Fantomcat

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Fantomcat was an animated series produced by Cosgrove Hall Films, it first aired in 1995 but was animated before Avenger Penguins in 1993 by Alfonso Productions, a Spanish based animation studio. It aired largely on Children's ITV. The show also had a brief run on Pop. It was produced and directed by Ben Turner

Fantomcat centers on Phillipe L'Entrique Elan de Chanel, Count Givenchy, alias the Duke of Fantom, a masked swashbuckling hero who thrived in 1669, in mortal combat with his arch nemesis Baron Von Skeltar (basically a sword-wielding caped Skeletoid alchemist) De Fantom was treacherously cast into a painting within the halls of his house Castle De Fantom, and became trapped for centuries. As time passed, the area around Castle De Fantom became a bustling metropolis called Metro City, a city submerged in crime rings led by the fiendish arachnid Marmagora.

Whilst pursuing Marmagora, a stern female detective known as Tabitha Wildcat (Tabs) and her two friends Macduff (a mouse) and Lindbergh (a carrier pigeon who can only speak in garbled blubbering pidgin English) take a wrong turn and arrive within the halls of Castle Fantom and accidentally free the Duke. After explaining who he is, Macduff nicknames the Duke "Fantom Cat" for easier reference, and together unite to first aid Fantomcat in his revenge on the Baron, and then to continue to fight Marmagora and rid Metro City of her influence.

Fantomcat is naturally completely oblivious to the modern world and its various new technologies, which can hinder him and the Detective team if not careful. This also leads to comedic scenes of Fantomcat trying to operate microwaves and basks in awe at the television set. Fantomcat has a sword called "Touche" which can respond to his beck and call, he can also turn invisible, hence his namesake to act like a "Phantom" when needed.

Fantomcat was influenced heavily by Zorro, Errol Flynn, and the time-lost approach of Adam Adamant Lives. Whilst it is not as memorable or as significant to Cosgrove's work post-Duckula, and does not carry the cult fanbase of the equally underrated Foxbusters, some fans do still remember the series fondly.

Contents 1 Voice Talents 2 Episode list 3 Credits 4 External links

[edit] Voice Talents

Voices: Robert Powell (Fantomcat), Lorelei King (Tabs Wildcat / Marmagora), Jimmy Hibbert (Lindbergh the pigeon / Vile the bluebottle), Rob Rackstraw (MacDuff the mouse).

[edit] Episode list

Season One:

1. The Hero Returns - First aired: 9/7/1995
2. The Preying Mantis - First aired: 9/14/1995
3. The Swords of the Scorpion - First aired: 9/21/1995
4. The Aeroship - First aired: 9/28/1995
5. The Mind Leech - First aired: 10/5/1995
6. Asteroid Adventure - First aired: 10/12/1995
7. Lady Gobling’s Gems - First aired: 10/26/1995
8. Comet Caractacus - First aired: 11/2/1995
9. Robot - First aired: 11/9/1995
10. The Lost Ring - First aired: 11/16/1995
11. The Eye of Harakti - First aired: 11/23/1995
12. Where the Heart is - First aired: 11/30/1995
13. The Web of Doom - First aired: 12/7/1995

Season Two: (transmittion dates include 10/23/1996, 11/13/1996 and 12/18/1996)

1. Once Upon a Time Machine
2. The Manhattan Incident
3. Cinema Paradiso
4. MacFlash: Warrior of the Sky
5. Monitor
6. FC Dies
7. The Treasure of the Belleraphon
8. The Lonely Hearts Club
9. The Mirror Monster
10. ?
11. ?
12. ?
13. ?

[edit] Credits

• A Brian Cosgrove and Mark Hall film
• Producer and Director: Ben Turner
• Writers: Roger Stennett, Jimmy Hibbert, Keith Smith
• Music: Phil Bush
• Design: Andy Roper, Jon Doyle, Mike Whaite, Maggie Riley, Michael Rose, Leslie Eaves, John Millington
• Storyboard: Keith Scobie
• Colour Design: Joan Joans
• Animation Director: Carlos Alfonso (Alfonso Productions)
• Production Manager: Julio Diez (Alfonso Productions)
• Production Assistant: Amanda Hussain
• Animation Co-ordinator: Roy Huckerby
• Digital Sound Editors: Simon Hall, Darren Cox
• Dub Mixer: John Wood
• Editing: FLIX

[edit] External links

• Toonhound entry for Fantomcat