Beware of Luni / Fangface – The 1978 animated series
Among the most singular productions of theAmerican animation from the 70s There is a series that, despite often being forgotten in the great rankings of the genre, has managed to carve out a special place in the hearts of those who have experienced it: Beware of Luni (original title Fangface). First aired in the United States on 9 September 1978 On the canal ABC, the series was produced by Ruby Spears Productions, famous for having given birth to many other Saturday morning shows.
Composed by two seasons for a total of 24 episodes, the series also arrived in Italy on Rai Uno with the title Beware of Luni, first broadcast on 9th November 1980, earning a decent following thanks to its mix of adventure, mystery and slapstick comedy.
History
Beware of Luni ((Fangface) was born in the golden age of American television animation, in a period in which broadcasters were looking for series capable of replicating the success of Scooby-Doo. And it's precisely from that formula that it draws inspiration: a group of teenagers with a well-defined style, committed to solving supernatural mysteries and unmasking eccentric villains. But with a difference: one of the members of the group transforms into a werewolf every time he sees the Moon... or something that resembles it.
The main character is Sherman “Fangs” Fangsworth, a clumsy but kind-hearted boy, descendant of a family in which, every 400 years, a werewolf is born. His transformation into Months, a hyperactive werewolf with a single protruding tooth (hence the nickname), occurs whenever he sees the Moon or a similarly shaped object. Keeping him company on his adventures are his three friends: Biff, the athletic and charismatic leader of the group; Kim, brilliant and courageous; and Puggsy, short, gruff and perpetually annoyed by Luni, who regularly mistakes him for a snack.
Luni's transformation reverses when he sees the Sun or something resembling its shape, but Sherman never has any memory of what he does as a werewolf, creating recurring gags and comical situations.
“Attenti a Luni” (Fangface) Episode History
1. A Heap of Trouble
The evil Professor Arnos uses his invention to transform himself into a monstrous blue creature, the “Heap”. His plan is to take revenge on the university by transforming all the students into monsters similar to himself. It will be up to Luni and his friends to stop him before it's too late.
2. What Can You Do in the Depths of the Sea? (A Creep from the Deep)
Pirate Grueller and his crew steal an ancient tablet that can lead them to a lost treasure, but they ignore the curse it carries. The consequences will be terrifying, and only the group can avoid them.
3. How scared of the strange creature (The Shocking Creature Feature)
Mad scientist Dr. Cybron plans to create energy monsters to take over the world. Luni and his friends must stop him from enacting his plan before it's too late.
4. It's not an owl, it's a UFO! (Westward Ho to the UFO)
An alien race of giant spiders arrives from space and begins covering the city in webs in an attempt to take it over.
5. The Great Ape Escape
Professor Ling is kidnapped by a race of giant apes living on the mysterious Misty Islands. The team must brave exotic dangers to rescue him.
6. From Tyrannosaurus to Little Mascot (Dinosaur Daze)
An earthquake releases a living Tyrannosaurus from the Earth's crust. The creature, controlled by a mysterious antagonist, threatens the city. It's up to Luni to stop it.
7. Don't Abra When You Cadabra
Mysto, an evil wizard, creates a magic wand that can bend buildings. With it he intends to conquer the world.
8. Space Adventures? What Mishaps! (Space Monster Mishap)
A space monster infiltrates an orbital station and begins stealing the intelligence of the planet's greatest scientists.
9. The Invisible Menace Mix-up
The “Ghost of the Sky” kidnaps aerial acrobat Su Chang to force her to reveal the location of a black pearl, the only source of energy for his invisibility machine.
10. The Cuckoo Carnival Calamity
The evil swami Zorak uses a device to transform Hal Hercules, the world's strongest boy, into a monster and steal the gold for his plans.
11. Enough with the Amazons (Begone, You Amazon)
During a storm, the group finds themselves in the Amazon jungle. Luni saves Queen Sheba, dethroned by her evil cousin Thera, and helps her take back her kingdom.
12. More than cheaters, they're cowards (Snow Job Jitters)
A ski vacation turns into a mission: the group must escort a cat, Charlie, who carries a formula to create synthetic gold, avoiding the criminal Scorpion.
13. The Goofy Gargoyle Goof-Up
At a masquerade party in Hollywood, actress Raquel Taylor is targeted by Crula, who wants to offer her up in marriage to his living gargoyle.
14. A Toothy Shark Is No Lark
Neptune, a sea creature from Atlantis, uses a device to control a giant shark and enslave humanity to build a new empire.
15. A wolf is even rarer if it then becomes a werewolf (Where's the Wolf That's the Werewolf?)
A werewolf-like creature steals animals from a safari zoo. Everyone believes that Luni is the culprit, but in reality it is Zorlaff, a mad scientist.
16. Don't Get Mean with the Cobra Queen
Queen Cobra wants to kidnap wealthy Gloria Vanderfeller with the help of her giant snake, to claim her inheritance.
Season 2: Fangface and Lunino (Fangpuss)
17. How Much Misfortune in a Cursed Stone / The Intriguing Guide of the Giant Spider
Medulla uses an amulet to transform into Medusa and petrify the scientists. Meanwhile, on an island of giant spiders, Doctor Lazarus Web wants to create enormous insects to dominate the world.
18. Something is moving at the center of Jupiter / With the woodoo an extra gear
An astronaut is mutated into a monster by Jovian gases by the evil Dr. Lupiter. In the second segment, Nigel Winslow uses dark magic to transform Count Drako into a creature of fog.
19. The Beastly Creature of the Spectral Lagoon / Terrible Fate in a Den of Death
A scientist switches Luni's brain with that of a lagoon monster. Later, our heroes must rescue two scientists kidnapped by skull men.
20. A Long Day on a Pirate Ship / The Terrible Dr. Chill
Traveling through time, the group ends up on a pirate ship commanded by Ironmask. They then face Dr. Chill, who wants to melt the polar ice caps to blackmail the world.
21. The Romantic Conspiracy of the Robot Wolf / The Lizard Man's Diabolical Plan
A woman creates a robotic werewolf to manipulate Luni and steal a diamond. Then the evil Lizard Man turns people into lizards to increase his powers.
22. There's trouble for you with the king's double / The cold golden dragon
The gang helps King Rudolph, who is replaced by his doppelganger Puggsy. Later, they must stop a golden dragon that turns everyone into gold.
23. The Vulture Man's Diabolical Plan / In Casablanca There's a Giant Who's Breaking the Bank
Vulture Man kidnaps Peruvians to work in his mines. Then, a giant tries to sell a scientist to aliens in exchange for diamonds.
24. The Magical Poultice of the Disaster Director / Silly Mess in the Jungle
Disaster, an alien filmmaker, wants to blow up the Earth for a realistic movie. Finally, in the Philippine jungle, a group of cavemen are hypnotized to steal an invention that increases human strength.
Production
Leading the series is Joe Ruby and Ken Spears, two historic names in the American animated scene, already authors of Scooby-DooThe animation was made by the studios Ruby Spears Productions, in collaboration with various external studios for traditional animation. original voice actors They include Frank Welker, legendary voice interpreter of Scooby-Doo and Megatron, who here lends his voice to both Sherman and Luni.
The structure of the series is quite classic for the time: each episode begins with a mystery, often set in exotic or sinister places, that the group must solve, helped - and sometimes hindered - by Luni's unpredictable transformations. The tone remains light, with plenty of slapstick, caricatured expressions and puns, but there is also an adventurous streak that keeps the attention of even the youngest children.
Production data and curiosities
La first season, broadcast between September and December 1978, consists of 16 episodes of 30 minutes. The second season, entitled Fangface and Fangpuss, is composed of 8 episodes, each divided into two 15-minute segments, in line with a trend that was gaining ground in television animation to facilitate syndication.
In this second season is introduced Lunino (Fangpuss), Sherman’s little cousin, who also suffers from the same family curse. Baby Fangs transforms into a werewolf pup every time he sees the moon, bringing additional chaos to the group. Although the continuity with the “wolf every 400 years” is called into question, the character adds an extra layer of comedy and chaos.
In Italy, Beware of Luni It never had any significant merchandising, but in the United States some were produced Audio LP, toys, illustrated booksa whirlpool bath, View-Master and even a board game by Parker Brothers. A clear sign of how much the series had managed to strike the imagination of American children of the time.
Technical analysis and review of the series
From a technical point of view, Beware of Luni reflects the limitations and merits of 70s serial animation. The animations are relatively simple, with repetitive cycles and static backgrounds, but the caricature of the characters, especially Luni, gives dynamism and comedy. The transformations, although stylized, are well done for the standards of the time, and the character design is intended to be immediately recognizable.
The dialogues are lively, and the Italian dubbing – with historical voices such as Renato Cortesi (Moons) and George Lopez (Biff) – manages to convey all the comic charge of the original. The scripts are simple, but with a tight rhythm that alternates gags, moments of tension and imaginative resolutions. A particularly successful aspect is the relationship between Puggsy and Luni, constantly played on the edge of the paradox between fear, affection and annoyance.
The educational intent is minimal, but there is no lack of positive messages related to friendship, tolerance of diversity and collaboration. In an era in which cartoons began to address more serious issues, Beware of Luni it represented a return to pure escapism, to slapstick adventure without moral pretensions.
Conclusion
Beware of Luni is a series that deserves to be rediscovered. Although it has not achieved the global fame of other contemporary titles, it has managed to create a small, coherent and fun universe, with characters that work, a recognizable visual style and a light-hearted and carefree tone. Its strength lies in its simple but effective formula: a group of friends, a mystery to solve and a werewolf that pops up whenever you least expect it.
Today, in an age where nostalgia for vintage animation is more alive than ever, Beware of Luni can be considered a minor, but fascinating, jewel of American animation. For those who love cartoons from the 70s and 80s, it is a dive into the past that is worth taking. Maybe by the light of the Moon ... but with an extra pair of eyes, in case Luni was around.
