Doug
Originating with an unpublished book Doug Got a New Pair of Shoes by artist and series creator Jim Jinkins and writer Joe Aaron, the animated series Doug emerged on the Nickelodeon TV channel from 1991 to 1994, where it remained until being picked up by Disney Channel/ABC from 1996 to 1999.
The series takes place in the fictitious town of Bluffington (where Doug and his family had moved from Bloatsburg) and deals with the life and imagination of title character, grade-schooler and diarist Doug Funnie, his dog Porkchop, and good friends Skeeter Valentine and Patti Mayonnaise.
Doug's older sister, Judy, is a constant source of conflict. She is a dramatic actor who always wears a purple beret and sunglasses.
A theme in the series is Doug's alternate comic book personal, Quailman. He has a belt worn around his head, and briefs over his pants, but is otherwise identical to Doug. Skeeter has an analogous character named the Silver Skeeter.
Doug's imagination as he reacts to various situations in his life helps to provide premises for the stories, ala Walter Mitty. One episode dealing with a visit to his dentist, for example, contains homages to Goldfinger and Marathon Man.
Notable in the series' character design is the frequent use of unusual names and skin colors. Doug is of standard Caucasian tone, whereas Skeeter is blue, Patti is orange, and bad boy Roger Klotz is green.
Episodes: 166 Episodes (68 half-hour episodes, 98 fifteen minute episodes, and 1 full-length movie)
Created by former Nickelodeon artist; Jim Jinkins in 1990, and produced through Jinkins' production company, Jumbo Pictures, Inc., the Nickelodeon series chronicles the trials and tribulations in the life of an average 11 1/2 year-old kid named Doug Funnie.
In the series opener, we find young Douglas Yancey Funnie and his family (Phil, Theda and sister Judy), having just moved away from their former residence in Bloatsburg, coming to a new town called Bluffington. There he meets Skeeter, Patti, Roger and Beebe, and his new life in a new town begins! Sometimes, Doug imgaines himself as a superhero named Quailman to help him out with situations and decisions.
In the early 1990s, Ellipse teams up with the Nickelodeon cable channel to produce 39 more episodes of the original Nicktoon premiere.
Even though Doug was cancelled by Nickelodeon in 1994, but the original episodes have run in repeats on the cable channel ever since then.
In February 1996, Disney Enterprises bought Jumbo Pictures, Inc., and ordered new episodes of "Doug" to be produced (re-named "Brand Spanking New! Doug" and then later "Disney's Doug"). The new episodes brought a new baby sister for Doug as well as a change in age to 12 1/2 years old. It also brought a new haircut for Patti, more money for Roger and much more including a change of clothes for everyone (not to mention a brand new middle school). These episodes aired on ABC's ONE SATURDAY MORNING cartoon block from September 1996 to September 9, 2000. In 1999, after 65 additional episodes (and a feature-length movie), "Disney's Doug" went out of production. "Doug" also spawned merchandise such as clothes, toys and a number of books. During the course of the show, "Doug" was nominated for 4 Daytime Emmy Awards. It can still be found on Toon Disney and NickToons TV.
Characters include:
- Doug Funnie, Performed by Billy West (1991-1994), and Thomas McHugh (1996-1999)
- Judy Funnie, Doug's sister
- Mr. Phil Funnie, Doug's father
- Mrs. Theda Funnie, Doug's mother
- Porkchop, Doug's four-legged companion
- Skeeter Valentine, Doug's best friend
- Roger Klotz, Doug's rival
- Ms. Wingo, Doug's elementary school teacher
- Bud Dink, Doug's annoying, spend-thrify neighbour
- Tippy Dink, his wife, and later Mayor of Bluffington
- Stinky, Roger's spoiled four-legged companion
- Bee Bee Bluff, a spoiled rich friend of Patti's
- Mr. Bluff, the richest man in town
- Mr. White, the corrupt mayor, who later gets tossed out of office and becomes the high school principal
- Willy White, the ex-mayor's stupid son
- Al and Moo Sleech, genius, yet socially inept twin brothers
- Mr. Bone, the elementary school vice-principal, later promoted to the same job at the high-school
- The Beets, a Beatles-esque rock-and-roll band that later break up and go solo
- Mr. Butt-savage, the never-seen elementary school principal
"Original" Doug ran for four seasons, with only 13 episodes each on Nickelodeon. The series was then bought by Disney, and several new seasons, featuring Doug and friends as high-schoolers, was shown on ABC's One Saturday Morning under the title "Brand Spanking New Doug."
Doug episodes are usually in the form of two, 15-minute shorts, rather than one, long 30 minute show. Overall, 166 episodes were produced.
In 1999 a full-length animated film was released, entitled "Doug's 1st Movie."
