Do any of you remember the super cool, eye patch wearing secret agent mouse with the hamster for a sidekick? Yes I’m talking about none other than the cult classic Danger Mouse created by Brian Cosgrove and Brian Trueman at Cosgrove Hall Films for Thames Television.
Danger Mouse was a British cartoon series created for the BBC with the first episode premiering in September 28, 1981 and ending March 19, 1992. All of the characters on the show were animals, but they seemed to have to face ‘Danger’ in the human world. Danger Mouse and his sidekick Penfold operated out of a pillar box (overseas version of a mailbox). Danger Mouse is the world’s greatest secret agent. So secret that it is said that his codename has a codename. He speaks 34 different languages including some alien ones, drives a flying car called the “Mark III” and is often referred to as the “White Wonder” or “Wretched Rodent” by his main advisory the frog/toad Baron Silas Greenback.
DM’s signature eye patch and his chest prominently emblazoned with his initials 'DM' causes problems for those translating the series into other languages. The translation of the words 'Danger' and 'Mouse' do not have those initials. Because of this the Danger Mouse character goes by many names for example, the Scots Gaelic version calls the series (and the lead) Donnie Murdo (two names not even closely connected with mice or danger). He was Dzielna Mysz (brave mouse) in Polish, Dundermusen (thunder mouse) in Swedish, and Dare Dare Motus in French, "Dare Dare" being French slang for "as fast as possible". The Slovene translation omitted the DM initials entirely, however, dubbing Danger Mouse Hrabri mišek ('Brave Mouse').
The Main Characters of the show were DM, the bi-focal wearing hamster Ernest Penfold, Colonel K- DM’s boss who many thought was a walrus, but in fact is a chinchilla, the villain Baron Silas Greenback is DM’s archenemy who is a toad, but sometimes refered to as a frog, the crows Stiletto Mafiosa and Leatherhead-the Baron’s henchmen, Nero- the caterpillar pet of the Baron, and the funny unseen narrator Isambard Sinclair. There is also a pretty extensive list of supporting heroes and villains such as the inventive mole Professor Heinrich Von Squawkencluck who created the Mark III, Agent 57, the crazy Doctor Augustus P. Crumhorn, and Count Duckula whom got his own spin-off from his popularity in the show. For a more detailed break down of the characters check out dangermouse.com the home of everything DM.
Danger Mouse is the first British cartoon series to hit the American television viewing market due to it’s huge popularity. The show was so popular it gained a whopping 21.59 million viewers in 1983. I remember watching this show on Nickelodeon back in the 80’s I would watch this and “You Can’t Do That On TV!” all the time (Man I’m old). Danger Mouse has gained a big following since it has been taken off air. A series of comic strips, toys, DVD’s, video games, T-shirts, and more have been made with the characters likeness.
It was announced in 2013 that Danger Mouse and crew would be getting a reboot this year on the CBBC using a mixed media format instead the regular 2D or 3D. It will be produced by Boulder Media for Fremantle Media Kids and will consist of 52 eleven-minute episodes.
I’m really excited to see Danger Mouse come back! I wonder if Funko will make Pop Vinyl versions of DM and Penfold? Are you a DM fan? Tell us your thoughts on the Danger Mouse Reboot (connect here). Do think it will live up to the expectations of us DM fans? I sure hope so it would surely be disappointing if it doesn’t. Enjoy the video and images!
Until next time Go Hard! Go Fast! Go Figure!
Sources: Cartoon Brew, Screen Online, Digital Spy, BCBD, DangerMouse.com, Dangermousetoys