Manimal

Manimal
Genre	Action/Adventure/Fantasy
Created by	Glen A. Larson Donald R. Boyle
Written by	Michael Berk Larry Brody Sam Egan Joseph Gunn Paul Mason Douglas Schwartz
Directed by	Chuck Bail Georg Fenady Daniel Haller Sidney Hayers Leslie H. Martinson Russ Mayberry
Starring	Simon MacCorkindale Melody Anderson Michael D. Roberts
Narrated by	William Conrad
Theme music composer	Paul Chihara
Composer(s)	Paul Chihara (pilot) Alan Silvestri (all other episodes)
Country of origin	United States
Original language(s)	English
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	8
Production
Executive producer(s)	Glen A. Larson Paul Mason
Running time	60 minutes
Production company(s)	Glen A. Larson Productions 20th Century Fox Television
Distributor	20th Television
Release
Original network	NBC
Original release	September 30 (1983-09-30) – December 17, 1983 (1983-12-17)

Manimal is an American action–adventure series that ran from September 30 to December 17, 1983 on NBC. The show centers on the character Dr. Jonathan Chase (Simon MacCorkindale), a shape-shifting man who possessed the ability to turn himself into any animal he chose. He used this ability to help the police solve crimes.

For every episode except the pilot, actor William Conrad recites the opening narration that tells of Chase's wealthy present life and his early days in Africa with his missionary father.

Manimal premiered as a 90-minute pilot that aired on September 30, 1983. The series featured the story of Dr. Jonathan Chase, a shape-shifter who could turn himself into any animal he chose, and used this ability to help fight crime. Only two people were aware of Jonathan's secret, his friend Ty Earl and Police Detective Brooke Mackenzie. Jonathan and Ty would assist Brooke with a case she was working on, with Jonathan transforming himself into an animal when it became useful.

While Jonathan had the ability to change himself into any animal, he would transform into a hawk and a black panther in nearly every episode. In some episodes, he would transform into a third animal, such as a horse, dolphin, bear, or bull, with the transformation taking place offscreen, though once he was shown becoming a snake. The transformation sequences were designed and created by the Academy Award-winning SFX artist Stan Winston. Another aspect of the transformations that added to the show's camp factor involved Dr. Chase's clothing during a transformation: He was depicted generally wearing a three-piece suit and tie, and the viewer would see it rip off of him as he shape-shifted into an animal, though once the transformation was complete there would be no sign of his discarded clothing. A bit later, he would transform back into human form with all of his clothing perfectly restored upon his person, even if he was unconscious.

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