The Mask: The Animated Series | |
---|---|
Genre |
Superhero Surreal humour Action/adventure Comedy Slapstick |
Based on |
The Mask by John Arcudi Doug Mahnke Mike Richardson |
Developed by | Duane Capizzi |
Voices of |
Rob Paulsen Tim Curry Jim Cummings Tress MacNeille Kevin Michael Richardson Neil Ross Heidi Shannon Ben Stein Mark L. Taylor Frank Welker |
Theme music composer | Keith Baxter Christopher Neal Nelson |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language(s) | English |
No. of seasons | 3 |
No. of episodes | 54 (list of episodes) |
Production | |
Executive producer(s) | Joe Bacall Tom Griffin C.J. Kettler Bob Friedman Mike Richardson Phil Roman |
Producer(s) | Gary Hartle |
Running time | 30 minutes |
Production company(s) |
Dark Horse Entertainment Film Roman Sunbow Entertainment New Line Television |
Distributor | Warner Bros. Television Distribution |
Release | |
Original network |
CBS (U.S. syndication) Cartoon Network (UK) SpaceToon (United Arab Emirates) Canale 5, Italia 1, Disney Channel, Rai Gulp (Italy) Cartoon Network (Australia) MTV3 (Finland) Clan TVE (Spain) |
Audio format | CBS StereoSound (1995-1996) Dolby Surround (1996-1997) |
Original release | August 12, 1995 – August 30, 1997 |
Chronology | |
Preceded by | The Mask |
Followed by | Son of the Mask |
The Mask (also known as The Mask: Animated Series) is an American animated television series based on the film of the same name. The show ran for three seasons, from August 12, 1995 to August 30, 1997 on CBS, and spawned its own short-run comic book series, Adventures of The Mask. John Arcudi, former writer of the original comics, penned two episodes of the series. It originally was played during the CBS Kidshow line-up on Saturday mornings, but after being cancelled, it was moved to Cartoon Network (where the live-action films were also aired). The show also ran in syndication.
Much as with the Beetlejuice animated series before it, The Mask: Animated Series took many elements from the source movie but dropped characters and changed certain other persona. Reporter Peggy Brandt (Amy Yasbeck's character from the film) is the main female character in the series. Tina Carlyle (Cameron Diaz's character in the film) is absent. However, the events of the film are alluded to, as Charlie knows that Stanley was the Mask (though thinks Stanley threw it away), and Stanley is still upset over Peggy selling him out to the mob (given that Stanley and Peggy were never treated as a potential couple, there may have remained some bad feelings over that though The Mask himself sometimes tries to woo her). A gypsy named Madam Suspiria at one point claims that the Mask is the most powerful artifact in the world when she remarks "The most powerful artifact in the world and this idiot keeps it with his laundry". Unlike in the movie, Ipkiss is able to use the mask in daytime as well as at night.
Niko and Dorian Tyrell, the two primary antagonists of the 1994 film who died during the course of it, do not appear in the animated series. However, an early draft of one episode was to have the ghosts of Niko, Tyrell and their deceased henchmen to return to Edge City and wreak havoc. The plot was to involve both of the ghosts and their gangs to break the remaining gang members out of jail, regain their areas of influence and resume their war against one another. However, the script would determine that they join forces in an effort to exact revenge against Ipkiss. Both Matacena and Greene were approached in order to reprise their roles, but eventually the episode was scrapped.