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| rating = Number 10 out of a 100 on TV.Com
| rating = Number 10 out of a 100 on TV.Com
| creator = [[Butch Hartman]]
| creator = [[Butch Hartman]]
| starring = [[David Kaufman (actor)|David Kaufman]] <br> [[Colleen O'Shaughnessey]] <br> [[Rob Paulsen]] <br> [[Kath Soucie]] <br> [[Rickey D'Shon Collins]] <br> [[Grey DeLisle]] <br> [[Ron Perlman]] <br> [[Cree Summer]] <br> [[Martin Mull]]
| starring = [[Jason Griffith]] <br> [[Colleen O'Shaughnessey]] <br> [[Rob Paulsen]] <br> [[Kath Soucie]] <br> [[Rickey D'Shon Collins]] <br> [[Grey DeLisle]] <br> [[Ron Perlman]] <br> [[Cree Summer]] <br> [[Martin Mull]]
| country = [[United States]]|
| country = [[United States]]|
| network = [[Nickelodeon (TV channel)|Nickelodeon]]
| network = [[Nickelodeon (TV channel)|Nickelodeon]]
Line 16: Line 16:
| last_aired = [[August 24]], [[2007 in television|2007]]
| last_aired = [[August 24]], [[2007 in television|2007]]
| num_seasons = 3
| num_seasons = 3
| num_episodes = 53 ([[List of Danny Phantom episodes|List of episodes]])
| num_episodes = [[List of Danny Phantom episodes|53]]
| list_episodes =
| list_episodes =
| imdb_id = 0366005
| imdb_id = 0366005
| tv_com_id = 8938
| tv_com_id = 8938
|}}
|}}
⚫
'''Danny Phantom''' is an animated children's program created by [[Butch Hartman]] for [[Nickelodeon (TV channel)|Nickelodeon]], produced by Billionfold Studios. The show is about a teenage half-ghost boy, who frequently saves his town and even the world from ghost attacks. It is distributed outside the [[United States]] by the [[Canada|Canadian]] [[animation company]] [[Nelvana]], the same as ''[[The Fairly OddParents]]'' (also created by Hartman).

{{Infobox TV ratings
| show_name = Danny Phantom
| usa_tv = TV-Y7 FV
| can_tv = C8
| jp_tv = U
| aus_tv = G
}}

⚫
'''Danny Phantom''' was an [[animated television series]] created by [[Butch Hartman]] for [[Nickelodeon (TV channel)|Nickelodeon]], produced by Billionfold Studios. The show is about a teenage half-ghost boy, who frequently saves his town and even the world from ghost attacks. It is distributed outside the [[United States]] by the [[Canada|Canadian]] [[animation company]] [[Nelvana]], the same as ''[[The Fairly OddParents]]'' (also created by Hartman).


==Production==
==Production==
When Butch Hartman first developed the idea for a new show, it was originally titled "''Danny Phantom and the Spector Detectors''", and it was supposed to be a show about a young (human) [[ghost]] fighter and a team of others who hunted and fought ghosts. However, Hartman later determined it would be "cooler" if the teen was a ghost, thus changing it just to "''Danny Phantom''". Among the other ideas that were considered before being rejected was the existence of a [[telepathic]] connection between the characters Danny and Samantha.
When Butch Hartman first developed the idea for a new show, it was originally titled "''Danny Phantom and the Spector Detectors''", and it was supposed to be a show about a young (human) [[ghost]] fighter and a team of others who hunted and fought ghosts. However, Hartman later determined it would be cooler if the teen was a ghost, thus changing it just to "''Danny Phantom''". Among the other ideas that were considered before being rejected was the existence of a [[telepathic]] connection between the characters Danny and Samantha.


The designs were helped by veteran character designer [[Stephen Silver]], helping Hartman adding his own touches. All ''Danny Phantom'' characters have necks and five digits on each hand and foot. The majority of the stories are usually written by Steve Marmel with input from Mark Banker, [[Butch Hartman]], Marty Isenberg, and Sib Ventress. As with Hartman's show ''The Fairly OddParents'', the music for ''Danny Phantom'' was written by [[Guy Moon]].<ref>Moon wrote two versions of the theme song; the original was scrapped, but it can be heard [http://www.butchhartman.com/new_site/html/audio.htm here] at Hartman's website.</ref> It has also been stated that the theme song was inspired by [[Queen (band)|Queen]]'s 1989 song "[[The Invisible Man (song)|The Invisible Man]]".<ref>DPOFPA, "Interview with Butch Hartman", [[March 30]] [[2006]]. [http://hometown.aol.com/zcat6/IntBH2006p8.html]</ref>
The designs were helped by veteran character designer [[Stephen Silver]], helping Hartman adding his own touches. All ''Danny Phantom'' characters have necks and five digits on each hand. The majority of the stories are usually written by Steve Marmel with input from Mark Banker, [[Butch Hartman]], Marty Isenberg, and Sib Ventress. As with Hartman's show ''The Fairly OddParents'', the music for ''Danny Phantom'' was written by [[Guy Moon]].<ref>Moon wrote two versions of the theme song; the original was scrapped, but it can be heard [http://www.butchhartman.com/new_site/html/audio.htm here] at Hartman's website.</ref> It has also been stated that the theme song was inspired by [[Queen (band)|Queen]]'s 1989 song "[[The Invisible Man (song)|The Invisible Man]]".<ref>DPOFPA, "Interview with Butch Hartman", [[March 30]] [[2006]]. [http://hometown.aol.com/zcat6/IntBH2006p8.html]</ref>


Only 53 episodes have been purchased by Nickelodeon. On [[January 24]] [[2006]], Nickelodeon announced that it has ended support for new episodes of the series. Butch Hartman has said that although no new episodes would be made, the show would still continue to be broadcast "for years to come". The series ended with the episode ''Phantom Planet''. The show premiered on [[Nicktoons Network]] on [[June 1]], [[2007]]. <!-- Please, Until you have a CREDIBLE source WITH LINK, do NOT post DP is back in production! -->
Only 53 episodes have been purchased by Nickelodeon. On [[January 24]] [[2006]], Nickelodeon announced that it has ended support for new episodes of the series. Butch Hartman has said that although no new episodes would be made, the show would still continue to be broadcast "for years to come". Fans of the show expressed outrage at the cancellation, citing Butch Hartman's admission on his forums that he wished to create more episodes, however his initial public statement on his personal forum that though he is willing to make more episodes if the show is picked up again. The series ended with the episode ''Phantom Planet''. The show premiered on [[Nicktoons Network]] on [[June 1]], [[2007]].


==Plot==
==Plot==
''Danny Phantom'' centers on the life and adventures of 14-year-old '''Danny Fenton''', a shy, unpopular boy attending Casper High School, living with eccentric ghost hunting parents, and dealing with an overbearing sister; clearly unsure about his life. Upon pressure from his best friends, Samantha (Sam) and Tucker, in addition to his own curiosity, he wandered inside his parent's Ghost Portal (one of their new inventions at the time which was supposed to open into the realm of ghosts, but did not work). He accidentally pressed a button that turned it on, but zapped his entire body, infusing his [[DNA]] with [[ectoplasm]] from the realm, transforming him into a half ghost boy. He later realizes that he has acquired a myriad of abilities that coincide with many of those that the normal ghosts have.
''Danny Phantom'' centers on the life and adventure of 14-year-old '''Danny Fenton''', an unpopular boy attending Casper High, living with eccentric ghost hunting parents, and dealing with an overbearing sister; clearly unsure about his life. Upon pressure of his best friends, Sam and Tucker, he wandered inside his parent's Ghost Portal, accidentally pressing a button that zapped his entire body, infusing his [[DNA]] with [[ectoplasm]], transforming him into a half ghost boy.

Danny was panicked over his powers at first, but after the defeat of a bipolar Lunch Lady Ghost who tried to destroy his school, he decided to turn towards a life of [[superhero]]-ism, using his powers to rid his hometown of [[Amity Park]] from the various ghosts (either entities/monsters or spirits of the deceased from another dimension)<ref>DPOFPA, "Interview with Butch Hartman", [[March 30]], [[2006]]. [http://hometown.aol.com/zcat6/IntBH2006p1.html]</ref> that plague it, teamed with his best friends, technophile '''Tucker Foley''' and gothic-minded '''Samantha (Sam) Manson'''. Aside from his two friends at first, no one else knows that Danny Fenton is "Danny Phantom."


In addition to a variety of ghosts, he faces other threats of many calibers, including the vengeful ghost hunter '''Valerie Gray''', other half ghost/rival '''Vlad Masters/Plasmius''', and (at a point) even his own parents--being ghost hunter extremists, they view Danny Phantom (and any ghosts) as a menace to society. Throughout it all, Danny slowly realizes his own potential and what his purpose is while his worlds - both the Ghost Zone and Earth - slowly begin to accept him as their defender.
Panicked over his powers at first, after the defeat of a bipolar Lunch Lady Ghost, Danny now turned to a life of [[superhero]]-ism, using his powers to rid his hometown of [[Amity Park]] from the various ghosts (either entities/monsters or spirits of the deceased from another dimension)<ref>DPOFPA, "Interview with Butch Hartman", [[March 30]], [[2006]]. [http://hometown.aol.com/zcat6/IntBH2006p1.html]</ref> that plague it, teamed with his best friends, technophile '''Tucker Foley''' and gothic-minded '''Samantha (Sam) Manson'''. Aside from a variety of ghosts, he faces other threats of many caliber, including vengeful ghost hunter '''Valerie Gray''', other half ghost/rival '''Vlad Masters/Plasmius''', and {at a point) even his own parents--being ghost hunter extremists, they view Danny Phantom (and any ghosts) as a menace to society. Throughout it all, Danny slowly realizes his own potential and what his purpose is while his worlds - both the Ghost Zone and Earth - slowly begin to accept him as their defender.


===Protagonists===
===Protagonists===
{{main|List of Danny Phantom characters}}
{{main|List of Danny Phantom characters}}


*'''[[Danny Fenton/Phantom]]''' ''(voiced by [[David Kaufman (actor)|David Kaufman]])'': The [[titular character]] of the show. Danny is a 14-year-old boy who gained ghost powers from a lab accident. He later chooses to use these powers to fight against malevolent spirits/ghosts, which have begun to regularly escape the mysterious [[Ghost Zone]] and plague his hometown of [[Amity Park]]. Aside from ghosts and another half-ghost named Vlad Masters, he deals with ghost hunter and classmate Valerie Gray who likes Danny Fenton, but hates his ghostly counterpart, Danny Phantom, whom she is trying to eliminate. He is often clueless about Sam's crush on him.
*'''[[Danny Fenton/Phantom]]''' ''(voiced by [[David Kaufman]]'' and [[Jason Griffith]]) The [[titular character]] of the show. Danny is a 14-year-old boy who gained ghost powers from a lab accident. He later chooses to use these powers to fight against malevolent ghosts, which have begun to regularly escape the mysterious [[Ghost Zone]] and plague his hometown of [[Amity Park]]. Aside from ghosts, he deals with ghost hunter Valerie Gray who likes Danny Fenton, but hates his ghostly counterpart, Danny Phantom, whom she is trying to eliminate. He is often clueless about Sam's crush on him.


*'''[[Tucker Foley]]''' ''(voiced by [[Rickey D'Shon Collins]])'': A lighthearted Black teenager obsessed with technology and meat. One of Danny's best friends along with Sam. When not obsessing over gadgets, he obsesses over girls. Like Sam, he shares in Danny's secret and often helps battle ghosts back into the Ghost Zone. He generally provides comic relief. He's also one of the first people to notice Sam's crush on Danny.
*'''[[Tucker Foley]]''' ''(voiced by [[Rickey D'Shon Collins]])'': A lighthearted African-American teenager obsessed with technology and meat. One of Danny's best friends along with Sam. When not obsessing over gadgets, he obsesses over girls. Like Sam, he shares in Danny's secret and often helps battle ghosts back into the Ghost Zone. He generally provides comic relief. He's also one of the first people to notice Sam's crush on Danny.


*'''[[Samantha Manson]]''' ''(voiced by [[Grey DeLisle]])'': Danny's other best friend. Though wealthy, (her great grandfather Izzy made the machine that twirls cellophane around Deli toothpicks) she chooses to hide her family's monetary success for quite some time, in favor of being liked for who she is. A strident individualist, Manson is a practitioner of an overly dramatized fictional form of [[vegetarian]]ism called ''Ultra Recyclo-Vegetarianism'', a frequent protester for such things as [[animal rights]], and a self-proclaimed [[Goth subculture|Goth]] who prefers [[heavy metal music]] and favors an all-black, [[Gothic fashion|Gothic]]-influenced fashion. She displays frequent crushes towards Danny.
*'''[[Samantha Manson]]''' ''(voiced by [[Grey DeLisle]])'': Danny's other best friend. Though wealthy, (her great grandfather Izzy made the machine that twirls cellophane around Deli toothpicks) she chooses to hide her family's monetary success for quite some time, in favor of being liked for who she is. A strident individualist, Manson is a practitioner of an overly dramatized fictional form of [[vegetarian]]ism called ''Ultra Recyclo-Vegetarianism'', a frequent protester for such things as [[animal rights]], and a self-proclaimed [[Goth subculture|Goth]] who prefers [[heavy metal music]] and favors an all-black, [[Gothic fashion|Gothic]]-influenced fashion. She displays frequent crushes towards Danny.
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*'''[[Jack and Maddie Fenton|Jack Fenton]]''' ''(voiced by [[Rob Paulsen]])'': Danny's father. Jack has an obsession with destroying ghosts and expresses hate for them. He blindly goes by the belief that all ghosts are evil, even Danny Phantom. He is generally incompetent in nature, but when provoked, can be an effective fighter. Jack cares about his family but is oblivious to Danny's powers. He also spends his time inventing gadgets that do not always work and is almost never seen without his orange jumpsuit.
*'''[[Jack and Maddie Fenton|Jack Fenton]]''' ''(voiced by [[Rob Paulsen]])'': Danny's father. Jack has an obsession with destroying ghosts and expresses hate for them. He blindly goes by the belief that all ghosts are evil, even Danny Phantom. He is generally incompetent in nature, but when provoked, can be an effective fighter. Jack cares about his family but is oblivious to Danny's powers. He also spends his time inventing gadgets that do not always work and is almost never seen without his orange jumpsuit.


*'''[[Jack and Maddie Fenton#Madeline "Maddie" Fenton|Madeline "''Maddie''" Fenton]]''' ''(voiced by [[Kath Soucie]])'': Danny's mother, and a scientific genius. Maddie is also a professional ghost hunter, but unlike Jack, she is more interested in studying ghosts than simply destroying them. However, she shares her husband's belief that all ghosts are bad. She is much more competent both as a parent and a ghost hunter than Jack.
*'''[[Jack and Maddie Fenton#Madeline "Maddie" Fenton|Madeline "''Maddie''" Fenton]]''' ''(voiced by [[Kath Soucie]])'': Danny's mother. Also a professional ghost hunter, Maddie is more interested in studying ghosts than simply destroying them, but like Jack Fenton, she also believes that all ghosts are bad. She is much more competent both as a parent and a ghost hunter than Jack.


===Key antagonists===
===Key antagonists===
{{main|List of Danny Phantom villains and ghosts}}
{{main|List of Danny Phantom villains and ghosts}}
*'''[[Vlad Plasmius|Vladimir "Vlad" Masters/Vlad Plasmius]]''' ''(voiced by [[Martin Mull]])'': Danny's arch-enemy and a multi-billionaire. An old acquaintance of Jack and Maddie Fenton from college, and one other known human-ghost hybrid like Danny. Vlad's ghost powers were thrust upon him by an accident with a Ghost Zone Portal prototype, which he helped Maddie and Jack build twenty years prior to the start of the series. The accident hospitalized him for many years with ecto-[[acne]]. He blames Jack and is resentful that his old "friend" married the love of his life, Maddie. Unlike Danny, his ghost powers are considerably more developed, and he has used them for personal gain. He is still in love with Maddie, and constantly tries to ambush her relationship with Jack. He also finds out about Danny's secret, and wants him to denounce his father and come live with him along with his mother. Danny always refuses, much to Vlad's dismay.
*'''[[Vlad Plasmius|Vladimir "Vlad" Masters/Vlad Plasmius]]''' ''(voiced by [[Martin Mull]])'': Danny's arch-enemy and a multi-billionaire. An old acquaintance of Jack and Maddie Fenton and one other known human-ghost hybrid like Danny. Vlad's ghost powers were thrust upon him by an accident with a Ghost Zone Portal prototype, which hospitalized him for many years with ecto-[[acne]]. He blames Jack and is resentful that his old "friend" married the love of his life, Maddie. Unlike Danny, his ghost powers are considerably more developed, and he has used them for personal gain.


*'''[[Valerie Gray]]''' ''(voiced by [[Grey DeLisle]] and [[Cree Summer]])'': A once popular girl whose life was accidentally turned upside-down by Danny's ghostly alter ego, Danny Phantom, and a ghost dog that he was trying to catch. She bears a grudge against him (although has a bit of a crush on Danny Fenton) and has vowed to hunt him down, mostly using equipment given to her by a mysterious benefactor (who turns out to be Vlad Plasmius) before donning different gear later on.
*'''[[Valerie Gray]]''' ''(voiced by [[Grey DeLisle]] and [[Cree Summer]])'': A once popular girl whose life was accidentally turned upside-down by Danny's ghostly alter ego, Danny Phantom, and a ghost dog. She bears a grudge against him (although has a bit of a crush on Danny Fenton) and has vowed to hunt him down, mostly using equipment given to her by a mysterious benefactor (who turns out to be Vlad Plasmius) before donning a different gear later on.


==Episodes==
==Episodes==
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==Home video releases==
==Home video releases==
*''[[Nick Picks]]'' Vol. 1–7 & [[Nick Picks]] Holiday.
*''[[Nick Picks]]'' Vol. 1–7 & [[Nick Picks]] Holiday.
*''Danny Phantom: el Peor de los enemigos (Danny Phantom: The Ultimate Enemy) (In Mexico)
*''Danny Phantom el Peor de los enemigos (Danny Phantom: The Ultimate Enemy (In Mexico)
*''Danny Phantom: Barco Pirata Fantasma (In Mexico)


==Video games==
==Video games==
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* ''[[Nicktoons: Attack of the Toybots]]'' (Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, Playstation 2, Wii)
* ''[[Nicktoons: Attack of the Toybots]]'' (Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, Playstation 2, Wii)
* ''[[Nicktoons: Summer Camp]]'' (TV games)
* ''[[Nicktoons: Summer Camp]]'' (TV games)
==Voice cast==
==Main cast==
* [[David Kaufman (actor)|David Kaufman ]] as Danny Fenton/Danny Phantom (1st voice)
{| class="wikitable"
* [[Jason Griffith]] as Danny Fenton/Danny Phantom (2nd voice)
! Character
* [[Rob Paulsen]] as Jack Fenton, Nicolai Technus, The Box Ghost
! Voice cast
* [[Kath Soucie]] as Maddie Fenton, The Lunch Lady Ghost (2nd voice), Box Lunch, Grandma Ida Manson
|-
⚫
* [[Colleen O'Shaughnessey]] as Jazz Fenton
| [[Danny Fenton/Phantom]] || [[David Kaufman]]
⚫
* [[Rickey D'Shon Collins]] as Tucker Foley
|-
* [[Grey DeLisle]] as Samantha "Sam" Manson, Star (1st voice), Valerie Gray (1st voice)
| [[Sam Manson]] || [[Grey Delisle]]
* [[Ron Perlman]] as Mr. Lancer
|-
* [[Maria Canals]] as Paulina
⚫
| [[Tucker Foley]] || [[Rickey D'Shon Collins]]
* [[S. Scott Bullock]] as Dash Baxter, Klemper, Mr. Jeremy Manson, Hotep Ra
|-
* [[Dat Phan]] as Kwan (1st voice)
⚫
| [[Jazz Fenton]] || [[Colleen O'Shaughnessey]]
* [[James Sie]] as Kwan (2nd voice)
|-
| [[Maddie Fenton]] || [[Kath Soucie]]
|-
| [[Jack Fenton]] || [[Rob Paulsen]]
|-
| [[Vlad Plasmius]] || [[Martin Mull]]
|-
| [[Dani Phantom]] || [[AnnaSophia Robb]] (1st voice) <br /> Krista Swan (2nd voice)
|-
| [[Dark Danny]] || [[Eric Roberts]]
|}


==Additional cast==
==Additional cast==
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* [[David Carradine]] as [[Clockwork (Danny Phantom)|Clockwork]]
* [[David Carradine]] as [[Clockwork (Danny Phantom)|Clockwork]]
* [[Brian Cox]] as [[Pariah Dark]]
* [[Brian Cox]] as [[Pariah Dark]]
* [[Jon Cryer]] as [[Freakshow (Danny Phantom)|Freakshow]]
* [[Jon Cryer]] as [[Freakshow]]
* [[Michael Dorn]] as [[Fright Knight]]
* [[Michael Dorn]] as [[Fright Knight]]
* [[James Garrett]] as Nocturne
* [[James Garrett]] as Nocturne
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* [[Mark Hamill]] as Undergrowth
* [[Mark Hamill]] as Undergrowth
* [[Patricia Heaton]] as The Lunch Lady Ghost (1st voice)
* [[Patricia Heaton]] as The Lunch Lady Ghost (1st voice)
* [[Bob Joles]] as [[Frostbite (Danny Phantom)|Frostbite]]
* [[Bob Joles]] as Frostbite
* [[Taylor Lautner]] as [[Youngblood]]
* [[Taylor Lautner]] as [[Youngblood]]
* [[Eric Roberts]] as [[Dark Danny]]

* [[Peter MacNicol]] as [[Sidney Poindexter]]
* [[Peter MacNicol]] as [[Sidney Poindexter]]
* [[Danny Mann]] as Amorpho
* [[Danny Mann]] as Amorpho
* [[Phil Morris]] as Damon Gray, Observant #2
* [[Phil Morris]] as Damon Gray, Observant #2
* [[Martin Mull]] as Vladimir "[[Vlad Masters]]"/Vlad Plasmius
* [[Laraine Newman]] as Mrs. Tetslaff, Mrs. Pamela Manson
* [[Laraine Newman]] as Mrs. Tetslaff, Mrs. Pamela Manson
* [[Daran Norris]] as Bullet
* [[Daran Norris]] as Bullet
* [[Matthew St. Patrick]] as Skulker (1st voice)
* [[Mathew St. Patrick]] as Skulker (1st voice)
* [[Kevin Michael Richardson]] as The Dragon Ghost, Skulker (2nd voice)
* [[Kevin Michael Richardson]] as The Dragon Ghost, Skulker (2nd voice)
* [[Chynna Phillips]] as Kitty
* [[Chynna Phillips]] as Kitty
* [[AnnaSophia Robb]] as Danielle "Dani" Phantom (1st voice)
* [[Krista Swan]] as Danielle "Dani" Phantom (2nd voice)
* [[Tara Strong]] as [[Ember McLain|Ember]], Penelope Spectra, Tiffany Snow, Star (2nd voice)
* [[Tara Strong]] as [[Ember McLain|Ember]], Penelope Spectra, Tiffany Snow, Star (2nd voice)
* [[Cree Summer]] as Valerie Gray (2nd voice)
* [[Cree Summer]] as Valerie Gray (2nd voice)
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[[Category:Fantasy television series]]
[[Category:Fantasy television series]]
[[Category:Superhero television programs]]
[[Category:Superhero television programs]]



==External Links==
[http://www.butchhartman.com Butch Hartman]<br>
[http://www.dannyphantom.com DannyPhantom.com]<br>
[http://www.phantopedia.com Phantopedia]


<!-- Comment -->


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Revision as of 22:53, 8 May 2008

Danny Phantom
Danny Phantom Show Title Card
Danny Phantom opening sequence
Created byButch Hartman
StarringJason Griffith
Colleen O'Shaughnessey
Rob Paulsen
Kath Soucie
Rickey D'Shon Collins
Grey DeLisle
Ron Perlman
Cree Summer
Martin Mull
Country of originUnited States
No. of seasons3
No. of episodes53
Production
Running time22 minutes per episode
Original release
NetworkNickelodeon
ReleaseApril 3, 2004 –
August 24, 2007
Releasecolor:black
Releasecolor:black
Releasecolor:black
Releasecolor:black
Releasecolor:black
Releasecolor:black
Releasecolor:black

Danny Phantom is an animated children's program created by Butch Hartman for Nickelodeon, produced by Billionfold Studios. The show is about a teenage half-ghost boy, who frequently saves his town and even the world from ghost attacks. It is distributed outside the United States by the Canadian animation company Nelvana, the same as The Fairly OddParents (also created by Hartman).

Production

When Butch Hartman first developed the idea for a new show, it was originally titled "Danny Phantom and the Spector Detectors", and it was supposed to be a show about a young (human) ghost fighter and a team of others who hunted and fought ghosts. However, Hartman later determined it would be cooler if the teen was a ghost, thus changing it just to "Danny Phantom". Among the other ideas that were considered before being rejected was the existence of a telepathic connection between the characters Danny and Samantha.

The designs were helped by veteran character designer Stephen Silver, helping Hartman adding his own touches. All Danny Phantom characters have necks and five digits on each hand. The majority of the stories are usually written by Steve Marmel with input from Mark Banker, Butch Hartman, Marty Isenberg, and Sib Ventress. As with Hartman's show The Fairly OddParents, the music for Danny Phantom was written by Guy Moon.[1] It has also been stated that the theme song was inspired by Queen's 1989 song "The Invisible Man".[2]

Only 53 episodes have been purchased by Nickelodeon. On January 24 2006, Nickelodeon announced that it has ended support for new episodes of the series. Butch Hartman has said that although no new episodes would be made, the show would still continue to be broadcast "for years to come". Fans of the show expressed outrage at the cancellation, citing Butch Hartman's admission on his forums that he wished to create more episodes, however his initial public statement on his personal forum that though he is willing to make more episodes if the show is picked up again. The series ended with the episode Phantom Planet. The show premiered on Nicktoons Network on June 1, 2007.

Plot

Danny Phantom centers on the life and adventure of 14-year-old Danny Fenton, an unpopular boy attending Casper High, living with eccentric ghost hunting parents, and dealing with an overbearing sister; clearly unsure about his life. Upon pressure of his best friends, Sam and Tucker, he wandered inside his parent's Ghost Portal, accidentally pressing a button that zapped his entire body, infusing his DNA with ectoplasm, transforming him into a half ghost boy.

Panicked over his powers at first, after the defeat of a bipolar Lunch Lady Ghost, Danny now turned to a life of superhero-ism, using his powers to rid his hometown of Amity Park from the various ghosts (either entities/monsters or spirits of the deceased from another dimension)[3] that plague it, teamed with his best friends, technophile Tucker Foley and gothic-minded Samantha (Sam) Manson. Aside from a variety of ghosts, he faces other threats of many caliber, including vengeful ghost hunter Valerie Gray, other half ghost/rival Vlad Masters/Plasmius, and {at a point) even his own parents--being ghost hunter extremists, they view Danny Phantom (and any ghosts) as a menace to society. Throughout it all, Danny slowly realizes his own potential and what his purpose is while his worlds - both the Ghost Zone and Earth - slowly begin to accept him as their defender.

Protagonists

Main article: List of Danny Phantom characters
  • Danny Fenton/Phantom (voiced by David Kaufman and Jason Griffith) The titular character of the show. Danny is a 14-year-old boy who gained ghost powers from a lab accident. He later chooses to use these powers to fight against malevolent ghosts, which have begun to regularly escape the mysterious Ghost Zone and plague his hometown of Amity Park. Aside from ghosts, he deals with ghost hunter Valerie Gray who likes Danny Fenton, but hates his ghostly counterpart, Danny Phantom, whom she is trying to eliminate. He is often clueless about Sam's crush on him.
  • Tucker Foley (voiced by Rickey D'Shon Collins): A lighthearted African-American teenager obsessed with technology and meat. One of Danny's best friends along with Sam. When not obsessing over gadgets, he obsesses over girls. Like Sam, he shares in Danny's secret and often helps battle ghosts back into the Ghost Zone. He generally provides comic relief. He's also one of the first people to notice Sam's crush on Danny.
  • Samantha Manson (voiced by Grey DeLisle): Danny's other best friend. Though wealthy, (her great grandfather Izzy made the machine that twirls cellophane around Deli toothpicks) she chooses to hide her family's monetary success for quite some time, in favor of being liked for who she is. A strident individualist, Manson is a practitioner of an overly dramatized fictional form of vegetarianism called Ultra Recyclo-Vegetarianism, a frequent protester for such things as animal rights, and a self-proclaimed Goth who prefers heavy metal music and favors an all-black, Gothic-influenced fashion. She displays frequent crushes towards Danny.
  • Jasmine "Jazz" Fenton (voiced by Colleen O'Shaughnessey): Danny's know-it-all (and somewhat overprotective and perhaps overly helpful) older sister; a smart and highly sociable overachiever. Jazz considers her parents' obsession with ghosts as a sign of needing psychological help. She discovers that Danny has ghost powers in the episode "My Brother's Keeper", but she does not reveal her knowledge of it (until "The Ultimate Enemy"), in favor of waiting until he is ready to talk about it with her.
  • Jack Fenton (voiced by Rob Paulsen): Danny's father. Jack has an obsession with destroying ghosts and expresses hate for them. He blindly goes by the belief that all ghosts are evil, even Danny Phantom. He is generally incompetent in nature, but when provoked, can be an effective fighter. Jack cares about his family but is oblivious to Danny's powers. He also spends his time inventing gadgets that do not always work and is almost never seen without his orange jumpsuit.
  • Madeline "Maddie" Fenton (voiced by Kath Soucie): Danny's mother. Also a professional ghost hunter, Maddie is more interested in studying ghosts than simply destroying them, but like Jack Fenton, she also believes that all ghosts are bad. She is much more competent both as a parent and a ghost hunter than Jack.

Key antagonists

Main article: List of Danny Phantom villains and ghosts
  • Vladimir "Vlad" Masters/Vlad Plasmius (voiced by Martin Mull): Danny's arch-enemy and a multi-billionaire. An old acquaintance of Jack and Maddie Fenton and one other known human-ghost hybrid like Danny. Vlad's ghost powers were thrust upon him by an accident with a Ghost Zone Portal prototype, which hospitalized him for many years with ecto-acne. He blames Jack and is resentful that his old "friend" married the love of his life, Maddie. Unlike Danny, his ghost powers are considerably more developed, and he has used them for personal gain.
  • Valerie Gray (voiced by Grey DeLisle and Cree Summer): A once popular girl whose life was accidentally turned upside-down by Danny's ghostly alter ego, Danny Phantom, and a ghost dog. She bears a grudge against him (although has a bit of a crush on Danny Fenton) and has vowed to hunt him down, mostly using equipment given to her by a mysterious benefactor (who turns out to be Vlad Plasmius) before donning a different gear later on.

Episodes

Main article: List of Danny Phantom episodes

Home video releases

  • Nick Picks Vol. 1–7 & Nick Picks Holiday.
  • Danny Phantom el Peor de los enemigos (Danny Phantom: The Ultimate Enemy (In Mexico)

Video games

There have been two video games released thus far for the show.

Characters from the show (mainly Danny) have also been featured in other Nickelodeon video games. The characters appear in the following Nick games:

Main cast

Additional cast

Notes

  1. ^ Moon wrote two versions of the theme song; the original was scrapped, but it can be heard here at Hartman's website.
  2. ^ DPOFPA, "Interview with Butch Hartman", March 30 2006. [1]
  3. ^ DPOFPA, "Interview with Butch Hartman", March 30, 2006. [2]


References

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