"Underdog" (1964) TV series 1964-1973

Writer:

W. Watts Biggers

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3

Release Date:

3 October 1964 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Family | Comedy

Tagline:

There's No Need To Fear ...

Plot:

The adventures of a rhyming canine superhero.

Plot Keywords:

Superhero | Anthropomorphism | Television | Surrealism | Dog

Cast

George S. Irving	...	Narrator / ... (6 episodes, 1964-1966)
Wally Cox	...	Underdog (5 episodes, 1964-1966)
Norma MacMillan	...	Sweet Polly Purebred (3 episodes, 1964)
Allen Swift	...	Goggle the Zok Man / ... (2 episodes, 1964)

Series Writing credits
W. Watts Biggers		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
W. Watts Biggers	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Treadwell Covington	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)
Peter Piech	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
W. Watts Biggers		(unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Joseph Harris	....	co-creator: character design and storyboard art (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Fred von Bernewitz	....	track analysis (unknown episodes)

Series Animation Department
Gary Mooney	....	animator (unknown episodes)
Peter Piech	....	animator (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Leonardo Productions
• Liaison Productions
• TOTAL Television
• TOTAL Television Productions

Distributors

• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1964-1966) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1966-1968) (USA) (TV)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1968-1973) (USA) (TV)
• Classic Media (2007) (USA) (DVD) (volumes 1,2, & 3)
• Shout! Factory (2012) (USA) (DVD) (complete series)
• The Program Exchange

Other Companies

• Gamma Productions  animation

Also Known As:

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:G | USA:TV-G

Company:

Leonardo Productions

Trivia:

An attempt was made in the early 90's to re-release 'Underdog' in syndication but because of the drug culture at the time all references to the "secret energy pill" were removed. Without them the cartoons did not make sense and were quickly pulled. This is a little ironic since the original reason the pills were added was to encourage children to take their vitamins.

Quotes:

Sweet Polly Purebred:[singing to the tune of "Oh Where Has My Little Dog Gone"] Oh Where, Oh Where has my Underdog gone, Oh where, oh where can he be?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Ren & Stimpy Show: Stimpy's Big Day/The Big Shot (#1.1)" (1991)

Underdog Sub Cartoons

"There were a number of other cartoons that ran along with Underdog, including one about 2 American soldiers in the old west tangling with two Native Americans (who would probably be seen as racially offensive today). I can't recall the others."

That cartoon was called "Go Go Gophers".