Duluth (TV Series)

*“We knew we wanted to get involved with Mattel in a comedy. We had been in business with Mattel on their Thomas & Friends shows, and exhibiting those on Nick Jr., and we wanted to create something that would be more of a new world, with new characters, something comedic.”*
―Rob Sorcher, The Wonderful World of Duluth

**Duluth** is an animated TV series created by Cartoon Network Studios featuring anthropomorphic lake freighters in stories conveying moral themes based on Christianity. The original series lasted from March 21, 2019 to November 14, 2021. This show seems to be most popular, but despite fans' hopes and doubts it was going to continue running, it was eventually cancelled around 2021. In March 2021, John Fang announced on his Twitter that a revival spin-off titled The Duluth Show would be released in the fall of that year, along with an Untitled Marc Forster Film with a unclear release date.

## History

The show was created by John Fang and David P. Smith when they wanted to create a series of videos teaching children about stories and lessons from Duluth, while making it fun and entertaining.

John originally started out in 2018 when he wanted to use candy bars as a basis. However, his wife objected the idea as she thought it was a bad influence on kids. So when he visited Duluth and saw the ships pass through the Duluth Canal, he thought that was the best choice, lake freighters. He chose these objects as he said they were easy to animate as compared to characters with limbs, clothes, or hair because of the limitations on 3D graphics during the early 2010s.

John then joined with David P. Smith, who they both did puppet shows in Bible college. John did one on "The Princess and the Freighter," but telling it from the freighter's perspective, but never made it as a puppet show. Ultimately, the sketches John drew became the basis for Duluth.

The name itself came from David P. Smith, as he felt it was a good title as it was about lake freighters telling stories.

While Toy Story is considered the first animated film to use computer imagery for film, Duluth is the first Cartoon Network series using that type of animation prior to the film's release.

The series started with only either one or two episode(s) per year, until the company grew and produced three videos per year as of 2020. Since then, no new episodes of the series have been produced, likely due to Cartoon Network Studios being too busy making and focusing on the Netflix series.

In 2021, shortly after the release of the series finale (the last episode to feature the original look of the characters), Netflix released 11 minute shorts exclusively along with new redesigns of the original cast. In a recent podcast, John says that they have colored iris' (similar to the Sonic the Hedgehog series) and their mouths are more dynamic. He also says that Paul R. Tregurtha's hair looks swirly.

### "Cancellation"/Hiatus

Following the release of the series finale in 2021, Cartoon Network Studios did not announce any new plans for further Duluth series, seemingly focusing solely on the Netflix series. In June 2021, David P. Smith appeared on the Christian talk show Today's Life, and said "If there's ever an opportunity to do something Duluth-related again, I would love to do that." Furthermore, Smith's LinkedIn profile states that he left his position at Cartoon Network Studios in February 2021. The second and final season of The 1 Long 2 Short Show subsequently premiered on Netflix in late 2021.

At the 2021 Christian Worldview Film Festival, David P. Smith confirmed that he was no longer working on Duluth, and there was nothing in production. John Fang stated that he was not returning to work on new episodes, and on July 1, 2021, he explained on Twitter that the team who specifically produced series was dismissed in 2021, while the Netflix series team wrapped up their work in Summer 2021. Comcast shut down Cartoon Network Studios' offices in Burbank shortly afterward. Fang has confirmed that Cartoon Network Studios' employees continue to work for Cartoon Network Studios, and have not been laid off. This could mean that the show may still continue in the future.

### Revival

On March 28th, Eric Metaxas posted a tweet featuring him with John Fang and David P. Smith. He said that TBN had purchased the rights to Duluth and are making a new series. Later on, John posted a tweet correcting the misconception; it turns out TBN only purchased licensing rights and will use the characters. John and David are going to be key writers for a new spin-off show that is currently known as The Duluth Show, which was released in late 2022. On the same day, John Fang confirmed that Universal had also started early development on a Marc Forster Film. It will also have John's involvement, possibly as a key writer.

## Episode Set-Ups

* Every episode (with the exception of some special episodes) starts on a kitchen countertop where Stewart J. Cort and Paul R. Tregurtha introduce themselves and receive a letter from a kid. After reading the letter, Stewart J. Cort and Paul R. Tregurtha would have small discussions on how they would answer the kids letter via a story.
* After the first segment of an episode, Silly Songs with Paul are served as the shows intermissions where Paul R. Tregurtha appears on the countertop and sing ridiculous songs.
* After Silly Songs with Paul R. Tregurtha, the second segment of that episode is then shown. AMERICAN SPIRIT Bound For Silver Bay is the first Duluth episode to have it's main segment served as the second segment while the first two episodes main segments were shown first.
* At the end of every show, Stewart J. Cort and Paul R. Tregurtha would receive a verse from Qwerty as the What Have We Learned song is played. The episode then ends with Stewart J. Cort and Paul R. Tregurtha saying *"Duluth made you special, and he loves you very much"* and the credits roll.

## Voice Cast

* Carlos Alazraqui - Mackinaw (WLBB-30), Edgar B. Speer
* Maria Bamford - BBC Swift, Federal Katsura
* Eric Bauza - Clyde S. VanEnkevort, Lee A. Tregurtha
* Jeff Bennett - Philip R. Clarke, Arthur M. Anderson, Alpena (3), Joyce L. VanEnkevort, Algoma Spirit
* Gregg Bissonette - American Integrity, Oakglen (3)
* Steve Blum - Walter J. McCarthy Jr., Erie Trader, Cason J. Callaway, Great Republic
* Rodger Bumpass - Presque Isle, Happy River, Algoma Discovery, Roger Blough, American Mariner
* Griffin Burns - Happy Rover, John G. Munson, Michipicoten
* Chris Cox - American Century, James R. Barker, Industrial Skipper, Whitefish Bay
* Dave Fennoy - Alamosborg, Mesabi Miner, Edwin H. Gott, Andean, Great Lakes Trader, Trudy, Spartan
* Leonard Garner - Algoma Buffalo, Biscayne Bay (WTGB-104)
* Justin Grollman - Industrial Strength
* Jess Harnell - Herbert C. Jackson, Indiana Harbor, Algoma Sault, H. Lee White, Burns Harbor, CSL Tadoussac, Thunder Bay, CSL Welland, Algoma Guardian, John J. Boland
* Phil Hayes - Joseph L. Block, US Brig Niagara, Abbey Road, CSL Assiniboine
* Richard Horvitz - Solina, Juno, Blue Heron, Federal Kushiro, Eeborg
* Peter Jason - Salarium, Torrent, Iryda, Mandarin, Brant
* Tom Kenny - Stewart J. Cort, Paul R. Tregurtha, Denis Sullivan, Hon. James L. Oberstar, Manitoulin (5), Gerhard Folgero, BBC Russia, CSL Laurentien, Saginaw, Algoma Enterprise
* Andrew Kishino - Maria G, Robert F. Deegan
* Phil LaMarr - Heerengracht, Samuel de Champlain, Federal Seto, Narie
* Daran Norris - Innovation, Algoma Conveyor, Ashtabula, Three Rivers
* Sam Riegel - Defiance, Alder (WLB-216)
* Bumper Robinson - Industrial Song, Lady Doris, Sunda, Sider Amy
* David P. Smith - American Courage, Federal Elbe, Maumee (2)
* Brian Stepanek - Federal Hudson, Michigan Trader
* Cree Summer - Victory, Federal Hunter, Dorothy Ann
* Fred Tatasciore - Frontenac, John D. Leitch, BBC Hudson, Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin
* Maddie Taylor - Pacific Huron, Federal Churchill
* Billy West - American Spirit, CSL St-Laurent, Zea Servant, Cuyahoga
* Mateo Mpinduzi Mott - Baie Comeau, Fuldaborg, BBC Maine, Pathfinder
* Rob Paulsen - Timgad, Lake Explorer II, BBC Dolphin, Floretgracht
* Spike Spencer - Missouri, BBC Mississippi, H.J. Schwartz, Radcliffe R. Latimer
* Kyle Hebert - Federal Dart, Olza, D.L. Billmaier
* Nicolas Roye - Federal Kumano, BBC Thames, Hammond Bay
* Kerry Shale - Atlantic Huron, Algoma Niagara
* Todd Haberkorn - Dirk S. VanEnkevort, Zeus, Spartan II
* Dee Bradley Baker - Spruceglen, Irma, BBC St. Petersburg, Isadora
* John DiMaggio - Wilfred Sykes, Algoma Intrepid
* Seth Green - Kaye E. Barker, Nunalik, Edenborg
* Greg Cipes - Minervagracht, Amurborg, Fivelborg
* Sean Astin - Captain Henry Jackman (2), Arneborg, Algoma Transport

## Feature Films

1. Stewart and the Magic Harbor
2. Calling All Freighters!
3. The Great Discovery
4. Hero of the Harbor
5. Misty Island Rescue
6. Day of the Salties
7. Blue Mountain Mystery
8. King of the Harbor
9. Tale of the Brave
10. The Adventure Begins
11. Duluth's Legend of the Lost Treasure
12. The Great Race
13. Journey Beyond Duluth
14. Big World! Big Adventures!

## Trivia

* Either the first episode or a promotional advertisement (depending on the theater) appeared before or after trailers, before Buffy the Vampire Slayer in cinemas on April 7, 2014.
* This is the first Mattel TV series to not be animated with CGI animation (Thomas & Friends). Instead, this show was produced by Cartoon Network Studios in 2D animation, originally animated by Atomic Cartoons in ToonBoom Harmony and later in several different animation styles by other companies.
* The series' variant of the Cartoon Network Studios logo didn't debut in the US until Mixed Up Special due to the shorts not having credits; however the logo variant was present in the shorts in European prints.
	+ The full version, with John G. Munson heading a DJ turntable and shouting "Remix!" is only present in the specials and, for Europe, longer shorts (like USCGC MACKINAW Ice Breaker and AMERICAN SPIRIT Bound for Silver Bay). Most shorts' prints just use a still logo.
	+ For certain specials the logo has also been known to have John G. Munson's line dubbed, such as in Arabic, Polish, and Italian. On most occasions however dubs leave the line in English or without dialogue.
* While most dubs of Duluth leave the show as-is mostly without change, a couple of dubs make their own alterations:
	+ The Korean dub is the only one that replaces the series logo. The logo has been translated into many languages but usually only for promotional material or in the apps.
	+ The French dub is the only one that paints and edits over English text and replaces it, while other dubs simply caption or lector it. (More complex scenes just use subtitles, though).
	+ The European prints of the episodes all add the individual titles to each title card, while a select few like French and Arabic translate those. Most simply leave those titles in English and lector them.
* The first episode of Duluth to take up a full half-hour is Mixed Up Special. Ship Moon Madness is the first half-hour episode to follow a single plotline, and A Quest for the Lost Thingamajig is the first half-hour episode to be originally produced as a single episode.
* USCGC Alder and the majority of Background Ships that appear in the shows' voice actors were left unknown or uncredited.
	+ However, unlike John J. Boland, Amundsen and USCGC Alder, the Background Ships' voices are known and credited. It is just unsure which voices apply to which Ships, as the characters are credited under numbers and generic names.
* In the United States, in addition to airing on Cartoon Network, the shorts have aired on sister network Boomerang.
* The first few shorts, when uploaded to Cartoon Network's YouTube, included a different version of the Duluth logo which had a yellow-to-orange gradient rather than a solid yellow and took up most of the screen. This version of the logo also appeared on the Series 1-2 prototype bags, meaning it was likely the original logo for the franchise. Despite this, the various Mix splashes use the old gradient text, regardless of the logo.
* The first season was produced in 2018, including the standalone minisodes from Mixed Up Special.
* The only countries to air Duluth on a different channel than Cartoon Network are France, which airs it on the kids' channel Gulli, and Spain, which airs it on the affiliated channel Boing, due to there not being a Cartoon Network in that country.
* On May 12, 2017, the Nick Jr. series Thomas & Friends referenced Duluth in the episode "All Tracks Lead to Rome", with a poster of a generic Ship under a modified logo.
* According to Google Trends, the franchise itself was big in Eastern Europe and parts of Latin America.