The Pink Panther (TV series)

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The Pink Panther
The Pink Panther (1993 TV series).jpg
Genre Comedy
Fantasy
Created by Friz Freleng (characters: The Pink Panther , The Inspector , The Dogfather and The Ant and the Aardvark )
David H. DePatie
Blake Edwards
Directed by Charles Grosvenor
Byron Vaughns
Starring Matt Frewer as The Pink Panther
Voices ofSheryl Bernstein
John Byner
Dan Castellaneta
Jim Cummings
Brian George
Jess Harnell
Joe Piscopo
Hal Rayle
Charles Nelson Reilly
Wallace Shawn
Kath Soucie
Jo Anne Worley
Kenneth Mars
Theme music composer Henry Mancini (arranged by Eddie Arkin)
ComposersAlbert Olson and James Stemple
Mark Watters (supervising composer)
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes60 (121 segments)
Production
Executive producers Walter Mirisch
Marvin Mirisch
Paul Sabella
Mark Young
Producers Kelly Ward
Charles Grosvenor
Byron Vaughns
Running time22 minutes
Production companies MGM Animation
MGM Television
Camelot Entertainment Sales
Wang Film Productions
Original release
Network Syndication
ReleaseSeptember 13, 1993 (1993-09-13) 
April 12, 1995 (1995-04-12)
Related
Pink Panther and Sons
Pink Panther and Pals

The Pink Panther is an American animated television series starring the Pink Panther and his co-stars from the original cartoon shorts in a series of brand new stories. The program was a production of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Animation. It was distributed by Claster Television and King World Productions and not MGM Television, despite MGM owning The Pink Panther . Unlike other animated series featuring the Pink Panther, this is the only series where he and the Little Man speak numerous lines. Prior to this series, the Panther had only briefly spoken in two cartoons in the 1960s.

Contents

The Pink Panther was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award in 1994 for Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition. [1] As of January 2023, all 60 episodes are available to watch on Pluto TV under the title The New Pink Panther Show and they can all be watched for free on YouTube. The series can also be watched on Freevee, along with multiple other Pink Panther shows.

Premise

The Pink Panther stars the Pink Panther in series of adventures in which he deals with different situations in a manner similar to the original Looney Tunes shorts, ranging from modern-day situations such as working as a delivery boy to outlandish situations like living in caveman days. Unlike previous television series and almost the entire theatrical run, the series was produced with the Panther capable of speaking throughout the episodes, to allow more interaction with other characters. Voiced by Matt Frewer, he was given a humorous American accent in order to appeal to younger children, which was in sharp contrast to the sophisticated British accent supplied by impressionist Rich Little who voiced the Panther briefly in two 1965 cartoon shorts, Sink Pink and Pink Ice . [2] [3]

Alongside the Pink Panther, a number of his co-stars from the original theatrical shorts appear in the series, including: The Inspector , who the Panther assists in the guise of an American police officer; The Ant and the Aardvark , with John Byner reprising the role of both characters; [2] The Dogfather and his henchdogs Pugg and Louie, who were redesigned for this series; The Muscle Man from the 1968 cartoon Come On In! The Water's Pink ; The Witch from the 1969 cartoon Pink-A-Rella ; and "The Little Man", who like the Panther, was also designed to speak in the series, with Wallace Shawn providing his voice. The series also featured new characters, including a mask-wearing tribal witch doctor named Voodoo Man, a little red-headed girl named Thelma, and a sweet old lady named Mrs. Chubalingo and her pet parrot Jules.

Cast

Additional cast

Production

In 1992, MGM/UA decided to produce new Pink Panther cartoons with a twist that he would be able to speak, hoping to bring new life to the panther. That same year, MGM/UA met with its licensees to explain the changes that were made to the character and arm them with essential artwork needed to spring the panther for the brand-new series. [6] This decision was controversial and unpopular. [7]

Casting

In 1993, Rich Little, who voiced the character in a few scenes of the original cartoons, was approached to reprise his role as the pink feline. However, Little did not recall voicing the character at all and turned down the offer saying giving the panther a voice would ruin the character. [7] Franchise co-creator David DePatie also felt that giving the panther a voice would "compromise the integrity of the character." But once the producers saw Matt Frewer fill in the lines for the panther, they thought it was fantastic and they accepted it. [4]

Episodes

Season 1 (1993)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleOriginal air date
11"Pink, Pink & Away"
"Down on the Antfarm"
September 13, 1993 (1993-09-13)
"Down on the Antfarm" features The Ant and the Aardvark
22"Pink and Quiet"
"The Pinky 500"
September 17, 1993 (1993-09-17)
33"The Ghost and Mr. Panther"
"Cleopanthra"
September 29, 1993 (1993-09-29)
44"Big Top Pinky"
"Yeti ’Nother Bigfoot Story"
September 16, 1993 (1993-09-16)
55"Pinky In Paradise"
"Department Store Pinkerton"
September 14, 1993 (1993-09-14)
66"Moby Pink"
"The Pink Stuff"
September 22, 1993 (1993-09-22)
77"Pink Pizza"
"The Pink Painter"
September 15, 1993 (1993-09-15)
88"Werewolf in Panther's Clothing"
"Pink Paparazzi"
September 24, 1993 (1993-09-24)
99"Rock Me Pink"
"Pinkus Pantherus"
September 23, 1993 (1993-09-23)
1010"Pilgrim Panther"
"That Old Pink Magic"
September 20, 1993 (1993-09-20)
1111"Pink-anderthal Man"
"Pink Kong"
September 21, 1993 (1993-09-21)
1212"The Magnificent Pink One"
"Downhill Panther"
September 27, 1993 (1993-09-27)
1313"14 Karat Pink"
"Robo-Pink"
September 28, 1993 (1993-09-28)
1414"Pink Encounters"
"Junkyard Pink Blues"
September 30, 1993 (1993-09-30)
1515"Pantherobics"
"Pinkenstein"
October 4, 1993 (1993-10-04)
1616"Pinky Rider"
"Midnight Ride of Pink Revere"
October 7, 1993 (1993-10-07)
1717"Pinky...He Delivers"
"Super-Pink's Egg-cellent Adventure"
October 17, 1993 (1993-10-17)
1818"Cowboy Pinky"
"Stealth Panther"
October 6, 1993 (1993-10-06)
1919"Pinkazuma's Revenge"
"Pinky Down Under"
October 11, 1993 (1993-10-11)
2020"Pinkadoon"
"A Camp-Pink We Will Go"
October 12, 1993 (1993-10-12)
2121"Icy Pink"
"The End of Superpink?"
October 14, 1993 (1993-10-14)
2222"All for Pink and Pink for All"
"Service with a Pink Smile"
October 18, 1993 (1993-10-18)
"All for Pink and Pink for All" features The Ant and the Aardvark [8]
2323"Trains, Pains and Panthers"
"Wet and Wild Pinky"
October 19, 1993 (1993-10-19)
2424"From Hair to Eternity"
"Strike Flea, You're Out!"
October 20, 1993 (1993-10-20)
2525"Cinderpink"
"It's a Bird! It's a Pain! It's Superfan!"
October 25, 1993 (1993-10-25)
2626"Who's Smiling Now? (The Inspector)"
"Rob'n Hoodwinked"
October 27, 1993 (1993-10-27)
2727"Hook, Line and Pinker"
"Valentine Pink"
October 29, 1993 (1993-10-29)
2828"Dino Sour Head"
"The Luck O' the Pinkish"
November 1, 1993 (1993-11-01)
2929"The Inspector... NOT! (The Inspector)"
"Pink Links"
November 5, 1993 (1993-11-05)
3030"Stool Parrot (The Inspector)"
"Pinky and Slusho"
November 4, 1993 (1993-11-04)
3131"Panthergeist"
"Pinky's Pending Pink Slip"
November 8, 1993 (1993-11-08)
3232"The Three Pink Porkers"
"The Heart of Pinkness"
November 9, 1993 (1993-11-09)
"The Heart of Pinkness" features The Ant and the Aardvark
3333"The Inspector's Most Wanted (The Inspector)"
"Pinky Appleseed"
November 10, 1993 (1993-11-10)
3434"Calling Dr. Panther"
"For Those Who Pink Young"
November 15, 1993 (1993-11-15)
3535"Lights, Camera, Voodoo"
"I'm Dreaming of a Pink Christmas"
November 16, 1993 (1993-11-16)
3636"Wiener Takes All"
"The Easter Panther"
November 18, 1993 (1993-11-18)
3737"The Inspector's Club (The Inspector)"
"A Royal Pain"
November 22, 1993 (1993-11-22)
3838"Black & White & Pink All Over"
"Beach Blanket Pinky"
November 23, 1993 (1993-11-23)
3939"Digging for Dollars (The Inspector)"
"Pinknocchio"
November 29, 1993 (1993-11-29)
4040"Pinky Up the River"
"Long John Pinky"
November 30, 1993 (1993-11-30)

Season 2 (1994–95)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleOriginal air date
411"Muff the Magic Dragon"
"Pink Thumb"
September 10, 1994 (1994-09-10)
422"Pinky's Dilemma"
"Oh, Varkula"
September 17, 1994 (1994-09-17)
"Oh, Varkula" features The Ant and the Aardvark
433"Ice Blue Pink"
"Pink Trek"
September 24, 1994 (1994-09-24)
444"The Legend of El Pinko"
"Pink Big"
October 1, 1994 (1994-10-01)
455"Eric the Pink"
"Pretty and Pink"
October 8, 1994 (1994-10-08)
466"Built for Speed"
"The Pooch and The Panther"
October 15, 1994 (1994-10-15)
477"Pinky in Toyland"
"The Detective of Oz"
October 22, 1994 (1994-10-22)
488"Royal Canadian Mounted Panther"
"Power of Pink"
October 29, 1994 (1994-10-29)
499"Lifestyles of the Pink and Famous"
"Happy Trails Pinky"
November 5, 1994 (1994-11-05)
"Happy Trails Pinky" features The Ant and the Aardvark
5010"A Hard Day's Pink"
"You Only Pink Twice"
November 12, 1994 (1994-11-12)
5111"It's Just a Gypsy in My Soup"
"Three Aliens and A Footstool"
November 19, 1994 (1994-11-19)
5212"Mummy Dearest"
"Feast or Famine"
November 26, 1994 (1994-11-26)
5313"No Pink is an Island"
"Pinky and the Golden Fleece"
December 3, 1994 (1994-12-03)
"No Pink is an Island" features The Ant and the Aardvark [9]
5414"Home Stretch Pinky"
"Pink Pucks"
December 10, 1994 (1994-12-10)
5515"The Reluctant Ninja Pink"
"Pantherella"
December 17, 1994 (1994-12-17)
5616"Pink's Ark"
"Rain or Snow or Pink of Night"
December 24, 1994 (1994-12-24)
5717"Pink in the Middle"
"Pink in the Poke"
December 31, 1994 (1994-12-31)
"Pink in the Middle" features The Ant and the Aardvark
5818"A Nut at the Opera"
"The Pink Panther (that's me) presents Hamm-n-Eggz"
January 7, 1995 (1995-01-07)
5919"The Pink Panther (that's me) presents Voodoo Man"
"The Pink Panther (That's Me) presents 7 Manly Men and the Kid"
January 14, 1995 (1995-01-14)
6020"The Pink Panther (that's me) presents The Texas Toads"
"Driving Mr. Pink"
"The Pink Panther (that's me) presents The Ant and the Aardvark"
April 12, 1995 (1995-04-12)
Driving Mr. Pink was shown for the U.S. theatrical release of The Pebble and the Penguin , and the final Pink Panther theatrical short to be reissued into the television short.

Home media

A DVD box set called "Der rosarote Panther - Die neue Show" was released in Germany (Region 2) on February 21, 2006 through MGM. This set contains the first 40 Episodes in English, French and German on four DVDs. The set was then released in the UK from MGM and Fox on February 2, 2009; the remaining 20 episodes are yet to be released.

The show is also available to on Pluto TV and on the official YouTube Channel.

Related Research Articles

The Pink Panther is an American media franchise primarily focusing on a series of comedy-mystery films featuring an inept French police detective, Inspector Jacques Clouseau. The franchise began with the release of the film The Pink Panther in 1963. The role of Clouseau was originated by and is most closely associated with Peter Sellers. Most of the films were written and directed by Blake Edwards, with theme music composed by Henry Mancini. Elements and characters inspired by the films were adapted into other media, including books, comic books, video games and animated series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Friz Freleng</span> American animator, cartoonist, director, and producer (1905–1995)

Isadore "Friz" Freleng, credited as I. Freleng early in his career, was an American animator, cartoonist, director, producer, and composer known for his work at Warner Bros. Cartoons on the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series of cartoons from the 1930s to the early 1960s. In total he created more than 300 cartoons.

DePatie–Freleng Enterprises was an American animation studio founded by former Warner Bros. Cartoons employees in May 1963, before dissolving in 1981. Based in Burbank, California, DFE produced animation for film and television.

<i>The Pink Phink</i> 1964 animated short film directed by Friz Freleng

The Pink Phink is a 1964 American animated short comedy film directed by Friz Freleng. It is the first animated short starring the Pink Panther. The short won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short at the 37th Academy Awards.

Roland and Rattfink is an American series of animated shorts produced and released from 1968 to 1971. The main characters also made several guest appearances on The Pink Panther animated series. The series was produced by David H. DePatie and Friz Freleng and seventeen cartoons were produced.

<i>The Ant and the Aardvark</i> Series of theatrical short cartoons

The Ant and the Aardvark is a series of 17 theatrical short cartoons produced at DePatie–Freleng Enterprises and released by United Artists from 1969 to 1971.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Blue Racer</span> Series of theatrical cartoons

The Blue Racer is a series of 17 theatrical cartoons produced from 1972 to 1974 created by Friz Freleng and David H. DePatie. The character's first cartoon, Snake in the Gracias, was released theatrically on January 24, 1971.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Dogfather</span> Fictional character

The Dogfather is an American series of 17 cartoons produced by DePatie–Freleng Enterprises and distributed by United Artists between 1974 and 1976. It is the final theatrical cartoon series made by DePatie–Freleng.

<i>The Inspector</i> American animated film series

The Inspector is an American series of 34 theatrical cartoon shorts produced between 1965 and 1969 by DePatie–Freleng Enterprises and released through United Artists. The cartoons are dedicated to an animated version of Inspector Clouseau comically battling against a rogues' gallery of internationally styled villains.

<i>Pink Panther and Sons</i> American TV series or program

Pink Panther and Sons is an American animated television series produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions and Mirisch-Geoffrey-DePatie-Freleng. The series was originally broadcast on NBC from 1984 to 1985 and moved to ABC in 1986. Friz Freleng served as creative producer for the series as his and David H. DePatie's production company, DePatie–Freleng Enterprises, existed as an in-name-only enterprise by this time, as its operations were absorbed by Marvel Productions in 1981. The show is based on the Pink Panther, a character created in 1963.

The Mirisch Company was an American film production company owned by Walter Mirisch and his brothers, Marvin and Harold Mirisch. The company also had sister firms known at various times as Mirisch Production Company, Mirisch Pictures Inc., Mirisch Films, and The Mirisch Corporation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David H. DePatie</span> American producer (1929–2021)

David Hudson DePatie was an American film and television producer who was the last and longest lived executive in charge of the original Warner Bros. Cartoons studio. He also formed DePatie–Freleng Enterprises, with Friz Freleng, Hanna-Barbera Productions and was an executive producer at Marvel Productions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Misterjaw</span> American animated television series

Misterjaw is a 34-episode cartoon television series, produced at DePatie-Freleng Enterprises in 1976 for The Pink Panther Laugh and a Half Hour and a Half Show television series on NBC. Reruns continued on the Think Pink Panther Show on NBC through September 3, 1978.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pink Panther (character)</span> Fictional animated character

The Pink Panther is a fictional animated character who appears in the opening and/or closing credit sequences of every film in The Pink Panther series except for A Shot in the Dark and Inspector Clouseau. In the storyline of the original film, the "Pink Panther" is the name of a valuable pink diamond named for a flaw that shows a "figure of a springing panther" when held up to the light in a certain way; in the credits this was translated to an animated pink panther. Only the first Pink Panther film and its third sequel, The Return of the Pink Panther, featured the diamond.

<i>The Pink Panther Show</i> Showcase of animated shorts

The Pink Panther Show is a showcase of animated shorts produced by David H. DePatie and Friz Freleng between 1969 and 1978, starring the animated Pink Panther character from the opening credits of the live-action films. The series was produced by Mirisch Films and DePatie–Freleng Enterprises, and was broadcast Saturday mornings on two American television networks: from September 6, 1969, to September 2, 1978, on NBC; and from September 9, 1978, to September 1, 1979, on ABC.

Hawley B. Pratt was an American film director, animator, designer and illustrator. He is best known for his work for Warner Bros. Cartoons and as the right-hand man of director Friz Freleng as a layout artist and later as a director. Pratt also worked for Walt Disney Studios, Filmation, and DePatie-Freleng Enterprises where he co-created The Pink Panther.

Crazylegs Crane is a 16-episode made-for-television cartoon series produced by DePatie–Freleng Enterprises in 1978 for The All New Pink Panther Show on ABC.

<i>Pink Panther and Pals</i> Animated television series

Pink Panther and Pals is an American animated television series and a modern adaptation of the classic DePatie-Freleng Pink Panther shorts from the 1960s. The series was produced by Desert Panther Productions and Rubicon Studios in association with Mirisch-Geoffrey-DePatie-Freleng and MGM Television. It premiered on Cartoon Network on March 7, 2010. 26 episodes were produced.

References

  1. The Pink Panther at IMDb OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
  2. 1 2 Beck, Jerry. (2006) Pink Panther: The Ultimate Guide to the Coolest Cat in Town!; DK ADULT, ISBN   0-7566-1033-8
  3. DePatie-Freleng website Archived 2005-06-08 at the Wayback Machine
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Pink Panther discovers his voice". Battle Creek Enquirer . December 9, 1993. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  5. "About Hal Rayle".
  6. "Licensing Diary: MGM/UA – The Pink Panther". Kidscreen. Retrieved April 27, 2020.
  7. 1 2 Arnold, Mark. (2015) Think Pink: The Story of DePatie-Freleng; BearManor Media
  8. "All for Pink and Pink for All"
  9. "No Pink is an Island" (Spanish dubbed version)