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{{short description|American animated comedy television series created by David Feiss}}
{{infobox television |
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}{{Use American English|date=October 2024}}
| show_name = Cow & Chicken
{{Infobox television
| image = ]
| caption = Cow and Chicken | image = Cow and Chicken logo.png
| genre = {{unbulleted list|]|]|]|]}}
| format = ]/]
| creator = ]
| runtime = 22 minutes approx.
| voices = {{unbulleted list|]|]|]}}
| creator = ]
| theme_music_composer = ]
| voices = ] <br /> ] <br /> ] <br /> ] <br /> ] <br /> ]
| opentheme = "Cow and Chicken"
| country = {{USA}}
| endtheme = "Cow and Chicken" (Instrumental)
| network = ]
| composer = Guy Moon
| first_aired = ], ]
| country = United States
| last_aired = ], ]
| language = English
| num_episodes = 52
| num_seasons = 4
| list_episodes = List of Cow and Chicken/I am Weasel episodes
| num_episodes = 52 (104 segments)
| website = http://www.cartoonnetwork.com/tv_shows/all_shows/index.html
| list_episodes = List of Cow and Chicken episodes
| tv_com_id = 3697
| executive_producer = {{Plainlist|
| imdb_id = 0118289
* ]
|}}
* ] (seasons 1–2)
* ]
* ] (pilot)
}}
| producer = {{unbulleted list|]|Vincent Davis}}
| runtime = 14 minutes
| company = ]
| first_aired = {{Start date|1997|7|15}}
| last_aired = {{End date|1999|8|13}}
| related = {{unbulleted list|'']''|'']''}}
| channel = ]
}}
'''''Cow and Chicken''''' is an American ] ] television series created by ] for ]. It is the third of the network's ]. It follows the ] adventures of two ] siblings, Cow and Chicken. They are often antagonized by the Red Guy, a cartoonish version of ] who poses as various characters to scam them.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Perlmutter |first=David |title=The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows |date=2018 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-1538103739 |pages=138–139}}</ref>


The original pilot appeared as an episode of the animation showcase series '']''. The popularity of the original short allowed ] to give it the green light for a full series, which premiered on July 15, 1997. Originally, ''Cow and Chicken'' was attached to another segment called '']'', which was later spun-off into its own half-hour series on June 10, 1999; both shows were the final shows on the network to be produced solely by Hanna-Barbera. It was nominated for two ].
'''''Cow & Chicken''''' is an ]-nominated ] ], created by ]. The series shows the adventures of a cow, named Cow, and her chicken brother, named Chicken, who are often tormented by the ], a usually pants-less ]-like character who poses as various characters to scam them. The series was nominated for the ] in ].<ref name="award">Emmy Awards Archive Database, using the year range as 1998-1998: http://www.emmys.tv/awards/awardsearch.php</ref>


==Premise==
Like '']'' and other ] series from the ], the original pilot appeared as an episode of the series '']''. The ''Cow and Chicken'' series first broadcast on ] from ] to the year ], with reruns airing until ]. Late into the series run, the characters I.M. Weasel and I.R. Baboon, who were part of the series' recurring segment, '']'', were spun-off onto their own series.
]
The series focuses on the misadventures of two unlikely yet somehow biological siblings: the sweet-natured, dim, ecstatic, ] Cow and her cynical older brother Chicken (both voiced by ]). The two are often caught in escapades with their flamboyant enemy, the Red Guy (Adler), a comical version of ] himself who disguises himself under various personas, usually to either scam everyone around or just for fun. However, he once tried to take Chicken to ].{{efn|As depicted in the pilot ''No Smoking''.}}


Supporting characters include Chicken and Cow's delirious human parents Dad and Mom (] and ], respectively), only seen from the waist down and implied to have no torsos, heads, or arms; Chicken's best friends Flem (]) and Earl (]); and their cousin, Boneless Chicken (Adler).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Erickson |first=Hal |title=Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 |date=2005 |publisher=McFarland & Co |isbn=978-1476665993 |edition=2nd |pages=218–219}}</ref> Cow has her favorite dolls, Crabs the Warthog, Piles the Beaver, and Manure the Bear, who is a polar bear.
==Background==
]'' ]]
===Premise===
Cow and Chicken are sister and brother, a cow and a chicken, but who have human parents. The creators were faced with the question of whether and how to explain this scenario. Sometimes opening credits are cumbersome vehicles for an origin story. ] approached this problem in the series' opening title sequence: ''Mama had a chicken/Mama had a cow/Dad was proud/He didn't care how.'' This is all that is ever offered in explanation, though there is one hint in the episode "The Day I Was Born" that Cow is adopted (Chicken's paternity is unknown).


The series draws on eccentric, surreal, grotesque, and repulsive humor. For example, Cow and Chicken always order "pork butts and taters" in the cafeteria, the Red Guy always shows his butt, and characters often pepper their speech with malapropisms and sarcasm. The humor and storylines depicted are often based on traditional childhood worries, anxieties, or phobias such as ] or venturing into the girls' restroom, but enhanced comically.
Cow and Chicken's extended family consists of various other types of animals, including Cousin Boneless, who is a boneless chicken (unable to walk or get up from the floor); Snail Boy, a ]; Cousin Black Sheep; and Sow, an evil pig. They also have an uncle Longhorn Steer, who appears in "Professor Longhorn Steer". The episode "Happy Meat" also showed the ghosts of a pair of Cow and Chicken's ancestors, a male farmer and a female chicken.


==Production==
===Main characters===
===Development===
<!-- Unsourced image removed: ] --><!-- Unsourced image removed: ] -->
David Feiss first created ''Cow and Chicken'' as a story for his daughter.<ref name="creation">{{Cite web |title=Animator Profile: David Feiss |url=http://www.cartoonnetworkla.com/english/watch/creator/dfeiss.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060516002446/http://www.cartoonnetworkla.com/english/watch/creator/dfeiss.html |archive-date=2006-05-16 |access-date=2007-07-20 |website=cartoonnetworkla.com |publisher=Cartoon Network}}</ref> Feiss was an animator who had worked with ] and related projects since 1978.<ref name="creation" />
*'''Cow''' (voiced by ]), One of the two ]s and Chicken's 7-year old sister. Her weight is given at several points as 600 pounds. Usually viewed (at least by Chicken) as exceedingly stupid, she however occasionally displays uncanny talents.
*'''Chicken''' (voiced by ]), Cow's 11-year old brother. At times, he can be quite mean to his younger sister, and even the rest of the family (as seen in "Chicken in the Bathroom", where he refuses to take a bath solely to prevent everyone else from using the toilet). He has a rather large ego. In spite of this, he has a powerful conscience, usually only displayed when Cow is in danger (and unable to become Supercow). He speaks with a "street" type of accent (probably not his real voice), often peppering his speech with,and often using sarcasm. He often gets injured, sometimes quite brutally. Sometimes Chicken uses Cow for his needs. In Sumo Cow, Chicken used Cow's size to get his money, then told her to get lost making her look like the bully.
]
*''']''' (voiced by ]), Cow, Chicken, Weasel and Baboon's arch nemesis. He is an often-incompetent antagonist disguised as various authority figures (principals, kings, lunchladies), trying to either scam the protagonists or torment them. In some episodes, multiple and seemingly distinct Red Guys are present, usually working together..
*'''Flem''' (voiced by ]), Chicken's best friend, who wears red lipstick. He and his father both have glasses. Of the three (Earl, Chicken and himself), he is the one most often sent to perform tasks, because he is the considered the ugliest.
*'''Earl''' (voiced by ]), Chicken's friend who wears a red cap and ].
*'''Dad''' (voiced by ]), Cow and Chicken's father (Partially ]). Often boasts his manliness, at even the most mundane of tasks (such as driving in the snow, in "Goin' My Way") "bring out the man in (him)".
*'''Mom''' (voiced by ]), Cow and Chicken's mother (Partially ]). Seems to be slightly insane, especially when she laughs.
*'''Teacher''' (voiced by ]), Cow and Chicken's female teacher who is simply called Teacher. She says "Shut your pork traps!" or "Shut your pie holes!" to get people to listen to her.


Years later, Feiss was called to submit ideas for '']'', a series of various animated shorts from numerous creators and writers, created by Hanna-Barbera president ]. Feiss submitted three ideas to executive producer ], one of which was ''Cow and Chicken''.<ref name="wac">{{Cite web |date=2002-09-05 |title=Cow and Chicken, and I Am Weasel — Two Animated Cartoon Series |url=https://www.h2g2.com/approved_entry/A767289 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130801091909/http://www.h2g2.com/approved_entry/A767289 |archive-date=2013-08-01 |access-date=2007-07-20 |website=h2g2 |publisher=BBC}}</ref> Cow and Chicken premiered on ''What a Cartoon!'' in 1995. Later, Hanna-Barbera decided to turn ''Cow and Chicken'' into a full series, following many letters from fans asking for more.<ref name="wac" />
===Minor and one-time characters===
*'''Boneless Chicken''' (voiced by ]), Cow and Chicken's cousin. An older chicken who has no bones, except for having teeth. He always says random things, but the watcher can't tell if he's serious or just joking. He is a veteran of the Vietnam war.
*'''Grandmama''', Mom's mother and Cow and Chicken's grandmother who can't drive well.
*'''Black Sheep''', Cow and Chicken's cousin, who keeps getting into trouble despite his sincere efforts to do good.
*'''Snail Boy''' (voiced by ]), Cow and Chicken's cousin and Mom's nephew who is a snail.
*'''Sow''', Cow and Chicken's cousin. She is an evil pig who blames Cow for bad things she does.
*'''Slappy McCracken''' (voiced by ]), An exchange student from neighboring Mozerellaville. Fell in love with Cow in his only episode "The Exchange Student".
*'''Supercow''', The ] ] of Cow. Inexplicably, she speaks ]. Her ] is "¡Supercow al rescate!" ("Supercow to the rescue!"), often followed by a ululating battle cry.
*'''Professor Longhorn Steer''', Cow and Chicken's uncle, and Dad's brother. Appeared in "Professor Longhorn Steer".
*''']''', The Red Guy's assistant, a dog with three heads, one a poodle, one a weiner dog, and one a dalmatian. This character only appeared in the original pilot "No Smoking".
* '''Blind Mud Puddle Johnson''', He is the king of the blues. His voice was provided by ], the King of the Blues. Appeared in The Cow And Chicken Blues.
*'''Photo-Realistic Beaver''', A beaver that is at the end of one episode, with whom Cow eats breakfast.


==History== ===Voice actors===
A single actor, Charlie Adler, voiced the three leading roles of Cow, Chicken, and the Red Guy. Supporting voices included Candi Milo and Dee Bradley Baker as Mom and Dad, and Dan Castellaneta and Howard Morris as Earl and Flem.
The idea of Cow and Chicken first existed as a story that ] had made for his daughter.<ref name="creation">{{cite web| url= http://www.cartoonnetworkla.com/english/watch/creator/dfeiss.html| title= Animator Profile: David Feiss| work= cartoonnetworkla.com| publisher= Cartoon Network| accessdate= 2007-07-20}}</ref> Feiss was a cartoonist who had worked with ] and related projects since 1978.<ref name="creation"/>


Guest stars included Feiss, ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and many others.
Later, Feiss was called to submit any ideas he had for the series "What a Cartoon!", a series that was comprised of various cartoon shorts from various creators and writers. Feiss submitted three ideas for the series, one of which was Cow and Chicken.<ref name="wac">{{cite web| url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A767289| title= Cow and Chicken, and I Am Weasel - two animated cartoon series| work= h2g2| publisher= BBC| date= 2002-09-05| accessdate= 2007-07-20}}</ref> Cow and Chicken premiered on the "What a Cartoon!" series in 1995. Although most cartoons in the series had never gone beyond one short, Hanna Barbera had decided to turn Cow and Chicken into full series, following many letters from fans asking for more Cow and Chicken Cartoons.<ref name="wac"/>


==Episodes==
The new Cow and Chicken series premiered on July 7, 1997. The series ran for 52 episodes, and had brought out a spin-off series, "I. M. Weasel".
{{main|List of Cow and Chicken episodes}}
{{:List of Cow and Chicken episodes}}
''Cow and Chicken'' has a total of 52 episodes in 4 seasons that were produced from July 1997 to July 1999. Each half-hour contains 2 ''Cow and Chicken'' and 1 ''I Am Weasel'' segment.<ref name="feiss">{{Cite web |last=Feiss, David |date=January 12, 2000 |title=Episode Guide: Cow and Chicken and I Am Weasel |url=http://david-feiss.netfirms.com/episodes.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061212174713/http://david-feiss.netfirms.com/episodes.html |archive-date=2006-12-12 |access-date=2011-07-05}}</ref> ''Cow and Chicken'' premiered as a full half-hour on July 15, 1997.<ref name="gallo">{{Cite web |last=Gallo |first=Phil |date=July 15, 1997 |title=Cow and Chicken |url=https://variety.com/1997/tv/reviews/cow-and-chicken-1117341278/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131003015429/http://variety.com/1997/tv/reviews/cow-and-chicken-1117341278/ |archive-date=October 3, 2013 |access-date=2013-05-31 |website=] |publisher=]}}</ref> The series ran for 52 episodes through 1999. As a supporting segment, the show included a cartoon called ''I Am Weasel''; this segment was spun off as an independent series that premiered on June 10, 1999.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cartoon Network Sets Premiere for I Am Weasel |first1=David |last1=Kilmer |url=https://www.awn.com/news/cartoon-network-sets-premiere-i-am-weasel |date=June 11, 1999 |publisher=] |access-date=2021-01-27 |archive-date=May 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516192247/https://www.awn.com/news/cartoon-network-sets-premiere-i-am-weasel |url-status=live }}</ref> Typically, an episode would consist of two seven-minute ''Cow and Chicken'' shorts playing back-to-back, then followed by a seven-minute ''I Am Weasel'' short before the end credits.<ref name="gallo" /> The exception to this structure was episode 105 ("The Ugliest Weenie"), which had the ''Weasel'' short ("I Are Big Star") play in-between the two ''Cow and Chicken'' shorts, possibly because said shorts were one storyline.


==Production== ===Censorship===
The second season segment "Buffalo Gals", first paired with "Cow and Chicken Reclining", was banned by Cartoon Network after they received one letter of complaint from a parent about the episode's visual and verbal innuendo about the titular biker group being ]s. In the segment, the Buffalo Gals break into people's homes to chew on the carpet, a biker named Munch Kelly has a carpet swatch for a calling card, and when Dad freaks out over the Buffalo Gals in the house, Mom says, "They're not after you."<ref name="buffalo1">{{Cite news |last=Scibelli |first=Anthony |date=August 6, 2010 |title=The 6 Creepiest Things Ever Slipped into Children's Cartoons |publisher=] |url=https://www.cracked.com/article_18672_the-6-creepiest-things-ever-slipped-into-childrens-cartoons.html |url-status=live |access-date=January 16, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511114141/http://www.cracked.com/article_18672_the-6-creepiest-things-ever-slipped-into-childrens-cartoons.html |archive-date=May 11, 2011}}</ref> In addition, the Buffalo Gals play softball and talk about pitching and catching.
===Voicing===
A single actor, ], voiced four leading roles of Cow, Chicken, the Red Guy, and I. R. Baboon. Other actors provided supporting voices, including ] (the voice of Earl). David Feiss himself did the voice of a clown in an episode called "The Great Pantzini".


"Buffalo Gals" only aired once on June 27, 1998, and was replaced with "Orthodontic Police" in future airings, including on ] streaming and reruns on ]. The episode was also discussed on an installment of ]'s ''Talkin' Toons'' special featuring ''Cow and Chicken'' creator David Feiss and voice actor Charlie Adler when an audience member asked why "Buffalo Gals" only aired once.
==Humor==
''Cow and Chicken'' drew on several types of cartoon humor through its run. The series often made use of cartoon violence; Cow and Chicken were frequently placed in dangerous situations and the ] was frequently pummelled and beaten (usually by Supercow). The series also made fun of the clichés of cartoons. For example, Cow has an ] Supercow, who is a ] with different characteristics to her normal character (such as ], and the ability to speak ]); and the Red Guy tries in vain to discover Supercow's ]. Another cliché made fun of in the series is that the children's parents, who are called Mom and Dad, exist only from the waist down, and can be seen to stop at the waist (whenever their shadows appear, they are cut off at the waist). This makes fun of the idea of partially ]s and cartoons in which adults are seen only from the waist down (e.g. '']''). Also, many jokes of the series use adolescent humor, which made the show somewhat controversial.


==Reception==
===Recurring jokes and gags===
KJ Dell'Antonia of ] gave the show three stars out of five, describing it as "if Ren & Stimpy starred in ]..."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dell'Antonia |first1=KJ |title=Cow and Chicken TV Review |url=https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/cow-and-chicken |website=Common Sense Media |access-date=1 April 2024 |archive-date=February 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240214013214/https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/cow-and-chicken |url-status=live }}</ref>
In some episodes, the missing upper bodies are used as a gag. For example in one episode, the cartoon "camera" accidentally zooms out too far, and shows Mom and Dad cut off at the waist. In another episode, Cow and Chicken search through a closet by throwing out everything inside, and for a small moment, the upper (human) bodies of Mom and Dad are visible as part of a discarded science project by Cow (however, considering the absurdist nature of the show's humor, this may be a throwaway gag). They are also occasionally seen driving a car with their feet, writing and grabbing on to things with their toes, and dialling a phone by kicking the numbers. Mom and Dad's shadows are also shown as being cut off at the waist.


===Breaking of the fourth wall=== ===Awards and nominations===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
The show often breaks the ]. I Am Weasel exists as a cartoon in the fictional world of Cow and Chicken, however this is contradicted in "I.R. In Wrong Cartoon" (a crossover between the two cartoons), when the Red Guy, disguised as a bearskin rug, says to Cow when she wants to take Weasel out of the TV to make him real, "He's just as real as you and I." In "The Laughing Puddle", when the entire population of Folsom has gone into the titular puddle, Chicken states "Is anything in this cartoon ever going to make sense?"
|-
! Year !! Award !! Category !! Nominee(s) !! Result
|-
| rowspan="2"|1996 || ] || ]<ref>{{Cite journal |date=December 1996 |title=24th Annie Award Winners Announced |url=https://www.awn.com/mag/issue1.9/articles/news1.9.html |url-status=live |journal=Animation World Magazine |publisher=] |volume=1 |issue=9 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130131083922/http://www.awn.com/mag/issue1.9/articles/news1.9.html |archive-date=2013-01-31 |access-date=2013-01-27}}</ref> || {{unbulleted list|]|{{small|for "No Smoking"}}}} || {{won}}
|-
| ] || ]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cow and Chicken in No Smoking |url=https://www.emmys.com/shows/cow-and-chicken-no-smoking |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728013813/http://www.emmys.com/shows/cow-and-chicken-no-smoking |archive-date=2014-07-28 |access-date=2013-04-15 |website=] |publisher=]}}</ref> || {{unbulleted list|], ], ], Pilar Menendez, and Sam Kieth|{{small|for "No Smoking"}}}} || {{nom}}
|-
| 1997 || rowspan="4"|] || Best Individual Achievement: Storyboarding in a TV Production<ref>{{Cite web |title=25th Annual Annie Award Nominees and Winners (1997) |url=https://annieawards.org/25th-annie-awards |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151230210843/http://annieawards.org/25th-annie-awards |archive-date=2015-12-30 |access-date=2013-01-26 |website=AnnieAwards.org |publisher=]}}</ref> || {{unbulleted list|Nora Johnson|{{small|for "Orthodontic Police"}}}} || {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="7"|1998 || Outstanding Individual Achievement for Music in an Animated Television Production<ref name="a98">{{Cite web |title=26th Annual Annie Award Nominees and Winners (1998) |url=https://annieawards.org/26th-annie-awards |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130223120846/http://annieawards.org/26th-annie-awards |archive-date=2013-02-23 |access-date=2013-01-26 |website=AnnieAwards.org |publisher=ASIFA-Hollywood}}</ref> || {{unbulleted list|Bill Burnett and ]|{{small|for "The Ugliest Weenie, Part 2"}}}} || {{nom}}
|-
| Outstanding Individual Achievement for Producing in an Animated Television Production<ref name="a98" /> || Vincent Davis || {{won}}
|-
| Outstanding Individual Achievement for Storyboarding in an Animated Television Production<ref name="a98" /> || {{unbulleted list|]|{{small|for "The Karate Chick"}}}} || {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="3"|] || Best Sound Editing&nbsp;— Sound Effects<ref name="gr98">{{Cite web |title=Motion Picture Sound Editors, USA (1998) |url=https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000452/1998 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150410152116/http://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000452/1998 |archive-date=2015-04-10 |access-date=2013-01-26 |website=]}}</ref> || Greg LaPlante || {{nom}}
|-
| Best Sound Editing&nbsp;— Television Animated Series<ref name="gr98" /> || ] || {{nom}}
|-
| Best Sound Editing&nbsp;— Television Animation — Music<ref name="gr98" /> || Cartoon Network || {{nom}}
|-
| ] || ]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cow and Chicken |url=https://www.emmys.com/shows/cow-and-chicken |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924151147/http://www.emmys.com/shows/cow-and-chicken |archive-date=2015-09-24 |access-date=2013-04-15 |website=Emmys.com |publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences}}</ref> || {{unbulleted list|], Vincent Davis, David Feiss, ], ], and Michael Ryan|{{small|for "Free Inside!/Journey to the Center of Cow"}}}} || {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan=3|1999 || ] || Outstanding Individual Achievement for Voice Acting in an Animated Television Production<ref>{{Cite web |title=27th Annual Annie Award Nominees and Winners (1999) |url=https://annieawards.org/27th-annie-awards |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140401040333/http://annieawards.org/27th-annie-awards |archive-date=2014-04-01 |access-date=2013-01-26 |website=AnnieAwards.org |publisher=ASIFA-Hollywood}}</ref> || {{unbulleted list|]|{{small|as Cow}}}} || {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2"|] || Best Sound Editing — Television Animated Series — Sound<ref name="gr99">{{Cite web |title=Motion Picture Sound Editors, USA (1999) |url=https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000452/1999 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130601004002/http://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000452/1999 |archive-date=2013-06-01 |access-date=2013-01-26 |website=IMDb}}</ref> || Cartoon Network || {{nom}}
|-
| Best Sound Editing&nbsp;— Television Animation — Music<ref name="gr99" /> || Cartoon Network || {{nom}}
|}


==Merchandise== ==Other media==
Cow makes a cameo in the beginning of '']'' episode "Herbicidal Maniac" giving General Skarr fertilizer.
]
===DVD releases===
It has been announced that ''Cow & Chicken: Season 1'', a two-disc set featuring the complete first season which contains 13 complete episodes, will be released by ] in ] (]) on ], ]. There are currently no plans for a ] release, however ] has stated in an interview that they are "...in conversations with ]" for ] collections of various cartoons, among which is Cow and Chicken. <ref name="dvd">{{cite web|url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=5803 |title=Home Theatre Forum Warner Bros Chat Transcript - Part 2 |author= Lacey, Gord |publisher=TVShowsonDVD.com |date = ] |accessdate=2007-03-26}}</ref>


During the '']'' episode "Once Upon a Toon", Cow and Chicken are among the classic cartoon characters reunited in a spoof of ABC's '']''.
===Toys===
Recently, according to AnimationInsider.net,<ref name="toy">{{cite web|url=http://www.animationinsider.net/article.php?articleID=1272|title=CN Enterprises Announcements |author= Bynum, Aaron H.|publisher=AnimationInsider.net | date = ]|accessdate=2007-03-26}}</ref> Cow and Chicken, among many other Cartoon Network shows from the 1990s, will be in a new toy line in the fall of 2007. Cartoon Network has not yet released any other information on the subject of Cow and Chicken specifically.


Cow and Chicken, The Red Guy, and I. M. Weasel have all been characters in the game ]. The game is for the ], ] and the ]. The two main characters, Cow and Chicken, made cameo appearances as aliens in '']''. They were the second Cartoon Network characters to make cameo appearances in the ''Ben 10'' franchise, Billy from ''The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy'' being the first. Adler reprised his roles for the cameo.


In the '']'' episode "]", Chicken and I.M. Weasel (with ] reprising his role as Weasel for a speaking cameo) made cameo appearances as two of the Cartoon Network heroes that were summoned by Strike, and also Cow (as SuperCow) appears as one of the Cartoon Network heroes that ] ('']'') shapeshifts into.
==Media information==
===Broadcast history===
*] ]-] (first run), ]-] (reruns).
*] ]-present (reruns).


The Red Guy briefly appears in the '']'' episode "Vote Raspberry", where he is shown to reside in Hell once again. For this appearance, he is voiced by ].
===Controversial episodes===
The episode titled "Buffalo Gals" was banned because of its innuendos implying that the Buffalo Gals were lesbians and its lesbian stereotypes.<ref name ="buffalo">{{cite web | title = Trivia for "Cow and Chicken"| publisher = The Internet Movie Database | url = http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118289/trivia| accessdate = 2007-07-05}}</ref> Some of the innuendos and sexual content included the carpet calling card Cow uses to find The Buffalo Gals, Mom's line "It's the Buffalo Gals, a biker group that randomly breaks into people's houses and ]," the name of one of the bikers being "Munch Kelly", and the Buffalo Gals playing softball and talking about "pitching" and "catching". Cartoon Network had aired "Buffalo Gals" only once, and since then it was replaced with the episode "Orthodontic Police".


===Home media===
Another episode, "Comet!", was edited after its first showing. On the part where Dad hits his golf ball too far, he originally shouts, "Oh, divot!". This language offended people, due to the fact that it sounded like damn it, and almost led to cancellation. On reruns, this was edited by having the Dad shout, "Oh..." followed by a few seconds of silence and a repeat of Dad yelling, "Two!" The unedited episode could be seen on ] August 26th to October 8th 2007.
''Cow and Chicken: Season 1'', a two-disc set featuring the complete first season which contains 13 complete episodes, was released by ] in Australia (] ]) on September 12, 2007.<ref name="Madman1">{{Cite web |title=Cow and Chicken Season 1 |url=https://www.madman.com.au/catalogue/view/8799/cow-and-chicken-season-1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120411070308/http://www.madman.com.au/catalogue/view/8799/cow-and-chicken-season-1 |archive-date=2012-04-11 |access-date=2012-07-01 |website=Madman.com.au |publisher=]}}</ref> ''Season 2'' came out on February 10, 2010, by the same company in Australia.<ref name="Madman2">{{Cite web |title=Cow and Chicken Season 2 |url=https://www.madman.com.au/catalogue/view/12205/cow-and-chicken-season-2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120430192532/http://www.madman.com.au/catalogue/view/12205/cow-and-chicken-season-2 |archive-date=2012-04-30 |access-date=2012-07-01 |website=Madman.com.au |publisher=]}}</ref> The entire series got partially released on DVD in Thailand as 4 season sets, containing Thai and English audio, with the segment "Buffalo Gals" banned from these releases.
<!--No Smoking is NOT banned!-->

The video game '']'' contains the episodes "Black Sheep of the Family" and "Child Star" (PS2 version only) as unlockable extras.

All 4 seasons were released on iTunes and Amazon as of August 16, 2018.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! Title !! Format !! Format !! Country !! Distributor !! Release date !! Ref.
|-
| ''Cartoon Cartoons: Cow and Chicken''
| rowspan="3" | VHS
| NTSC
| United States
| Cartoon Network
| 1998
| <ref>{{Cite web |title=Cartoon Cartoons: Cow and Chicken |url=https://vhscollector.com/movie/cartoon-cartoons-cow-and-chicken |access-date=26 December 2019 |website=VHSCollector.com |archive-date=July 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210718014511/https://vhscollector.com/movie/cartoon-cartoons-cow-and-chicken |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| ''Cow and Chicken: Volume 1''
| rowspan="2" | PAL
| United Kingdom
| ] (UK)
| {{N/A}}
|
|-
| ''Cow and Chicken: Who Is Super Cow?''
| Australia
| ] (Australia)
| {{N/A}}
|
|-
| ''Cow and Chicken: Season 1''
| rowspan="2" | DVD
| rowspan="2" | PAL
| rowspan="2" | Australia
| rowspan="2" | ]
| September 12, 2007
| <ref name="Madman1" />
|-
| ''Cow and Chicken: Season 2''
| February 10, 2010
| <ref name="Madman2" />
|}

'''American releases'''
* ''Cartoon Network Halloween - 9 Creepy Capers'': "Cow with Four Eyes" (August 10, 2004)<ref>{{Citation |title=Cartoon Network Halloween - 9 Creepy Capers |asin=B000244ESI}}</ref>
* ''Cartoon Network Christmas - Yuletide Follies'': "Me an' My Dog" (October 5, 2004)<ref>{{Citation |title=Cartoon Network Christmas - Yuletide Follies |asin=B0002I84M6}}</ref>

===Promotions===
] promoted the series with a licensed kids meal featuring five toys from ''Cow and Chicken'' at 4200 restaurants beginning in February 1999.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Ebenkamp |first=Becky |date=February 15, 1999 |title=Cow and Chicken Joins Taco Bell Promo Menu |magazine=] |volume=40 |issue=7 |page=53 |issn=1064-4318}}</ref>

===Video games===
Cow, Chicken, and the Red Guy are playable characters in the 2006 ] ''Cartoon Network Racing'', which released on the ] and ]. The PlayStation 2 version includes Flem and Earl as playable characters.

Cow/Supercow, Chicken, and the Red Guy are playable characters in the ] video game '']'', which released on the ] in North America on November 17, 2004.

Cow and Chicken are playable characters and other characters cameo from the show in the party video game Cartoon Network: Block Party, which released on the Game Boy Advance in North America on August 5, 2004.

Cow and Chicken: Super Cow Adventure platform java game developed by Cobra Mobile was released on mobile devices on 2007. The Red Guy kidnaps Chicken and Cow must save him and defeat The Red Guy. The game contains 21 level and 1 mini game.

In the online video game '']'', one of the character items is based on ''Cow and Chicken''. Cow and Chicken's cousin, Boneless Chicken, can also be seen on a billboard in the game. Though not in the game, Cow is seen as Supercow as a statue at Mt. Neverest.


==See also== ==See also==
*''].'' * '']''
*] * '']''
*] * ]
* '']''
* '']''
* '']''

==Notes==
{{notelist}}


==References== ==References==
{{reflist|2}} {{Reflist}}


== External links == ==External links==
{{Wikiquote|Cow and Chicken}}
*
* {{Official website|https://www.cartoonnetwork.com/doc/cowchicken/main.html}} at ]'s Department of Cartoons ({{Webarchive|title=Archived|url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991013050338/http://cartoonnetwork.com/doc/cowchicken/main.html|date=1999-10-13}})
*
* {{IMDb title}}
* at the ]
* {{Rotten Tomatoes TV|cow_and_chicken}}
* {{Toonopedia|cowchick.htm}}


{{Annie Award for Best Animated Short Subject}}
{{Cartoon Cartoons}}
{{Former Cartoon Network original programming}}
]
{{Hanna-Barbera}}
]
{{Rough Draft Studios}}
]
{{Portal bar|Cartoon Network|Cartoon|1990s|Television|United States}}
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Latest revision as of 06:38, 25 December 2024

American animated comedy television series created by David Feiss

Cow and Chicken
Genre
Created byDavid Feiss
Voices of
Theme music composerGuy Moon
Opening theme"Cow and Chicken"
Ending theme"Cow and Chicken" (Instrumental)
ComposerGuy Moon
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons4
No. of episodes52 (104 segments) (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
Producers
Running time14 minutes
Production companyHanna-Barbera Cartoons
Original release
NetworkCartoon Network
ReleaseJuly 15, 1997 (1997-07-15) –
August 13, 1999 (1999-08-13)
Related

Cow and Chicken is an American animated comedy television series created by David Feiss for Cartoon Network. It is the third of the network's Cartoon Cartoons. It follows the surreal adventures of two talking animal siblings, Cow and Chicken. They are often antagonized by the Red Guy, a cartoonish version of the Devil who poses as various characters to scam them.

The original pilot appeared as an episode of the animation showcase series What a Cartoon!. The popularity of the original short allowed Hanna-Barbera Cartoons to give it the green light for a full series, which premiered on July 15, 1997. Originally, Cow and Chicken was attached to another segment called I Am Weasel, which was later spun-off into its own half-hour series on June 10, 1999; both shows were the final shows on the network to be produced solely by Hanna-Barbera. It was nominated for two Emmy Awards.

Premise

Cow (left) and her older brother Chicken (right).

The series focuses on the misadventures of two unlikely yet somehow biological siblings: the sweet-natured, dim, ecstatic, anthropomorphic Cow and her cynical older brother Chicken (both voiced by Charlie Adler). The two are often caught in escapades with their flamboyant enemy, the Red Guy (Adler), a comical version of the Devil himself who disguises himself under various personas, usually to either scam everyone around or just for fun. However, he once tried to take Chicken to Hell.

Supporting characters include Chicken and Cow's delirious human parents Dad and Mom (Dee Bradley Baker and Candi Milo, respectively), only seen from the waist down and implied to have no torsos, heads, or arms; Chicken's best friends Flem (Howard Morris) and Earl (Dan Castellaneta); and their cousin, Boneless Chicken (Adler). Cow has her favorite dolls, Crabs the Warthog, Piles the Beaver, and Manure the Bear, who is a polar bear.

The series draws on eccentric, surreal, grotesque, and repulsive humor. For example, Cow and Chicken always order "pork butts and taters" in the cafeteria, the Red Guy always shows his butt, and characters often pepper their speech with malapropisms and sarcasm. The humor and storylines depicted are often based on traditional childhood worries, anxieties, or phobias such as cooties or venturing into the girls' restroom, but enhanced comically.

Production

Development

David Feiss first created Cow and Chicken as a story for his daughter. Feiss was an animator who had worked with Hanna-Barbera and related projects since 1978.

Years later, Feiss was called to submit ideas for What a Cartoon!, a series of various animated shorts from numerous creators and writers, created by Hanna-Barbera president Fred Seibert. Feiss submitted three ideas to executive producer Larry Huber, one of which was Cow and Chicken. Cow and Chicken premiered on What a Cartoon! in 1995. Later, Hanna-Barbera decided to turn Cow and Chicken into a full series, following many letters from fans asking for more.

Voice actors

A single actor, Charlie Adler, voiced the three leading roles of Cow, Chicken, and the Red Guy. Supporting voices included Candi Milo and Dee Bradley Baker as Mom and Dad, and Dan Castellaneta and Howard Morris as Earl and Flem.

Guest stars included Feiss, Will Ferrell, Carlos Alazraqui, Tom Kenny, Jill Talley, Dom DeLuise, Michael Gough, Mark Hamill, Jess Harnell, Jim Belushi, Pamela Adlon, and many others.

Episodes

Main article: List of Cow and Chicken episodes
SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
PilotNovember 12, 1995 (1995-11-12)
113July 15, 1997 (1997-07-15)October 7, 1997 (1997-10-07)
213January 13, 1998 (1998-01-13)April 7, 1998 (1998-04-07)
313September 1, 1998 (1998-09-01)May 3, 1999 (1999-05-03)
413April 26, 1999 (1999-04-26)August 13, 1999 (1999-08-13)

Cow and Chicken has a total of 52 episodes in 4 seasons that were produced from July 1997 to July 1999. Each half-hour contains 2 Cow and Chicken and 1 I Am Weasel segment. Cow and Chicken premiered as a full half-hour on July 15, 1997. The series ran for 52 episodes through 1999. As a supporting segment, the show included a cartoon called I Am Weasel; this segment was spun off as an independent series that premiered on June 10, 1999. Typically, an episode would consist of two seven-minute Cow and Chicken shorts playing back-to-back, then followed by a seven-minute I Am Weasel short before the end credits. The exception to this structure was episode 105 ("The Ugliest Weenie"), which had the Weasel short ("I Are Big Star") play in-between the two Cow and Chicken shorts, possibly because said shorts were one storyline.

Censorship

The second season segment "Buffalo Gals", first paired with "Cow and Chicken Reclining", was banned by Cartoon Network after they received one letter of complaint from a parent about the episode's visual and verbal innuendo about the titular biker group being lesbians. In the segment, the Buffalo Gals break into people's homes to chew on the carpet, a biker named Munch Kelly has a carpet swatch for a calling card, and when Dad freaks out over the Buffalo Gals in the house, Mom says, "They're not after you." In addition, the Buffalo Gals play softball and talk about pitching and catching.

"Buffalo Gals" only aired once on June 27, 1998, and was replaced with "Orthodontic Police" in future airings, including on Netflix streaming and reruns on Boomerang. The episode was also discussed on an installment of Rob Paulsen's Talkin' Toons special featuring Cow and Chicken creator David Feiss and voice actor Charlie Adler when an audience member asked why "Buffalo Gals" only aired once.

Reception

KJ Dell'Antonia of Common Sense Media gave the show three stars out of five, describing it as "if Ren & Stimpy starred in Monty Python..."

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result
1996 Annie Award Best Animated Short Subject Won
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming One Hour or Less) Nominated
1997 Annie Award Best Individual Achievement: Storyboarding in a TV Production
  • Nora Johnson
  • for "Orthodontic Police"
 Won
1998 Outstanding Individual Achievement for Music in an Animated Television Production
  • Bill Burnett and Guy Moon
  • for "The Ugliest Weenie, Part 2"
 Nominated
Outstanding Individual Achievement for Producing in an Animated Television Production Vincent Davis Won
Outstanding Individual Achievement for Storyboarding in an Animated Television Production Nominated
Golden Reel Award Best Sound Editing — Sound Effects Greg LaPlante Nominated
Best Sound Editing — Television Animated Series Cartoon Network Nominated
Best Sound Editing — Television Animation — Music Cartoon Network Nominated
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming One Hour or Less) Nominated
1999 Annie Award Outstanding Individual Achievement for Voice Acting in an Animated Television Production Nominated
Golden Reel Award Best Sound Editing — Television Animated Series — Sound Cartoon Network Nominated
Best Sound Editing — Television Animation — Music Cartoon Network Nominated

Other media

Cow makes a cameo in the beginning of The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy episode "Herbicidal Maniac" giving General Skarr fertilizer.

During the Mad episode "Once Upon a Toon", Cow and Chicken are among the classic cartoon characters reunited in a spoof of ABC's Once Upon a Time.

The two main characters, Cow and Chicken, made cameo appearances as aliens in Ben 10: Omniverse. They were the second Cartoon Network characters to make cameo appearances in the Ben 10 franchise, Billy from The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy being the first. Adler reprised his roles for the cameo.

In the OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes episode "Crossover Nexus", Chicken and I.M. Weasel (with Michael Dorn reprising his role as Weasel for a speaking cameo) made cameo appearances as two of the Cartoon Network heroes that were summoned by Strike, and also Cow (as SuperCow) appears as one of the Cartoon Network heroes that Ben Tennyson (Ben 10) shapeshifts into.

The Red Guy briefly appears in the Jellystone! episode "Vote Raspberry", where he is shown to reside in Hell once again. For this appearance, he is voiced by Dana Snyder.

Home media

Cow and Chicken: Season 1, a two-disc set featuring the complete first season which contains 13 complete episodes, was released by Madman Entertainment in Australia (Region 4 PAL) on September 12, 2007. Season 2 came out on February 10, 2010, by the same company in Australia. The entire series got partially released on DVD in Thailand as 4 season sets, containing Thai and English audio, with the segment "Buffalo Gals" banned from these releases.

The video game Cartoon Network Racing contains the episodes "Black Sheep of the Family" and "Child Star" (PS2 version only) as unlockable extras.

All 4 seasons were released on iTunes and Amazon as of August 16, 2018.

Title Format Format Country Distributor Release date Ref.
Cartoon Cartoons: Cow and Chicken VHS NTSC United States Cartoon Network 1998
Cow and Chicken: Volume 1 PAL United Kingdom Warner Home Video (UK) —
Cow and Chicken: Who Is Super Cow? Australia Warner Home Video (Australia) —
Cow and Chicken: Season 1 DVD PAL Australia Madman Entertainment September 12, 2007
Cow and Chicken: Season 2 February 10, 2010

American releases

  • Cartoon Network Halloween - 9 Creepy Capers: "Cow with Four Eyes" (August 10, 2004)
  • Cartoon Network Christmas - Yuletide Follies: "Me an' My Dog" (October 5, 2004)

Promotions

Taco Bell promoted the series with a licensed kids meal featuring five toys from Cow and Chicken at 4200 restaurants beginning in February 1999.

Video games

Cow, Chicken, and the Red Guy are playable characters in the 2006 racing game Cartoon Network Racing, which released on the PlayStation 2 and Nintendo DS. The PlayStation 2 version includes Flem and Earl as playable characters.

Cow/Supercow, Chicken, and the Red Guy are playable characters in the kart racing video game Cartoon Network Speedway, which released on the Game Boy Advance in North America on November 17, 2004.

Cow and Chicken are playable characters and other characters cameo from the show in the party video game Cartoon Network: Block Party, which released on the Game Boy Advance in North America on August 5, 2004.

Cow and Chicken: Super Cow Adventure platform java game developed by Cobra Mobile was released on mobile devices on 2007. The Red Guy kidnaps Chicken and Cow must save him and defeat The Red Guy. The game contains 21 level and 1 mini game.

In the online video game FusionFall, one of the character items is based on Cow and Chicken. Cow and Chicken's cousin, Boneless Chicken, can also be seen on a billboard in the game. Though not in the game, Cow is seen as Supercow as a statue at Mt. Neverest.

See also

Notes

  1. As depicted in the pilot No Smoking.

References

  1. Perlmutter, David (2018). The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 138–139. ISBN 978-1538103739.
  2. Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. pp. 218–219. ISBN 978-1476665993.
  3. ^ "Animator Profile: David Feiss". cartoonnetworkla.com. Cartoon Network. Archived from the original on May 16, 2006. Retrieved July 20, 2007.
  4. ^ "Cow and Chicken, and I Am Weasel — Two Animated Cartoon Series". h2g2. BBC. September 5, 2002. Archived from the original on August 1, 2013. Retrieved July 20, 2007.
  5. Feiss, David (January 12, 2000). "Episode Guide: Cow and Chicken and I Am Weasel". Archived from the original on December 12, 2006. Retrieved July 5, 2011.
  6. ^ Gallo, Phil (July 15, 1997). "Cow and Chicken". Variety. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on October 3, 2013. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  7. Kilmer, David (June 11, 1999). "Cartoon Network Sets Premiere for I Am Weasel". Animation World Network. Archived from the original on May 16, 2021. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  8. Scibelli, Anthony (August 6, 2010). "The 6 Creepiest Things Ever Slipped into Children's Cartoons". Cracked. Archived from the original on May 11, 2011. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
  9. Dell'Antonia, KJ. "Cow and Chicken TV Review". Common Sense Media. Archived from the original on February 14, 2024. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
  10. "24th Annie Award Winners Announced". Animation World Magazine. 1 (9). Animation World Network. December 1996. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
  11. "Cow and Chicken in No Smoking". Emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on July 28, 2014. Retrieved April 15, 2013.
  12. "25th Annual Annie Award Nominees and Winners (1997)". AnnieAwards.org. ASIFA-Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 30, 2015. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  13. ^ "26th Annual Annie Award Nominees and Winners (1998)". AnnieAwards.org. ASIFA-Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 23, 2013. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  14. ^ "Motion Picture Sound Editors, USA (1998)". IMDb. Archived from the original on April 10, 2015. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  15. "Cow and Chicken". Emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved April 15, 2013.
  16. "27th Annual Annie Award Nominees and Winners (1999)". AnnieAwards.org. ASIFA-Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 1, 2014. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  17. ^ "Motion Picture Sound Editors, USA (1999)". IMDb. Archived from the original on June 1, 2013. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  18. ^ "Cow and Chicken Season 1". Madman.com.au. Madman Entertainment. Archived from the original on April 11, 2012. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  19. ^ "Cow and Chicken Season 2". Madman.com.au. Madman Entertainment. Archived from the original on April 30, 2012. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  20. "Cartoon Cartoons: Cow and Chicken". VHSCollector.com. Archived from the original on July 18, 2021. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
  21. Cartoon Network Halloween - 9 Creepy Capers, ASIN B000244ESI
  22. Cartoon Network Christmas - Yuletide Follies , ASIN B0002I84M6
  23. Ebenkamp, Becky (February 15, 1999). "Cow and Chicken Joins Taco Bell Promo Menu". Brandweek. Vol. 40, no. 7. p. 53. ISSN 1064-4318.

External links

Annie Award for Best Animated Short Subject
Former Cartoon Network original programming
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