What-a-Mess
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What-a-Mess | |
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Created by | Frank Muir |
Written by | Frank Muir Timothy Forder (Version 1) Cliff Ruby Elana Lesser (Version 2) |
Directed by | Timothy Forder (Version 1) Kent Butterworth (Version 2) |
Voices of | Frank Muir (Versions 1, & 2) Ryan O'Donohue Jo Ann Harris Joe Nipote Charity James Miriam Flynn Michael Bell Debi Derryberry Adam Hendershott |
Theme music composer | Andrew Lloyd Webber (Version 1) Barrie Guard (Version 1) |
Country of origin | United Kingdom (Version 1) United States (Version 2) |
No. of seasons | 2 |
No. of episodes | 45 |
Production | |
Executive producers | Claire Derry David Hamilton (Version 1) Andy Heyward Robby London Mike Maliani (Version 2) |
Producers | Mary Swindale (Version 1) Cliff Ruby Elana Lesser Kent Butterworth (Version 2) |
Running time | 5 minutes (Version 1) 10 minutes (Version 1, later episodes) 30 minutes (Version 2) |
Production companies | Smallfilms (Version 1) Bevanfield Films (Version 1, later episodes) DIC Productions, L.P. (Version 2) |
Distributor | Version 2 DIC Entertainment (United States) ABC Distribution Company (Internationally) |
Release | |
Original network | BBC (Version 1) ITV (Version 1, later episodes) ABC (Version 2) |
Original release | 24 December 1979 4 April 1996 | –
What-a-Mess is a series of children's books written by British comedy writer Frank Muir and illustrated by Joseph Wright.[1] The title character is a dishevelled (hence his nickname), accident-prone Afghan Hound puppy, whose real name is Prince Amir of Kinjan. The book series was later made into two animated series, both narrated by Frank Muir.[2]
Characters[]
- What-a-Mess – A scruffy Afghan puppy who is the main character of the entire franchise. His real name is Prince Amir of Kinjan, and has a yellow duck sitting on top of his head. In the US animated version, the duck was coloured blue, as his character was merged with the bluebird in the UK animated version and books, and was also given the name Baldwin by What-A-Mess. In the US animated version, What-A-Mess is voiced by Ryan O'Donohue.
- What-a-Mess's Mother – Also known as The Duchess of Kinjan is a beautiful pedigree Afghan Hound, mother to What-a-Mess, and is voiced by Charity James in the US version.
- Family – The owners of What-a-Mess and his mother. They consist of the father, the mother, the son, and the daughter. Like most humans, they are mostly seen from the neck down, with their faces slightly obscured. They are voiced by Michael Bell (as the father), Miriam Flynn (as the mother), Adam Hendershott (as the son), and Debi Derryberry (as the daughter), in the US version.
- Poppet – Belonging to the father of the house's aunt, Poppet is a cute, clean, and yet troublemaking dog that What-a-Mess and his friends truly despise, making her first appearance in Super What-a-Mess.
- Archbishop of Canterbury – A scruffy dark blue dog with brown patches who What-A-Mess met and befriended in What-A-Mess Goes to the Seaside. He's named this way because when What-A-Mess introduces himself with his breed name he sarcastically replies "Wotcher, cock, I'm the Archbishop of Canterbury!", which the naive pup takes as his actual name. His name was changed to Norton in the US Animated Version, and he was voiced by Dana Hill.
- President of the United States – Ironic, that in one of the US Version episodes where What-a-Mess got lost in town, he was helped out by a dog voiced by Jim Cummings that had the same experience as the Archbishop of Canterbury in the UK Version and books, where when What-a-Mess introduces himself with his breed name, he sarcastically replies "Oh really? And I'm the President of the United States!" which the naive pup takes as his actual name.
- The Cat Next Door – Also known as Felicia in the US animated version, is a brown Siamese Cat that loves to tease What-A-Mess at times. In the US animated version, she was coloured blue and she was voiced by Jo Ann Harris.
- Cynthia – A Hedgehog who What-A-Mess befriended in What-A-Mess Goes to School. Her character was redesigned to become a mole named Ramona in the US animated version because Hedgehogs aren't native to America. In the US animated version, she is voiced by Candi Milo.
- Ryvita – Appearing only in the books, Ryvita is a Ladybird that What-A-Mess and his friends befriended, and who first appeared in What-a-Mess Goes on Television She speaks so small that only Cynthia could understand her.
- Esmeralda – A white mouse that belonged to the girl of the house, who only appeared in both the book, What-a-Mess, and the Hairy Monster, and an episode of the US version of the same name. In the US version, she was voiced by Russi Taylor.
- Trash – Only in the US animated version, Trash is a Bull Terrier who is a real trouble maker for What-A-Mess. His real name is actually Francis. He is voiced by Joe Nipote.
- Frank – An Old English Sheepdog that narrates the US animated version of What-A-Mess, voiced by Frank Muir himself.
Books list[]
Large Books[]
- What-a-Mess
- What-a-Mess The Good
- What-a-Mess at the Seaside
- What-a-Mess Goes to School
- Prince What-a-Mess
- Super What-a-Mess
- What-a-Mess and the Cat Next Door
- What-a-Mess Goes on Television
- What-a-Mess and the Hairy Monster
Small Books[]
Four Seasons
- What-a-Mess in Spring
- What-a-Mess in Summer
- What-a-Mess in Autumn
- What-a-Mess in Winter
Four Square Meals
- What-a-Mess has Breakfast
- What-a-Mess has Lunch
- What-a-Mess has Tea
- What-a-Mess has Supper
Mini Books
- What-a-Mess has a Brain Wave
- What-a-Mess and Little Poppet
- What-a-Mess and a trip to the Vet
- What-a-Mess the Beautiful
- What-a-Mess Goes to Town
- What-a-Mess Goes Camping
Animated series[]
An animated series was made in the UK in 1979 by Smallfilms. More episodes were made in the UK in 1990 by Central Independent Television, Link Licensing, and Bevanfield Films. A second version, this time American, was made in 1995 by DIC Productions L.P.[3] and aired on ABC in the United States.[4] It aired on YTV from 1995 to 1999 in Canada, and aired on Spacetoon from 2004 to 2014 in the Arab world. Both versions were narrated by Muir.[3] Both animated series aired on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in Australia.
Episodes[]
Version 1 (Smallfilms, iTV / UK series)[]
Episode | Title | UK release date | Comment |
---|---|---|---|
1 | A Bee? | 24 December 1979 | |
2 | A Hat? | 26 December 1979 | |
3 | A FIsh? | 27 December 1979 | |
4 | A Mole? | 28 December 1979 | |
5 | A Hound? | 30 December 1979 | |
6 | Mighty Hunter | 1 January 1980 | |
7 | Enough for One Day | 2 January 1980 | |
8 | A Very Good Dog Indeed | 3 January 1980 | |
9 | A Prince | 4 January 1980 | |
10 | What-a-Mess at the Seaside | 26 March 1990 | Adapted from What-a-Mess at the Seaside |
11 | What-a-Mess Goes to School | 2 April 1990 | Adapted from What-a-Mess Goes to School |
12 | Prince What-a-Mess | 9 April 1990 | Adapted from Prince What-a-Mess and What-a-Mess in Winter |
13 | Super What-a-Mess | 16 April 1990 | Adapted from Super What-a-Mess |
14 | What-a-Mess Keeps Cool | 30 April 1990 | Adapted from What-a-Mess in Spring and What-a-Mess in Summer |
15 | What-a-Mess and Cynthia the Hedgehog | 14 May 1990 | Adapted from What-a-Mess has Supper and What-a-Mess in Autumn |
16 | What-a-Mess Has a Brain Wave! | 21 May 1990 | Adapted from What-a-Mess has Breakfast and What-a-Mess Had a Brain Wave |
17 | What-a-Mess and the Cat Next Door | 4 June 1990 | Adapted from What-a-Mess and the Cat Next Door |
18 | What-a-Mess and Little Poppet | 18 June 1990 | Adapted from What-a-Mess and Little Poppet |
19 | What-a-Mess Goes Camping | 2 July 1990 | Adapted from What-a-Mess Goes Camping |
20 | What-a-Mess The Beautiful | 9 July 1990 | Adapted from What-a-Mess The Beautiful |
21 | What-a-Mess Goes to Town | 16 July 1990 | Adapted from What-a-Mess Goes to Town |
22 | What-a-Mess Goes to the Vet | 23 July 1990 | Adapted from What-a-Mess Goes to the Vet |
Version 2 (DIC Productions, L.P. / US series)[]
Episode | Title |
---|---|
1 | Talkin' Trash/A Bone to Pick/Midnight Snack |
2 | Schoolin' Around/The Legend of Junkyard Jones/It's Raining Cats and Dogs |
3 | Home Alone...Almost/Super What-A-Mess/The Recliner |
4 | Afghan Holiday/The Bone Tree |
5 | Just Four More Left/The Ropes/What-A-Mess Has Breakfast |
6 | Prize Puppy/The Great Escape/The Scarecrow and Prince Amir |
7 | Shampooed/Show and Tail/I Spy, I Cry, I Try |
8 | What-A-Mess and the Hairy Monster/Trick Or Treat/My Teatime with Frank |
9 | Out With the Garbage/Dr. What-A-Mess |
10 | Ultimate What-A-Mess |
11 | This Hydrant Is Mine |
12 | Trash's Wonderful Life |
13 | Snowbound |
14 | The Thanksgiving Turkey |
15 | Santa What-A-Mess |
16 | Here Comes Santa Paws |
17 | All Around the Mallberry Bush |
18 | What-A-Mess at the Movies |
19 | His Royal Highness, Prince What-A-Mess |
20 | Party at Poppet's |
21 | Take Me Out to the Dog Park |
22 | The Watch Out Dog |
23 | Molenapped! |
24 | Pound Pals |
25 | Taste Test |
26 | Slobber on a Stick |
27 | Scout's Honor |
28 | Seein' Double |
29 | Luck on His Side |
30 | What-A-Mess Keeps the Doctor Away |
31 | There's No Business Like Shoe Business |
32 | Joy Ride |
33 | Baldwin's Family Reunion |
34 | Do the Mess Around |
35 | On Vacation |
36 | Messy Encounters |
37 | Dog Days of Summer |
38 | Fetch! |
39 | Real Puppies Don't Meow |
40 | Invasion of the Puppy Snatchers |
41 | The Ballad of El Pero |
42 | What-a-Mess Has Lunch |
43 | Walking the Boy |
44 | Messed Up What-A-Mess |
45 | Water Mess |
46 | The Big Sleep |
47 | High-Wire Heartthrob |
Home releases[]
UK series[]
- What-A-Mess: 5 Hilarious Adventures – What-a-Mess Goes to the Seaside, What-a-Mess Goes to School, Prince What-a-Mess, Super What-a-Mess, What-a-Mess Keeps Cool (Extra Episodes – What-a-Mess and Cynthia the Hedgehog, What-a-Mess Has a Brain Wave!)
- What-A-Mess: Small VHS Sample – What-a-Mess and Cynthia the Hedgehog, What-a-Mess Has a Brain Wave!, What-a-Mess and the Cat Next Door
- What-A-Mess: Cat & Seaside (DVD) – Consisting the entire UK series.
US series[]
In October 1996, Buena Vista Home Video under the DIC Toon-Time Video imprint released 2 VHS tapes called Monsters, Goblins, and Ghosts, Oh my! and Here Comes Santa Paws. The former contained the segments What-A-Mess and the Hairy Monster, Trick Or Treat, and My Tea Time with Frank . The latter contained the Santa What-a-Mess special.[citation needed]
On 13 November 2003, Sterling Entertainment released a VHS/DVD called "Christmas Mess", containing the Santa What-a-Mess special as well as the segments "Trash's Wonderful Life", "The Thanksgiving Turkey", Snowbound", All Around the Mallberry Bush", "It's Raining Cats and Dogs" and "At the Movies", with the DVD version containing the segments "His Majesty, Prince What-a-Mess", "Ultimate What-a-Mess" and "This Hydrant is Mine" as bonus episodes. The DVD was re-issued by NCircle Entertainment in 2007.[citation needed]
References[]
- ^ Russell Williams, Imogen (4 July 2007). "Whatever happened to What-a-mess?". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
- ^ Crump, William D. (2019). Happy Holidays—Animated! A Worldwide Encyclopedia of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year's Cartoons on Television and Film. McFarland & Co. p. 335. ISBN 9781476672939.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "IMDB What-a-mess". Retrieved 3 January 2011.
- ^ Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. pp. 899–900. ISBN 978-1476665993.
- British picture books
- Books about dogs
- American television shows based on children's books
- British television shows based on children's books
- Animated television series about dogs
- British children's animated television shows
- BBC children's television shows
- ITV children's television shows
- American Broadcasting Company original programming
- Television series by DIC Entertainment
- Television series by DHX Media
- 1979 British television series debuts
- 1980 British television series endings
- 1990 British television series debuts
- 1990 British television series endings
- 1970s British animated television series
- 1980s British animated television series
- 1990s British animated television series
- 1970s British children's television series
- 1980s British children's television series
- 1990s British children's television series
- 1995 American television series debuts
- 1996 American television series endings
- 1990s American animated television series
- 1990s American children's television series
- Television series by ITV Studios
- English-language television shows
- American children's animated television series