Fat Dog Mendoza

Did You Know?

• The show centers on a smart-mouthed dog who is ball-shaped with small, stubby legs.
• The group fights crime in the fictional neighborhood of 'Neighbourhood X'.
• Maverick released a single VHS volume in October 2000 containing the first three episodes: 'Bright Side of the Moon', 'Forgotten Fat Dog', and 'Power Play'.

Main characters

The main character is Fat Dog Mendoza, a very large and intelligent dog voiced by Mark Acheson. He works with his best friend, a boy called Little Costumed Buddy, voiced by Kathleen Barr, who enjoys pretending to be a hero and hopes to become one. On one occasion, Fat Dog taught him to bowl, and Buddy was accidentally called "Little Costumed Danny." Buddy’s other friends include Piranha Mae, voiced by Erin Fitzgerald, and Onion Boy, voiced by Ian James Corlett. His bully is Cruddy McFearson, voiced by Brian Drummond, and his nemesis is Doctor Rectangle, voiced by Peter Kelamis. Buddy’s teachers and neighbours are Polly-Esther, voiced by Teryl Rothery and Pauline Newstone, a pair of siamese twins with one body but two separate heads, each with their own personality and opinions.

Development

The idea for a television show based on the one-shot comic "Fat Dog Mendoza" first surfaced in March 1994, when Sunbow considered adapting it. For years, the project sat on Sunbow's development list, categorized as a "Raw" property because the comic had never been continued. Actual production kicked off in December 1997, after a preliminary series bible was finished to transform the adult-oriented comic into a children's show while keeping the core character traits. Sunbow then started shopping the show to other companies for a co-production deal, and potential partners were especially drawn to the Little Costume Buddy character. In March 1998, Sunbow secured European partners: Cartoon Network Europe as the broadcaster and TMO-Loonland as the co-producer. Cartoon Network Europe saw the show's potential for European viewers, while TMO-Loonland felt its unique animation style was a good fit. Both companies signed on in September 1998, with TMO-Loonland's involvement helping meet European content quotas. Funding was divided with Sunbow covering 50%, TMO-Loonland 35%, and Cartoon Network Europe the remaining 10% to 15%. This deal also completed Cartoon Network Europe's two-show agreement with Sunbow, the other being The Cramp Twins. By 1999, the series was slated for an early-2000 delivery, with Cartoon Network Europe holding first-run broadcast rights.

Television airing

The cartoon first appeared on Cartoon Network UK in February 2000, where it stayed until 2005, mostly shown in late-night repeats. Free-to-air rights went to Channel 5, which started broadcasting it in 2001 on its teen block The Core, later shifting it to Milkshake FM. Other Cartoon Network channels, including Cartoon Network MENA, also carried it. TV-Loonland sold the show ahead of broadcast to outlets like Nox Music in Russia, Retelsat in Spain, and ZigZag in Poland. In Australia, Nickelodeon aired it, and KidsCo ran reruns in a few countries.