Avenger Penguins

Avenger Penguins
Also known as	Hell's Penguins
Genre	Animation Comedy
Developed by	Granada Television
Written by	Jimmy Hibbert Phil Jackson Malcolm McGookin Roger Stennett
Directed by	Jean Scott
Voices of	Jimmy Hibbert Lorelei King Mike McShane Rob Rackstraw
Composer(s)	Phil Bush
Country of origin	UK
Language(s)	English
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	26
Production
Executive producer(s)	Mark Hall Brian Cosgrove
Producer(s)	Ben Turner
Running time	22 minutes
Production company(s)	Cosgrove Hall Films
Distributor	Fremantle Media
Broadcast
Original channel	ITV Network (CITV)
Picture format	4:3
Original run	22 September 1993 (1993-09-22) – 9 December 1994 (1994-12-09)

Avenger Penguins was an animated series produced by Cosgrove Hall Films in 1993, it was animated by Alfonso Productions, a Spanish based animation studio also responsible for bringing Cosgrove's previous show Fantomcat to life. It aired largely on Children's ITV and was originally to be called "Hell's Penguins". It has the distinction of being the last Cosgrove Hall cartoon to be animated using hand painted animation cells, as 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.

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 rodent squad of Hell's Angels. 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 franchise, and at its core the show's themes heavily rung of Biker Mice from Mars. The cast, like Danger Mouse and Count Duckula had with David Jason, boasted a star talent in a major role, this time in the form of 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 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, 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 season 2 episode, "The 23rd Century" also served as a parody of Star Trek.

The entire series was released on a three disc DVD box set in March 2006 alongside Alias the Jester.

Voices

• Mike McShane (Marlon/Mr. Caractacus P. Doom)
• Jimmy Hibbert (Bluey/Harry Slime/Bella/Brown Badly Drawn Brother/Poodle Stink)
• Rob Rackstraw (Rocky/Doc/Cecil Stink/Irv)
• Lorelei King

Episodes

Season One (1993)

1. The President is a Fish! - First aired: 22 September 1993
2. The Hog Jamboree - First aired: 29 September 1993
3. The Quantum Mechanic - First aired: 6 October 1993
4. Big City, Little City - First aired: 13 October 1993
5. Computer Chaos - First aired: 20 October 1993
6. I Married an Android! - First aired: 27 October 1993
7. Cat Pig-Cat of Iron - First aired: 3 November 1993
8. Nightmare at Tea-Time - First aired: 10 November 1993
9. Star Struck - First aired: 17 November 1993
10. The Labyrinth of Doom - First aired: 24 November 1993
11. The Wild, Wild, Wild, Wild West - First aired: 1 December 1993
12. A Winter's Tale - First aired: 8 December 1993
13. The Revenge of Doom - First aired: 15 December 1993

Season Two (1994)

1. The 23rd Century - First aired: 16 September 1994
2. Mummy's Boy - First aired: 23 September 1994
3. Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Penguin? - First aired: 30 September 1994
4. Surprise Fate - First aired: 7 October 1994
5. High Doom - First aired: 14 October 1994
6. The Jewel in the Crown - First aired: 21 October 1994
7. A Christmas Carol - First aired: 28 October 1994
8. Fish Finger (Dream episode) - First aired: 4 November 1994
9. Disgusting or What? - First aired: 11 November 1994
10. Rock 'N' Roll Penguins - First aired: 18 November 1994
11. The Computer of Doom - First aired: 25 November 1994
12. Sherlock's Penguins - First aired: 2 December 1994
13. Beauties and the Beast - First aired: 9 December 1994

DVD and VHS releases

• In UK, the entire two series were released on DVD in March 2006 released by Delta Media PLC.
• In Australia, 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.

International Broadcast

• Chile
  • Megavision (1994-1996)
  • Canal 13 (1995-2001)
  • UCV Television (1997-1998)

Avenger Penguins was also shown on ABC.

• Sweden
  • TV4

Credits

• A Brian Cosgrove and Mark Hall film
• Director: Jean Scott and Jean Flynn
• Producer: Ben Turner
• Executive Producers for Cosgrove Hall: Mark Hall and Brian Cosgrove
• Executive Producer for Granada: Edward Pugh
• Written by: Phil Jackson, Malcolm McGookin, Jimmy Hibbert, Rob Rackstraw, Stefan Redfern and Roger Stennett
• Music: Phil Bush
• Vocals: Paul Young
• Business and Finance Manager: Phil Slattery
• Production Co-ordinator: Laura Cosgrove
• Animation Director: Carlos Alfonso (Alfonso Productions)
• Storyboard: Keith Scoble, Ian Whitworth, Neil Graham, Wayne Thomas and Richard Nye
• Designers: Andy Roper, Jon Doyle, Maggie Riley, Alastair Fell and Mike Whaite
• Layout: Jose M. Zumel, Rafael Diaz, Jose C. Rueda, Jose Machin, Tom Bailey
• Backgrounds: Roberto Garcia, Andres Hernandez, David Jaratz, M. Jose Traver, Carlos Fernandez, Javier Mota, Angel

Chicharro, Pedro Alvarez, Carlos Blanco, Manuel Martin, Jose M. Zumel, Edwardo J. Valero, Juan Carlos Moreno, Pedro Machin, Higashi Taruma, George Popov, Maggie Riley, Beverley Bush, Pete Hillier

• Animation: Alberto Conejo, Manuel G. Guliana, Segio Alfonso, Vicenia Rodriguez, Juan Torres, M.Carmen Gonzalez,

Francisco Alvarez, Basilo Gonzalez, M. Elana Marquez, F. Eugania Gomez, Edward Sasu, Bujor Stefanescu, Igancio Amero, Miguel Alamlnlos, Francisco Alamlnos, Tierry Tarres, J Antonio Sorrano, Dimiter Tanev, M. Angel Romero, Francisco Tens, Angel Rodgriquez, Mariana Ruada, Valentia Caim, Carmen Chanza, Angel Jerlego, Rafael Diaz, Borja Montero, Paca Morano, Luis Varela, Manolo Doctor, Jesus Barbara

• Colourist: Joan Jones
• Xerox & Registration: Alex Alfonso, Fernando Santiago, Julio A. Gracia, Enrique Bagan, Agustin Sepulveda, Paulino Martin, Fernando Santiago, Juanjo Mora, Evandro Setmanavicius
• Painting & Checking Supervisors: Carmen Sangrador, Maribel Lopez, Asuncion Tomas, Susana Diaz, Loli Pina, Gloria

Vidal, Jalia Garcia, Pillar Sancho, Angeles Canalejo, M. Antonia Ucar, Pilaar Quesade, Maria Teruel, Mercedes Canalejo, Ananbel Rodriguez, Angoles Vacas, Herminia Burgaleta, Elena Garcia, Berta Burgaleta, M. Jose Alvarez, M. Mar Fernandez, Marta Corrules, Inma Guerreto, M. Carmen Rivas, Elvira Hernandez, Concha Calbuig, Maito Garcia, Ana Martin, Arancha Lopez, Alberto Vidal,

• Paint & Trace: Susana Diez, Herminia Burgaleta, Asuncion Tomas, Elena Garcia, Loli Pina, Concha Galabuic, Julia Xalma,

Mari Mar Rodriguez, Gloria Vidal, M. Jose Alvarez, Pili Quesada, Angeles Sanz, M. Carmen Rivas, Elvira Hernandez, Toni Ucar, Inma Guerrero, Nines Canalejo, Pinar Sancho, Maria Teruel, Alicia Fleming, Kena Herrero, Eva Amat, Monica Bosquet, Begona Alonso, Angeles Vacas, Lola Sanchez, Elisa Torres and Francisca Vicent (Colour Crew)

• Key Animation: Claire Grey, Alastair Fell, Meryl Edge, John Offord, Mair Thomas, Michael Whaite, Ian Whitworth, Manuel G. Galiana, Sergio Alfonso, Ignacio Meneu, Javier Galdos, Carmen Chenza, Baltasar Pedrosa,

Pedro Jorge, Luis Varela, Luis Martinez, Thierry Torres, Rene Arza, Miguel Palomero, Borja Montoro, Mariano Rueda, Eduard Sasu, Alberto Campos, Ventura Rodriguez, Ignacio Amero, M. Elena Marquez, J. Antonio Serrano, F. Eugenio Gomez, Julio A. Mayo, Yolanda Perez, Aranta P. De Mezquia, Jesus Pena, Jesus E. Minguet, Pedro Molina, Vicente Rodriguez, Antonio Gimenez, Angel Jariego, Valentin Cain, Paca Moreno, Francisco Tena, M. Angel Romero, Manolo Doctor, Abraham Meneu, Oscar Velasco, Francisco Aluarez and Angel Rodriguez

• Assistant Animation: Judy Pilsbury, Craig Whittle, Jennie Langley, Tim Window, Helen Smith, Helen Michael, Bill Tapp, Alan Lee Moult, Les Brooksbank, Julio Altozano, M. Isabel Fernandez, Sandra Sasu, Andres Ruiz, Juan Serrano, Paulino Giner, Asier

Agirre, M. Carmen Gonzales, Belen Mota, M. Luisa Ruiz, M. Jesus Rodriguez, J. Carlos Francisco, Samuel Ruiz, Manolo Garrido, Enrique Morente, Lourdes Santos, Elena Arnaiz, Sacramento Martinez, J. Carlos Rueda, M. Jesus Rodriguez, Marta De La Rosa, Belen Mota, Juan Armijo, Raul Castillo, Luis Amor, Maria Morcillo, Ismal Arrais, Silvia Abellan, J Felix Garrido, Sagrario Cruz, Roberto Fernandez and Carmen Nunez

• Checking: Alex Alfonso
• Rostrum Camera: Pete Kidd, Phil Atack, Victorio Gonzalez, J. Manuel Guerrero
• Production Manager: Julio Diez
• Camera: Victorio Gonzalez, L Manuel Guerrero
• Video Line Test: Phil Atack, Eva Montero, Maite Alonso and Pepe Garcia
• Film Editing: FLIX
• Dubbing Mix: John Wood
• Digital Dub Editors: Darren Cox and Simon Hall

External link

• Toonhound's entry on Avenger Penguins