Secret Squirrel
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| Secret Squirrel | |
|---|---|
 Original title card | |
| Genre | Comedy Adventure |
| Created by | William Hanna Joseph Barbera |
| Written by | Michael Maltese Dalton Sandifer Warren Foster Tony Benedict |
| Directed by | William Hanna Joseph Barbera |
| Voices of | Mel Blanc Paul Frees |
| Theme music composer | Ted Nichols |
| Composers | Ted Nichols Hoyt Curtin (stock music, uncredited) |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 26 (original) 13 (reboot) 39 (total) |
| Production | |
| Producers | William Hanna Joseph Barbera |
| Production company | Hanna-Barbera Productions |
| Original release | |
| Network | NBC TBS (reboot) |
| Release | October 2, 1965 – November 26, 1966 |
Secret Squirrel is a cartoon character created by Hanna-Barbera for The Atom Ant/Secret Squirrel Show, which debuted in 1965 on Saturday mornings. The character was given his own show in 1966, titled The Secret Squirrel Show, but was reunited with Atom Ant for one more season in 1967. The half-hour The Secret Squirrel Show included three individual cartoon segments: Secret Squirrel and Morocco Mole, Squiddly Diddly and "Winsome Witch".[1] Secret Squirrel first appeared in a prime-time animated special called The World of Secret Squirrel and Atom Ant, which aired on NBC on September 12, 1965.[2]
Secret Squirrel was a parody of the spy genre, and most of the shorts parodied elements of the James Bond films. Secret Squirrel was also known as "Agent 000". In 1993, 13 new Secret Squirrel cartoons appeared in-between the 2 Stupid Dogs first-season episodes, with the updated title Super Secret Secret Squirrel and a new cast.
Character profile
[edit]Secret Squirrel (voiced with a slight lisp by Mel Blanc) serves as a secret agent, taking orders from his superior, Double-Q aka the Chief (voiced by Paul Frees), of the International Sneaky Service. Double Q is usually annoyed by Secret Squirrel when he enters the office via other objects in his office instead of using the door like other people. His designation is Agent 000.[3] Secret Squirrel is assisted in his adventures by his fez-wearing, bespectacled sidekick Morocco Mole (also voiced by Paul Frees impersonating Peter Lorre).[4]
The pair fights crime and evil enemy agents using cunning and a variety of spy gadgets, including a machine gun cane, a collection of weapons kept inside Secret's trench coat which is also bulletproof, and a variety of devices concealed in his purple fedora (which has eye holes cut in it and which he seldom removes).
Secret's recurring archenemy is Yellow Pinkie (also voiced by Frees), a parody of both Auric Goldfinger from Goldfinger and of Sydney Greenstreet's portrayal of the Kasper Gutman character from Dashiell Hammett's The Maltese Falcon. He also tangles with such enemies as the Masked Granny, Captain Kidd and Robin Hood and his Merry Mugs.[5] The last three episodes introduced Hi-Spy (again voiced by Frees), a master of scientific criminology.
Super Secret Secret Squirrel
[edit]The 1993 reboot segments saw several changes in characters and artwork compared to the 1960s original cartoons, including the recasting of Jess Harnell as Secret and Jim Cummings as Morocco (as Blanc and Frees had both died several years prior). All the characters inhabiting the world are now animals (except for a gingerbread man and a Quark). Double-Q (voiced by Tony Jay), now simply called "the Chief" in these shorts, is a Cape buffalo with a sour cherry-scented calabash pipe. Yellow Pinkie has been replaced by a sea lion named Goldflipper (voiced by Jim Cummings) who, despite being Secret's archenemy, only appears in one episode of the revival series. These new cartoons also introduce Penny (voiced by Kimmy Robertson), a female squirrel assistant to the Chief (à la Miss Moneypenny) and a possible love interest for Secret (as hinted at in the episodes "Queen Bea" and "Quark").
Secret's art design remains relatively intact, but looks more modern than the original 1960s version of the character, featuring hard lines and sharper angles, giving him a leaner and slicker style. His trademark hat looks slightly different. Secret also loses his signature lisp given to him by Blanc that was similar to that of Sylvester from the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons from Warner Bros. (although it was paid homage to in the episode "Goldflipper", where Secret spoke with it to mock Morocco's sudden lisp in that episode). Harnell's portrayal gives Secret a suave voice in reminiscence of him sometimes breaking into his Wakko Warner voice without the Scouse accent, most notably when he is screaming.
Morocco's color scheme has been redesigned; his wardrobe's palette has been swapped and he wears sunglasses. Cummings' portrayal of Morocco makes his voice less of a Peter Lorre impersonation: the Moroccan accent remains, but the voice is higher-pitched. He also now has an evil twin brother named Scirocco Mole (voiced by Jess Harnell).
Apparently, in the 1993 revival cartoons, the personalities and traits of Secret and Morocco have been switched as opposed to their original 1960s personalities. Morocco was more of a chauffeur and used to be quite intelligent, while in the revival cartoons he is more independent as a sidekick, becomes more of a bungler, and is more childlike, often getting injured (which was Secret's department in the 1960s series) and often using his catchphrase "Okay, Secret!". Secret was portrayed as a bumbling secret agent in the original, while in the revival version he is actually capable of doing his job effectively. He can be both a workaholic and more easygoing while still able to get the job done. Like the original, Secret has a gadget for almost everything but also relies on his mixed martial arts combat skills. Most of his injuries either come from his job or Morocco's bumbling.
The Chief speaks with a British accent now (due to being voiced by Tony Jay), as evidenced by his catchphrase "Good show, Secret".
Broadcast history
[edit]The series' debut was on September 12, 1965, in The World of Atom Ant and Secret Squirrel prime-time special on NBC.
The original series, The Atom Ant/Secret Squirrel Show, was broadcast from October 2, 1965, to September 2, 1967. Secret Squirrel had his own show in 1966 and was then reunited with Atom Ant in 1967-1968. Episodes were broadcast in syndication and as part of The Banana Splits variety and compilation series.
Super Secret Secret Squirrel
[edit]Secret Squirrel and Morocco Mole were revived in 1993 for back-up segments of the first season of TBS Superstation's animated series 2 Stupid Dogs. Titled Super Secret Secret Squirrel, these new cartoons featured Secret Squirrel (voiced by Jess Harnell) and Morocco Mole (voiced by Jim Cummings). 2 Stupid Dogs creator Donovan Cook was asked by then-new Hanna-Barbera president Fred Seibert to choose a classic studio cartoon to revive within the main show, and Super Secret Secret Squirrel was the result. The reason to revive Secret Squirrel was because it was one of Cook's favorite Hanna-Barbera shows.
After Cook guided the updated design with artists Paul Rudish and Craig McCracken, supervising producer Larry Huber, the "adult supervision" assigned by Seibert, was responsible for all further aspects of these cartoons. He assigned animator David Feiss to the storyboards.
This new series seems to have fallen under the villain of the week formula. Except for "Egg" and "Agent Penny", every episode is named after the enemies Secret and Morocco encounter.
Secret and Morocco make an appearance in a 2 Stupid Dogs episode titled "Let's Make a Right Price", in which they star in a commercial for Granny's Joybone Doggie Treats. The Little Dog and the Big Dog from 2 Stupid Dogs appear in the Super Secret Secret Squirrel episode "Scirocco Mole" as contestants in a game show.
Episodes
[edit]Series overview
[edit]| Season | Episodes | Originally aired | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season premiere | Season finale | |||
| 1 | 20 | October 2, 1965 | February 12, 1966 | |
| 2 | 6 | September 10, 1966 | November 26, 1966 | |
| Super Secret Secret Squirrel | 13 | September 5, 1993 | November 28, 1993 | |
Season 1 (1965–66)
[edit]| Nº | Ep | Title | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Sub Swiper" | October 2, 1965 | |
|
Captain Ahab steals an atomic submarine; Secret and Morocco must capture him and return the sub intact. | ||||
| 2 | 2 | "Masked Granny" | October 9, 1965 | |
|
Secret and Morocco have a mission to secure the Bombay Bomb in the Pentagon, whilst the Masked Granny plans a heist to steal it. | ||||
| 3 | 3 | "Scotland Yard Caper" | October 16, 1965 | |
|
Secret receives orders from Scotland Yard to recover the stolen crown jewels. He does, but is himself accused of being the thief by the police. | ||||
| 4 | 4 | "Robin Hood & His Merry Muggs" | October 23, 1965 | |
|
Secret and Morocco try to track down some thieves who are using a Robin Hood television show to cover their thefts. | ||||
| 5 | 5 | "Wolf in Cheap Cheap Clothing" | October 30, 1965 | |
|
Secret and Morocco are sent to stop Wily Wolf from smuggling sheep. Secret lures him into a trap with a "Little Red Riding Hood" scenario. | ||||
| 6 | 6 | "Royal Run Around" | November 6, 1965 | |
|
Secret and Morocco are assigned to safeguard Pasha Panchabaggie, but Pasha rides away on his flying carpet and proves difficult to catch despite the many gadgets at Secret's disposal. | ||||
| 7 | 7 | "Yellow Pinkie" | November 13, 1965 | |
|
Secret and Morocco are sent to catch an enemy agent called Yellow Pinkie, who seems to be too smart for them. | ||||
| 8 | 8 | "Five Is a Crowd" | November 20, 1965 | |
|
Dr. Dangit creates five robot duplicates of Secret Squirrel to commit crimes and frame the real one for them. Secret follows the duplicates to Dangit's hideout and turns them against him. | ||||
| 9 | 9 | "It Stopped Training" | November 27, 1965 | |
|
Secret and Morocco are put on a case to recover the Silver Streak Express train, which is stolen by Yellow Pinkie with a shrinking ray gun. | ||||
| 10 | 10 | "Wacky Secret Weapon" | December 4, 1965 | |
|
Secret and Morocco are assigned to protect a secret weapon only to lose it to Yellow Pinkie, but they pin him down at the seaport. | ||||
| 11 | 11 | "Cuckoo Clock Cuckoo" | December 11, 1965 | |
|
Secret receives a mission from England to retrieve Big Ben, stolen by a giant who wants to make a cuckoo clock out of it. | ||||
| 12 | 12 | "Catty Cornered" | December 18, 1965 | |
|
Upon being called in by a scientist, Secret and Morocco attempt to catch a cat who swallowed an explosive capsule. A cat-chasing dog makes their task difficult, and a "doggone temper" erupts. | ||||
| 13 | 13 | "Leave Wheel Enough Alone" | December 25, 1965 | |
|
Secret and Morocco try to catch Yellow Pinkie, who has stolen all the gold from the mint, but will have to chase him in a car race first. | ||||
| 14 | 14 | "Jester Minute" | January 1, 1966 | |
|
Secret and Morocco are sent to safeguard the king's crown, only for it to be stolen by Yellow Pinkie. Secret thwarts every one of his enemy's traps in order to recover the king's crown. | ||||
| 15 | 15 | "Not So Idle Idol" | January 8, 1966 | |
|
Yellow Pinkie steals a golden idol and only Secret can locate its whereabouts. | ||||
| 16 | 16 | "Gold Rushed" | January 15, 1966 | |
|
While vacationing in Washington D.C., Secret and Morocco chase after Yellow Pinkie, who has stolen gold bullion from the Granbovian embassy. | ||||
| 17 | 17 | "Double Ex-Double Cross" | January 22, 1966 | |
|
Secret and Morocco investigate the petrified population of Okey Dokey Isle, where they encounter the responsible perpetrator, Double-Ex. | ||||
| 18 | 18 | "Capt. Kidd's Not Kidding" | January 29, 1966 | |
|
Secret and Morocco go aboard a Spanish galleon to investigate the ghost of Captain Kidd, who is actually Yellow Pinkie seeking gold. | ||||
| 19 | 19 | "Bold Rush" | February 5, 1966 | |
|
Morocco takes the liberty of locating a gold shipment stolen by Yellow Pinkie all by himself. Secret discreetly assists Morocco during his vacation. | ||||
| 20 | 20 | "Tusk-Tusk" | February 12, 1966 | |
|
Secret and Morocco try to find a missing elephant that was taken prisoner by the Grand Wazir to overthrow the Rajah. | ||||
Season 2 (1966)
[edit]| Nº | Ep | Title | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | 1 | "Robot Rout" | September 10, 1966 | |
|
Yellow Pinkie is promoted to President, due to a mass robotic brainwashing of the citizens. Secret and Morocco head to Yellow Pinkie's lab to confront him, but he turns Morocco against Secret. | ||||
| 22 | 2 | "The Pink Sky Mobile" | September 17, 1966 | |
|
Secret and Morocco battle Yellow Pinkie in his new Pink Sky Mobile against their Spy Car. Both sides end up with scooting vehicles. | ||||
| 23 | 3 | "Scuba Duba Duba" | September 24, 1966 | |
|
Secret and Morocco are assigned to recover a missile stolen by the enemy agent Scuba Duba before he can destroy the city, which is being held for ransom by him. | ||||
| 24 | 4 | "Hi-Spy" | October 29, 1966 | |
|
Secret is sent to confront the evil scientific criminology master Hi-Spy face-to-face in France, but Secret cannot outsmart him. Throwaway line: "Naw, it's just swamp gas!" | ||||
| 25 | 5 | "Spy in the Sky" | November 12, 1966 | |
|
Hi-Spy is intent on causing destruction on the globe with his armed satellite. Secret and Morocco head to the satellite to halt his plans. | ||||
| 26 | 6 | "Ship of Spies" | November 26, 1966 | |
|
Secret and Morocco are assigned to locate Hi-Spy's invisible ship and put his plan out of action. | ||||
Super Secret Secret Squirrel (1993)
[edit]| Nº | Title | Directed by: | Written by: | Storyboard by: | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S.1 | "Goldflipper" | Larry Huber Robert Alvarez (animation) | Mark Saraceni | Genndy Tartakovsky | September 5, 1993 | |
|
An evil sea lion named Goldflipper (voiced by Jim Cummings) creates a giant gold magnet that steals golden teeth, which he calls the "Molar-Acoustic-Synctro-Bicuspid-Dental-Magnetic-Electro-Platt-Conductive-Postiviser". Secret goes undercover as a Squirrely Girly Scout to thwart Goldflipper's evil plan and recover all the stolen teeth. | ||||||
| S.2 | "Greg" | Larry Huber Ron Hugart (animation) | Bobs Gannaway | Rob Renzetti | September 12, 1993 | |
|
Secret investigates a mysterious candy disappearance caused by a gingerbread man named Greg (voiced by Charlie Adler), who is using ants to steal all the candy in the world, which he will then use to make a giant candy monster. | ||||||
| S.3 | "Quark" | Larry Huber Robert Alvarez (animation) | Bobs Gannaway | Conrad Vernon | September 19, 1993 | |
|
A sub-atomic quark known as Quark (voiced by Roger Rose) is destroying important monuments in order to make an amphitheater out of North America. Secret has to shrink down to sub-atomic size in order to stop him. | ||||||
| S.4 | "Queen Bea" | Larry Huber Ron Hugart (animation) | Mark Saraceni | Don Shank | September 26, 1993 | |
|
Queen Bea (voiced by B. J. Ward) and her honey bee minions capture Secret during a Honey Bank robbery so that Queen Bea can force Secret's hand in marriage after trapping Morocco in a honey container. Penny comes to his rescue. | ||||||
| S.5 | "Hot Rodney" | Larry Huber Ron Hugart (animation) | Bobs Gannaway | Tony Craig | October 3, 1993 | |
|
During a race against a race car driving rooster named Hot Rodney (voiced by Jeff Bennett), Secret is waylaid by Hot Rodney's orchestrated kidnapping of Morocco. | ||||||
| S.6 | "Egg" | Larry Huber Ron Hugart (animation) | Bobs Gannaway | David Feiss | October 10, 1993 | |
|
Morocco receives a mandatory special assignment to hold a "rare" and "cursed" egg for at least three seconds, but has a hard time doing so. | ||||||
| S.7 | "Chameleon" | Larry Huber Ron Hugart (animation) | Bobs Gannaway | Rob Renzetti | October 17, 1993 | |
|
Expensive paintings are stolen on the night of a museum gala. Secret discovers an art-loving, sophisticated chameleon (voiced by Roddy McDowall) has pilfered all the art for his own personal collection. Secret and Morocco then outsmart him by trapping him in a room full of "modern" art, which Chameleon despises. | ||||||
| S.8 | "Agent Penny" | Larry Huber Ron Hugart (animation) | Bobs Gannaway, Paul Rudish | David Feiss | October 24, 1993 | |
|
In an attempt to cut down his expenses, the Chief replaces Secret with Penny and hires Morocco as his secretary. Note: Snooper and Blabber make speaking cameo appearances at a crimefighters' pub. In the same scene, Undercover Elephant from CB Bears, Hong Kong Phooey and Mumbly make background appearances, while the portraits of Scooby-Doo, Ricochet Rabbit & Droop-a-Long, Atom Ant, Hong Kong Phooey, Mumbly and Dynomutt, Dog Wonder are seen with Snooper and Blabber's portraits. | ||||||
| S.9 | "Scirocco Mole" | Larry Huber Ron Hugart (animation) | Bobs Gannaway | Tony Craig | October 31, 1993 | |
|
In a quiz show hosted by a fox, Secret relates the origin of his partnership with Morocco and an encounter with Morocco's evil twin brother Scirocco (voiced by Jess Harnell). Note: Yogi Bear and Boo-Boo and the Big Dog and the Little Dog make cameo appearances as the other contestants. | ||||||
| S.10 | "Platypus" | Larry Huber Ron Hugart (animation) | Bobs Gannaway | Rob Renzetti | November 7, 1993 | |
|
Secret, Morocco and the Chief get their bodies mixed up in a de-scrambler owned by a platypus (Mark Hamill) and have a hard time catching him in their altered states. | ||||||
| S.11 | "Doctor O." | Larry Huber Rob Hugart (animation) | Mark Saraceni Jim Turner | Paul Rudish, David Feiss, and Tony Craig | November 14, 1993 | |
|
Secret has to stop an opossum named Doctor O. from blocking out the sun with a satellite, but he has to do it blind and in total darkness. The constant darkness also prevents the Chief from using the rest room. | ||||||
| S.12 | "One Ton" | Larry Huber Rob Hugart (animation) | Lane Raichert | David Feiss | November 21, 1993 | |
|
Secret attempts to stop a crazy giant panda called One Ton (voiced by Yoshio Be) from tearing up Chinatown, but he also has strict orders from the Chief not to harm him, because giant pandas are an endangered species. As a result, Secret has to figure out how to defeat the panda without actually fighting him. | ||||||
| S.13 | "Voo Doo Goat" | Larry Huber Rob Hugart (animation) | Bobs Gannaway | David Feiss | November 28, 1993 | |
|
Secret must stop an evil shaman goat (voiced by John Garry), who has made a voodoo doll of the Chief in order to gain control over the agency. | ||||||
Voices
[edit]- Mel Blanc as Secret Squirrel (original series)
- Paul Frees as Morocco Mole, Double-Q, Yellow Pinkie, Hi-Spy (original series)
- Jim Cummings as Morocco Mole, Goldflipper (Super Secret Secret Squirrel)
- Jess Harnell as Secret Squirrel, Scirocco Mole (Super Secret Secret Squirrel)
- Tony Jay as Double-Q/the Chief (Super Secret Secret Squirrel)
- Kimmy Robertson as Penny (Super Secret Secret Squirrel)
Production credits
[edit]- Produced and Directed by: William Hanna and Joseph Barbera
- Story: Tony Benedict, Warren Foster, Dalton Sandifer, Michael Maltese
- Musical Direction: Ted Nichols
- Story Direction: Alex Lovy, Lewis Marshall, Paul Sommer, Art Scott, Steve Clark, Art Davis
- Voices: Mel Blanc, Paul Frees, John Stephenson, Jean Vander Pyl, Henry Corden, Don Messick, Allan Melvin, Howard Morris, Janet Waldo, Dick Beals, Gerry Johnson
- Animation Direction: Charles A. Nichols
- Production Supervision: Howard Hanson
- Animation: Ray Abrams, Ed Barge, Robert Bemiller, O.E. "Lefty" Callahan, Emil Carle, Hugh Fraser, George Germanetti, George Goepper, Anatole Kirsanoff, Hicks Lokey, Kenneth Muse, George Nicholas, Don Schloat, Larry Silverman, Ralph Somerville, John Sparey
- Layout: Cornelius "Corny" Cole, Jerry Eisenberg, Jack Huber, Lance Nolley, Bill Perez, Tony Sgroi, Bob Singer, Iwao Takamoto
- Background: Fernando Arce, Ron Dias, Rene Garcia, Bob Gentle, F. Montealegre, Richard H. Thomas
- Camera: Gary Milton, Roger Sims, Clarence Wogatzke, Norman Stainback, John Pratt, John Aardal
- Sound Direction: Richard Olson, Bill Getty
- Secret Squirrel
- AMPTP
- RCA Sound Recording
- This Picture Made Under the Jurisdiction of IATSE-IA Affiliated with A.F.L.-C.I.O.
- A Hanna-Barbera Production
Other appearances
[edit]- Secret Squirrel appears as a child on Yo Yogi!, voiced by Kath Soucie. He has an uncle named Uncle Undercover (voiced by Greg Burson) who owns the Invention Dimension store in Jellystone Mall.
- Both the original and reboot versions appeared in DC Comics Cartoon Network Presents.
- Secret Squirrel and Morocco Mole appear in Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law with Secret Squirrel voiced by Bill Farmer and Morocco Mole voiced by Maurice LaMarche. Secret Squirrel first appears in the Season 2 episode "Blackwatch Plaid" as a client of Harvey's arrested for flashing people (a play on Secret's famous trench coat). Secret Squirrel then appeared again in the Season 3 episode "Bird Girl of Guantanamole", hiring Harvey to get Morocco Mole out of the Guantanamo Bay detention camp. Secret Squirrel also has a brief cameo in the series finale "The Death of Harvey".
- Secret Squirrel appeared in the DC Comics book Scooby-Doo! Team-Up #11 in September 2015.
- A "rebooted" version of Secret Squirrel and Morocco Mole was a back-up feature of the DC comic book series Scooby Apocalypse[6] in issues #16-29.
- Secret Squirrel and Morocco Mole made appearances in Jellystone! with both characters voiced by Dana Snyder. In the season 2 episode "It's a Mad Mad Mad Rat Race", Secret Squirrel is seen on a movie poster for a film called "The Blowening" and Morocco Mole runs a sauna-themed restaurant called "Saunas, Sweats & Sandwiches" in response to the fact that people can't eat sandwiches in a sauna. Secret Squirrel physically appears in the season 3 episode "Spy Thriller", along with Penny and The Chief (in his 90s design).
LP album
[edit]Hanna-Barbera Records released an LP album called Secret Squirrel and Morocco Mole in Super Spy (HLP-2046) in 1966. It featured an adventure with four songs - "Secret Squirrel" (based on the show's theme song) and "Morocco Mole" on the beginning and the end of Side 1, respectively, and "Agent O Double O" and "Super Spy" on the beginning and the end of Side 2, respectively. Mel Blanc reprised his role as Secret Squirrel, but Daws Butler voiced Morocco Mole instead of Paul Frees.
Home video
[edit]The episode "Sub Swiper" is available on the DVD Saturday Morning Cartoons 1960s Vol. 1, as well as a part of the "A Sample of Boomerang" tape, from Cartoon Network's sister channel, Boomerang.
Warner Archive released The Secret Squirrel Show: The Complete Series on DVD in Region 1 as part of their Hanna–Barbera Classics Collection in November 2015. This is a Manufacture-on-Demand (MOD) release, available exclusively through Warner's online store and Amazon.com.[7]
The Secret Squirrel Show: The Complete Series was made available for download via iTunes in August 2016.
Warner Archive released 2 Stupid Dogs/Secret Squirrel Show Volume 1 on DVD in August 2018, which includes all of the first-season episodes of 2 Stupid Dogs and all of the episodes of Super Secret Secret Squirrel. Again, this is a Manufacture-on-Demand (MOD) release, available exclusively through Warner's online store and Amazon.com.
Cultural influence
[edit]The phrase "Secret Squirrel stuff" is used by people working in U.S. intelligence to lightheartedly describe material that is highly classified, usually as a non-answer to a question.[8] It may likewise be used in a pejorative manner to mean someone who is unlikely to have actually had a job as a special operations soldier, spy or mercenary, or to have performed the actions they claim to.
The history of the name "Secret Squirrel" for special operations forces and spies appears to predate the television show, as one story states that the word "squirrel" was used during World War II as a shibboleth to root out German spies.[9]
The name "Secret Squirrel" is police slang for an agent of the United States Secret Service.[10]
See also
[edit]- List of works produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions
- List of Hanna-Barbera characters
- Operation Senior Surprise – US cruise missile strike during Gulf War, also known as Operation Secret Squirrel
References
[edit]- ^ Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. pp. 99–100. ISBN 978-1476665993.
- ^ Woolery, George W. (1983). Children's Television: The First Thirty-Five Years 1946-1981 Part I: Animated Cartoon Series. Scarecrow Press. pp. 27–29. ISBN 0-8108-1557-5. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
- ^ Mansour, David. From Abba to Zoom: A Pop Culture Dictionary of the Late 20th Century, Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2005, p.423.
- ^ Stephen D. Youngkin The Lost One: A Life of Peter Lorre, Lesington: University Press of Kentucky, 2005, p.451
- ^ Rovin, Jeff (1991). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Cartoon Animals. Prentice Hall Press. p. 238. ISBN 0-13-275561-0. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
- ^ Davison, Joshua (May 10, 2018). "Scooby Apocalypse #25 Review: The Final Fred-day". Bleeding Cool. Archived from the original on September 19, 2020.
- ^ "TVShowsOnDVD.com - Goodbye". www.tvshowsondvd.com. Archived from the original on October 31, 2015.
- ^ Ewing, Philip (26 May 2018). "The Russia investigations: What just happened?". NPR News. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
- ^ "How a tongue twister led to spies being called 'secret squirrels'". SOFREP. November 10, 2016. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
- ^ "MILTERMS: SIERRA'".
External links
[edit]- Secret Squirrel at Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Archived from the original on May 19, 2017.
- Secret Squirrel
- Detailed listing of each Secret Squirrel (1965–66) episode at the Big Cartoon DataBase
- Informational profile on Secret Squirrel at The Cartoon Scrapbook
Secret Squirrel
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Premise and Characters
Protagonists
Secret Squirrel is an anthropomorphic squirrel serving as Agent 000 in the International Sneaky Service (I.S.S.), a parody of espionage organizations, where he undertakes covert missions against criminal threats.[4] He is depicted as a cool, competent operative with a serious demeanor, often employing clever understatement and quick thinking to outmaneuver foes, drawing inspiration from James Bond while incorporating comedic elements typical of 1960s spy tropes.[1] Physically, Secret Squirrel appears as a brownish-orange squirrel walking upright, featuring prominent buck teeth, a bushy tail, and dressed in a signature white trenchcoat and purple fedora, the latter equipped with hidden tools like a boxing glove, handgun, or mirror for espionage tasks.[4] His arsenal includes versatile gadgets, such as a brown briefcase that transforms into a sports car or helicopter for high-speed pursuits, and a bulletproof trenchcoat with concealed pockets for additional devices like a machine gun cane.[4] Voiced by Mel Blanc in the original series, Secret Squirrel's Humphrey Bogart-inspired delivery adds to his suave, no-nonsense persona.[2] Complementing Secret Squirrel is his loyal sidekick, Morocco Mole, a diminutive anthropomorphic mole who functions as his chauffeur-turned-assistant, providing comic relief through his bumbling nature and unwavering devotion.[2] Morocco Mole is characterized by frequent mishaps and malapropisms, yet his enthusiasm and disguises—often involving a red fez, yellow scarf, green jacket, and dark glasses—make him an endearing foil to his partner's precision, boosting Secret's confidence despite occasional blunders.[4] Originally voiced by Paul Frees in a style mimicking Peter Lorre, Morocco's portrayal emphasizes his supportive role in missions, where his earnest attempts at aid highlight the duo's teamwork dynamics.[2] The protagonists operate under the supervision of Double-Q, the balding chief of the I.S.S., who assigns missions from a secure headquarters and parodies authoritative spy bosses like M from the James Bond series.[1] This agency structure underscores the original series' subtle parody of espionage conventions, with Secret and Morocco relying on ingenuity and gadgets rather than brute force to maintain secrecy and resolve threats.[4] In the 1993 revival, titled Super Secret Secret Squirrel, the protagonists' portrayals shift toward more exaggerated, cartoonish antics, with Secret Squirrel reimagined as even cooler and more competent while Morocco Mole's bumbling traits are amplified for heightened comedy.[1] The duo receives updated designs and voices—Jess Harnell for Secret Squirrel and Jim Cummings for Morocco Mole—alongside a renamed agency, the Super Secret Service, emphasizing over-the-top spy humor in line with 1990s animation trends.[5]Antagonists
In the original Secret Squirrel series, the primary antagonist was Yellow Pinkie, a cunning international thief and master of disguise who served as Secret Squirrel's recurring archenemy. Voiced by Paul Frees, Yellow Pinkie was a direct parody of James Bond's Auric Goldfinger, characterized by his obsession with gold and use of a multifunctional pinky ring as a weapon for various criminal schemes, such as thefts and espionage plots. He first appeared in the episode "Yellow Pinkie" (1965), where he outmaneuvers the agents with clever disguises, and recurred in stories like "Goldflinger" and "Robot Rout," often employing high-tech vehicles and robotic minions to execute his heists.[6][7] Other notable foes in the original run included Dr. Dangit, a mad scientist who deployed robot duplicates of Secret Squirrel to frame the agent and commit crimes; Double-Ex, a double-agent spy involved in cross-deceptions and sabotage; and Scuba Duba, an underwater operative who stole missiles to threaten cities with explosive attacks. These villains typically featured sophisticated gadgets and thematic traps—Dr. Dangit's robotic schemes emphasized duplication and misdirection, while Scuba Duba relied on aquatic technology for his international espionage.[7][8][9] The 1993 revival, Super Secret Secret Squirrel, shifted toward more absurd, animal-themed antagonists, with Goldflipper emerging as the central villain and reimagined counterpart to Yellow Pinkie. Voiced by Jim Cummings, Goldflipper was an anthropomorphic sea lion crime lord obsessed with gold, leading aquatic henchmen in plots like using a massive magnet to steal golden teeth from citizens in the debut episode "Goldflipper." His schemes often involved environmental manipulation and resource plundering, parodying Bond-style megalomania with a comedic, creature-focused twist.[10] Minor villains in the revival included one-off characters like the Chameleon (full name Panoleon P. Chameleon), a sophisticated, art-obsessed reptile who used camouflage and cultural heists in his self-titled episode, and others echoing Bond parodies such as Scrooge-like hounds in greed-driven escapades. Overall, the original series' antagonists leaned toward sleek, human-like spies with intricate global threats, while the revival amplified animal absurdity and cartoonish motivations for heightened parody.)[11]Production History
Original Series
The original Secret Squirrel series was developed by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera at Hanna-Barbera Productions as a satirical take on the espionage genre, debuting on NBC in 1965.[1] The concept emerged amid the mid-1960s spy mania, directly inspired by the James Bond films, including the blockbuster Goldfinger released in 1964, which fueled widespread interest in secret agents and gadgetry.[12] Hanna and Barbera positioned the anthropomorphic squirrel protagonist, Agent 000, as a trenchcoat-wearing superspy with a bumbling sidekick, Morocco Mole, to parody figures like Bond and Inspector Clouseau from The Pink Panther.[1] The series was previewed in the prime-time animated special The World of Secret Squirrel and Atom Ant on September 12, 1965, which promoted the upcoming Saturday morning lineup.[1] Employing Hanna-Barbera's signature limited animation style—characterized by minimal character movement, reused backgrounds, and static poses to reduce costs—the shorts ran approximately 7 minutes each, forming the lead segment in a 30-minute episode alongside Squiddly Diddly and Winsome Witch.[1] This technique, refined since the studio's founding in 1957, enabled efficient production for television broadcast and marked Hanna-Barbera's targeted entry into Saturday morning programming.[13] By 1966, the format evolved into The Atom Ant/Secret Squirrel Show, an hour-long block pairing Secret Squirrel with the superheroic Atom Ant to appeal to young audiences on NBC.[1] The writing drew from spy parody tropes, with contributions from seasoned Hanna-Barbera scribes Warren Foster, Michael Maltese, Tony Benedict, and Dalton Sandifer, who infused the scripts with puns, chase scenes, and absurd gadgets tailored for comedic effect.[1] This team, experienced in Looney Tunes-style humor, helped integrate Secret Squirrel into Hanna-Barbera's expanding portfolio of genre spoofs during the studio's growth phase in the 1960s.[13] The production avoided notable controversies, focusing instead on cost-effective expansion into adventure-themed content to meet network demands.[14] Voice selections, such as Mel Blanc for Secret Squirrel's lisping delivery, aligned closely with the character's parody roots.[2]1993 Revival
In 1993, Hanna-Barbera Productions revived the Secret Squirrel series under the title Super Secret Secret Squirrel, creating it as a series of backup segments for the TBS Superstation's animated program 2 Stupid Dogs. The revival consisted of 13 episodes, each approximately seven minutes long, designed to air between the main 2 Stupid Dogs shorts and featuring updated spy adventures with Secret Squirrel and his sidekick Morocco Mole. Fred Seibert, then president of Hanna-Barbera, commissioned the project to leverage the studio's classic properties alongside the new 2 Stupid Dogs series created by Donovan Cook and Larry Huber, producing 13 segments that aired as part of the show's first season.[15] The revival modernized the original concept with a more satirical tone, incorporating sharp in-jokes and frenetic action sequences that nodded to contemporary pop culture, distinguishing it within Hanna-Barbera's 1990s output of nostalgic reboots like those in What a Cartoon!. Animation upgrades included redesigned characters with brighter colors and exaggerated facial expressions to enhance comedic timing and visual appeal, supervised by design lead Bob Onorato, while integrating seamlessly with the host show's zany aesthetic. Voice casting featured Jess Harnell as Secret Squirrel, channeling a Mel Blanc-inspired delivery, and Jim Cummings as Morocco Mole, emphasizing amplified gadget-based humor in post-production tweaks to heighten the espionage parody.[1][16]Broadcast and Release History
Original Airings
The original Secret Squirrel series premiered as part of The Atom Ant/Secret Squirrel Show on NBC on October 2, 1965, following a prime-time promotional special on September 12, 1965.[17][18] The program aired on Saturday mornings in the 9:30 a.m. ET time slot, featuring an hour-long format that alternated between Atom Ant and Secret Squirrel segments.[1] It consisted of 26 episodes across two seasons, with 13 episodes broadcast during the 1965–1966 season (October 1965 to January 1966) and 13 during the 1966–1967 season (October 1966 to January 1967), after which reruns continued until concluding its initial run on September 7, 1967.[19][7] The series helped strengthen NBC's Saturday morning children's programming block, drawing strong viewership among young audiences during its tenure.[1] The 1993 revival, titled Super Secret Secret Squirrel, debuted on September 5, 1993, as a backup segment within the 2 Stupid Dogs anthology on TBS Superstation.[20] It featured 13 segments that aired on Sundays at 5:30 p.m. ET, targeting older children with edgier humor and updated animation styles inspired by contemporary shows like Ren & Stimpy.[21] The revival's success was closely linked to the popularity of 2 Stupid Dogs, which achieved higher ratings than competitors in TBS's Sunday morning lineup and contributed to Hanna-Barbera's resurgence in the 1990s.[22] Internationally, the original series debuted in the United Kingdom and Ireland on October 6, 1965, at 5:25 p.m. on ITV, and in Australia on July 6, 1966, at 5:25 p.m. on the Australian Broadcasting Network.[17] The 1993 revival aired globally on Cartoon Network starting in the mid-1990s, expanding its reach to international audiences through the network's syndication.[23]Syndication and Modern Availability
Following its initial network run, The Secret Squirrel Show entered syndication in 1967, with episodes repackaged alongside Atom Ant for local station broadcasts through the 1970s and 1980s, often as part of Hanna-Barbera syndication blocks like The Banana Splits and Friends Show.[1] These reruns introduced the series to new generations on independent U.S. television outlets, maintaining its visibility amid the era's growing library of classic animated content. Internationally, the show found audiences on networks such as the UK's CBBC during the 1980s and 1990s, contributing to its cult following beyond North America. In the early 2000s, Boomerang revived interest with regular airings starting April 1, 2000, and continuing until March 2, 2014, as part of the channel's focus on Hanna-Barbera classics.[24] The 1993 revival, Super Secret Secret Squirrel, aired as interstitial segments within 2 Stupid Dogs on Cartoon Network starting in 1995 through the 1990s and into the early 2000s, leveraging the network's expansion to syndicate Hanna-Barbera properties to a cable audience. This bundling helped sustain the characters' relevance during the shift from broadcast to cable animation programming.[12] In the modern era, Secret Squirrel has seen renewed availability through streaming and linear television. The original series streamed on HBO Max from 2020 to 2023, aligning with WarnerMedia's efforts to digitize its animation catalog for on-demand access. Beginning July 24, 2024, MeTV Toons introduced The Secret Squirrel Show to its lineup, with episodes airing in daily slots through at least November 2025, including pairings with 2 Stupid Dogs.[25] Recent crossovers in Jellystone!—such as appearances in the 2021 series and the March 2025 "Crisis on Infinite Mirths" special on Max—have boosted visibility without producing new standalone seasons, emphasizing digital restorations for these platforms. The character's 60th anniversary in 2025 prompted retrospective coverage, including a dedicated article in Cartoon Research on May 30, highlighting its enduring syndication legacy.[1][26]Episode Guide
Original Series Episodes
The original Secret Squirrel series aired as 7-minute animated segments within The Atom Ant/Secret Squirrel Show on NBC, comprising 26 episodes across two seasons from October 2, 1965, to November 26, 1966. These episodes parodied James Bond-inspired espionage through absurd spy missions, including casino infiltrations, high-speed chases, and gadget-filled capers against international villains.[17][18]Season 1 (1965–1966)
Season 1 consisted of 20 episodes, each featuring Secret Squirrel and Morocco Mole tackling global threats with clever disguises and improvised solutions, often involving recurring antagonist Yellow Pinkie.[27]| No. | Title | Air Date | Plot Teaser |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sub Swiper | October 2, 1965 | Secret and Morocco locate a vanished atomic submarine held by Captain Ahab. |
| 2 | Masked Granny | October 9, 1965 | Secure the Bombay Bomb from the Masked Granny's heist. |
| 3 | Scotland Yard Caper | October 16, 1965 | Recover the stolen Crown Jewels after Secret is accused of the theft. |
| 4 | Robin Hood & His Merry Muggs | October 23, 1965 | Track a gang of thieves using a Robin Hood TV show as cover. |
| 5 | Wolf in Cheap Cheap Clothing | October 30, 1965 | Stop the Wily Wolf from smuggling sheep using a clever trap. |
| 6 | Royal Run Around | November 6, 1965 | Safeguard Pasha Panchabaggie during transport on a flying carpet. |
| 7 | Yellow Pinkie | November 13, 1965 | Capture the cunning enemy agent Yellow Pinkie. |
| 8 | Five Is a Crowd | November 20, 1965 | Thwart Dr. Dangit's plan to create Secret Squirrel duplicates that frame him. |
| 9 | It Stopped Training | November 27, 1965 | Recover the Silver Streak Express train stolen by Yellow Pinkie. |
| 10 | Wacky Secret Weapon | December 4, 1965 | Protect and retrieve a top-secret weapon from Yellow Pinkie. |
| 11 | Cuckoo Clock Cuckoo | December 11, 1965 | Retrieve Big Ben, stolen to serve as a giant cuckoo clock. |
| 12 | Catty Cornered | December 18, 1965 | Capture an explosive cat containing an atom, complicated by a pursuing dog. |
| 13 | Leave Wheel Enough Alone | December 25, 1965 | Chase Yellow Pinkie in a high-stakes car race involving stolen gold. |
| 14 | Jester Minute | January 1, 1966 | Safeguard the king's crown from Yellow Pinkie's medieval traps. |
| 15 | Not So Idle Idol | January 8, 1966 | Locate a golden idol stolen by Yellow Pinkie from an ancient temple. |
| 16 | Gold Rushed | January 15, 1966 | Pursue Yellow Pinkie through Washington, D.C., for stolen gold bullion. |
| 17 | Double Ex-Double Cross | January 22, 1966 | Investigate a petrified town population and capture the villain Double-Ex. |
| 18 | Capt. Kidd’s Not Kidding | January 29, 1966 | Probe Yellow Pinkie disguised as Captain Kidd's ghost on a treasure hunt. |
| 19 | Bold Rush | February 5, 1966 | Morocco tracks a stolen gold shipment with Secret providing subtle aid. |
| 20 | Tusk-Tusk | February 12, 1966 | Rescue an elephant kidnapped by the Grand Wazir to overthrow the Rajah. |
Season 2 (1966)
The shorter second season featured 6 episodes with a tighter focus on recurring villains like Yellow Pinkie and Hy Spy, emphasizing robotic threats and aerial pursuits in the spy parody style.[27]| No. | Title | Air Date | Plot Teaser |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | Robot Rout | September 10, 1966 | Confront Yellow Pinkie's robotic brainwashing device that turns Morocco against Secret. |
| 22 | The Pink Sky Mobile | September 17, 1966 | Battle Yellow Pinkie's flying Sky Mobile using a high-tech Spy Car. |
| 23 | Scuba Duba Duba | September 24, 1966 | Recover a stolen missile held for ransom by the underwater villain Scuba Duba. |
| 24 | Hi-Spy | October 29, 1966 | Outwit the criminal scientist Hy Spy during a mission in France. |
| 25 | Spy in the Sky | November 12, 1966 | Destroy Hy Spy's armed satellite before it causes global destruction. |
| 26 | Ship of Spies | November 26, 1966 | Locate and board Hy Spy's invisible ship to stop his espionage plot. |
Revival Episodes
The 1993 revival of Secret Squirrel, retitled Super Secret Secret Squirrel, consisted of 13 seven-minute animated segments produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions and integrated as interstitial breaks within the first season episodes of the host series 2 Stupid Dogs. These shorts reimagined the original 1960s spy adventures with a more chaotic, absurd tone emphasizing meta-humor, rapid-fire gags, and parodies of 1990s action films and pop culture tropes, such as over-the-top villain lairs and gadget-laden chases.[28][1] Unlike the standalone format of the original series, the revival episodes were designed to complement the host show's silly, anarchic style, often featuring self-referential jokes about espionage clichés and faster-paced animation with streamlined character designs, including new gadgets like Morocco Mole's hyper-speed capabilities.[1][29] The segments drew loose inspiration from the original series' spy plots but amplified the absurdity, with villains often embodying exaggerated archetypes—such as the return of Secret Squirrel's archenemy Yellow Pinkie reimagined as the sea lion-themed Goldflipper, who debuts as a gold-obsessed marine menace inventing world-threatening devices. Production emphasized quicker visual timing and contemporary wit, resulting in no full standalone season beyond these 13 episodes, which aired from September 1993 to November 1993 on TBS and later Cartoon Network.[1][29] The following table lists the episodes in broadcast order, including their placement within 2 Stupid Dogs episodes and concise plot hooks focusing on the core conflict:| Episode Order | 2 Stupid Dogs Episode Title(s) | Super Secret Secret Squirrel Title | Plot Hook |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Door Jam / Where's the Bone? | Goldflipper | Goldflipper, a gold-obsessed sea lion villain, uses a device to steal everyone's gold teeth in the city, prompting Secret and Morocco to infiltrate his hideout selling cookies.[28] |
| 2 | Cornflakes / Home Is Where Your Head Is | Greg | A vengeful gingerbread man named Greg uses an army of ants to orchestrate a global candy heist, prompting Secret to infiltrate a sweets underworld.[28] |
| 3 | Vegas Buffet / Love in the Park | Quark | A mischievous subatomic particle villain named Quark plans a chaotic atomic revue in Las Vegas, leading Secret on a high-stakes particle pursuit.[28] |
| 4 | Show and Tell / At the Drive-In | Queen Bea | Queen Bea, a tyrannical bee monarch, enslaves Secret in her hive empire, requiring a buzzing infiltration to restore order.[28] |
| 5 | Space Dogs / Pie in the Sky | Hot Rodney | A hot-tempered race car driver villain covets Secret's high-tech vehicle for a illicit speed scheme across cosmic tracks.[28] |
| 6 | A Quarter / Red | Egg | Secret and Morocco are tasked with safeguarding a priceless, world-altering rare egg from egg-thieving poachers in a fragile high-security op.[28] |
| 7 | Substitute Teacher / Seeing-Eye Dogs | Chameleon | A shape-shifting art thief chameleon targets priceless masterpieces, drawing Secret into a gallery of deceptive disguises and forgeries.[28] |
| 8 | Spooks-A-Poppin' / Sheep Dogs | Agent Penny | Secret faces termination after a mission blunder, only to uncover a conspiracy involving a rival female agent with ulterior motives.[28] |
| 9 | Trash Day / Hollywood's Ark | Scirocco Mole | A flashback reveals how Secret first teamed with Morocco during a desert windstorm scheme by a rogue mole operative.[28] |
| 10 | Family Values / Red Strikes Back | Platypus | A mad platypus inventor deploys a ray gun that scatters animal body parts citywide, sparking Secret's bizarre reassembling pursuit.[28] |
| 11 | Stunt Dogs / Return of Red | Doctor O | Doctor O plots to sever the sun's rays for eternal night, compelling Secret to navigate a shadowy solar sabotage.[28] |
| 12 | Far-Out Friday / Let's Make a Right Price | One Ton | A massive panda enforcer aims to crush global economies with weight-based extortion, pitting Secret against brute force.[28] |
| 13 | Cat! / Love Doctors | VooDoo Goat | A mystical voodoo-practicing goat makes a voodoo doll of the Chief to gain control over the agency, leading Secret into a supernatural battle involving counter-dolls.[28] |
Cast and Crew
Voice Actors
In the original Secret Squirrel series (1965–1966), Mel Blanc provided the voice for the titular character, delivering a suave, understated spy persona that contrasted with his more bombastic roles in other Hanna-Barbera productions.[30] Paul Frees voiced Secret's sidekick Morocco Mole, as well as recurring villains such as Yellow Pinkie and Hi-Spy, and the boss Double Q, employing a versatile range that included nasal accents and authoritative tones to distinguish the ensemble.[30] John Stephenson provided additional voices, contributing to the show's bureaucratic undertones across its 26 segments.[31] The 1993 revival, titled Super Secret Secret Squirrel and integrated into 2 Stupid Dogs, featured a recast ensemble to inject higher energy and modern flair, reflecting the post-Mel Blanc era following his death in 1989. Jess Harnell assumed the role of Secret Squirrel, adopting a higher-pitched, more animated delivery that emphasized the character's gadget-reliant antics in the 13 new shorts.[5] Jim Cummings voiced Morocco Mole with a deeper, gruffer timbre, evolving the sidekick into a more comedic, bumbling foil compared to Frees' original subtlety. Tony Jay portrayed the Chief with his signature ominous gravitas, while Rob Paulsen handled additional voices, including cameos like Super Snooper and Blabber Mouse, adding layers to crossover nods within the Hanna-Barbera universe.[5]| Series | Character | Voice Actor |
|---|---|---|
| Original (1965–1966) | Secret Squirrel | Mel Blanc[30] |
| Original (1965–1966) | Morocco Mole, Double Q, Yellow Pinkie, Hi-Spy | Paul Frees[30] |
| Original (1965–1966) | Additional voices | John Stephenson[31] |
| Revival (1993) | Secret Squirrel | Jess Harnell[5] |
| Revival (1993) | Morocco Mole | Jim Cummings[5] |
| Revival (1993) | Chief | Tony Jay[5] |
| Revival (1993) | Additional voices (e.g., Super Snooper, Blabber Mouse) | Rob Paulsen[5] |