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Oggy and the Cockroaches

Oggy and the Cockroaches
French: Oggy et les Cafards
GenreComedy-adventure
Slapstick[1]
Created byJean-Yves Raimbaud
Directed byOlivier Jean-Marie
Voices ofHugues Le Bars (seasons 1–3)[2]
Michel Elias ("Chatter Box")
Music byHervé Lavandier (seasons 1–2)
Hugues Le Bars (seasons 1–4)
Vincent Artaud (season 5–7)
Country of originFrance
No. of seasons7
No. of episodes169 (501 segments) (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producerMarc du Pontavice
ProducerMarc du Pontavice
EditorsLaure Charossuett
Lou Bouniol
Patrick Ducruet
Running time21 minutes (6–14 minutes per segment)
Production companiesGaumont Multimedia (seasons 1–2)
Xilam Animation (seasons 3–7)
Original release
NetworkFrance 3 (seasons 1–2)
Canal+ Family (seasons 3–4)
Gulli (season 5–7)
Release6 September 1998 (1998-09-06) –
30 January 2019 (2019-01-30)
Related
Oggy Oggy
Oggy and the Cockroaches: Next Generation

Oggy and the Cockroaches (French: Oggy et les Cafards) is a French animated television series created by Jean-Yves Raimbaud and produced by Gaumont Multimedia for seasons 1–2 and Xilam Animation for seasons 3–7. The series chronicles the exploits and adventures of Oggy, a blue cat whose life is constantly interrupted by three cockroaches – Dee Dee, Marky, and Joey respectively – who love to cause mischief within his home. The show employs silent comedy: characters either do not speak or use unintelligible vocalizations and gestures. The show premiered in September 1998 on France 3, and later expanded internationally. The series ended in January 2019, having released seven seasons in over two decades.[citation needed] The cartoon also relies on slapstick humour much like its inspiration and spiritual predecessor "Tom and Jerry".[3] only amplifying the level of extremities up a notch; while "traditional" slapstick cartoon characters prefer dropping anvils and pianos on each other, this show sometimes uses atomic bombs or submarines.

In September 2020, a reboot series was announced, entitled Oggy and the Cockroaches: Next Generation, in which Oggy takes care of Piya, a young elephant from India.[4][5] It was released worldwide on Netflix on 28 July 2022. Although it differs noticeably from the original in terms of its visuals and tone, Gulli labels it as Oggy's eighth season.[citation needed]

Synopsis

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Oggy, an anthropomorphic cat, would prefer to spend his days watching television and eating but is continually pestered by three roaches: Joey, Marky and Dee Dee. The cockroaches' slapstick mischief ranges from plundering Oggy's refrigerator to hijacking the train he just boarded. In many situations, Oggy is also helped by Jack, who is more violent and short-tempered than him and is also annoyed by the cockroaches. Bob, a short-tempered bulldog, also appears in the show and is Oggy's neighbor.

Episodes

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SeasonSegmentsEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast airedNetwork
17826September 6, 1998 (1998-09-06)February 11, 1999 (1999-02-11)France 3
27826September 4, 2000 (2000-09-04)April 5, 2003 (2003-04-05)
33913October 18, 2008 (2008-10-18)December 24, 2008 (2008-12-24)Canal+ Family
47426January 2, 2012 (2012-01-02)December 12, 2013 (2013-12-12)
57626June 30, 2017 (2017-06-30)July 30, 2018 (2018-07-30)Gulli
67826May 16, 2017 (2017-05-16)August 3, 2018 (2018-08-03)
77826March 19, 2018 (2018-03-19)January 30, 2019 (2019-01-30)

Characters

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Artwork depicting all main characters

Some of the characters make a cameo in Xilam's other shows, such as Zig & Sharko and The Daltons and in the film, Go West! A Lucky Luke Adventure. The eponymous characters make a debut in the Space Goofs episode "Venus Junior", where they are seen on the aliens' television (before the pilot episode was officially posted online, in 2016). In the second season, "Space Sailors" has a gag where the cockroaches greet Etno (in the aliens' now-flooded house), as they row by. Oggy, the cockroaches and Jack appear as drawings in "Doodle", and Oggy and Monica make a cameo in the episode "The Alien Show".[citation needed]

Main

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Recurring

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Other

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Production

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The project dates back to 1997, shortly after the success of Space Goofs, when Marc du Pontavice asked Jean-Yves Raimbaud to create an animated series in order to "counter the surge of superheroes, mangas and Franco-Belgian comic book heroes. After his death, Olivier Jean-Marie, director of the series, decided not to modify the design of Oggy, in particular his blue color. The first name of each of the three cockroaches, Joey, Dee-Dee and Marky, refers to three of the members of the punk rock group called the Ramones. Oggy, for his part, owes his first name to the famous singer Iggy Pop as well as the character of Ziggy Stardust created by David Bowie. Iggy Pop also sang for the theme song of Space Goofs.

After a four-year gap in production, season 5 was released in late 2017 with two more seasons coming later.[9][10] Season 6 episodes began airing on K2[11] while Season 5 was previewed on Gulli.[12]

Broadcast

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Oggy and the Cockroaches originated from France, and the series originally aired on France 3 (seasons 1 and 2 with reruns of seasons 3 and 4), Canal+ Family (seasons 3 and 4), Gulli (seasons 5 to 7, who also reran older episodes from November 2005 to May 2009 on the GRRR!!!, GulliGulli, GulliGang and GulliGood blocks), with reruns airing on other French networks like Canal J, Canal+, Télétoon+, France 4, and Tiji.

In the Philippines, the series aired on TV5 in 2010. In late 2011, it was welcomed on Cartoon Network line-up and adored by the channel, and still airs due to the said show being one of the network's top-viewed programs. It also aired on Disney Channel from 2009 to 31 December 2013. It moved on GMA Network on 3 September 2022, under the network's Astig Authority Saturday morning block.

In Arab countries, it aired on Ajyal TV,[13] MBC3,[14] and Basma Channel. It also airs on 2M in Morocco and local Tunisian channels. (i.e. Tunis 7)

In Italy, it was broadcast on Italia 1, Hiro, Boing, K2, and Frisbee.

It also aired in India from 2009 to 2012 on Nickelodeon. In 2012, the series was taken by Cartoon Network which broadcast the show until its fourth season. In 2015, Nickelodeon started rebroadcasting the show's older episodes, from seasons 1 to 3.[15] Later, the series was also picked up by Sonic Nickelodeon which broadcast the same seasons as Nick. Season 5 started airing on Cartoon Network from 14 August 2017.[16] Seasons 3 and 6, 7 aired later, during 2018–19 in Cartoon Network India. In 2020, Sonic Nickelodeon started airing season 4 again. Cartoon Network aired seasons 5 to 7 until March 2022. From 2021, Sony YAY! took over the rights of all seven seasons.[17]

In the United States, Nickelodeon began airing the series on January 31, 2015. The series' run on the network was short lived, as the series entered a brief controversy when the network aired an episode in which a framed picture of a topless woman was seen in the background of a shot. The episode was quickly removed from rotation, and both the network and Xilam declined to comment. Beginning in April, the series moved to Nicktoons and was quietly removed from the schedule by the end of that year.[18][19]

Media

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Home media

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Five DVDs came out in 2003 in the United States, with 12 episodes each. In 2005, several VHSs were released in New York City.

On 8 October 2008, a French DVD box-set of the complete first season, plus the pilot and the episode "Working Cat", was released. On 6 September 2010, three French DVD box sets of the complete first, second, and third seasons were made available. In July 2011, a French DVD box-set containing all episodes from seasons 1, 2 and 3 became available. Seasons 4 to 7 are yet to be available. Multiple VHSs were sold in Italy.

# DVD name Release date
1 Volume 1 4 November 2003
2 Volume 2 4 November 2003
3 Volume 3 25 November 2003
4 Volume 4 25 November 2003
5 Volume 5 25 November 2003

Magazine

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A magazine called Oggy et les Cafards, le mag came out in France in 2009 (two issues),[20] then again in 2011.

Music

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A music album titled Oggy et les Cafards: Le Show du Chat was released in France[24] on CD and for digital download on 6 September 2010.[25]

2010 : Oggy et les Cafards : Le Show du Chat (Sony Music Entertainment)
No.TitleLength
1."Générique Oggy et les Cafards"0:39
2."Gaga des Gags d'Oggy"2:48
3."Interlude « Le Réveil d'Oggy »"0:19
4."Matez le Matou"2:19
5."Interlude « Un Chat Bien Botté »"0:21
6."Love Cats"3:20
7."Interlude « Jack, un Ami qui vous Veut du Bien »"0:22
8."Jack le Pote"2:11
9."Interlude « Cafard-naüm »"0:19
10."Oggy Rossini"3:45
11."Interlude « Le Chat Volant »"0:20
12."Dans l'Œil du Chat"4:58
13."Interlude « Cat's Woman »"0:20
14."Pussycat"3:31
15."Interlude « Blues Cat »"0:24
16."Oggy le Chat Chou"1:53
17."Interlude « Cafards à la Playa »"0:52
18."Le Ragga d'Oggy"2:54
19."Générique Oggy et les Cafards"0:42
20."Oggy Never Falls in Love (Bonus in dematerialised version)"3:36

Comics

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A French comic series was adapted from the series, which first started out in 2010. It is published by Dargaud, written by Diego Aranega, and drawn and colourised by Frévin, also known as Sylvain Frécon.[26]

An American comic was planned to be released in summer 2019. The first issue was released on 11 December 2019, after being delayed two times.[27] It is published by American Mythology Productions.[28][29] The comic was released on a bi-monthly schedule, but was on a hiatus for four months after two issues were published due to the COVID-19 pandemic's effect on the comic book industry. Issue #3 was published on 24 June 2020. It is currently on hiatus as of 23 October 2020.

CD drama

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A CD drama, Oggy et les Cafards Volume 1, was released in France on CD and for digital download in October 2012. It contains narrations of five episodes by Anthony Kavanagh.[30]

2012 : Oggy et les Cafards Volume 1 (Sony Music Entertainment)
No.TitleLength
1."Oggywood"5:15
2."Tribulations en Chine"10:26
3."Le Train Complètement Fou"7:51
4."Papa Poule"8:41
5."37°2 Toute la Journée"5:45

Film

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The film Oggy and the Cockroaches: The Movie (originally Oggy et les Cafards, Le Film) was released to theatres on 7 August 2013.

Video game

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A video game for the Game Boy Advance based on the television show was planned and developed by Xilam, but was cancelled.[31]

Spin-off

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Oggy Oggy which centers on a kitten version of Oggy released on 24 August 2021.[32] It is CG-animated. The series was released on Netflix and is the first French Netflix Original series.[33]

Reboot

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It focuses on the wacky antics of Oggy and the trio of mischievous cockroaches that inhabit his house.

Controversy

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In 2015, a young viewer had pointed out a brief image of a poster in the background with a woman's exposed breasts, which was broadcast on Nickelodeon in the United States on the same day, with some parents complaining about the incident to the network.[34]

Oggy and the Cockroaches' slapstick would also get criticized as being too violent for younger audiences, though the violence has lessened in the new adaptations.

Reception

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As of November 2023, the show holds a 7.5/10 rating on IMDb. The show holds a cult classic status in India as well as in many Southeast Asian countries. Emily Ashby of Common Sense Media gave the show 2/5 stars, saying that the show "lays up slapstick comedy and physical violence among its mutually contentious characters to get laughs".

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Oggy and the Cockroaches". Archived from the original on 12 November 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  2. ^ "Oggy and the Cockroaches credits". YouTube. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  3. ^ "Remembering Oggy and the Cockroache". Indian Express. 7 May 2016. ISSN 2195-1349. Archived from the original on 10 August 2022. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  4. ^ "10 Shows to Catch at MIP Junior 2020". Animation Magazine. 7 September 2020. Archived from the original on 16 September 2024. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  5. ^ "Xilam Animation Positions 'Oggy and the Cockroaches' Franchise for Long-Term Growth" (Press release). 28 January 2021. Archived from the original on 16 May 2021. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  6. ^ "Interview with Marc du Pontavice" (in French). Archived from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  7. ^ "Article on Oggy and the Cockroaches" (in French). 29 July 2014. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  8. ^ "La Dépêche interview" (in French). Archived from the original on 29 April 2017. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  9. ^ "Xilam makes debut appearance at BLE 2016" (PDF). 23 August 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 October 2016. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  10. ^ "Xilam steers international growth with debut at BLE 2016 and PR agency appointment" (PDF). 13 September 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 October 2016. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  11. ^ "Oggy Forever" (in Italian). Archived from the original on 28 June 2017. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  12. ^ "Saison 5 inédite d'Oggy et les cafards : avant-première le 30 juin sur Gulli" (in French). 6 June 2017. Archived from the original on 26 July 2017. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  13. ^ "أوجي والمزعجون على قناة أجيال للأطفال". YouTube. 7 January 2023. Archived from the original on 10 February 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  14. ^ "MBC3 Website". Archived from the original on 15 July 2017.
  15. ^ "Oggy and the Cockroaches to be back on Nickelodeon". afaqs.com. 18 December 2014. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  16. ^ "Asli Hero with Asli Fun, Asli Oggy returns to Cartoon Network – AnimationXpressAnimationXpress". animationxpress.com. 12 August 2017. Archived from the original on 4 May 2018. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  17. ^ "Xilam Animation Strikes Deal with Sony Pictures Network India for the Oggy and the Cockroaches Franchise - all 7 seasons to be on Sony YAY Kids" (PDF). xilam.com. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 September 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  18. ^ "Nickelodeon's Reputation Tarnished Again By Nude Cartoon Scandal (NSFW) | Decider". 16 March 2015. Archived from the original on 7 September 2024. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  19. ^ Gajewski, Ryan (14 March 2015). "Nickelodeon Series Airs Image of Topless Woman (Video)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 7 September 2024. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  20. ^ "NoOok – L'Atelier graphique des éditeurs". NoOok.fr (in French). Archived from the original on 28 November 2012. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  21. ^ "1 – Magazine Oggy et les Cafards en commande sur ZePresse.fr" (in French). ZePresse.fr. Archived from the original on 13 February 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  22. ^ "Picture of the n°1 of 2011 of the magazine Oggy et les Cafards, le mag". sc.turbopige.com (in French). Archived from the original on 28 November 2012. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  23. ^ "2 – Magazine Oggy et les Cafards en commande sur ZePresse.fr" (in French). ZePresse.fr. Archived from the original on 17 February 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  24. ^ Jeansanteuil (29 December 2010). "Oggy et ses cafards, le dessin animé culte enfin en cd et dvd !" (in French). Le HuffPost [fr]. Archived from the original on 8 November 2012. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  25. ^ "Nouveau en DVD et CD : Oggy et les cafards !" (in French). Fémin Actu. 15 July 2010. Archived from the original on 17 March 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  26. ^ "Oggy and the Cockroaches in comics" (in French). Dargaud. Archived from the original on 18 August 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
  27. ^ "Oggy & the Cockroaches #1 CVR a Rankine (Aug191530)". Archived from the original on 14 August 2019. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  28. ^ "American Mythology Comic Series Celebrates Oggy and the Cockroaches's 20th Anniversary". 19 February 2019. Archived from the original on 9 May 2019. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  29. ^ "Oggy & the Cockroaches #1 – Comics by comiXology". Archived from the original on 15 April 2021.
  30. ^ "Oggy et les Cafards Volume 1" (in French). Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  31. ^ "Oggy and the Cockroaches – IGN". IGN. Archived from the original on 16 September 2024. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  32. ^ "Oggy revival leads Xilam's CGI ambitions".
  33. ^ "Netflix Adopts Xilam's 'Oggy Oggy' as First French Animation Original". 24 October 2019. Archived from the original on 10 October 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
  34. ^ "Topless Female Cartoon Character on the Boob Tube". TMZ. EHM Productions, Inc. Archived from the original on 14 March 2015. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
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