The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan is an American animated television series produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions, animated by Eric Porter Studios in Australia and broadcast on CBS from September 9, 1972 to December 30, 1972, with reruns continuing through the summer of 1973 and in syndication from 1976 to 1982. The show was loosely based on the Charlie Chan series of mystery novels and films, which began with the 1925 novel The House Without a Key. Throughout the series, legendary Chinese sleuth Charlie Chan is alternately handicapped and assisted by his brood of ten children and their dog Chu Chu, in the process of solving mysteries and catching wily master criminals. The family travels around the world in the Chan Van, a vehicle built by teenage genius Alan Chan, which can transform itself with the push of a button. As in other Hanna-Barbera cartoons of the period, the kids also have a music group, the Chan Clan, and they perform a song in each episode. As the voice of the title character, Keye Luke is the only actor of Chinese ancestry to play the part in any screen adaptation. Luke had previously portrayed "Number One Son" Lee Chan opposite Warner Oland, Sidney Toler, and Roland Winters in the long-running Charlie Chan film series of the 1930s and 1940s by 20th Century Fox and later, Monogram Pictures. Ironically, Lee was never seen or mentioned throughout the cartoon's run. Early on, it was decided that most of the children's dialects were too thick for American audiences to understand, and all of the characters except Henry and Stanley were recast. Once the new cast was in place, earlier episodes were re-dubbed.
Cast of characters
Mr. Charlie Chan: Famous detective and single father of ten. Dressed in a blue suit, tie and fedora hat. Often finds whatever case-solving clues his children may have overlooked.
Henry Chan: The eldest of Charlie's ten offspring. A teen heartthrob, he is a natural leader for his siblings in their dad's absence. He's the drummer for the Chan kids' band.
Stanley Chan: The second eldest Chan offspring, he forms a comedic duo with Henry. More often than any of the others, he delivers the show's tagline: "Wham-Bam; somebody's in a Jam!" He's a guitarist for his siblings' band. Whenever they're on a case, Stanley, much to Henry's chagrin, frequently dons some sort of crazy disguise.
Suzie Chan: Charlie's eldest daughter, a sweet and pretty teen. She plays tambourine for the Chan siblings' band.
Alan Chan: An inventor/engineer who builds and supplies whatever crime-stopping gadgetry his siblings might need, particularly the Chan Van. He's also part of the horn section for the Chan kids' band.
Anne Chan: Alan's twin sister, a feminist tomboy. She alternates between guitar and percussion for the kids' band.
Tom Chan: He's the most intellectual of the Chan children. He wears black-framed eyeglasses, and sometimes talks in scientific terms. Trombonist for the Chan kids' band.
Flip Chan: The leader of the younger siblings. He's also the most enthusiastic when it comes to helping their dad solve cases. Usually called "Chief" by Scooter.
Nancy Chan: A robust 9-year-old with a ponytail, and the most accident-prone of the Chan offspring. She's usually always hungry and loves to crack a joke.
Mimi Chan: At 7, she's Charlie's youngest daughter and second-youngest offspring. Despite her girly nature, she's prone to bossing Scooter around.
Scooter Chan: At 6, he's the youngest and most boyish of the Chan children. Flip's "right arm", and fiercely proud of it.
Chu Chu: Chan children's pet dog that assists in solving cases and is an expert in making sound effects. Chu Chu can howl like a police car siren whenever the kids in the Chan Van need to get to places very fast. Is usually seen with the four youngest children.
produced the songs for the show as he did for The Monkees and The Archie Show. Singer Ron Dante supplies the singing voice of Stanley as he did for Archie on The Archie Show.
Comic book
At about the same time that the show came out, Gold Key Comics produced a comic book series based on the program, with artwork by Warren Tufts; it only lasted four issues. The first issue was written by Mark Evanier and was his first comic book printed in English.
Other media
The Chans appear in an episode of Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law, as a Japanese band called "Shoyu Weenie", with Mr. Chan as their semi-tyrannical band manager, who sued another band for plagiarism. Shoyu Weenie only spoke Japanese, although the original characters are Chinese.
In episodes from Krypto the Superdog including "Up, Up, and Away!", Mimi Chan is in Kevin's class on the field trip to Lex Corp.
Susie Chan appears in Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated as a student at the high school.
Home media
On June 19, 2012, Warner Archive released The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan: The Complete Series on DVD in region 1 as part of their Hanna–Barbera Classics Collection. This is a manufacture-on-demand release, available through Warner's online store and Amazon.com.
