Inspector Gadget (TV Series 1983 - 1986)



 

Plot



Inspector Gadget is an animated television series developed in joint-venture between France, Canada, the United States, Taiwan and Japan. The series revolves around the adventures of a clumsy, simple-witted cyborg detective named Inspector Gadget  a human being with various bionic gadgets built into his body. Gadget's arch-nemesis is Dr. Claw, the leader of an evil organization, known as "M.A.D." This was the first syndicated cartoon show from DIC Entertainment (as well as the first from the company to be created specifically for American viewers, along with The Littles). It originally ran from 1983 to 1986 and remained in syndication into the late 1990s. The series was a co-production between DIC Entertainment (now Cookie Jar Entertainment) in France (the main headquarters did not move to the US until 1987) and Nelvana in Canada; the animation work was outsourced to foreign studios such as Tokyo Movie Shinsha in Japan and Cuckoo's Nest Studio in Taiwan.

 

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Characters

Inspector Gadget is the main protagonist of the series and movies. He dresses like Inspector Clouseau, drives a Matra Murena car and acts like Maxwell Smart, who was portrayed by Gadget's voice actor Don Adams. The clueless Gadget frequently bungles during his cases and gets into danger, but he always gets out of trouble through either his trusty gadgets, Penny's unseen assistance, or pure luck. His most famous catch phrase in the series is, "Wowsers!" . Inspector Gadget has made a few cameo appearances in the Heathcliff and the Catillac Cats series also made by DIC Entertainment. These appearances include in the Catillac Cats episode "Harem Cat" (where he was seen twice in a crowd) and the 2 Heathcliff episodes "Going Shopping" and "The Siamese Twins" (seen for a moment on TV in both).

Penny as seen in the show's openingPenny is Gadget's precocious niece. Always down for the cause, she is a master of investigation and technology who is the one truly responsible for foiling M.A.D.'s schemes, a fact only Brain knows. Using a computer disguised as a book and a utility wristwatch, she monitors her "Uncle Gadget's" activities, communicates with Brain and foils M.A.D.'s plots. Penny very often gets captured by M.A.D. agents before calling Brain for help or escaping by herself.

Brain the dog: Brain the Dog is Inspector Gadget's and Penny's faithful pet dog and companion. He is bipedal, just as intelligent as a human and assists Penny in keeping Gadget out of danger and solving the crime. Brain uses a variety of disguises, which Gadget never sees through, and is often mistaken for a M.A.D. agent by Gadget. Brain's collar is outfitted with a retractable video communications system linked to a computer wristwatch Penny wears that allows her to relay information on Gadget's activity, or warn Brain as to the whereabouts of M.A.D. agents. Brain can communicate with humans, through a gruff "dog" voice or pantomime and physical gestures to communicate effectively.

 

Doctor Claw is the main antagonist of the series and leader of the evil M.A.D. organization. Throughout the entire series, Dr. Claw is an unseen character, only just his arms and gloved hands are visible, leaving the viewer to guess as to his face and body. He is usually at a computer terminal where he monitors his various schemes, often in a creepy old castle. Although he is aware of Gadget's idiocy, he believes the Inspector to be his greatest enemy, never fully realizing that it is actually Penny and Brain who foil his plots in each episode (although he or his M.A.D. agents have captured Penny and sometimes Brain a number of times). He is always seen with his fat pet cat M.A.D. Cat, who reaps the benefits of his brief victories and bears the brunt of his defeats. Dr. Claw's catch phrase at the end of every episode is, "I'll get you next time, Gadget! Next time!".

Chief Quimby is Inspector Gadget's short-tempered boss and the chief of Metro City. He has a moustache and is usually seen with a pipe in his mouth. He appears disguised at the beginning of each episode with his own theme music to deliver Gadget his mission only to be blown up by the self-destructing message (a parody of the Mission: Impossible messages) because of Gadget's obliviousness; he appears again at the end of most episodes to congratulate Gadget on a job well done, but he never realizes that it is Penny who is truly the one responsible for foiling Doctor Claw's plots.

 

Corporal Capeman, voiced by Townsend Coleman, is a recurring character introduced in the second season as Inspector Gadgets sidekick. Capeman is a self-proclaimed superhero who acts in the manner of a stereotypical crime fighter, but he is equally as inept as Inspector Gadget. Capeman is obsessed with learning to fly and often mistakenly believes he has miraculously acquired the power of flight while in the midst of dire circumstances.

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Season 1​

Season 1, Episode 1: Gadget in Winterland
Original Air Date12 September 1983

Season 1, Episode 2: Monster Lake
Original Air Date13 September 1983

 

Season 1, Episode 3: Down on the Farm
Original Air Date14 September 1983

Season 1, Episode 4: Gadget at the Circus
Original Air Date15 September 1983

 

Season 1, Episode 5: The Amazon
Original Air Date16 September 1983

Season 1, Episode 6: Health Spa
Original Air Date19 September 1983

 

Season 1, Episode 7: The Boat
Original Air Date20 September 1983

Season 1, Episode 8: Haunted Castle
Original Air Date21 September 1983

 

Season 1, Episode 9: Race to the Finish
Original Air Date22 September 1983

Season 1, Episode 10: The Ruby
Original Air Date23 September 1983

 

Season 1, Episode 11: A Star Is Lost
Original Air Date26 September 1983

Season 1, Episode 12: All That Glitters
Original Air Date27 September 1983

 

Season 1, Episode 13: Movie Set
Original Air Date28 September 1983

Season 1, Episode 14: Amusement Park
Original Air Date29 September 1983

 

Season 1, Episode 15: Art Heist
Original Air Date30 September 1983

Season 1, Episode 16: Volcano Island
Original Air Date3 October 1983

 

Season 1, Episode 17: The Invasion
Original Air Date4 October 1983

Season 1, Episode 18: The Infiltration
Original Air Date5 October 1983

 

Season 1, Episode 19: The Curse of the Pharaoh
Original Air Date6 October 1983

Season 1, Episode 20: M.A.D. Trap
Original Air Date7 October 1983

 

Season 1, Episode 21: Basic Training
Original Air Date10 October 1983

Season 1, Episode 22: Sleeping Gas
Original Air Date11 October 1983

 

Season 1, Episode 23: Gadget's Replacement
Original Air Date12 October 1983

Season 1, Episode 24: Greenfinger
Original Air Date13 October 1983

 

Season 1, Episode 25: Gadget Goes West
Original Air Date14 October 1983

Season 1, Episode 26: Launch Time
Original Air Date17 October 1983

 

Season 1, Episode 27: Photo Safari
Original Air Date18 October 1983

Season 1, Episode 28: The Coo-Coo Clock Caper
Original Air Date19 October 1983

 

Season 1, Episode 29: The Bermuda Triangle
Original Air Date20 October 1983

Season 1, Episode 30: The Japanese Connection
Original Air Date21 October 1983

 

Season 1, Episode 31: Arabian Nights
Original Air Date24 October 1983

Season 1, Episode 32: A Clear Case
Original Air Date25 October 1983

 

Season 1, Episode 33: Dutch Treat
Original Air Date

Season 1, Episode 34: The Great Divide
Original Air Date27 October 1983

 

Season 1, Episode 35: Eye of the Dragon
Original Air Date28 October 1983

Season 1, Episode 36: Doubled Agent
Original Air Date31 October 1983

 

Season 1, Episode 37: Plantform of the Opera
Original Air Date1 November 1983

Season 1, Episode 38: Don't Hold Your Breath
Original Air Date2 November 1983

 

Season 1, Episode 39: Gone Went the Wind
Original Air Date3 November 1983

Season 1, Episode 40: King Wrong
Original Air Date4 November 1983

 

Season 1, Episode 41: Pirate Island
Original Air Date7 November 1983

Season 1, Episode 42: M.A.D. Academy
Original Air Date8 November 1983

 

Season 1, Episode 43: No Flies on Us
Original Air Date9 November 1983

Season 1, Episode 44: Luck of the Irish
Original Air Date10 November 1983

 

Season 1, Episode 45: Prince of the Gypsies
Original Air Date11 November 1983

Season 1, Episode 46: Old Man of the Mountain
Original Air Date14 November 1983

 

Season 1, Episode 47: The Emerald Duck
Original Air Date15 November 1983

Season 1, Episode 48: Do Unto Udders
Original Air Date16 November 1983

 

Season 1, Episode 49: Did You Myth Me?
Original Air Date17 November 1983

Season 1, Episode 50: A Bad Altitude
Original Air Date18 November 1983

 

Season 1, Episode 51: Funny Money
Original Air Date21 November 1983

Season 1, Episode 52: Follow That Jet
Original Air Date22 November 1983

 

Season 1, Episode 53: Dry Spell
Original Air Date23 November 1983

Season 1, Episode 54: Smeldorado
Original Air Date24 November 1983.

 

Season 1, Episode 55: Quimby Exchange
Original Air Date25 November 1983

Season 1, Episode 56: Weather in Tibet
Original Air Date28 November 1983

 

Season 1, Episode 57: Unhenged
Original Air Date29 November 1983

Season 1, Episode 58: Snakin' All Over
Original Air Date30 November 1983

 

Season 1, Episode 59: In Seine
Original Air Date1 December 1983

Season 1, Episode 60: Tree Guesses
Original Air Date2 December 1983

 

Season 1, Episode 61: Birds of a Feather
Original Air Date5 December 1983

Season 1, Episode 62: So It Is Written
Original Air Date6 December 1983

 

Season 1, Episode 63: Fang the Wonder Dog
Original Air Date7 December 1983

Season 1, Episode 64: School for Pickpockets
Original Air Date8 December 1983

 

Season 1, Episode 65: Quiz Master
Original Air Date9 December 1983



Season 2​

Season 2, Episode 1: Magic Gadget
Original Air Date14 October 1985

Season 2, Episode 2: The Great Wambini's Seance
Original Air Date15 October 1985

 

Season 2, Episode 3: Wambini Predicts
Original Air Date16 October 1985

Season 2, Episode 4: The Capeman Cometh
Original Air Date28 October 1985

 

Season 2, Episode 5: Crashcourse in Crime
Original Air Date29 October 1985

Season 2, Episode 6: Gadget's Gadgets
Original Air Date30 October 1985

 

Season 2, Episode 7: Gadget in Minimadness
Original Air Date30 September 1985

Season 2, Episode 8: The Incredible Shrinking Gadget
Original Air Date1 October 1985

 

Season 2, Episode 9: Gadget Meets the Grappler
Original Air Date2 October 1985

Season 2, Episode 10: Ghost Catchers
Original Air Date22 October 1985

 

Season 2, Episode 11: Busy Signal
Original Air Date23 October 1985

Season 2, Episode 12: Bad Dreams Are Made of This
Original Air Date21 October 1985

 

Season 2, Episode 13: Focus on Gadget
Original Air Date7 October 1985

Season 2, Episode 14: M.A.D. in the Moon
Original Air Date8 October 1985

 

Season 2, Episode 15: N.S.F. Gadget
Original Air Date9 October 1985

Season 2, Episode 16: Tyrannosaurus Gadget
Original Air Date4 November 1985

 

Season 2, Episode 17: Gadget's Roma
Original Air Date5 November 1985

Season 2, Episode 18: Gadget's Clean Sweep
Original Air Date6 November 1985

 

Season 2, Episode 19: Gadget Meets the Clan
Original Air Date11 November 1985

Season 2, Episode 20: Gadget and Old Lace
Original Air Date12 November 1985

 

Season 2, Episode 21: Gadget and the Red Rose
Original Air Date13 November 1985