Action Dad
A 2012 animated series about a spy father and villain mother.
Action Dad is a 2012 animated series based on an original concept by Andrew Dickman. Produced by Animation Development Company and Toonzone Studios, the show premiered in Brazil on September 12, 2012, on Cartoon Network Brazil, and later aired in Portugal, Israel, and France. As of 2014, it had not been distributed in the United States, despite a previously thought mid-2011 premiere date.
- field
- Animated television series
- genre
- Action comedy
- premiere_date
- September 12, 2012 (Brazil)
- network
- Cartoon Network Brazil
- creators
- Andrew Dickman (original concept)
- production_companies
- Animation Development Company, Toonzone Studios
- voice_cast
- Chelan Simmons, Lee Tockar, Michael Donovan
Lore & Background
The series follows teenagers Liz and Mick Ramsey, whose father Chuck is a secret spy for the organization S.H.H.H.H.H and whose mother Angela is a super-villain for A.R.G.H. Both parents work to keep their children safe from their missions and enemies. The show features voice actors including Chelan Simmons as Liz, Ashleigh Ball as Mick, Michael Donovan as Chuck, and Sarah Johns as Angela.
Andrew Dickman conceived the show as early as 2006, inspired by old action hero movies. He originally pitched it to Frederator Studios for their Random! Cartoons anthology, but Toonzone Studios picked it up. Dickman's involvement was limited to conceptualization and boarding a 10-minute pitch pilot, of which only one minute was animated. He was not informed the series was in production until 2009, when he contacted the studio.
Seth Kearsley was initially brought on as showrunner but only directed and edited the pilot due to funding issues. Dickman believed he was not contacted so the studio could make changes freely, including redesigning characters and renaming the antagonist from Baron Gash to Baron von Dash. Dickman was dismissive of the final product after seeing it in 2011 and was not contractually paid for international airings.
Reader's Guide
Action Dad represents a notable case of creator detachment in animation production. Andrew Dickman's original concept was developed without his ongoing involvement, leading to significant changes he did not endorse. The show's international release—airing in Brazil, Portugal, Israel, and France—without a United States distribution as of 2014 highlights the fragmented nature of global television markets. The series also illustrates the challenges of contractual agreements that may not cover all broadcast territories. While the show did not achieve widespread recognition, its production history offers insight into the complexities of creator rights and studio control in the animation industry.
Did You Know?
- The show premiered in Brazil on September 12, 2012, on Cartoon Network Brazil.
- Andrew Dickman was not acknowledged of the show going forward until 2009, when he contacted the studio.
- Dickman's agreement with the studio only covered airings on American cable networks, not international airings.
- The series' main antagonist was originally named Baron Gash but was renamed Baron von Dash.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Action Dad?
Action Dad is a 2012 animated action-comedy series that follows a spy father and a villain mother as they juggle their extraordinary careers with everyday family life. The show was produced by Animation Development Company and Toonzone Studios.
Who is the creator behind Action Dad?
The series is built on an original concept by Andrew Dickman, who developed the core premise before the production companies brought it to the screen.
When and where did Action Dad first premiere?
The show debuted on Cartoon Network Brazil on September 12, 2012, and subsequently found audiences in Portugal, Israel, and France.
What is the basic premise of Action Dad?
The series blends spy-thriller and villain-antagonist storylines within a family framework, with the dad working as a covert operative and the mom operating as a criminal mastermind. It is categorized squarely in the action-comedy genre.
Why hasn't Action Dad aired in the United States?
Although a mid-2011 US launch was once rumored, no American distribution deal materialized, and as of 2014 the show's broadcast footprint was still limited to Brazil, Portugal, Israel, and France.
More in Animated television series about families 1-24
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