Chowder

Chowder is an American animated series which ran from November 2, 2007 to August 7, 2010 on Cartoon Network. The series was created by C. H. Greenblatt a former storyboard artist on and The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy. The title character is a chubby young 9 year old child named Chowder (often referred to as a cat, bear, rabbit creature), an apprentice to a chef named Mung Daal, who owns a catering company serving the fictional Marzipan City. The show combines traditional animation with stop motion animation and puppetry.
It is the first Cartoon Network original series to be premiered under Stuart Snyder's tenure.
== Production ==
During his time working on Nickelodeon's SpongeBob SquarePants, Greenblatt had been sketching various characters for his own animation series concept. Greenblatt originally based the premise on the idea of the sorcerer's apprentice style of story, such as The Sword in the Stone. The plot devices were modified so that the story revolves around a master chef who teaches his young apprentice how to cook. Chowder himself was developed with no specific species in mind, but rather with the intentions of invoking the image of a child's soft squeeze toy. Some of the inspiration comes from Richard Scarry, with other inspiration from Saturday morning cartoons.
Schnitzel was created originally as a personal character design exercise in the late 1990s.
Once Greenblatt pitched the concept to Cartoon Network, and after about two years, the series was approved for production with another year in production before the pilot episode aired. Greenblatt estimates he spent about seven years working on Chowder before the show made it to air, from 2000 to 2007.
Episodes are produced in seasons which consist of 20 half-hour episodes. Each episode is produced with a 30 second puppet sequence that is meant to run over the ending credits. Cartoon Network chooses not to air the puppet credit sequences, but starting on September 3, 2007, episodes have aired the puppet segments. Episodes can be purchased from the iTunes store in the United States which are delivered with the sequences as are episodes which are available on Cartoon Network's VOD website also within the United States.
One of the unusual design features of the show is the patterns used on the characters' clothing or skin. The patterns are developed as a full screen image and then sent to the production house where the characters are modified to fill the patterns in over the character clothing. Using this technique, when a character moves, their patterns do not follow, but display as a "static" background. A similar technique was used in the Monkey Island video game series and Mr. Bean: The Animated Series.
The show is also known for the very wide variety of mediums used in various episodes. These include animation using watercolors and ink & paint in addition to the cartoon's classic pattern style. It also uses stop motion animation with real food, action figures, and clay; live action scenes with the voice actors of the show, and puppets; both marionette and hand controlled. This was also sometimes used in Courage the Cowardly Dog. It boasts one of the most diverse varieties of mediums used in any single series.
== Setting ==
Chowder is set in the country of Marzipan. For the architectural style of the city, examples from Monacan and Indian architecture were referenced. The inhabitants of Marzipan City, including the show's primary cast, are composed of various strange non-human creatures, ranging from anthropomorphic animals and humanoids to more abstract and surreal beings including fairies, robots, mammoths, owls, and many more creatures.
The show's humor features puns and meta-references, such as the characters and locations being named after various foods and dishes. Ironically, many food names are altered, like "grubble gum", "thrice cream", "grapples" or "blutter," yet all the characters' names are actual food items and culinary dishes. The show also breaks the fourth wall regularly. An example is found in the episode "Gazpacho Stands Up." Chowder, who is learning to write, scribbles on the television screen. Gazpacho erases this, leaving the Cartoon Network screen bug untouched. When Chowder points this out, Gazpacho comments "Eh, that one doesn't come off. I've tried." Also, the characters are aware that they are fictional characters in a cartoon, often making references to the camera, the animators, and their fanbase. For example, during the episode "Brain Grub" Chowder points out that the foods are fake, and then transports them to another food related Television program. In "The Shopping Spree", the actual, real-life Voice Actors of the series (Nicky Jones, Dwight Schultz, Tara Strong, and John DiMaggio) were "forced" to go out and wash cars to make money after the cartoon characters spent so much money at the mall that they bankrupted the entire show.
== Characters ==
*Chowder
*Mung Daal
*Schnitzel
*Truffles
*Gazpacho
*Miss Endive - Mung Daal's archenemy.
*Panini
*Gorgonzola- Chowder's archenemy.
*Kimchi
*Chestnut
*Ceviche
*Mr.Fugu
== Cast ==
* Nicky Jones as Chowder
* Dwight Schultz as Mung Daal
* John DiMaggio as Schnitzel and Chestnut (Season 3 only)
* Tara Strong as Truffles
* Liliana Mumy as Panini (kid)
* Mindy Sterling as Miss Endive
* Dana Snyder as Gazpacho
* Will Shadley as Gorgonzola (kid)
* Bob Joles as Mr.Fugu
* Tone Loc as Chestnut (2008)
== Series Overview ==
Series Overview
Season:	Episodes:	premiere: 	end:
1 	20 	November 2nd, 2007	July 24th, 2008
2 	20 	October 2nd, 2008 	October 11th, 2009
3 	9 	October 29th, 2009	August 7th, 2010
== Episodes ==
A total of 49 episodes were aired in the series. Season One, which consists of 20 episodes, started on November 2, 2007 with "The Froggy Apple Crumple Thumpkin/Chowder's Girlfriend", and ended on July 25, 2008 with the special, The Apprentice Games. Season Two also is 20 episodes long and started on October 3, 2008 with "The Arborians/ The Garage Sale" and ended out with "A Faire to Remember/Tofu-Tofu Showdown" on September 29, 2009 and October 6, 2009. Season Three, which is the final season, consists of only 9 episodes and began on October 16, 2009 with "Hands on a Big Mixer/The Spookiest House" in Marzipan. In 2010, the series had a confusing hiatus and only aired a new episode every month or two. Eventually, the last hiatus ended with the official series finale, "Chowder Grows Up", that saw broadcast on August 27, 2010.
== Broadcast History ==
*Cartoon Network (2007-2010, original run; 2010-2014, 2021, 2022, 2023 reruns)
*Boomerang (2014-2017, 2018-2019; 2020, 2021-2023)
== Appearances in other media ==
==== In other works ====
Chowder made a small cameo in The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy spin-off TV movie, Underfist: Halloween Bash. He is seen inside of a pumpkin float during a Halloween parade.
Chowder and Schnitzel appeared in the OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes episode, Crossover Nexus. They appeared as one of the Cartoon Network heroes that were summoned and defeated by Strike, the episode's main antagonist. Chowder later appeared as one of Ben 10's transformations to defeat Strike himself. Finally, Chowder and Schnitzel were seen being restored by Strike's pen.
The series was acknowledged in Cartoon Network’s 30th Anniversary video in October 2022.
Chowder made an appearance in the Teen Titans Go! special, Warner Bros. 100th Anniversary.
==== Video games ====
Chowder (with Kimchi) appeared as a playable character pair in the video game, Cartoon Network: Punch Time Explosion. Schnitzel and Gazpacho appeared as assist characters in the game. Mung Daal and Panini became assists in the home console version (Wii, PS3, X360).
Chowder and Schnitzel became NPCS in the Birthday Bash update of the MMO online game, Cartoon Network Universe: FusionFall.
Chowder was seen as a non playable boardwalk customer in the 2018 mobile game, Cartoon Network: Match Land. Mung Daal also appeared in the game, but as a in game shop owner.
==Home media==
===DVDs===
The first Chowder DVD was released on November 4, 2008. It consisted of the first five episodes. The second DVD containing five more episodes was released on March 3, 2009. A volume three DVD had been confirmed for late 2010, but was cancelled due to the show ending.
DVD Title 	Region 1 	Discs	Episodes 	Extras
Chowder: Vol. 1	November 4, 2008	1 	1-3-4-6-7 	"Chowder's Girlfriend" pencil sketches, previews of Ben 10: Alien Force: Volume 1 and Bakugan: Volume 1
Chowder: Vol. 2	March 3, 2009 	1 	2-5-8-9-10	Chowder's Artwork
===Digital releases===
All three seasons are available for purchase on iTunes.
On Google Playhttps://play.google.com/store/tv/show?id=wQxRJTWjzso&cdid=tvseason-Q6wP7lO4Lao&gdid=tvepisode-hQWTv76PZNY and Amazonhttps://www.amazon.com/Party-Cruise-Won-Ton-Bombs/dp/B009NN2TTU/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2YCH22PS752P3&keywords=chowder&qid=1678593362&s=instant-video&sprefix=chowder%2Cinstant-video%2C289&sr=1-1, the only season currently available for purchase is the third season.
The series was released on Hulu in January 1, 2017, on HBO Max on May 27th, 2020, on Max on May 23rd, 2023, and on Disney+ (as part of the Hulu merger) on December 6th, 2023.
As of October 1, 2024, the show is no longer available to stream on Max.
== Awards and Nominations ==
Year	Association 	Award Category 	Notes 	Result
2008	Annie Awards	Best Animated Television Production for Children,Writing in an Animated Television Production	C. H. Greenblatt and William Reiss for the episode "Burple Nurples"	Nominated
2008	Emmy Awards 	Outstanding Special Class — Short-format Animated Programs 	Episode: "Burple Nurples" 	Nominated
2009	Annie Awards	Production Design in an Animated Television Production or Short Form 	Dan Krall for the episode "The Heavy Sleeper" 	Nominated
2009	Annie Awards	Voice Acting in an Animated Television Production or Short Form 	Dwight Schultz for the role of Mung Daal 	Nominated
2009	Emmy Awards 	Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation 	Joe Binggeli 	Won
2010	Annie Awards	Voice Acting in a Television Production 	Dwight Schultz, Nicky Jones 	Nominated
== Trivia ==
*All of the characters from Chowder have names corresponding to real life food items.
** Additionally, all the food in show has made up names, akin to their real ones.
* Various video platforms have the show's first two seasons on different aspect ratio formats. iTunes has them in their cropped fullscreen formats, while Hulu and HBO Max have them in their original widescreen formats.
* The episode, The Apprentice Scouts, is the only episode in the entire series where Mung Daal was absent.
* The episodes where Schnitzel was absent are The Apprentice Games, Banned from the Stand, A Faire to Remember, and The Apprentice Scouts.
== Gallery ==
Chowder HBO Max cover.jpg|HBO Max Cover
File:ChowderVolume3AppleTVcover.jpg|Volume 3 Apple TV cover
Chowder Volume 1 iTunes.jpg|Volume 1 iTunes cover
File:ChowderVolume2iTunes.jpg|Volume 2 iTunes cover
File:ChowderiTunesVolume3.jpg|Volume 3 iTunes cover
File:Chowder Volume 1 DVD.jpg|Volume 1 DVD
File:Chowder Volume 2 DVD.jpg|Volume 2 DVD
File:Chowder and Friends DVD.jpg|Chowder and Friends DVD
File:Chowder Puppet.jpeg|Chowder Puppet
File:Chowder in FusionFall.webp|Chowder in FusionFall
File:SchnitzelFusionFallingamemodel.jpeg|Schnitzel's in game model from FusionFall
File:KimchiFusionFallingamemodel.jpeg|Kimchi's in game model from FusionFall
File:Chowder nano Icon.webp|Chowder's Nano icon from FusionFall
File:Chowder in Punch Time Explosion.jpeg|Chowder in Punch Time Explosion
File:Chowder in Cartoon Network's 20th anniversary poster.jpeg|Chowder in Cartoon Network's 20th anniversary poster.
File:Schnitzel in Cartoon Network’s 20th anniversary poster.jpeg|Schnitzel in Cartoon Network's 20th anniversary poster.
File:Truffles in Cartoon Network’s 20th anniversary poster.jpeg|Truffles in Cartoon Network's 20th anniversary poster
File:Kimchi in Cartoon Network’s 20th anniversary poster.jpeg|Kimchi in Cartoon Network's 20th anniversary poster
File:Panini in Cartoon Network’s 20th anniversary poster.jpeg|Panini in Cartoon Network's 20th anniversary poster
File:Gorgonzola in Cartoon Network’s 20th anniversary poster.jpeg|Gorgonzola in Cartoon Network's 20th anniversary poster
File:Chowder as stone in the OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes episode, Crossover Nexus.png|Chowder as stone in the OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes episode, Crossover Nexus
File:Stone Chowder.jpeg
File:Schnitzel as stone in the OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes episode, Crossover Nexus.jpeg|Schnitzel as stone in the OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes episode, Crossover Nexus
File:Chowder as one of Ben 10's transformations in Crossover Nexus.png|Chowder as one of Ben 10's transformations in Crossover Nexus
File:Chowder after being restored by Strike's pen in Crossover Nexus.jpeg|Chowder after being restored by Strike's pen in Crossover Nexus
File:Schnitzel after being restored by Strike's pen in Crossover Nexus.jpeg|Schnitzel after being restored by Strike's pen in Crossover Nexus
File:ChowderPTEModel.jpeg|Chowder's model from Cartoon Network: Punch Time Explosion XL
File:MungDaalPTEModel.jpeg|Mung Daal's model from Cartoon Network: Punch Time Explosion XL
File:SchnitzelPTEmodel.jpeg|Schnitzel's model from Cartoon Network: Punch Time Explosion XL
File:ChowderShirtlessPTEModel.jpeg|Chowder's shirtless costume from Cartoon Network: Punch Time Explosion XL
File:PaniniPTEmodel.jpeg|Panini's model from Cartoon Network: Punch Time Explosion XL
File:TrufflesPTEmodel.jpeg|Truffles' model from Cartoon Network: Punch Time Explosion XL
File:GazpachoPTEmodel.jpeg|Gazpacho's model from Cartoon Network: Punch Time Explosion XL
File:StHoagiePTEmodel.jpeg|St.Hoagie's model from Cartoon Network: Punch Time Explosion XL
File:ThriceIceManPTEmodel.jpeg|The Thrice Cream Man's model from Cartoon Network: Punch Time Explosion XL
File:GrabblesPTEmodel.jpeg|Grabbles model from Cartoon Network: Punch Time Explosion XL
File:ChowderFigurines.jpeg|Figurines
File:KellytoyChowderPlush.webp|Kellytoy Chowder Plush
File:ChowderCNMatchLand.jpeg|Chowder as he appears in Cartoon Network: Match Land
File:Chowder toonix by elloraxxd dgbhq1r-pre.png|Toonix of Chowder
File:Mung toonix by elloraxxd dg62sd7-pre.png|Toonix of Mung
File:ChowderJollibeeKidsMealToys.jpeg|Jollibee Kids Meal Toys
File:ChowdermeesageboxiconFusionFall.jpeg|Chowder's message box icon from FusionFall
File:Shnitzel Toonix.png|Schnitzel Toonix
File:Panini Toon.png|Panini Toonix
File:SchnitzelFusionFallmessageboxicon.jpeg|Schnitzel's message box icon from FusionFall
File:ChowderCNClassicsDigitaldownloadcover.jpeg|Cartoon Network Classics Digital purchases cover
File:ChowderfullepisodeYouTubethumbnail.jpeg|YouTube thumbnail of a full episode of the series on the official Cartoon Network YouTube channel
File:ChowderandFriendsDVDdisc.jpeg|Chowder and Friends DVD disc
File:ChowderVolume1DVDdisc.jpeg|Volume 1 DVD Disc
File:ChowderVolume2DVDdisc.jpeg|Volume 2 DVD disc
File:ChowderandFriendsDVDbackcover.jpeg|Chowder and Friends DVD back cover
File:ChowderVolume1DVDbackcover.jpeg|Volume 1 DVD back cover
File:ChowderVolume2DVDbackcover.jpeg|Volume 2 DVD back cover
File:ChowderVolume2DVDmainmenu.jpeg|Volume 2 DVD main menu
File:Chowdervolume1DVDepisodeselection.jpeg|Volume 1 DVD episode selection
File:ChowderVolume2DVDepisodeselection.jpeg|Volume 2 DVD episode selection
File:ChowderStoryBooksBook1.jpeg|Story Books Book 1
File:ChowderStorybooksBook3.jpeg|Story Books Book 3
File:ChowderGlowintheDarkstickerbook.jpeg|Glow in the Dark sticker book
File:ChowderStickeractivitybook.jpeg|Sticker Activity Book
File:Przechwyďż˝ 2023 10 05 22 00 35 651.png|Noods version of Chowder
File:Mung Daal Noods.webp|Noods version of Mung Daal
File:ChowderHorizontalHBOMaxcover.jpeg|Horizontal HBO Max cover
File:Shnitzel nood.jpg.webp|Noods version of Schnitzel
File:Truffles.png|Noods version of Truffles
File:Chowder 2.png|Chowder's Now/Then icon from the City era in Latin America/Brazil
File:Panini Noods.jpg|Noods version of Panini
File:ChowderVolume3ThailandDVD.jpeg|Volume 3 DVD from Thailand
File:ChowderVolume2DVDpamphlet.jpeg|Volume 2 DVD pamphlet
File:ChowderVolume3DVDPoland.jpeg|Volume 3 DVD from Poland
File:Screenshot 20181118-113226.jpg|Chowder's icon from the Check it era
File:SchnitzelunusedPTEXLicon.jpeg|Schnitzel's unused icon from Cartoon Network: Punch Time Explosion XL
File:ChowderFusionFallmodel.jpeg|Model of Chowder's appearance from FusionFall
File:ChowderFusionFallnanomodel.jpeg|The Chowder nano's model from FusionFall
File:SchnitzelFusionFallmodel.jpeg|Model of Schnitzel's appearance from FusionFall
File:ChowderPTEXLicon.jpeg|Chowder's icon from Cartoon Network: Punch Time Explosion XL
File:Source-1.gif|Chowder's Check it 3.0 animation (from outside the U.S.)
== References ==
== External Links ==
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