I remember this cartoon airing back when I was a kid in the early
1980s. It was during a 1/2 hour cartoon show with an episode of
either The Inspector or The Ant and the Aardvark sandwiched between
two episodes of The Pink Panther. As soon as I heard the jazzy theme
song to Ant and the Aardvark, it bought me back. I'm glad I can add
this DVD to my Pink Panther collection and, like other reviewers, am
hoping for the release of The Inspector which may be my favorite of
that trio of cartoons.
The Ant and the Aardvark is entertaining on many levels (animation,
voices, one-liners, music). That big, goofy-looking blue aardvark
(so ugly, he's cute) and that fun, jazzy music. What really makes
the show are the accents given to the characters by John Byner.
Charlie, the ant, is a hip daddy-o who sounds like Dean Martin. Even
better is the Aardvark who has a stereotypical north-eastern Jewish
accent (his voice was patterned after New York comedian Jackie
Mason). Almost anything he says is funny. There are many hilarious
one-liners, especially in the early episodes. The show was released
to theatres between March 1969 to May 1971, but I think even today's
kids will enjoy this cartoon.
Here are the 17 episodes in order of their release:
1. "The Ant and the Aardvark"-- The ant tries to take home an entire
picnic, but the aardvark would like to make a picnic of him.
Aardvark after a pie to the face--"Coconut cream pie. You know how I
know it's coconut? Because it's got a coconut in it, and it huyts!"
2. "Hasty But Tasty"--The hip daddy-o ant gets himself some wheels
in the form of a motorcycle. The aardvark after swallowing a giant
sandwich--"You know, peanut butter really sticks to the roof of your
back."
3. "The Ant From Uncle"--Clever title--a take-off of "The Man From
U.N.C.L.E." The aardvark introduces himself to the audience. He then
tries to get the ant to visit "The Ant's Club" in his stomach and
visits the ant's pad: "What is this place? Nothing but hallways." We
find out the ant's name is Charlie and we meet "Charlie's Aunt" (a
reference to the classic play and later film "Charley's Aunt").
4. "I've Got Ants in My Plans"--The aarvark and his rival, the green
aardvark, compete over Charlie.
5. "Technology, Phooey"--The aardvark purchases a computer that
sounds a little like Paul Lynde (it's not his voice, though) to help
him catch Charlie. Aardvark: "I could say something right now, but
it would only get censored."
6. "Never Bug an Ant"--The aardvark tries many creative ways to
catch the ant--none work but they are creative. Aardvark: "I'd
rather be a banker and have a businessman's lunch." Ant: "Lucky for
me, an ant can lift 100,000 times his own weight" (that comes in
handy).
7. "Dune Bug"--Charlie is vacationing at the beach and the aardvark
keeps getting kicked off for not wearing a leash.
8. "Isle of Caprice"--The aardvark somehow ends up on a deserted
island and tries to swim to an adjacent island inhabited by
ants--but a shark keeps putting the chomp on his plans. No Charlie
in this one (sorry, Charlie).
9. "Scratch a Tiger"--For pulling a thorn out of his foot, a tiger
protects Charlie and his ant buddies from the aardvark. The tables
are turned, however, when the aardvark also relieves the tiger of a
painful thorn.
10. "Odd Ant Out"--The aardvark competes with his rival green
anteater over a can of chocolate-covered ants. Charlie is only seen
at the end.
11. "Ants in the Pantry"--The aardvark gets tips on where to find
meals by intercepting calls to a pest control company. When he shows
up at Charlie's address, however, he is no longer in control of the
pests.
12. "Science Friction"--A scientist wants Charlie for research, the
aardvark wants him for lunch.
13. "Mumbo Jumbo"--An elephant, and fellow member of the Brothers of
the Forest Lodge 202, comes to Charlie's aid when he's confronted by
the aardvark--"With a mouth as small as mine, I've got to pick on
somebody his size or I'd starve."
14. "The Froze Nose Knows"--It's winter time, but there's no
hibernation for the aardvark--he probably should consider it,
though.
15. "Don't Hustle an Ant With Muscle"--Charlie takes strength
vitamins and becomes a muscle-bound powerhouse who can even get the
aardvark to be his waiter: "I never thought it would happen to me,
an aardvark bringing lunch to an ant."
16. "Rough Brunch"--Charlie finds support from a family of termites
who makes life miserable for the aardvark.
17. "From Bed to Worse"--The Ant and the Aardvark are hit by a car
and are put in an animal clinic with an angry dog. The little old
lady nurse reminds me of Tweety Bird's owner. Aardvark: "The
hospitality around here can make a person sick."
