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Manimal

  • TV Series
  • 1983
  • TV-PG
  • 1h
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
2.3K
YOUR RATING
Manimal (1983)
Trailer 1
Play trailer1:05
8 Videos
99+ Photos
AdventureCrimeFantasy

A suave and elegant university professor, who can shape-shift into any animal, fights crime along with a female New York detective and his right-hand man.A suave and elegant university professor, who can shape-shift into any animal, fights crime along with a female New York detective and his right-hand man.A suave and elegant university professor, who can shape-shift into any animal, fights crime along with a female New York detective and his right-hand man.

  • Creators
    • Donald R. Boyle
    • Glen A. Larson
  • Stars
    • Simon MacCorkindale
    • Melody Anderson
    • Reni Santoni
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.4/10
    2.3K
    YOUR RATING
    • Creators
      • Donald R. Boyle
      • Glen A. Larson
    • Stars
      • Simon MacCorkindale
      • Melody Anderson
      • Reni Santoni
    • 26User reviews
    • 16Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Episodes8

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-ratedSeason1983

    Videos8

    Manimal
    Trailer 1:05
    Manimal
    Manimal: Panther Prowess
    Trailer 0:37
    Manimal: Panther Prowess
    Manimal: Panther Prowess
    Trailer 0:37
    Manimal: Panther Prowess
    Manimal: Transformation
    Trailer 0:41
    Manimal: Transformation
    Manimal: Owl In The Park
    Trailer 0:39
    Manimal: Owl In The Park
    Manimal
    Trailer 0:54
    Manimal
    Manimal: Official Intro Sequence
    Trailer 1:04
    Manimal: Official Intro Sequence

    Photos135

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    Top cast99+

    Edit
    Simon MacCorkindale
    Simon MacCorkindale
    • Jonathan Chase
    • 1983
    Melody Anderson
    Melody Anderson
    • Brooke McKenzie
    • 1983
    Reni Santoni
    Reni Santoni
    • Lt. Rivera
    • 1983
    Michael D. Roberts
    Michael D. Roberts
    • Tyrone C. Earl
    • 1983
    Floyd Levine
    Floyd Levine
    • Murdock
    • 1983
    Alan Koss
    • The Man
    • 1983
    Lew Horn
    Lew Horn
    • Harold Trout…
    • 1983
    Glynn Turman
    Glynn Turman
    • Ty Earl
    • 1983
    Peter Brown
    Peter Brown
    • Carl McGhan
    • 1983
    Doug McClure
    Doug McClure
    • Arnold Sypes
    • 1983
    Lloyd Bochner
    Lloyd Bochner
    • Jordon
    • 1983
    Jeff Corey
    Jeff Corey
    • Zeke Bethune
    • 1983
    Christopher Stone
    Christopher Stone
    • Ross
    • 1983
    George Cheung
    George Cheung
    • Kwan, the Dragon
    • 1983
    Rick Jason
    Rick Jason
    • Prof. Barta
    • 1983
    Bo Brundin
    Bo Brundin
    • Cyris Gipps
    • 1983
    Tracy Scoggins
    Tracy Scoggins
    • Kathy Bonann
    • 1983
    Robert Englund
    Robert Englund
    • Thug
    • 1983
    • Creators
      • Donald R. Boyle
      • Glen A. Larson
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews26

    6.42.3K
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    Featured reviews

    7SteveM-1

    Really miss this show

    I remember when this show came on and I thought it was the greatest thing. Yes, some of it seemed very hokey, but it was a lot of fun.

    After growing up a bit and seeing it again on Sci-Fi, I can see in some ways why it didn't continue. I think the biggest flaw was that the story writers didn't take advantage of the Man into Animal aspect. They stuck the main character basically with routine Cops and Robbers plots. Most (if not all) of the story lines could be transplanted to any other Police / Crime show and be solved by an ordinary person with no animal powers. Sure, there were some instances where Dr. Chase would find himself in a predicament where only changing into an animal would save him (like falling out of a plane and changing into a hawk), but for the most part the cases were pretty mediocre.

    Another problem was leaving Dr. Chase's past too enigmatic. I'm sure it was meant to add to the mystery, but most people just had no idea where this character came from or why he could do what he could do. There was the cryptic opening sequence where the young Jonathan Chase is standing by his dying father's bedside, but no other explanation is ever given about him. Knowing almost nothing about the character, you couldn't really develop too much sympathy for him. They also never delved into any complications that may come with being able to turn into any animal. Did he have their instincts as well? Did he have any limitations? Could he transform into Fish, Amphibians or Insects, or just air breathing animals? He did transform into a reptile once (python), but the rest were warm blooded air breathers like mammals and birds.

    I watched on Sci-Fi Channel when they had interviews with Stan Winston, the creator of the Transformation sequences. I could see with the TV show budget, they could only do two or three sequences (Panther and Hawk were the main ones, but the Python was one exception and used only once), but those sequences were great. All done with prosthetic make-up and mechanical effects and all done in real time. Pretty impressive for the day. If the series had been produced today, it would have been much easier to do a multitude of sequences and most likely done with CGI Morphing. Once, the Dr. Chase / Manimal character made a guest appearance on "Night Man", but we were robbed because the transformation sequences were reduced to an instantaneous transformation with a flash of light. What's up with that??

    Like I said, this series is greatly missed and I hope that someday the entire series comes out on DVD. I will certainly be first in line to buy it.
    Nick Zbu

    Pretty Good Larson effort.

    A lot of people rag on Manimal for the premise but compared to all the other efforts at the same time (Automan, Knight Rider, Street Hawk, etc)it was better than the rest by a fair margin. A crimefighter fighting against the bad guys using a special skill (first line in the Glen Larson template)--in this case shapeshifting anthropomorph--destroys crime. Yeah, it's more of the usual but always interesting on some level. Simon MacCorkindale gives it a bit more energy as a regal sort and the show's worth watching on a purely fun level.

    Even more interesting that Manimal was brought back to life fifteen years later in yet another Larson effort, NightMan. Still, a fantastic show to enjoy and sadly short-lived.
    snakeguy76

    Maybe I was young and an animal lover

    OK I'd have to see these again as an adult to give a better opinion. But the show lasted only a few episodes. The special effects were cool , but they did have to reuse some footage. I'm not sure if it was budget or time. Those change sequences must have been a pain to do. And using latex I think is better than CG even though you can do a lot more with CG

    From what I remember I liked the show, but it might have been just the fact that a guy could turn into any animal he wanted (although he only got to do a few of of them). That would capture the imagination of any 8 year old. I remember wishing I could do that!
    adsum_obiit

    Wicked Show!

    Yeah Dave, I definitely agree with you. I was just watching something on TV and saw the guy from Manimal and had to do a search on it. Not many of my friends remember it so when I saw your post I had to reply. Manimal was a fantastic series and I think someone should petition for a remake, lol.
    Mitaka

    Panther and Hawk? Anyone remember the pilot?

    First off, I loved this series as a kid! I wish they would have continued with it. But, then again, this was the era where networks were keeping the garbage and chucking the stuff with some potential.

    Second, if anyone remembers the pilot to this show, his girlfriend (I THINK that was here relationship. It HAS been almost 20 years!) found out about his abilities when he turned into a cobra to pull her out of some quicksand. I also recall him becoming a mule to kick open a locked door so he and his friend could escape. Sure, the panther and hawk were used the most, but they did make him more versatile than that.

    More like this

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Whenever the script called for an animal transition, the production designer, director, set decorator, stunt supervisor, animal wrangler and actor had to carefully coordinate every move. Shooting on a sound stage allowed more animal control; location shoots were very difficult. When one script required a cobra, the entire set's perimeter floor and walls had to be sealed to prevent the animal from escaping. A low wall was placed at the open end of the set to seal the stage. To set up filming action scenes with the snake, the camera crew had to lift their equipment into walled-off stage area. The snake wrangler supervised the animal's movements.
    • Goofs
      A bit strange for a cop, Brooke had a purse seemingly "permanently fused" to her shoulder. Whenever she was running around after bad guys, her purse was inconveniently dangling at her shoulder. She kept her gun in her purse, contrary to other lady cops, who carried it in a holster.
    • Connections
      Featured in NBC 75th Anniversary Special (2002)

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    FAQ18

    • How many seasons does Manimal have?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 30, 1983 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Ein Fall für Professor Chase
    • Filming locations
      • 20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA(Studio)
    • Production companies
      • Glen A. Larson Productions
      • 20th Century Fox Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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