Dangermouse
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- This article is about the cartoon series and character. For the DJ and producer, see Danger Mouse.
Template:Infobox television Dangermouse is a British animated series which was produced by Cosgrove Hall.
It features the eponymous Danger Mouse, a British secret agent who happens to be a mouse. The show is a loose parody of British spy fiction, particularly James Bond and the Danger Man series starring Patrick McGoohan. The eponymous hero wears a rakish eyepatch and his chest is prominently emblazoned with the initials "DM". This causes problems for those translating the series into other languages, where a literal translation of the words "Danger" and "Mouse" do not share those initials; the Scots Gaelic version, for example, calls the series (and the lead) "Donnie Murdo" (two given names unconnected either with mice or danger). The Slovenian translation omitted the DM initials entirely, however, dubbing Danger Mouse Hrabri mišek ("brave mouse").
Dangermouse was the first British cartoon to break into the American TV market, being shown on Nickelodeon in the 1980s, where it garnered a tremendous fan following that still exists. Since it went off air it has been periodically repeated and been released on DVD. Seasons 1 and 2 were released in the United States in a two-DVD boxset in mid-2005, followed by seasons 3 and 4 in another two-DVD boxset later that year. Seasons 5 and 6 were released in March 2006. Rumours are circulating about a revival, possibly using CGI. In Australia, it first aired on ABC TV, then in 1996 it was on Network Ten. It was also the first British cartoon to break into Cheez TV, being shown on the weekdays.
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Other adaptations
A long-running comic strip adaptation, written by Angus P. Allan and illustrated by Arthur Ranson, ran in Look-In magazine and was syndicated in various other magazines. Ranson also provided some backdrops for the TV series. Allen and Ranson's work was highly appreciated by Cosgrove Hall, and the pair were awarded an "Oh Goodness Oh Crikey" award in appreciation of their services. Artist Ranson later went on to illustrate Judge Anderson in the UK comic 2000 AD.
A series of video games based on the character also appeared. The first was Danger Mouse in Double Trouble [1] and Danger Mouse in the Black Forest Chateau [2] (both in 1984) followed by Danger Mouse in Making Whoopee! [3] in 1985.
Characters
Heroes
- DangerMouse - "The greatest secret agent in the world." Voiced by David Jason.
- Penfold - A timid hamster, and sidekick to Danger Mouse. Voiced by Terry Scott.
- Colonel K - DangerMouse's boss; a walrus. Previously worked for Special Branch, where he was known as Special K. He is a champion piano-thrower, decorated judo expert and the first to climb Mount Everest on a pogo stick. Voiced by Edward Kelsey.
- Professor Squarkencluck - Mad scientist/inventor/boffin. Inventor of the Mark III, DM's flying car. A mole, despite his avian name.
- Agent 57 - Initally a master of disguise, Agent 57 later gained the ability to alter his own molecular structure to transform into any appearance he wished. This ability went temporarily out of control in one episode when he contracted a cold, causing him to involuntarily change shape whenever he sneezed. As a result of changing his appearance so many times, he can no longer remember what he originally looked like.
- Flying Officer Buggles Pigeon - Another of Colonel K's agents who came to the aid of DangerMouse and Penfold in the episode, "Chicken Run," and appeared in several episodes afterward.
Villains
- Baron Silas Greenback - The recurring villain and DangerMouse's archenemy; a toad. Known as Baron Greenteeth in the unaired pilot episode. Voiced by Edward Kelsey.
- Stiletto Mafiosi - Greenback's henchman; a crow. Voiced by Brian Trueman. In the original British version, he spoke with an Italian accent; for reasons unknown, this was changed to a Cockney accent for US distribution, though the Italian accent is heard on all US VHS and DVD releases and during its Cheez TV run.
- LeatherHead - Greenback's other crow henchman. He is even less intelligent than Stiletto. He does not appear in nearly as many episodes as Stiletto.
- Nero - Greenback's pet. A fluffy white caterpillar (equivalent to the stereotypical white cat frequently associated with arch villains). Non-speaking character, but readily understood by Greenback and Stiletto.
- Doctor Augustus P. Crumhorn III - A mad scientist. He recurred as Danger Mouse's adversary less frequently than did Baron Greenback, in one episode attempting to undermine Danger Mouse by metamorphosing into a Shirley Temple lookalike.
- Count Duckula - A showbiz-obsessed vampire duck who inspired a later Cosgrove Hall series featuring a similar character, titled Count Duckula. Voiced by David Jason.
- Copper-Conk Cassidy - A memorable one-shot villain who had the distinctive characteristic of causing everyone who encountered him to literally fall to pieces in sheer terror.
- Doctor Frankenstoat - Another one-shot villain who formed a temporary alliance with Count Duckula. Unlike his namesake, Frankenstoat built machines to aid a bid for world domination rather than attempting to create life.
Other
- Isambard Sinclair - The unseen narrator, but occasionally interacts with the characters (in one episode he accidentally sends DM back in time). Often voices his disdain for the show and his job. Voiced by David Jason.
Voices
- David Jason as Danger Mouse, Narrator, Duckula and other roles
- Terry Scott as Ernest Penfold and Leatherhead
- Edward Kelsey as Baron Silas Greenback and Colonel K
- Brian Trueman as Stiletto
Lyrics to Dangermouse theme tune
He's the greatest! He's fantastic! Wherever there is danger he'll be there! He's the ace! He's amazing! He's the strongest, he's the quickest, he's the best!
Dangermouse!
He's terrific! He's magnific! He's the greatest secret agent in the world! Dangermouse! Powerhouse!
He's the fastest he's the greatest he's the best!
Dangermouse! Dangermouse! Dangermouse!
References, Trivia and Speculation
- Although all the characters in the series are animals, the adventures of Dangermouse appear to be taking place alongside the human world; there are various examples of a mouse-sized Danger Mouse walking through human-scale sets, standing on air hockey tables, etc. This becomes less consistent as the series goes on. There are also times when the cast attempts to deliberately interact with humans (such as Duckula mind-controlling human members of Parliament to be as showbiz-mad as he is.)
- In two different episodes, Danger Mouse and Penfold encountered a longcase clock that was capable of time travel. The reference to the cult series Doctor Who was so obvious that even Penfold noticed it.
- In one episode Penfold was referred to with a first name, Ernest. No "normal" name is ever given for Danger Mouse himself.
- Danger Mouse's headquarters is located in a pillarbox on Baker Street in London, near the legendary home of Sherlock Holmes.
- Some fans have speculated that the re-dubbing of Stiletto's voice in the American TV release was to avoid stereotyping of Italian-Americans (this was during a period where film and TV protrayals of Mafia types were popular). The original accent was kept in one scene in one episode ("The Duel") where Stiletto was impersonating a Gypsy fortune teller.
- In its Nickelodeon run, Dangermouse was usually aired with two short episodes back-to-back in a half-hour timeslot. Even with commercials this was not enough to fill the alotted time, so episodes of the British cartoon Bananaman were aired alongside it to fill the remaining time.
- In its Network Ten run, Dangermouse was also aired with two 11 minute episodes and three 5 minute ones back-to-back in a half-hour timeslot. Even though none of the episode's titles were at the beginning of each episode.
Credits
- Written by: Brian Trueman
- Music by: Mike Harding
- Music Production: Ritchie Close
- Storylines: Tony Garth, Angus Allen, Chris Randall
- Animators: Keith Scoble, George Jackson, Robert Newman, Clinton J. Priest, Garry Owen, Tony Garth, Stephen Thomas, Jean Flynn, Meryl Edgei, Denise Heywood, Phil Morris
- Backgrounds: Malcolm Turner, Andy Roper, Diane Wren
- Painting: Bob Burrows, Phillip McMylor, Roy Huckerby, Monica McCartney, Lorraine Thomas, Andrew Wilson, Barbara Alcock, Judy Ringrose, Joan Storey, Simon White
- Special Effects: Patrick Ashcroft, Stephen Simpson, Jackie Mitchell
- Storyboard: Gary Hurst, Chris Randall, Peter See, Helen Kincaid, Ted Stephens, Johnny Zeigler, Keith Scoble, Dave Elvin
- Xerox: Ben Turner, Gregg Clarke, Irving Knight, Andy Perkins, Charles Potts, Laurent Leeman, Henry Carpenter, Jon Adams, Francis Bond, Mickey Wilson, Frank Butchchurch
- Layouts: Chris Randall, Peter See, Dave Elvin
- Checking: Ian Henderson, Phil Atack, Dennis Greencarr
- Sung by: Myfanwy Talog
- Designers: Margaret Riley, Chris Randall, Edmund Williams, Art Graham, Dave Jones, Wayne Kellers, Robert Nissan, Jeremy King, Spud Robbins
- Assistant Animators: Paul Jesper, Laurent Leeman, Andy Roper, Dan Whitworth, Tony Guy, Bev Phillips, Douglas McKeefe, Jim Lang, Mario Phillips, Gloria Vassilou, Sue Halliwell, Agnes Field, Malcolm McGookin, Yasodha Huckerby, Gavin Parsons, Clive Hamilton, Gordon Davis
- Dubbing Mix: Ted Spooner, Phil Slattery, Mark Sutton
- Edited by: Nigel Rutter, Nibs Senior, Stephen Perry
- Assistant Editors: Zyggy Markiewicz, John McManus
- Assistants: Donald Swenson, Bill Jerklins, Bill M. Warner
- Associate Producer: Annie King
- Camera: Frank Hardie, Wendy Hardie, Peter Kidd
- Production Supervisors: Eleanor Owens, Claire Bramwell, Willard Kitchen, Alastair Fell, Alan Green
- Animation Directors: Ramon Modiano, Mark Povey, Tony McAleese, Denise Heywood, Maria Wedderburn, Graham Garside, Mario T. Shively
- Assistant Director: Jean Flynn
- Produced by: Mark Hall, Brian Cosgrove
- Directed by: Brian Cosgrove
- Executive Producer: John Hambley