The Secret Lives of Waldo Kitty

Infobox Television
show_name = The Secret Lives of Waldo Kitty


caption =
show_name_2 =
genre =
creator =
director = Hal Sutherland
creative_director = Don Christensen
developer =
presenter = Filmation
starring =
voices =
narrated =
theme_music_composer = Jackie Mills
Joyce Taylor
opentheme =
endtheme =
composer =
country = USA
language =
num_seasons = 1
num_episodes = 13
list_episodes =
executive_producer =
producer = Norm Prescott
Lou Scheimer
supervising_producer =
asst_producer =
co-producer =
editor =
story_editor =
location =
camera =
runtime = 30 min.
network = NBC
picture_format =
audio_format =
first_run =
first_aired = September 6, 1975
last_aired = September 4, 1976
preceded_by =
followed_by =
related =
website =
imdb_id = 0244928
tv_com_id = 5388

"The Secret Lives of Waldo Kitty" took the concept of James Thurber's popular book (and later movie) "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty", and parodied it with anthropomorphised dogs and cats. Waldo Kitty and his girlfriend Felecia were cats who were constantly bullied by the bulldog, Tyrone. Each episode featured wraparound live-action segments of two cats and a bulldog playing the parts, with voiceovers. Waldo would inevitably be bullied by Tyrone and begin wishing he was a famous character, and the scene would shift to a cartoon version of whichever character he wished to be.

Pop culture references

These characters consisted of a variety of characters which spoofed various characters from pop-culture. Cat-Man and Sparrow were an obvious lampooning of Batman and Robin, as was Catzan of the Apes, spoofing Tarzan. Also spoofed was Robin Hood, where the feline was that hero of English yore, Robin Cat. Also parodied were "The Lone Ranger" ("The Lone Kitty") and "Star Trek" ("Cat Trek", with Captain Herc of the starship "Second-Prise"). (As it happens, Filmation had done or would eventually do straight adaptations of all of these properties except Robin Hood.) A running gag of this series was the arch-villain's response to Waldo's character: "Seize him!" "We sees him, we sees him. What of it?"

In many respects, the current popular PBS series "Wishbone" is reminiscent of Waldo Kitty, though it draws on classic literature rather than pop-culture spoofs as its inspiration.

Episodes

Thirteen animated 30-minute installments were produced for the series, which aired on NBC Saturday morning between September 6, 1975 and September 4, 1976. According to "Animation by Filmation" authors Michael Swanigan and Darryl McNeil, Filmation did not secure the rights to use the title or characters from Thurber's estate, which sued, and forced a title change to "The New Adventures of Waldo Kitty" for syndication as part of "The Groovie Goolies and Friends" package. In this version, the title was not only changed, but the live-action wraparounds were removed as well.

Episode list

* Cat Man
* Catzan of the Apes
* The Lone Kitty
* Robin Cat
* Cat Trek
* Cat Man Meets the Poochquin
* Catzan or Not Catzan
* The Lone Kitty Rides Again
* Sheriff of Sherwood
* Cat Man Meets the Puzzler
* Dr. Livingstone, I Perfume?
* Pingo Pongo
* Chaw the Bullet

Voices

* Howard Morris as Waldo
* Jane Webb as Felicia
* Allan Melvin as Tyrone

DVD

BCI Eclipse has a pair or releases planned for this cartoon. However, it is unknown when or if they will be released.

* The Cat Pack: Waldo Kitty & Fraidy Cat Volume One
* The Cat Pack: Waldo Kitty & Fraidy Cat Volume Two

Credits

* Produced by: Lou Scheimer, Norm Prescott
* Written by: Bill Danch, Jim Ryan
* Creative Director: Don Christensen
* Animation Directors: Rudy Larriva, Bill Reed, Lou Zukor
* The Secret Lives of Waldo Kitty Based on an Idea by: Lorna Smith
* Animation Storyboard Supervision: Kay Wright
* Animation Storyboard: Sherman Labby, Paul Fennell, Mike O'Connor, Roy Wilson
* Art Director: Alberto de Mello
* Key Assistant: Mike Hazy
* Layout: Wendall Washier, George Goode, Mario Piluso, Wes Herschensohn, Tom Knowles, David West, Jim Fletcher, Martin Miller, Clark Haas, John Perry, Bob Kleine, Lorna Smith, Ken Leonard, Jim Willoughby, Carol Lundenberg
* Director of Color: Ervin L. Kaplan
* Background Artists: Tom O'Loughlin, Curt Perkins, Patricia Keppler, Rolly Oliva, Barbara Bendetto, Douglas Stevenson
* Animators: Bob Carr, Karen Peterson, Jesse Cosio, Casey Onaitis, Zeon Davush, Jack Ozrak, Otto Feuer, Bill Pratt, Ed Friedman, Virgil Raddatz, John W. Garling, Len Rogers, Don Ruch, Dick Hall, Don Schloat, Marsh Lamore, Larry Silverman, Fred Myers, Hank Smith, Larry Miller, Irv Spector, Tony Pabian, Dardo Velez, Ron Westlund
* Checking Supervision: Marion Turk
* Xerography Supervision: John Remmel
* Paint Supervision: Betty Brooks
* Camera Supervision: Bob Pope
* Camera: Thane Berti, Joe Ponticelle, F.T. Ziegler
* Pre-Production and Editorial Supervision: Joe Simon
* Film Editing: Doreen Dixon, Jim Blodgett
* Film Coordinator: June Gilham
* Music and Sound Effects: Horta-Mahana Corporation
* Color by: Technicolor
* Waldo Kitty Theme Written by: Jackie Mills, Joyce Taylor
* Background Music by: Jeff Michael, Yvette Blais
* Music Publisher: Shermley Music Co. A.S.C.A.P.
* Live-Action Segments by: Filmart
* Animals Supplied by: Frank Inn, Inc.

External links

* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0244928/ "The Secret Lives of Waldo Kitty" (1975) [TV-Series 1975-1976 ] - at The Internet Movie Database
* [http://www.entertainmentrights.com/programming/article_206.asp Entertainment Rights - The Adventures of Waldo Kitty]
* [http://www.toonopedia.com/waldokit.htm Waldo Kitty at Toonopedia]
* [http://www.tv.com/the-secret-lives-of-waldo-kitty/show/5388/summary.html The Secret Lives of Waldo Kitty TV Show - The Secret Lives of Waldo Kitty Television Show - TV.com]
* [http://www.bcdb.com/cartoons/Filmation_Associates/S-Z/The_Secret_Lives_of_Waldo_Kitty/ The Secret Lives of Waldo Kitty Cartoon Info: @ Big Cartoon DataBase]