I Am Weasel

I Am Weasel
Title card featuring the protagonist, I.M. Weasel.
Genre
Created by David Feiss
Written by
Directed by
Voices of
Theme music composer
Opening theme "I Am Weasel", performed by April March[3][4]
Ending theme "I Am Weasel" (instrumental)
Composer(s) Bill Fulton[2][3]
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 5
No. of episodes 79 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)
Producer(s)
Running time 7 minutes approx.
Production company(s) Hanna-Barbera
David Feiss Productions
Release
Original network Cartoon Network
Picture format NTSC (480i)
Audio format Dolby Surround
Original release July 22, 1997 (1997-07-22)[7] – 2000 (2000)[8]
Chronology
Related shows Cow and Chicken
External links
Website
Production website

I Am Weasel is an American animated television series created by David Feiss for Cartoon Network, at the studio of Hanna-Barbera, being the fourth of the network's Cartoon Cartoons. The series centers on I. M. Weasel, a smart, beloved and highly successful weasel, and I. R. Baboon, an unsuccessful, unintelligent baboon who is jealous of Weasel's success and constantly tries to upstage him, usually failing to do so.

It was originally a part of Cow and Chicken from 1997 to 1999, often airing as the third of three segments in an episode, after two segments of that show (except in one occurrence, where it aired as a second segment between the two parts of an episode).[9] Eventually, I Am Weasel was spun off into its own series, which aired from June 10, 1999 to early 2000. A total of 79 episodes were produced, including those produced as part of Cow and Chicken.

Premise

The central characters: I.R. Baboon (left) and I.M. Weasel (right).

The series chronicles the random adventures of two funny animal frenemies: I.M. Weasel (Michael Dorn) and I.R. Baboon (Charlie Adler). The first one is a famous, heroic, eloquent, highly intelligent and very talented weasel who always tries to help people out and is thus adored by everybody, constantly shouting his catchphrase "I am Weasel!" while pointing high in the air before going after help.[10] The latter is his total opposite, an ugly and idiotic hamadryas baboon who is envious of his success and constantly tries to do better than he does (also doing a victory dance to express his joy when thinking he's doing so),[10] and failing miserably after all due to his total stupidity.

Starting from season two, the Red Guy (Charlie Adler), a cartoon version of the Devil who never uses pants, assumes multiple personalities and is a main character in Cow and Chicken, also gets that role in I Am Weasel, where he is also referred to as "I.B. Red Guy", an allusion to Weasel's and Baboon's names.[11] His addition to the series makes him gradually take the role of villain from I.R., who becomes more friendly to Weasel, despite still despising him.

As the series progresses, I.M. Weasel, initially showed as an invincible hero, gradually loses the focus to I.R. Baboon, because people are shown to get gradually dumber.[12][13] In the series finale, I.R. is finally presented as the true star of the show instead of him.[14]

Supporting characters include Loulabelle (Susanne Blakeslee, Teresa Ganzel), Weasel's assistant and kind of girlfriend, who usually dresses herself as a nurse (except in one episode, where she is seen dressed as a laboratory assistant),[15] Jolly Roger (Dee Bradley Baker), a fat man who wears glasses and either a tiny tuxedo or a white T-shirt with shorts and a sailor "dixie cup" hat, and also usually appears suddenly in the episodes and takes some roles similar to the Red Guy's, and Admiral Bullets (Jess Harnell, Michael Gough), a short naval officer who often relies on Weasel's help and is often seem over a small bench. Many characters from Cow and Chicken make cameo appearances in I Am Weasel from season two, these include: Cow, Chicken (Charlie Adler), Mom, Teacher (Candi Milo), Dad (Dee Bradley Baker), Flem (Howard Morris), and Earl (Dan Castellaneta).[16][4]

Universe setting

While season 1 does not seem to have any link to Cow and Chicken universe, from season 2, I Am Weasel seems to usually happen in the same universe of that show, as characters from that show (mainly the Red Guy) usually appear, but, in most of the time, in different places.[17][14] An episode, though, does present it as a TV show airing in Cow and Chicken world, suggesting another universe, but Weasel and I.R. are both taken out of TV after all.[11] The same occurs in another episode, but with the characters in the same universe.[14]

Humor style

Humor relies on slapstick comedy and moderate off-color humor, as typical of many 1990s cartoons, and is based on the existent gap between the central characters, with I.R. Baboon being the center of most running jokes, which are mostly about his stupidity and big red butt, though some episodes show I.M. Weasel or the Red Guy also taking this role. Butt jokes are also more frequent when the Red Guy is around and parodies of popular culture and other shows and crossovers also take place in some episodes.[18][19] Despite all the comedic style, important and meaningful messages about friendship, social differences and general lessons for life are given to children through stories or when I.M. Weasel directly talks to the audience.[20]

Season 1 shows Weasel as a "perfect" character, not leaving a single shortcoming, and Baboon as exact opposite to this, but that gradually changes throughout the series, with Weasel later starting to show some misbehavior and inefficiency, mostly because he notices people around him are getting dumber, and thus I.R. even being dimwitted gets a hero status.[14] From season 2 onwards, the Red Guy incorporates humor style found in Cow and Chicken, taking the role of villain, but also being sometimes a third wheel, something that never happens in that show.[14] In season 5, Jolly Roger also starts to fill both roles.[21]

Some episodes titles make fun of Baboon's misspelling, with grammatically incorrect names such as "I Are Big Star", "I Are Good Salesmans" and "I Are a Artiste".[1] The titles also tend to reference the name of the show and Weasel's catchphrase, often being written in first person.[1]

Fourth wall breaking is something that also happens, mostly at the end of episodes. The characters do it to make some ending commentaries, give advice to spectators or just call for the end of the episode.[21]

Production

Creation and development

Cow and Chicken started out as the pilot episode "No Smoking" on What a Cartoon! in 1995, and was greenlit to become a series. Hanna-Barbera/Cartoon Network demanded a second cartoon to join Cow and Chicken in its half-hour time slot, so creator David Feiss came up with I Am Weasel, with the name based upon the novel I Am Legend.[22][23]

According to Feiss, the idea for creating the show begun as a single drawing of I.M. Weasel with the caption "I Am Weasel" and that "suggested many stories to me".[24] Also, the fact that the Red Guy doesn't wear panties was controversial for many people, as he said: "The thing that I never thought that I'd get approval for was the Red Guy. The mere fact that he didn't wear pants was a challenge for a lot of people and I am glad Cartoon Network let it go - he's my favorite character".[24]

It started to get produced around April 1996[25] and was inserted as a series of segments in Cow and Chicken until mid 1999. Right after the end of that show, it was spun-off into a new separated series produced until September 16, 1999.,[7] with all the previous episodes incorporated and removed from Cow and Chicken.

General production took place at the studio of Hanna-Barbera, with the series being labeled as part of both the collection of cartoons of that company and Cartoon Network's Cartoon Cartoons. Animation production was made overseas at Rough Draft Studios, in South Korea.[4]

Art style

The exact same art style of Cow and Chicken is used starting from season 2.[23] Season 1, though, is a bit different in both art and characters presented.[26] Title card style for episodes is also different in season 1, featuring animation and Weasel saying the name of the episode with additional commentary and/or events, contrasting with the title card style used for Cow and Chicken, with static image, which takes place in I Am Weasel from season 2 onwards.[26][27]

Title sequence, credits and music

The title sequence features I.M. Weasel using constantly his catchphrase "I am Weasel!" and I.R. Baboon with his trademarked victory dance.[10] The series ending credits were only created in 1999, with the separation; it shows all the three years of production and the theme song is played instrumentally in a pop rock style, with additional arrangement.[4]

The theme song was composed by Bill Fulton,[2] written by Richard Pursel, and sung by April March.[3] It is a humorous take on the classic nursery rhyme "Pop Goes the Weasel", based on the well-known musical version of the rhyme.[28][29]

Michael Dorn (left) and Charlie Adler (right), who provide voices for the three main characters.

Voice cast

Michael Dorn provides voice for I.M. Weasel and Charlie Adler does both voices of I.R. Baboon and the Red Guy. Loulabelle is voiced by Susanne Blakeslee in season 2 and Teresa Ganzel in season 3, Jolly Roger by Dee Bradley Baker, and Admiral Bullets by Jess Harnell in season 1 and Michael Gough in season 2.[4][16]

Additional characters are voiced by the before-mentioned along Candi Milo, Howard Morris, Dan Castellaneta, Frank Welker, Dom DeLuise, Carlos Alazraqui, Tom Kenny, among others.[4][16]

Broadcast

Broadcast history

A sneak peek for the series was aired on July 15, 1997 with the eleventh episode, "Law of Gravity",[7][30][31] and then it started its original run from July 22, 1997 with the second episode, "I.R. on Sun", all yet as a series of segments on Cow and Chicken.[7] After four seasons, it was separated and premiered as a half-hour show on June 10, 1999,[32] and the 52 episodes originally aired on Cow and Chicken began to air on the show's own time slot, being either in or outside the Cartoon Cartoon Fridays programming block, and getting joined by 27 new episodes, totaling 79.[33] The original run ended in early 2000.[8]

Reruns aired prominently from early 2000 to 2003, including on Cartoon Cartoon Fridays. From September 2005 to April 10, 2006, it returned sporadically as segments on The Cartoon Cartoon Show, along with other Cartoon Cartoons from that era.[34] On April 13, 2012, the series returned on Cartoon Planet before being removed in 2013. It was also aired on Boomerang, but only with seasons 1 to 4 along the Cow and Chicken segments, and on Cartoon Network Too in the United Kingdom. Some episodes were also made available on Cartoon Network Video in the early 2010s. From June 25, 2017, season 1 was made available on Netflix in Australia, along Cow and Chicken.[35]

The show is rated TV-Y7 in the United States,[36] and G (General) in both Australia and New Zealand.[37][38]

Brazilian miniseries

In Brazil, an animated miniseries named Terra à Vista ("Land in Sight") was produced in 2000 for Cartoon Network, and tells the story of the Portuguese arriving at Brazil with a humorous take, using characters from Cartoon Cartoons, including I.M. Weasel, I.R. Baboon and the Red Guy. It was broadcast on Cartoon Network Brazil from March 6 to April 22, 2000 and has 8 episodes. This series was also the first-ever Cartoon Network production exclusively made for Brazil.[39]

Episodes

The series has a total of 79 episodes divided in 5 seasons. The first four ones were originally part of Cow and Chicken and then joined the fifth season to complete the series.

There was a case of censorship in the episode "I.R. Mommy", in which the letter "N", present on an American football helmet used by I.R. Baboon, had to be removed after Cartoon Network was sued by the University of Nebraska, who alleged the reference was derogatory for their institution.[23] No other episode suffered censorship since then.[23]

SeasonEpisodesOriginal run
Season premiereSeason finale
1 13 July 22, 1997 (1997-07-22)[7] December 16, 1997 (1997-12-16)[7]
2 13 January 13, 1998 (1998-01-13)[7] April 7, 1998 (1998-04-07)[7]
3 13 1998 (1998) 1998 (1998)
4 13 1998 (1998) 1999 (1999)
5 27 June 10, 1999 (1999-06-10)[32] 2000 (2000)[8]

Ratings

It became one of the most successful Cartoon Network original series of its time, usually being remembered along other successful Cartoon Cartoons.

The premiere of season 5 on June 10, 1999 reached 1.8 million viewers in households, acquiring 4.4 with kids 2-11 and 4.6 with kids 6-11.[40] It was also the fifth most watched show on Cartoon Network in 2000, with an average rating of 1.8 million viewers, only and not far behind The Powerpuff Girls (1.9), Tom and Jerry (2.0), Courage the Cowardly Dog (2.1) and Dexter's Laboratory (2.3).[41]

Back in 1997 and 1998, I Am Weasel along Cow and Chicken, Johnny Bravo and Dexter's Laboratory, were responsible for increasing Cartoon Network's average ratings.[42][43]

Merchandise

Home media

Media releases have been made in both VHS and DVD formats. In the United States, no media containing complete seasons was released as of 2018, but some episodes were launched on a Cartoon Cartoons VHS from 1998, dedicated exclusively to the show and containing the episodes "My Friend, the Smart Banana", "I.R. Pixie Fairie" and "I.R. in Wrong Cartoon",[44] and Cartoon Cartoon Fridays VHS in 1999, but along other series.[45] As for DVDs, also in USA, Cartoon Network released special ones for Halloween and Christmas holidays in 2004 and 2005, distributed by Warner Home Video, containing one or two episodes.[46]

In Thailand, complete seasons have been released on DVD since 2009 by MVD Company; the season one's was launched on December 23, 2009.[47] In Australia, a two-disc season one DVD was launched on July 6, 2011, distributed by Madman Entertainment.[37] The same release was also launched in New Zealand on August 11, 2011.[38]

Only official seasons releases and compilation media made by Cartoon Network are listed here, excluding all releases by third-party companies.

I Am Weasel-only home media releases
TitleFormatDVD RegionCountryContentDistributorRelease date
Cartoon Cartoons: I Am Weasel VHS N/A United States 3 episodes Cartoon Network 1998
I Am Weasel - Season 1 / ข้าคือวีเซิล - ภาค 1 DVD 3 Thailand Complete season 1 MVD Company December 23, 2009
I Am Weasel - Season 2 / ข้าคือวีเซิล - ภาค 2 Complete season 2 N/A
I Am Weasel - Vol. 1 4 Australia Complete season 1 Madman Entertainment July 6, 2011
New Zealand August 11, 2011
Collective media containing I Am Weasel episodes
TitleFormatDVD RegionCountryEpisodesDistributorRelease date
Cartoon Cartoon Fridays VHS N/A United States "My Friend, the Smart Banana" Cartoon Network 1999
Cartoon Network Halloween: 9 Creepy Cartoon Capers DVD 1 "I Am Vampire" Warner Home Video August 10, 2004
Cartoon Network Halloween 2: Grossest Halloween Ever "Power of Odor" August 9, 2005
Cartoon Network Christmas: Yuletide Follies "I.R.'s First Bike" October 5, 2004
"Dessert Island"
Cartoon Network Christmas 2: Christmas Rocks "Happy Baboon Holidays" October 4, 2005

The show also has two audio tracks featured in Cartoon Medley, a compilation album made by Kid Rhino for Cartoon Network, containing tracks from many animated series from the network and others. It was released on July 6, 1999, in CD and cassette releases,[48] and contains the show's audio tracks "I Am Weasel", which is the theme song, and "I.M. Weasel's Poem", an oral text spoken by I.M. Weasel.[49]

Comics

From 1999 to 2005, I Am Weasel had stories featured on three collective comic series published by DC Comics: Cartoon Network Starring (1999–2000), Cartoon Cartoons (2001–2004; having lead stories on issues #5 and #19)[50] and Cartoon Network Block Party! (2004–2009). It was presented along stories from many Cartoon Network original series, such as Dexter's Laboratory, Johnny Bravo, Cow and Chicken, Ed, Edd n Eddy, Courage the Cowardly Dog, The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy, Sheep in the Big City, among others.[51][52][53] The characters also appeared in the crossover comic series The Powerpuff Girls: Super Smash-Up!.[54][55]

Gaming

An I Am Weasel-themed checkers set was part of a promotion made by Cartoon Network in the late 1990s/early 2000s.[56]

On the kart racing video game, Cartoon Network Racing, available for PlayStation 2 and Nintendo DS, I.M. Weasel is a playable character, while I.R. Baboon and the Red Guy must be unlocked to play with, but the first is available in the DS version only.[57] Also, only in the PS2 version, the episodes "Enemy Camp" and "My Friend, the Smart Banana" are available as extras which can be unlocked by winning the "UR Challenged Cup" and "I.M. Weasel Super Tournament" modes, respectively.[57]

In the MMO game, Cartoon Network Universe: FusionFall, there was an item named "I.R. Baboon shorts", which were player-wearable shorts based upon I.R. Baboon's buttocks.[58]

Flash games of the series were also available on Cartoon Network website during the 1990s and 2000s.[59][60]

Clothing

Cartoon Network officially sells adult T-shirts featuring the characters and references to the show on its official online shop.[61]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Episodes title cards of I Am Weasel.
  2. 1 2 3 Fulton, Bill. "All Film TV and Video credits". Retrieved September 29, 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Feiss, David (2000). "Songs from both shows - I Am Weasel". Archived from the original on December 12, 2006. Retrieved July 6, 2011.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 I Am Weasel ending credits.
  5. The New York Times. "I Am Weasel - Cast, Credits & Awards". Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved November 20, 2010.
  6. 1 2 Hollywood.com. "Vincent Davis". Retrieved December 1, 2017.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Feiss, David (January 12, 2000). "Episode Guide: Cow and Chicken and I Am Weasel". Archived from the original on December 12, 2006. Retrieved May 29, 2011.
  8. 1 2 3 Lenburg, Jeff (2006). Who's Who in Animated Cartoons. New York: Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 81. ISBN 978-1-55783-671-7. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
  9. "The Ugliest Weenie - Part 2". Cow and Chicken. Season 1. Episode 5. 1997.
  10. 1 2 3 Opening sequence of I Am Weasel
  11. 1 2 "I.R. in Wrong Cartoon". I Am Weasel. Season 2. Episode 24. 1998.
  12. "I.R. Role Model". I Am Weasel. Season 2. Episode 23. 1998.
  13. "Baboon Man and Weasel Boy". I Am Weasel. Season 5. Episode 60. 1999.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 "I Are Legend". I Am Weasel. Season 5. Episode 79. 2000.
  15. "Time Weasel". I Am Weasel. Season 3. Episode 27. 1998.
  16. 1 2 3 Behind the Voice Actors. "Voice Credits". Retrieved December 1, 2017.
  17. "Rodeo Weasel". I Am Weasel. Season 5. Episode 76. 1999.
  18. "I Am My Lifetime". I Am Weasel. Season 2. Episode 20. 1998.
  19. "I Am Clichéd". I Am Weasel. Season 4. Episode 41. 1998.
  20. LifeStyle (March 15, 2017). "I Am Weasel: Phim hoạt hình vui nhộn về 'đôi bạn lạc quẻ nhất hành tinh'" (in Vietnamese). Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  21. 1 2 "My Blue Hiney". I Am Weasel. Season 5. Episode 66. 1999.
  22. h2g2. "Cow and Chicken, and I Am Weasel - two animated cartoon series". Retrieved December 8, 2017.
  23. 1 2 3 4 Collioud, Luz. "¡Recordamos Soy la Comadreja!". VIX (in Spanish). Retrieved December 10, 2017.
  24. 1 2 Cartoon Network Latin America. "Weasel World - Meet the creator: David Feiss". Archived from the original on August 2, 2001. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
  25. Cartoon Network Department of Cartoons. "I Am Weasel - Storyboards". Archived from the original on August 31, 2000. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  26. 1 2 I Am Weasel - Season 1.
  27. I Am Weasel - Seasons 2 to 5.
  28. "I Are Music Man". I Am Weasel. Season 2. Episode 19. 1998. In a scene of the episode, the Red Guy repeatedly sings switches from the series theme song and "Pop Goes the Weasel".
  29. WhoSampled. "I Am Weasel Theme by April March". Retrieved December 4, 2017.
  30. Boedeker, Hal (July 14, 1997). "Cartoon Network zany relief". Reading Eagle. Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved May 29, 2011.
  31. Variety. "Cow and Chicken". Retrieved December 7, 2017.
  32. 1 2 King, Susan (June 10, 1999). "From MTV Awards to Olsen Twins". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on November 7, 2012. Retrieved May 30, 2011.
  33. Kilmer, David (June 11, 1999). "Cartoon Network sets premiere for I AM WEASEL". Animation World Network. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
  34. Cartoon Network. "TV Schedule - Cartoon Cartoon Show". Archived from the original on November 23, 2005. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
  35. Jager, Chris (May 30, 2017). "Everything Coming To Netflix, Stan, Foxtel And Amazon This June". LifeHacker Australia. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  36. Cartoon Network. "TV Parental Controls". Retrieved December 8, 2017.
  37. 1 2 Madman Entertainment Australia. "I Am Weasel - Vol. 1". Archived from the original on October 2, 2013. Retrieved May 12, 2011.
  38. 1 2 Madman Entertainment New Zealand. "I Am Weasel - Vol. 1". Archived from the original on March 30, 2016. Retrieved July 6, 2011.
  39. UOL - TV Folha (March 5, 2000). "Desenho faz piada do Brasil" (in Portuguese). Retrieved December 4, 2017.
  40. Time Warner (June 29, 1999). "Cartoon Network's Second Quarter Performance Sets Records on All Programming Fronts". Retrieved December 7, 2017.
  41. Time Warner (December 12, 2000). "Cartoon Network to Post Best Year in Network's History In Rating and Delivery". Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  42. Time Warner (July 28, 1998). "A Child Scientist, A Cow and A Chicken Lead Cartoon Network to Best Month Ever". Retrieved December 7, 2017.
  43. The New York Times (August 5, 1998). "TV Notes; Cartoons Gaining". Retrieved December 7, 2017.
  44. VHSCollector.com. "Cartoon Cartoons: I Am Weasel". Retrieved December 2, 2017.
  45. WorldCat. "Cartoon Cartoons". Retrieved December 2, 2017.
  46. TVShowsOnDVD.com. "I Am Weasel (1999) - Releases for I Am Weasel". Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
  47. eThaiCD.com. "I Am Weasel - Season 1 [DVD]" (in English and Thai). Retrieved December 8, 2017.
  48. Cartoon Network. "Cartoon Medley". Archived from the original on October 13, 1999. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  49. AllMusic. "Cartoon Medley". Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  50. Mike's Amazing World of Comics. "Cartoon Cartoons - Series Gallery". Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  51. 1 2 Mike's Amazing World of Comics. "Cartoon Network Starring". Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  52. 1 2 Mike's Amazing World of Comics. "Cartoon Cartoons". Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  53. 1 2 Mike's Amazing World of Comics. "Cartoon Network Block Party!". Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  54. Sims, Chris (October 8, 2014). "Derek Charm on IDW's 'Powerpuff Girls Super Smash-Up', the new Cartoon Network team-up title [Interview]". ComicsAlliance. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  55. Marie, Christine (January 31, 2015). "The Powerpuff Girls Super Smash Up #1 Combines Classic Cartoon Network Characters". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  56. Feiss, David. "Merchandise - Products". Archived from the original on December 12, 2006. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
  57. 1 2 GameSpot. "Cartoon Network Racing Cheats & Guides". Retrieved December 1, 2017.
  58. Cartoon Network, Grigon Entertainment (January 14, 2009). Cartoon Network Universe: FusionFall. Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X. Cartoon Network.
  59. Cartoon Network Latin America. "I Am Weasel - Games". Archived from the original on August 16, 2001. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  60. Cartoon Network. "I Am Weasel - Games". Archived from the original on June 10, 2001. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  61. Cartoon Network Shop. "I Am Weasel". Retrieved December 1, 2017.
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