''Avenger Penguins'' is a British

animated series An animated series, or a cartoon series, is a set of Animation, animated films with a common title, usually related to one another. These episodes typically share the same main heroes, some different secondary characters and a basic theme. Series ...

produced by Cosgrove Hall Productions (Series 1)/ Cosgrove Hall Films (Series 2) for

Granada Television ITV Granada, formerly known as Granada Television, is the ITV (TV network), ITV franchisee for the North West of England and Isle of Man. From 1956 to 1968 it broadcast to both the north west and Yorkshire on weekdays only, as ABC Weekend TV, ...

, with Thames International holding worldwide distribution rights. The series broadcast on Children's ITV for two series from 1993 to 1994. The show has the distinction of being the last Cosgrove Hall production to be animated using hand-painted animation cels, and the last production not only to be produced by the studio under the name, Cosgrove Hall Productions but also under Thames' ownership and distribution. Series 2 was one of the first two productions produced under the rebranding, Cosgrove Hall Films. All 2D animated series from the studio thereafter would use computers for the ink and paint process; with the animation, drawings scanned and then digitally coloured.

Details

The story revolves around three bike-riding Penguins that inhabit Big City, uniting to protect it and its citizens from the evil Caractacus P. Doom, an insane and reclusive criminal scientist. The Penguins attempt to prevent Doom's schemes but find themselves often hampered by their own miscommunicating and occasional scraps with other biker gangs infesting Big City, such as The Stink Brothers, a canine squad of Hell's Angels. The cast, like '' Danger Mouse'', ''

Count Duckula ''Count Duckula'' is a British children's television series, children's animated comedy horror television series created by British studio Cosgrove Hall Films, Cosgrove Hall Productions and produced by Thames Television as a spin-off of ''Dang ...

'' and '' Victor and Hugo: Bunglers in Crime'' had with

David Jason Sir David John White (born 2 February 1940), known professionally as David Jason, is an English actor. He has played Derek "Del Boy" Trotter in the sitcom ''Only Fools and Horses'', Detective Inspector Jack Frost in the drama series '' A Touch ...

, boasted a star talent in a major role, this time in the form of American comedian Mike McShane as the Penguin's un-coordinated but brash leader Marlon, as well as the villainous Doom. To show how the series was mocking the often rushed animation style of the original TMNT series, two supporting characters are known as "The Badly Drawn Brothers" were always left with the design construction lines still showing out of deliberate neglect. Pop culture references were found in abundance in many of the episodes and in the characters. Doom himself is patterned on an elderly

Orson Welles George Orson Welles (May 6, 1915 – October 10, 1985) was an American director, actor, writer, producer, and magician who is remembered for his innovative work in film, radio, and theatre. He is among the greatest and most influential film ...

, Harry Slime (who talks like Peter Lorre) in the meantime is based somewhat on Harry Lime, a character from the movie '' The Third Man''. The Series 2 episode, ''"The 23rd Century"'' also served as a parody of ''

Star Trek ''Star Trek'' is an American science fiction media franchise created by Gene Roddenberry, which began with the Star Trek: The Original Series, series of the same name and became a worldwide Popular culture, pop-culture Cultural influence of ...

'', and of science fiction in general.

Voice cast

*Marlon: Mike McShane *Rocky: Rob Rackstraw *Bluey: Jimmy Hibbert *Bella: Jimmy Hibbert *Caractacus P. Doom: Mike McShane *Harry Slime: Jimmy Hibbert *Various other characters: Mike McShane, Rob Rackstraw, Jimmy Hibbert and Lorelei King. *Theme song vocalist: Paul Young

Development

The series was originally going to be called ''Hell's Penguins'', although was it renamed out of concern for how the religious audience in the US would respond. 26 episodes aired from 1993 to 1994. The series' animation was outsourced to Alfonso Productions, a Spanish-based animation studio also responsible for bringing Cosgrove Hall's shows ''

'', '' Victor and Hugo: Bunglers in Crime'', '' Fantomcat'', '' Sooty's Amazing Adventures'' and '' The Foxbusters'' to life, and in-house by Cosgrove Hall themselves. As with most Cosgrove Hall cartoons, the series poked fun at the popular concepts of having creatures performing inhuman action feats and stunts in an animated medium, made popular by the then enormously successful ''

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' (''TMNT'') is an American media franchise created by comic book artists Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. It follows Leonardo (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), Leonardo, Donatello (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), D ...

'' franchise. The core of the show's theme is coincidentally similar to '' Biker Mice from Mars''.

Episodes

Series 1 (1993–1994)

Series 2 (1994)

DVD and VHS releases

DVD releases

The entire series was released on a three-disc DVD box set in March 2006 by Delta Leisure Group PLC and Fremantle Media.

Complete set

Individual episodes

VHS releases

During the show's original run, ''Avenger Penguins'' episodes were released on 3 VHS titles from Thames Video and Arena Home Entertainment, often in a different sequence than that when televised. In

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

, there were six videos from Reel Entertainment releasing all the episodes of series 1 and one episode of series 2. Each of them contained 2 episodes.

References

External links

Toonhound's entry on Avenger Penguins
*{{IMDb title, id=0481434, title=Avenger Penguins 1993 British television series debuts 1994 British television series endings 1990s British animated television series 1990s British children's television series Animated television series about penguins British children's animated adventure television series British English-language television shows ITV children's television shows Television series by Cosgrove Hall Films Television series by Fremantle (company) Television series by FremantleMedia Kids & Family Television shows produced by Granada Television ITV animated television series