Atomic Puppet

Atomic Puppet

Company type	Animated television series
Industry	Animation, Television
Founded	2016
Founder	Jerry Leibowitz, Mark Drop
Headquarters	Canada, France
Area served	International
Products	Animated television series
Parent	Mercury Filmworks, Technicolor, Gaumont Animation

Atomic Puppet is an animated television series produced through a Canadian-French collaboration, developed by Jerry Leibowitz and Mark Drop. This project represents a joint effort among Canadian animation company Mercury Filmworks, the French visual effects and animation firm Technicolor, and Gaumont Animation, the animation branch of the French film enterprise Gaumont. The series launched on Canada's Teletoon, France's France 4, and internationally via Disney XD. It premiered in the United States on Disney XD on July 18, 2016, and concluded after 26 episodes on February 21, 2017.

The narrative centers on Joey Felt, a seventh-grade student, and AP, a renowned superhero who has been transformed into a powerless blue sock puppet until Joey places him on his hand. Together, they become Mega City's new heroic duo known as Atomic Puppet.

Plot

After Captain Atomic, Mega City's celebrated superhero, is turned into a powerless sock puppet by his envious sidekick Mookie, he must join forces with 12-year-old admirer Joey Felt to recover his abilities. Their partnership creates the unexpected superhero team called Atomic Puppet.

Main

• Joseph "Joey" Felt (voiced by Eric Bauza) is a twelve-year-old enthusiast of comic books who gains the power to merge with his hero, forming the superhero Atomic Puppet.
• Captain Atomic/Atomic Puppet/AP (voiced by Eric Bauza) was once a globally famous superhero admired for his strength and charisma. After being transformed into a powerless sock puppet by Mookie, his jealous former sidekick, he can only access his powers when worn on Joey's hand.

Supporting

• Pauline Bell (voiced by Lisa Norton) is Joey's closest friend and one of the few aware of his secret identity. She supports him by covering for him and occasionally fighting alongside Atomic Puppet. Pauline works at her uncle’s comic book store.
• Philip "Phil" Felt (voiced by Carlos Díaz) is Joey's tough and pragmatic father who balances out his wife's protective nature. He uncovers Joey’s secret in the series finale.
• Vivian Felt (voiced by Kristina Nicoll) is Joey’s nurturing yet overprotective mother, frequently concerned about her children’s well-being.
• Abigail Felt (voiced by Katie Griffin) is Joey’s lively eight-year-old sister, affectionately called "Abs" or "Abbie."
• Bubbles is the family’s slow-witted, overweight orange tabby cat. While AP suspects Bubbles of villainous tendencies, Phil regards him as the "most adorable kitty-kat."
• Rex Bordeaux (voiced by David Huband) is Mega City's self-important leading news anchor who rose to prominence covering Captain Atomic but faces declining relevance following the hero’s disappearance.

Villains

• Sergeant Subatomic: The Nuclear Boy (Mookie) (voiced by Peter Oldring) serves as the principal antagonist. Mookie, Captain Atomic's jealous ex-sidekick, orchestrated his transformation into a puppet to assume the role of Mega City's protector. Despite wielding various gadgets, Mookie lacks superpowers and competence, failing to win public favor.
• Professor Tite-Gripp (voiced by Rick Miller) is a merciless villain equipped with mechanical hands that grant him superhuman strength. Formerly Captain Atomic’s arch-nemesis, he now stands as Atomic Puppet’s most formidable adversary.
• Naughty Kitty (voiced by Heather Bambrick) is a feline-costumed burglar specializing in cat thefts, parodying the character Catwoman.
• Zorp (voiced by Robert Tinkler) is an extraterrestrial green-skinned invader who aims to capture and consume residents of Mega City, often accompanied by a smaller alien named Flert.
• Mudman (voiced by Robert Tinkler) is a mud-based shapeshifter capable of possessing others. His cousin Dirtbag, who can blast soil, has also confronted Joey and AP.
• Ms. Erlenmeyer/Queen Mindbender (voiced by Kristina Nicoll) is Joey's embittered science teacher who becomes a green-skinned telepath after marrying an alien and descending into madness triggered by AP.
• The Were-Chicken appears as a mutant chicken villain in the episode "Something Chicken."
• Commander Atomic and Puppet Boy are antagonists featured in "Parallel Puppet," opposing characters within that storyline.

Heroes

• The Justice Alliance serves as a team of superheroes dedicated to safeguarding the galaxy. Captain Atomic, who was originally part of this group before his change, has now returned in the form of Atomic Puppet.
  • Commander Cavalier (voiced by Robert Tinkler) possesses heat vision abilities and is notably preoccupied with his looks.
  • Robo-Ron (voiced by Martin Roach) is a cyborg hero who communicates through beatboxing and printed notes. Despite his advanced intellect and technological tools, he is considered the least formidable member.
  • Crimson Beacon, bearing a resemblance to Firestorm with his fiery hair, has the power to conjure nearly anything, similar to Green Lantern’s capabilities.
• Princess War Tickle (voiced by Kristina Nicoll) is a heroine comparable to Wonder Woman, living in an enchanted castle and matching Captain Atomic in both strength and renown.
• Dyna-Moe is a rural superhero who left town after failing to defeat Dirtbag. The mayor later exploited him in a plot against AP and Nuclear Boy.

Others

• Rudolph Mintenberg (voiced by Scott McCord) is an eccentric billionaire residing outside Mega City, who amuses himself with hazardous gadgets and experiments that often necessitate intervention from Joey and AP.
• Warren Beasley (voiced by Mark Edwards) acts as Joey’s intrusive neighbor who frequently spies on those around him.
• The Mayor (voiced by Kevin Hanchard) leads Mega City and regularly tries to replace Atomic Puppet due to the extensive collateral damage caused by their confrontations.

Production

Mark Drop and Jerry Leibotwitz created Atomic Puppet and presented it to Mercury Filmworks in 2011. The studio later redeveloped the concept under the guidance of series developer Travis Williams and director Andy Coyle, incorporating the idea of the titular sock puppet as a polymorphed superhero with an inflated ego, emphasizing the character’s fragility.

Clint Eland, president of Mercury Filmworks, described Atomic Puppet as a comedic superhero series focusing on the strong friendship between Joey Felt and AP. Coyle and Williams highlighted their intention to explore different genres and character development through episodic storytelling, prioritizing character-driven narratives to engage viewers and accommodate diverse storylines.

Music

Amaury Laurent Bernier and David Gana composed and performed the series’ music.

Broadcast

The show was designed as 52 episodes of 11 minutes each plus two special two-part episodes. Atomic Puppet first aired on Disney XD in France on March 13, 2016. It premiered in the United States with an early preview on May 30, 2016, followed by its official launch on July 18. The series began airing on Teletoon in Canada on September 11, 2016; it also broadcast on ABC ME in Australia and Disney XD Latin America starting October 27, 2016.

Reception

Atomic Puppet garnered favorable reviews for its animation quality, action sequences, voice performances, concept, and humor. It received two Annie Award nominations in 2017 for Character Animation and Storyboarding in TV/Broadcast Production. Additionally, the National Cartoonists Society nominated it for a 2016 Reuben Award alongside shows like The Loud House and The Simpsons.

Dawn M. Burkes from The Dallas Morning News commended the series as "a hoot of a superhero show," noting its innovative premise and amusing spin on the traditional hero-sidekick relationship. Conversely, some online animation forums considered it average. Emily Ashby of Common Sense Media gave it three out of five stars, describing it as a lighthearted buddy comedy featuring fast-paced action and humor suitable for elementary-aged children but remarked that some jokes were somewhat exaggerated.

External links

• Official site
• Series overview at Gaumont