Capitol Critters: Unseen Voices of the White House
Exploring the satirical animation that gave voice to the unseen inhabitants of American political power.
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Series Overview
| Capitol Critters | |
|---|---|
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| Genre |
Animated sitcom Comedy-drama |
| Created by |
Nat Mauldin Steven Bochco Michael Wagner |
| Directed by | Robert Alvarez |
| Starring |
Neil Patrick Harris Charlie Adler Patti Deutsch Jennifer Darling Dorian Harewood Bobcat Goldthwait Frank Welker |
| Theme music | Bruce Broughton |
| Composers |
Don Davis Steven Bramson J.A.C. Redford Bruce Broughton |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Seasons | 1 |
| Episodes | 13 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
Nat Mauldin David Kirschner |
| Producers |
Dayna Kalins Steven Bochco |
| Running time | 22 minutes |
| Production companies |
Steven Bochco Productions Hanna-Barbera, Inc. 20th Century Fox Television |
| Release | |
| Network |
ABC (1992) Cartoon Network (1995–1996) |
| Original release | January 28, 1992 – September 17, 1996 |
Premise
The Unseen Residents
Capitol Critters presents a unique perspective on the political landscape of Washington, D.C., by focusing on the lives of the often-overlooked inhabitants of the White House basement and walls. The narrative centers around Max, a young mouse forced to flee his Nebraska farm home after a tragic encounter with exterminators. Seeking refuge, he arrives in the nation's capital to live with his eccentric relatives and friends.
A Diverse Community
Max's new companions include his hippie cousin Berkley, the rebellious rat Jammet, and Jammet’s mother, Trixie. The community also features Moze, a sophisticated cockroach, and Muggle, a former laboratory rat whose experimental past results in unpredictable, explosive side effects. This eclectic group navigates the complex ecosystem of the White House, constantly interacting with its more prominent, four-legged residents.
Satire and Social Commentary
A central element of the series involves the White House's resident cats, who are humorously caricatured as representations of the political figures of the era, notably then-President George H. W. Bush and Vice President Dan Quayle. The show's storylines adeptly weave in contemporary societal issues, addressing topics such as gun control and drug abuse through the lens of its animal characters, offering a subtle yet pointed form of political satire.
Key Cast & Voices
Main Voice Talents
The series featured a notable ensemble cast lending their voices to the animated characters:
- Neil Patrick Harris as Max
- Charlie Adler as Jammet
- Patti Deutsch as Trixie
- Jennifer Darling as Berkley
- Dorian Harewood as Moze
- Bobcat Goldthwait as Muggle
- Frank Welker as Presidential Cats
Additional Voices
A wide array of talented voice actors contributed to the show's rich soundscape, bringing numerous supporting characters to life. This included contributions from:
Episode Compendium
The series comprised 13 episodes, initially airing on ABC and later broadcast in their entirety on Cartoon Network. The table below details each episode, including its original air date, writer, and viewership figures where available.
| No. | Title | Written by | Original release date | Prod. code |
Viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Max Goes to Washington" | Nat Mauldin | January 28, 1992 | ORO1 | 25.1[4] |
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After Max the mouse's family is murdered by pest control workers, he moves to Washington, D.C. to live with his cousin Berkley.
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| 2 | "Of Thee I Sting" | Nat Mauldin | January 31, 1992 | ORO3 | 20.6[4] |
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Max gets trapped in the briefcase of a charismatic but crooked politician.
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| 3 | "The Rat to Bear Arms" | Nat Mauldin | February 1, 1992 | ORO4 | 11.1[4] |
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Jammett finds a gun and plans to obliterate the presidential cats to avenge the death of a young rat named Felix, who was killed by one of the cats.
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| 4 | "Hat & Mouse" | Nat Mauldin | February 8, 1992 | ORO2 | 11.6[5] |
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Moze shows up to return Max's hat, but Max's fellow rodents don't take kindly to a cockroach in their midst.
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| 5 | "A Little Romance" | Kathleen Hardin | February 15, 1992 | ORO5 | 10.4[6] |
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When a stowaway family of Japanese mice arrive at the White House, Max rescues their daughter from the presidential cat and falls in love with her.
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| 6 | "Opie's Choice" | Nat Mauldin | February 29, 1992 | ORO6 | 10.6[7] |
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Jammett begins supplying Opie the squirrel with caffeine pills.
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| 7 | "An Embarrassment of Roaches" | Nat Mauldin | March 14, 1992 | ORO7 | 8.9[8] |
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Max encourages his friends to let an elderly cockroach couple move in next door, but soon the rodents are up to their ears in baby roaches.
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| 8 | "Into the Woods" | Nat Mauldin | September 15, 1995 (on Cartoon Network) | ORO8 | N/A |
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Trixie mistakes one of Jammett's marbles as a grape and bites into it, causing a massive toothache. Meanwhile, Jammett tries to help an owl who's in danger of losing his home when a crew shows up to tear down the forest and erect a shopping mall.
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| 9 | "Gimme Shelter" | Nat Mauldin | September 22, 1995 (on Cartoon Network) | ORO9 | N/A |
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Max discovers a rat and a cockroach who've been living in a fallout shelter for 30 years.
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| 10 | "The KiloWatts Riots" | Rob Cohen | September 29, 1995 (on Cartoon Network) | ORO12 | N/A |
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When the power goes out below the White House, Jammett begins doling out extension cords in return for favors. Meanwhile, Muggle tries to devise an alternative power source.
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| 11 | "The Bug House" | Nat Mauldin | September 3, 1996 (on Cartoon Network) | ORO11 | N/A |
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Jammett's attempt at cheating during a baseball game lands him, Max and Moze in Roach Prison.
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| 12 | "The Lady Doth Protest to Munch" | Nat Mauldin | September 10, 1996 (on Cartoon Network) | ORO10 | N/A |
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When an important bill is vetoed, Berkley protests by going on a hunger strike. Of course temptation lies around every corner.
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| 13 | "If Lovin' You Is Wrong, I Don't Wanna Be Rat" | Karl Fink & Roberto Benabib | September 17, 1996 (on Cartoon Network) | ORO13 | N/A |
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When the president's grandchildren visit the White House, Jammett falls in love with their pet hamster.
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Critical Reception
A Brief but Bold Run
Despite its critical ambition, Capitol Critters concluded its run after a mere 13 episodes, with only seven airing during its initial ABC broadcast window in early 1992. The series later found a second life on Cartoon Network, which aired all episodes between 1995 and 1996.
Contemporary Analysis
Critics noted the show's attempt to tackle mature themes within an animated format, drawing comparisons to the stylistic approach of director Ralph Bakshi. However, reviews suggested a potential disconnect between its adult-oriented satire and its more conventional cartoon elements. Brian Lowry of Variety observed that while the show aimed for biting political commentary, the "bland central character and cartoonish elements" might alienate adult viewers, while younger audiences might not be captivated by its animation style. The series explored complex topics such as politics, racial segregation, drug addiction, and mortality, reflecting a unique narrative ambition for its time.
Promotional Tie-ins
In 1992, Capitol Critters was featured in promotional tie-ins, including Burger King Kids Club toys. These collectibles depicted key characters like Jammet, Max, Muggle, and a Presidential Cat, often situated within miniature representations of Washington, D.C. landmarks, underscoring the show's unique setting.
Further Exploration
Online Resources
For those interested in delving deeper into the world of Capitol Critters, the following external resources offer additional information:
- Capitol Critters at IMDb (opens in new tab)
- Capitol Critters at the Big Cartoon Database (opens in new tab)
- Quotations related to Capitol Critters on Wikiquote (opens in new tab)
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References
References
- Daniel Cerone, 'Fish Police' on Endangered Species List, Los Angeles Times, February 28, 1992, accessed January 20, 2011.
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Important Notice
This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is based on a snapshot of publicly available data from Wikipedia and may not be entirely accurate, complete, or up-to-date.
This is not professional advice. The information provided on this website is not a substitute for professional consultation regarding television history, animation, or media analysis. Always refer to official sources and consult with experts for specific inquiries.
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