Men in Black: The Series

Men in Black: The Series
Official series title card
Genre
Based on
Developed by
Voices of
Theme music composer Jim Latham
Composer(s) Jim Latham
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 4
No. of episodes 53 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)
  • Laurie MacDonald
  • Walter F. Parkes
  • Richard Raynis
  • Rafael Rosado
  • Jeff Kline
Producer(s)
  • Kim Bass
  • Duane Capizzi
  • Frank Paur
Running time 22–24 minutes
Production company(s)
Distributor Sony Pictures Television
Release
Original network The WB (Kids' WB)
Original release October 11, 1997 (1997-10-11) – June 30, 2001 (2001-06-30)
Chronology
Preceded by Men in Black

Men in Black: The Series, also known as MIB: The Series, MIB: The Animated Series, and Men in Black: The Animated Series, is an American animated television series that originally aired on The WB's Kids' WB programming block from October 11, 1997 to June 30, 2001.[1] The show features characters from 1997's science fiction film Men in Black,[2] which was based on the comic book series The Men in Black by Lowell Cunningham,[3] originally published by Marvel / Malibu Comics. The series was produced by Adelaide Productions Inc., a division of Columbia TriStar Television, and Amblin Television as a half-hour series originally airing on Saturday mornings, and later moving to weekdays during its final run.

Plot

The show is set in an alternate timeline to Men in Black, the film series, where Agent K never retired and J is still an inexperienced agent. Most episodes don't go into the next episode or a later one similar to tv shows like Miami Vice but some do like the one with Buzzard. At one point J gets the boot from MIB for driving K's car without his consent and crashing it then J gets brought back. Some of K's origins are expanded upon while J occasionally encounters someone from his past like several members of the NYPD. Agent L initially works in the lab but later on transfers to the field in season 4 after being partnered with alien Agent X. Some episodes deal with things related to the Men in Black film like the photo K showed J of a meeting between the humans and the MIB in the 1960's which was occurs around the same time J uses a headphone like device that increases his intelligence but also make his head grow large until it bursts like a ballon.

Voice cast

Characters

CharacterVoice ActorNotes
Agent JKeith DiamondAgent J (originally James Darrel Edwards III) is one of the main agents of the organization. He is energetic, and tries to bring emotion back to the bland organization. At one point, J arrests the alien Jarra for attempting to steal the Earth's ozone layer and sell it on the Black Market. He remains somewhat of a sidekick to Agent K. He is referred as "Slick" by Agent K.
Agent KEd O'Ross [Season 1], Gregg Berger [Seasons 2-4]Agent K (originally Kevin Brown) is a top agent and a founder of the organization; and after working at the organisation for nearly 40 years, he shows nearly no emotion. He and J must constantly fight off his old partner Alpha.
Agent LJennifer Lien [Seasons 1-3], Jennifer Martin [Season 4]Agent L (originally Dr. Laurel Weaver) is a morgue worker who joins the MiB after she helps Agent K and J stop the Bug from stealing The Galaxy. She stays in the medical section of the organization until Season 4, wherein she becomes a field agent with Agent X as her partner.
Chief ZedCharles NapierThe head of the organization and K and J's boss. He is usually shown in his office, high above the main floor of the headquarters. It is known that he took the job of director at some point prior to the incident with Serlena and the Light of Zartha, in 1978.
Agent DJohn MarianoAgent D (originally Derrick Cunningham) is Agent K's former partner; now retired. He was a founding member of the organisation. He is seen enjoying his retirement with his wife, before he is wiped out of existence by a time traveling alien-hating bigot, and restored by Agent K and a Cerebro-Enhanced Agent J.
Jack JeebsTony Shalhoub [Season 1], Billy West [Seasons 2-4]Jack Jeebs is a humanoid alien who runs a pawn shop, carrying both alien and human merchandise. Jeebs' head is frequently blasted off but grows back.
Edgar BugN/A; originally portrayed by Vincent D'OnofrioThe main antagonist of the feature film who was killed by Agent L; his only appearance in the series was in a flashback to his death. Edgar is revealed to have a twin brother named Edwin as well as being the Queen Bug's favorite. His death causes The Queen to put a bounty on Elle's head.
Edwin BugVincent D'OnofrioThe twin brother of Edgar the Bug; sent by the Bug Queen to get revenge on Agent L for killing Edgar, and killed by the Worms.
GeenVincent D'OnofrioA Bug with a perpetually voracious appetite which landed him M.I.B intergalactic prison. Geen and several other inmates were temporarily released by Doctor Lupo and proceeded to wreak havoc upon the MIB HQ until they were rounded up by K and J.
Queen BugMary Kay BergmanThe queen of Edwin and Edgar's planet and mother of all bugs. The Queen Bug put a bounty on Agent L's head, offering royal jelly to the Bug that Faber her Elle. She later attempted to colonize Manhattan with a new generation of offspring but was foiled by the MIB. The Queen Bug subsequently attempted to conquer Earth once more but was foiled by Agent K and Agent J who flooded the tunnel which the Bugs were using as a base. She was ultimately vanquished by the combined efforts of K and a temporarily amnesiac J.
Frank the PugEddie BarthFrank the Pug is an extraterrestrial living in New York City, in the guise of a pug. It is later revealed that the "human" at Frank's newspaper stand is a robot, and that Frank's true form still resembles a pug, albeit with a dark green color, antennas, and a 3-pointed tail.
The Worm AliensPatrick Pinney and Pat FraleyFour aliens that love to drink coffee and relax in the organisation's break room. They are renowned for knowing many figures of speech and the organisation rulebook. They occasionally help K or J. In the alternate future, the worms are shown as the dominant race after they got slimed and multiplied.
ArquilliansN/AThe Arquillians are a race of tiny humanoid aliens. Arquillians have large heads and eyes, but a small body, and hide in human-like robots. The Arquillians are the possesers of the Arquillian Galaxy (a miniaturized 'source of sub-atomic power') and will not stand for it being lost or stolen. They are ruled by a complex monarchy.
BaltiansN/AThe first race of aliens encountered by the original agents of the organization: a tall, slender species that vaguely resemble Grey Aliens. The Baltians return to Earth every ten years to provide new alien technologies to help fund the organisation.
Idikiukup and BobPatrick Pinney and Pat FraleyA pair of alien twins (earning them the nickname of the Twins) that serve as the MIB's head scientists along with Agent L. They mostly stay at headquarters though Bob pilots a helicopter in "Its a Fmall Fmall World".
AlphaDavid WarnerAlpha is Agent K's former mentor, and now the sworn enemy of the M.I.B. and Agent K. Allying himself with Vangus after escape, Alpha turned himself into a cyborg. Alpha is killed in "Endgame Part 2". J often mockingly calls him "Alfalfa". He is the main antagonist of the series.
BuzzardSherman HowardA Zombarian bounty hunter who is an occasional adversary of Agents J and K. Howard and D'Onofrio both previously were guests on Miami Vice and were enemies of Crockett and Tubbs like they were Agent J and K. [4] [5]
Dak JeebsBilly WestJack Jeebs' twin brother.
DrekkRon PerlmanDrekk is alien who has a long criminal record: "longer than Van Allen's belt", according to Chief Zed. He is a former cell-mate of Frank the Pug, and an antagonist of the lead characters.
The Emperor WormVincent D'OnofrioThe Emperor Worm is the leader of the Worms. Unlike the other Worms, the Emperor is hugely fat, and almost double the height of the others. He usually shows up un-announced at the organisation. The Emperor is careless and defenseless, so the other Worms must watch him.
Agent HKurtwood SmithOne of the founding members of the Men-In Black. He was responsible for most of the MIB's medical equipment.
Agent QN/AOne of the founding members of the organization; responsible for the weapons and vehicles that the organization use. When Q was erased from history, all the weapons and vehicles he developed were erased (and restored) with him.
AileenBeth BroderickA female alien and agent of the Men in Black: a blue-skinned humanoid, with malleable hands. She lost her former partner to an alien shapeshifter called an Inanimate. She is later assigned another partner named Eidi, whom she treats similarly to K's treatment of J. Like K, she is a legendary agent on her home planet.
EidiN/AAileen's rookie partner, assigned to her after the capture of the Inanimate. She is the same species as Aileen, but taller and slightly bulkier. Eidi and J bond while working the case due to their shared status as novices partnered with the planet's best agents.
Agent UN/AAn average agent. His name before joining the organisation was Upton, which J easily deduces. There is a running gag where U's agent codename and the word "you" are often confused. Agent U is shown to be a major suck up and simply teaches alien children how to disguise themselves as humans though in "The Buzzard Syndrome" Agent U is seen catching a Micrelian criminal.
Agent EN/AAn average agent who also worked in Hollywood, getting work for aliens in movies and television shows. Most of her clients resemble aliens like the Xenomorph and Alf.
Agent XAdam BaldwinA big-eared, green-skinned alien originating from the G-Dan galaxy; recruited into the organization as Elle's partner, to smooth over human-alien relations. Though he has an impeccable record, X was suspended six times in his home galaxy.
Dr. Zan'dozz ZeeltorSteve KehelaA blue-skinned humanoid alien who replaces Elle as chief scientific officer of the organization. He is very eccentric about the simple items around Earth. Most of his inventions usually cause more harm around J, such as a sticky note pad that started to constrict him. Zeeltor has a pet named Lucy: a Futavian colony bacterium that makes a roaring sound.
Troy The SymbioteRino RomanoA young adventurous symbiote who has a playful relationship with J. His dream is to work for the organization, much to his mother's distress. Troy becomes an MIB intern in "The Heads You Lose Syndrome".
Klah'MikkN/AA paperwork filing alien who works for the organisation.
The FmeksN/AThe warmongering counterparts of the Arquillians. The Fmeks are the Arquillian's sworn enemy because the Arquillian's planet is bigger than their home world Fmoo.
The IxionsN/AA race of oil-loving creatures, who with the help of their leader, Vangus, attempt to plunder the Earth's oil to sell it on the intergalactic market. They were ultimately defeated by MiB, along with Alpha.
VangusBilly WestThe leader of the Ixions.

Home video releases

In the United States, six episodes from the first half of the first season were issued on three two-episode VHS volumes, all made available on March 16, 1999. The United Kingdom received a similar release on August 19, 2002, however, all six episodes were released on one bumper VHS instead of three two-episode volumes. The release also included a bonus seventh episode, which was actually episode one, billed as the "pilot episode".[6] It was then announced that the remainder of the show's first season, episodes 8-13, would be exclusively released in the region, being made available on VHS on January 24, 2003.[7] On July 12, 2004, the first three episodes of the first season were issued on DVD for the first time by UCA Pictures. Further releases were planned, but sales were not strong enough to warrant any other DVD releases from UCA.[8] The entire first season was issued on DVD for the first time on July 4, 2007 in Australia, via Sony Pictures Entertainment. The set contained two discs, one containing seven episodes and the other containing the remaining six. On July 16, 2007, the set was made available in the United Kingdom, however, was this time split up into two separate volumes instead of a whole box set.[9][10] On May 11, 2012, the entire first season was released on DVD for the first time in the United States, being made available as an exclusive product for Target stores in the country.[11] Thus far, no plans have been announced to issue any further seasons of the show on DVD as of 2018.

Awards

Daytime Emmy Awards

  • 2002 – Outstanding Sound Editing - Special Class - Roshaun Hawley, Paca Thomas, Dan Cubert and Marc S. Perlman (won)

Video games

A video game based on the series, titled Men in Black: The Series, was released for the Game Boy Color in 1999.[12] A sequel, titled Men in Black 2: The Series and also based on the show, was released for the Game Boy Color in 2000.[13] A different version of Men in Black: The Series was released for the Game Boy Advance in 2001.[14] Another game based on the series, titled Men in Black: The Series – Crashdown, was released for the PlayStation later in 2001.[15]

References

  1. ↑ Fritz, Steve (September 18, 2000). "MEN IN BLACK and JACKIE CHAN ADVENTURES". Mania. USA. Archived from the original on 17 September 2008. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
  2. ↑ Raiti, Gerard (January 9, 1998). "Mania: Animated Men in Black". Mania. Archived from the original on January 10, 1998. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
  3. 1 2 3 Allstetter, Rob (1998). "Mania: Men In Black Animated Series". Mania. USA. Archived from the original on January 16, 1999. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
  4. ↑ https://screenrant.com/miami-vice-tv-show-best-guest-stars-huge-stars/
  5. ↑ https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0397603/
  6. ↑ "Men In Black - The Animated Series: Volume 1 [VHS]: Men in Black [Volume 1]: Amazon.co.uk: Video". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-11-12.
  7. ↑ "Men in Black - the animated series vol 2: Amazon.co.uk: Video". Amazon.co.uk. 2009-09-09. Retrieved 2013-11-12.
  8. ↑ "Men In Black - The Animated Series: Volume 1 [DVD]: Amazon.co.uk: Men in Black: Film & TV". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-11-12.
  9. ↑ "Men In Black - The Animated Series: Season 1 - Volume 1 DVD 2007: Amazon.co.uk: Film & TV". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-11-12.
  10. ↑ "Men In Black - The Animated Series: Season 1 - Volume 2 DVD 2007: Amazon.co.uk: Film & TV". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-11-12.
  11. ↑ "Men in Black TV Series - OAT". Target. Retrieved 2013-11-12.
  12. ↑ Schneider, Peer (July 12, 1999). "Men In Black: The Series". IGN. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
  13. ↑ Woods, Nick. "Men in Black 2: The Series - Overview". AllGame. Archived from the original on November 14, 2014. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
  14. ↑ Harris, Craig (September 27, 2001). "Men In Black: The Series (GBA)". IGN. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
  15. ↑ Bradley, Tina (December 12, 2001). "Men In Black The Series: Crashdown". Gamezilla. Archived from the original on February 12, 2002.
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