OK, it's about *time* I got around to sending this -- here's an updated FAQ
for the SWAT Kats (please email me if you have any questions or
corrections):
Last Updated
Thurs Feb 1 1996
SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron Frequently Asked Questions
===========================================================
_SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron_ (SK) is an animated series created in
1993 by two French-Canadian brothers, Christian Tremblay and Yvon
Tremblay. Using their self-taught drawing skills and their own money,
they managed to sell their creation of anthropomorphic felines,
otherwise known as "Kats", to Hanna-Barbera.
H-B produced 23 episodes of the SWAT Kats, 13 for the first season
(1993-94) and 10 for the second season (1994-95). The second season
fell three episodes shy of a full set because, in the middle of
production, Turner Entertainment ordered H-B to cancel production of
the series and begin immediate layoffs, including half the background
department and design team. The reason that Turner gave at the time
was that the show wasn't moving merchandise -- although the series
hardly had any merchandise to begin with (save for a handful of posters
and Taiwanese trinkets with "SWAT Kats" labels on them)! Therefore,
Turner decided to yank the show even though it had been doing very well
in the ratings. <shrug> Go figure.
Note: A 24th episode, the "S.K.I.Q." episode, which contains clips
from the first and second seasons' episodes, was also made and aired.
It was originally set to lead the second season, but aired *after* the
other second-season episodes. Unfortunately, because of fairly bad
writing, this episode isn't as good as the other episodes (in my
opinion).
Three additional episodes were storyboarded and the voice tracks laid down,
but are currently still in limbo (and may very well become the "lost
episodes" of the series). Summaries of the missing episodes can be found
in the "Animato!" article (see separate comment below).
The *real* reason that Turner cancelled the series is a mystery, however;
it may have been canned because of its violence and not because of its
lack of merchandise. Check out your local stores for the following:
- Action figures (produced by Remco) of some of the characters, including
T-Bone, Razor, Dark Kat, Doctor Viper
- Video releases of some of the episodes
- Video game for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (none for Sega
yet, unfortunately)
Check out a KayBee for the action figures, Suncoast Video for the videos.
A SK poster *was* available in early 1995 at various K-Marts around
the U.S. (and Canada), but the stores have apparently been cleaned out
of posters due to fan demand. However, you might get lucky if you check
out your local store or write the poster's publisher at:
American Arts & Graphics Inc
10915 47th Ave W.
Mukilteo WA 98275
The Cartoon Network is currently running episodes of the Kats -- Monday
through Friday, 5:30 PM Eastern/2:30 PM Pacific.
The animation studios involved in 'Kats production are Hanho Heung-Up
and Mook, the former being a Taiwan studio and the latter a Japanese
studio. Both seasons' episodes show an anime (Japanimation) influence,
especially the second season's episodes, which were animated entirely by
Mook. Christian Tremblay apparently wanted Mook to do all of the
episodes, but found it uneconomical to do so.
What's the proper spelling of 'SWAT Kats'? Most likely it's the way
it's being spelled in the FAQ. The full title is, of course: "SWAT
Kats: The Radical Squadron", but there's been some question as to
whether the word "SWAT Kats" should be written as a single word (i.e.,
"SWATKats"). And yes, it's with a "K", not a "C".
T-Bone's and Razor's ages? According to Christian Tremblay, they're
both in their mid-20s, but T-Bone is most definitely older.
Trivia tidbit: Razor and T-Bone were initially named "Chuck" and
"Yaeger", after the famous test pilot.
Write your local station that carries the SWAT Kats (and/or TBS)! Tell
them how much you like the series! You can also write H-B at:
Hanna-Barbera Cartoons Inc.
3400 Cahuenga Blvd. West
Hollywood, CA 90068
Attn: Fred Seibert
When you write, you might want to include demographical information
about yourself, such as your age, sex and geographic location.
Hanna-Barbera is apparently very interested in learning who are fans of
the 'Kats, so make yourself known! You can also fax H-B at (213) 969-
1201 (after all, "Kids Love SK", so please, "Tell Us What You Think!")
Pet peeve: Animations are NOT for children!!!
Check out the Fall '94 ish of _Toon Magazine_, if you can get ahold of
a copy. There's an article on the SWAT Kats near the back of the
magazine, along with copies of model sheets of T-Bone, Razor, Callie,
Commander Feral, Felina Feral, Mayor Manx and the Turbokat (did I leave
anything out?).
There's also an SK writeup by Mark Lungo in "Animato!". Unfortunately I
can't remember which issue number offhand (38?), but it's the one with
Bart Simpson, Beavis and some other toons on the cover doing exactly
what they aren't supposed to be doing! (BS&P would have a *fit*, I'm
sure... ;-)
Kats On The Net! Check these out, if you can:
- alt.tv.swatkats (newsgroup)
- FTP address for 'Kats stuff: rat.org, /pub/kats.
Lotsa gifs/jpegs and other goodies there, including stuff from the
SNES game (pics and theme song).
- SK Web page:
http://rat.org/kats
- SK fan club on Prodigy
- possible SK fan club starting up on FurryMUCK (telnet furry.org, port
8888)
For the die-hard 'Kats fans:
- To join a fan club (currently unofficial): email Walt Koziol
(wkoziol_at_ix.netcom.com).
- A fanzine, KAT'S ALIVE, is also in the works and will be available for
a limited run (contact Timothy Fay [fayxx001_at_maroon.tc.unm.edu] for
details).
==========================================================================
FAQ maintained by: Dana Uehara (razor_at_netcom.com)
Acknowledgements/Contributors To The FAQ:
Andy Hill (chance_at_unix.infoserve.net)
Timothy Fay (fayxx001_at_maroon.tc.unm.edu)
Paul Hurley (rat_at_rat.org)
Mark Lungo (Animato! article writer)
Received on Thu Feb 01 1996 - 19:41:16 PST