Dogtanian

Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds

1981 - Spain, Japan

Co-produced cartoon series made by of BRB Internacional of Spain (Spanish title: D'Artacan y los tres Mosqueperros) and Nippon Animation of Japan that drew from Alexander Dumas' classic story The Three Musketeers. Dogtanian was en route from Gascony to Paris when he joined the King's Own Guard, fell in love with the beautiful Juliette and then ultimately teamed up with master swordsmen Athos, Porthos and Aramis. Shown on Children's BBC in 1985, four years after it was originally made, the series became something of a minor classic picking up numerous international awards. 

The partnership between BRB and Nippon Animation worked so well that they collaborated on another animated series called Around the World with Willy Fog in 1983. In 1989 BRB produced a second series/sequel; The Return of Dogtanian consisting of 26 episodes with the co-operation of Taiwanese studio Wang Film Productions and British television company, Thames Television. It was less well received.

Published on December 8th, 2018. Written by Laurence Marcus for Television Heaven.

Read Next...

Heckle and Jeckle

Animated cartoon series - talking magpies with Brooklyn accents...and why not.

Also tagged Childrens Cartoon

The Borgias

Television Heaven or Television Hell? The Borgias was un-relentlessly derided and almost single-handedly spelt the end of costume drama (at least for a while) on BBC television.

Also released in 1981

Count Duckula

Children's cartoon series centred around Duckula's adventures in search of riches and fame.

Also tagged Animated Series

Foo Foo cartoon series

Foo Foo was created for ABC Television in the UK by Halas & Batchelor, who had been producing films since 1940.

Also tagged Childrens Cartoon

Bluey

Australian preschool series that has won fans around the world with short but packed stories that emphasise learning through play, understanding responsibility and accepting differences

Also tagged Childrens Cartoon

Alias the Jester

Animated children's series about a time traveller who inadvertently arrives in medieval England at the court of King Arthur

Also tagged Animated Series

Bergerac

Detective/thriller series set on the offshore millionaire's paradise of Jersey in the Channel Islands

Also released in 1981

Noggin the Nog

"Listen to me and I will tell you the story of Noggin the Nog, as it was told in the days of old"

Also tagged Childrens Cartoon

Crystal Tipps and Alistair

Creator Hilary Hayton invented a land where everything seemed fab and groovy and where best friends Crystal and Alistair lived in a pop-art world that one could easily envisage being a part of John Lennon's 'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.'

Also tagged Childrens Cartoon