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I Am Weasel
The series' title card featuring the protagonist, I.M. Weasel.
Genre	Comedy Slapstick
Created by	David Feiss
Written by	David Feiss Jim Gomez Maxwell Atoms Michael Ryan Nora Johnson Richard Pursel Sally R. Lower Steve Marmel
Directed by	David Feiss Robin Steele (3 episodes) Robert Alvarez (1 episode)
Voices of	Michael Dorn Charlie Adler
Theme music composer	Bill Fulton
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	Larry Huber Sherry Gunther
Producers	Vincent Davis Davis Doi
Running time	7 minutes approx. (per episode)
Production company	Hanna-Barbera
Original release
Network	Cartoon Network
Release	July 22, 1997 (1997-07-22) – March 3, 2000 (2000-03-03)
Related
Cow and Chicken

I Am Weasel is an American animated television series created by David Feiss for Cartoon Network, being the fourth of the network's Cartoon Cartoons. The series centers on I.M. Weasel, a smart, beloved and highly successful weasel, and I.R. Baboon, an unsuccessful, unintelligent and hated by everyone baboon who is jealous of Weasel's success and constantly tries to upstage him, usually failing to do so.

It was originally a part of the Cow and Chicken show, often airing as the third of three segments in an episode, after two Cow and Chicken segments (except in one occurrence, where it aired as a second segment between the two parts of "The Ugliest Weenie" episode). Eventually, I Am Weasel was spun off into its own series, which aired from 1999 to 2000, with both new episodes and the episodes that had aired on Cow and Chicken included in this series, totaling 79 episodes.

Premise

The series chronicles the random adventures of two funny animal frenemies: I.M. Weasel (Michael Dorn), a famous, heroic, eloquent, highly intelligent, and many-talented weasel who is adored by everyone and constantly shouts his catchphrase "I am Weasel!" while pointing high in the air, and his totally opposite, I.R. Baboon (Charlie Adler), an ugly and idiotic hamadryas baboon who is envious of Weasel's success and constantly tries to be better than him, often doing a victory dance to express his feelings, failing and being hated by everyone. Starting from season two, the Red Guy (Charlie Adler) became a main character on I Am Weasel, while still retaining 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.

Secondary characters include Loulabelle (Susanne Blakeslee, Teresa Ganzel), Weasel's assistant and kind of girlfriend who usually dresses herself as a nurse (except in the episode "Time Weasel", where she is seem dressed as a laboratory assistant), Jolly Roger (Dee Bradley Baker), a fat man who wears glasses and a tiny tuxedo with shorts and usually appears suddenly in the episodes and takes some roles similar to the Red Guy's, and Admiral Bullets (Jess Harnell, Michael Gough), a short naval officer who often relies on Weasel's help and is often seem over a small bench. Besides the Red Guy, some other 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).

The show's premise begins from a humorous take on the classic nursery rhyme "Pop Goes the Weasel"; in fact, the series theme song is based on the well-known musical version of the rhyme.

Production

Creation and development

According to David Feiss, the idea for creating I Am Weasel begun as a single drawing of I.M. Weasel with the caption "I Am Weasel". "It suggested many stories to me". Also, the fact that the Red Guy doesn't wear panties was controversial for many people. "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".

I Am Weasel started to get produced as a series of segments inserted in Cow and Chicken around July 1996. In 1999, it was spun-off to a new series produced until September 16, 1999.

Title sequence and music

The theme song was composed by Bill Fulton, written by Richard Pursel, and sung by April March. The title sequence features I.M. Weasel using constantly his catchphrase "I am Weasel!" and I.R. Baboon with his trademarked victory dance. The series' ending credits were only created in 1999, with the separation; it shows all the three years of production and the theme song is played as instrumental in a rock ballad way.

Voice cast

Michael Dorn provides voice for I.M. Weasel and Charlie Adler does both voices of I.R. Baboon and the Red Guy. Loulabelle is voiced by Susanne Blakeslee in season 2 and Teresa Ganzel in season 3, Jolly Roger by Dee Bradley Baker, and Admiral Bullets by Jess Harnell in season 1 and Michael Gough in season 2. Additional characters are voiced by the before-mentioned along Candi Milo, Howard Morris, Dan Castellaneta, Frank Welker, Dom DeLuise, Tom Kenny, among others.

Broadcast

Broadcast history

A sneak peek for the series was aired on July 15, 1997 with the eleventh episode, "Law of Gravity", along Cow and Chicken episodes, and then it started its original run from July 22, 1997 with the second episode, "I.R. on Sun",, 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 I Am Weasel episodes originally aired on Cow and Chicken began to air in the show's own time slot, being joined by 27 new episodes, totaling 79. The series' original run ended on March 3, 2000.

Reruns of I Am Weasel aired prominently from March 2000 to 2003. From September 2005 to April 10, 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 seasons 1 to 4 with the Cow and Chicken segments. Some episodes were also made available on Cartoon Network Video.

Episodes

I Am Weasel has a total of 79 episodes divided in 5 seasons. The first four ones were originally part of Cow and Chicken and then joined the fifth season to complete the series.

Ratings

I Am Weasel became one of the most successful Cartoon Network original series of its time, usually being remembered along other successful Cartoon Cartoons.

The premiere of season 5 on June 10, 1999 reached 1.8 million viewers in households, 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

Comics

I Am Weasel had stories featured in the comic series Cartoon Cartoons, with the cover highlighting the characters on issues #5 and #19. It was presented along stories from other Cartoon Network original series from its time, such as Dexter's Laboratory, Johnny Bravo, Cow and Chicken, Ed, Edd n Eddy, Courage the Cowardly Dog, Space Ghost Coast to Coast, The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy, among others. The comic book was published from March 1, 2001 to October 1, 2004 by DC Comics and had 33 issues.

Home media

In United States, some episodes of the series were launched on Cartoon Network's special DVDs for Halloween and Christmas holidays released in 2004 and 2005 and distributed by Warner Home Video. In Thailand, the series seasons have been released on DVD since 2009 by MVD Company Limited. The season one's DVD was launched on December 23, 2009. In Australia, a two-disc DVD release was launched on July 6, 2011, distributed by Madman Entertainment. The same release was also launched in New Zealand on August 11, 2011.

Clothing

Cartoon Network officially sells adult t-shirts featuring the characters and references to the show on its official online shop.

Gaming

An I Am Weasel-themed checkers set was part of a promotion made by Cartoon Network in the late 90s/early 2000s.

In 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.

Flash games of I Am Weasel were also available on Cartoon Network website during the 1990s and 2000s.

See also

Template:Misplaced Pages books

• Cow and Chicken
• Cartoon Cartoons
• List of fictional animals

• Cartoon Network
• Animation
• Television
• United States
• Comedy

References

1. ^ Hollywood.com. "Vincent Davis". Retrieved December 1, 2017.
2. 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".
3. ^ Cartoon Network Latin America. "Weasel World - Meet the creator: David Feiss". Archived from the original on August 2, 2001. Retrieved December 1, 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
4. ^ Feiss, David (January 12, 2000). "Episode Guide: Cow and Chicken and I Am Weasel". Archived from the original on December 12, 2006. Retrieved May 29, 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
5. Fulton, Bill. "All Film TV and Video credits". Retrieved September 29, 2010.
6. Feiss, David (2000). "Songs from both shows - I Am Weasel". Archived from the original on December 12, 2006. Retrieved July 6, 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
7. ^ I Am Weasel ending credits
8. Behind the Voice Actors. "Voice Credits". Retrieved December 1, 2017.
9. Boedeker, Hal (July 14, 1997). "Cartoon Network zany relief". Reading Eagle. Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved May 29, 2011.
10. King, Susan (June 10, 1999). "From MTV Awards to Olsen Twins". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 30, 2011.
11. Kilmer, David (June 11, 1999). "Cartoon Network sets premiere for I AM WEASEL". Animation World Network. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
12. Lenburg, Jeff (2006). Who's Who in Animated Cartoons. New York: Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 81. ISBN 978-1-55783-671-7. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
13. ^ Cite error: The named reference FeissEpisodes was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
14. Cite error: The named reference MTVOlsen was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
15. Cite error: The named reference WhosWhoinCartoons was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
16. Cartoon Network press release (June 29, 1999). "Cartoon Network Ratings Highlights for 2Q 1999". Nick and More. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
17. Time Warner (December 12, 2000). "Cartoon Network to Post Best Year in Network's History In Rating and Delivery". Retrieved November 28, 2017.
18. "Cartoon Cartoons". Retrieved December 1, 2017.
19. TVShowsOnDVD.com. "I Am Weasel (1999) - Releases for I Am Weasel". Retrieved December 1, 2017.
20. Madman Entertainment Australia. "I Am Weasel - Vol. 1". Archived from the original on October 2, 2013. Retrieved May 12, 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
21. Madman Entertainment New Zealand. "I Am Weasel - Vol. 1". Archived from the original on March 30, 2016. Retrieved July 6, 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
22. Cartoon Network Shop. "I Am Weasel". Retrieved December 1, 2017.
23. Feiss, David. "Merchandise - Products". Retrieved December 1, 2017.
24. ^ GameSpot. "Cartoon Network Racing Cheats & Guides". Retrieved December 1, 2017.

External links

• I Am Weasel at the Cartoon Network's Department of Cartoons (archive)
• I Am Weasel at the Big Cartoon DataBase
• I Am Weasel at IMDb
• I Am Weasel at TV.com

• 1990s American animated television series
• 2000s American animated television series
• 1997 American television series debuts
• 2000 American television series endings
• American children's animated comedy television series
• Television series by Hanna-Barbera
• Television series created by David Feiss
• Cartoon Network original programs
• Cartoon Network Studios series and characters
• English-language television programs
• Television programs featuring anthropomorphic characters
• Television spin-offs
• Television programs adapted into comics
• Television programs adapted into video games
• Fictional weasels
• Crossover animation