Space Goofs

Space Goofs
Company type	Animated television series
Industry	Entertainment
Founded	September 6, 1997; 29 years ago
Founder	Gaumont Multimedia (initial production), Xilam (subsequent production)
Defunct	May 12, 2006
Headquarters	France
Area served	International
Products	Animated television series, video game (Stupid Invaders)
Parent	Gaumont Multimedia (season 1), Xilam (season 2)

Space Goofs () is a French animated television series initially produced by Gaumont Multimedia for its debut season and subsequently by Xilam for the follow-up season. It was broadcast on France 3 from September 6, 1997, until May 12, 2006. The first season was also shown on Fox Kids in the United States between 1997 and 2000, while the second season saw international distribution.

The show served as the foundation for the adventure video game Stupid Invaders, created by Xilam and released by Ubisoft for Microsoft Windows and Sega Dreamcast in 2000. This title, dedicated to co-creator Jean-Yves Raimbaud, was designed for a mature audience with humor aimed at adults, marking Xilam’s initial venture into more adult-themed content alongside later works such as I Lost My Body, Kaena: The Prophecy, and Mr. Baby.

Plot

The storyline follows five aliens from the imaginary planet Zigma B—Candy H. Caramella, Etno Polino, Bud Budiovitch, Gorgious Klatoo, and Stereo Monovici—who crash during a space picnic and find themselves stranded on Earth. To avoid detection by humans and possible capture, they take refuge in the attic of a house that is currently up for rent.

Their mission involves finding a way back to their home planet while preventing anyone else from moving into the house. They employ a gadget called the SMTV that allows them to transform into various beings; however, it frequently cycles through unintended forms as a recurring comedic element.

In the second season, Stereo departs from the main group—appearing only in two episodes—with an in-universe explanation that he has returned to Zigma B. The remaining four—Candy, Etno, Bud, and Gorgious—persist in their efforts to return home.

Characters

Etno Polino

Voiced by (French): Peter Hudson (season 1), Bernard Alane (season 2)

Voiced by (English): Maurice LaMarche

Etno is a short purple alien characterized by red lips, nose, and eyes. As the group's leader and resident scientist, he invents devices to facilitate their journey home. His rocket launches often fail due to technical issues or sabotage. His French voice carries an English accent; in English, his rapid speech evokes classic 1950s space exploration films.

Candy Hector Caramella

Voiced by (French): Éric Le Roch (season 1), Éric Métayer (season 2)

Voiced by (English): Charlie Adler

Candy is a small green alien distinguished by a wrinkled forehead and red eyes. He is meticulous and uptight, frequently portraying himself as a woman through disguises. Energetic and fastidious, his voice features a parody of an upper-class English accent in both language versions.

Bud Budiovitch

Voiced by (French): Marc Brettonière (season 1), Éric Métayer (season 2)

Voiced by (English): Jeff Bennett (season 1), James Louis Gomez-Garneau (season 2)

Tall and orange with three strands of hair and large pink eyes, Bud is lazy and gullible. He has a strong attachment to television and soft drinks. Despite his laid-back nature similar to Etno’s, he remains composed during emergencies and sometimes proposes effective solutions.

Gorgious Klatoo

Voiced by (French): Patrick Préjean

Voiced by (English): Michael Sicoly (early episodes), Danny Mann (later)

Gorgious is a stout blue alien with a prominent chin and green eyes. He exhibits grumpiness and greediness, enjoying eating excessively and teasing his companions; nonetheless, he reveals genuine affection beneath his tough demeanor.

Stereo Monovici

Voiced by (French): Antoine Tomé (season 1), Patrick Guillemin (season 2)

Voiced by (English): Jeff Bennett (season 1), Danny Mann (season 2)

Stereo is a red two-headed alien with green eyes representing two distinct personalities. Initially portrayed as an intellectual "bookworm," he is lively and cheerful; the two heads often engage in arguments. Removed from the main cast in Season 2 due to perceived weakness as a character, he made brief returns in two episodes.

Episodes typically introduce new antagonists each week—including humans, animals, or other aliens—who arrive at what they believe is an unoccupied home. Additional voice talent includes notable performers such as Jim Cummings, Billy West, Carlos Alazraqui, Rob Paulsen, Kevin Michael Richardson, Tom Kenny, Laraine Newman, Frank Welker, Kath Soucie, Grey DeLisle, Tara Strong, Susanne Blakeslee, Kat Cressida, Michelle Layton, Jessica DiCicco, Jackie Gonneau, Sirena Irwin, and Carolyn Lawrence. Many recurring characters are also voiced by the main cast members themselves, especially throughout Season 2.

Season 1 (1997–98)

Thomas Szabó directed every episode, which were broadcast on Saturdays.

Season 2 (2005–06)

Olivier Jean-Marie helmed all episodes, with broadcasts scheduled on Fridays.

Stupid Invaders

Ubisoft launched an adventure game inspired by Space Goofs called Stupid Invaders between 2000 and 2001. The game featured the original alien characters and English voice actors, following the story of five extraterrestrials attempting to return home after a bounty hunter named Bolok (voiced by Billy West) invades their domain.

Broadcast and home media

In addition to its original run on France 3, the series premiered in Germany via ProSieben and in Canada on Teletoon. In the United Kingdom, the first season was introduced as Home to Rent on Fox Kids on August 31, 1997, followed by a broadcast on Channel 4 starting September 21, 1997. The second season aired under the title Space Goofs on Nicktoons UK beginning November 5, 2005. In the United States, season one was included in the Fox Kids programming block on Fox.

Key physical media releases include three VHS tapes—Alien Antics, Cartoon Tales, and Animal Crack-Ups—which were distributed in the U.S. on August 11, 1998. The entire series, comprising both seasons, was made available in France on June 13, 2011.

In other media

A film adaptation named Stupid Invaders was planned but never completed; only a brief CGI-animated teaser is accessible online. The original voice cast returned for this project (with the exception of Stereo). The plot involved four aliens crash-landing into a house occupied by an unnamed brunette girl who becomes intrigued by their presence.

Appearances in other Xilam productions

The principal characters make multiple cameo appearances in various Xilam series, especially around the time season two was broadcast in the mid-2000s:

In Oggy and the Cockroaches:
- Early episodes feature a framed photo of the alien group displayed in Oggy's home, which was removed in later seasons.
- A miniature replica of the rental house is shown in the episode "Baby Doll" and its subsequent remake.
- The aliens appear briefly in "Night Watchmen" (season three), where characters momentarily transform into them.
In Shuriken School: The Ninja's Secret, Candy is depicted on the cover of Jimmy B.'s manga titled Star Attacks, a parody referencing Star Wars.
In Go West! A Lucky Luke Adventure, there is a scene mentioning "monster men," likely an homage to this show's concept.
In the episode "Le Secret Passage" from The Daltons, Candy appears as one of Joe's transformations.

External links

Official website