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Touché Turtle and Dum Dum
View on Wikipediafrom Wikipedia
| Touché Turtle and Dum Dum | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Comedy |
| Directed by | |
| Voices of | |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 52 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Producers | |
| Running time | 7 minutes (per short) |
| Production company | Hanna-Barbera Productions |
| Original release | |
| Network | First-run syndication |
| Release | September 3, 1962 – August 26, 1963 |
Touché Turtle and Dum Dum is an American animated television series produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions that originally aired as one of the three segments on the anthology show The New Hanna-Barbera Cartoon Series from September 3, 1962, to August 26, 1963.[1]
Following its first airing, Touché Turtle and Dum Dum was later repeated several times on the BBC in the United Kingdom as a standalone show during the 1970s and 1980s, and then part of the Children's BBC service in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Overview
[edit]
Touché Turtle (voiced by Bill Thompson, known for voicing Droopy) and his dim-witted sheepdog sidekick Dum Dum (voiced by Alan Reed, known for voicing Fred Flintstone) are a pair of heroic fencers who battle villains and heroically save kings, queens, and others in distress.[2] Touché is the brave (if not entirely competent) leader brandishing his trusty sword and exclaiming his catchphrase "Touché away!"[3] He wears a plumed musketeer-type hat. Dum Dum is more of a simple-minded follower in a smaller plumed hat and a scarf.
During the run of the show, Touché Turtle uses a standard fencing foil as a weapon. Though not particularly bright, he is an accomplished fencer and can hold his own against other sword-fighting opponents. Despite his expertise at fencing, Touché always mispronounces the word "sword" when speaking. He always pronounces the "w" rather than leaving it silent, resulting in his constantly pronouncing the word "suh-wohrd."
The series does not follow any lasting timeline or continuity. Touché has adventures in the Old West and in the Middle Ages, as well as battling villains during the modern era of the 1960s.
A running gag in nearly every episode shows him keeping a telephone inside his shell, and it rings at inopportune moments when someone calls for help. Touché will politely excuse himself, duck into his shell, and take the call regardless of where he is at the time.
List of episodes
[edit]Home media
[edit]The first episode, "Whale of a Tale", is available on the DVD Saturday Morning Cartoons 1960's Vol. 2. "Rapid Rabbit" is available on DVD on disc 2 of The Best of Warner Bros.: Hanna-Barbera 25 Cartoon Collection.
A Blu-ray collection of the complete series was released by Warner Archive on September 30, 2025.
Other appearances
[edit]- Touché Turtle and Dum Dum appear in Yogi's Ark Lark and its sequel series Yogi's Gang. In those appearances, Touché Turtle is voiced by Don Messick due to the death of Bill Thompson in 1971 while Dum Dum has no dialogue.
- Messick also voices Touché Turtle in Yogi's Treasure Hunt.
- Dum Dum appears in the Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law episode "Mindless", voiced by Maurice LaMarche. He and Touché Turtle make cameos in the video game adaption where Dum Dum is voiced again by LaMarche.
- Touché Turtle and Dum Dum both appear in DC Comics Deathstroke/Yogi Bear Special #1 as captured animals alongside other Hanna-Barbera characters.
- Touché Turtle appears in the Wacky Races episode "Slow and Steady", voiced by Billy West.
- Touché Turtle and Dum Dum both appear in the HBO Max original series Jellystone!.[4] In the show, Touché Turtle works in the Jellystone Police Department as the chief of police, voiced by Dana Snyder.
References
[edit]- ^ Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. p. 867. ISBN 978-1476665993.
- ^ Sennett, Ted (1989). The Art of Hanna-Barbera: Fifty Years of Creativity. Studio. p. 122. ISBN 978-0670829781. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
- ^ Rovin, Jeff (1991). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Cartoon Animals. Prentice Hall Press. p. 270. ISBN 0-13-275561-0. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
- ^ "HBO Max Sets New Looney Tunes, Hanna-Barbera Cartoons, Robert Zemeckis Hybrid Series 'Tooned Out', More for Kids & Family Slate". October 29, 2019.
External links
[edit]- Touché Turtle and Dum Dum at IMDb
- Markstein, Donald D. "Touché Turtle and Dum Dum". Toonopedia.
Touché Turtle and Dum Dum
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Touché Turtle and Dum Dum is an American animated television series produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions, featuring the adventures of Touché Turtle, an anthropomorphic turtle swordsman, and his dim-witted sheepdog sidekick Dum Dum, who together defend the weak and battle villains in a medieval-inspired setting.[1][2] The series, consisting of 52 five-minute episodes, originally aired as one of three segments in the anthology show The New Hanna-Barbera Cartoon Series from September 1962 to August 1963.[2][3]
Created and directed by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, the show draws on swashbuckling tropes with Touché often emerging from his shell to answer distress calls, wielding his rapier with cries of "Touché away!" while Dum Dum provides comic relief through his bungling antics.[1][2] Touché was voiced by Bill Thompson, known for his role as Droopy, and Dum Dum by Alan Reed, famous as Fred Flintstone, with additional voices including Don Messick, Daws Butler, and Jean Vander Pyl contributing to the ensemble.[4][1]
The series exemplifies Hanna-Barbera's early 1960s output of syndicated cartoons aimed at children, blending action, humor, and moral lessons, and has since been released in home video formats, including a 2025 Blu-ray collection of all episodes.[3][1] Though not as enduringly iconic as contemporaries like The Flintstones, Touché Turtle and Dum Dum remains a nostalgic entry in the studio's catalog of anthropomorphic adventure tales.[2]
Series Overview
Premise
Touché Turtle and Dum Dum is an animated series featuring the heroic duo of Touché Turtle, an anthropomorphic turtle swordsman, and his sidekick Dum Dum as they embark on episodic adventures to rescue distressed damsels, kings, queens, and others from villains.[5][6] The stories emphasize swashbuckling action with swordplay, where the pair right wrongs and defend the innocent across varied historical and fantastical settings, including the Middle Ages, the Old West, modern 1960s scenarios, and fairy tale worlds, without any ongoing continuity between episodes.[3][7] A key recurring element is Touché's catchphrase, "Touché away!", exclaimed as he charges into action brandishing his fencing foil to confront adversaries.[8][5] Another signature gag involves Touché receiving distress calls on a telephone stored inside his turtle shell, often interrupting mid-adventure or sword fight, which he answers politely before proceeding.[3] Each self-contained episode runs approximately 5 minutes and blends heroic exploits with slapstick humor, parodying genres like medieval romances and Westerns through the duo's comedic mishaps and triumphs.[3][7]Characters
Touché Turtle is the anthropomorphic turtle protagonist and swashbuckling leader of the duo, portrayed as a brave and optimistic hero in a musketeer-inspired outfit complete with a feathered hat. He wields a fencing foil not only as a traditional weapon for duels but also creatively in problem-solving scenarios, such as transforming it into a firehose to combat flames or employing it as a nonconductive tool to deflect electrical hazards, as depicted in the show's opening sequence.[9][10] Touché's heroic demeanor drives the narratives, where he fearlessly confronts dangers to rescue innocents, often launching into action with his signature battle cry, "Touché away!"[9] Dum Dum serves as Touché's faithful sheepdog sidekick, a large, shaggy canine whose dim-witted and clumsy personality provides the primary source of comic relief. Loyal to a fault, Dum Dum frequently misinterprets situations, leading to unintended mishaps that complicate their adventures, yet his unwavering devotion to Touché underscores their partnership dynamic.[9] The series employs generic recurring antagonists, including rogue knights, spies, and other opportunistic villains, who lack named identities or ongoing continuity due to the anthology structure. These foes are typically thwarted in episodic rescues of distressed figures such as queens, maidens, or farmers, with no overarching character development for any supporting roles.[9]Production
Development
Touché Turtle and Dum Dum was developed between 1961 and 1962 as part of Hanna-Barbera Productions' strategic expansion into first-run syndicated programming, aiming to produce cost-effective content for independent television stations beyond network schedules.[3] This period marked a significant growth phase for the studio, which sought to capitalize on the demand for short-form animated content suitable for local broadcasters.[11] In its original conceptualization, the series featured a swashbuckling rabbit hero named Hairbrain Hare paired with Dum Dum, the loyal yet dim-witted sheepdog, but revisions during production changed the hero to Touché Turtle, an anthropomorphic turtle, to better fit the comedic dynamic of the duo's adventures.[12][13] These changes refined the premise of heroic exploits in a pseudo-medieval style, emphasizing Touché's chivalrous persona and Dum Dum's bumbling support.[3] The series was integrated into the anthology format of The New Hanna-Barbera Cartoon Series, alongside Wally Gator and Lippy the Lion & Hardy Har Har, creating a package of 156 five-minute segments designed to fill half-hour time slots through rotation on local stations.[14] Directed by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, production relied heavily on limited animation techniques—such as static backgrounds, minimal character movement, and reused cycles—to enable efficient, high-volume output while preserving the studio's vibrant visual style.[3] The completed series premiered in first-run syndication on September 3, 1962, distributed directly to independent U.S. television stations to maximize reach without network constraints.[14]Voice Cast and Crew
The primary voice cast for Touché Turtle and Dum Dum featured Bill Thompson as the erudite, French-accented Touché Turtle, a role that drew on his established style from voicing Droopy in MGM cartoons. Thompson provided this sophisticated characterization throughout the original series, continuing in Hanna-Barbera productions until his death in 1971. Alan Reed voiced the dim-witted sheepdog sidekick Dum Dum, delivering bumbling and enthusiastic tones reminiscent of his iconic portrayal of Fred Flintstone in The Flintstones. These performances effectively contrasted Touché's poise with Dum Dum's folly, heightening the comedic dynamics of their adventures.[15] Supporting voices included Don Messick as the narrator for 25 of the 52 episodes, offering a straightforward storytelling presence typical of Hanna-Barbera segments.[15] Additional characters, such as farmers and villains, were voiced by recurring Hanna-Barbera talents like Doug Young and Daws Butler in various guest roles across the series.[15] On the production side, William Hanna and Joseph Barbera served as both directors and producers, overseeing the creation of the 52 short cartoons that aired as part of The New Hanna-Barbera Cartoon Series. Hoyt Curtin composed the theme music, crafting an adventurous underscore that complemented the swashbuckling tone without on-screen lyrics in the openings.[15] Consistent with Hanna-Barbera's syndicated animation style of the era, full credits were not provided at the end of individual episodes, with overall cast and crew attributions appearing in promotional materials and later archives.[15]Broadcast History
Original Run
Touché Turtle and Dum Dum premiered as one of three rotating segments in the anthology program The New Hanna-Barbera Cartoon Series on September 3, 1962, and concluded its original run on August 26, 1963.[3] The series produced 52 five-minute episodes, which aired in 30-minute blocks combined with companion segments Wally Gator and Lippy the Lion & Hardy Har Har, forming a package of 156 shorts sold directly to independent local television stations across the United States through first-run syndication.[16] This distribution model allowed stations flexible scheduling, typically in afternoon or early evening time slots targeted at young audiences, without the constraints of a national network broadcast.[17] Hanna-Barbera's approach to syndication in the early 1960s capitalized on the studio's post-prime-time success, such as The Flintstones, by bypassing network affiliations to maximize market reach and profitability through cost-effective limited animation and reusable content packages.[17] As a result of this decentralized airing, episodes were not presented in a strict sequential order, varying by station and region.[3]Reruns and International Airings
Following its original syndicated run, Touché Turtle and Dum Dum was rerun as part of Hanna-Barbera anthology packages on various U.S. networks throughout the 1960s and 1970s.[18] In the United Kingdom, the series aired repeatedly on BBC One as a standalone program during the 1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s, including slots in Children's BBC programming. The series received international distribution and was dubbed into multiple languages, including Spanish (with Touché retaining a French accent), French, Portuguese, and Japanese, facilitating broadcasts in Latin America, Europe, and Asia.[19] In the United States, reruns continued on cable television with appearances on Cartoon Network starting in 1992 as part of its Hanna-Barbera-focused programming blocks, extending into the 2000s on sister channel Boomerang.[18]Episodes
Format and Structure
The Touché Turtle and Dum Dum series consists of 52 standalone animated shorts, each approximately five minutes in length, produced as a single block by Hanna-Barbera Productions for the 1962–1963 television season.[20] These episodes form an anthology-style collection without formal season divisions, allowing for self-contained narratives that fit into syndicated half-hour programming blocks.[9] Each short follows a consistent structure as a complete adventure, beginning with an introduction to a damsel-in-distress or heroic call-to-action scenario, building through conflict involving swashbuckling action and comedic mishaps, and resolving with the protagonists' triumph, all rendered in Hanna-Barbera's signature limited animation technique to emphasize dialogue, character poses, and minimal movement for efficient production.[9][16] The pacing relies on quick visual gags and rapid dialogue exchanges to maintain energy within the brief runtime, occasionally incorporating voice-over narration to advance the plot or provide humorous commentary. Episodes typically conclude with Touché Turtle's triumphant catchphrase, "Touché away!", underscoring his heroic departure after resolving the crisis.[9] As part of The New Hanna-Barbera Cartoon Series, the Touché Turtle and Dum Dum segments rotated alongside companion shorts featuring Wally Gator and Lippy the Lion & Hardy Har Har, with three five-minute cartoons combining to fill a 15-minute block within the half-hour show, influencing how episodes were grouped for broadcast without altering their individual anthology format.[9] This modular structure supported the series' premise of chivalric escapades by enabling flexible airing while preserving the episodic integrity of each adventure.[20]List of Episodes
The Touché Turtle and Dum Dum series comprises 52 five-minute episodes produced as part of The New Hanna-Barbera Cartoon Series and syndicated from September 3, 1962, to August 26, 1963.[21][2] Due to the syndicated broadcast format, air dates represent a standard order rather than uniform national premieres, with some variation by local station. The episodes follow a consistent structure where Touché receives a distress call and, with Dum Dum, confronts a villain, monster, or gadget-related threat using swordplay and gadgets (as detailed in the Format and Structure section). Below is a complete list of episodes in broadcast order, including titles and air dates; brief plot summaries are provided for select episodes based on available episode descriptions from production records and reviews.[1][3]| No. | Title | Air Date | Plot Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Whale of a Tale | September 3, 1962 | Touché and Dum Dum respond to a distress call involving a whale threat in a sea adventure, establishing their swashbuckling dynamic and slapstick humor.[3] |
| 2 | Zero Hero | September 10, 1962 | Touché must return an escaped giant ape named "King Size Bong" to the circus; alternatively described as Touché questioning his abilities and learning new skills to defeat a villain, mocking hero mythology.[1][3] |
| 3 | Dilly of a Lilly | September 17, 1962 | A carnivorous plant with legs escapes from its hothouse, and Touché is tasked with retrieving it; the episode introduces a damsel-in-distress archetype with subversions of helpless female roles.[1][3] |
| 4 | Missing Missile | September 24, 1962 | A military missile equipped with a brain flies off course, and Touché must locate and return it to base.[1] |
| 5 | Lake Serpent | October 1, 1962 | |
| 6 | You Bug Me | October 8, 1962 | A bug grows to super size after consuming Super Gro Plant Food, threatening Touché's garden.[1] |
| 7 | Roll-a-Ghoster | October 15, 1962 | |
| 8 | Giant Double-Header | October 22, 1962 | |
| 9 | Loser Take All | October 29, 1962 | In medieval England, Touché enters a race to win a princess's hand but forfeits upon seeing her.[1] |
| 10 | Takes Two to Tangle | November 5, 1962 | |
| 11 | Mr. Robots | November 12, 1962 | |
| 12 | Touché at Bat | November 19, 1962 | |
| 13 | Billy the Cad | November 26, 1962 | Touché assists the sheriff in capturing the outlaw Billy the Cad.[1] |
| 14 | Dog Daze | December 3, 1962 | A cat summons Touché to deal with a bullying dog.[1] |
| 15 | Ant and Rave | December 10, 1962 | Touché and Dum Dum go to war against a band of wily ants, who appear to gain the upper hand until Touché devises a plan.[22] |
| 16 | Black is the Knight | December 17, 1962 | |
| 17 | Dragon Along | December 24, 1962 | A fire-breathing dragon terrorizes a king, leading to a call for Touché's aid.[1] |
| 18 | Satellite Fright | December 31, 1962 | A kooky German-accented scientist invents anti-gravity pills and enlists Touché and Dum Dum to stop a spy from stealing them.[23] |
| 19 | Sheepy-Time Pal | January 7, 1963 | A farmer calls Touché to stop a wolf stealing sheep.[1] |
| 20 | Hex Marks the Spot | January 14, 1963 | A mad sorcerer shrinks the king and usurps the throne; Touché and Dum Dum work to restore the ruler.[1] |
| 21 | Catch as Cat Can | January 21, 1963 | |
| 22 | Sea for Two | January 28, 1963 | The pirate Jolly Roger issues a challenge to Touché for a duel.[1] |
| 23 | High Goon | February 4, 1963 | The outlaw Loco Weed Willy, recently released from prison, seeks revenge on Touché.[1] |
| 24 | Grandma Outlaw | February 11, 1963 | |
| 25 | Duel Control | February 18, 1963 | Touché substitutes for the Masked Avenger to thwart a corrupt tax collector.[1] |
| 26 | Rapid Rabbit | February 25, 1963 | Touché is summoned to capture a hyper-speedy rabbit plaguing a farm.[1] |
| 27 | Thumb Hero | March 4, 1963 | |
| 28 | Kat-Napped | March 11, 1963 | |
| 29 | Romeo, Touché, and Juliet | March 18, 1963 | |
| 30 | The Big Bite | March 25, 1963 | |
| 31 | Flying Saucer Sorcerer | April 1, 1963 | |
| 32 | Aladdin’s Lampoon | April 8, 1963 | |
| 33 | Haunting License | April 15, 1963 | |
| 34 | The Phoney Phantom | April 22, 1963 | |
| 35 | Touché’s Last Stand | April 29, 1963 | |
| 36 | Chief Beef | May 6, 1963 | |
| 37 | Like Wild, Man | May 13, 1963 | |
| 38 | Dum De Dum Dum | May 20, 1963 | |
| 39 | Et Tu, Touché | May 27, 1963 | |
| 40 | Dragon Feat | June 3, 1963 | |
| 41 | Red Riding Hoodlum | June 10, 1963 | |
| 42 | Dough Nuts | June 17, 1963 | |
| 43 | Save the Last Trance for Me | June 24, 1963 | |
| 44 | Waterloo for Two | July 1, 1963 | |
| 45 | Robin Hoodlum | July 8, 1963 | Touché and Dum Dum temporarily replace Robin Hood and Little John while they are on vacation.[1] |
| 46 | The Shoe Must Go On | July 15, 1963 | |
| 47 | Quack Hero | July 22, 1963 | |
| 48 | Aliblabber and the Forty Thieves | July 29, 1963 | |
| 49 | Out of This Whirl | August 5, 1963 | |
| 50 | Hero on the Half Shell | August 12, 1963 | |
| 51 | Tenderfoot Turtle | August 19, 1963 | |
| 52 | Peace and Riot | August 26, 1963 |