The Pink Panther (1993)

**The Pink Panther** is an American animated television series starring the **Pink Panther** and his co-stars from the original cartoon shorts in a brand new series of stories. The program was a production of **Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Animation**. The series was created by **Friz Freleng**, in association with **David DePatie** and **Blake Edwards**. It was distributed by **Claster Television** and **King World Productions** and not by **MGM Television**, despite MGM's ownership of the **Pink Panther**. Unlike the other classic animated series featuring the Pink Panther, this is the only series when he and the Little Man spoke numerous lines. Prior to the series, the Pink Panther had only briefly spoken in two cartoon shorts in the 60's.

The series premiered on September 13, 1993 and ended its run on April 12, 1995. The show ran on American syndicated networks.

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

## Premise

The 1993 incarnation of The Pink Panther stars the legendary hip feline in series of brand new 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**.

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; The Dogfather and his henchdogs Pugg and Louie, who were redesigned for this series; The Muscle Man from the 1968 cartoon short, 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.

## 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. This decision was controversial and unpopular.

**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. Producer 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.

**Voice Cast**

* **Matt Frewer** as the Pink Panther, the Whistler (ep. 5), News Anchor (ep. 59)
* **Sheryl Bernstein** as Eskimo Mayor
* **John Byner** as Charlie Ant, Blue Aardvark
* **Dan Castellaneta** as Voodoo Man, Muck Luck, Chef Sumo (ep 17), Fish World Ticket Man (ep 31) Weasel, Snake, (ep 16) Babe The Bull (ep 33)
* **Jim Cummings** as Dogfather (in "It's Just a Gypsy in My Soup"), Rolo (ep 31)
* **Brian George** as The Inspector, Pugg
* **Jess Harnell** as Louie, Muscle Man, Pecks (ep. 59)
* **Joe Piscopo** as Dogfather
* **Hal Rayle**
* **Charles Nelson Reilly** as Jules Parrot
* **Wallace Shawn** as The Little Man
* **Kath Soucie** as Thelma, Cleopatra
* **Jo Anne Worley** as Mrs. Chubalingo

**Additional Cast**

* **Ruth Buzzi** as Witch
* **Hamilton Camp** as Rupert (ep 31)
* **Jodi Carlisle**
* **Nancy Cartwright**
* **Cathy Cavadini** as Thelma (occasional understudy)
* **Rickey D'Shon Collins** as Lester (ep 5)
* **Troy Davidson**
* **Eddie Deezen** as Robot (ep 50)
* **Mick Garris**
* **Phillip Glasser**
* **Keith David** as Rhinoceros
* **Barry Gordon** as Bongo Cereal Founder (ep. 59)
* **Paige Gosney**
* **Gerrit Graham**
* **Jennifer Hale**
* **Dana Hill** as Alien Kid (ep 14)
* **David Lodge**
* **Maurice LaMarche** as Spartacus (ep. 59)
* **Steve MacKall** as Johnny Chucklehead
* **Danny Mann**
* **Kenneth Mars** as Commissioner
* **Kevin Michael Richardson** as Erik the Red
* **Bradley Pierce** as Buddy Bimmel's Son (ep. 59)
* **Gwen Shepherd**
* **Susan Silo**
* **Jean Smart**
* **Elmarie Wendel**
* **Thomas F. Wilson**

## Episodes

**Season 1 (1993)**

1. **Pink, Pink & Away** / **Down On The Antfarm**
2. **Pink And Quiet** / **The Pinky 500**
3. **The Ghost And Mr. Panther** / **Cleopanthra**
4. **Big Top Pinky** / **Yeti Nother Bigfoot Story**
5. **Pinky In Paradise** / **Department Store Pinkerton**
6. **Moby Pink** / **The Pink Stuff**
7. **Pink Pizza** / **The Pink Painter**
8. **Werewolf In Panther's Clothing** / **Pink Paparazzi**
9. **Rock Me Pink** / **Pinkus Pantherus**
10. **Pilgrim Panther** / **That Old Pink Magic**
11. **Pink-anderthal Man** / **Pink Kong**
12. **The Magnificant Pink One** / **Downhill Panther**
13. 1**4 Karat Pink** / **Robo-Pink**
14. **Pink Encounters** / **Junkyard Pink Blues**
15. **Pantherobics** / **Pinkenstein**
16. **Pinky Rider** / **Midnight Ride Of Pink Revere**
17. **Pinky...He Delivers** / **Super Pink's Egg-cellent Adventure**
18. **Cowboy Pinky** / **Stealth Panther**
19. **Pinkazuma's Revenge** / **Pinky Down Under**
20. **Pinkadoon** / **A Camp-Pink We Will Go**
21. **Icy Pink** / **The End Of Superpink?**
22. **All For Pink And Pink For All** / **Service With A Pink Smile**
23. **Trains, Pains And Panthers** / **Wet And Wild Pinky**
24. **From Hair To Eternity** / **Strike Flea, You're Out!**
25. **Cinderpink** / **It's A Bird! It's A Pain! It's Superfan!**
26. **Who's Smiling Now? (The Inspector)** / **Rob'n Hoodwinked**
27. **Hook, Line And Pinker** / **Valentine Pink**
28. **Dino Sour Head** / **The Luck O' The Pinkish**
29. **The Inspector...NOT!** / **(The Inspector)** / **Pink Links**
30. **Stool Parrot (The Inspector)** / **Pinky And Slusho**
31. **Panthergeist** / **Pinky's Pending Pink Slip**
32. **The Three Pink Porkers** / **The Heart Of Pinkness**
33. **The Inspector's Most Wanted (The Inspector)** / **Pinky Appleseed**
34. **Calling Mr. Panther** / **For Those Who Pink Young**
35. **Lights, Camera, Voodoo** / **I'm Dreaming Of A Pink Christmas**
36. **Weiner Takes All** / **The Easter Panther**
37. **The Inspector's Club (The Inspector)** / **A Royal Pain**
38. **Black & White & Pink All Over** / **Beach Blanket Pinky**
39. **Digging For Dollars (The Inspector)** / **Pinknocchio**
40. **Pinky Up The River** / **Long John Pinky**

**Season 2 (1994-1995)**

1. **Muff The Magic Dragon** / **Pink Thumb**
2. **Pinky's Dilemma** / **Oh, Varkula**
3. **Ice Blue Pink** / **Pink Trek**
4. **The Legend Of El Pinko** / **Pink Big**
5. **Eric The Pink** / **Pretty And Pink**
6. **Built For Speed** / **The Pooch And The Panther**
7. **Pinky In Toyland** / **The Detective Of Oz**
8. **Royal Canadian Mounted Panther** / **Power Of Pink**
9. **Lifestyles Of The Pink And Famous** / **Happy Trails Pinky**
10. **A Hard Day's Pink** / **You Only Pink Twice**
11. **It's Just A Gypsy In My Soup** / **Three Aliens And A Footstool**
12. **Mummy Dearest** / **Feast Or Famine**
13. **No Pink Is An Island** / **Pinky And The Golden Fleece**
14. **Home Stretch Pinky** / **Pink Pucks**
15. **The Reluctant Pink Ninja** / **Pantherella**
16. **Pink's Ark** / **Rain Or Snow In Pink Of Night**
17. **Pink In The Middle** / **Pink In The Poke**
18. **A Nut At The Opera** / **Hamm-n-Eggz**
19. **Voodoo Man** / **7 Manly Man And The Kid**
20. **The Texas Toads** / **Driving Mr. Pink** / **The Ant And The Aardvark**

All episodes are available on the Official Pink Panther Youtube Channel.

## Home Media

VHS & DVD releases of **The Pink Panther (1993)...**

**UK**

* **Pink, Pink & Away - VHS** **(1999)**

* **The New Pink Panther Show: Season 1: Vol. 1** **- DVD**

**Spanish**

* **El Neuvo De La Pantera Rosa: 4-Disc DVD**

## Gallery

The Pink Panther (1993) Opening TitleThe Pink Panther (1993) TV PosterThe Pink Panther (1993) LogoThe Pink Panther Cartoon Collection: Pink, Pink & Away - VHS (1999)The New Pink Panther Show (1993) 2-Disc Set - DVD (UK)El Neuvo Show De La Pantera Rosa (1993): Primera Temporada: 4-Disc Set - DVD