Inspector Gadget is an animated television series about a clumsy, simple-witted detective named Inspector Gadget, who is 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 and Heathcliff and the Catillac Cats ) and ran from 1983 to 1985 in syndication. This article pertains to the original cartoon series and its characters and plots; for information on its later spinoffs, see Inspector Gadget spinoff incarnations.
In the United States, reruns aired on Nickelodeon from October 5, 1987 to September 4, 1992; The Family Channel from September 5, 1992 to September 29, 1995; again on Nickelodeon from September 23, 1996 to February 13, 2000; and on ABC Family from September 3 to December 28, 2001.
The series was a co-production between DIC Entertainment (now Cookie Jar Entertainment) in France (the main headquarters did not move to the US before 1987) and Nelvana in Canada; with the animation work outsourced to foreign studios such as Tokyo Movie Shinsha in Japan and Cuckoo's Nest Studio in Taiwan.
In 1999, it was adapted into a live-action film starring Matthew Broderick.
Cast of characters
Inspector Gadget
Inspector Gadget is the main protagonist of the series and movies. His fashion sense resembles that of Inspector Clouseau from the Pink Panther movies; his mannerisms also appear to draw on the character of Maxwell Smart, which Adams portrayed in the 1960s.
Often cluelessly stumbling through any case he is given, Gadget frequently ignorantly makes foolish mistakes pertaining to surroundings and current environment, mistaking innocent bystanders (and sometimes Brain, his niece Penny's dog) for enemies, and believing that the real enemies are friends. His ineptitude always leads him into danger, but he always gets out of trouble through either his trusty gadgets (most notably his springs), Penny's interference, or pure luck.
The episode "M.A.D. Trap" is one of the few episodes in which Gadget actually shows some competence. When Dr. Claw traps him in a steel foundry, he uses his gadgets flawlessly to save Penny and Brain. Later, in "The Moral," Penny and Brain muse that it was a good thing his gadgets were in top shape. Another episode where he shows some genuine police skill was when he makes an earnest effort to catch Claw during a car chase and becomes infuriated when Claw gets away.
In the early episodes Gadget is halfway brilliant and acknowledges Dr. Claw is nearby. After the first few episodes, however, Gadget has become incompetent. Occasionally, he also inadvertently helps Penny solve the case, with his bungling either distracting Dr. Claw or setting things up for Penny to do her work.
The nearest Gadget ever gets to capturing Dr. Claw is in the opening teaser of each episode in which Gadget handcuffs a decoy metal glove, only to have a bomb explode in his face. However, this is meant to demonstrate that Claw always manages to escape justice and was never seen in any actual episode. Gadget's catchphrase is "Wowsers!".
In #9, "Race to the Finish", #11, "A Star is Lost", #22, "Sleeping Gas", #43, "No Flies on Us", #65, "Quizz Master", #73, "The Incredible Shrinking Gadget", #77, "Bad Dreams are Made of This", and #80, "N.S.F. Gadget", Gadget falls victim of the M.A.D. spells. He is voiced by Don Adams.
Penny
Main article: Penny (Inspector Gadget)Penny is Gadget's precocious niece and partner. Inspector Gadget is her guardian and caretaker, though often she seems more suited to be his caretaker due to Gadget's clumsiness. Unknown to any of the recurring characters other than Brain, she is a master of investigation and technology who is the one truly responsible for foiling M.A.D.'s schemes. Penny's principal crime-fighting tool is a high-tech Computer Book capable of breaking codes, surveiling buildings and overriding practically any sort of machine or device. Using the book, Penny is able to monitor Gadget's activities and—with Brain's help—surreptitiously help him avoid numerous potential catastrophes that result from his absent-mindedness while uncovering the true nature of Dr. Claw's plot and foiling it. Penny has blonde hair in pigtails and green eyes, and wears a red and white shirt, green pants and red shoes. She has a number of outfits which are worn for certain assignments or free times rather than her normal clothes. In the second season, Penny mostly wears a jacket. She has a number of the perils and plays the helpless damsel-in-distress role, rescued by Brain usually, and escaping by herself sometimes. In the second season, Penny mostly does not have any perils. She is voiced by Cree Summer (then by Holly Berger).
Brain the Dog
Main article: Brain (Inspector Gadget)Brain the Dog is Inspector Gadget's and Penny's faithful pet dog and companion. He assists her in keeping Gadget out of danger and solving the crime. He is a master of disguise and dresses up in order to watch over Gadget and save him from attempts on his life. Although Brain is in contact with Gadget almost the entire time while he is supposedly solving a case, Gadget never sees through his disguises (and as often as not, Gadget assumes Brain is a M.A.D. agent while ignoring all the real ones). 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, like with Flipper the dolphin. Brain can speak a human language, though in a gruff "dog" voice (with a speech impediment featuring constant uses of the letter "r"), similar to Astro of The Jetsons or Scooby-Doo. Sometimes it is impossible to understand what Brain is saying. In a pinch, Brain will resort to pantomime and physical gestures to communicate effectively. Brain usually walks on 2 legs, and is able to function with anthropomorphic capabilities. He is voiced by Frank Welker.
Dr. Claw
Main article: Doctor ClawDr. Claw is the main antagonist of the series and movies. He is the leader of the evil organization known as M.A.D. He speaks in a deep, menacing, ominous-sounding voice and his face and the majority of his body are never shown throughout the series; only his arms and gloved hands are visible. He is usually at a computer terminal where he monitors his various schemes, often in a creepy old castle. Even though he is aware of Gadget's stupidity, he believes the Inspector to be his greatest nemesis, 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 voiced by Frank Welker (and in a few episodes in the first season by Don Francks).
M.A.D. Cat
Main article: MAD CatM.A.D. Cat is Dr. Claw's fat pet cat. M.A.D. Cat is always at Dr. Claw's side, usually curled up next to Claw's control panel. M.A.D. Cat serves as a foil for Dr. Claw, often being petted when Dr. Claw is happy, to the point of getting beat up when Dr. Claw gets angry. M.A.D. Cat "talks" in cat sounds. M.A.D. Cat has an evil, hissing laugh. He is voiced by Frank Welker.
Chief Quimby
Main article: Chief QuimbyChief 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 due to Gadget's obliviousness; he appears again at the end of most episodes to congratulate Gadget on a job well done. He is voiced by Dan Hennessey (then by Maurice LaMarche).
Corporal Capeman
Corporal Capeman , voiced by Townsend Coleman, was introduced in the second season and appears in nine non-consecutive episodes as Inspector Gadget’s sidekick. Capeman acts in the manner of a stereotypical crimefighter who is a self-proclaimed superhero and is buck-toothed. He is equally as inept as Inspector Gadget. The two have a student-mentor relationship, though Gadget is rarely teaching anything nor is Capeman learning. (Gadget generally mispronounces his name "Capman" and Penny generally calls him by the nickname "Capey"). 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. His last appearance is in the series' last episode: "Gadget and the Red Rose" (#86). His eight other appearances are in six consecutive episodes, starting with his first appearance in #69, "The Capeman Cometh" and continuing with #70, "Crashcourse in Crime", #71, "Gadget
Inspector Gadget Intro Video by Chris The Great High Lord God Emperor ...
Inspector Gadget Intro by Chris The Great High Lord God ... Share Video On... ... Keyword Tags: 80's, cartoon, gadget, inspector
Inspector Gadget - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In one episode, the third stud carries a video ... new syndication package), 1985 episodes of Inspector Gadget had ... Even at festivals or dances in the cartoon, the Gadget theme is ...
Inspector Gadget on TV.com
Inspector Gadget II: IG-2. Direct to video sequel to the feature film. Gadget finds himself ... Inspector Gadget was a fun 80s cartoon . Yes, it was simplistic and even formulaic, but ...
"Inspector Gadget" (1983)
What earlier cartoon crimefighter was also an incompetent ... I wish I was like Inspector Gadget because he has all of those ... Top Movies | My Movies | Top 250 | TV | News | Video | ...
Inspector Gadget : 80s cartoons
Inspector Gadget 80's cartoons. Watch Inspector Gadget video's, listen to sounds and more!
Inspector Gadget 2 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
It was based upon the cartoon series created by DiC Entertainment and is a direct-to-video sequel to the 1999 Disney film Inspector Gadget. However, the two films have a tenuous link at ...
Go-Go Gadget: An Inspector Gadget Fan Site - Latest News
There is also a video of Inspector Gadget’s cameo on the Super Mario Bros. Super Show ... all aspects of the Inspector Gadget universe, from the original Inspector Gadget cartoon ...
Inspector Gadget Cartoon Directory @ Big Cartoon DataBase
The Inspector Gadget episode Directory from Other Studios: D: DiC Entertainment: Inspector Gadget: Page 2 at The Big Cartoon DataBase.
Inspector Gadget Theme - Video
Inspector Gadget Theme. Watch Video about Gadgets,Inspector,Inspector Gadget by Metacafe.com ... Inspector Gadget Theme Tags: Gadgets Inspector Inspector Gadget Gadget Cartoon
YouTube - Inspector Gadget Intro
This video has no Responses. Be the first to Post a Video Response ... As an inroduction & Outroduction, Inspector Gadget has one of the best cartoon music ever created in the ...