far out, but I also think they’re fun for that reason. If some other kid and their family can also find something in these movies like I and so many others did nearly 30 years ago, how is that a bad thing? A new generation gets this chance when the reboot, Air Bud Returns (2027), releases next year.
What Is ‘Air Bud’ Based On?
Since I was so young when I watched the first movie, I don’t think I ever thought about the story behind Air Bud. I was just appreciative of the one in front of me—Josh Framm (Kevin Zegers) finds a runaway golden retriever and discovers that he’s good at basketball. Looking back, I’m not even sure that I realized that Buddy was a real-life dog. It all felt so magical then just with the belief that this very sweet and very talented dog existed within the movie’s world. I was stunned to learn that Buddy was Kevin DiCicco’s real dog named Buddy.
Apparently, I wasn’t alone in that awe. Even though CGI in the ‘90s wasn’t what it is now, Buddy’s skills were still unbelievable. Buddy had his breakout moment in the “Stupid Pet Tricks” segment of Late Show With David Letterman (1993). Brothers and producers Robert and William Vince saw that bit, and Robert Vince couldn’t believe his eyes. When he saw Buddy do the tricks in person, he was more than impressed. “I just couldn't believe it—and…that was actually the moment that we did the deal with the writers Paul [Tamasy] and Aaron [Mendelsohn] and also with Kevin [Buddy's trainer],” Vince told E! News exclusively in 2017.
After seeing Buddy shoot baskets on national TV and in front of them, the Vince brothers also pitched the idea of their family movie to director Charles Martin Smith. He wasn’t sold on the original idea, but, per The Hollywood Reporter in 2022, said, “If you’d let me rewrite it and make it honest—a classic story of a boy and his dog—I’ll be in.” That’s the version we got, with Josh, grieving his father and finding Buddy, who escaped an abusive circus. Together, they find a renewed sense of happiness and hope in each other and the sport of basketball. The concept is still incredibly wholesome to me to this day. So much so, writing this has inspired me to watch Air Bud for the first time since I was a kid. I imagine it’s still magical to see Buddy on screen.
How Has the ‘Air Bud’ Franchise Evolved?
Sadly, Buddy, the original, lovable, and talented dog who launched this entire franchise, passed away at nine years old shortly after the release of Air Bud. So, the on-screen Buddy is played by a different dog in the franchise’s sequels—of which there are many. I’m sure that I watched at least the second movie, but I don’t have as many vivid memories of them as I do the first movie. Josh and Buddy’s story continued in Air Bud: Golden Retriever (1998), Air Bud: World Pup (2000), and Air Bud: Seventh Inning Fetch (2002). Each movie saw Buddy take on a different sport: football, soccer, and baseball. Because what can’t this dog do?
The last film in the original franchise is Air Bud: Spikes Back (2003). With Josh going to college, the Air Bud franchise pivoted to his younger sister, Andrea (Katija Pevec). That shift in perspective feels a lot like Toy Story 3 (2010) having Andy (John Morris) pass the baton to Bonnie (Emily Ricks Hahn) for Toy Story 4 (2019) and beyond. Regardless, Andrea discovers that, unsurprisingly, Buddy is also good at volleyball. That’s a consistent trend for this dog in this franchise, the spinoff series of films is what throws a wrench in what’s expected of Buddy. The movies eventually have a romance for Buddy with another golden retriever, Molly. In Air Bud: World Pup, they have a litter of puppies who lead Air Buddies (2006) and its six sequels.
In that movie and its first sequel, Snow Buddies (2008), Buddy is voiced by Tom Everett Scott. That’s right—by the early 2000s, Buddy can speak when he’s not around humans. Molly is coincidentally voiced by Molly Shannon in those movies. Oh, all the puppies—Budderball, B-Dawg, Buddha, MudBud, and RoseBud—can speak, too. Because why not? But that alone clearly shows how far the Air Bud franchise has evolved from the original movie. Its titular dog, narrative focus, and special effects have developed over 30 years across the big and small screen. It continues with Air Bud Returns, written and directed by Robert Vince. It goes back to the franchise’s roots with a 14-year-old Jacob (Aydin Artis) meeting a dog named Buddy who plays basketball. What an incredible arc for the Wonder Dog!
