Monster by Mistake

Monster by Mistake
Created byMark Mayerson
Voices of
Theme music composer
  • Bruce Fowler
  • Blair Packham
Composers
  • Bruce Fowler
  • Modular Music
Country of originCanada
No. of seasons3
No. of episodes51
Production
Executive producers
  • Kim Davidson
  • Arnie Zipursky
  • Annette Frymer (S3)
Producers
  • Hasmi Giakoumis (S1)
  • Julie Stall (S1-2)
  • Mark Mayerson (S3)
  • Kristine Klohk (S3)
Running time22 minutes
Production companiesCatapult Productions
Cambium Entertainment (seasons 1–2)
CCI Entertainment (season 3)
Original release
NetworkYTV
VRAK.TV (season 3)
ReleaseSeptember 18, 1999 (1999-09-18) –
March 23, 2003 (2003-03-23)

Monster by Mistake is a Canadian animated television series that aired on YTV from September 18, 1999 to March 23, 2003 after airing its pilot on October 26, 1996. The series was created by Mark Mayerson of Catapult Productions, and co-produced with CCI Entertainment (formerly Cambium) in Toronto, Canada. The two companies partnered in Studio 345, a computer animation and former Sears catalogue production facility for the production of the show, which was made using Houdini software. It was one of the earliest TV shows to be entirely computer-animated. The series also aired on Disney Channel in the UK. [1]

Characters

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  • Warren Patterson (voiced by Julie Lemieux in the series and voiced by Corey Sevier in the pilot episode) is the protagonist of the show, an 8 year old boy who turns into the titular blue sasquatch-like monster whenever he sneezes after having been accidentally cursed by Gorgool's jewel.
  • Tracy Patterson (voiced by Hillary Cooper, was known as Hillary Goldhar in the pilot episode's credits before she married Robert C. Cooper) is Warren's supportive older sister who practices witchcraft after receiving Gorgool's book.
  • Johnny B. Dead (voiced by William Colgate) is a wise-cracking, trumpet-playing ghost who assists the siblings in their misadventures and secretly lives in the Pattersons' attic.

Recurring characters

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  • Roz and Tom Patterson (voiced by Sally Cahill and Tony Rosato) are the parents of Warren and Tracy. Tom works as a bus driver.
  • Aunt Dolores (voiced by Jayne Eastwood) is Warren and Tracy's aunt, a crabby and stuck-up but serious and well-meaning police officer and the older sister of Tom Patterson. She has a vendetta against the monster, unaware of it being her nephew.
  • Billy Castleman (voiced by Daniel DeSanto) is an overweight, mean school bully who often ridicules Warren. He's hellbent on proving Warren as the monster, but is unable to do so.
  • Gorgool (voiced by Len Carlson) is a sorcerer and the would-be ruler of Fenrath, who is trapped in a ball. He intends to steal the Jewel of Fenrath and the Book of Spells with his servant to free himself from the ball.
  • The Servant (voiced by Howard Jerome) is the dim-witted servant of Gorgool. He carries Gorgool around and follows Gorgool's every command. His real name is never mentioned.
  • Wesley Whiffington III (voiced by Christopher Ralph) is a child who appears in Season Two. He is spoiled and never gets things his way. He is also interested in adult projects such as business and moviemaking.
  • Miranda Bell (voiced by Alyson Court) is a girl who said she became a scientist at age six and says that her brain weighs eight pounds.
  • Morgool (voiced by Len Carlson) is Gorgool's twin brother and the ruler of Fenrath. He is not trapped within a ball and is far more dangerous and evil than his twin. It is believed that Morgool is unable to control anyone who is superior to him, such as the monster, and his jealousy and greed for the throne resulted in Gorgool's confinement to the glass ball.
  • Ms. Gish (voiced by Barbara Franklin) is the teacher who is involved with most episodes in Season One.
  • Kragon (voiced by George Buza) is a guard working for Morgool in Fenrath. He always helps his master in his schemes, mainly trying to capture the monster. Kragon's home region is Gorem Range.
  • Red (voiced by Megan Fahlenbock) is an orphan from Fenrath who becomes friends with Warren and Tracy. She is always up for adventure and kicking bad-guy butt.
  • Freddie Mitchell and Connor (both voiced by Susan Roman) are friends of Warren's. Freddie loves to tell jokes and play soccer. Connor's hobbies include pogo jumping, playing the piano, and video games.
  • Keebo (voiced by Hadley Kay) is a shapeshifting creature from Fenrath.
  • Dr. Malarmar (voiced by Adrian Truss) is a criminal and master thief who loves to dress up to fool people. He first appears as a fake ghost hunter and expert for the occult on "Haunted House" where the kids and Johnny can thwart his plans to rob the Pattersons. He later returns in "Thin Ice" as a Russian ice skating coach where he attempts to steal diamond-clad ice skates. He again returns in "Warren's Nightmare" where he wants to get revenge on the kids in Warren's bad dream.
  • Dr. Fossel (voice by Michael Fawkes) is an archeologist and historian who works at the Pickford museum. He buys the magic book in the episode "Fossel Remains" (after Roz unknowingly had sold the book at a local flea market) and discovers its magical properties. He causes havoc after reading some of the spells out loud. The kids later befriend him and explain the situation to him, which causes the doctor to give them the book back. Dr. Fossel also learns that Warren is the monster, meaning that he's one of the few people who are aware about Warren's secret. The doctor later invites the kids to an archeological exhumation in the episode "The Big Dig". Dr. Fossel appears in many episodes, but he remains mostly a background character. The episode "Warren's Nightmare" implies that doctor Fossel is also a biologist, though it isn't clear if this is correct or not, given that Dr. Fossel seems surprised in Warren's dream that the boy is the monster, even though the real Dr. Fossel is fully aware of Warren's secret (it's also implausible that Dr. Fossel would want to torture his friend with sadistic experiments).

Episodes

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The first episode aired on October 26, 1996, and the last episode aired on March 23, 2003. To date, 52 episodes have been produced in three seasons.

Pilot (1996)

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# Title Directed by Written by Original air date
0"The Jewel of Fenrath"Mark MayersonMark Mayerson and Kim DavidsonOctober 26, 1996 (1996-10-26)

Season 1 (1999)

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# Title Directed by Written by Original air date
1"Fossel Remains"Harry RasmussenDeborah JarvisSeptember 18, 1999 (1999-09-18)
2"Haunted House"Robert D.M. SmithAnita KapilaSeptember 25, 1999 (1999-09-25)
3"Pizza Day"Robert D.M. SmithDeborah JarvisOctober 2, 1999 (1999-10-02)
4"Just Desserts"Mark MayersonLawrence S. MirkinOctober 9, 1999 (1999-10-09)
5"Monster Mayhem"Mark MayersonDeborah JarvisOctober 16, 1999 (1999-10-16)
6"Special Talent"Harry RasmussenLawrence S. MirkinOctober 23, 1999 (1999-10-23)
7"Campsite Creeper"Robert D.M. SmithDan FillOctober 30, 1999 (1999-10-30)
8"Home Alone"Mark MayersonDeborah Jarvis and Anita KapilaNovember 6, 1999 (1999-11-06)
9"Entertaining Orville"Harry RasmussenCathy MossNovember 13, 1999 (1999-11-13)
10"Kidnapped"Robert D.M. SmithAnita KapilaNovember 20, 1999 (1999-11-20)
11"Monster A-Go-Go"Mark MayersonDeborah JarvisNovember 27, 1999 (1999-11-27)
12"Back in Time"Harry RasmussenLawrence S. MirkinDecember 4, 1999 (1999-12-04)
13"Gwynneth"Robert D.M. SmithDeborah JarvisDecember 11, 1999 (1999-12-11)

Season 2 (2000)

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# Title Directed by Written by Original air date
14"Billy Caves In"Brian HarrisAnita KapilaSeptember 4, 2000 (2000-09-04)
15"Tracy's Jacket"Robert D.M. SmithDeborah JarvisSeptember 11, 2000 (2000-09-11)
16"Live from Pickford"Harry RasmussenSteve WestrenSeptember 18, 2000 (2000-09-18)
17"Soap Box Derby"Brian HarrisStephen AshtonSeptember 25, 2000 (2000-09-25)
18"The Big Dig"Robert D.M. SmithDan FillOctober 2, 2000 (2000-10-02)
19"Thin Ice"Harry RasmussenAnita KapilaOctober 9, 2000 (2000-10-09)
20"Gorgool's Pet"Brian HarrisSteve WrightOctober 16, 2000 (2000-10-16)
21"Jungleland"Robert D.M. SmithCathy MossOctober 23, 2000 (2000-10-23)
22"Cops and Monsters"Harry RasmussenMark MayersonOctober 30, 2000 (2000-10-30)
23"Johnny's Reunion"Brian HarrisAnita KapilaNovember 6, 2000 (2000-11-06)
24"Moving Day"Mark MayersonMark MayersonNovember 13, 2000 (2000-11-13)
25"Lights! Camera! Monster!"Robert D.M. SmithDeborah JarvisNovember 20, 2000 (2000-11-20)

Season 3 (2003)

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# Title Directed by Written by Original air date
26"Warren's Nightmare"Mark MayersonMark MayersonFebruary 26, 2003 (2003-02-26)
27"Wrestling Challenge"David GeldartStory by : Mark Mayerson
Teleplay by : Steve Westren
February 27, 2003 (2003-02-27)
28"Monkey in the Middle"Troy SullivanNicole DemerseFebruary 28, 2003 (2003-02-28)
29"Watch the Birdie"Mark MayersonMark MayersonMarch 1, 2003 (2003-03-01)
30"Natural Disaster"David GeldartPatrick GranleeseMarch 2, 2003 (2003-03-02)
31"Donut Dough"Troy SullivanSteve WestrenMarch 3, 2003 (2003-03-03)
32"Robo Fuzz"Mark MayersonTerry SaltsmanMarch 4, 2003 (2003-03-04)
33"Dino Might"David GeldartDennise FordhamMarch 5, 2003 (2003-03-05)
34"Ghost with the Most"Troy SullivanAnita KapilaMarch 6, 2003 (2003-03-06)
35"Reduce, Re-use, Recycle... Run!"Mark MayersonPatrick GranleeseMarch 7, 2003 (2003-03-07)
36"Night of the Living Meat"David GeldartSteve WestrenMarch 8, 2003 (2003-03-08)
37"Badgering Billy"Troy SullivanSteve WestrenMarch 9, 2003 (2003-03-09)
38"Monster on Purpose"Mark MayersonPatrick GranleeseMarch 10, 2003 (2003-03-10)
39"Duel for a Jewel"David GeldartStew MulliganMarch 11, 2003 (2003-03-11)
40"Keebo for Keeps"Mark MayersonBruce RobbMarch 12, 2003 (2003-03-12)
41"Who's Who"Troy SullivanPatrick GranleeseMarch 13, 2003 (2003-03-13)
42"Knight and Day"David GeldartTerry SaltsmanMarch 14, 2003 (2003-03-14)
43"Sasquashed"Troy SullivanDennise FordhamMarch 15, 2003 (2003-03-15)
44"Mine Your Own Business"Mark MayersonMark Mayerson and Bruce RobbMarch 16, 2003 (2003-03-16)
45"Leap Frog"David GeldartPatrick GranleeseMarch 17, 2003 (2003-03-17)
46"Lucky Break"Troy SullivanTerry SaltsmanMarch 18, 2003 (2003-03-18)
47"Worlds Collide"Mark MayersonTerry SaltsmanMarch 19, 2003 (2003-03-19)
48"Lights Out"David GeldartDennise Fordham and Patrick GranleeseMarch 20, 2003 (2003-03-20)
49"Curse of the Invisible Man"Troy SullivanPatrick GranleeseMarch 21, 2003 (2003-03-21)
50"Brotherly Hate"Mark MayersonMark Mayerson and Terry SaltsmanMarch 22, 2003 (2003-03-22)
51"Strawberry Jam"David GeldartSteve WestrenMarch 23, 2003 (2003-03-23)

Notes

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  • Prior to the series being made, the pilot episode aired as a yearly Halloween special from 1996 to 1999.

Home media

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Several episodes of the series have been released by Genius Products on DVD, with each containing two episodes:

  • Disc one: "Monster on Purpose" and "Monster by Mistake" (titled as "The Jewel of Fenrath")
  • Disc two: "Badgering Billy" and "Haunted House"
  • Disc three: "Sasquashed" and "Campsite Creeper"

Several VHS tapes of the series were released by Winding Stair Press in 2000:

  • "Monster By Mistake" and "Entertaining Orville"
  • "Home Alone" and "Monster a Go-Go"
  • "Fossil Remains" and "Kidnapped"
  • "Gorgool's Pet" and "Jungleland"

References

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  1. ^ "DPS REVIVES ANIMATED 'MONSTER BY MISTAKE'". postmagazine.com. March 7, 2003. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
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