What-a-Mess
| What-a-Mess | |
|---|---|
| Created by | Frank Muir |
| Written by | Timothy Forder Frank Muir |
| Directed by | Timothy Forder |
| Voices of | Frank Muir Ryan O'Donohue Dana Hill Jo Ann Harris Belson Joe Nipote |
| Theme music composer | Barrie Guard |
| Country of origin | |
| Language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 36 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Claire Derry David Hamilton |
| Producer(s) | Mary Swindale |
| Running time | 10 minutes (Season 1) 30 minutes (Season 2) |
| Production company(s) | Bevanfield Films (Season 1) DIC Entertainment (Season 2) |
| Broadcast | |
| Original run | March 26, 1990 – 1996 |
What-a-Mess is a series of children's books written by British comedy writer Frank Muir and illustrated by Joseph Wright.[1] It was later made into an animated series in the UK in 1990 and again in 1995 by DiC Entertainment[2] and aired on ABC in the United States. The title character is a disheveled (hence his nickname), accident-prone Afghan Hound puppy, whose real name was Prince Amir of Kinjan. Central Independent Television, the Independent Television contractor for the Midlands,[2] created following the restructuring of ATV and commencing broadcast on 1 January 1982, Link Licensing & Bevanfield Films produced the first series and DiC Entertainment produced the second series. Both of them were narrated by Frank Muir.[2]
Contents |
[edit] Character list
- What-a-Mess - A scruffy Afghan puppy in which is the main character of the entire franchise. His Breed name is Prince Amir of Kinjan, and has a yellow duck sitting on top of his head. In the US animated version, the duck was coloured blue, as if his character was merged with the blue bird in the UK animated version and books, and was also given a name by What-A-Mess called Baldwin. In the US animated version, What-A-Mess is voiced by Ryan O'Donohue
- Archbishop of Canterbury - A scruffy dark blue dog with brown patches, in which What-A-Mess met and befriended in What-A-Mess Goes to the Seaside. He name was changed to Norton in the US Animated Version, and he was voiced by Dana Hill.
- The Cat Next Door - Also known as Felicha in the US animated version, is a Siamese Cat that loves to tease What-A-Mess at times. In the US animated version, she was voiced by Jo Ann Harris Belson.
- Cynthia - A Hedgehog in which What-A-Mess befriended in What-A-Mess Goes to School. Her character was redesigned to become a mole named Remona in the US animated version, due to the fact that Hedgehogs aren't native to America.
- Trash - Only in the US animated version, Trash is a Bull Terrier who is a real trouble maker to What-A-Mess. He is voiced by Joe Nipote.
- Frank - An Old English Sheepdog that narrates the US animated version of What-A-Mess, voiced by Frank Muir himself!
[edit] Books list
[edit] Large Books
- What-a-Mess
- What-a-Mess The Good
- What-a-Mess at the Seaside
- What-a-Mess Goes to School
- Prince What-a-Mess
- Super What-a-Mess
- What-a-Mess and the Cat Next Door
- What-a-Mess and the Hairy Monster
[edit] Small Books
Four Seasons
- What-a-Mess in Spring
- What-a-Mess in Summer
- What-a-Mess in Autumn
- What-a-Mess in Winter
Four Square Meals
- What-a-Mess has Breakfast
- What-a-Mess has Lunch
- What-a-Mess has Tea
- What-a-Mess has Supper
Mini Books
- What-a-Mess has a Brain Wave
- What-a-Mess and Little Poppet
- What-a-Mess and a trip to the Vet
- What-a-Mess the Beautiful
- What-a-Mess Goes to Town
- What-a-Mess Goes on Television
- What-a-Mess Goes Camping
[edit] Episode list
[edit] Season 1 (Bevanfield Films / UK series)
- What-a-Mess Goes to the Seaside / 1990.03.26
- What-a-Mess Goes to School / 1990.04.02
- Prince What-a-Mess / 1990.04.09
- Super What-a-Mess / 1990.04.16
- What-a-Mess Keeps Cool / 1990.04.30
- What-a-Mess and Cynthia the Hedgehog / 1990.05.14
- What-a-Mess Has a Brain Wave! / 1990.05.21
- What-a-Mess and the Cat Next Door / 1990.06.04
- What-a-Mess and Little Poppet / 1990.06.18
- What-a-Mess Goes Camping / 1990.07.02
- What-a-Mess The Beautiful / 1990.07.09
- What-a-Mess Goes to Town / 1990.07.16
- What-a-Mess Goes to the Vet / 1990.07.23
[edit] Season 2 (DiC Entertainment / US series)
- Talkin' Trash
- A Bone to Pick
- Midnight Snack
- Schoolin' Around
- The Legend of Junkyard Jones
- It's Raining Cats and Dogs
- Home Alone...Almost
- Super What-A-Mess
- The Recliner
- Afghan Holiday
- The Bone Tree
- Just Four More Left
- The Ropes
- What-A-Mess Has Breakfast
- Ultimate What-A-Mess
- This Hydrant Is Mine
- His Majesty, Prince What-A-Mess
- Trash's Wonderful Life
- Snowbound
- The Thanksgiving Turkey
- Santa What-A-Mess
- All Around the Mallberry Bush
- What-A-Mess At the Movies
[edit] References
- ^ Russell Williams, Imogen. "Whatever happened to What-a-mess?". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2007/jul/04/whateverhappenedtowhatamess. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
- ^ a b "IMDB What-a-mess". http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0242239/. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
- ^ 1990 series episode guide at the Big Cartoon DataBase
- Children's fiction books
- Television programs based on children's books
- Children's ITV television programmes
- American Broadcasting Company network shows
- Television series by DIC Entertainment
- 1990 British television programme debuts
- 1990 British television programme endings
- 1995 American television series debuts
- 1996 American television series endings
- 1990s animated television series