Catscratch


Catscratch is an American animated television series created by Doug TenNapel. It aired on Nickelodeon from July 9, 2005 to February 10, 2007. It was a loose adaptation of TenNapel's graphic novel, Gear, which in the series is also the name of the cats' monster truck. The series features music composed by longtime TenNapel collaborator, Terry Scott Taylor.

Description

The series revolves around a trio of anthropomorphic feline brothers. After their wealthy owner Edna Cramdilly died, she left her riches to them, along with a menacing, oversized monster truck named Gear and a dignified butler named Hovis. The program commonly chronicles their wealthy lifestyles and action-packed, sometimes paranormal experiences. Other characters include the sweet young neighbor girl, Kimberly, with whom Gordon is obsessed, and the cats' competitive rivals the Chumpy Chump Brothers.

Characters

Main

Catscratch went into production in early 2005. Production continued on Catscratch until the final episode, "Spindango Fundulation/Duck and Cover" aired on February 10, 2007. After the initial run concluded, Nicktoons continued to show re-runs of the cartoon until January 2, 2009. It was briefly shown again on December 19, 2015.

Episodes

Note: All episodes were directed by Michael Girard, with only two episodes being co-directed by:
DVD nameRelease dateEp#Title
Nick Picks Vol. 3February 7, 20061x01bBringin' Down the Mouse
Nick Picks Vol. 5March 13, 20071x07aLove Cats

Reception

Critical

Sarah Wenk of Common Sense Media gave the series 3 out of 5 stars; saying that, “Catscratch is a generic cartoon show that involves oddly drawn characters who don't really look like anything, very loud voices, very bright colors, and many instances of people and creatures and things being bashed, broken, and bonked. The show is a by-the-book program, but that doesn't mean it's not sometimes funny or even touching. Many kids will get a kick out of it, although you may not be as tolerant. There's nothing terribly wrong with it, but nothing terribly right, either.”

Awards and nominations

Comics

Confirmed by an e-mail from Doug TenNapel, there were a few 2-page Catscratch comics in the works for Nickelodeon Magazine. The first one came out in the December/January 2005 issue. The second one came out in the March 2006 issue. The third and last one was in the February 2007 issue.