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Courage the Cowardly Dog

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Courage the Cowardly Dog is an American animated television series created by John R. Dilworth for Cartoon Network. Its central plot revolves around a somewhat anthropomorphic dog named Courage who lives with his owners, Muriel and Eustace Bagge, an elderly, married farming couple in the "Middle of Nowhere" (the fictional town of Nowhere, Kansas). Courage and his owners are frequently thrown into bizarre misadventures, often involving the paranormal/supernatural and various villains. The show is often noted for its surreal, often disquieting humor and bizarre plot twists. The series combines elements of black comedy, comedy horror, science fantasy, surrealism and sometimes drama. It is rated TV-Y7.

Courage the Cowardly Dog
File:Courage the Cowardly Dog intertitle.jpg
GenreBlack comedy
Comedy horror
Science fantasy
Surrealism
Created byJohn R. Dilworth
Voices ofMarty Grabstein
Thea White
Lionel G. Wilson
Arthur Anderson
Simon Prebble
Paul Schoeffler
Billie Lou Watt
Peter Fernandez
Arnold Stang
Opening theme"Courage the Cowardly Dog" by Jody Gray and Andy Ezrin
Ending theme"Courage the Cowardly Dog" (instrumental)
Country of originTemplate:TVUS
No. of seasons4
No. of episodes52 (list of episodes)
Production
Running time22 minutes (approx.)
Production companiesStretch Films (series)
Wang Film Productions
Cuckoo's Nest Studios
Hanna–Barbera Cartoons (animated short)
Original release
NetworkCartoon Network
ReleaseNovember 12, 1999 (1999-11-12) –
November 22, 2002 (2002-11-22)
Related
The What a Cartoon! Show

The program originated from a short on Cartoon Network's animation showcase series created by Hanna-Barbera president Fred Seibert, "What A Cartoon!" titled "The Chicken from Outer Space".[1]

On April 20, 2012, this series returned to Cartoon Network in re-runs on the revived block, "Cartoon Planet".[2]

Plot

File:Courage, Muriel and Eustace.jpg
From left to right: Courage, Muriel and Eustace.

Courage the Cowardly Dog follows a dog named Courage, an easily frightened canine who lives in a farmhouse with Muriel and Eustace Bagge near the fictional town of Nowhere, Kansas. Abandoned as a puppy, Courage was adopted by Muriel Bagge (a sweet-natured Scottish woman), and her husband Eustace (a grumpy, greedy farmer who enjoys scaring Courage with a large, bright green, bug-eyed mask). Courage, Eustace, and Muriel frequently run into monsters, aliens, demons, mad scientists, zombies, and other perils that Courage must fend off to save his owners. Although most of the creatures that the three face are frightening or disturbing, some turn out to be sweet or simply in distress.

Production

The animated short

Originally, Courage the Cowardly Dog was created as a seven-minute animated short, "The Chicken from Outer Space".[3] Dilworth started the animated short with Hanna-Barbera, sponsored by Cartoon Network and introduced Courage.[3] Teletoon Dilworth graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the School of Visual Arts in New York in 1985. He became an art director and founded his own animation studio, Stretch Films in 1991, and incorporated in 1994.[3] The animated short was shown as one of the episodes of Cartoon Network's World Premiere Toons in 1996, a Hanna-Barbera Cartoons innovation by then-president Fred Seibert.[4] The short served as a de facto pilot for the future series.[4] The original animated short had no dialogue except for one line spoken by Courage, who had a more authoritative voice than in the series.[3] An alien chicken was the villain in this short, and it would later reappear in the series to seek its revenge.[5] The short was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film at the 68th Academy Awards.[6] complicated the crew's job by suggesting layering the theme with a variety of funny sounds, a strange tempo and a voice over of a crazed laugh or person singing to give the music and sound effects their own personality beyond anything else out there.[3]

Original music featured in Courage the Cowardly Dog was composed by Jody Gray[7] and Andy Ezrin.[8][9] Classical music can be heard at times, which pays homage to classic Warner Bros. animation and the scores of Carl Stalling.[10] In several episodes, Gray arranged various famous classical pieces and wrote up to 15 songs, such as Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyries".[9]

Howard Hoffman provided all of the voices for the short.

The television series

In 1999, Cartoon Network gave Dilworth permission to turn the short into an animated series. Hanna-Barbera was responsible for the What a Cartoon anthology and intended on developing the series. However, Dilworth insisted on taking the production to his Stretch Films Studios. The stories' plots were written by the show's head writer, David Steven Cohen, in addition to Irv Bauer, Craig Shemin, Lory Lazarus, Bill Marsilii, Allan Neuwirth, Bill Aronson and Michelle Dilworth. Courage the Cowardly Dog premiered on November 12, 1999, and became the highest-rated premiere in Cartoon Network history at the time.[11] It last aired on November 22, 2002 with 52 episodes produced in four seasons.

Broadcast history

On August 26, 2007, Cartoon Network aired the "Monstervision Marathon" in the US that consisted of 14 half-hour segments of the show, running from 12pm-7pm. The marathon aired again on October 7, 2007 and again on August 13, 2009. After these events, the show was moved to weekend airings, until July 5, 2010 through June 10, 2011, when the show aired on weekdays only. It got replaced on June 13, 2011 for the 2 newest shows Sidekick and Almost Naked Animals. However the series got taken off of the summer In Spain, the show is broadcast everyday on Boing. There's a recent announcement that the series will return on September 3, 2012 to Boomerang.

In the Netherlands and Denmark, the show still airs on Cartoon Network. In the Danish version, the series and the protagonist is called Frygtløs (literally: Fearless).

In Australia, reruns air on Cartoon Network in multiple time slots throughout the week.

In India, Srilanka and Nepal reruns air on Cartoon Network at 12:30 A.M. (Season 1-2) and 3:00 A.M. (Season 4).

In Pakistan and Bangladesh, reruns continue to air on Cartoon Network, and is also aired on Wikkid Plus (Pakistan Only).

In the United Kingdom, the show premiered on Cartoon Network in January 2000 and all seasons of the show were broadcast until 2003. During the mid-to-late 2000's, they continued to air the show in reruns as part of a 2 hour block featuring various other Cartoon Cartoon shows alongside it, which aired each evening from 11pm-1am. Episodes were aired without commercials, not even for half-hour breaks. This was the only show on the UK version of this network aired in such a manner, until the Cartoon Cartoon block was dramatically changed at the beginning of 2010 with more recent shows like Chowder and Ben 10. The show now gets rerun at 9pm every night, alongside Cow & Chicken, Samurai Jack and Johnny Bravo.

In Bulgaria, the show was mostly broadcast on the Pan-European Cartoon Network in the English language from 2004 to 2009, meanwhile during that time it became one of the most popular and well liked by the audience cartoon in the country, it was also broadcast regularly аt peak hours. From September, 2009, when the Pan-European Cartoon Network was replaced by a sepаrate Bulgarian Cartoon Network, the show started broadcasting in the Bulgarian language and was called Kurazh, strahlivoto kuche (Template:Lang-bg), but was stopped in the next year. After 6 years on Cartoon Network, currently it is not broadcasting neither on Cartoon Network or other program. Besides on Cartoon Network, the show was broadcast in two brief periods on Diema Family (March - May 2009; October 2010 - January 2011) at hours in which television is very rarely watched - starting in 07:05, 8:15, 8:20 and 8:40 AM.

In Italy, Leone il Cane Fifone was broadcasted on August 7, 20ly Dog has been back on Cartoon Network Italy, from Monday to Friday at 7am, at 2:30pm and 5pm. After being removed from Boomerang, it began its broadcast on the free channel Boing on March 30, 2009.

In Brazil, the show is broadcast by Tooncast throughout the week at 11:30am/pm and is also broadcast on Cartoon Network

Characters

Main article: List of Courage the Cowardly Dog characters

As depicted in every opening sequence of every episode, a TV anchorman announces, "We interrupt this program to bring you... Courage the Cowardly Dog show, starring Courage, the cowardly dog! Abandoned as a pup, he was found by Muriel, and lives in the middle of Nowhere with her husband Eustace Bagge.... But creepy stuff happens in Nowhere. It's up to Courage to save his new home!"[12] So by this we know the main characters, Courage Bagge, Muriel Bagge and Eustace Bagge. Many more characters appear in every show, like the Tv Anchor, police man, hunter man etc.

Episodes

Main article: List of Courage the Cowardly Dog episodes

In total, there were 52 episodes in four seasons produced. The series originally ran from November 12, 1999 and ended on November 22, 2002.

Home media releases

A VHS tape of Courage the Cowardly Dog was released along with Mike, Lu & Og in 2000. The VHS tape is now out of print.[13]

Courage the Cowardly Dog: Season One, a two-disc DVD set featuring all 13 episodes from the show's first season, was released in Australia (Region 4) on September 12, 2007, by Madman Entertainment.[14][15] On January 13, 2010, the complete second season was also released.[14][16]

A Region 1 release of the first season was done by Warner Home Video on July 20, 2010. The release is the second in an official release of several Cartoon Cartoons on DVD, under the "Cartoon Network Hall of Fame" name.[17]

In addition, all four seasons of the series are also available for download on iTunes.[18][19]

Title Release date Episodes Region Description
Season 1 September 12, 2007[14][15] List of Courage the Cowardly Dog Episodes 4 This two-disc release includes all 13 episodes from the first season.
Season 2 January 13, 2010[14][16] List of Courage the Cowardly Dog Episodes 4 This two-disc release includes all 13 episodes from the second season including the pilot episode "The Chicken from Outer Space".
Courage the Cowardly Dog: Season One July 20, 2010[17] List of Courage the Cowardly Dog Episodes 1 This two-disc release includes all 13 episodes from the first season.

both episodes from the series were also featured on several Cartoon Network compilation DVDs:

  • The Powerpuff Girls: Down 'n' Dirty - "Journey to the Center of Nowhere" - November 7, 2000
  • Scooby-Doo and the Toon Tour of Mysteries - "The Mask", "The Towerer 5, 2004
  • Cartoon Network Halloween Volume 2: Grossest Halloween Ever - "Courage Meets the Mummy / Night of the Weremole" - August 9, 2004
  • Cartoon Network Christmas Volume 2: Christmas Rocks - "The Snowman Cometh" - October 4, 2005
  • Toon Foolery-Laugh Your Ed of:"The McPhearson Phantom"

Reception

Reviews

Courage the Cowardly Dog received generally positive reviews from the television critics. John G. Nettles of PopMatters reviewed the show and called it, "a fascinating and textured mixture of cartoon and horror-movie conventions, and a joy to watch."[20]

Alex Mastas of Lights Out Films reviewed the show gave it a grade "A-" and described it, "The backgrounds are rich and imaginative—they composite lot of the show over real photos and occasionally integrate CGI into cartoon. The look is weird and ethereal, just like the show itself."[21]

KJ Dell Antonia of Common Sense Media posted a review and gave three stars out of five and describes as "Cult fave 'toon plays over-the-top violence for laughs."[22] Antonia warned parents that the series contains graphic animated violence, including exploding organs, growing extra limbs, turning inside out.[22] Antonia gave a positive response that the series has very little, although Courage always fights for his "cowardy don't go for thrills and chills, so it's good to see a genuinely surreal and slanted series develop a decent following."[23] Miller felt that Warner Bros. had the DVD treatment that doesn't offer much support and stated that the technical reasons is only passable that have lack of bonus features certainly doesn't help matters, and overall, fans of the series should be glad to have the first season on DVD and a relatively ticket of low price that ease the pain.[23]

Jeff Swindoll of Monsters and Critics reviewed the first season DVD and felt a bit disappointed about the DVD having not included the short in disc-set.[24] Swindoll felt that the lack of special features still should not deter fans from buying the season since the other episodes have appeared on other releases of the series.[24]

Awards and nominations

Award Category Nominee Result
1995 Academy Awards Best Animated Short Film John R. Dilworth
For short film "The Chicken From Outer Space"		 Nominated
2000 Annie Awards Outstanding Individual Achievement for Production Design in an Animated Television Production[25][26] John R. Dilworth
For episode "A Night at the Katz Motel"		 Won
2000 Golden Reel Awards Best Sound Editing — Television Animated Series — Sound[26] For episode "The Duck Brothers" Nominated
2001 Golden Reel Awards Best Sound Editing — Television Animated Series — Sound[26] For episode "Courage In The Big Stinkin' City" Won
2003 Golden Reel Awards Best Sound Editing — Television Animated Series — Sound[26] For episode "The Tower of Dr. Zalost" Nominated

References

  1. ^ {{cite news|last=Mendoza|first=N.F.|title=SHOWS FOR YOUNGSTERS AND THEIR PARENTS TOO : Cartoon Network stars a hen from outer space; 'HumWorld Premiere Toons, and it was the eighth series to fall under the Cartoon Cartoons label.
  2. ^ Walton, Zach (March 29, 2012). "Cartoon Network Brings Back The Classics With Cartoon Planet". WebProNews. iEntry Network. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d e Miller, Bob (November 1, 1999). "The Triumphant Independent - an interview with John R. Dilworth". Animation World Network. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
  4. ^ a b Strike, Joe (July 15, 2003). "The Fred Seibert Interview - Part 1". Animation World Network. Retrieved April 13, 2011.
  5. ^ "The Revenge of the Chicken from Outer Space". Courage the Cowardly Dog. Season 1. Episode 12. 2000-06-09. Cartoon Network. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ "Academy Awards, USA (1996), Best Short Film, Animated". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 2011 May 24. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  7. ^ Chan, Darlene (November 14, 2002). "Creating Successful Music For Animation". Animation World Network. Retrieved 5 July 2011.
  8. ^ Sporn, Michael (August 9, 2008). "Splog » Dil & Dali". Michael Sporn Animation. Retrieved 5 July 2011.
  9. ^ a b Guerin, Ada (April 23, 2002). "Courage the Cowardly Dog - Cartoon Network". Jodygray.com. Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  10. ^ Crisafull, Chuck (August 20, 2002). "Children's programming is pacing the field of TV music". Jodygray.com. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 3 July 2011.
  11. ^ "Courage the Cowardly Dog Best Series Premiere in Cartoon Network History". Time Warner. November 16, 1999. Retrieved March 24, 2011.
  12. ^ Opening intro of Courage the Cowardly Dog.
  13. ^ "Courage".
  14. ^ a b c d "Courage the Cowardly Dog". Madman.com.au. Madman Entertainment (Australia). Retrieved June 6, 2011.
  15. ^ a b "Courage the Cowardly Dog Season 1". Madman.com.au. Madman Entertainment (Australia). Retrieved June 6, 2011.
  16. ^ a b "Courage the Cowardly Dog Season 2". Madman.com.au. Madman Entertainment (Australia). Retrieved June 6, 2011.
  17. ^ a b Lacey, Gord (June 29, 2010). "Cartoon Network Hall of Fame: Season 1 Press Release". TVShowsonDVD.com. Retrieved July 8, 2010.
  18. ^ "Courage the Cowardly Dog, Season 1". Apple. Retrieved June 10, 2011.
  19. ^ "Courage the Cowardly Dog, Season 4". iTunes.Apple.com. Apple. Retrieved June 10, 2011.
  20. ^ Nettles, John G. (2001). "Courage the Cowardly Dog review". PopMatters. Retrieved July 26, 2010.
  21. ^ Mastas, Alex (March 4, 2003). "TV Review: Courage the Cowardly Dog (2003)". Lights Out Films. Archived from the original on 2003-05-12. Retrieved 2011-07-14.
  22. ^ a b Antonia, KJ Dell. "Courage the Cowardly Dog - Television Review". Common Sense Media. Retrieved 7 July 2011.
  23. ^ a b Miller III, Randy (July 21, 2010). "Courage the Cowardly Dog: Season One : DVD Talk Review of the DVD Video". DVDTalk.com. Retrieved June 11, 2011.
  24. ^ a b Swindoll, Jeff (July 21, 2010). "Courage the Cowardly Dog: Season 1 - DVD review". Monsters and Critics. Retrieved June 11, 2011.
  25. ^ "28th Annual Annie Awards - Category # 15 - Outstanding Individual Achievement for Design In an Animated Television Production". Annie Awards. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  26. ^ a b c d "Awards for "Courage the Cowardly Dog" (1999)". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 5 July 2011.

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