Karate

Karate is a gi-clad martial arts expert and Batfink's oafish sidekick who drives the Battillac. He is somewhat over-sized and not very bright, but is strong enough to help Batfink out of any situation. He carries a wide variety of objects and gadgets in his "utility sleeve" (a parody of Batman's utility belt), but he often has trouble finding what he needs in it. Karate tends to succeed by dumb luck rather than by skill or ingenuity, and often Karate's involvement will make a bad situation worse.
Karate is a direct send-up of Kato, the Green Hornet's companion, but his hulking size is inspired by the James Bond villain Oddjob. In early episodes, his voice is a stereotypical Asian accent, but in later episodes, Len Maxwell adopts a clipped and nasal speech pattern. This was inspired by Don Adams, whose Get Smart character, Maxwell Smart, was popular at the time. Karate on occasion even utters the Maxwell-inspired catchphrase, "Sorry about that, Batfink."
Karate was usually ordered to check downstairs, while Batfink checked the upper floor.
At the end of each cartoon episode, Karate would make a corny pun that was sometimes physical on the part of his stupidity.
Karate's father was the blacksmith who made Batfink's mighty metallic wings.
Category:Brutes
Category:Cartoon Heroes
Category:Martial Artists
Category:Dimwits
Category:Male