''Wacky Races'' is an American

animated television series An animated series is a set of Animation, animated works with a common series title, usually related to one another. These episodes should typically share the same main characters, some different secondary characters and a basic theme. Series can ...

developed by Rebecca Himot and Tramm Wigzell. It is a

reboot In computing, rebooting is the process by which a running computer system is restarted, either intentionally or unintentionally. Reboots can be either a cold reboot (alternatively known as a hard reboot) in which the power to the system is physi ...

/ revival of the 1968–69

Hanna-Barbera Hanna-Barbera Cartoons, Inc. ( ) was an American animation studio and production company which was active from 1957 to 2001. It was founded on July 7, 1957, by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera following the decision of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to c ...

animated series of the same name. The show debuted in 2017 on

Boomerang A boomerang () is a thrown tool, typically constructed with aerofoil sections and designed to spin about an axis perpendicular to the direction of its flight. A returning boomerang is designed to return to the thrower, while a non-returning b ...

video on demand Video on demand (VOD) is a media distribution system that allows users to access videos without a traditional video playback device and the constraints of a typical static broadcasting schedule. In the 20th century, broadcasting in the form of o ...

service in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

. ''Wacky Races'' was picked up for a second season.

Summary

The series features the return of some of the characters from the original ''Wacky Races'' program:

Dick Dastardly Dick Dastardly is a fictional character who has appeared in various animated series by Hanna-Barbera Productions from 1968 onward. Dastardly's most famous appearances are in the series ''Wacky Races'' (his initial appearance) and its spin-off, '' ...

Muttley Muttley is a fictional dog created in 1968 by Hanna-Barbera Productions; he was originally voiced by Don Messick. He is the foil to the cartoon villain Dick Dastardly, and appeared with him in the 1968 television series '' Wacky Races'' and its ...

Penelope Pitstop Penelope Pitstop is a fictional character who appeared in the 1968 Hanna-Barbera animated series ''Wacky Races'' and the spin-off ''The Perils of Penelope Pitstop'', and was voiced by Janet Waldo. She also appeared in the 2017 reboot of ''Wacky ...

, Peter Perfect and the Gruesome Twosome. More than half of the original characters do not return. Several new characters were introduced, including I. Q. Ickly, Brick Crashman, P. T. Barnstorm, and Pandora Pitstop. While the reboot is based on the original series, it also focuses on the Racers' personal lives; storylines are added and there usually is no actual winner or loser at the end of each race. There is also meta-humor and fourth wall breaking.

Characters

Main

the Third and

(voiced by

Peter Woodward Peter Woodward (born 24 January 1956) is a British actor, stuntman and screenwriter. He is probably best known for his role as Galen in the ''Babylon 5'' spin-offs '' Babylon 5: A Call to Arms'', ''Crusade'' and '' Babylon 5: The Lost Tales''. ...

and

Billy West William Richard Werstine (born April 16, 1952), known professionally as Billy West, is an American voice actor. His voice roles include Bugs Bunny in the 1996 film ''Space Jam'' and several subsequent projects, the title characters of '' Doug'' ...

): In this modern series, Dick Dastardly is still up to his usual trickery and cheating activities, though is now often badgered into either being nice or not cheating by Peter Perfect. Unlike before, his appearance is predominantly purple in color instead of blue, red and purple. Muttley, however, has undergone virtually no changes aside from his outward appearance, still either snickering or grumbling. In "Mother Knows Best", it is revealed that Dick Dastardly is actually the son/descendant of Dick Dastardly the Second, the original Dick Dastardly from the original ''Wacky Races'' series, who is also the husband of Delilah Dastardly, who taught Dick Dastardly the Third, her own son, how to cheat. However, in "Grandfather Knows Dast", his grandfather is actually revealed to be Dick Dastardly the First, the original Dick Dastardly from the original ''

Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines ''Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines'' (or simply ''Dastardly and Muttley'' in the UK and Ireland) is an American animated television series produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions, and a spin-off from '' Wacky Races''. The show was ...

'' series who's also the father of Dick Dastardly the Second, the original Dick Dastardly from the original Wacky Races series. *

(voiced by

Nicole Parker Nicole Frances Parker (born February 21, 1978) is an American actress. She is best known for her work on Fox's sketch comedy show '' Mad TV'' (2003–2009, 2016), which she was a regular cast member. In July 2009, Parker concluded her run as El ...

): Another original character, Penelope Pitstop has undergone the most changes from the original, both in appearance and outlook. While more assertive and much less of a damsel in distress than the original, she is still often the goody-two-shoes of the group and still talks like a

Southern belle Southern belle () is a colloquialism for a debutante in the planter class of the Antebellum South. Characteristics The image of a Southern belle is often characterized by fashion elements such as a hoop skirt, a corset, pantalettes, a wide-b ...

. Like before, her appearance is predominantly pink with hearts. * Peter Perfect (voiced by

Diedrich Bader Karl Diedrich Bader (born December 24, 1966) is an American actor and comedian who is best known for his comedy roles. He has appeared as a series regular in television sitcoms ''The Drew Carey Show'', ''American Housewife'', and '' Outsourced'' ...

): Like Dastardly and Muttley, largely unchanged from the original, although he is a bit more taunting of Dastardly than before. His appearance is predominantly orange and red. * Tiny and Bella – the Gruesome Twosome (voiced by

and

Tom Kenny Thomas James Kenny (born July 13, 1962) is an American actor and comedian. He is known for voicing the titular character in ''SpongeBob SquarePants'' and associated media. Kenny has voiced many other characters, including Heffer Wolfe in ''R ...

) are the other characters from the original series, and are the closest to their original versions in almost every respect. * Ignatius Quinton "I. Q." Ickly (voiced by

Jill Talley Jill Talley (born December 19, 1962) is an American actress and comedian. She is a main cast member on the animated series ''SpongeBob SquarePants'', in which she voices Karen Plankton. Her other voice roles include Sarah Dubois on Adult Swim's ...

): A new character who is often called a "walking encyclopaedia" by Dastardly and has little social capability. Like Professor Pat Pending before him, he is a genius with a large amount of inventions that he uses throughout the race. As he is only 10 years old he does not actually drive, his car drives itself due to it being a sentient AI.

Secondary

Racers

* Pandora Pitstop (voiced by

): A new character. Penelope's

twin Twins are two offspring produced by the same pregnancy.MedicineNet > Definition of TwinLast Editorial Review: 19 June 2000 Twins can be either ''monozygotic'' ('identical'), meaning that they develop from one zygote, which splits and forms two em ...

sister and frequent guest Racer. She is similar to Penelope, except her outfit is predominantly purple and is often meaner and more underhanded than even Dastardly is. She often allies with Dastardly, but usually for her own ends. * Captain Dash, Polly, Bugsy, Bluebeard and Davey Bones (voiced by

and

): A gang of pirates that often steal gigs from Dastardly.

Non-racers

* Brick Crashman (voiced by

Christopher Judge Douglas Christopher Judge (born October 13, 1964) is an American actor best known for playing Teal'c in the Canadian-American military science fiction television series ''Stargate SG-1,'' and Kratos in the 2018 video game ''God of War'' and its ...

): The announcer for the Wacky Races. * P. T. Barnstorm (voiced by

): The owner and sponsor for the Wacky Races.

Guest stars

* Hooded Claw (voiced by Tom Kenny impersonating

Paul Lynde Paul Edward Lynde (; June 13, 1926January 10, 1982) was an American comedian, actor and game show panelist. A character actor with a distinctively campy and snarky persona that often poked fun at his barely closeted homosexuality, Lynde was well ...

) *

Huckleberry Hound Huckleberry "Huck" Hound is a fictional cartoon character, a blue anthropomorphic coonhound that speaks with a North Carolina Southern drawl. He first appeared in the series ''The Huckleberry Hound Show''. The cartoon was one of six TV shows to ...

(voiced by Billy West): a guest racer and Peter Perfect's stunt double *

Snagglepuss Snagglepuss is a Hanna-Barbera cartoon character who debuted in prototype form in 1959 and established as a studio regular by 1961. A light pink anthropomorphic cougar sporting an upturned collar, shirt cuffs, and bow tie, Snagglepuss enjoys the ...

(voiced by Billy West and Tom Kenny) *

Hong Kong Phooey ''Hong Kong Phooey'' is an American animated television series produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions and originally broadcast on ABC. The original episodes aired from September 7 to December 21, 1974, and then in repeats until 1976. The show wa ...

(voiced by

Phil LaMarr Phillip LaMarr (born January 24, 1967) is an American actor, comedian and screenwriter. LaMarr was one of the original featured cast members on the sketch comedy television series ''Mad TV''. His voice acting roles in animated series include Jo ...

) *

Quick Draw McGraw Quick Draw McGraw is a fictional anthropomorphic horse and the protagonist and title character of ''The Quick Draw McGraw Show''. He is a white horse, wearing a red Stetson cowboy hat, a red holster belt, a light blue bandana, and occasion ...

(voiced by Billy West) * Touché Turtle (voiced by Billy West): a guest racer * Ricochet Rabbit (voiced by Tom Kenny): a guest racer. * The Dalton Brothers ** Dinky Dalton (voiced by Christopher Judge) ** Finky Dalton (voiced by Tom Kenny) ** Pinky Dalton (voiced by Diedrich Bader) ** Stinky Dalton (voiced by Billy West) *

Winsome Witch ''Winsome Witch'' is an animated television series produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions which aired as a segment on '' The Atom Ant/Secret Squirrel Show'' from October 2, 1965 to September 7, 1967. The main character, Winsome "Winnie" W. Witch, ...

(voiced by Nicole Parker): a guest racer. *

Mildew Wolf Mildew Wolf is a fictional anthropomorphic wolf, main antagonist, and title character of the ''Cattanooga Cats'' segment '' It's the Wolf!''. He is the most popular character of the series, and he was voiced by an uncredited Paul Lynde. Biograp ...

Magilla Gorilla Magilla Gorilla is a fictional gorilla and the star of ''The Magilla Gorilla Show'' by Hanna-Barbera that aired from 1963 to 1965. Character description Magilla Gorilla (voiced by Allan Melvin) is a fun-loving yet trouble-prone anthropomorphic go ...

Scooby-Doo ''Scooby-Doo'' is an American animation, animated media franchise based on an animated television series launched in 1969 and continued through several derivative List of Scooby-Doo media, media. Writers Joe Ruby and Ken Spears created the orig ...

* Scrappy-Doo (voiced by Tom Kenny): Scooby-Doo's nephew *

Mr. Jinks ''Pixie and Dixie and Mr. Jinks'' is a Hanna-Barbera cartoon television series that featured as a regular segment of the television series ''The Huckleberry Hound Show'' from 1958 to 1961. Plot The cartoon series stars two mice, the bow-tied P ...

(voiced by Billy West) *

Jabberjaw ''Jabberjaw'' is an American animated television series created by Joe Ruby and Ken Spears and produced by Hanna-Barbera which aired 16 original episodes on ABC from September 11 to December 18, 1976. Reruns continued on ABC until September 3 ...

(voiced by Billy West) *

Chief Chief may refer to: Title or rank Military and law enforcement * Chief master sergeant, the ninth, and highest, enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force * Chief of police, the head of a police department * Chief of the boa ...

(voiced by Billy West) *

Top Cat ''Top Cat'' is an American animated sitcom produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions and originally broadcast in prime time on the ABC network. It aired in a weekly evening time slot from September 27, 1961, to April 18, 1962, for a single season of ...

* Benny the Ball

Episodes

Broadcast

''Wacky Races'' premiered internationally in 2017. The first episode was released on Boomerang's SVOD service in the United States on August 14, 2017. The other 11 episodes were released on August 31, 2017. The series was first shown on television in the United States on the Boomerang channel, with the episode "Under the Rainbow" airing on Boomerang as a preview on February 22, 2018, and the series officially premiering on the Boomerang channel on May 21, 2018, alongside another show from Boomerang's SVOD service, ''

Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz ''Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz'' is an American animated children's television series loosely based on L. Frank Baum's 1900 novel ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'' and its subsequent books, as well as its 1939 film adaptation. The series debuted o ...

''. The series aired as a repeat on

Cartoon Network Cartoon Network (often abbreviated as CN) is an American cable television channel owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. It is a part of The Cartoon Network, Inc., a division that also has the broadcasting and production activities of Boomerang, Car ...

on August 13, 2018.

Home video

''Start Your Engines!'', a DVD release containing the first 10 episodes of the series, was released on April 24, 2018.

References

External links

* {{Authority control 2017 American television series debuts 2019 American television series endings 2010s American animated television series American children's animated action television series American children's animated comedy television series American children's animated fantasy television series American children's animated sports television series Animated television series about dogs Animated television series about auto racing Automotive television series English-language television shows Television series by Warner Bros. Animation Animated television series reboots Boomerang (TV network) original programming Wacky Races Wacky Races spin-offs

Summary

Characters

Main

Secondary

Racers

Non-racers

Guest stars

Episodes

Broadcast

Home video

See also

References

External links