Dork Hunters from Outer Space (German: Dork - Jäger aus dem All) is an animated television series produced by the German company BKN International and British subsidiary BKN New Media.[1] The series was created by Rick Ungar. It first aired on RTL II in Germany and on GMTV in the United Kingdom.[2]
| Dork Hunters from Outer Space | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Also known as | Dork - Jäger aus dem All |
| Genre | Comedy Action |
| Created by | Rick Ungar |
| Written by | Rick Ungar Sean Catherine Derek |
| Directed by | Stuart Evans (season 1) Barry Baker (season 2) Chris Evans (season 2) |
| Voices of |
|
| Composer | Allen Bohbot |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom Germany |
| Original languages | English German |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 36 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Rick Ungar Allen Bohbot |
| Producer | Stuart Evans |
| Running time | 22 minutes |
| Production companies | BKN International BKN New Media |
| Original release | |
| Network | ITV/GMTV (United Kingdom) RTL II (Germany) |
| Release | August 17, 2008 – April 19, 2009 |
The show is about a group of five teenagers (two humans and three aliens) who try to stop a group of villains called the Dorks. The kids take their orders from a goldfish named Sidney.
The show received high ratings on GMTV, ranking as the channel's second most-popular show among children aged 4–9 for the year of 2008.[3]
The series was acquired by EMBA Media Associates Limited from BKN International AG in March 20, 2015.[4]
Plot
editThe series centres on five teenagers named Mac, Eddie, Nikki, Angie and Romeo. Eddie and Angie are twin siblings who attend a high school in Paramus, New Jersey, while Mac, Nikki, and Romeo are extraterrestrials who accidentally landed on earth after taking a wrong turn at Saturn.
Due to their powers, they can detect the nasty smells of "Dorks", aliens with the power to disguise themselves as humans and cause trouble, summoned by a dog-resembling alien named Fido, the loyal pet of Principal Jones.[5]
Characters
editProtagonists
edit- Eddie (voiced by Eric Meyers), one of the two humans on the Dork Hunters team. He is Angie's twin brother and is very clever. He is 14 years old.[6]
- Angie (voiced by Lili Katz), a human girl and the fashionista of the team who loves clothes and make-up. She is 14 years old.[6]
- Mac (voiced by Alan Marriott), an alien with a long tongue. He is 16 years old.[6]
- Nicki (voiced by Lynn Blade), an alien who can shoot lasers from her fingers. She is 16 years old.[6]
- Romeo (voiced by Ben Small), an alien with a skateboard that can shoot laser beams. He is 16 years old.[6]
- Chief Sidney a talking goldfish who is the leader of the Dork Hunters. He lives in a little aquarium.
Antagonists
edit- Fido (voiced by Gary Martin), the Chihuahua-disguised leader of the Dorks who is the show's main antagonist.
- Principal Jones (voiced by Dian Perry), the principal of the High School and the owner of Fido.
Episodes
editSeason 1
edit| # | Title | Written by | Original airdate | Production code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.01 | "The Ref" | Rick Ungar Sean Derek | March 26, 2008 (Germany) August 17, 2008 (United Kingdom) | 101 |
|
During a Basketball game. The Dork Hunters wonder if the referee is a Dork, following the familiar smell going all around the court. | ||||
| 1.02 | "Field Trip" | Rick Ungar Sean Derek | August 24, 2008 | 102 |
|
The Dork Hunters go on a field trip to the museum, but they must battle against some Dorks who are protecting a Microgalaxy in the building. | ||||
| 1.03 | "Tunnel Vision" | Rick Ungar David Mowers | August 31, 2008 | 103 |
|
Dorks have hidden a Microgalaxy down in the sewers, it's up to the Dork Hunters to get onto a mission that may smell as worse as the Dorks. | ||||
| 1.04 | "Big Top" | Rick Ungar Mark Steen | September 7, 2008 | 104 |
|
A Microgalaxy is discovered in the Circus, but Eddie is afraid of clowns! Can the Dork Hunters find a way to overcome Eddie's fear? | ||||
| 1.05 | "Flea Market" | Hugh Palmer | September 14, 2008 | 105 |
|
Angie buys a Lava Lamp that she isn't fond of, and sells it. The only problem is that it contains a Microgalaxy! | ||||
| 1.06 | "Dog Gone" | Mark Seidenberg | September 21, 2008 | 106 |
|
When Fido accidentally eats a Microgalaxy, the whole world is at risk. | ||||
| 1.07 | "Fast Food Friends" | Glenn Leopold | September 28, 2008 | 107 |
|
Eddie and Angie are faced against clones of each other. | ||||
| 1.08 | "Zero to Hero" | Sean Roche | October 5, 2008 | 108 |
|
Eddie and Angie team up with a famous sci-fi actor to retrieve a Microgalaxy hidden in one of his awards. | ||||
| 1.09 | "The Dorkinator" | Len Uhley | October 12, 2008 | 109 |
|
A Dork from earth is sent to destroy the Dork Hunters, and he's tough. | ||||
| 1.10 | "Toy Soldiers" | Dennis Haley Marcy Brown | October 19, 2008 | 110 |
|
Wacky Waldo's prototype toys keeps causing the Dork Hunters' alarms to activate. | ||||
| 1.11 | "The Falcon" | Rick Ungar | October 26, 2008 | 111 |
|
Skateborder Bonnie Falcon is visiting the city, and Romeo is excited, but Mac is suspicious about his true powers. | ||||
| 1.12 | "Finding Sidney" | Christy Marx Randy Littlejohn | November 2, 2008 | 112 |
|
On a mission to try and find the Dork Commander Headquarters, the Dorks kidnap Sidney. | ||||
| 1.13 | "Romeo and Julia" | Mark Seidenberg | November 9, 2008 | 113 |
|
The Dork Hunters get suspicious when Romeo starts hanging out with a new neighbour. | ||||
| 1.14 | "3rd Rock Star" | Dennis Haley Marcy Brown | December 2008 | 114 |
|
Could famous singer Lacy Lavender and his band be Dorks? Her biggest fans Nikki and Angie are here to find out. | ||||
| 1.15 | "Fish Out of Water" | Len Uhley | November 23, 2008 | 115 |
|
Dorks attempt to take over the Dork Hunters base to take down Sidney and stop the Dork Hunters from stopping them. | ||||
| 1.16 | "Dr. Dorkenstein" | Mark Seidenberg | November 30, 2008 | 116 |
|
Fido creates a robot Dork to keep the Dork Hunters in order. | ||||
| 1.17 | "Wild Dorkingdom" | Glenn Leopold | December 7, 2008 | 117 |
|
It's Sidney's birthday, and the Dork Hunters take him to a fancy hotel. Little as they know, Principal Jones and Fido are there as well. | ||||
| 1.18 | "Dorks in Black" | Steven Darancette | December 14, 2008 | 118 |
|
Principal Jones is the one who needs saving when the Dork Hunters are asked to retrieve a Microgalaxy in Area 51. | ||||
| 1.19 | "Loser Island" | Sean Roche | December 21, 2008 | 119 |
|
The Dork Hunters discover a Microgalaxy on the set of a reality show, and begin to suspect if the host is a Dork. | ||||
| 1.20 | "Debbie, We Hardly Know Ye..." | Len Uhley | December 28, 2008 | 120 |
|
Fido hynotises one of the Dork Hunters' classmates into trusting and then destroying them. | ||||
| 1.21 | "Principal Jones' Day Off" | Sean Roche | January 4, 2009 | 121 |
|
The Dork Hunters plot a scheme to stop the Microgalaxy delivery system from reaching Fido and Principal Jones. | ||||
| 1.22 | "Break Up" | Rick Ungar | January 11, 2009 | 122 |
|
Mac, Nikki and Romeo are informed that they are going to be transferred over to a new Galaxy. Eddie and Angie must train some new teammates to become their new assistants. | ||||
| 1.23 | "Dog Days of Disco" | Steven Darancette | January 18, 2009 | 123 |
|
Fido tells Principal Jones the story about how the first Microgalaxy made it to space and how the Dorks used Earth as their new home. | ||||
| 1.24 | "Jean Splicing" | Glenn Leopold | January 25, 2009 | 124 |
|
Angie loves fashion and shopping, and Fido decides to use this to his advantage to trap her. | ||||
| 1.25 | "Dorks of Hazzard" | Glenn Leopold | February 1, 2009 | 125 |
|
Eddie and Romeo are pitted against a Dork whose monster truck has a Microgalaxy inside. | ||||
| 1.26 | "Mind Wavy Gravy" | Sean Roche | February 8, 2009 | 126 |
|
Fido creates a gravy that can make the Dork Hunters forget who they are. | ||||
Season 2
edit| # | Title | Written by | Original airdate | Production code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.01 | "Dorkzilla" | Glenn Leopold | February 15, 2009 | 201 |
|
Fido plots a scheme to trap the Dork Hunters inside a Microgalaxy by shrinking them down to size. | ||||
| 2.02 | "Private School" | Steven Darancette | February 22, 2009 | 202 |
|
Eddie and Angie are transferred over to a private school. However, they soon discover that it is infested with Dorks. | ||||
| 2.03 | "Scavenger Hunt" | Sean Catherine Derek | March 1, 2009 | 203 |
|
Fido and Principal Jones must rely on the Dork Hunters' help when a bee gives Fido a life-threatening sting. | ||||
| 2.04 | "Bone of Contention" | Len Uhley | March 8, 2009 | 204 |
|
Fido loses his communication bone and the earth is at jeopardy. | ||||
| 2.05 | "Sushi Sidney" | Sean Catherine Derek | March 15, 2009 | 205 |
|
After losing a Microgalaxy to the Dorks, the Dork Hunters are supervised by an observer, bringing more problems than ever. | ||||
| 2.06 | "Summer Vacation, Part 1" | Rick Ungar | March 22, 2009 | 206 |
|
The Dork Hunters go on summer vacation to Tortuga Island, but are unaware that they are about to be the victims of a plot involving pirates, Fido, Principal Jones and a Microgalaxy! | ||||
| 2.07 | "Summer Vacation, Part 2" | Sean Catherine Derek | March 29, 2009 | 207 |
| 2.08 | "Summer Vacation, Part 3" | Sean Catherine Derek | April 5, 2009 | 208 |
| 2.09 | "The D Files" | Steven Darancette | April 12, 2009 | 209 |
|
Fido and Principal Jones trick an innocent mailman into revealing the Dork Hunters' secret whereabouts. | ||||
| 2.10 | "The Final Episode... Or Not?" | Len Uhley | April 19, 2009 | 210 |
|
The Dork Hunters, Fido and Principal Jones realize that "Dork Hunters" series was nothing more than a reality show and that they were all actors. The producers negotiate with them all to bring the series back. | ||||
Production
editThe show was first announced under the title Triple Threat from Outer Space in 2005.[7] It was given a budget of US$6.5 million and was scheduled to air by September 2006. At this stage, the concept was slightly different, and it was about three alien girls named Star, Mac, and Nicki posing as humans.[8] For the final show, Star's name was changed to Romeo, Mac was changed to a boy, and human twins Eddie and Angie were added to the team. The series' new title and characters were confirmed in an Animation Magazine article in December 2005.[9]
BKN International, a German studio, produced the show after setting up a subsidiary in London called BKN New Media Ltd. Originally, 26 episodes were planned, but was increased to 36 by February 2007.[10] Jeff "Swampy" Marsh was the director of production.[9] Sean Catherine Derek, known for her work on Batman: The Animated Series, was the co-developer of the show (alongside creator Rick Ungar).[11] Dreamforest Animation in the Philippines handled the series' animation.
Broadcast
editIn February 2007, GMTV in the United Kingdom and RTL II in Germany was announced as the initial broadcasters for the series.[12] The series was originally planned to premiere on RTL II first in Late-2007, but instead premiered on March 26, 2008, airing every weekday.[13]
In April 2008, Network Ten in Australia, SABC in South Africa and CTC in Russia had acquired the broadcast rights in their respective countries.[14]
In January 2009, Jetix acquired pay-TV rights for the show in the United Kingdom.[3]
Film
editA feature film based on the show, titled Dork Hunters and the Pirates of Tortuga Island, was announced by BKN on May 15, 2008,[16] and was released on DVD in the United States by Image Entertainment on March 9, 2010.[17][18]
Similar to the Zorro: Generation Z DVD movies, Dork Hunters and the Pirates of Tortuga Island consists of three related episodes (The "Summer Vacation" three-parter) edited in a feature-length format.
Reception
editBrian Costello from Common Sense Media gave the film one star, criticising the main characters for their stereotypical personalities.[19]
Home Media
editIn Australia, Magna Home Entertainment released two DVDs of the series each containing nine episodes on May 9, 2009, called "The Dorkinator",[20] and "Dorks in Black".
In the United States, Image Entertainment released a three-disc set containing all 36 episodes of the series on February 9, 2010.[21]
Ratings
editThe series was the second most popular show on GMTV among children aged 4–9 for the year of 2008. It had an audience share of around 38%. It also ranked as the number two show in terms of share across all children 4–15 years in November 2008.[3]
References
edit- ^ "BKN takes off on Dork Hunters from Outer Space". www.scotsman.com. 2 September 2008.
- ^ Screen, World (13 February 2007). "WorldScreen.com - Articles - BKN Closes British, German Deals on Dork Hunters".
- ^ a b c "Jetix UK bags BKN's Dork Hunters". C21media.
- ^ "U.S. Copyright Office Public Records System". publicrecords.copyright.gov. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
- ^ "Kidz Ent. And EEMC Take On BKN's Newest Heroes". Animation World Network.
- ^ a b c d e "Dork Hunters from Outer Space Trailer (2006)". 18 April 2021 – via www.youtube.com.
- ^ Meza, Ed (18 May 2005). "BKN, ToonMax TV ink for prod'n venture".
- ^ "Up Next: What's developing in kids production".
- ^ a b Ball, Ryan (6 December 2005). "Dork Hunters Stalk BKN".
- ^ "BKN International AG: Major TV Broadcast Deals and Pan-European Master Toy Deal for DORK HUNTERS FROM OUTER SPACE sealed - dgap.de". www.dgap.de.
- ^ "Sean Catherine Derek Bio". seancatherinederek.com.
- ^ "BKN seals TV Broadcast Deals and Pan-European Master Toy Deal for DORK HUNTERS FROM OUTER SPACE". 14 February 2007.
- ^ "Neu bei RTL II:"Dork – Jäger aus dem All"". 13 February 2008.
- ^ "BKN International AG: Die Dork Hunters von BKN weiterhin auf Erfolgskurs - dgap.de".
- ^ "Un verano muy animado en 'Clan TVE'". 20 June 2010.
- ^ "BKN Releases Two New Films".
- ^ "Dork Hunters & Pirates of Tortuga Island". amazon.com. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
- ^ "Dork Hunters and the Pirates of Tortuga Island Movie Review | Common Sense Media". www.commonsensemedia.org.
- ^ "Dork Hunters and the Pirates of Tortuga Island Movie Review | Common Sense Media".
- ^ "Dork Hunters From Outer Space - The Dorkinator - Vol 1". Sanity. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
- ^ "Dork Hunters from Outer Space: The Animated Series". amazon.com. 9 February 2010. Retrieved 23 April 2022.