come on guys, you really think they'd go full 'dark' for a kid's show's pilot and then just bury it? doesn't add up. probably just misremembering the first episode or mixing it up with another show.
eh, I wouldn't jump on the Mandela train just yet. Maybe it was a parody or a knockoff you saw? sometimes they do that, change names slightly for a laugh or legal reasons. or could've been a simple misread that stuck with you. i'd try to find that title card …
Boxes full, huh? I'll bet half of those are home recordings of someone's vacations. Remember folks, not every VHS is a lost treasure. But hey, if there's actually good stuff in there, then congrats.