The Pink Panther (TV series)

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 credited as being a co-production of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Animation, Mirisch-Geoffrey-DePatie-Freleng and United Artists, though only the former was responsible for its production, as the other properties either ceased to exist or were transferred to MGM a decade before it was aired. It was distributed by Claster Television 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 have the ability to speak.

The Pink Panther
Think Pink!
GenreComedy
Fantasy
Created byFriz Freleng (characters: The Pink Panther and The Ant and the Aardvark)
David H. DePatie
Blake Edwards
Directed byCharles Grosvenor
Byron Vaughns
StarringMatt 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
Theme music composerHenry Mancini (arranged by Eddie Arkin)
Composer(s)Albert Olson and James Stemple
Mark Watters (supervising composer)
Country of originUnited States
Original language(s)English
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes60
Production
Executive producer(s)Walter Mirisch
Marvin Mirisch
Paul Sabella
Mark Young
Producer(s)Kelly Ward
Charles Grosvenor
Byron Vaughns
Running time22 minutes
Production company(s)MGM Animation
MGM Television
Camelot Entertainment Sales
Wang Film Productions
DistributorClaster Television, King World Productions
Release
Original networkSyndication
Picture format480i (SDTV)
Original releaseSeptember 11, 1993 –
April 12, 1995
Chronology
Preceded byPink Panther and Sons
Followed byPink Panther and Pals

The show was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award in 1994 for Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition.[1]

Premise

The 1993 incarnation of The Pink Panther starred the legendary hip feline in series of brand new adventures, in which he dealt 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.[5] This decision was controversial and unpopular, and the Panther turned out to be a blabbering fool, despite the animation being well-done. During this time, Marvel Productions was on the brink of merging with New World Pictures.[6]

Casting

In 1993, Rich Little, who voiced the character in 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.[6] Producer David DePatie 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, 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)
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[7]
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 (1994–1995)
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)
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[8]
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.

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References
  1. The Pink Panther on IMDb
  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. "Pink Panther discovers his voice". Battle Creek Enquirer. December 9, 1993. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  5. "Licensing Diary: MGM/UA – The Pink Panther". Kidscreen. Retrieved 2020-04-27.
  6. Arnold, Mark. (2015) Think Pink: The Story of DePatie-Freleng; BearManor Media
  7. "All for Pink and Pink for All"
  8. "No Pink is an Island" (Spanish dubbed version)
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