''Dynomutt, Dog Wonder'' is an American
animated television series
An animated series, or a cartoon series, is a set of Animation, animated films with a common title, usually related to one another. These episodes typically share the same main heroes, some different secondary characters and a basic theme. Series ...
created by
Joe Ruby
Joseph Clemens Ruby (March 30, 1933 – August 26, 2020) was an American animator, writer, television producer, and music editor. He was best known as a co-creator of the animated ''Scooby-Doo'' franchise, together with Ken Spears. In 1977, they ...
and
Ken Spears and produced by
Hanna-Barbera Productions
Hanna-Barbera Cartoons, Inc. ( ; formerly known as H-B Enterprises, Hanna-Barbera Productions, Inc. and H-B Production Co.), simply and commonly known as Hanna-Barbera, was an American animation studio and production company, which was acti ...
that aired on
ABC from September 11, 1976, to October 1, 1977. The show centers on a
Batman
Batman is a superhero who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. Batman was created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, and debuted in Detective Comics 27, the 27th issue of the comic book ''Detective Comics'' on M ...
-esque
superhero
A superhero or superheroine is a fictional character who typically possesses ''superpowers'' or abilities beyond those of ordinary people, is frequently costumed concealing their identity, and fits the role of the hero, typically using their ...
, the Blue Falcon, and his assistant, Dynomutt, a bumbling, yet effective robotic dog who can produce a seemingly infinite number of mechanical devices from his body.
As with many other animated superheroes of the era, no origins for the characters are ever provided.
''Dynomutt'' was originally broadcast as a half-hour segment of ''
The Scooby-Doo/Dynomutt Hour'' (1976–77), and a quarter-hour segment of its later expanded form ''
Scooby's All-Star Laff-A-Lympics'' (1977–78); it would later be rerun and syndicated on its own from 1978 on. The cast of ''
The Scooby-Doo Show'' appeared as recurring characters on ''Dynomutt'', assisting the Daring Duo in cracking their crimes. Originally distributed by Hanna-Barbera's then-parent company
Taft Broadcasting
Taft Broadcasting Company (also known as Taft Television and Radio Company, Incorporated) was an American media conglomerate based in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The company was rooted in the Taft family, family of William Howard Taft, the 27th President ...
,
Warner Bros. Television currently holds the distribution rights to the series.
Overview
Millionaire socialite
art dealer Radley Crown (voiced by
Gary Owens
Gary Owens (born Gary Bernard Altman; May 10, 1934 – February 12, 2015) was an American disc jockey, voice actor, announcer and radio personality. His polished baritone speaking voice generally offered deadpan recitations of total nonsense, wh ...
) and his mechanical pet dog Dynomutt (voiced by
Frank Welker, who got the inspiration for the voice from the Gertrude and Heathcliff characters of
Red Skelton
Richard Bernard Skelton (July 18, 1913September 17, 1997) was an American entertainer best known for his national old-time radio, radio and television shows between 1937 and 1971, especially as host of the television program ''The Red Skelto ...
) enjoy leisure time in their base of operations in Big City until alerted by the Falcon Flash. They then immediately dash to the Falcon's Lair (situated in Crown's penthouse), where they switch to their secret identities, the Blue Falcon and Dynomutt, Dog Wonder, respectively. The Blue Falcon and Dynomutt receive the report via TV screen from the secret GHQ of secret agent F.O.C.U.S. One (voiced by
Ron Feinberg), jumps into the Falconcar and speeds into the fray against assorted evildoers.
In a coup similar to the 1960s ''
Batman
Batman is a superhero who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. Batman was created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, and debuted in Detective Comics 27, the 27th issue of the comic book ''Detective Comics'' on M ...
'' TV series, the first 10 minutes of ''Dynomutt'' ends with a cliffhanger wherein the Daring Duo, in the clutches of their foes, are subjected to a perilous fate which is resolved immediately after the commercial. Like many animated series created by Hanna-Barbera in the 1970s, the show contains a
laugh track created by the studio.
The metallic dog employs a system of miniaturized transistors that allow him to extend his limbs or neck and use them to perform extraordinary feats; however, none of them ever work properly. "B.F." (as Dynomutt lovingly refers to him) is more Dynomutt's victim than his master, forever being hamstrung by the latter's insufferably clumsy mechanized mishaps, which often results in the Blue Falcon calling Dynomutt "Dog Blunder". Nevertheless, Dynomutt and the Blue Falcon, equipped with their arsenal of super gadgetry, manage to get the situation well in hand.
Three episodes had a crossover with ''
Scooby-Doo
''Scooby-Doo'' is an American media franchise owned by Warner Bros., Warner Bros. Entertainment and created in 1969 by writers Joe Ruby and Ken Spears through their animated series, ''Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!'', for Hanna-Barbera (which wa ...
''.
Episodes
''The Scooby-Doo/Dynomutt Hour'' (1976)
''The episode titles given reflect Hanna-Barbera studio records. No on-screen titles were given for this series.''
*
1 These episodes guest-star Scooby-Doo and the Mystery, Inc. gang.
*
2 Episode 1.12, "There's a Demon Shark in the Foggy Dark/The Awful Ordeal with the Head of Steel", was originally broadcast not on a Saturday morning, but on
Thanksgiving Day
Thanksgiving is a national holiday celebrated on various dates in October and November in the United States, Canada, Saint Lucia, Liberia, and unofficially in countries like Brazil and Germany. It is also observed in the Australian territory ...
1976 (November 25), during ABC's ''Thanksgiving Funshine Festival.''
*
3 These episodes, and all first-season repeats, were broadcast as part of ''
The Scooby-Doo/Dynomutt Show'', which included an additional half-hour featuring a ''
Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!'' rerun.
''The Blue Falcon & Dynomutt'' (1977)
These four new episodes were also aired under the new title ''The Blue Falcon & Dynomutt''. All in all, ''Dynomutt, Dog Wonder'' lasted 20 episodes in total, four episodes more than ''Jabberjaw''.
Voice cast
*
Frank Welker – Dynomutt,
Fred Jones (in "Everyone Hyde," "What Now, Lowbrow," "The Wizard of Ooze"), Bugsy Busby (in "The Day and Nightcrawler")
*
Gary Owens
Gary Owens (born Gary Bernard Altman; May 10, 1934 – February 12, 2015) was an American disc jockey, voice actor, announcer and radio personality. His polished baritone speaking voice generally offered deadpan recitations of total nonsense, wh ...
– the Blue Falcon
*
Ron Feinberg – F.O.C.U.S. One, Narrator, Mudmouth (in "The Wizard of Ooze"), Worm (in "The Day and Night Crawler," "The Injustice League of America")
*
Larry McCormick – the Mayor of Big City
Additional voices
*
Henry Corden – Mr. Hyde/Willie the Weasel (in "Everyone Hyde"), the Prophet (in "The Prophet Profits")
*
Regis Cordic
*
Joan Gerber – Queen Hornet (in "The Queen Hornet," "The Injustice League of America")
*
Bob Holt – Manyfaces (in "Sinister Symphony")
*
Casey Kasem
Kemal Amin "Casey" Kasem (April 27, 1932 – June 15, 2014) was an American disc jockey, actor, and radio presenter who created and hosted several radio countdown programs, notably ''American Top 40'', as well as the weekly syndicated televi ...
–
Norville "Shaggy" Rogers (in "Everyone Hyde," "What Now, Lowbrow," "The Wizard of Ooze"), Fishface (in "The Harbor Robber"), Swamp Rat (in "The Wizard of Ooze"), Lowbrow's Henchman (in "What Now, Lowbrow"), Professor Orville (in "Everyone Hyde")
*
Julie McWhirter – Prophet's Henchwomen (in "The Prophet Profits")
*
Allan Melvin – Superthug (second time), Grub (in "The Day and Nightcrawler")
*
Don Messick
Donald Earle Messick (September 7, 1926 – October 24, 1997) was an American voice actor, known for his performances in Hanna-Barbera cartoons.
His best-remembered voice roles include Scooby-Doo; Bamm-Bamm Rubble and Hoppy in ''The Flintsto ...
–
Scooby-Doo
''Scooby-Doo'' is an American media franchise owned by Warner Bros., Warner Bros. Entertainment and created in 1969 by writers Joe Ruby and Ken Spears through their animated series, ''Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!'', for Hanna-Barbera (which wa ...
,
Mumbly (in "The Great Brain...Train Robbery"), Gimmick (in "The Injustice League of America"), Lowbrow (in "What Now, Lowbrow," "The Injustice League of America"), Lowbrow's Henchman (in "What Now, Lowbrow"), Gimmick's Henchmen (in "The Great Brain...Train Robbery"), Jeweler (in "Everyone Hyde")
*
Heather North –
Daphne Blake (in "Everyone Hyde," "What Now, Lowbrow," "The Wizard of Ooze")
*
John Stephenson – Chief Grisby, Chief Wiggins (in "The Great Brain...Train Robbery"), Blimp (in "Lighter Than Air Raid"), Eric von Flick (in "Tin Kong"), Shadowman/Herman Twitch (in "Shadowman"), Red Vulture (in "The Blue Falcon vs. the Red Vulture"), the Glob's Henchmen (in "The Glob"), Fishface's Henchmen (in "The Harbor Robber"), Gimmick's Henchmen (in "The Great Brain...Train Robbery"), Manyfaces' Henchmen (in "Sinister Symphony")
*
Pat Stevens
Patricia Stevens (née Szczepaniak; September 16, 1945 – May 26, 2010) was an American actress. She is perhaps best known for her various nurse roles, particularly as Nurse Baker on ''M*A*S*H (TV series), M*A*S*H'' and her role as the second ...
–
Velma Dinkley
Velma Dinkley is a fictional character in the ''Scooby-Doo'' franchise. She is usually seen wearing a baggy orange turtleneck sweater, a short red pleated skirt, knee high socks, Mary Jane shoes, and a pair of black square glasses, which she ...
(in "Everyone Hyde," "What Now, Lowbrow," "The Wizard of Ooze")
*
Lennie Weinrib – Superthug (first time), Roto-Chopper (in "The Day and Nightcrawler"), Prince (in "The Great Brain...Train Robbery"), Gimmick's Henchmen (in "The Great Brain...Train Robbery")
Broadcast history
''Dynomutt, Dog Wonder'' originally aired in these following formats on
ABC and
NBC:
* ''The Scooby-Doo/Dynomutt Hour'' (September 11, 1976 – November 27, 1976, ABC)
* ''The Scooby-Doo/Dynomutt Show'' (December 4, 1976 – September 3, 1977, ABC)
* ''Scooby's All-Star Laff-A-Lympics'' (as ''The Blue Falcon & Dynomutt'') (September 10, 1977 – March 11, 1978, ABC)
* ''Dynomutt, Dog Wonder'' (June 3, 1978 – September 2, 1978, ABC) (rerun)
* ''The Godzilla/Dynomutt Hour'' (September 27, 1980 – November 15, 1980, NBC) (rerun)
''Dynomutt'' also aired on
USA Cartoon Express
The ''USA Cartoon Express'' was a programming block consisting of animated children's series which aired on the USA Network from September 20, 1982 to September 15, 1996. ''Cartoon Express'' was the first structured animation block on cable tele ...
during the 1980s.
Between January 2 and March 9, 2008, repeats of ''Dynomutt, Dog Wonder'' were shown on
Boomerang
A boomerang () is a thrown tool typically constructed with airfoil sections and designed to spin about an axis perpendicular to the direction of its flight, designed to return to the thrower. The origin of the word is from Australian Aborigin ...
. On June 4, 2009, ''Dynomutt, Dog Wonder'' returned to Boomerang and aired Thursdays through Sundays at 10am Eastern. But the show stopped airing on Boomerang due to the re-branding that happened on January 19, 2015, that also removed many other older shows.
Home media
All 16 episodes of the first season were released in a DVD set ''The Scooby-Doo/Dynomutt Hour: The Complete Series'' from Warner Home Video.
Blue Falcon
Appearances
Television series
* Gary Owens and Frank Welker reprise their roles of the Blue Falcon and Dynomutt in guest appearances in the ''
Dexter's Laboratory'' episode "Dyno-Might". The Blue Falcon comes to Dexter when Dynomutt is heavily damaged during their fight with the supervillain, Buzzord (voiced by
Rob Paulsen
Robert Frederick Paulsen III (born March 11, 1956) is an American voice actor and voice director, known for his roles in numerous animated television series and films. He received a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in an Animated Pro ...
). Though Dexter obliges, Dynomutt destroys his laboratory, leading to Dexter deactivating Dynomutt and creating Dynomutt X-90 (also voiced by Welker), who becomes a fanatical vigilante using excessive and lethal force to deal with minor crimes such as parking violations, jaywalking, and littering. Dexter tries to help the Blue Falcon stop Dynomutt X-90, but after being cornered, Dexter reveals he built Dynomutt X-90 because he deemed the original a goofy idiot
sidekick
A sidekick is a close companion or colleague who is, or is generally regarded as, subordinate to those whom they accompany.
Origins
The first recorded use of the term dates from 1896. It is believed to have originated in pickpocket slang of ...
. The Blue Falcon states Dynomutt was not just a goofy idiot sidekick, he was a go-go dog person. He then reactivates the original Dynomutt, who arrives and distracts Dynomutt X-90 enough for Dexter to deactivate him.
* Dynomutt's picture made a cameo in an episode of the ''
2 Stupid Dogs'' segment, ''
Super Secret Secret Squirrel''.
* Owens reprises his role as the Blue Falcon in the ''
Johnny Bravo'' episode "Johnny Makeover" wherein he,
"Weird Al" Yankovic
Alfred Matthew "Weird Al" Yankovic ( ; born October 23, 1959) is an American comedy musician, writer, and actor. He is best known for writing and performing Comedy music, comedy songs that often Parody music, parody specific songs by contempo ...
and
Don Knotts
Jesse Donald Knotts (July 21, 1924February 24, 2006) was an American actor and comedian. He is widely known for his role as Deputy Sheriff Barney Fife on the 1960s sitcom ''The Andy Griffith Show'', for which he earned five Emmy Awards. He als ...
redesign Johnny's show in a parody of ''
Queer Eye for the Straight Guy
''Queer Eye'' is an American reality television series that premiered on the Bravo (American TV network), Bravo network in July 2003, initially broadcast as ''Queer Eye for the Straight Guy''. The series was created by executive producers David ...
''.
* The Blue Falcon appears as a recurring character in the ''
Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law'' TV series and once in the
video game of the same title as a Spanish lawyer named Antonio de Rivera Garcia Azul Falcón (voiced by
Maurice LaMarche
Maurice LaMarche (born March 30, 1958) is a Canadian voice actor. Across a career spanning more than four decades he has voiced Chief Quimby on Inspector Gadget, Egon Spengler on ''The Real Ghostbusters'', The Brain on ''Animaniacs'' and its spi ...
). A similarly Spanish-accented Dynomutt also appeared in the two-part episode "Deadomutt", voiced by
André Sogliuzzo.
* Blue Falcon and Dynomutt appeared in the ''
Robot Chicken
''Robot Chicken'' is an American adult animation, adult stop motion, stop-motion animated sketch comedy television series created by Seth Green and Matthew Senreich for Cartoon Network's nighttime programming block Adult Swim. The twelve-minute ...
'' episode "Ban on the Fun", voiced by
Kevin Shinick
Kevin Thomas Shinick ( ; born March 19, 1969) is an American writer, producer, director and actor, as well as a comic book creator. Shinick received an Emmy award for his work on the stop-motion animated series ''Robot Chicken'', and an Emmy nom ...
and
Victor Yerrid.
* Blue Falcon and Dynomutt appeared in the ''
Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated'' episode "Heart of Evil", with the Blue Falcon being voiced by
Troy Baker while Welker reprised his role of Dynomutt. This series depicts an origin where Radley and his dog Reggie were security guards at Quest Labs. After a robot dragon attacks and injures Reggie's organic body,
Dr. Benton Quest
''Jonny Quest'' (also known as ''The Adventures of Jonny Quest'') is an American animated science fiction adventure television series about a boy who accompanies his scientist father on extraordinary adventures. It was produced by Hanna-Barbera, ...
rebuilds him as a cyborg dog. While Dynomutt retains his personality from the original series, the Blue Falcon is depicted as a gritty and violent vigilante reminiscent of
Batman
Batman is a superhero who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. Batman was created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, and debuted in Detective Comics 27, the 27th issue of the comic book ''Detective Comics'' on M ...
in
Frank Miller's ''
The Dark Knight Returns''.
* Dynomutt and Blue Falcon appear in the ''
Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?'' episode "Scooby-Doo, Dog Wonder!", with Blue Falcon voiced by
David Kaye impersonating Gary Owens while Frank Welker once again reprising his role as Dynomutt. Velma Dinkley is shown to be a fan of Blue Falcon.
* Dynomutt and Blue Falcon appeared in the ''
Jellystone!'' episode "Heroes and Capes", with Blue Falcon voiced by
Rob Riggle. Blue Falcon pretends to be buff due to inflations in his superhero outfit. Dynomutt does not talk.
Films
* Blue Falcon and Dynomutt appear in the ''Scooby-Doo'' crossover direct-to-DVD movie, ''
Scooby-Doo! Mask of the Blue Falcon'', with Welker reprising his role of Dynomutt once more. The duo was redesigned to be a film-within-a-film with two different iterations of the Blue Falcon. Owen Garrison (voiced by
Jeff Bennett
Jeff Bennett (born October 2, 1962) is an American voice actor. He voiced the titular character of ''Johnny Bravo'', Dexter and Dee Dee's Dad in ''Dexter's Laboratory'', List of The Powerpuff Girls characters#Ace, Ace, List of The Powerpuff Gi ...
) was the star of the original TV series, who became embittered by Hollywood for rebooting his show as a dark and gritty movie with actor Brad Adams (voiced by
Diedrich Bader) in the lead role as a technology-based Blue Falcon while Dynomutt was reworked into a destructive robot dog. The film's main antagonist, Jack Rabble, used the identity of the Blue Falcon's arch-enemy, Mr. Hyde, to commit a daring heist. However, he was foiled by Garrison and Scooby-Doo.
* The Blue Falcon and Dynomutt appeared in the animated ''Scooby-Doo'' film ''
Scoob!'', with the Blue Falcon voiced by
Mark Wahlberg
Mark Robert Michael Wahlberg (born June 5, 1971), formerly known by his stage name Marky Mark, is an American actor, producer, and former rapper. Mark Wahlberg filmography, His work as a leading actor, leading man spans the Comedy film, come ...
and Dynomutt voiced by
Ken Jeong. They were also joined by assistant
Dee Dee Skyes and butler Keith. During the movie's credits, it is revealed that the Blue Falcon founded the Falcon Force alongside
Atom Ant,
Captain Caveman,
Jabberjaw, and
Grape Ape. In the movie, we learn that Radley, the original Blue Falcon, has retired to
Palm Beach, Florida
Palm Beach is an incorporated town in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. Located on a barrier island in east-central Palm Beach County, the town is separated from West Palm Beach, Florida, West Palm Beach and Lake Worth Beach, Florida, ...
, and his son, Brian, has taken up the mantle of the Blue Falcon. But Brian is struggling in the role. Dynomutt is portrayed in the film as being more mature and far more competent than in the early cartoons as a result of an involuntary upgrade given to him by Brian, resulting in Dynomutt being disdainful and mocking Brian frequently and comparing him poorly to his father. Over time, however, Dynomutt's attitude toward Brian improves, and by the end of the film he's providing Brian with the encouragement that he needs in order to step out of his father's shadow.
* Dynomutt and Blue Falcon's iterations from the ''Scoob!'' film also made cameo appearances in ''
Space Jam: A New Legacy''. They are seen as spectators watching the basketball game between the Tune Squad and the Goon Squad.
Comics
* From November 1977 to September 1978,
Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics is a New York City–based comic book publishing, publisher, a property of the Walt Disney Company since December 31, 2009, and a subsidiary of Disney Publishing Worldwide since March 2023. Marvel was founded in 1939 by Martin G ...
published a bimonthly ''Dynomutt'' comic book series that lasted for six issues.
* Ongoing series ''Cartoon Network Presents'' #21 (May 1999) featured a story starring Dynomutt and the Blue Falcon. It was written by
Dan Slott
Daniel "Dan" Slott (born July 3, 1967) is an American comic book writer, known for his work on Marvel Comics books such as ''The Amazing Spider-Man'', as well as ''The Superior Spider-Man'', ''She-Hulk'', ''Silver Surfer (comic book), Silver Surfe ...
with art by Manny Galan and
Mike DeCarlo.
* As part of a series of crossovers featuring DC and Hanna-Barbera characters together, DC launched ''
Super-Sons
The Super-Sons are a pair of fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The characters were created by Bob Haney and Dick Dillin and first appeared in '' World's Finest Comics'' #215 (January 1973). The charac ...
/Dynomutt Special'' #1 in May 2018. The issue was written by
Peter Tomasi with art by
Fernando Pasarin.
* In July 2024, it was announced that a ''Dynomutt, Dog Wonder'' comic from
Dynamite Entertainment
Dynamite Entertainment is an American comic book publisher founded in 2004 by Nick Barrucci in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, known for publishing comic book adaptations of licensed feature film properties, such as ''Army of Darkness'', '' Terminator ...
is in the works.
See also
*
List of works produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions
*
Inspector Gadget
''Inspector Gadget'' is a media franchise that began in 1983 with the DIC Entertainment animated television series '' Inspector Gadget''. Since the original series, there have been many spin-offs based on the show, including additional animated ...
*
Megaman
*
Casshan
References
External links
*
THE FALCON'S LAIR: The Unofficial Guide to Dynomutt Dog WonderCartoon Network: Dept. of Cartoons: Dynomutt– cached copy from Internet Archives
* – Information and details on ''Dynomutt, Dog Wonder'
{{USA Cartoon Express
1970s American animated comedy television series
1970s American children's comedy television series
1970s American superhero television series
1976 American animated television series debuts
1977 American television series endings
American animated television spinoffs
American children's animated action television series
American children's animated adventure television series
American children's animated comic science fiction television series
American children's animated superhero television series
Animated television series about dogs
Animated television series about robots
Dog superheroes
American English-language television shows
Fictional robotic dogs
Scooby-Doo characters
Hanna-Barbera characters
Hanna-Barbera superheroes
DC Comics superheroes
Robot superheroes
Television shows adapted into comics
Television series by Hanna-Barbera
Television series created by Joe Ruby
Television series created by Ken Spears
Television sidekicks
Male characters in animated films
Male characters in animated television series
American Broadcasting Company animated television series
Science fiction franchises
Animal superheroes
Children's television series about talking animals