Beloved Canadian Classic The Raccoons Returns as Digital Debut of Long-Lost Music and New Covers Kicks Off Franchise Revival

‘Run With Us’ Theme Song by Lisa Lougheed Out April 22, Ahead of June 5 Evergreen Nights Album Release Featuring Fionn’s New Take on the Iconic Classic

Series Creator Kevin Gillis Marks 40 Years of The Raccoons, Bringing Its Music Into a New Generation

Strut Entertainment. March 20, 2026. TORONTO, ON – For the first time ever, the music of the iconic Canadian animated series The Raccoons is being released digitally. In partnership with 604 Records, the newly remastered soundtracks – long unavailable since their original vinyl pressings – are returning alongside brand-new recordings by contemporary and legacy artists, bridging generations of fans and introducing the Evergreen Forest to a new audience, 40 years after the show’s debut. 

The digital rollout begins on Earth Day, April 22, with the original recording of the show’s beloved theme song, “Run With Us” performed by Lisa Lougheed, becoming available at all streaming services, accompanied by its original official music video on The Raccoons YouTube Channel. The recording by Lougheed – who was nominated for Most Promising Female Vocalist at the JUNO Awards when the song was first released – became the most widely recognized version of the song and appeared at the end of episodes from the show’s second season through its finale in 1991.

The first album release in the collection, arriving June 5, is Evergreen Nights, which will include a striking new interpretation of “Run With Us” by Fionn, the Billboard #1-charting alternative duo from Vancouver. Subsequent releases scheduled for 2026 will spotlight additional albums from the series, each curated to highlight rare material, archival elements and new recordings. The project will include three original musical albums and two storybook albums, all previously only available on vinyl, and all expanded with exclusive bonus material.

This marks the first time The Raccoons music has ever been made available digitally, and the first official release of any kind since 1988 – ending a decades-long wait for fans around the world who have largely relied on unofficial vinyl rips to hear the music.

“We are very excited to be working with the amazing team at 604 Records as we launch the newly remastered songs from the original The Raccoons music albums and storybook records,” says The Raccoons creator Kevin Gillis. “The music of The Raccoons specials and series has been a retro touchstone for the millions of loyal fans we have worldwide. 604 Records’ strategy of incorporating brand new recordings of the iconic songs by contemporary artists and bands, in concert with the legacy versions by the original artists, is a unique power play that is sure to inspire fans – both existing and new!”  

“When Kevin Gillis approached me a couple of years ago to see if I was interested in this project, I was certainly familiar with the Raccoons. I mean, if you lived in Canada, you’d pretty much have to live under a rock to have missed Cyril Sneer or Bert Raccoon,” says 604 Records co-founder Jonathan Simkin. “But diving into this project has really underscored for me just how far ahead of its time Raccoons was. Whether it’s the environmental issues that the show addressed, or the use of iconic singers like Rita Coolidge and Leo Sayer to convey the musical messages, Raccoons did things no other show, animated or not, was doing. The fact that the music is so great is a bonus! We at 604 feel absolutely honoured and privileged that Kevin has trusted us to be the first company to digitally release this memorable music to the public.”

This music initiative marks the first step in a multi-phase creative expansion currently underway. Additional projects connected to the world of The Raccoons are in early stages.

The original series aired on CBC from 1985–1991, as well as on Disney Channel in the U.S., BBC1 in the UK, and in over 180 countries worldwide. Recently remastered from the original 35mm film to 4K, the series is available on Crave and Roku in Canada, Roku in the U.S., ITVX, BritBox and Pluto in the UK, and in numerous other territories and languages. Full 4K restorations, along with exclusive bonus content, are also featured on The Raccoons official YouTube Channel.

Set in the Evergreen Forest, the series follows Bert Raccoon and his friends as they navigate friendship, community and environmental responsibility, often in opposition to the ambitious industrialist Cyril Sneer, who gradually evolves into one of animation’s more complex antiheroes. Known for its sophisticated storytelling, humour and environmental themes, the series was also celebrated for its original music featured in every episode and special, an element that became central to its identity and lasting impact. The Raccoons remain culturally resonant today, with messages and music that feel timelier than ever.

The original recordings featured acclaimed artists including Lougheed, Leo Sayer, Rita Coolidge, Rupert Holmes, Dottie West, Curtis King Jr. and Stephen Lunt, whose performances helped define the emotional and musical identity of the series.

With the music now joining the remastered episodes, the franchise is entering its most expansive moment in decades, laying the foundation for a new era of storytelling and cultural relevance.