Pet Alien
| Company type | Animated television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment, Animation |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Founder | Jeff Muncy |
| Headquarters | United States, France, India, Ireland, Germany |
Area served | United States, France, Germany, international |
Key people | Jeff Muncy (developer), Dan Danko (scriptwriter), Andrew Young (director), Jess Harnell (voice director) |
| Products | Television series, DVDs, Video game |
Number of employees | 4 (voice cast) |
| Website | www |
Pet Alien (original French title: Alien Bazar) is an animated TV show developed by Jeff Muncy, known for his work on Pajanimals. The scripts were penned by Dan Danko, with Andrew Young serving as director. This series represents a collaborative production involving Mike Young Productions from the United States, Antefilms Production in France, India's Crest Communications, and Ireland's Telegael. The project also involved John Doze Studios, alongside participation from French broadcasters TF1 and Télétoon, while distribution was managed by Taffy Entertainment. During the second season, German partners KI.KA and Europool joined the production team.
Broadcasts occurred on Cartoon Network and Animania HD within the U.S., as well as on TF1 and Télétoon in France. The series comprises 52 episodes, each divided into two segments, totaling 104 parts.
Synopsis
The narrative centers on 13-year-old Tommy Cadle, whose isolated lighthouse becomes the unexpected home to five extraterrestrial visitors.
Primary characters
- Tommy Cadle (voiced by Charlie Schlatter) - A once ordinary adolescent excelling academically, Tommy endures bullying as a consequence of the aliens' presence but largely embraces them, particularly Dinko, whom he regards as his closest companion.
- Dinko (voiced by Charlie Adler) - Resembling a Pterodactylus, this alien leads the group. He is fiercely loyal to Tommy but often causes confusion due to misunderstandings, resulting in Tommy receiving blame. Notably, Dinko harbors a fear of cats.
- Gumpers (voiced by Jess Harnell) - A physically strong yet shy gorilla-like alien with an insatiable appetite. Despite limited intellect, he occasionally challenges Dinko's ideas but is generally disregarded.
- Swanky (voiced by Jess Harnell) - An insectoid alien characterized by a posh British accent; he is impolite, indolent, and egocentric. Swanky enjoys lavish comforts and seldom participates in group escapades.
- Flip (voiced by Charlie Adler) - A lively parrot-like alien known for causing mischief; his speech is largely incomprehensible.
- Scruffy - The pet dog belonging to Dinko, recognized for its rabbit-like leaps and surprisingly sharp tongue.
Significant characters
- Gabby (voiced by Candi Milo) - A girl enamored with Tommy who possesses an intuitive sense of when he faces danger.
- Granville DeSpray (voiced by Jess Harnell) - Heir to the founders of DeSpray Bay, Granville upholds English customs and harbors unrequited love for Melba. He dislikes Tommy and counts only a statue named Admiral Puff as his friend.
- Clinton Fillmore Jefferson XIII (voiced by Charlie Schlatter) - A sports-oriented bully with a distinct Canadian accent, known for his catchphrase "Losah!"
- Melba Manners (voiced by Candi Milo) - A spoiled antagonist who coerces Tommy into performing chores and excels in competitions. She dismisses the aliens as merely "Tommy's things."
- Cap'n Spangley (voiced by Charlie Adler) - An eccentric elderly sailor who fears water and crustaceans; he operates the local taffy shop frequented by Tommy and the alien group.
Supporting/recurring characters
- Tommy's Mom (voiced by Candi Milo) - Resides near the lighthouse and communicates solely via a speaker installed in Tommy's room.
- Old Man Bitters - The nemesis of Cap'n Spangley.
- Emperor Breet - A malevolent emperor who attempts to abduct the aliens living with Tommy but is consistently thwarted when losing at musical chairs.
- Doctor Daffodil (voiced by Charlie Adler) - An octopus-like alien physician whose hazardous treatments Tommy tries to evade.
- Tommy's Teacher (voiced by Candi Milo) - Appears in school-related storylines, notably altering Tommy's grades according to his physical transformations.
- Mom-sicle and Popsicle - Swanky's rustic parents.
- The Mime - Tries to gain entry into the lighthouse but is prevented by Flip.
- The Frog - A banjo-playing amphibian featured during scene transitions or comedic interludes.
Production
By April 2002, production had been officially confirmed, with the show's collaborative production partners revealed in October of the same year. Its U.S. debut occurred on Animania HD on November 20, 2004. Pay-TV rights were secured globally by Cartoon Network channels. On October 4, 2005, the series was officially renewed for a second season.
The voice cast consists of only four actors: Charlie Schlatter, Charlie Adler, Jess Harnell, and Candi Milo. In addition to voicing three characters—Gumpers, Swanky, and Granville—Jess Harnell also fulfilled the role of voice director.
Reception
At the 33rd Daytime Emmy Awards, Jess Harnell earned a nomination for Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program for his portrayal of Swanky.
Season 1 (2004–05)
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Home media
Between October 18, 2005, and February 7, 2006, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment issued four DVD and VHS collections of the show for Region 1. Each collection contained four episodes from the initial season.
| Season | Number of Episodes | Release Dates | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Template:USA | ||||
| 1 | 2005 | 26 | Volume 1: Atomic Tommy: October 18, 2005 Episodes: "The Amazing Atomic Tommy" • "I Was a Teenage Bearded Boy" • "The Day That Wouldn't End" • "The Land That Size Forgot" Volume 2: Aliens Unleashed: October 18, 2005 Episodes: "The Thing on the Corner" • "Horror Scope" • "Stage Fright" • "A Pirate and His Dog" Volume 3: Lighter Side of Doom: December 6, 2005 Episodes: "Crater of Doom" • "Box of Doom" • "Sounds of Doom" • "Doctor of Doom" Volume 4: Spaced Out: February 7, 2006 Episodes: "The Bride of Gumpers" • "They Came from Outer Space" • "Bay of the Triffids" • "Bad Blood from Beyond" | |
Video game
On July 30, 2007, a puzzle game inspired by the series was launched in the United States for the Nintendo DS handheld platform. Created by Shin'en Multimedia and distributed by The Game Factory, it was designed to engage fans of the show through interactive gameplay.