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{{Short description|American animated television series}} | |||
{{refimprove|date=May 2011}} | |||
{{ |
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}} | ||
{{Infobox television | {{Infobox television | ||
| |
| image = I Am Weasel intertitle.png | ||
| image_upright = 1.18 | |||
| image = ] | |||
| caption = |
| caption = Title card featuring I.M. Weasel | ||
| genre = |
| genre = {{plainlist| | ||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
}} | |||
| creator = ] | | creator = ] | ||
| director = |
| director = {{Plainlist| | ||
* David Feiss<ref name="Titlecards">Episodes title cards of ''I Am Weasel''.</ref> | |||
| voices = ]<br>] | |||
* Robin Steele{{efn|12 episodes}}<ref name="Titlecards" /> | |||
| theme_music_composer = Bill Fulton | |||
* ]{{efn|1 episode}}<ref name="Titlecards" /> | |||
| opentheme = "I Am Weasel Theme" | |||
}} | |||
| endtheme = "I Am Weasel Theme" (instrumental) | |||
| |
| story = {{Plainlist| | ||
* David Feiss<ref name="Titlecards" /> | |||
| country = ] | |||
* ]<ref name="Titlecards" /> | |||
* Michael Ryan<ref name="Titlecards" /> | |||
* Nora Johnson<ref name="Titlecards" /> | |||
* ]<ref name="Titlecards" /> | |||
* Steve Marmel<ref name="Titlecards" /> | |||
}} | |||
| writer = {{Plainlist| | |||
* ]<ref name="Titlecards" /> | |||
* ]<ref name="Titlecards" /> | |||
}} | |||
| voices = {{Plainlist| | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
}} | |||
| theme_music_composer = {{Plainlist| | |||
* Bill Fulton{{efn|Melody}}<ref name="BillFulton" /><ref name="FeissSongs" /> | |||
* Richard Pursel{{efn|Lyrics}}<ref name="FeissSongs" /><ref name="Credits" /> | |||
}} | |||
| opentheme = "I Am Weasel", performed by ]<ref name="FeissSongs" /><ref name="Credits" /> | |||
| endtheme = "I Am Weasel" (instrumental) | |||
| composer = Bill Fulton<ref name="BillFulton" /><ref name="FeissSongs" /> | |||
| country = United States | |||
| language = English | | language = English | ||
| channel = ] | |||
| executive_producer = {{Plainlist| | |||
* ]<ref name="Credits" /> | |||
* ]{{efn|Season 1}}<ref name="Credits" /> | |||
* ]{{efn|Seasons 1–2}}<ref name="Credits" /> | |||
}} | |||
| producer = {{Plainlist| | |||
* David Feiss<ref name="Credits" /> | |||
* Vincent Davis<ref>{{Cite web |title=I Am Weasel - Cast, Credits & Awards |url=http://tv.nytimes.com/show/156589/I-Am-Weasel/details |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20110714220621/http://tv.nytimes.com/show/156589/I-Am-Weasel/details |archive-date=July 14, 2011 |access-date=November 20, 2010 |website=]}}</ref><ref name="Hollywood.com">{{Cite web |title=Vincent Davis |url=https://www.hollywood.com/celebrities/vincent-davis-58682544/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201232844/http://www.hollywood.com/celebrities/vincent-davis-58682544/ |archive-date=December 1, 2017 |access-date=December 1, 2017 |website=Hollywood.com}}</ref> | |||
* ]{{efn|Supervising producer, seasons 2–3}}<ref name="Hollywood.com" /> | |||
}} | |||
| company = ] | |||
| num_seasons = 5 | | num_seasons = 5 | ||
| num_episodes = 79 | | num_episodes = 79 | ||
| list_episodes = List of I Am Weasel episodes | | list_episodes = List of I Am Weasel episodes | ||
| runtime = 7 minutes | |||
| executive_producer = Sherry Gunther<br>Larry Huber<br>Brian A. Miller<br>Linda Simmensky<br>Khaki Jones | |||
| first_aired = {{Start date|1997|7|22}}<ref name="FeissEpisodes" /> | |||
| producer = ]<ref name="tv.nytimes.com">{{cite news |url=http://tv.nytimes.com/show/156589/I-Am-Weasel/details|title=I Am Weasel - Cast, Credits & Awards|author=The New York Times|accessdate=November 20, 2010}}</ref> | |||
| last_aired = {{End date|2000}}<!-- DON'T ADD A MONTH AND A DAY WITHOUT A RELIABLE SOURCE, THE ONLY SOURCE EVER FOUND STATES ONLY THE YEAR. --><ref name="WhosWhoinCartoons">{{Cite book |last=Lenburg |first=Jeff |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FVShFCjVzvIC&q=%22i+am+weasel%22&pg=PA80 |title=Who's Who in Animated Cartoons |publisher=] |year=2006 |isbn=978-1-55783-671-7 |location=New York |page=81 |access-date=October 20, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211123015143/https://books.google.com/books?id=FVShFCjVzvIC&q=%22i+am+weasel%22&pg=PA80 |archive-date=November 23, 2021 |url-status=live |via=]}}</ref> | |||
| runtime = 7 minutes approx.<br>(per episode) | |||
| company = ]<br>] | |||
| distributor = ] | |||
| channel = ] | |||
| picture_format = ] (]) | |||
| audio_format = ] | |||
| first_aired = {{Start date|1997|7|15}} | |||
| last_aired = {{End date|2000}} | |||
| related = '']'' | | related = '']'' | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''''I Am Weasel''''' |
'''''I Am Weasel''''' is an American ] created by ] for ]. It is the fourth of the network's ] and the final to be produced solely by ]. The series centers on I.M. Weasel (voiced by ]), a smart, noble and successful ], I.R. Baboon (voiced by ]), an idiotic and arrogant ] who is envious of Weasel and acts as both his ], and the mischievous, flamboyant Red Guy (also voiced by Adler), who returns from '']'' to antagonize the duo. | ||
''I Am Weasel'' originally aired as a segment of ''Cow and Chicken'' from 1997 to 1999, often airing as the third of three segments in an episode,<ref>{{Cite episode |title=The Ugliest Weenie - Part 2 |series=] |date=1997 |season=1 |number=5}}</ref> and eventually became a ] into its own series. A fifth season with 27 new episodes aired from June 10, 1999, to 2000 and joined the original 52 which were previously part of ''Cow and Chicken''. The entire series includes 79 episodes overall. | |||
The series chronicles the adventures of I.M. Weasel, an internationally famous, highly intelligent and much talented ] who is adored by everyone, and I.R. Baboon, an ugly and idiotic ] who is envious about Weasel's success and constantly tries to be better than him. The show premise begins from a humorous take on the classic ] "]"; in fact, the series theme song, composed by Bill Fulton,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://billfulton.com/about/music-production/|title=Music Production|last=Fulton|first=Bill|accessdate=September 29, 2010}}</ref> written by Richard Pursel, and sung by ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20061212174723/http://david-feiss.netfirms.com/songs.html#IMWeasel|title=Songs from both shows - I Am Weasel|last=Feiss|first=David|year=2000|accessdate=July 6, 2011}}</ref> is based on the well-known musical version of the rhyme.<ref>Episode 19 / Season 2, Episode 6: "I Are Music Man" (1998): In a scene of the episode, The Red Guy repeatedly sings switches from the series' theme song and "Pop Goes the Weasel".</ref> | |||
== Premise == | |||
''I Am Weasel'' was originally a part of the '']'' show, often airing as the third of three segments in an episode, after two ''Cow and Chicken'' segments. Eventually, ''I Am Weasel'' was ] into its own series, aired in 1999 with reruns airing until April 2006, with both new episodes and the episodes that had aired on ''Cow and Chicken'' included in this series, totaling 79 episodes. | |||
The series chronicles the random adventures of two ] ]: I.M. Weasel (]) and I.R. Baboon (]). The first one is a famous, heroic, eloquent, highly intelligent and very talented ] who always tries to help people out and is thus adored by everybody, constantly shouting his catchphrase "I am Weasel!" while pointing high in the air before going after help.<ref name="Opening">Opening sequence of ''I Am Weasel''</ref> The latter is his ], an ugly and idiotic ] who is envious of Weasel's success and constantly tries to do better than he does (also doing a victory dance to express his joy when thinking he is doing so),<ref name="Opening" /> and failing miserably after all due to his total stupidity. | |||
Starting from season two, the Red Guy (Charlie Adler), a main character in ''Cow and Chicken'', also gets that role in ''I Am Weasel'', where he is also referred to as "I.B. Red Guy", an allusion to Weasel's and Baboon's names.<ref name="WrongCartoon" /> His addition to the series makes him gradually take the role of villain from I.R., who becomes more friendly to Weasel, despite still despising him. | |||
Today, the series is labeled a classic of Cartoon Network's late 1990s collection of ] (a collective name for the network's original animated programming). Since April 13, 2012, it is being aired on Cartoon Network, on the block '']''. | |||
As the series progresses, I.M. Weasel, initially showed as a competent protagonist, gradually loses the focus to I.R. Baboon, because people are shown to get gradually dumber,<ref name="I.R. Role Model">{{Cite episode |title=I.R. Role Model |series=I Am Weasel |network=] |date=1998 |season=2 |number=23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite episode |title=Baboon Man and Weasel Boy |series=I Am Weasel |network=] |date=1999 |season=5 |number=60}}</ref> sometimes being manipulated by the Red Guy into stupidity.<ref name="I.R. Role Model" /> In the ], I.R. is finally presented as the true star of the show instead of him.<ref name="IAreLegend" /> | |||
==Characters== | |||
The series usually consists of two ] ]s: I.M. Weasel and I.R. Baboon. Both characters' species are as suggested by their names. | |||
Supporting characters include Loulabelle (], ]), Jolly Roger (]) and Admiral Bullets (], ]). Many characters from ''Cow and Chicken'' make ]s in ''I Am Weasel'' from season two, these include: Cow, Chicken (Charlie Adler), Mom, Teacher (]), Dad (]), Flem (]), and Earl (]).<ref name="Voices" /><ref name="Credits" /> | |||
===I.M. Weasel=== | |||
I.M. Weasel is a globally-celebrated, heroic, kindhearted ] ] who serves as the titular character of the program. He is noted and admired for his endless, humongous assortment of unselfish, amazing, brilliant talents or achievements, and is honored and respected deeply for his extensive skill, knowledge, or experience in virtually every field imaginable. Wealthy and immensely successful, he resides in a ] beside I.R. Baboon's filthy trailer. However, he is the primary object of I.R.'s animosity and envy for his admirability and fame, and I.R. often tries to emulate or surpass him with no success out of jealousy. On some occasions, I.R.'s hazardous goals may require Weasel's assistance in either rescuing him or helping him. Weasel is commonly accompanied by Loulabelle, an attractive young lady costumed as a ]. | |||
=== Universe setting === | |||
''Voiced by'': ] | |||
While season one does not reference ''Cow and Chicken'', from season two, ''I Am Weasel'' usually takes place in the same universe of that show, due to Red Guy's presence and other characters from that show making occasional cameos.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Rodeo Weasel |series=I Am Weasel |network=] |date=1999 |season=5 |number=76}}</ref><ref name="IAreLegend">{{Cite episode |title=I Are Legend |series=I Am Weasel |network=] |date=2000 |season=5 |number=79}}</ref> David Feiss, in fact, cross-populated both series as it made the work easier and he felt it was always the same universe.<ref name="PlatypusComix" /> Despite so, ''I Am Weasel'' is occasionally presented as a TV show airing in the ''Cow and Chicken'' world, suggesting a separate continuity.<ref name="WrongCartoon">{{Cite episode |title=I.R. in Wrong Cartoon |series=I Am Weasel |network=] |date=1998 |season=2 |number=24}}</ref> The same occurs in another episode, but with the characters in the same universe.<ref name="IAreLegend" /> | |||
=== |
=== Characters === | ||
] | ] | ||
* '''I.M. Weasel''' (]): A highly intelligent, skilled and famous weasel who mostly plays a ] role in a world full of idiots. While very helpful and beloved at the beginning of the series, he eventually starts to show frustration with people's antics and his "hero" status towards them becomes more fallible. | |||
'''I.R. Baboon''' ('''I.R.''' or '''Baboon''' for short) is the ] of the series. He is the exact opposite of Weasel who he is always trying to top in order to be better than him. I.R. is an unintelligent, jealous and ugly baboon, willing to sniff his ] half of the time and has no talent at most things. I.R. is in possession of a bright red ] that he never wears pants to cover, and therefore is ridiculed for it. He is often depicted doing the opposite of what most would consider sensible. As Weasel has good luck, I.R. seems to have bad luck: for instance, when he was about to get married, his ] fell in love with someone else and left him standing at the altar.<ref>Season 3, Episode 37: "I.R. Do" (1998)</ref> I.R. is also the adoptive father of Grampa, a baby who was left on his doorstep in the episode "I.R. Mommy"; I.R. named it after his grandfather, whom he seems to greatly respect; at the end of the episode, Grampa grows up.<ref>Season 2, Episode 14: "I.R. Mommy" (1998)</ref> | |||
* '''I.R. Baboon''' (]): A dimwitted and jealous baboon, he eventually becomes Weasel's best friend. Shown in the beginning as trying to persuade people's attention from Weasel, always failing miserably and being hated, he eventually gets a "hero" status as the world becomes just as stupid as him. He is known for his habit of going into a rage if people laugh at his buttocks. Always wears a white t-shirt with an upside-down "I.R." written by himself on it. | |||
* '''The Red Guy''' (Charlie Adler): Also cited as "I.B. Red Guy", he is a comical representation of the Devil. He reprises his role from '']'', trying to persuade and scam the central characters under various disguises. He may sometimes play as a third main character. | |||
* '''Jolly Roger''' (]): A fat and tall man who always wears a ] along a ] costume, named after the ].<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Pirate Lessons (Capt. Butz Pirate) |series=Cow and Chicken |date=1998 |season=2 |number=15 |quote=The character first appears suspended over the mast of the pirate ship, where the flag should be.}}</ref> He makes a brief appearance in the middle of season 3<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Unsinkable I.R. |series=I Am Weasel |network=] |date=1998 |season=3 |number=32}}</ref> before becoming the additional character for the show in season 5.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=The Drinking Fountain of Youth |series=I Am Weasel |network=] |date=1999 |season=5 |number=55}}</ref> | |||
* '''Loulabelle''' (] / ]): A gorgeous assistant woman to Weasel, a blonde ]. Also shown as laboratory assistant in two episodes. Loulabelle is implied as Weasel's girlfriend in season 2.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=I.R. Ice Fisher |series=I Am Weasel |network=] |date=1998 |season=2 |number=22}}</ref> Her appearance is downsized as a one-time character in season 3.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Time Weasel |series=I Am Weasel |network=] |date=1998 |season=3 |number=27}}</ref> | |||
* '''Admiral Bullets''' (] / ]): A short-sized ] always seen standing up over a small bench. He appears mostly in the early seasons calling up for Weasel's help. He was last seen in the later episode of season 3 as he is given a darker skin tone and is flying a jet in a war.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=He Said, He Said |series=I Am Weasel |network=] |date=1998 |season=3 |number=39}}</ref> | |||
{{clear}} | |||
== Development and production == | |||
I.R. wears a white ] with his short name "I.R." handwritten<ref>In the opening of the series, I.R. Baboon appear writing his short name with a pen on his T-shirt.</ref> upside-down on the front of it. He lives in a run-down ] near Weasel's mansion. I.R. fails to use proper ] sometimes, explaining the titles for some episodes ("I Are Big Star", "I Are Music Man", "I Are a Artist", "I Are Bellhop", among others), and also refers to himself in ]. He frequently attempts to outdo Weasel in everything, and when he believes that he has done so, will perform a routine victory dance which consists of putting his hands on his hips and jumping around in a circle while repeatedly chanting a declaration of his success. However, in some episodes, I.R. and Weasel are shown to be friends and partners instead of rivals, such as when they were pilots assisting in an "air-migration" service in the episode "I Am Bush Pilot",<ref>Season 3, Episode 30: "I Am Bush Pilot" (1998)</ref> or when there were deceased ghosts trying to scare a D-movie actress portrayed by The Red Guy in the episode "I Are Ghost".<ref>Season 4, Episode 44: "I Are Ghost" (1999)</ref> | |||
=== Creation and concept === | |||
], seen here in 2007.]] | |||
''Cow and Chicken'' started out as the pilot episode "No Smoking" on '']'' in 1995, and was ] to become a series. Cartoon Network demanded a second cartoon to join ''Cow and Chicken'' in its half-hour time slot, so David Feiss came up with ''I Am Weasel'', loosely based upon the novel '']'', one of his favorite books as a teenager.<ref name="PlatypusComix">{{Cite web |last=Pannozzi |first=John |title=Platypus Comix Interviews David Feiss |url=http://www.platypuscomix.net/people/davefeiss.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181008025621/http://www.platypuscomix.net/people/davefeiss.html |archive-date=October 8, 2018 |access-date=October 15, 2018 |website=Platypus Comix}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=September 5, 2002 |title=Cow and Chicken, and I Am Weasel - Two Animated Cartoon Series |url=https://h2g2.com/edited_entry/A767289 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171208125405/https://h2g2.com/edited_entry/A767289 |archive-date=December 8, 2017 |access-date=December 8, 2017 |website=H2G2.com}}</ref><ref name="ComadrejaVIX">{{Cite web |last=Collioud |first=Luz |date=May 10, 2016 |title=¡Recordamos Soy la Comadreja! |url=https://www.vix.com/es/btg/series/62478/recordamos-soy-la-comadreja |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171210123849/https://www.vix.com/es/btg/series/62478/recordamos-soy-la-comadreja |archive-date=December 10, 2017 |access-date=December 10, 2017 |website=VIX |language=es}}</ref> "I was doodling one day, and drew a weasel, with the title 'I Am Weasel', off of one of my favorite books as a teenager, ]'s ''I Am Legend''. I thought against type, that instead of a weasel who was a weasel, this guy would be smart and heroic".<ref name="PlatypusComix" /> | |||
According to Feiss, the idea for creating the show began as a single drawing of I.M. Weasel with the caption "I Am Weasel" and that suggested many stories to him.<ref name="WeaselWorld">{{Cite web |title=Weasel World - Meet the Creator: David Feiss |url=http://www.cartoonnetworkla.com/english/imw/world.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010802095922/http://www.cartoonnetworkla.com/english/imw/world.html |archive-date=August 2, 2001 |access-date=December 1, 2017 |publisher=]}}</ref> The concept for the rivalry between a weasel and a baboon came up from the classic ] "]", where a monkey is said to be chasing a weasel.<ref name="PlatypusComix" /> Also, the fact that the Red Guy does not wear pants was controversial for many people, as he said: "The thing that I never thought that I'd get approval for was the Red Guy. The mere fact that he didn't wear pants was a challenge for a lot of people and I am glad Cartoon Network let it go - he's my favorite character".<ref name="WeaselWorld" /> | |||
In the series finale "I Are Legend", Baboon finally becomes the star of the show, after Weasel quit in an attempt to release people from the horrors of television.<ref>Season 5, Episode 79: "I Are Legend"</ref> | |||
Production began around April 1996<ref>{{Cite web |title=I Am Weasel - Storyboards |url=https://www.cartoonnetwork.com/doc/im_weasel/featured_episode2/sb/iwsbh00652-96027_pg001.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000831094051/http://www.cartoonnetwork.com/doc/im_weasel/featured_episode2/sb/iwsbh00652-96027_pg001.html |archive-date=August 31, 2000 |access-date=December 3, 2017 |website=]}}</ref> and the show was inserted as a series of segments in ''Cow and Chicken'' until mid-1999. Right after the end of that show, it was ] into a new separated series produced until September 16, 1999,<ref name="FeissEpisodes">{{Cite web |last=Feiss |first=David |date=January 12, 2000 |title=Episode Guide: Cow and Chicken and I Am Weasel |url=https://david-feiss.netfirms.com/episodes.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061212174713/http://david-feiss.netfirms.com/episodes.html |archive-date=December 12, 2006 |access-date=May 29, 2011 |website=David-Feiss.NetFirms.com}}</ref> with all the previous episodes incorporated and removed from ''Cow and Chicken''. | |||
''Voiced by'': ]. | |||
General production took place at the studio of Hanna-Barbera, in ], with the series being labeled as part of both the collection of cartoons of that company and Cartoon Network's ]. Animation production was made overseas by ], in ].<ref name="Credits" /> | |||
===The Red Guy=== | |||
{{see also|Cow and Chicken#The Red Guy|label 1=The Red Guy}} | |||
{{Expand section|date=September 2011}} | |||
Starting with season two, '''The Red Guy''' became a regular character on ''I Am Weasel'' while still keeping his role on ''Cow and Chicken''. In the series, he is also referred as "I.B. Red Guy", an allusion to Weasel's and Baboon's names. | |||
=== Retooling === | |||
''Voiced by'': ]. | |||
] in 2018.]] | |||
From season two onward, the show's story, ]s and art style underwent significant changes. I.R. Baboon went on to become gradually more friendly to Weasel and less seen as ], as that role was taken over by the Red Guy. ]s from seasons one to three, such as Loulabelle and Admiral Bullets, became less and less seen, completely being absent in seasons four and five. Many characters from '']'' were added as supporting or recurring characters.<ref name="PlatypusComix" /> That was explained by Feiss: "There was a lot of pressure to complete ''Cow and Chicken'' quickly, and I felt that I couldn't dedicate enough time to the second show. But Cartoon Network wanted to spin off ''Weasel'', so we did. I don't really remember asking if I could or could not cross populate the two shows--I just did it because it felt like the same universe, plus I thought it was funny to have the Red Guy in ''I Am Weasel''".<ref name="PlatypusComix" /> | |||
The story started to show more of Weasel's shortcomings and at times allowed him to lapse into a ], suffering similar gags as I.R., as opposed of the invincible ] role he played on season one.<ref name="Season2to5">''I Am Weasel'' - Seasons 2 to 5.</ref> I.R. Baboon started to become more like a hero than a villain, also taking that role from Weasel in some episodes of season five, leading to the finale.<ref name="IAreLegend" /> The show never truly dropped its premise of Weasel serving to contrast Baboon's stupidity and failures (the very thing that allowed Baboon to usurp him in the final episode as the key piece of the entertainment) and that Weasel retained more than enough intelligence and morality to serve as his defining characteristics, among the cast. | |||
===Minor characters=== | |||
* '''Loulabelle''' - Weasel's assistant who usually dresses as a ]. She debuted in the episode "I.R. Mommy", from season two. Her appearances are mostly in that season, with her only appearance in other season in the episode "Time Weasel", from season three, which is also her last appearance in the series. She is supposed to be a girlfriend to Weasel in some episodes. <br />''Voiced by'': ] (in season 2), ] (in season 3). | |||
The exact same art style of ''Cow and Chicken'' is used starting from season two.<ref name="ComadrejaVIX" /> Season one is a bit different, including the title cards for episodes, which feature animation and Weasel saying the name of the episode with additional commentary and/or events, contrasting with the style also used for ''Cow and Chicken'', with static image.<ref name="Season1">''I Am Weasel'' - Season 1.</ref><ref name="Season2to5" /> | |||
* '''Jolly Roger''' - A recurring character named for the ]. He usually wears a white ] (or in some episodes a ]) with ] and a white ], and uses coke-bottle ]. He appears only in season five and in the episode "Unsinkable I.R.", from season three.<ref>Season 3, Episode 32: "Unsinkable I.R." (1998)</ref> <br />''Voiced by:'' ]. | |||
=== Humor style === | |||
* '''Admiral Bullets''' - A ] officer who relies on Weasel's help. He made appearances only in the episodes "This Bridge, Not Weasel Bridge" and "I.R. Mommy", from seasons one and two, respectively.<br />''Voiced by:'' ] (in season 1), ] (in season 2). | |||
Humor relies on ] comedy and moderate ], as typical of many 1990s cartoons, and is based on the existent gap between the central characters, with I.R. Baboon being the center of most ], which are mostly about his stupidity and big red buttocks, though some episodes show I.M. Weasel or the Red Guy also taking this role. Butt jokes are also more frequent when the Red Guy is around and ] of popular culture and other shows and ] also take place in some episodes.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=I Am My Lifetime |series=I Am Weasel |network=] |date=1998 |season=2 |number=20}}</ref><ref>{{Cite episode |title=I Am Clichéd |series=I Am Weasel |network=] |date=1998 |season=4 |number=41}}</ref> | |||
Season one shows Weasel as a "perfect" character without a single display of any character flaw, and Baboon as a buffoonish idiot. Weasel gradually becomes less intelligent and competent alongside the audience, allowing I.R. to take his place as the "star" of the show.<ref name="IAreLegend" /> From season two onward, the Red Guy incorporates the style of humor found in ''Cow and Chicken'', taking the role of villain, but also appearing as a third wheel.<ref name="IAreLegend" /> In season five, Jolly Roger also starts to fill both roles.<ref name="BlueHiney" /> | |||
* '''Cow and Chicken characters''' - Besides the Red Guy, some other characters from ''Cow and Chicken'' made ]s in ''I Am Weasel'' from season two. These include Cow (and Supercow), Chicken, Flem, Earl, Mom, Dad and Teacher. | |||
Episodes usually reference the show name and I.M. Weasel with titles in ],<ref name="Titlecards" /> and a great number of them also make fun of I.R. Baboon's misspelling, with grammatically incorrect names such as "I {{sic|Are|hide=yes}} Big Star", "I {{sic|Are|hide=yes}} Good Salesmans" and "I {{sic|Are|hide=yes}} {{sic|a|hide=yes}} Artiste".<ref name="Titlecards" /> | |||
==Episodes== | |||
{{Main|List of I Am Weasel episodes}} | |||
''I Am Weasel'' has a total of 79 episodes in 5 seasons that were produced from 1996 to September 1999.<ref name="feiss">{{cite web |url=http://web.archive.org/web/20061212174713/http://david-feiss.netfirms.com/episodes.html |title=Episode Guide: Cow and Chicken and I Am Weasel |author=Feiss, David |date=January 12, 2000 |accessdate=May 29, 2011}}</ref> The series original run started on July 15, 1997 with the airing of the eleventh episode "Law of Gravity",<ref name="feiss"/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=j4c1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=dqYFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1308,7322907&dq=i+am+weasel&hl=en |title=Cartoon Network zany relief |author=Boedeker, Hal |date=July 14, 1997 |work=Reading Eagle |publisher=Orlando Sentinel |accessdate=May 29, 2011}}</ref> yet as a series of segments on ''Cow and Chicken''. Later on, the series was separated and premiered as a half-hour show on June 10, 1999.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://articles.latimes.com/1999/jun/10/entertainment/ca-45988 |title=From MTV Awards to Olsen Twins |author=King, Susan |date=June 10, 1999 |work=Los Angeles Times |accessdate=May 30, 2011}}</ref> After the separation, 51 ''I Am Weasel'' episodes originally aired on ''Cow and Chicken'' began to air in the show own time slot, later being joined by 27 new episodes, totaling 79.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.awn.com/news/television/cartoon-network-sets-premiere-i-am-weasel |title=Cartoon Network sets premiere for I AM WEASEL |author=Kilmer, David |work=Animation World Network |date=June 11, 1999 |accessdate=October 20, 2011}}</ref> The series original run ended in early 2000.<ref>{{cite book |title=Who's Who in Animated Cartoons |last=Lenburg |first=Jeff |year=2006 |publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation |location=New York |isbn=978-1-55783-671-7 |page=81 |url=http://books.google.com/?id=FVShFCjVzvIC&pg=PA80&dq=%22i+am+weasel%22#v=onepage&q=%22i%20am%20weasel%22&f=false |accessdate=October 20, 2011}}</ref> | |||
The ] is often broken, mostly at the end of episodes. The characters do it to make some ending commentaries, give advice to spectators or just call for the end of the episode.<ref name="BlueHiney">{{Cite episode |title=My Blue Hiney |series=I Am Weasel |network=] |date=1999 |season=5 |number=66}}</ref> | |||
==In popular culture== | |||
At 30 minutes into the horror film ], you can see the TV playing I.M. Weasel meaning it is on channel Boomerang or Cartoon Network. A young girl was watching this while sitting next to a table. | |||
=== Title, credits and music === | |||
==Merchandise== | |||
The title sequence features I.M. Weasel constantly saying his catchphrase "I am Weasel!" and I.R. Baboon doing his trademarked victory dance.<ref name="Opening" /> The series ending credits were only created in 1999, with the separation; it credits all involved in the three years of production and the theme song is played instrumentally in a ] style, with additional arrangement like orchestrations.<ref name="Credits">''I Am Weasel'' ending credits.</ref> | |||
===DVD releases=== | |||
;Region 1 | |||
In ], some episodes of the series were launched on Cartoon Network's special DVDs for ] and ] released in 2004 and 2005 and distributed by ]. | |||
The theme song was composed by Bill Fulton,<ref name="BillFulton">{{Cite web |last=Fulton |first=Bill |date=December 5, 2016 |title=All Film TV and Video Credits |url=https://billfulton.com/film-tv-video-music/all-credits-list/ |website=BillFulton.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201232618/https://billfulton.com/film-tv-video-music/all-credits-list/ |archive-date=December 1, 2017 |access-date=September 29, 2010}}</ref> written by ], and sung by ].<ref name="FeissSongs">{{Cite web |last=Feiss |first=David |year=2000 |title=Songs from Both Shows - I Am Weasel |url=https://david-feiss.netfirms.com/songs.html#IMWeasel |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061212174723/http://david-feiss.netfirms.com/songs.html#IMWeasel |archive-date=December 12, 2006 |access-date=July 6, 2011 |website=David-Feiss.NetFirms.com}}</ref> Musically, it is a humorous take on the well-known version of "]".<ref>{{Cite episode |title=I Are Music Man |series=I Am Weasel |network=] |date=1998 |season=2 |number=19 |quote=In a scene of the episode, the Red Guy repeatedly sings switches from the series theme song and "Pop Goes the Weasel".}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=March |first=April |title=I Am Weasel Theme by April March |url=https://www.whosampled.com/April-March/I-Am-Weasel-Theme/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171205194616/https://www.whosampled.com/April-March/I-Am-Weasel-Theme/ |archive-date=December 5, 2017 |access-date=December 4, 2017 |website=]}}</ref> | |||
*'''''Cartoon Network Halloween: 9 Creepy Cartoon Capers''''' (August 10, 2004) - episode "I Am Vampire". | |||
*'''''Cartoon Network Christmas: Yuletide Follies''''' (October 5, 2004) - episodes "I.R.'s First Bike" and "Dessert Island". | |||
*'''''Cartoon Network Halloween 2: Grossest Halloween Ever''''' (August 9, 2005) - episode "Power of Odor". | |||
*'''''Cartoon Network Christmas 2: Christmas Rocks''''' (October 4, 2005) - episode "Happy Baboon Holidays". | |||
=== Voice cast === | |||
;Region 3 | |||
{{Multiple image |image1=Michael_Dorn_by_Gage_Skidmore_2.jpg |width1=140 |image2=Charlie Adler Florida Supercon 2015.jpg |width2=152 |footer=] (''left'') and ] (''right''), who provided voices for the three main characters.}} | |||
In ], the series seasons have been released on DVD since 2009 by the Thai company MVD Company Limited. The season one's DVD was launched on December 23, 2009, and the season two's was officially announced in the company's website, but not launched yet.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mvd.co.th/th/products/detail_products.php?Products_ID=1804 |title=I Am Weasel Season 2 |author=MVD Company Limited |accessdate=April 26, 2011}}</ref> | |||
] provided voice for I.M. Weasel and ] did both voices of I.R. Baboon and the Red Guy. Loulabelle was voiced by ] in season two and ] in season three, Jolly Roger by ], and Admiral Bullets by ] in season one and ] in season two.<ref name="Credits" /><ref name="Voices">{{Cite web |title=I Am Weasel (1997) Credits |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/I-Am-Weasel/voice-credits/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201182132/http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/I-Am-Weasel/voice-credits/ |archive-date=December 1, 2017 |access-date=December 1, 2017 |website=BehindTheVoiceActors.com}}</ref> Feiss originally considered ] for the role of I.M. Weasel since he was the announcer of Cartoon Network's sister channel ], but Dorn was recommended to him by his friend and '']'' creator ].<ref name="CartoonBrew">{{Cite web |last=Aguilar |first=Carlos |date=July 15, 2022 |title=25 Years of 'Cow & Chicken': A Conversation with Creator David Feiss |url=https://www.cartoonbrew.com/classic/25-years-of-cow-chicken-a-conversation-with-creator-david-feiss-218785.html |access-date=2023-04-25 |website=]}}</ref> | |||
Additional characters were voiced by the aforementioned along with ], ], ], ], ], ] and ], among others.<ref name="Credits" /><ref name="Voices" /> | |||
Guest stars include ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ]. | |||
== Broadcast == | |||
=== Broadcast history === | |||
A sneak peek for the series was aired on July 15, 1997, with the eleventh episode, "Law of Gravity",<ref name="FeissEpisodes" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Boedeker, Hal |date=July 14, 1997 |title=Cartoon Network Zany Relief |work=] |publisher=] |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=j4c1AAAAIBAJ&pg=1308,7322907&dq=i+am+weasel&hl=en |url-status=live |access-date=May 29, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220406030205/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=j4c1AAAAIBAJ&pg=1308%2C7322907&dq=i+am+weasel&hl=en |archive-date=April 6, 2022 |via=]}}</ref><ref>{{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=2013-10-03 |access-date=December 7, 2017 |website=]}}</ref> and then it started its original run from July 22, 1997 with the second episode, "I.R. on Sun", all yet as a series of segments on ''Cow and Chicken''.<ref name="FeissEpisodes" /> After four seasons, it was separated and premiered as a half-hour show on June 10, 1999,<ref name="MTVOlsen">{{Cite news |last=King, Susan |date=June 10, 1999 |title=From MTV Awards to Olsen Twins |work=] |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-jun-10-ca-45988-story.html |access-date=May 30, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107014532/http://articles.latimes.com/1999/jun/10/entertainment/ca-45988 |archive-date=November 7, 2012}}</ref> and the 52 episodes originally aired on ''Cow and Chicken'' began to air on the show's own time slot, being either in or outside the ''Cartoon Cartoon Fridays'' programming block, and getting joined by 27 new episodes, totaling 79.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kilmer |first=David |date=June 11, 1999 |title=Cartoon Network Sets Premiere for I Am Weasel |url=https://www.awn.com/news/television/cartoon-network-sets-premiere-i-am-weasel |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220406030207/https://www.awn.com/news/cartoon-network-sets-premiere-i-am-weasel |archive-date=April 6, 2022 |access-date=October 20, 2011 |website=]}}</ref> The original run ended in early 2000.<ref name="WhosWhoinCartoons" /><!-- defined by transclusion of List of Episodes --> | |||
Reruns aired prominently from early 2000 to 2002, including on ''Cartoon Cartoon Fridays''. From September 2005 to June 2006, it returned sporadically as segments on '']'', along with other ] from that era.<ref>{{Cite web |title=TV Schedule - Cartoon Cartoon Show |url=http://schedule.cartoonnetwork.com/servlet/ScheduleServlet?action=viewAll&showID=313920&show=Cartoon+Cartoon+Show |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051123104819/http://schedule.cartoonnetwork.com/servlet/ScheduleServlet?action=viewAll&showID=313920&show=Cartoon+Cartoon+Show |archive-date=November 23, 2005 |access-date=December 8, 2017 |publisher=Cartoon Network}}</ref> On April 13, 2012, the series returned on '']'' before being removed in 2013. It was also aired on ], but only with seasons 1 to 4 along the ''Cow and Chicken'' segments, and on ] in the United Kingdom. Some episodes were also made available on Cartoon Network Video in the early 2010s. From June 25, 2017, season one was made available on ] in Australia, along ''Cow and Chicken''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jager |first=Chris |date=May 30, 2017 |title=Everything Coming to Netflix, Stan, Foxtel and Amazon This June |url=https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2017/05/heres-everything-coming-to-netflix-stan-foxtel-and-amazon-this-june/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171210123700/https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2017/05/heres-everything-coming-to-netflix-stan-foxtel-and-amazon-this-june/ |archive-date=December 10, 2017 |access-date=December 9, 2017 |website=LifeHacker Australia}}</ref> It started to be available worldwide on ] from 2022 onward. | |||
The show is rated ] in the United States,<ref>{{Cite web |title=TV Parental Controls |url=https://www.cartoonnetwork.com/legal/ratings.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206151413/http://www.cartoonnetwork.com/legal/ratings.html |archive-date=December 6, 2017 |access-date=December 8, 2017 |publisher=Cartoon Network}}</ref> and G (General) in both Australia and New Zealand.<ref name="MadmanAus" /><ref name="MadmanNZ" /> | |||
==== Brazilian miniseries ==== | |||
In Brazil, an animated ] named ''Terra à Vista'' ("''Land in Sight''") was produced in 2000 for Cartoon Network, and tells the story of the ] with a humorous take, using characters from ], including I.M. Weasel, I.R. Baboon and the Red Guy. It was broadcast on ] from March 6 to April 22, 2000, and has 8 episodes. This series was also the first-ever Cartoon Network production exclusively made for Brazil.<ref>{{Cite web |last=UOL - TV Folha |date=March 5, 2000 |title=Desenho faz piada do Brasil |url=https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/fsp/tvfolha/tv0503200019.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171204114635/http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/fsp/tvfolha/tv0503200019.htm |archive-date=December 4, 2017 |access-date=December 4, 2017 |language=pt}}</ref> | |||
=== Episodes === | |||
{{See also|List of I Am Weasel episodes}} | |||
The series consists of five seasons and 79 episodes. The first four seasons contain the segments that originally aired during broadcasts of ''Cow and Chicken'', while the fifth contains a further 27 episodes produced independently of that show. They were all eventually mend up into the whole ''I Am Weasel'' series, although they still air sometimes within ''Cow and Chicken'' timeslots. | |||
There was a small case of censorship in the episode "I.R. Mommy", in which the letter "N", present on an ] used by I.R. Baboon (a reference to the ]), had to be digitally removed in 1999 after Cartoon Network was sued by the ], who alleged the reference was derogatory for their institution.<ref name="FeissEpisodes" /><ref name="ComadrejaVIX" /><ref name="PlatypusComix" /> No other episode suffered censorship so far.<ref name="ComadrejaVIX" /><ref name="PlatypusComix" /> | |||
{{:List of I Am Weasel episodes}} | |||
=== Ratings === | |||
It became one of the most successful Cartoon Network original series of its time, usually being remembered along other major ] and recording high ratings for the network in both incarnations of season one and seasons two to five. | |||
In 1997 and 1998, ''I Am Weasel'' along ''Cow and Chicken'', '']'' and '']'', were responsible for increasing Cartoon Network's average ratings.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Time Warner |date=July 28, 1998 |title=A Child Scientist, a Cow and a Chicken Lead Cartoon Network to Best Month Ever |url=https://www.warnermediagroup.com/newsroom/press-releases/1998/07/28/a-child-scientist-a-cow-and-a-chicken-lead-cartoon-network-to |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203093633/https://www.warnermediagroup.com/newsroom/press-releases/1998/07/28/a-child-scientist-a-cow-and-a-chicken-lead-cartoon-network-to |archive-date=February 3, 2019 |access-date=December 7, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Mifflin |first=Lawrie |date=August 5, 1998 |title=TV Notes; Cartoons Gaining |work=] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/08/05/arts/tv-notes-cartoons-gaining.html |url-status=live |access-date=December 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210529162711/https://www.nytimes.com/1998/08/05/arts/tv-notes-cartoons-gaining.html |archive-date=May 29, 2021}}</ref> | |||
The premiere of season five on June 10, 1999, reached 1.8 million viewers in households, acquiring 4.4 with kids 2-11 and 4.6 with kids 6-11.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Time Warner |date=June 29, 1999 |title=Cartoon Network's Second Quarter Performance Sets Records on All Programming Fronts |url=https://www.warnermediagroup.com/newsroom/press-releases/1999/06/29/cartoon-network-s-second-quarter-performance-sets-records-on-all |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220406030210/https://pressroom.warnermedia.com/us |archive-date=April 6, 2022 |access-date=December 7, 2017}}</ref> It was also the fifth most watched show on Cartoon Network in 2000, with an average rating of 1.8 million viewers, only and not far behind '']'' (1.9), '']'' (2.0), '']'' (2.1) and '']'' (2.3).<ref>{{Cite press release |date=December 12, 2000 |title=Cartoon Network to Post Best Year in Network's History in Rating and Delivery |url=https://www.warnermediagroup.com/newsroom/press-releases/2000/12/12/cartoon-network-to-post-best-year-in-network-s-history-in-rating |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200831202426/https://www.warnermediagroup.com/newsroom/press-releases/2000/12/12/cartoon-network-to-post-best-year-in-network-s-history-in-rating |archive-date=August 31, 2020 |access-date=November 28, 2017}}</ref> | |||
== Merchandise == | |||
=== Home media === | |||
Both ] and ] releases have been produced for the series. Although no official media containing complete seasons has been released in the United States as of 2022, a '']'' VHS from 1998 dedicated to the show contains the episodes "My Friend, the Smart Banana", "I.R. Pixie Fairie" and "I.R. in Wrong Cartoon",<ref name="VHSCollector">{{Cite web |title=Cartoon Cartoons: I Am Weasel |url=https://vhscollector.com/movie/cartoon-cartoons-i-am-weasel |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220406030209/https://vhscollector.com/movie/cartoon-cartoons-i-am-weasel |archive-date=April 6, 2022 |access-date=December 2, 2017 |website=VHSCollector.com}}</ref> and a ''Cartoon Cartoon Fridays'' VHS in 1999 includes episodes alongside other series.<ref name="WorldCat">{{Cite book |last=WorldCat |title=Cartoon Cartoons |oclc=131049391}}</ref> Cartoon Network has released special Halloween and Christmas holiday DVDs in 2004 and 2005, distributed by ], containing one or two episodes.<ref name="TVShowsOnDVD">{{Cite web |title=I Am Weasel (1999) - Releases for I Am Weasel |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/shows/Weasel/2326 |website=] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201184002/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/shows/Weasel/2326 |archive-date=December 1, 2017 |access-date=December 1, 2017}}</ref> In the United Kingdom, a compilation DVD of Cartoon Network shows containing one episode of the series was released.<ref name="Filmogs">{{Cite web |title=Cartoon Network: Toon Foolery - Laugh Your 'Ed Off! |url=https://www.filmo.gs/release/110433-cartoon-network-toon-foolery-laugh-your-ed-off |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181015192247/https://www.filmo.gs/release/110433-cartoon-network-toon-foolery-laugh-your-ed-off |archive-date=October 15, 2018 |access-date=October 15, 2018 |website=Filmogs}}</ref> | |||
In Thailand, volumes have been released on DVD since 2009 by MVD Company; a single-disc volume titled ''Season One'' with a runtime of 99 minutes was released on December 23, 2009.<ref name="eThaiCD.com">{{Cite web |title=I Am Weasel - Season 1 |url=https://www.ethaicd.com/show.php?pid=50700 |website=eThaiCD.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181015114529/https://www.ethaicd.com/show.php?pid=50700 |archive-date=October 15, 2018 |access-date=December 8, 2017 |language=en, th}}</ref> In Australia and New Zealand, a two-disc ''Collection 1'' DVD was launched in 2011, distributed by ].<ref name="MadmanAus">{{Cite web |title=I Am Weasel - Vol. 1 |url=https://www.madman.com.au/catalogue/view/9151/i-am-weasel-vol-1 |publisher=] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002194633/http://www.madman.com.au/catalogue/view/9151/i-am-weasel-vol-1 |archive-date=October 2, 2013 |access-date=May 12, 2011}}</ref><ref name="MadmanNZ">{{Cite web |title=I Am Weasel - Vol. 1 |url=https://www.madman.co.nz/catalogue/view/9151/i-am-weasel-vol-1 |publisher=] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160330032222/http://www.madman.co.nz/catalogue/view/9151/i-am-weasel-vol-1 |archive-date=March 30, 2016 |access-date=July 6, 2011}}</ref> | |||
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | ||
|+ ''I Am Weasel''-only home media releases{{efn|Only official seasons releases are listed here, excluding all the ones made by third-party companies.}} | |||
|- | |||
! colspan="2"|Title || Format || Region !! Country | |||
!Runtime|| Distributor !! Release date !! Ref. | |||
|- | |||
| bgcolor="#0000CD" height="10px"| | |||
| ''Cartoon Cartoons: I Am Weasel'' | |||
| VHS | |||
| {{n/a}} | |||
| United States | |||
|28 min | |||
| Cartoon Network | |||
| 1998 | |||
| <ref name="VHSCollector" /> | |||
|- | |- | ||
| bgcolor="#a5c4fb" height="10px"| | |||
! Title !! Content !! Release date | |||
| ''I Am Weasel - Season 1 / ข้าคือวีเซิล - ภาค 1'' | |||
| rowspan="3"|DVD | |||
| 3 | |||
| Thailand | |||
|99 min | |||
| MVD Company | |||
| December 23, 2009 | |||
| <ref name=eThaiCD.com/> | |||
|- | |- | ||
| bgcolor="#009ac8" height="10px" rowspan="2"| | |||
|'''''I Am Weasel - Season 1 / ข้าคือวีเซิล - ภาค 1''''' | |||
| rowspan="2"|''I Am Weasel - Collection 1'' | |||
|Complete season one | |||
| rowspan="2"|4 | |||
|December 23, 2009 | |||
| Australia | |||
| rowspan="2" |198 min | |||
| rowspan="2"|Madman Entertainment | |||
| July 6, 2011 | |||
|<ref name="MadmanAus" /> | |||
|- | |- | ||
| New Zealand | |||
|'''''I Am Weasel - Season 2 / ข้าคือวีเซิล - ภาค 2''''' | |||
| August 11, 2011 | |||
|Complete season two | |||
|<ref name="MadmanNZ" /> | |||
|Unknown | |||
|} | |} | ||
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | |||
;Region 4 | |||
|+ Collective media containing ''I Am Weasel'' episodes{{efn|Only compilation media made by Cartoon Network are listed here, excluding all the ones made by third-party companies.}} | |||
In ], a two-disc DVD release was launched on July 6, 2011 distributed by ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.madman.com.au/catalogue/view/9151/i-am-weasel-vol-1 |title=I Am Weasel - Vol 1 |author=Madman Entertainment |accessdate=May 12, 2011}}</ref> The same release was also launched in ] on August 11, 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.madman.co.nz/catalogue/view/9151/i-am-weasel-vol-1 |title=I Am Weasel - Vol 1 |author=Madman Entertainment New Zealand |accessdate=July 6, 2011}}</ref> | |||
|- | |||
! colspan="2"|Title || Format !! Region !! Country !! Episodes !! Distributor !! Release date !! Ref. | |||
|- | |||
| bgcolor="#0000CD" height="10px"| | |||
| ''Cartoon Cartoon Fridays'' | |||
| VHS | |||
| {{n/a}} | |||
| rowspan="6"|United States | |||
| "My Friend, the Smart Banana" | |||
| Cartoon Network | |||
| 1999 | |||
| <ref name="WorldCat" /> | |||
|- | |||
| bgcolor="#878abf" height="10px"| | |||
| ''Cartoon Network Halloween: 9 Creepy Cartoon Capers'' | |||
| rowspan="6"|DVD | |||
| rowspan="5"|1 | |||
| "I Am Vampire" | |||
| rowspan="5"|Warner Home Video | |||
| August 10, 2004 | |||
| <ref>{{Cite web |title=Cartoon Network Halloween: 9 Creepy Cartoon Capers |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/releases/-Volume-Release/3732 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206143326/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/releases/-Volume-Release/3732 |archive-date=December 6, 2017 |access-date=October 18, 2018 |website=]}}</ref> | |||
|- | |||
| bgcolor="#ff9b0f" height="10px"| | |||
| ''Cartoon Network Halloween 2: Grossest Halloween Ever'' | |||
| "Power of Odor" | |||
| August 9, 2005 | |||
| <ref>{{Cite web |title=Cartoon Network Halloween 2: Grossest Halloween Ever |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/releases/-Volume-Release/4944 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206144332/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/releases/-Volume-Release/4944 |archive-date=December 6, 2017 |access-date=October 18, 2018 |website=]}}</ref> | |||
|- | |||
| bgcolor="fa3f2c" height="10px" rowspan="2"| | |||
| rowspan="2"|''Cartoon Network Christmas: Yuletide Follies'' | |||
| "I.R.'s First Bike" | |||
| rowspan="2"|October 5, 2004 | |||
| rowspan="2"|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cartoon Network Christmas: Yuletide Follies |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/releases/-Volume-Release/4052 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206150957/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/releases/-Volume-Release/4052 |archive-date=December 6, 2017 |access-date=October 18, 2018 |website=]}}</ref> | |||
|- | |||
| "Dessert Island" | |||
|- | |||
| bgcolor="#00b100" height="10px"| | |||
| ''Cartoon Network Christmas 2: Christmas Rocks'' | |||
| "Happy Baboon Holidays" | |||
| October 4, 2005 | |||
| <ref>{{Cite web |title=Cartoon Network Christmas 2: Christmas Rocks |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/releases/-Volume-Release/4954 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206143234/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/releases/-Volume-Release/4954 |archive-date=December 6, 2017 |access-date=October 18, 2018 |website=]}}</ref> | |||
|- | |||
| bgcolor="#f6dc01" height="10px"| | |||
| ''Cartoon Network: Toon Foolery - Laugh Your 'Ed Off!'' | |||
| 2 | |||
| United Kingdom | |||
| "I.R. in Wrong Cartoon" | |||
| Cartoon Network | |||
| {{n/a}} | |||
| <ref name="Filmogs" /> | |||
|} | |||
=== Audio === | |||
The show also has two audio tracks featured in '']'', a compilation album made by ] for Cartoon Network, containing tracks from many animated series from the network and others. It was released on July 6, 1999, in ] and ] releases,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cartoon Medley |url=https://cartoonnetwork.com/feature/cnmedley/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991013025707/http://cartoonnetwork.com/feature/cnmedley/index.html |archive-date=October 13, 1999 |access-date=December 3, 2017 |website=]}}</ref> and contains the show's audio tracks "I Am Weasel", which is the theme song, and "I.M. Weasel's Poem", an oral text spoken by I.M. Weasel.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cartoon Medley |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/cartoon-medley-mw0000667709 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171203224604/https://www.allmusic.com/album/cartoon-medley-mw0000667709 |archive-date=December 3, 2017 |access-date=December 3, 2017 |website=]}}</ref> | |||
=== Comics === | |||
From 1999 to 2005, ''I Am Weasel'' had stories featured on three collective comic series published by ]: ''Cartoon Network Starring'' (1999–2000), ''Cartoon Cartoons'' (2001–2004; having lead stories on issues #5 and #19)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mike's Amazing World of Comics |title=Cartoon Cartoons - Series Gallery |url=http://www.dcindexes.com/features/series.php?page=gallery&seriesid=530 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171209152324/http://www.dcindexes.com/features/series.php?page=gallery&seriesid=530 |archive-date=2017-12-09 |access-date=December 9, 2017}}</ref> and ''Cartoon Network Block Party!'' (2004–2009). It was presented along stories from many Cartoon Network original series, such as ''Dexter's Laboratory'', '']'', ''Cow and Chicken'', '']'', ''Courage the Cowardly Dog'', '']'', '']'', among others.<ref name="StarringComics">{{Cite web |last=Mike's Amazing World of Comics |title=Cartoon Network Starring |url=http://www.dcindexes.com/features/series.php?seriesid=534 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171209152426/http://www.dcindexes.com/features/series.php?seriesid=534 |archive-date=2017-12-09 |access-date=December 9, 2017}}</ref><ref name="CartoonCartoonsComics">{{Cite web |last=Mike's Amazing World of Comics |title=Cartoon Cartoons |url=http://www.dcindexes.com/features/series.php?seriesid=530 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171209152350/http://www.dcindexes.com/features/series.php?seriesid=530 |archive-date=2017-12-09 |access-date=December 9, 2017}}</ref><ref name="BlockPartyComics">{{Cite web |last=Mike's Amazing World of Comics |title=Cartoon Network Block Party! |url=http://www.dcindexes.com/features/series.php?seriesid=2460 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171209152437/http://www.dcindexes.com/features/series.php?seriesid=2460 |archive-date=2017-12-09 |access-date=December 9, 2017}}</ref> The characters also appeared in the ] comic series ''The Powerpuff Girls: Super Smash-Up!''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sims |first=Chris |date=October 8, 2014 |title=Derek Charm on IDW's 'Powerpuff Girls Super Smash-Up', the new Cartoon Network team-up title |url=https://comicsalliance.com/powerpuff-girls-super-mash-up-derek-charm-interview/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141010044307/https://comicsalliance.com/powerpuff-girls-super-mash-up-derek-charm-interview/ |archive-date=October 10, 2014 |access-date=December 9, 2017 |website=ComicsAlliance}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Marie |first=Christine |date=January 31, 2015 |title=The Powerpuff Girls Super Smash Up #1 Combines Classic Cartoon Network Characters |url=https://www.bleedingcool.com/2015/01/31/powerpuff-girls-super-smash-1-combines-classic-cartoon-network-characters/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171209211047/https://www.bleedingcool.com/2015/01/31/powerpuff-girls-super-smash-1-combines-classic-cartoon-network-characters/ |archive-date=December 9, 2017 |access-date=December 9, 2017 |website=Bleeding Cool}}</ref> | |||
{{col-begin}} | |||
{{col-4}} | |||
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | ||
|+ Stories from ''Cartoon Network Starring'' comics<ref name="StarringComics" /> | |||
|- | |||
! Stories || Issue || Release date | |||
|- | |||
| "Komic Kon" | |||
| #3 | |||
| September 29, 1999 | |||
|- | |||
|- | |||
| "A Clone Again, Naturally" | |||
| #7 | |||
| January 19, 2000 | |||
|- | |||
| "Baboon in Love" | |||
| #10 | |||
| April 19, 2000 | |||
|- | |- | ||
| "Night of the Baboon" | |||
! Title !! Content !! Release date | |||
| #13 | |||
| July 19, 2000 | |||
|- | |- | ||
| "A Farewell to Weasel" | |||
|'''''I Am Weasel - Collection 1''''' | |||
| #16 | |||
|Complete season one | |||
| October 18, 2000 | |||
|July 6, 2011 (Australia)<br>August 11, 2011 (New Zealand) | |||
|} | |} | ||
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | |||
===Video games=== | |||
|+ Stories from ''Cartoon Network Block Party!'' comics<ref name="BlockPartyComics" /> | |||
;Cartoon Network Racing | |||
|- | |||
In the cart racing game, '']'', I.M. Weasel, I.R. Baboon and The Red Guy are playable characters. Also in the game, the episodes "My Friend, the Smart Banana" and "Enemy Camp" are available as bonus that can be viewed if unlocked by winning the ''I Am Weasel'' races. The game is available for ] and ]. | |||
! Stories || Issue || Release date | |||
|- | |||
| "Double-Decker Hero" | |||
| #3 | |||
| November 24, 2004 | |||
|- | |||
| "Hairlocks and the Three Weasels" | |||
| #5 | |||
| January 26, 2005 | |||
|- | |||
| "X Marks the Baboon" | |||
| #7 | |||
| March 23, 2005 | |||
|- | |||
| "Bubble Trouble" | |||
| #10 | |||
| June 29, 2005 | |||
|} | |||
{{col-4}} | |||
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | |||
|+ Stories from ''Cartoon Cartoons'' comics<ref name="CartoonCartoonsComics" /> | |||
|- | |||
! Stories || Issue || Release date | |||
|- | |||
| "Who Are Baboon?" | |||
| #1 | |||
| January 27, 2001 | |||
|- | |||
| "The Test of a Baboon" | |||
| #4 | |||
| April 18, 2001 | |||
|- | |||
| "Water on the Brain" | |||
| #5 | |||
| May 23, 2001 | |||
|- | |||
| "I.R. Smelly" | |||
| rowspan="2"|#9 | |||
| rowspan="2"|January 30, 2002 | |||
|- | |||
| "Theory-Go-Round" | |||
|- | |||
| "Around the World in 80!" | |||
| #12 | |||
| July 24, 2002 | |||
|- | |||
| "Inca Dinka Doo" | |||
| #16 | |||
| March 26, 2003 | |||
|- | |||
| "There's No Place Like Rome" | |||
| #19 | |||
| June 25, 2003 | |||
|- | |||
| "What's Cooking?" | |||
| #23 | |||
| October 29, 2003 | |||
|- | |||
| "Double-O Zero" | |||
| #26 | |||
| January 28, 2004 | |||
|- | |||
| "Walk a Mile in My Glutes" | |||
| #29 | |||
| April 28, 2004 | |||
|- | |||
| "The Perfect Swivel" | |||
| #33 | |||
| August 25, 2004 | |||
|} | |||
{{col-end}} | |||
=== Games === | |||
An ''I Am Weasel''-themed ] set was part of a promotion made by Cartoon Network in the late 1990s/early 2000s.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Feiss |first=David |title=Merchandise - Products |url=http://david-feiss.netfirms.com/merchandise.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061212174702/http://david-feiss.netfirms.com/merchandise.html |archive-date=December 12, 2006 |access-date=December 1, 2017 |website=David-Feiss.NetFirms.com}}</ref> | |||
On the ] video game, '']'', available for ] and ], I.M. Weasel is a playable character, while I.R. Baboon and the Red Guy must be unlocked to play with, but the first is available in the DS version only.<ref name="CNRacing">{{Cite web |last=GameSpot |title=Cartoon Network Racing Cheats & Guides |date=18 September 2006 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/cartoon-network-racing/cheats/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201182141/https://www.gamespot.com/cartoon-network-racing/cheats/ |archive-date=December 1, 2017 |access-date=December 1, 2017}}</ref> Also, only in the PS2 version, the episodes "Enemy Camp" and "My Friend, the Smart Banana" are available as extras which can be unlocked by winning the "UR Challenged Cup" and "I.M. Weasel Super Tournament" modes, respectively.<ref name="CNRacing" /> | |||
In the ], '']'', there was an item named "I.R. Baboon shorts", which were player-wearable shorts based upon I.R. Baboon's buttocks.<ref>{{Cite video game |title=] |developer=], Grigon Entertainment |publisher=Cartoon Network |platform=], ] |date=January 14, 2009}}</ref> | |||
Six ] and ] games of the series were also available on Cartoon Network website during the 1990s and 2000s:<ref>{{Cite web |title=I Am Weasel - Games |url=http://www.cartoonnetworkla.com/english/imw/games.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010816003432/http://www.cartoonnetworkla.com/english/imw/games.html |archive-date=August 16, 2001 |access-date=December 3, 2017 |publisher=Cartoon Network Latin America}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=I Am Weasel - Games |url=https://www.cartoonnetwork.com/imweasel/games/l |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010610025134/http://www.cartoonnetwork.com/imweasel/games/ |archive-date=June 10, 2001 |access-date=December 3, 2017 |publisher=Cartoon Network}}</ref> | |||
;Cartoon Network Universe<nowiki>: FusionFall</nowiki> | |||
In the online game, '']'', there is one item named "I.R. Baboon shorts" which are ] used to wear a character, based on I.R. Baboon's buttocks. | |||
{{col-begin}} | |||
===Comics=== | |||
{{col-4}} | |||
''I Am Weasel'' was featured in the comic book "''Cartoon Cartoons''" along with other Cartoon Network's cartoons, such as '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', among others. The comic was published from 2001 to 2004 by ] and had 33 issues. | |||
* Beat the Heat | |||
* The World Has Gone Bananas | |||
* Block that Baboon! | |||
{{col-4}} | |||
* Bop the Weasel | |||
* Cerebral Challenge | |||
* Foosball | |||
{{col-end}} | |||
==See also== | == See also == | ||
* '']'' | * '']'' | ||
* '']'' | * '']'' | ||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
{{Subject bar|portal1=Cartoon Network|portal2=Animation|portal3=Television|portal4=United States|portal5=Cartoon|portal6=Comedy|portal7=1990s}} | |||
==References== | |||
{{reflist|2}} | |||
== |
== Notes == | ||
{{Notelist}} | |||
{{Misplaced Pages books|1=Cartoon Network|3=Cartoon Cartoons}} | |||
== References == | |||
{{Reflist}} | |||
== External links == | |||
{{wikiquote|I Am Weasel}} | |||
{{commons|I Am Weasel}} | {{commons|I Am Weasel}} | ||
* |
* {{URL|https://web.archive.org/web/20000615055722/http://cartoonnetwork.com/doc/im_weasel/index.html|''I Am Weasel''}} at the ]'s Department of Cartoons (web archive) | ||
* {{URL|https://web.archive.org/web/20050829134816/http://david-feiss.netfirms.com/|Official production website}} (web archive) | |||
* '''' at the ] | |||
* {{IMDb title |
* {{IMDb title}} | ||
* '''' at ] | |||
{{Cartoon Network}} | {{Former Cartoon Network original programming}} | ||
{{Hanna-Barbera}} | |||
{{portal bar|Cartoon Network|Animation|Television|United States|Television in the United States|Comedy}} | |||
{{Rough Draft Studios}} | |||
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Latest revision as of 14:29, 15 December 2024
American animated television series
I Am Weasel | |
---|---|
Title card featuring I.M. Weasel | |
Genre | |
Created by | David Feiss |
Written by | |
Story by |
|
Directed by |
|
Voices of | |
Theme music composer |
|
Opening theme | "I Am Weasel", performed by April March |
Ending theme | "I Am Weasel" (instrumental) |
Composer | Bill Fulton |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 5 |
No. of episodes | 79 (list of episodes) |
Production | |
Executive producers | |
Producers |
|
Running time | 7 minutes |
Production company | Hanna-Barbera Cartoons |
Original release | |
Network | Cartoon Network |
Release | July 22, 1997 (1997-07-22) – 2000 (2000) |
Related | |
Cow and Chicken |
I Am Weasel is an American animated television series created by David Feiss for Cartoon Network. It is the fourth of the network's Cartoon Cartoons and the final to be produced solely by Hanna-Barbera. The series centers on I.M. Weasel (voiced by Michael Dorn), a smart, noble and successful weasel, I.R. Baboon (voiced by Charlie Adler), an idiotic and arrogant baboon who is envious of Weasel and acts as both his rival and friend, and the mischievous, flamboyant Red Guy (also voiced by Adler), who returns from Cow and Chicken to antagonize the duo.
I Am Weasel originally aired as a segment of Cow and Chicken from 1997 to 1999, often airing as the third of three segments in an episode, and eventually became a spin off into its own series. A fifth season with 27 new episodes aired from June 10, 1999, to 2000 and joined the original 52 which were previously part of Cow and Chicken. The entire series includes 79 episodes overall.
Premise
The series chronicles the random adventures of two animal frenemies: I.M. Weasel (Michael Dorn) and I.R. Baboon (Charlie Adler). The first one is a famous, heroic, eloquent, highly intelligent and very talented least weasel who always tries to help people out and is thus adored by everybody, constantly shouting his catchphrase "I am Weasel!" while pointing high in the air before going after help. The latter is his foil, an ugly and idiotic baboon who is envious of Weasel's success and constantly tries to do better than he does (also doing a victory dance to express his joy when thinking he is doing so), and failing miserably after all due to his total stupidity.
Starting from season two, the Red Guy (Charlie Adler), a main character in Cow and Chicken, also gets that role in I Am Weasel, where he is also referred to as "I.B. Red Guy", an allusion to Weasel's and Baboon's names. His addition to the series makes him gradually take the role of villain from I.R., who becomes more friendly to Weasel, despite still despising him.
As the series progresses, I.M. Weasel, initially showed as a competent protagonist, gradually loses the focus to I.R. Baboon, because people are shown to get gradually dumber, sometimes being manipulated by the Red Guy into stupidity. In the series finale, I.R. is finally presented as the true star of the show instead of him.
Supporting characters include Loulabelle (Susanne Blakeslee, Teresa Ganzel), Jolly Roger (Dee Bradley Baker) and Admiral Bullets (Jess Harnell, Michael Gough). Many characters from Cow and Chicken make cameo appearances in I Am Weasel from season two, these include: Cow, Chicken (Charlie Adler), Mom, Teacher (Candi Milo), Dad (Dee Bradley Baker), Flem (Howard Morris), and Earl (Dan Castellaneta).
Universe setting
While season one does not reference Cow and Chicken, from season two, I Am Weasel usually takes place in the same universe of that show, due to Red Guy's presence and other characters from that show making occasional cameos. David Feiss, in fact, cross-populated both series as it made the work easier and he felt it was always the same universe. Despite so, I Am Weasel is occasionally presented as a TV show airing in the Cow and Chicken world, suggesting a separate continuity. The same occurs in another episode, but with the characters in the same universe.
Characters
- I.M. Weasel (Michael Dorn): A highly intelligent, skilled and famous weasel who mostly plays a straight man role in a world full of idiots. While very helpful and beloved at the beginning of the series, he eventually starts to show frustration with people's antics and his "hero" status towards them becomes more fallible.
- I.R. Baboon (Charlie Adler): A dimwitted and jealous baboon, he eventually becomes Weasel's best friend. Shown in the beginning as trying to persuade people's attention from Weasel, always failing miserably and being hated, he eventually gets a "hero" status as the world becomes just as stupid as him. He is known for his habit of going into a rage if people laugh at his buttocks. Always wears a white t-shirt with an upside-down "I.R." written by himself on it.
- The Red Guy (Charlie Adler): Also cited as "I.B. Red Guy", he is a comical representation of the Devil. He reprises his role from Cow and Chicken, trying to persuade and scam the central characters under various disguises. He may sometimes play as a third main character.
- Jolly Roger (Dee Bradley Baker): A fat and tall man who always wears a tuxedo along a sailor costume, named after the pirate flag. He makes a brief appearance in the middle of season 3 before becoming the additional character for the show in season 5.
- Loulabelle (Susanne Blakeslee / Teresa Ganzel): A gorgeous assistant woman to Weasel, a blonde nurse. Also shown as laboratory assistant in two episodes. Loulabelle is implied as Weasel's girlfriend in season 2. Her appearance is downsized as a one-time character in season 3.
- Admiral Bullets (Jess Harnell / Michael Gough): A short-sized admiral always seen standing up over a small bench. He appears mostly in the early seasons calling up for Weasel's help. He was last seen in the later episode of season 3 as he is given a darker skin tone and is flying a jet in a war.
Development and production
Creation and concept
Cow and Chicken started out as the pilot episode "No Smoking" on What a Cartoon! in 1995, and was greenlit to become a series. Cartoon Network demanded a second cartoon to join Cow and Chicken in its half-hour time slot, so David Feiss came up with I Am Weasel, loosely based upon the novel I Am Legend, one of his favorite books as a teenager. "I was doodling one day, and drew a weasel, with the title 'I Am Weasel', off of one of my favorite books as a teenager, Richard Matheson's I Am Legend. I thought against type, that instead of a weasel who was a weasel, this guy would be smart and heroic".
According to Feiss, the idea for creating the show began as a single drawing of I.M. Weasel with the caption "I Am Weasel" and that suggested many stories to him. The concept for the rivalry between a weasel and a baboon came up from the classic nursery rhyme "Pop Goes the Weasel", where a monkey is said to be chasing a weasel. Also, the fact that the Red Guy does not wear pants was controversial for many people, as he said: "The thing that I never thought that I'd get approval for was the Red Guy. The mere fact that he didn't wear pants was a challenge for a lot of people and I am glad Cartoon Network let it go - he's my favorite character".
Production began around April 1996 and the show was inserted as a series of segments in Cow and Chicken until mid-1999. Right after the end of that show, it was spun-off into a new separated series produced until September 16, 1999, with all the previous episodes incorporated and removed from Cow and Chicken.
General production took place at the studio of Hanna-Barbera, in Los Angeles, with the series being labeled as part of both the collection of cartoons of that company and Cartoon Network's Cartoon Cartoons. Animation production was made overseas by Rough Draft Korea, in Seoul.
Retooling
From season two onward, the show's story, recurring characters and art style underwent significant changes. I.R. Baboon went on to become gradually more friendly to Weasel and less seen as antagonist, as that role was taken over by the Red Guy. Supporting characters from seasons one to three, such as Loulabelle and Admiral Bullets, became less and less seen, completely being absent in seasons four and five. Many characters from Cow and Chicken were added as supporting or recurring characters. That was explained by Feiss: "There was a lot of pressure to complete Cow and Chicken quickly, and I felt that I couldn't dedicate enough time to the second show. But Cartoon Network wanted to spin off Weasel, so we did. I don't really remember asking if I could or could not cross populate the two shows--I just did it because it felt like the same universe, plus I thought it was funny to have the Red Guy in I Am Weasel".
The story started to show more of Weasel's shortcomings and at times allowed him to lapse into a wise fool, suffering similar gags as I.R., as opposed of the invincible folk hero role he played on season one. I.R. Baboon started to become more like a hero than a villain, also taking that role from Weasel in some episodes of season five, leading to the finale. The show never truly dropped its premise of Weasel serving to contrast Baboon's stupidity and failures (the very thing that allowed Baboon to usurp him in the final episode as the key piece of the entertainment) and that Weasel retained more than enough intelligence and morality to serve as his defining characteristics, among the cast.
The exact same art style of Cow and Chicken is used starting from season two. Season one is a bit different, including the title cards for episodes, which feature animation and Weasel saying the name of the episode with additional commentary and/or events, contrasting with the style also used for Cow and Chicken, with static image.
Humor style
Humor relies on slapstick comedy and moderate off-color humor, as typical of many 1990s cartoons, and is based on the existent gap between the central characters, with I.R. Baboon being the center of most running gags, which are mostly about his stupidity and big red buttocks, though some episodes show I.M. Weasel or the Red Guy also taking this role. Butt jokes are also more frequent when the Red Guy is around and parodies of popular culture and other shows and crossovers also take place in some episodes.
Season one shows Weasel as a "perfect" character without a single display of any character flaw, and Baboon as a buffoonish idiot. Weasel gradually becomes less intelligent and competent alongside the audience, allowing I.R. to take his place as the "star" of the show. From season two onward, the Red Guy incorporates the style of humor found in Cow and Chicken, taking the role of villain, but also appearing as a third wheel. In season five, Jolly Roger also starts to fill both roles.
Episodes usually reference the show name and I.M. Weasel with titles in first person, and a great number of them also make fun of I.R. Baboon's misspelling, with grammatically incorrect names such as "I Are Big Star", "I Are Good Salesmans" and "I Are a Artiste".
The fourth wall is often broken, mostly at the end of episodes. The characters do it to make some ending commentaries, give advice to spectators or just call for the end of the episode.
Title, credits and music
The title sequence features I.M. Weasel constantly saying his catchphrase "I am Weasel!" and I.R. Baboon doing his trademarked victory dance. The series ending credits were only created in 1999, with the separation; it credits all involved in the three years of production and the theme song is played instrumentally in a pop rock style, with additional arrangement like orchestrations.
The theme song was composed by Bill Fulton, written by Richard Pursel, and sung by April March. Musically, it is a humorous take on the well-known version of "Pop Goes the Weasel".
Voice cast
Michael Dorn (left) and Charlie Adler (right), who provided voices for the three main characters.Michael Dorn provided voice for I.M. Weasel and Charlie Adler did both voices of I.R. Baboon and the Red Guy. Loulabelle was voiced by Susanne Blakeslee in season two and Teresa Ganzel in season three, Jolly Roger by Dee Bradley Baker, and Admiral Bullets by Jess Harnell in season one and Michael Gough in season two. Feiss originally considered James Earl Jones for the role of I.M. Weasel since he was the announcer of Cartoon Network's sister channel CNN, but Dorn was recommended to him by his friend and Johnny Bravo creator Van Partible.
Additional characters were voiced by the aforementioned along with Carlos Alazraqui, Dan Castellaneta, Dom DeLuise, Tom Kenny, Candi Milo, Howard Morris and Frank Welker, among others.
Guest stars include Phyllis Diller, Mark Hamill, Ed McMahon, Laraine Newman, Jeremy Piven, George Segal, Susan Tyrell and Mary Woronov.
Broadcast
Broadcast history
A sneak peek for the series was aired on July 15, 1997, with the eleventh episode, "Law of Gravity", and then it started its original run from July 22, 1997 with the second episode, "I.R. on Sun", all yet as a series of segments on Cow and Chicken. After four seasons, it was separated and premiered as a half-hour show on June 10, 1999, and the 52 episodes originally aired on Cow and Chicken began to air on the show's own time slot, being either in or outside the Cartoon Cartoon Fridays programming block, and getting joined by 27 new episodes, totaling 79. The original run ended in early 2000.
Reruns aired prominently from early 2000 to 2002, including on Cartoon Cartoon Fridays. From September 2005 to June 2006, it returned sporadically as segments on The Cartoon Cartoon Show, along with other Cartoon Cartoons from that era. On April 13, 2012, the series returned on Cartoon Planet before being removed in 2013. It was also aired on Boomerang, but only with seasons 1 to 4 along the Cow and Chicken segments, and on Cartoon Network Too in the United Kingdom. Some episodes were also made available on Cartoon Network Video in the early 2010s. From June 25, 2017, season one was made available on Netflix in Australia, along Cow and Chicken. It started to be available worldwide on HBO Max from 2022 onward.
The show is rated TV-Y7 in the United States, and G (General) in both Australia and New Zealand.
Brazilian miniseries
In Brazil, an animated miniseries named Terra à Vista ("Land in Sight") was produced in 2000 for Cartoon Network, and tells the story of the Portuguese arriving at Brazil with a humorous take, using characters from Cartoon Cartoons, including I.M. Weasel, I.R. Baboon and the Red Guy. It was broadcast on Cartoon Network Brazil from March 6 to April 22, 2000, and has 8 episodes. This series was also the first-ever Cartoon Network production exclusively made for Brazil.
Episodes
See also: List of I Am Weasel episodesThe series consists of five seasons and 79 episodes. The first four seasons contain the segments that originally aired during broadcasts of Cow and Chicken, while the fifth contains a further 27 episodes produced independently of that show. They were all eventually mend up into the whole I Am Weasel series, although they still air sometimes within Cow and Chicken timeslots.
There was a small case of censorship in the episode "I.R. Mommy", in which the letter "N", present on an American football helmet used by I.R. Baboon (a reference to the Nebraska Cornhuskers), had to be digitally removed in 1999 after Cartoon Network was sued by the University of Nebraska, who alleged the reference was derogatory for their institution. No other episode suffered censorship so far.
Season | Episodes | Originally aired | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
First aired | Last aired | |||
1 | 13 | July 22, 1997 (1997-07-22) | December 16, 1997 (1997-12-16) | |
2 | 13 | January 13, 1998 (1998-01-13) | April 7, 1998 (1998-04-07) | |
3 | 13 | August 1998 (1998-08) | November 1998 (1998-11) | |
4 | 13 | January 1999 (1999-01) | April 1999 (1999-04) | |
5 | 27 | June 10, 1999 (1999-06-10) | 2000 (2000) |
Ratings
It became one of the most successful Cartoon Network original series of its time, usually being remembered along other major Cartoon Cartoons and recording high ratings for the network in both incarnations of season one and seasons two to five.
In 1997 and 1998, I Am Weasel along Cow and Chicken, Johnny Bravo and Dexter's Laboratory, were responsible for increasing Cartoon Network's average ratings.
The premiere of season five on June 10, 1999, reached 1.8 million viewers in households, acquiring 4.4 with kids 2-11 and 4.6 with kids 6-11. It was also the fifth most watched show on Cartoon Network in 2000, with an average rating of 1.8 million viewers, only and not far behind The Powerpuff Girls (1.9), Tom and Jerry (2.0), Courage the Cowardly Dog (2.1) and Dexter's Laboratory (2.3).
Merchandise
Home media
Both VHS and DVD releases have been produced for the series. Although no official media containing complete seasons has been released in the United States as of 2022, a Cartoon Cartoons VHS from 1998 dedicated to the show contains the episodes "My Friend, the Smart Banana", "I.R. Pixie Fairie" and "I.R. in Wrong Cartoon", and a Cartoon Cartoon Fridays VHS in 1999 includes episodes alongside other series. Cartoon Network has released special Halloween and Christmas holiday DVDs in 2004 and 2005, distributed by Warner Home Video, containing one or two episodes. In the United Kingdom, a compilation DVD of Cartoon Network shows containing one episode of the series was released.
In Thailand, volumes have been released on DVD since 2009 by MVD Company; a single-disc volume titled Season One with a runtime of 99 minutes was released on December 23, 2009. In Australia and New Zealand, a two-disc Collection 1 DVD was launched in 2011, distributed by Madman Entertainment.
Title | Format | Region | Country | Runtime | Distributor | Release date | Ref. | |
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Cartoon Cartoons: I Am Weasel | VHS | — | United States | 28 min | Cartoon Network | 1998 | ||
I Am Weasel - Season 1 / ข้าคือวีเซิล - ภาค 1 | DVD | 3 | Thailand | 99 min | MVD Company | December 23, 2009 | ||
I Am Weasel - Collection 1 | 4 | Australia | 198 min | Madman Entertainment | July 6, 2011 | |||
New Zealand | August 11, 2011 |
Title | Format | Region | Country | Episodes | Distributor | Release date | Ref. | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cartoon Cartoon Fridays | VHS | — | United States | "My Friend, the Smart Banana" | Cartoon Network | 1999 | ||
Cartoon Network Halloween: 9 Creepy Cartoon Capers | DVD | 1 | "I Am Vampire" | Warner Home Video | August 10, 2004 | |||
Cartoon Network Halloween 2: Grossest Halloween Ever | "Power of Odor" | August 9, 2005 | ||||||
Cartoon Network Christmas: Yuletide Follies | "I.R.'s First Bike" | October 5, 2004 | ||||||
"Dessert Island" | ||||||||
Cartoon Network Christmas 2: Christmas Rocks | "Happy Baboon Holidays" | October 4, 2005 | ||||||
Cartoon Network: Toon Foolery - Laugh Your 'Ed Off! | 2 | United Kingdom | "I.R. in Wrong Cartoon" | Cartoon Network | — |
Audio
The show also has two audio tracks featured in Cartoon Medley, a compilation album made by Kid Rhino for Cartoon Network, containing tracks from many animated series from the network and others. It was released on July 6, 1999, in CD and cassette releases, and contains the show's audio tracks "I Am Weasel", which is the theme song, and "I.M. Weasel's Poem", an oral text spoken by I.M. Weasel.
Comics
From 1999 to 2005, I Am Weasel had stories featured on three collective comic series published by DC Comics: Cartoon Network Starring (1999–2000), Cartoon Cartoons (2001–2004; having lead stories on issues #5 and #19) and Cartoon Network Block Party! (2004–2009). It was presented along stories from many Cartoon Network original series, such as Dexter's Laboratory, Johnny Bravo, Cow and Chicken, Ed, Edd n Eddy, Courage the Cowardly Dog, The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy, Sheep in the Big City, among others. The characters also appeared in the crossover comic series The Powerpuff Girls: Super Smash-Up!.
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Games
An I Am Weasel-themed checkers set was part of a promotion made by Cartoon Network in the late 1990s/early 2000s.
On the kart racing video game, Cartoon Network Racing, available for PlayStation 2 and Nintendo DS, I.M. Weasel is a playable character, while I.R. Baboon and the Red Guy must be unlocked to play with, but the first is available in the DS version only. Also, only in the PS2 version, the episodes "Enemy Camp" and "My Friend, the Smart Banana" are available as extras which can be unlocked by winning the "UR Challenged Cup" and "I.M. Weasel Super Tournament" modes, respectively.
In the MMO game, Cartoon Network Universe: FusionFall, there was an item named "I.R. Baboon shorts", which were player-wearable shorts based upon I.R. Baboon's buttocks.
Six Flash and Shockwave games of the series were also available on Cartoon Network website during the 1990s and 2000s:
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See also
- Cow and Chicken
- Cartoon Cartoons
- List of fictional animals
- List of works produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions
Notes
- 12 episodes
- 1 episode
- Melody
- Lyrics
- Season 1
- Seasons 1–2
- Supervising producer, seasons 2–3
- Only official seasons releases are listed here, excluding all the ones made by third-party companies.
- Only compilation media made by Cartoon Network are listed here, excluding all the ones made by third-party companies.
References
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- "Pirate Lessons (Capt. Butz Pirate)". Cow and Chicken. Season 2. Episode 15. 1998.
The character first appears suspended over the mast of the pirate ship, where the flag should be.
- "Unsinkable I.R.". I Am Weasel. Season 3. Episode 32. 1998. Cartoon Network.
- "The Drinking Fountain of Youth". I Am Weasel. Season 5. Episode 55. 1999. Cartoon Network.
- "I.R. Ice Fisher". I Am Weasel. Season 2. Episode 22. 1998. Cartoon Network.
- "Time Weasel". I Am Weasel. Season 3. Episode 27. 1998. Cartoon Network.
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- ^ I Am Weasel - Seasons 2 to 5.
- I Am Weasel - Season 1.
- "I Am My Lifetime". I Am Weasel. Season 2. Episode 20. 1998. Cartoon Network.
- "I Am Clichéd". I Am Weasel. Season 4. Episode 41. 1998. Cartoon Network.
- ^ "My Blue Hiney". I Am Weasel. Season 5. Episode 66. 1999. Cartoon Network.
- "I Are Music Man". I Am Weasel. Season 2. Episode 19. 1998. Cartoon Network.
In a scene of the episode, the Red Guy repeatedly sings switches from the series theme song and "Pop Goes the Weasel".
- March, April. "I Am Weasel Theme by April March". WhoSampled. Archived from the original on December 5, 2017. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
- Aguilar, Carlos (July 15, 2022). "25 Years of 'Cow & Chicken': A Conversation with Creator David Feiss". Cartoon Brew. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
- Boedeker, Hal (July 14, 1997). "Cartoon Network Zany Relief". Reading Eagle. Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on April 6, 2022. Retrieved May 29, 2011 – via Google News.
- Gallo, Phil (July 15, 1997). "Cow and Chicken". Variety. Archived from the original on October 3, 2013. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
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- ^ "I Am Weasel - Vol. 1". Madman Entertainment Australia. Archived from the original on October 2, 2013. Retrieved May 12, 2011.
- ^ "I Am Weasel - Vol. 1". Madman Entertainment New Zealand. Archived from the original on March 30, 2016. Retrieved July 6, 2011.
- UOL - TV Folha (March 5, 2000). "Desenho faz piada do Brasil" (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on December 4, 2017. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
- Time Warner (July 28, 1998). "A Child Scientist, a Cow and a Chicken Lead Cartoon Network to Best Month Ever". Archived from the original on February 3, 2019. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
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- "Cartoon Network to Post Best Year in Network's History in Rating and Delivery" (Press release). December 12, 2000. Archived from the original on August 31, 2020. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
- ^ "Cartoon Cartoons: I Am Weasel". VHSCollector.com. Archived from the original on April 6, 2022. Retrieved December 2, 2017.
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- "I Am Weasel (1999) - Releases for I Am Weasel". TVShowsOnDVD.com. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
- ^ "Cartoon Network: Toon Foolery - Laugh Your 'Ed Off!". Filmogs. Archived from the original on October 15, 2018. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
- ^ "I Am Weasel - Season 1 [DVD]". eThaiCD.com (in English and Thai). Archived from the original on October 15, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
- "Cartoon Network Halloween: 9 Creepy Cartoon Capers". TVShowsOnDVD.com. Archived from the original on December 6, 2017. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
- "Cartoon Network Halloween 2: Grossest Halloween Ever". TVShowsOnDVD.com. Archived from the original on December 6, 2017. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
- "Cartoon Network Christmas: Yuletide Follies". TVShowsOnDVD.com. Archived from the original on December 6, 2017. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
- "Cartoon Network Christmas 2: Christmas Rocks". TVShowsOnDVD.com. Archived from the original on December 6, 2017. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
- "Cartoon Medley". CartoonNetwork.com. Archived from the original on October 13, 1999. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
- "Cartoon Medley". AllMusic. Archived from the original on December 3, 2017. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
- Mike's Amazing World of Comics. "Cartoon Cartoons - Series Gallery". Archived from the original on December 9, 2017. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
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- ^ Mike's Amazing World of Comics. "Cartoon Network Block Party!". Archived from the original on December 9, 2017. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
- Sims, Chris (October 8, 2014). "Derek Charm on IDW's 'Powerpuff Girls Super Smash-Up', the new Cartoon Network team-up title [Interview]". ComicsAlliance. Archived from the original on October 10, 2014. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
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- Feiss, David. "Merchandise - Products". David-Feiss.NetFirms.com. Archived from the original on December 12, 2006. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
- ^ GameSpot (September 18, 2006). "Cartoon Network Racing Cheats & Guides". Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
- Cartoon Network, Grigon Entertainment (January 14, 2009). Cartoon Network Universe: FusionFall (Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X). Cartoon Network.
- "I Am Weasel - Games". Cartoon Network Latin America. Archived from the original on August 16, 2001. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
- "I Am Weasel - Games". Cartoon Network. Archived from the original on June 10, 2001. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
External links
- I Am Weasel at the Cartoon Network's Department of Cartoons (web archive)
- Official production website (web archive)
- I Am Weasel at IMDb
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