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The Ant and the Aardvark

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Not to be confused with The Ark and the Aardvark.

From left to right: the Aardvark and the Ant

The Ant and the Aardvark is a series of 17 theatrical short cartoons produced at DePatie–Freleng Enterprises and released by United Artists from 1969 to 1971.[1]

Plot

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The cartoon series follows attempts of a blue aardvark (voiced by John Byner,[2][3][4] imitating Jackie Mason[5]) attempting to catch and eat a red ant named Charlie (also voiced by Byner,[2][3][4] imitating Dean Martin[5]), usually doing so by inhaling with a loud vacuum cleaner sound. The aardvark character is essentially unnamed; in the episode "Rough Brunch", he claims his name is simply "Aardvark". Despite this, and his identification in the series title as an aardvark, in many of the shorts he refers to himself (and is referred to by the ant) as an anteater. The ant gives his nemesis a variety of names as sly terms of endearment (Ol' Sam, Ol' Ben, Ol' Blue, Claude, Pal, Buddy, Daddy-O).[6] In several bumper sequences of The Pink Panther Show, he is called "Blue Aardvark".

Production

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The Ant and the Aardvark series was originally released by United Artists. Seventeen theatrical shorts were produced in the original series, and were subsequently featured in various television syndication packages, usually shown with DFE's other characters such as the Pink Panther and The Inspector. Most of the 17 entries appear in their television syndication form (complete with an audible laugh track added by NBC-TV) on the video on demand service Amazon Video.

When The Ant and the Aardvark first appeared on The New Pink Panther Show in the fall of 1971, the series became wildly popular, so much in fact that the duo became a featured part of the NBC series.[6] Even though the 17 entries remained popular throughout the broadcast run of The Pink Panther Show, no new entries were produced.[6]

The series used several unique production techniques for the period. The aardvark's body was solid blue: his only clothes—a pair of blue shorts and matching T-shirt—were a matching blue. Similarly, Charlie Ant was solid red, and did not sport any clothing. As such, the character's solid colors allowed them to stand out clearly against the multi-colored backgrounds featured prominently in the series. Charlie also sported half-closed eyes, as a sign of a bon viveur.[6]

Musical director Doug Goodwin was responsible for the jazzy music score. Goodwin assembled an established group of jazz session musicians to perform the series' theme music and musical cues. For the first time in animated cartoons, all six musicians—Ray Brown, Billy Byers, Pete Candoli, Shelly Manne, Jimmy Rowles and Tommy Tedesco—received on-screen credit.[6]

Art Leonardi was responsible for the main title graphic for all DePatie-Freleng entries. For The Ant and the Aardvark series, Leonardi expanded on a technique first introduced for the first Pink Panther cartoon, The Pink Phink. This entailed tearing paper into the forms of objects and characters to form stylized images.[6]

Additional characters

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There were additional minor characters in the series. Among them were the following: (all voiced by John Byner unless otherwise noted)

  • "Computer" – a talking device purported to be a supercomputer, which the Aardvark builds to help come up with ideas to catch the ant; however, all these ideas fail, which turns out to be because the "computer" is not really a computer, but an automatic toaster. Its voice is an imitation of a young Paul Lynde. (Technology, Phooey)
  • Cousin Term the Termite (Rough Brunch) - Charlie's wood-devouring cousin, who is trying to stay on a diet despite his cravings.
  • Aunt Minerva – one of the Gi-ants and Charlie's aunt. (The Ant From Uncle)
  • Tiny the Elephant, an ape, and a look-alike of Roland (from another DePatie-Freleng series, Roland and Rattfink) – Charlie Ant's lodge brothers (Mumbo Jumbo)
  • An unnamed Green Ardvark – he is similar to the Blue Aardvark except barrel-chested instead of pot-bellied. He appears in I've Got Ants In My Plans and Odd Ant Out (in the latter, he is depicted wearing a cap); the first cartoon sees the two aardvarks squaring off over who gets to eat Charlie, while the second sees them battle over a can of chocolate-covered ants.
  • Tiger (voiced by Marvin Miller) – a large tiger who protects Charlie from the Aardvark as a favor for pulling a thorn from his foot. (Scratch a Tiger)
  • A scientist with a Boris Karloff-like voice (Science Friction)
  • A nurse at an animal hospital (voiced by Athena Lorde) – she tended to the ant and the aardvark when they ended up in her hospital (From Bed to Worse)
  • An anteater-eating shark (Isle of Caprice)
  • A nearsighted lifeguard – despite wearing glasses, he tends to mistake the Aardvark for a dog (Dune Bug)
  • A toastmaster ant – who gives a toast at an ant dinner event (I've Got Ants in My Plans)

International versions

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  • In the German dub, the Aardvark is a female anteater named Elise (Eliza) voiced by Marianne Wischmann while Charlie (voiced by Fred Maire) remains male. The cartoons are known under the title Die blaue Elise ("The Blue Eliza").
  • In the Latin American Spanish dub, the Aardvark is a male anteater voiced by Pedro D'Aguillón (original dub) and Javier Rivero (dub on some re-airings). Charlie (voiced by Álvaro Carcaño and Salvador Nájar) remains unchanged. The series title is La hormiga y el oso hormiguero ("The Ant and the Anteater").
  • In the Brazilian Portuguese dub the Aardvark is an anteater voiced by Ionei Silva. The series title is changed to A Formiga e o Tamanduá ("The Ant and the Anteater").
  • In the European Portuguese dub the aardvark remains an aardvark.
  • In the French dub, the Aardvark is a male anteater voiced by Michel Gatineau while Charlie is voiced by actress Marcelle Lajeunesse. The title is known as Tamanoir et Fourmi Rouge ("Aardvark and Red Ant").

Films

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All voices provided by John Byner unless otherwise noted.

No.TitleDirected byStory byOriginal release date
1The Ant and the AardvarkFriz FrelengJohn W. DunnMarch 5, 1969 (1969-03-05)
The Ant spots a picnic and goes there to collect some food. The Aardvark shows up and wants a picnic of his own... with the Ant on the menu.
2Hasty But TastyGerry ChiniquyJohn W. DunnMarch 6, 1969 (1969-03-06)
Among various tricks to catch the motorcycle-riding Ant, the Aardvark uses "Instant Hole". Naturally, it backfires on him, along with his other tricks.
3The Ant from UncleGeorge GordonJohn W. DunnApril 2, 1969 (1969-04-02)
The Ant is worn out and thinking of retiring, so the Aardvark invites him to a "Relaxation Club"... located in the Aardvark's stomach.
4I've Got Ants in My PlansGerry ChiniquyJohn W. DunnMay 14, 1969 (1969-05-14)
The Blue Aardvark is up against another aardvark, the Green Aardvark, to see who gets to eat the Ant.
5Technology, PhooeyGerry ChiniquyIrv SpectorJune 25, 1969 (1969-06-25)
The Aardvark builds a computer to help him try to catch the Ant, but the computer's advice does not do the Aardvark much good.
6Never Bug an AntGerry ChiniquyDavid DetiegeSeptember 12, 1969 (1969-09-12)
The Aardvark tries to use his vacuum-inhaling trick to have the Ant for lunch.
7Dune BugArt DavisJohn W. DunnOctober 27, 1969 (1969-10-27)
The Aardvark finds the Ant at a beach and tries to catch the Ant like always; however, he must get past the nearsighted lifeguard, who believes he is a dog and will not allow him on the beach.
8Isle of CapriceGerry ChiniquyDavid DetiegeDecember 18, 1969 (1969-12-18)
The Aardvark is marooned on a deserted island, with another island full of ants in the distance. He tries to get to the other island by any means possible, but a hungry shark has other ideas.
9Scratch a TigerHawley PrattIrv SpectorJanuary 28, 1970 (1970-01-28)

A tiger who owes the Ant a favor is tasked with keeping him and his fellow ants safe from the Aardvark.

10Odd Ant OutGerry ChiniquySid MarcusApril 28, 1970 (1970-04-28)
The Blue Aardvark and the Green Aardvark battle again, this time for who gets a can of chocolate-covered ants... if either one can get it open.
11Ants in the PantryHawley PrattJohn W. DunnJune 10, 1970 (1970-06-10)
The Aardvark overhears an exterminator taking a job to catching ants. Taking the exterminator's place, the Aardvark tries to get to get rid of the Ant by, like always, trying to make him his meal.
12Science FrictionGerry ChiniquyLarz BourneJune 28, 1970 (1970-06-28)
A scientist is trying to study the Ant; meanwhile, the Aardvark attempts to eat the Ant yet again, but the scientist continually intervenes, refusing to let the Aardvark ruin his experiments.
13Mumbo JumboArt DavisJohn W. DunnSeptember 27, 1970 (1970-09-27)
The Ant has become a member of the Brothers of the Forest, Lodge 202, whose members will always come to one another's aid when needed. Naturally, the Ant's lodge brothers, especially his close friend Tiny the elephant, arrive on call to save him from being eaten by the Aardvark.
14The Froze Nose KnowsGerry ChiniquyDale HaleNovember 18, 1970 (1970-11-18)
A very heavy snowstorm hits the forest, forcing the Aardvark to use winter-themed tactics to catch and eat the Ant.
15Don't Hustle an Ant with MuscleArt DavisDale HaleDecember 27, 1970 (1970-12-27)
The Ant discovers a jar of vitamin strength pills that give him both larger, stronger muscles and the upper hand against the Aardvark.
16Rough BrunchArt DavisSid MarcusJanuary 3, 1971 (1971-01-03)
The Ant is visiting his cousin Term, - a termite - when the Aardvark shows up, yet again, to try and eat the Ant. Term comes to his cousin's aid by using his talent of eating wood to thwart the hungry Aardvark.
17From Bed to WorseArt DavisJohn W. DunnJune 16, 1971 (1971-06-16)

As the end result of yet another chase, both the Aardvark and the Ant get broken legs, so they are put in an animal hospital, but even being hospitalized won't stop the Aardvark from trying to have the Ant for lunch.

  • Additional voices: Athena Lorde

Credits

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Revivals

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The first revival featured the characters as part on the 1993 incarnation of The Pink Panther. The characters remained unchanged, though unlike the original 1969-1971 cartoons, they do not appear in their own segments but rather are included in segments featuring the Pink Panther (now voiced by Matt Frewer). John Byner returned to voice both Charlie Ant and the Aardvark.[6]

The second revival occurred in 2010 as part of Pink Panther and Pals. Eddie Garvar voices the Aardvark, who retains his previous characterization. Kel Mitchell, using his natural voice, voices the Ant.

References

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  1. ^ Lenburg, Jeff (1999). The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons. Checkmark Books. p. 51. ISBN 0-8160-3831-7. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  2. ^ a b Simonson, Robert (22 June 2004). "Sondheim, Lane and Stroman's The Frogs Finds a Lily Pad at Lincoln Center Beginning June 22". Playbill. Archived from the original on 31 January 2013. Retrieved 2009-08-10.
  3. ^ a b Scott, Vernon (26 July 1985). "JOHN BYNER IS THE MAN BEHIND CHARACTER'S VOICE". Sun-Sentinel. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013. Retrieved 2009-08-10.
  4. ^ a b Jefferson, Graham (7 December 1993). "Pink Panther breaks silence // The cool cat acquires a voice from Matt Frewer". USA Today (subscription required). Archived from the original on October 21, 2012. Retrieved 2009-08-10.
  5. ^ a b Arnold, Mark (25 October 2015). Think Pink! The DePatie-Freleng Story. BearManor Media.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h Beck, Jerry (2006). Pink Panther: The Ultimate Guide to the Coolest Cat in Town. New York, New York: Dorling Kindersley, Ltd. pp. 38–39, 44–45, 102–103. ISBN 0-7566-1033-8.
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