Tuesday, October 02, 2007

Cartoon Network's red orange-headed step-child first born


C'mon, Cartoon Network.... where's the love for Dex? Not only was Dexter one of the 1st breakout stars of the "What A Cartoon!" shorts experiment, but he also was nominated for numerous Emmys, and would be the launching pad for future CN hits like Samurai Jack, Clone Wars, Powerpuff Girls, and Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends. Now, not only can you not find it on CN (...only on Boomerang, but it's not available in every market), but it's one of the few CN originals NOT available on DVD.


Now, thanks to Warner Home Video, we DO have a full set of Samurai Jack DVDs, and this year saw the debut of the 1st Powerpuff Girls full-season DVD set. Awesome sets with great extras. But WHERE'S THE DEXTER DVD SET? Some years ago, Columbia House Home Video Club had season sets available, but no longer. A complete series set was produced for a contest winner, but was never made available to the public. (I was lucky enough to find one on eBay) The "Ego Trip" movie was only released on VHS, and never saw a DVD release.


Dexter still has many fans out there who are patiently waiting for a DVD release. C'mon CN/Warner... show your first-born child ya still love him!!!


Here's one of the few episodes I storyboarded. It's not very funny.

...................................

Sneaky Critters Show

Hey, UK bloggers: If you happen to find yourself in London on October 22, check out the SNEAKY CRITTERS group show at Bodhi Gallery in Bricklane. I have a piece in the show and will be sharing wall space with 30 other cool artists like Peskimo, Julie West, Elisa Chavarri, and many more. It's celebrating artist Sneaky Raccoon's "birthday", so there will be cake, beer, and goody bags! It's for ONE NIGHT ONLY, kids-- so make sure you go to the opening or you'll miss out!

29 comments:

burgerlog said...

cool

PotatoFarmGirl said...

I love Dexter! Why oh why doesn't CN want to make money? It is so confusing!!! I am depressed and angry!!!

Drake Brodahl (pumml) said...

I can't believe they haven't done those DVDs. Those are awesome spacesuit and hazmat suit drawrings, btw.

spleenal said...

ah yes Dexter. The time travel movie was great. haveing the ages of dexter all fighting together like that, but my all time favorite has to be "Photo finish" (Season 2 episode 36, first aired 8th october 1997)
As you no doubt recall it was the goldfinger parody
the best bit for me was the base was full of babes working for redeye so to blend in Dexter stole a hard hat off one of the babe workers.
the hat had mandy written on it so from then on everyone called him mandy!

Kenny said...

Yeah where are the DVDs. I love Dexter to, been waiting for the dvds forever. I hope CN will release them soon.

spleenal said...

or was it mindy?

brigette b said...

Yeah, where are the DVD's already?? I hate having to depend on youtube to watch my favorite cartoon ever.

Brent Tilton said...

too true! I've been puzzled wondering why this show isn't available. Dexter's is so much fun! I'm partial to Game Over (the tron episode) but who can forget the episode where Dee Dee actually becomes a Pretty Pony Princess? Thanks for posting!

Eddy said...

My most memorable one was the episode created by the little kid and drawn in crayon(?). I thought it was such a FUN idea for a show and you could just hear the passion in every line!

Btw, how many seasons did Dexter's and Powerpuff Girls run?

-Eddy

spleenal said...

naw, i'm pretty sure it was mandy

Anonymous said...

excellent work.
very fun to scroll down
through these.

maybe a petition?

Geek Booteek said...

Dude, I can't get my head around this one either!! Also "Art of" books, that shit would be an instant hit surely!!

Chris Battle said...

Spleenal- Whatever her name was, it sprang from the twisted yet brilliant mind of Don Shank.

Eddy- Dexter ran for 4 seasons (Plus the "Ego Trip" special) , and PPG ran for 6 (Plus the movie and the Xmas special).

Geek- Yeah! Where are our Art of Books already?? The closest thing I've been able to get my hands on is this.

warren said...

BOO!! CN BOOO!

I heard thru the grapevine that there was a fella trying to put together a 'history of CN' type book. Apparently the network bigwigs poo-poohed it because they thought there would be no interest? WHAT?! WHAT ARE YOU CARTOON NETWORK, CANADIAN?!

Fah. Canada has the clinch on no self-worth. I never imagined a cartoon corporation would suffer it.


Mebbe the bigwigs think that's the case with the 'Art of' books? Nobody would buy it?? A petition might be the thing...

I'd sign it.

Unknown said...

Hey yooo!!!
suuuper cool.....
:)mm

Matt Jones said...

Couple years back I caught an episode of one of the later seasons directed by Bill Wray I think. Written by him too it was a parody of CONAN THE BARBARIAN & I believe had Scott Wills art direction. It was a superb episode with high production values. Any ideas which season? It seems that later seasons were starting to approach the quality level of SAMURAI JACK?

Chris Battle said...

Matt- That was "Dexter the Barbarian", and it was Chris Savino's baby all the way. (I provided designs, tho) It was part of the much-maligned 4th season, where we tried to push the visuals further.... and all the fans hated it.

Anonymous said...

Actually there was 6 seasons of Dexter. The Genndy/Paul/Craig years (seasons 1-4) ended with "Last but Not Beast." Chris and Dave took over and produced seasons 5 & 6.

Craig

Chris Battle said...

Yeah, I always remembered it as 6 seasons, but after all these years, I only had the IMDb listings to go on...

Mukpuddy said...

For the record, I freakin loved the last seasons!!!

Unknown said...

I love Samurai Jack and The Powerpuff Girls but Dexter's Lab was the best in my opinion and there should already be a season set of the show. Unlike Mukpuddy, I'm not fond of the last seasons.

Todd Harris said...

love dexter! great job as always chris.

Jay D Smith said...

i would love to see full dvd sets of dexter! and maybe 2 stupid dogs! maybe!

Janelle said...

Shame on CN for not putting Dexter on DVD. That was one of my favorite cable cartoons (I got cable the year the show came out). I still remember the one where Dexter's brain shuts down and he kisses a duck's behind. Ah memories.

Kristen McCabe said...

I love to watch Dexter's Lab! I can't believe it never made it to dvd. This surprises me. now I'm sad.

....but your illustrations made me Happy! I love the difference between his spacesuit and nuclearpowerplantsuit!
Round vs square! Love it!

Andy C. said...

Dexter, Samurai Jack, and Star Wars' Clone Wars were the only redeeming series for me on Cartoon Network.

I've never seen anything worthwhile since then. I whole heartily sympathize

Unknown said...

Your designs are totally timeless! They still hold up nice and shiney even today!

Anonymous said...

DVDs are needed!

I always had a fondness for that episode, actually. The ending is hilarious.

Jeff Harter said...

I'm just another fan wishing there were still new episodes. What a great show. Hilarious. If it's good, it gets pulled? Runs it's course? Creators get tired of working on? Oh well. Hope the DVD comes out.