Men in Black: The Series
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| Men in Black: The Series | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Animated series |
| Starring | Ed O'Ross Gregg Berger Keith Diamond Jennifer Lien Jennifer Martin |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Language(s) | English |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | Kids WB |
| Original run | 1997 – 2001 |
| Links | |
| IMDb profile | |
| TV.com summary | |
Men In Black: The Series (informally MIB: The Series) was an animated television series that aired on the Kids WB for four seasons from 1997 through 2001. Reruns ran briefly on Nickelodeon's SLAM! block in 2004.
The show featured the characters from 1997's science fiction film Men in Black Agents Kay and Jay. The show also featured Agent Elle (L) who was formerly known as Dr. Laurel Weaver, Deputy Medical Examiner.
MIB: The Series was made by Adelaide Productions Inc. as a half-hour series airing on Saturday mornings originally and then moving to weekdays.
Contents |
MIB: The Series was based on the 1997 blockbuster Men In Black and continued where the film left off. This was not without some minor changes. Agent K remained an agent and partner to Agent J. Agent L was moved to the lab inside Men In Black Headquarters. The headquarters itself was no longer under the ventilator building of the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel, but now at what looked like a disused area under LaGuardia airport. These differences are possibly addressed in one episode of the series, where it is revealed that every so often some writer or Hollywood-type learns of the MIB and makes a movie about them. (In the flashback reflecting the movie shown in this episode, the actors playing K and J much more closely resemble Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith.)
The show had varied writing in its episodes. Some episodes were based on the plot to the film, and brought back characters like the Bug, and Arquillian aliens. MIB: The Series itself had a long running plot where the Men In Black fought Alpha, a former MIB chief who had turned evil with greed. He returned numerous times and his appearance grew grislier each time with the help of the 'Cosmic Integrator', a device that let him combine alien appendages to his own body.
Some plots, like the plots with Alpha, were more serious, while others were more whimsical in nature. This included a Halloween episode with alien phantoms on another plane of existence, and a holiday episode where criminal Drekk kidnapped Santa Claus (the elves were really aliens).
Ultimately, the basic plot was for the MIB to protect the Earth from harm, and this extended into keeping galactic peace throughout the galaxy. Technology, as well as intergalactic politics and peacekeeping were a focus, along with common criminal activity on a science fiction level.
There were differences in appearances in the characters in the cartoon. First, Agent L had blond hair and a different hairstyle. Second, Agent K's face didn't have as much wrinkles in the early episodes, and in the mid and late episodes, wrinkles were not on his face at all. Third, Agent J did not have a moustache. Zedd in the movie had black hair and a goatie, where as the Series he has all white hair and no goatie. Furthermore, in terms of names, Bob's brother's name was pronounced differently in the movie, more like UziumBWANK, rather than Gililililikdub.
Along with Agents Jay, Kay and Elle (L), the show included a larger cast of regular and semi-regular characters. Some were based from their film counterparts while others were new additions to the MIB Universe.
Other characters to return from the film were:
- Zed
- Jeebs the Pawnshop Alien
- Edgar Bug
- Frank the Pug
- The Worm Aliens (The Worm Guys)
- Arquillians
- Baltians
- The Twins (*Indistinguishable, sounds like Gililililikdub* and Bob)
Additions to the program included:
- Alpha a.k.a Agent A
- Aileen
- The Worm Emperor
- Agent X
- Dr. Zan'dozz Zeeltor
- Agent U
- Klah'Mikk
- Edgar's Family, including his twin brother Edwin and the Queen.
- The Fmecks (The evil warmongering counterparts of the Arquillians)
- Troy the symbiote
- Agent Kay (K): Season 1: Ed O'Ross Seasons 2-4: Gregg Berger
- Agent Jay (J): Keith Diamond
- Agent Elle (L): Seasons 1-3: Jennifer Lien Season 4: Jennifer Martin
- Agent Ex (X) (Season 4 Addition): Adam Baldwin
- Zed: Charles Napier
- Dr. Zan'dozz Zeeltor (Season 4 Addition): Steve Kehela
- Aileen: Beth Broderick
- Alpha: David Warner
- Jeebs: Tony Shalhoub reprised his role for a few episodes, but ultimately was replaced.
- Edgar Bug/Bug Aliens: Vincent D'Onofrio
- Troy the symbiote: Rino Romano
See List of Men in Black: The Series episodes
- Men in Black: The Series at the Internet Movie Database
- Men In Black at TV.com
- MIBHQ: M.I.B.: The Animated Series
Categories: 1997 television program debuts | 1990s American television series | 2000s American television series | Animated television series | Kids WB shows | Science fiction television series | Television programs based on films | Television series by Sony Pictures Television | Men in Black (film series)