fbpx
Wikipedia

The Tick (1994 TV series)

The Tick is an American animated television series adaptation of the New England Comics satirical superhero the Tick. The series aired for three seasons from 1994 to 1996 on the Fox network's Fox Kids block, which introduced the character to a mainstream audience.[1] The Tick has been syndicated by various networks (such as Comedy Central), further increasing the show's cult following, and has been released on both VHS and DVD. A live-action series aired in 2001, with Amazon launching a second live-action series in 2016.

The Tick
GenreSuperhero, comedy, satire
Created byBen Edlund
Based onThe Tick
by Ben Edlund
StarringTownsend Coleman
Voices of
ComposerDoug Katsaros
Country of originUnited States
No. of seasons3
No. of episodes36
Production
Executive producersJoe Bacall, Tom Griffin, CJ Kettler
ProducerHank Tucker
Running time30 minutes (including commercials)
Production companiesSunbow Productions
Graz Entertainment
AKOM
Fox Children's Productions
Release
Original networkFox Broadcasting Company (Fox Kids)
Original releaseSeptember 10, 1994 (1994-09-10) –
November 24, 1996 (1996-11-24)

The Tick was also shown on Teletoon in Canada and on Jetix in the United States. The show was aired in the UK on BBC2 at various time slots between 1995 and 1996.

Ownership of the series passed to Disney in 2001 when Disney acquired Fox Kids Worldwide.[2][3][4]

Plot Edit

The Tick is a superhero who underwent the tryouts at the National Super Institute in Reno, Nevada, where superheroes who pass will be assigned to the best cities to protect from crime. Upon passing the tryouts, he is assigned to The City where he befriends a former accountant named Arthur whom he takes on as a sidekick.

With the aid of Die Fledermaus, American Maid, Sewer Urchin, and other superheroes, the Tick and Arthur protect The City from bad guys like Chairface Chippendale, Breadmaster, El Seed, the Terror, and others who would harm it.

Cast Edit

Principal voice actors Edit

  • Cam Clarke as Die Fledermaus, Fishboy, Johnny Polite
  • Townsend Coleman as the Tick, Lava Man, Man-Eating Cow, Eyebrows Mulligan
  • Micky Dolenz as Arthur (Season 1), Captain Lemming
  • Jess Harnell as Sewer Urchin, Breadmaster, Human Bullet, Mighty Agrippa: Roman God of the Aqueduct, Speak, Sub-Human, Watt
  • Kay Lenz as American Maid
  • Rob Paulsen as Arthur (Season 2 and Season 3), Brainchild, Crusading Chameleon, Captain Mucilage, the Forehead, the Terror

Notable additional voice cast Edit

Crew Edit

  • Susan Blu – Voice Director
  • Art Vitello – Voice Director (Season 1; Episodes 7-13)

Development and production Edit

While still in college, Tick creator Ben Edlund was producing his independent comic book series The Tick based on the character. He was eventually approached by Kiscom, a small, New Jersey-based toy licensing and design company. Kiscom wanted to merchandise the Tick. Major TV networks and studios were reluctant to take on an animated series based on the absurd character. Kiscom stayed in touch with Edlund and finally Sunbow Entertainment, the small, New York-based animation company that created The Transformers, G.I. Joe, and The Mask, paired him up with writer Richard Liebmann-Smith. Neither had any experience in animation or television, but for two months they worked vigorously on the first episode of The Tick. Neither man held high esteem for their final script, and their feelings were validated when FOX turned down the first pitch. They were given one more chance to refine it in five days. Over one weekend, they worked "instinctively" with little sleep and ended up satisfying FOX. Edlund later reflected, "We kind of defined in one weekend exactly where the show went for that first season, which was cool."

While some darker characters and sexual innuendo seen in the comic series would be removed for its animated counterpart, Sunbow's Tick series would hold to its satirical roots. Writing duties were also given to Christopher McCulloch who had met Edlund prior to their television work and wrote several issues of the Tick comic book series. They would much later work together on McCulloch's Adult Swim series, The Venture Bros.. Edlund, a co-producer of The Tick, remained very hands-on during production, causing delays. According to Edlund:

There was a period where I was extremely attentive to everything that had to be solved, and these efforts ultimately made the show a year late. I saw the storyboards that were being done and realized that if The Tick were animated off of those, it would fall apart. It would be a shadow of what it is now, which is something that isn't massively successful, but has this real staying power. So now instead of looking like bad '90s animation, it kind of looks like bad '70s superhero animation, which definitely has a unique style about it.

The Tick finally premiered on September 10, 1994, and was a success. Edlund later expressed his view that, because the series did not reach the commercial heights of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, its merchandising success deteriorated by the end of its first season. However, he admitted "That's essentially good as far as I'm concerned; although, I would be much more wealthy at this point. That failure, to me, makes The Tick a much more sincere proposal."

Rather than being an asylum escapee, as portrayed in the Tick comic book series, the animated version of the Tick crashes a superhero convention to win the "protectorship" of The City. With its emphasis on superhero parody, The Tick became a Saturday morning staple during the Fox Kids block. Its title character was voiced by Townsend Coleman and his sidekick, Arthur, by Micky Dolenz for Season 1. Rob Paulsen took over the latter role for Seasons 2 and 3. The series also features exclusive allies to the Tick like Die Fledermaus, a shallow, self-absorbed Batman parody; Sewer Urchin, a sea urchin-themed Aquaman parody who resembles Dustin Hoffman's character in Rain Man; and American Maid, a more noble superheroine featuring aspects of Wonder Woman and Captain America.

The show's opening theme, written by Doug Katsaros, who also composed the scores for every episode, consists of big band music and campy scat singing. A typical episode plot would have the Tick battling a villain until Arthur devises a solution that saves the day. The Tick then declares an absurd moral regarding the previous conflict before the story comes to a close. Although the series was initially aimed primarily at children, it features an absurdist style that appeals to an older audience as well.

After three seasons, The Tick's final episode aired November 24, 1996. The following year, FOX began talks with Sunbow Entertainment about producing a prime time Tick special, but this never came to fruition. Comedy Central syndicated The Tick during this time and subsequently helped make it a cult hit with adults.[5] In May 2000, the pilot episode for a live action series of The Tick was completed. FOX attempted to capitalize on the growing adult fan base by introducing this new incarnation in November 2001, but the series could not match the success of its animated predecessor.

In June 2005, Toon Disney began airing The Tick along with other former FOX animated series like X-Men. It would also occasionally air on ABC Family as part of the Jetix cartoon block.

Episodes Edit

Series overview Edit

SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
113September 10, 1994 (1994-09-10)February 11, 1995 (1995-02-11)
213September 9, 1995 (1995-09-09)February 17, 1996 (1996-02-17)
310September 14, 1996 (1996-09-14)November 24, 1996 (1996-11-24)

Season 1 (1994–95) Edit

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd.
code
11"The Tick vs. The Idea Men"Sue Peters, John Kafka and Russel MooneyBen Edlund and Richard Liebmann-SmithSeptember 10, 1994 (1994-09-10)101

The Tick moves to The City and meets Arthur, convincing him to become his partner in the battle against evil.

Villain: The Idea Men

Loosely Based on The Tick #1.
22"The Tick vs. Chairface Chippendale"Sue Peters, John Kafka and Russel MooneyBen Edlund and Richard Liebmann-SmithSeptember 17, 1994 (1994-09-17)102

The Tick attempts to thwart Chairface Chippendale's plan to commit the "Crime of the Century": using a powerful heat ray to write his name on the face of the moon.

Villain: Chairface Chippendale

Loosely Based on The Tick #7.
33"The Tick vs. Dinosaur Neil"Sue Peters, John Kafka, and Russel MooneyBen Edlund and Richard Liebmann-SmithSeptember 24, 1994 (1994-09-24)103

Dinosaur Neil, the chief paleontologist at a dig known as "Dinosaur Grotto", is attempting to grow a fully functional dinosaur from tissues found in fossils. After accidentally ingesting some of the tissue, he is transformed into a dinosaur and goes on a rampage across The City.

Villain: Dinosaur Neil
44"The Tick vs. Mr. Mental"Sue Peters, John Kafka and Russel MooneyBen Edlund and Richard Liebmann-SmithOctober 1, 1994 (1994-10-01)104

The evil Mr. Mental takes control of the Tick's mind and forces him to steal the Thinking Cap, a device which will give Mr. Mental godlike power.

Villain: Mr. Mental
55"The Tick vs. The Breadmaster"Sue Peters, John Kafka and Russel MooneyBen Edlund, Richard Liebmann-Smith and Martin PaskoOctober 8, 1994 (1994-10-08)105

A villain known as the Breadmaster orders large quantities of baking supplies to build the sinister City-Smothering Lemon Soufflé.

Villain: Breadmaster
66"The Tick vs. El Seed"Sue PetersBen Edlund and Richard Liebmann-SmithOctober 15, 1994 (1994-10-15)106

The insane El Seed uses his powers over plants to enact revenge on all animal life. To battle him, the Tick and Arthur join forces with the Civic-Minded Five: Captain Mucilage, the Carpeted Man, Feral Boy, 4-Legged Man and Jungle Janet.

Villain: El Seed
77"The Tick vs. The Tick"Art VitelloBen Edlund and Richard Liebmann-SmithOctober 22, 1994 (1994-10-22)107

The Tick battles with Barry Hubris, a wannabe superhero who also calls himself the Tick, over rights to the name. Meanwhile, the Evil Midnight Bomber What Bombs at Midnight plans to blow up the Comet Club.

Villains: Barry "The Tick" Hubris and the Evil Midnight Bomber What Bombs at Midnight

Loosely based on The Tick #11.
88"The Tick vs. The Uncommon Cold"Art VitelloHenry GilroyOctober 29, 1994 (1994-10-29)108

The Tick has a cold, which affects his ability to overcome the alien invader Thrakkorzog, who plots to take over the Earth with an army of evil Tick clones.

Villain: Thrakkorzog
99"The Tick vs. Brainchild"Art VitelloArt Vitello and Ben EdlundNovember 5, 1994 (1994-11-05)109

Brainchild (aka Charles) wants to use his Mega-Devastator Multi-Cannon to crash the moon into the earth.

Villain: Brainchild
1010"The Tick vs. Pineapple Pokopo"Art VitelloBen Edlund and Richard Liebmann-SmithNovember 12, 1994 (1994-11-12)110

The Tick, Arthur, and American Maid are sent to Pokoponesia to rescue Yank, a hyperintelligent astronaut monkey, from the evil dictator Pineapple Pokopo.

Villain: Pineapple Pokopo
1111"The Tick vs. The Mole-Men"Art VitelloChristopher McCullochNovember 19, 1994 (1994-11-19)111

The Tick and Arthur play host to a group of Mole-Men and their King (not included on US DVD set "The Tick vs. Season One" for legal reasons).

Villain: Lava Man
1212"The Tick vs. The Proto-Clown"Art VitelloHenry GilroyFebruary 4, 1995 (1995-02-04)112

The Tick and Arthur return to The City from a trip to discover the genetically engineered Proto-Clown terrorizing the city. The Tick is knocked into his own mind, for a journey of discovery.

Villain: Proto Clown
1313"The Tick vs. Arthur's Bank Account"Art VitelloBen Edlund and Richard Liebmann-SmithFebruary 11, 1995 (1995-02-11)113

The Terror meets the Tick for the first time, and tries to take over The City.

Villain: The Terror

Note This episode marks the official debut of the Tick's catchphrase "Spoon!"

Season 2 (1995–96) Edit

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd.
code
141"The Little Wooden Boy and the Belly of Love"Hank TuckerBen Edlund and Richard Liebmann-SmithSeptember 9, 1995 (1995-09-09)214
Arthur ditches the Tick on Hobby Night to go on a date with Carmelita, so Tick builds himself a new wooden sidekick. Meanwhile, Swiss Industrial Spies are after Dr. Vatos' notebook.
152"Alone Together"Hank TuckerChris McCullochSeptember 16, 1995 (1995-09-16)215

The Tick is sent to the moon to revert Chairface Chippendale's attempt to write his name on it. He ends up blasting through space on Omnipotus (a parody of Galactus), while The City believes he is dead. (This episode was not included on the US DVD set "The Tick vs. Season 2", but was included on the UK DVD set.)

Loosely based on The Tick: Karma Tornado #3-4.
163"Armless but Not Harmless"Hank TuckerBen Edlund and Richard Liebmann-SmithSeptember 23, 1995 (1995-09-23)216
Tick and Arthur's arms get removed and attached to crude look-a-likes to work for the evil Venus and Milo.
174"Coach Fussell's Lament"Hank TuckerPippin Parker and Andy YerkesSeptember 30, 1995 (1995-09-30)219
Brainchild uses his baby-sitter, the Mad Nanny, to capture the Tick and turn him into a bird to match his brain.
185"Leonardo da Vinci and His Fightin' Genius Time Commandos!"Hank TuckerMichael RubinerOctober 7, 1995 (1995-10-07)218
A villain called the Mother of Invention travels back in time to kidnap history's greatest inventors and plants a bomb in the Renaissance so the world will revert to the dark ages, allowing him to re-invent everything and claim credit.
196"Bloomsday"Hank TuckerBen Edlund and Richard Liebmann-SmithOctober 21, 1995 (1995-10-21)220
The return of El Seed with his newest monster Rosebud.
207"Evil Sits Down for a Moment"Hank TuckerJed SpingarnNovember 4, 1995 (1995-11-04)221
A villain known as the Ottoman tries to marry and corrupt Die Fledermaus to take over The City together.
218"Heroes"Hank TuckerBen Edlund and Randolph HeardNovember 11, 1995 (1995-11-11)222
A camera crew follows the Tick and Arthur for a day of crime fighting.
229"Ants in Pants!"Hank TuckerRalph SollNovember 18, 1995 (1995-11-18)223
The Tick checks himself into Captain Sanity's Superhero Sanitorium, letting a large colony of ants capture the other superheroes and lock them into a giant people farm.
2310"The Tick Loves Santa!"Hank TuckerBen Edlund and Richard Liebmann-SmithNovember 25, 1995 (1995-11-25)217
A small-time bank robber dressed as Santa is chased into an electric billboard, giving him the power of duplication and transforming him into Multiple Santa.
2411"Tick vs. The Big Nothing"Hank TuckerBen Edlund and Richard Liebmann-SmithFebruary 3, 1996 (1996-02-03)224
The Whats, an alien race, kidnap the Tick and Arthur to thwart their enemies, the Heys, from destroying the universe.
2512"Tick vs. Reno, Nevada"Hank TuckerPippin Parker and Andy YerkesFebruary 10, 1996 (1996-02-10)225
While performing in Reno, former performing dolphin the Fin (aka Mr. Smarty Pants) plans to bury Reno with his Fish Magnet. Arthur and Tick come to the rescue only to find that Tick has a gambling problem.
2613"Grandpa Wore Tights"Hank TuckerBen Edlund and Richard Liebmann-SmithFebruary 17, 1996 (1996-02-17)226
An aging Terror sends his somewhat villainous son Terry to recover his Desire-O-Vac from the aging Decency Squad.

Season 3 (1996) Edit

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd.
code
271"That Mustache Feeling"Hank TuckerBen Edlund and Christopher McCullochSeptember 14, 1996 (1996-09-14)327
The Tick wakes up with a mustache, only to find out that it has a mind of its own, and that Jim Rage is after it.
282"Tick vs. Dot and Neil's Wedding"Hank TuckerBen Edlund and Richard Liebmann-SmithSeptember 21, 1996 (1996-09-21)329
Dot and Dinosaur Neil are to get married, but Chairface's new henchman, the Indigestible Man, messes with Neil's medication, causing him to mutate into a dinosaur again.
293"Sidekicks Don't Kiss"Hank TuckerRichard Liebmann-Smith and Christopher McCullochSeptember 28, 1996 (1996-09-28)330
While on a date with Carmelita, Arthur is kidnapped by the Deertown Aztecs. The Tick teams up with Carmelita to find and rescue Arthur and, in the process, gets a pet capybara named Speak.
304"Tick vs. Arthur"Hank TuckerBen Edlund and Richard Liebmann-SmithOctober 5, 1996 (1996-10-05)332
Arthur confiscates a belt capable of enlarging its wearer's muscles from a new super-villain known as Baron Violent, and, tired of being out of shape, decides to keep it. Along with his muscles, the belt increases the size of his ego, leading him to challenge the Tick.
315"Devil in Diapers"Hank TuckerRandolph Heard and Christopher McCullochOctober 6, 1996 (1996-10-06)328

Mr. Mental, disguised as a baby, hides in the Tick and Arthur's apartment while working on a super-weapon.

Note: This episode premiered on Comedy Central.
326"Tick vs. Filth"Hank TuckerBen Edlund and Richard Liebmann-SmithOctober 26, 1996 (1996-10-26)331
The Tick and Arthur gain a newfound respect for the Sewer Urchin, who shines beneath the streets of The City as SewerCzar unleashes an army of intelligent Filth.
337"Tick vs. Europe"Hank TuckerBen Edlund and Richard Liebmann-Smith
Story Concept by: Eric Stangel and Justin Stangel
November 2, 1996 (1996-11-02)333
The Tick is sent to Antwerp, Belgium on a superhero exchange program with the sidekick Blitzen to battle Octo Paganini and the Eastern Bloc Robot Cowboy while his Belgian counterpart Eclair helps Arthur deal with the Breadmaster.
348"Tick vs. Science"Hank TuckerBen Edlund, Richard Liebmann-Smith and Christopher McCullochNovember 9, 1996 (1996-11-09)335
Professor Chromedome strikes at a Mad Science Fair, and chaos erupts when he uses a mind-swapping machine to cover his escape. Arthur finally manages to kiss Carmelita, only to find out that the Tick's mind is in Carmelita's body.
359"Tick vs. Prehistory"Hank TuckerRandolph HeardNovember 16, 1996 (1996-11-16)334
The Tick and Arthur travel back in time over three million years, join a tribe of Australopithecines and work in a restaurant for time travelers from the distant future.
3610"Tick vs. Education"Hank TuckerBen Edlund and Richard Liebmann-Smith
Story Concept by: Eric Stangel and Justin Stangel
November 24, 1996 (1996-11-24)336

The Tick and Arthur become teacher and teacher's aid at an Extension Class for people who want to become superheroes. While on a field trip, they encounter Uncle Creamy, a disgruntled former employee of an ice cream company on a mission.

Note: This episode premiered on Comedy Central.

Home media Edit

The first two episodes of The Tick, as well as Season 3's "The Tick vs Arthur," were released on VHS in 1995 and 1998 by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment though the Fox Kids Video label.

On August 29, 2006, Buena Vista Home Entertainment released the first season of The Tick on DVD as The Tick vs. Season One. This collection contains only 12 of the 13 episodes. On May 31, 2006, Disney released the following statement regarding the missing episode: "Due to licensing problems, episode #11 ("The Tick vs. The Mole Men") is not included. However, we hope to include it in future DVD releases of The Tick".[6] The UK edition of the first season, released the following year, presented all 13 episodes.

The second season of The Tick, titled The Tick vs. Season Two, was released on August 7, 2007.[7] This DVD release is not the complete set, however, as it is missing the episode "Alone Together." This episode features Omnipotus, a parody of Galactus (though earlier episodes used similar comic book parodies, and are available on the DVD releases). In the August 6, 2006, entry of his blog, Christopher McCulloch, the writer for all of the omitted episodes, states that he does not know the reason for the exclusion of episode #11 from the Season 1 DVD. The UK edition contains all 13 season 2 episodes.

In the UK, Liberation Entertainment Ltd. released all three seasons, complete with no missing episodes and all presented uncut and unedited.

Reception Edit

Critical response Edit

During its original run, The Tick was nominated for several Annie Awards as well as Emmys and, in 1995, won two of the former. In March 2008, Wizard magazine ranked The Tick #16 on its Top 100 Greatest Cartoons.[8] In January 2009, IGN ranked The Tick #6 on its Top 100 Animated Series list. IGN went on to regard it "the first great lampooning of the superhero genre" and compared the series to Mel Brooks and Monty Python.[9] On Rotten Tomatoes, The Tick has an aggregate score of 100% based on 8 critic reviews.[10]

Awards and nominations Edit

Annie Awards Edit

Year Category Nominee Result
1995 Best Individual Achievement for Creative Supervision in the Field of Animation Ben Edlund (co-producer) Won
Best Individual Achievement for Writing in the Field of Animation Ben Edlund, Richard Liebmann-Smith for "The Tick vs. Arthur's Bank Account" Won
Best Animated Television Program The Tick Nominated
1997 Best Animated TV Program The Tick Nominated
Best Individual Achievement: Voice Acting by a Male Performer in a TV Production Townsend Coleman for playing the Tick Nominated

Daytime Emmy Awards Edit

Year Category Nominee Result
1996 Outstanding in Animation Andres Nieves, Claude Denis, Phillip Kim, David Manners, Richard Liebmann-Smith, Susan Blu, Larry Latham, Elaine Hultgren, Chuck Harvey, Christopher McCulloch, Hank Tucker and Ben Edlund Nominated
Outstanding Sound Editing - Special Class Marty Stein, David John West, Rick Hinson, Anthony Torretto, Chris Fradkin and Terry Reiff Nominated
1997 Outstanding Sound Mixing - Special Class Stuart Calderon, Deb Adair, John Boyd and David John West Nominated

Merchandising Edit

While the Tick comic book series included some extras, such as trading cards, merchandising of The Tick increased dramatically with the launch of the animated series. Action figures, pogs, T-shirts, hats, party favors, costumes, and a board game were representative. In addition, many fast food restaurant chains such as Carl's Jr. and Taco Bell offered Tick-related give-aways.

Fox Interactive also published a beat 'em up Tick-based video game and released it on the Super NES and Sega Genesis. The game was criticized for having very long stages with large amounts of enemies and a nonsensical ending.

In 1997, the year following the series' end, Greg Hyland's The Tick: Mighty Blue Justice! was published as a tie-in with the series.

References Edit

  1. ^ Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. pp. 848–849. ISBN 978-1476665993.
  2. ^ "U.S. Copyright Public Records System".
  3. ^ . 14 September 2022. Archived from the original on 26 December 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  4. ^ "Liste - BVS Entertainment | Séries".
  5. ^ Reber, Deborah Tick Fever Endures: Ben Edlund Talks About the Evolution of Everyone's Favorite Blue Superhero Animation World Magazine, Issue 2.4 (July 1997). Retrieved on 5-16-09.
  6. ^ . tvshowsondvd.com. Archived from the original on 2006-12-31.
  7. ^ . www.tvshowsondvd.com. Archived from the original on 2007-09-11.
  8. ^ Wizard Magazine's Top 100 Greatest Cartoons TheComicForums.com (March 25, 2008). Retrieved on 5-16-09.
  9. ^ . Archived from the original on 2009-02-12.
  10. ^ "The Tick". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved September 2, 2022.

Sources Edit

  • Official Website for The Tick cartoon
  • The Tick: Circus Maximus, NEC Comics, 2004.
  • The Tick: Mighty Blue Justice!, Hyland, Greg, Berkley Boulevard Books, New York, 1997

External links Edit

tick, 1994, series, tick, american, animated, television, series, adaptation, england, comics, satirical, superhero, tick, series, aired, three, seasons, from, 1994, 1996, network, kids, block, which, introduced, character, mainstream, audience, tick, been, sy. The Tick is an American animated television series adaptation of the New England Comics satirical superhero the Tick The series aired for three seasons from 1994 to 1996 on the Fox network s Fox Kids block which introduced the character to a mainstream audience 1 The Tick has been syndicated by various networks such as Comedy Central further increasing the show s cult following and has been released on both VHS and DVD A live action series aired in 2001 with Amazon launching a second live action series in 2016 The TickGenreSuperhero comedy satireCreated byBen EdlundBased onThe Tickby Ben EdlundStarringTownsend ColemanVoices ofMicky Dolenz 1994 95 Rob Paulsen 1995 96 Cam Clarke Kay Lenz Jess HarnellComposerDoug KatsarosCountry of originUnited StatesNo of seasons3No of episodes36ProductionExecutive producersJoe Bacall Tom Griffin CJ KettlerProducerHank TuckerRunning time30 minutes including commercials Production companiesSunbow ProductionsGraz EntertainmentAKOMFox Children s ProductionsReleaseOriginal networkFox Broadcasting Company Fox Kids Original releaseSeptember 10 1994 1994 09 10 November 24 1996 1996 11 24 The Tick was also shown on Teletoon in Canada and on Jetix in the United States The show was aired in the UK on BBC2 at various time slots between 1995 and 1996 Ownership of the series passed to Disney in 2001 when Disney acquired Fox Kids Worldwide 2 3 4 Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 2 1 Principal voice actors 2 2 Notable additional voice cast 3 Crew 4 Development and production 5 Episodes 5 1 Series overview 5 2 Season 1 1994 95 5 3 Season 2 1995 96 5 4 Season 3 1996 6 Home media 7 Reception 7 1 Critical response 7 2 Awards and nominations 7 2 1 Annie Awards 7 2 2 Daytime Emmy Awards 8 Merchandising 9 References 9 1 Sources 10 External linksPlot EditThe Tick is a superhero who underwent the tryouts at the National Super Institute in Reno Nevada where superheroes who pass will be assigned to the best cities to protect from crime Upon passing the tryouts he is assigned to The City where he befriends a former accountant named Arthur whom he takes on as a sidekick With the aid of Die Fledermaus American Maid Sewer Urchin and other superheroes the Tick and Arthur protect The City from bad guys like Chairface Chippendale Breadmaster El Seed the Terror and others who would harm it Cast EditMain article List of The Tick characters Principal voice actors Edit Cam Clarke as Die Fledermaus Fishboy Johnny Polite Townsend Coleman as the Tick Lava Man Man Eating Cow Eyebrows Mulligan Micky Dolenz as Arthur Season 1 Captain Lemming Jess Harnell as Sewer Urchin Breadmaster Human Bullet Mighty Agrippa Roman God of the Aqueduct Speak Sub Human Watt Kay Lenz as American Maid Rob Paulsen as Arthur Season 2 and Season 3 Brainchild Crusading Chameleon Captain Mucilage the Forehead the TerrorNotable additional voice cast Edit Phil Austin as Wally Two Eyed Jack Mary Kay Bergman as Ants Ottoman Secretary Hamilton Camp as Professor Chromedome Benjamin Franklin Jim Cummings as Barry Hubris Captain Decency Mr Mental Multiple Santa Stalingrad Thrakkorzog Leonardo da Vinci Attila the Hun Debi Derryberry as Amelia Ron Feinberg as Omnipotus Mayor Miriam Flynn as Charles Mother Pat Fraley as the Carpeted Man the Crease 2nd Time Mayor Blank Dyna Mole Eastern Bloc Robot Cowboy Stalingrad the Visual Eye Whirling Scottish Devil Zipperneck Brad Garrett as Jim Rage Inquisitor Ed Gilbert as Bi Polar Bear El Seed Idea Man Indigestible Man Johannes Gutenberg Jennifer Hale as Carmelita Vatos Dorian Harewood as Pineapple Pokopo Taft George Washington Carver Tony Jay as Chairface Chippendale Maurice LaMarche as Doorman the Deadly Bulb Pigleg the Evil Midnight Bomber What Bombs at Midnight Fin Hotel Manager the Human Ton Handy Danny Mann as Dinosaur Neil Tongue Tongue Mr Exciting Bellbot Dr Mung Mung Roddy McDowell as the Breadmaster Pat Musick as the Bee Twins Mad Nanny Tuun La Phil Proctor as Courderoy Cordoba Fortissimo Brothers Charles Father Kimmy Robertson as Dot Roger Rose as Four Legged Man Skippy Brian Pinhead Kevin Schon as the Red Herring Baby Boomerangutan Big Shot the Crease Feral Boy Jack Tuber Man of a Thousand Faces the Living Doll Plunger Man Proto Clown Uncle Creamy IICrew EditSusan Blu Voice Director Art Vitello Voice Director Season 1 Episodes 7 13 Development and production EditWhile still in college Tick creator Ben Edlund was producing his independent comic book series The Tick based on the character He was eventually approached by Kiscom a small New Jersey based toy licensing and design company Kiscom wanted to merchandise the Tick Major TV networks and studios were reluctant to take on an animated series based on the absurd character Kiscom stayed in touch with Edlund and finally Sunbow Entertainment the small New York based animation company that created The Transformers G I Joe and The Mask paired him up with writer Richard Liebmann Smith Neither had any experience in animation or television but for two months they worked vigorously on the first episode of The Tick Neither man held high esteem for their final script and their feelings were validated when FOX turned down the first pitch They were given one more chance to refine it in five days Over one weekend they worked instinctively with little sleep and ended up satisfying FOX Edlund later reflected We kind of defined in one weekend exactly where the show went for that first season which was cool While some darker characters and sexual innuendo seen in the comic series would be removed for its animated counterpart Sunbow s Tick series would hold to its satirical roots Writing duties were also given to Christopher McCulloch who had met Edlund prior to their television work and wrote several issues of the Tick comic book series They would much later work together on McCulloch s Adult Swim series The Venture Bros Edlund a co producer of The Tick remained very hands on during production causing delays According to Edlund There was a period where I was extremely attentive to everything that had to be solved and these efforts ultimately made the show a year late I saw the storyboards that were being done and realized that if The Tick were animated off of those it would fall apart It would be a shadow of what it is now which is something that isn t massively successful but has this real staying power So now instead of looking like bad 90s animation it kind of looks like bad 70s superhero animation which definitely has a unique style about it The Tick finally premiered on September 10 1994 and was a success Edlund later expressed his view that because the series did not reach the commercial heights of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles its merchandising success deteriorated by the end of its first season However he admitted That s essentially good as far as I m concerned although I would be much more wealthy at this point That failure to me makes The Tick a much more sincere proposal Rather than being an asylum escapee as portrayed in the Tick comic book series the animated version of the Tick crashes a superhero convention to win the protectorship of The City With its emphasis on superhero parody The Tick became a Saturday morning staple during the Fox Kids block Its title character was voiced by Townsend Coleman and his sidekick Arthur by Micky Dolenz for Season 1 Rob Paulsen took over the latter role for Seasons 2 and 3 The series also features exclusive allies to the Tick like Die Fledermaus a shallow self absorbed Batman parody Sewer Urchin a sea urchin themed Aquaman parody who resembles Dustin Hoffman s character in Rain Man and American Maid a more noble superheroine featuring aspects of Wonder Woman and Captain America The show s opening theme written by Doug Katsaros who also composed the scores for every episode consists of big band music and campy scat singing A typical episode plot would have the Tick battling a villain until Arthur devises a solution that saves the day The Tick then declares an absurd moral regarding the previous conflict before the story comes to a close Although the series was initially aimed primarily at children it features an absurdist style that appeals to an older audience as well After three seasons The Tick s final episode aired November 24 1996 The following year FOX began talks with Sunbow Entertainment about producing a prime time Tick special but this never came to fruition Comedy Central syndicated The Tick during this time and subsequently helped make it a cult hit with adults 5 In May 2000 the pilot episode for a live action series of The Tick was completed FOX attempted to capitalize on the growing adult fan base by introducing this new incarnation in November 2001 but the series could not match the success of its animated predecessor In June 2005 Toon Disney began airing The Tick along with other former FOX animated series like X Men It would also occasionally air on ABC Family as part of the Jetix cartoon block Episodes EditSeries overview Edit SeasonEpisodesOriginally airedFirst airedLast aired113September 10 1994 1994 09 10 February 11 1995 1995 02 11 213September 9 1995 1995 09 09 February 17 1996 1996 02 17 310September 14 1996 1996 09 14 November 24 1996 1996 11 24 Season 1 1994 95 Edit No overallNo inseasonTitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd code11 The Tick vs The Idea Men Sue Peters John Kafka and Russel MooneyBen Edlund and Richard Liebmann SmithSeptember 10 1994 1994 09 10 101The Tick moves to The City and meets Arthur convincing him to become his partner in the battle against evil Villain The Idea Men Loosely Based on The Tick 1 22 The Tick vs Chairface Chippendale Sue Peters John Kafka and Russel MooneyBen Edlund and Richard Liebmann SmithSeptember 17 1994 1994 09 17 102The Tick attempts to thwart Chairface Chippendale s plan to commit the Crime of the Century using a powerful heat ray to write his name on the face of the moon Villain Chairface Chippendale Loosely Based on The Tick 7 33 The Tick vs Dinosaur Neil Sue Peters John Kafka and Russel MooneyBen Edlund and Richard Liebmann SmithSeptember 24 1994 1994 09 24 103Dinosaur Neil the chief paleontologist at a dig known as Dinosaur Grotto is attempting to grow a fully functional dinosaur from tissues found in fossils After accidentally ingesting some of the tissue he is transformed into a dinosaur and goes on a rampage across The City Villain Dinosaur Neil44 The Tick vs Mr Mental Sue Peters John Kafka and Russel MooneyBen Edlund and Richard Liebmann SmithOctober 1 1994 1994 10 01 104The evil Mr Mental takes control of the Tick s mind and forces him to steal the Thinking Cap a device which will give Mr Mental godlike power Villain Mr Mental55 The Tick vs The Breadmaster Sue Peters John Kafka and Russel MooneyBen Edlund Richard Liebmann Smith and Martin PaskoOctober 8 1994 1994 10 08 105A villain known as the Breadmaster orders large quantities of baking supplies to build the sinister City Smothering Lemon Souffle Villain Breadmaster66 The Tick vs El Seed Sue PetersBen Edlund and Richard Liebmann SmithOctober 15 1994 1994 10 15 106The insane El Seed uses his powers over plants to enact revenge on all animal life To battle him the Tick and Arthur join forces with the Civic Minded Five Captain Mucilage the Carpeted Man Feral Boy 4 Legged Man and Jungle Janet Villain El Seed77 The Tick vs The Tick Art VitelloBen Edlund and Richard Liebmann SmithOctober 22 1994 1994 10 22 107The Tick battles with Barry Hubris a wannabe superhero who also calls himself the Tick over rights to the name Meanwhile the Evil Midnight Bomber What Bombs at Midnight plans to blow up the Comet Club Villains Barry The Tick Hubris and the Evil Midnight Bomber What Bombs at Midnight Loosely based on The Tick 11 88 The Tick vs The Uncommon Cold Art VitelloHenry GilroyOctober 29 1994 1994 10 29 108The Tick has a cold which affects his ability to overcome the alien invader Thrakkorzog who plots to take over the Earth with an army of evil Tick clones Villain Thrakkorzog99 The Tick vs Brainchild Art VitelloArt Vitello and Ben EdlundNovember 5 1994 1994 11 05 109Brainchild aka Charles wants to use his Mega Devastator Multi Cannon to crash the moon into the earth Villain Brainchild1010 The Tick vs Pineapple Pokopo Art VitelloBen Edlund and Richard Liebmann SmithNovember 12 1994 1994 11 12 110The Tick Arthur and American Maid are sent to Pokoponesia to rescue Yank a hyperintelligent astronaut monkey from the evil dictator Pineapple Pokopo Villain Pineapple Pokopo1111 The Tick vs The Mole Men Art VitelloChristopher McCullochNovember 19 1994 1994 11 19 111The Tick and Arthur play host to a group of Mole Men and their King not included on US DVD set The Tick vs Season One for legal reasons Villain Lava Man1212 The Tick vs The Proto Clown Art VitelloHenry GilroyFebruary 4 1995 1995 02 04 112The Tick and Arthur return to The City from a trip to discover the genetically engineered Proto Clown terrorizing the city The Tick is knocked into his own mind for a journey of discovery Villain Proto Clown1313 The Tick vs Arthur s Bank Account Art VitelloBen Edlund and Richard Liebmann SmithFebruary 11 1995 1995 02 11 113The Terror meets the Tick for the first time and tries to take over The City Villain The Terror Note This episode marks the official debut of the Tick s catchphrase Spoon Season 2 1995 96 Edit No overallNo inseasonTitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd code141 The Little Wooden Boy and the Belly of Love Hank TuckerBen Edlund and Richard Liebmann SmithSeptember 9 1995 1995 09 09 214Arthur ditches the Tick on Hobby Night to go on a date with Carmelita so Tick builds himself a new wooden sidekick Meanwhile Swiss Industrial Spies are after Dr Vatos notebook 152 Alone Together Hank TuckerChris McCullochSeptember 16 1995 1995 09 16 215The Tick is sent to the moon to revert Chairface Chippendale s attempt to write his name on it He ends up blasting through space on Omnipotus a parody of Galactus while The City believes he is dead This episode was not included on the US DVD set The Tick vs Season 2 but was included on the UK DVD set Loosely based on The Tick Karma Tornado 3 4 163 Armless but Not Harmless Hank TuckerBen Edlund and Richard Liebmann SmithSeptember 23 1995 1995 09 23 216Tick and Arthur s arms get removed and attached to crude look a likes to work for the evil Venus and Milo 174 Coach Fussell s Lament Hank TuckerPippin Parker and Andy YerkesSeptember 30 1995 1995 09 30 219Brainchild uses his baby sitter the Mad Nanny to capture the Tick and turn him into a bird to match his brain 185 Leonardo da Vinci and His Fightin Genius Time Commandos Hank TuckerMichael RubinerOctober 7 1995 1995 10 07 218A villain called the Mother of Invention travels back in time to kidnap history s greatest inventors and plants a bomb in the Renaissance so the world will revert to the dark ages allowing him to re invent everything and claim credit 196 Bloomsday Hank TuckerBen Edlund and Richard Liebmann SmithOctober 21 1995 1995 10 21 220The return of El Seed with his newest monster Rosebud 207 Evil Sits Down for a Moment Hank TuckerJed SpingarnNovember 4 1995 1995 11 04 221A villain known as the Ottoman tries to marry and corrupt Die Fledermaus to take over The City together 218 Heroes Hank TuckerBen Edlund and Randolph HeardNovember 11 1995 1995 11 11 222A camera crew follows the Tick and Arthur for a day of crime fighting 229 Ants in Pants Hank TuckerRalph SollNovember 18 1995 1995 11 18 223The Tick checks himself into Captain Sanity s Superhero Sanitorium letting a large colony of ants capture the other superheroes and lock them into a giant people farm 2310 The Tick Loves Santa Hank TuckerBen Edlund and Richard Liebmann SmithNovember 25 1995 1995 11 25 217A small time bank robber dressed as Santa is chased into an electric billboard giving him the power of duplication and transforming him into Multiple Santa 2411 Tick vs The Big Nothing Hank TuckerBen Edlund and Richard Liebmann SmithFebruary 3 1996 1996 02 03 224The Whats an alien race kidnap the Tick and Arthur to thwart their enemies the Heys from destroying the universe 2512 Tick vs Reno Nevada Hank TuckerPippin Parker and Andy YerkesFebruary 10 1996 1996 02 10 225While performing in Reno former performing dolphin the Fin aka Mr Smarty Pants plans to bury Reno with his Fish Magnet Arthur and Tick come to the rescue only to find that Tick has a gambling problem 2613 Grandpa Wore Tights Hank TuckerBen Edlund and Richard Liebmann SmithFebruary 17 1996 1996 02 17 226An aging Terror sends his somewhat villainous son Terry to recover his Desire O Vac from the aging Decency Squad Season 3 1996 Edit No overallNo inseasonTitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd code271 That Mustache Feeling Hank TuckerBen Edlund and Christopher McCullochSeptember 14 1996 1996 09 14 327The Tick wakes up with a mustache only to find out that it has a mind of its own and that Jim Rage is after it 282 Tick vs Dot and Neil s Wedding Hank TuckerBen Edlund and Richard Liebmann SmithSeptember 21 1996 1996 09 21 329Dot and Dinosaur Neil are to get married but Chairface s new henchman the Indigestible Man messes with Neil s medication causing him to mutate into a dinosaur again 293 Sidekicks Don t Kiss Hank TuckerRichard Liebmann Smith and Christopher McCullochSeptember 28 1996 1996 09 28 330While on a date with Carmelita Arthur is kidnapped by the Deertown Aztecs The Tick teams up with Carmelita to find and rescue Arthur and in the process gets a pet capybara named Speak 304 Tick vs Arthur Hank TuckerBen Edlund and Richard Liebmann SmithOctober 5 1996 1996 10 05 332Arthur confiscates a belt capable of enlarging its wearer s muscles from a new super villain known as Baron Violent and tired of being out of shape decides to keep it Along with his muscles the belt increases the size of his ego leading him to challenge the Tick 315 Devil in Diapers Hank TuckerRandolph Heard and Christopher McCullochOctober 6 1996 1996 10 06 328Mr Mental disguised as a baby hides in the Tick and Arthur s apartment while working on a super weapon Note This episode premiered on Comedy Central 326 Tick vs Filth Hank TuckerBen Edlund and Richard Liebmann SmithOctober 26 1996 1996 10 26 331The Tick and Arthur gain a newfound respect for the Sewer Urchin who shines beneath the streets of The City as SewerCzar unleashes an army of intelligent Filth 337 Tick vs Europe Hank TuckerBen Edlund and Richard Liebmann SmithStory Concept by Eric Stangel and Justin StangelNovember 2 1996 1996 11 02 333The Tick is sent to Antwerp Belgium on a superhero exchange program with the sidekick Blitzen to battle Octo Paganini and the Eastern Bloc Robot Cowboy while his Belgian counterpart Eclair helps Arthur deal with the Breadmaster 348 Tick vs Science Hank TuckerBen Edlund Richard Liebmann Smith and Christopher McCullochNovember 9 1996 1996 11 09 335Professor Chromedome strikes at a Mad Science Fair and chaos erupts when he uses a mind swapping machine to cover his escape Arthur finally manages to kiss Carmelita only to find out that the Tick s mind is in Carmelita s body 359 Tick vs Prehistory Hank TuckerRandolph HeardNovember 16 1996 1996 11 16 334The Tick and Arthur travel back in time over three million years join a tribe of Australopithecines and work in a restaurant for time travelers from the distant future 3610 Tick vs Education Hank TuckerBen Edlund and Richard Liebmann SmithStory Concept by Eric Stangel and Justin StangelNovember 24 1996 1996 11 24 336The Tick and Arthur become teacher and teacher s aid at an Extension Class for people who want to become superheroes While on a field trip they encounter Uncle Creamy a disgruntled former employee of an ice cream company on a mission Note This episode premiered on Comedy Central Home media EditThe first two episodes of The Tick as well as Season 3 s The Tick vs Arthur were released on VHS in 1995 and 1998 by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment though the Fox Kids Video label On August 29 2006 Buena Vista Home Entertainment released the first season of The Tick on DVD as The Tick vs Season One This collection contains only 12 of the 13 episodes On May 31 2006 Disney released the following statement regarding the missing episode Due to licensing problems episode 11 The Tick vs The Mole Men is not included However we hope to include it in future DVD releases of The Tick 6 The UK edition of the first season released the following year presented all 13 episodes The second season of The Tick titled The Tick vs Season Two was released on August 7 2007 7 This DVD release is not the complete set however as it is missing the episode Alone Together This episode features Omnipotus a parody of Galactus though earlier episodes used similar comic book parodies and are available on the DVD releases In the August 6 2006 entry of his blog Christopher McCulloch the writer for all of the omitted episodes states that he does not know the reason for the exclusion of episode 11 from the Season 1 DVD The UK edition contains all 13 season 2 episodes In the UK Liberation Entertainment Ltd released all three seasons complete with no missing episodes and all presented uncut and unedited Reception EditCritical response Edit During its original run The Tick was nominated for several Annie Awards as well as Emmys and in 1995 won two of the former In March 2008 Wizard magazine ranked The Tick 16 on its Top 100 Greatest Cartoons 8 In January 2009 IGN ranked The Tick 6 on its Top 100 Animated Series list IGN went on to regard it the first great lampooning of the superhero genre and compared the series to Mel Brooks and Monty Python 9 On Rotten Tomatoes The Tick has an aggregate score of 100 based on 8 critic reviews 10 Awards and nominations Edit Annie Awards Edit Year Category Nominee Result1995 Best Individual Achievement for Creative Supervision in the Field of Animation Ben Edlund co producer WonBest Individual Achievement for Writing in the Field of Animation Ben Edlund Richard Liebmann Smith for The Tick vs Arthur s Bank Account WonBest Animated Television Program The Tick Nominated1997 Best Animated TV Program The Tick NominatedBest Individual Achievement Voice Acting by a Male Performer in a TV Production Townsend Coleman for playing the Tick NominatedDaytime Emmy Awards Edit Year Category Nominee Result1996 Outstanding in Animation Andres Nieves Claude Denis Phillip Kim David Manners Richard Liebmann Smith Susan Blu Larry Latham Elaine Hultgren Chuck Harvey Christopher McCulloch Hank Tucker and Ben Edlund NominatedOutstanding Sound Editing Special Class Marty Stein David John West Rick Hinson Anthony Torretto Chris Fradkin and Terry Reiff Nominated1997 Outstanding Sound Mixing Special Class Stuart Calderon Deb Adair John Boyd and David John West NominatedMerchandising EditMain article List of The Tick merchandise While the Tick comic book series included some extras such as trading cards merchandising of The Tick increased dramatically with the launch of the animated series Action figures pogs T shirts hats party favors costumes and a board game were representative In addition many fast food restaurant chains such as Carl s Jr and Taco Bell offered Tick related give aways Fox Interactive also published a beat em up Tick based video game and released it on the Super NES and Sega Genesis The game was criticized for having very long stages with large amounts of enemies and a nonsensical ending In 1997 the year following the series end Greg Hyland s The Tick Mighty Blue Justice was published as a tie in with the series References Edit Erickson Hal 2005 Television Cartoon Shows An Illustrated Encyclopedia 1949 Through 2003 2nd ed McFarland amp Co pp 848 849 ISBN 978 1476665993 U S Copyright Public Records System Disney and Missing Saban Entertainment amp Fox Kids Jetix Worldwide Library StreamClues 14 September 2022 Archived from the original on 26 December 2022 Retrieved 2 October 2022 Liste BVS Entertainment Series Reber Deborah Tick Fever Endures Ben Edlund Talks About the Evolution of Everyone s Favorite Blue Superhero Animation World Magazine Issue 2 4 July 1997 Retrieved on 5 16 09 TVShowsOnDVD com Goodbye tvshowsondvd com Archived from the original on 2006 12 31 TVShowsOnDVD com Goodbye www tvshowsondvd com Archived from the original on 2007 09 11 Wizard Magazine s Top 100 Greatest Cartoons TheComicForums com March 25 2008 Retrieved on 5 16 09 Video Game News Reviews and Walkthroughs IGN com Archived from the original on 2009 02 12 The Tick Rotten Tomatoes Retrieved September 2 2022 Sources Edit The Tick Official Website for The Tick cartoon The Tick Circus Maximus NEC Comics 2004 The Tick Mighty Blue Justice Hyland Greg Berkley Boulevard Books New York 1997External links Edit nbsp Cartoon portal nbsp Wikiquote has quotations related to The Tick 1994 TV series The Tick official site at the Wayback Machine archive index at Comedy Central The Tick official site at the Wayback Machine archived 1997 01 26 at Fox Kids The Tick 1994 1997 at IMDb The Tick at TheTVDB com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Tick 1994 TV series amp oldid 1177277598, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.