101 Dalmatians: The Series (2024)

101 Dalmatians: The Series is a 1997 animated television series produced by The Walt Disney Company, and based on the classic 1961 Disney animated feature One Hundred and One Dalmatians and its 1996 live-action remake.

It was the first television series based on the franchise, and would be followed by 101 Dalmatian Street.

Premise[]

The show focuses primarily on Lucky, Rolly, Cadpig, and Spot the chicken. Early promotional material listed dictatorial Penny and mischievous Patch as two other puppy cast members, but the highlighted puppies were whittled down to three.

Other puppies appearing in the show have included the brave three-legged Tripod, the well-meaning clueless Dipstick, the constantly urinating Wizzer, the indecisive fashion-conscious Two-Tone, and the Sheepdog mix, Mooch, who serves as the farm's bully. Penny and Patch also make occasional appearances, though with different personalities than originally promoted. The show seems to be a blending of both the animated film and the live-action film, so the potential exists for other puppies from the films to appear, especially Freckles, Pepper, Jewel, and Fidget.

Production[]

Originally intended to be titled Dalmatians 101, it was changed to 101 Dalmatians: The Series just before its premiere.

Broadcast[]

101 Dalmatians: The Series debuted in syndication on September 1, 1997, running new episodes five days a week as a part of the Disney-Kellogg Alliance programming block, that replaced the The Disney Afternoon programming block. It aired under a 4:30 PM timeslot, replacing the second season of The Lion King's Timon & Pumbaa (Mondays), Quack Pack (Tuesdays-Thursdays) and Mighty Ducks (Fridays).

Less than two weeks later, the show came to ABC's One Saturday Morning lineup under a 8:00 AM timeslot, previously held by the first season of Jungle Cubs, airing original episodes that could only be seen on the network.

65 episodes were produced - 12 on ABC and 53 in syndication. On March 4, 1998, the show played its last episode in syndication. The series was replaced by Hercules in both of its timeslots for new episodes. However, reruns continued to play on Disney-Kellogg Alliance on a 3:30 PM timeslot until it ceased operations in 1999, and on ABC until 2002.

Reruns had also aired on Toon Disney from its launch until January 30, 2006. It was also syndicated on the United Kingdom channel Disney Cinemagic until it closed in 2013, and on the Latin American version of Disney Channel in 2008.

In 2011, it was syndicated daily on the 'Disney Junior' channel, in the United Kingdom and South America. On March 23, 2012, the show returned to American television as a launch title for the Disney Junior channel, but only about half of the episodes aired, and most of the ones that did air were edited down (this was most likely due to scenes that were dubbed inappropriate for preschoolers). On September 3, 2013, the series was removed from Disney Junior's lineup, thus was the last time the series aired on American television.

It was released on streaming on iTunes and Amazon in 2017, and later Disney+ in 2020.

Characters[]

Main characters[]

• Lucky (voiced by Pamela Adlon and Debi Mae West): The most adventurous of the puppies and is unique in having his only spots in the shape of a horseshoe on his back.
• Cadpig (voiced by Kath Soucie): Cadpig is the runt of the litter and the smallest of the puppies but quite possibly the most intelligent, if not deluded. She is unique in having long floppy ears, a big head, a kind personality, and she's also quite strong for her size.
• Rolly (voiced by Kath Soucie): Rolly is the very hungry one. Almost all his decisions are based on food and this, at times, gets him and the pups into trouble. He is, however, a loyal and helpful sibling, especially when it comes to his incredible sense of smell.
• Spot (voiced by Tara Strong): Spot is a chicken who wants to become a Dalmatian. She is a voice of reason for the foursome but, more often than not, is ignored. She is easily frightened and is prone to literally bouncing off the walls. She is, however, a good dancer (which has to count for something, according to her) and appears to be good at math. She is also able to fly.
• Roger and Anita Dearly (voiced by Jeff Bennett and Kath Soucie, respectively): Owners of the 101 Dalmatians and Dearly Farm.
• Cruella de Vil (voiced by April Winchell): Now a corporate criminal and most of her plans revolve around getting richer, tormenting the Dalmatians, and plotting to steal the Dearly Farm.
• Horace and Jasper(voiced by David L. Lander and Michael McKean): Cruella's henchmen. They are usually hired to perform her plans, usually failing.

Supporting characters[]

• Nanny (voiced by Charlotte Rae):The Dearlys' caretaker who always helps Roger and Anita around the Dearly Farm; also helps with feeding the Dalmatians as well.
• Pongo (voiced by Kevin Schon): The father of the Dalmatians, and the husband and mate of Perdita.
• Perdita (voiced by Pam Dawber): The mother of the Dalmatians, and the wife and mate of Pongo.
• Mooch: (voiced by Danny Cooksey): A Sheepdog mix who can be annoying at times, but has a heart of gold.
• Two-Tone (voiced by Tara Strong): One of the Dalmatian puppies and Mooch's on-again, off-again girlfriend. She is depicted as half black with white spots, and half white with black spots.
• Dipstick (voiced by Thom Adcox-Hernandez): A male Dalmatian puppy who can be considered dim-witted; also part of Mooch's gang.
• Wizzer(voiced by Christine Cavanaugh): A male Dalmatian puppy with bladder control issues; also part of Mooch's gang.
• Tripod (voiced by Toran Caudell): A male Dalmatian puppy who serves as Lucky's constant rival. He has spotted ears, a green headband and is missing his front left leg.
• Scorch (voiced by Frank Welker): Cruella's pet ferret who has an appetite for Spot.
• The Colonel (voiced by Jim Cummings): An Old English Sheepdog and commanding officer of the Bark Brigade.
• Sergeant Tibbs (voiced by Jeff Bennett): A cat and close ally to the Colonel.
• Captain (voiced by Frank Welker): A horse on the Dearly Farm who is usually seen helping Nanny.
• Lieutenant Pug(voiced by Jeff Bennett): One of the training officers of the Bark Brigade. He has a paranoia of a feline invasion.
• Thunderbolt (voiced by Frank Welker): Lucky's favorite superhero.
• Cornelia (voiced by Tress MacNeille): Spot's overbearing mother who wants her to behave like a chicken.
• Lucy (voiced by Paddi Edwards): A goose who gets annoyed when the Dalmatians play in her pond at Hiccup Hole.
• Swamp Rat(voiced by Jeff Bennett): A rat salesman who lives in the swamp.
• Steven the Alligator(voiced by Frank Welker): Swamp Rat's associate who is also fixated on eating Spot.
• Cydne (voiced by Frank Welker): A snakewho lives in the swamp and Swamp Rat's other associate.
• Mayor Ed Pig (voiced by Jim Cummings): A pig who is also the mayor of the animals on the Dearly Farm.
• Dumpling: (voiced by Christine Cavanaugh): Mayor Ed's daughter who fancies Lucky.
• Princess: (voiced by Cree Summer): A cow who lives on the Dearly Farm.
• duch*ess: (voiced by Marla Gibbs): A cow and a companion of Princess.

Episodes[]

Main article: List of 101 Dalmatians: The Series episodes

Main article: List of 101 Dalmatians: The Series episodes (Production Order)

Merchandise[]

Not much merchandise has been made of this series unlike other Disney series, the only ones being:

• "A Christmas Cruella" VHS
• "Coup DeVil" VHS
• "Dalmatian Vacation" Video CD
• "Dalmatian Vacation" VHS and LaserDisc (Japan only)
• "Surf Puppies" CD
• "The Big Dig" (book)
• "Cruella Returns" (book)
• "Springtime Fun" (book)
• "Hide-and-Go-Seek at the Farm" (book)
• "Visit the Farm" (book)
• Rare episode cels
• Car toys for McDonald's Happy Meals (sold in January 1998)
• Curly straws from McDonald's restaurants located in Wal-Mart stores
• Beanbag toys included with Sweethearts candy (Caldor exclusive)

Continuity issues[]

The series does not take place in the same continuity as the movies, an example of which being the fact that everyone in the series (except Cruella) has American accents while the movie is set in London and its surroundings. The original animated movie is set in the early 1960s, while the live-action films and the series are set in a modern day world (1996 at the time). It is also notable that the movie is more realistic, while the series is very cartoon-like. The series comes closer to the essence of Dodie Smith's book than the movies and is based on everything 101 Dalmatians-related Cadpig is one character that is not characterized in the movies. Therefore, all three media can be considered canon, even though they are not in the same continuity. Also, Roger and Anita the dog owners' last name is to "Dearly", just like in the novel and the 1996 film.

Awards and Nominations[]

See here.

Trivia[]

• Episodes "My Fair Chicken" and "My Fair Moochie" were based on My Fair Lady, a movie based on George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion.
• As mentioned above, there were originally supposed to be five main characters: Lucky, Cadpig, Rolly, Patch, and Penny. Patch was relegated to the role of a minor character, and Penny does not appear in the series at all, as it was feared that there would be too many main characters. Spot was added in later.
• Most episode titles are based on dog-related puns.
• Kath Soucie's voices of Rolly and Cadpig are the same as Phil and Lil in Rugrats.
  • Cadpig's voice sounds like a cross between Lil and a non-French Fifi La Fume in Tiny Toon Adventures or, as later shown, Cissy in Pepper Ann, Tish in The Weekenders, and Jetta in Clifford the Big Red Dog.
• Tara Strong (Spot and Two-Tone) and Christine Cavanaugh (Wizzer) also appeared in Rugratsas Dil Pickles and Chuckie Finster (at first), respectively.
• Kath Soucie would also voice Annie Redfeather and Aurora, with Pamela Adlon as Zach Nichols, in the TV show Adventures for the Book of Virtues.
• In the episode "Virtual Lucky", Lucky's name in Roger's video game is known as "Barkio", which is an obvious reference to Nintendo's Mario. The opening of Roger's game featuring Barkio's floating head is also a reference to Nintendo 64's launch title, Super Mario 64.
• In "Valentine Daze", Roger says that he's working on a video game called "The Hunchbox of Notre Dame". This is a reference to The Hunchback of Notre Dame, which is a 1996 Disney film.
• The episode "Twelve Angry Pups" is a courtroom drama named after the Reginald Rose drama, Twelve Angry Men. The episode contains allusions to the O. J. Simpson murder trial, including Mooch escaping on a white bronco, which in this case is a horse, not a Ford 2-door SUV.

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