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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
Capitol Critters Placeholder Image
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:

  • Lewis Arquette
  • Michael Bell (Roach Husband, Various)
  • Gregg Berger
  • Earl Boen (Lawyer in "The Bug House")
  • Sorrell Booke
  • Hamilton Camp
  • Brian Cummings
  • Jim Cummings (Kid Vicious in "Hat and Mouse", Various)
  • Tim Curry (Senator in "Max Goes to Washington")
  • Jeff Doucette
  • Nancy Dussault
  • Paul Eiding (Max's Father in "Max Goes to Washington")
  • Richard Erdman
  • Takayo Fischer (Kazuko in "A Little Romance")
  • Linda Gary
  • Joan Gerber (Roach Wife)
  • Ed Gilbert
  • Dan Gilvezan
  • Danny Goldman (Opie the Squirrel in "Opie's Choice")
  • Arlene Golonka
  • David Graham
  • Whitby Hertford
  • Gordon Hunt
  • Helen Hunt
  • Robert Ito (Ichiro in "A Little Romance")
  • Nick Jameson
  • David Jolliffe
  • Janice Kawaye (Miko in "A Little Romance")
  • Tony Lamond
  • Steve Landesberg (Owl in "Into the Woods")
  • Jarrett Lennon
  • Anndi McAfee
  • Scott Menville
  • Brian Stokes Mitchell
  • Rob Paulsen (Janitor, Pigeon in "The KiloWatts Riots", Various)
  • Robert Picardo
  • Michael Tucker (Phil in "Gimme Shelter")
  • Noam Pitlik (Sydney in "Gimme Shelter")
  • Don Reed
  • Peter Renaday
  • Ariana Richards (President's Granddaughter in "If Lovin' You Is Wrong, I Don't Wanna Be Rat")
  • Robert Ridgely
  • Neil Ross (Newscaster)
  • Beverly Sanders
  • Pamela Segall (Violet in "If Lovin' You Is Wrong, I Don't Wanna Be Rat")
  • Jeffrey Tambor
  • Mark L. Taylor
  • Russi Taylor (Bluebird in "Into the Woods")
  • Marcelo Tubert
  • Chick Vennera
  • B.J. Ward (Max's Mother in "Max Goes to Washington")
  • Lee Wilkof
  • Eugene Williams
  • Patty Wirtz
  • Bill Woodson
  • Patric Zimmerman (Felix in "The Rat to Bear Arms")

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]
After Max the mouse's family is murdered by pest control workers, he moves to Washington, D.C. to live with his cousin Berkley.
2 "Of Thee I Sting" Nat Mauldin January 31, 1992 ORO3 20.6[4]
Max gets trapped in the briefcase of a charismatic but crooked politician.
3 "The Rat to Bear Arms" Nat Mauldin February 1, 1992 ORO4 11.1[4]
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.
4 "Hat & Mouse" Nat Mauldin February 8, 1992 ORO2 11.6[5]
Moze shows up to return Max's hat, but Max's fellow rodents don't take kindly to a cockroach in their midst.
5 "A Little Romance" Kathleen Hardin February 15, 1992 ORO5 10.4[6]
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.
6 "Opie's Choice" Nat Mauldin February 29, 1992 ORO6 10.6[7]
Jammett begins supplying Opie the squirrel with caffeine pills.
7 "An Embarrassment of Roaches" Nat Mauldin March 14, 1992 ORO7 8.9[8]
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.
8 "Into the Woods" Nat Mauldin September 15, 1995 (on Cartoon Network) ORO8 N/A
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.
9 "Gimme Shelter" Nat Mauldin September 22, 1995 (on Cartoon Network) ORO9 N/A
Max discovers a rat and a cockroach who've been living in a fallout shelter for 30 years.
10 "The KiloWatts Riots" Rob Cohen September 29, 1995 (on Cartoon Network) ORO12 N/A
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.
11 "The Bug House" Nat Mauldin September 3, 1996 (on Cartoon Network) ORO11 N/A
Jammett's attempt at cheating during a baseball game lands him, Max and Moze in Roach Prison.
12 "The Lady Doth Protest to Munch" Nat Mauldin September 10, 1996 (on Cartoon Network) ORO10 N/A
When an important bill is vetoed, Berkley protests by going on a hunger strike. Of course temptation lies around every corner.
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
When the president's grandchildren visit the White House, Jammett falls in love with their pet hamster.

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.

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References

References

  1.  Daniel Cerone, 'Fish Police' on Endangered Species List, Los Angeles Times, February 28, 1992, accessed January 20, 2011.
A full list of references for this article are available at the Capitol Critters Wikipedia page

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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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