Willy Fog's Around the World - The 1983 animated series

February 21 2022

Around the world by Willy Fog (Around the World of Willy Fog) is an animated Hispanic-Japanese adaptation of the 1873 novel Around the world in eighty days by Jules Verne, produced by the Spanish studio BRB Internacional and Televisión Española, with the animation of the Japanese studio Nippon Animation, broadcast for the first time on ANTENNE 2 in 1983 and TVE1 in 1984.

Similarly to D'Artacan (D'Artacan y los tres mosqueperros ) by BRB, the characters are anthropomorphisms of various animals, since the species depicted are of a much greater variety than in that series. The main trio are all felines being chased by three canine enemies. Willy Fog (Phileas Fogg in the original book) is depicted as a lion, while Rigodon (Passepartout) is a cat and Romy (Aouda) is a panther.

An English dub of the series was directed by Tom Wyner, which featured artists such as Cam Clarke (as Rigodon), Gregory Snegoff (Inspector Dix), Steve Kramer (as Constable Bully) and Mike Reynolds. Although the series never achieved popularity in the US, the English version found fame when it was broadcast by the BBC for Kids in the UK. The series initially screened in 1984 in the UK (and has been repeated many times since) and then on RTÉ in Ireland, while other voiceovers have gained the series' fan base in several other countries. The series was also dubbed in Japanese and aired on Japanese TV Asahi in 1987, where it was titled Anime Around the World in 80 Days (アニメ 80 日間世界一周, Anime Hachijūnichikan Sekai Isshū).

With all international releases, the pinnacle of popularity remains in Spain, where a sequel series was produced in 1993, Willy Fog 2, which has the characters in the adaptations of Verne's science fiction novels, Journey to the Center of the Earth and 20.000 Leagues. Under the sea. Additionally, in 2008, the series launched a live theatrical musical show to celebrate its 25th anniversary.

Sigla

The initial and final abbreviation Around the World in 80 days, was composed for the music by the Oliver Onions, and for the text by Cesare De Natale; was exported to several countries where the cartoon was broadcast, in addition to the Italian version, the song was translated into English, Spanish, French, Hungarian, Finnish, Russian, Polish and Czech

History

Like every morning since moving to Savile Row, Willy Fog wakes up at 8:00 and calls his servant, only to remember that he fired him the day before for his inability to follow Fog's exact schedule. He has already arranged an interview for a replacement, former circus performer Rigodon, who is also now rushing to Fog's house to set his 11 am appointment. Rigodon is accompanied by his old circus colleague Tico, who hides in his travel bag, and guides him through the interview, which starts off badly when Rigodon arrives four minutes late. However, Rigodon is hired by Fog as his butler and soon leaves for the Reform Club.

At the club, the main topic of conversation is the recent theft of £ 55.000 from the Bank of England which was debated until the arrival of the bank's governor, Mr Sullivan, who asked for a change of subject. Sullivan's casual remark that the thief is still in London causes the elderly Lord Guinness to raise an article in the Morning Chronicle, in which he details how it is now possible to travel the world in eighty days. The article states that he leaves London by train to Dover, where it goes through Calais, and then to Paris. From there, it's a train ride to Brindisi and the Suez Canal, all in one week. After circling the Arabian Peninsula, he would arrive in Bombay on day 20 and then a three-day train journey to Calcutta. Hong Kong is reached on day 33, Yokohama on day 39, and then a mammoth three-week crossing of the Pacific to San Francisco on day 61, a week-long train crossing to New York City and finally a nine-day crossing. crossing of the Atlantic back to London that allows you to circumnavigate the globe in eighty days. The other members of the club laugh at Lord Guinness' suggestion to accept the challenge if he were younger, prompting Fog to defend his honor by taking the post himself. Sullivan bets Fog £ 5.000 which is impossible and the additional bets of three other club members increase this amount to £ 20.000. He then stuns the club by announcing that he will be leaving that very evening and promises to be back at the club by 20:45 pm on 21 December 1872.

Rigodon is far from thrilled to learn the news of their upcoming trip, having spent his life traveling with the circus. However, he diligently accompanies his master as they set out, with Tico still in hiding. They do not know, however, that they are being chased by three individuals determined to stop their progress. Inspector Dix and Scotland Yard agent Bully are convinced that Fog is the thief who robbed the Bank of England, and the evil conniving Transfer, a saboteur, was hired by Mr Sullivan to thwart Fog's journey. In any way.

Characters

Willy fog
Willy Fog (Phileas Fogg in the original novel and French, Finnish and Greek translation of this series, but shares the name for the inspiration of the original character, William Perry Fogg) is a well-mannered and cultured English gentleman, loyal to his friends and always true to his word. He leads his life according to many strict and precise rules, something that has allowed him his long-term bachelor lifestyle. He resides in London and although he is known for his wealth, the precise source of his money is unknown as his occupation of him is never processed. Always a gentleman, he avoids violence of any form whenever possible, but he is never without his staff, which is all he needs to defend himself and others. Willy Fog is a member of the London Reform Club and is challenged to travel the world in 80 days; prior to this, he had not traveled for several years.

**rigdon** - Around the World by Willy Fog

rigdon
Before working for Willy Fog, the multifaceted French feline Rigodon (who plays the role of Passepartout from the original novel; however, the Greek dub he called him Rico, while in the Brazilian, Finnish, French, Hebrew and Slovak dub he was called Passepartout) was a circus artist, but wanting to escape the traveling life of the circus, Rigodon sought work as a waiter. His first attempt was a failure, as he worked for a gentleman who traveled constantly, and then sought a job with Willy Fog, knowing that Fog's strict routine meant he never got far. Rigodon's hopes for a quiet lifestyle, however, were quickly dashed when Fog took the wager to travel the world in eighty days. However, Rigodon diligently accompanies his teacher on his journey, his circus agility and audacity come in handy on more than one occasion.

Tico
A self-proclaimed “mascot” of the show, Tico is Rigodon's best friend and former partner in the circus. The two are inseparable, but at first Rigodon was forced to hide Tico from Mr. Fog, hiding the little hamster (he has a hamster's tail instead of a mouse's, which means he can't be a mouse) in the his travel bag until their journey is over. in progress. Tico is known for his epic appetite and is rarely seen without his "sundial," an archaeological find that was given to him at the start of his journey and that uses the sun to tell the time. Tico is the only case in which the original version and the dubbing in English differ on the nationality of a character: in the original version it is Spanish (voiced with a strong Andalusian / Sevillian accent though, not typical of dubbed characters), while in the version original dub, it's Italian.

**Princess Romy** - Around the World by Willy Fog

Princess Romy
Orphaned following the death of her parents, Romy (Aouda in the original novel) became a princess when she married an Indian Rajah who worshiped the goddess Kali. When the Rajah died, she was destined to be burned with him on the funeral pyre, but she was saved by Rigodon, who risked her life in the process. She initially accompanies Willy Fog on his journey with the intent of finding his relatives in Singapore, only to stay with her company after finding them long dead and acting as a doctor to care for the wounded they encounter. Tico has a crush on her and is always on the lookout for her safety, but as their journey together continues, it becomes clear that he only has eyes for Mr. Fog.

Inspector Dix
Gruff Inspector Dix (based on Inspector Fix from the original novel and similarly named for both the French and Finnish translations of the series) is a sleuth who works for Scotland Yard. Convinced that Fog is solely responsible for the Bank of England robbery, he follows travelers around the world in search of the proof he needs to arrest Fog, constantly trying to delay their travels to keep them on British soil so that can arrest them. if the warrant he awaits is ever delivered. Despite his role as antagonist, he is an honorable character, driven by a strong sense of duty and is often outraged to see Fog spend what he believes to be stolen money, but he is also an exceptionally excitable comedian, who often confuses his words, to at one point claiming to be a "police pursuit officer of the criminal who robbed the Bank of England!" Furthermore, he has a tendency to forget Rigodon's name, regularly addressing him and calling him "Brigadoon". In the original version, he calls Rigodon "Tontorron", which is a Spanish word for "fool" or "idiot". The English dub of the series gave him the first name of "Clifford".

Constable Bully
Officer Bully - a Cockney bulldog, as the name suggests - is Inspector Dix's partner, although he'd rather play darts in the pub or enjoy a Sunday roast at his mom's house than go on a world tour. A kindhearted man at his core, Bully is subject to the whims of the demanding Inspector Dix, and his general awkwardness and tendency to travel sickness often strains the inspector's patience to breaking point.

Transfer
Transfer is a gray wolf, hired to sabotage Fog's journey by his rival, Mr. Sullivan. Throughout the series, he employs a variety of tactics to delay Fog and his group of him, ranging from guiding them in the wrong direction to deliberately causing accidents. He is a master of disguise and can perfectly mimic the voices and mannerisms of those he is impersonating, but the audience can always identify him by the light that briefly catches his glass eye. For narrative purposes in this adaptation, the addition of Transfer not only provides a recurring villain for the story, but also performs Fog's more morally questionable actions, if necessary, to carry the story forward, allowing Fog to remain there. hero without blemish. In the Greek dub he was called "Mascarone", from the Greek μασκαράς / maskarás / which means both "swindler" and "masquerade".

Mr. Sullivan
Mr Sullivan, the head of the Bank of England, is a wolf and Willy Fog's rival in the Reform Club. He accepts Fog's bet and, determined to guarantee Fog's failure and expose him as a "useless braggart", decides to send a saboteur, Transfer, after Fog's footsteps. Following Transfer's failure to stop Fog, he is fired from the position of head of the Bank of England on suspicion of misappropriation of funds.

Farrel, Johnson and Wesson
Farrel, Johnson and Wesson are the other members of the Reform Club who bet against Fog. Wesson (a stoat) is the owner of the Morning Chronicle and Ralph's boss, while Farrel (a fox) and Johnson (a raccoon) own a shipping line and a railroad respectively.

Mr. Guinness
Lord Guinness, the oldest wheelchair-bound member of the Reform Club, is a white goat. He and Ralph continue to support Fog and his party, even when popular opinion has turned against them, and sometimes regret that his age prevented him from joining the expedition.

Ralph
Ralph, a squirrel, is the idealistic young journalist who wrote the article that inspired Fog's journey. Even when the odds seemed to pile up against Fog and his group of him, he rarely loses hope that they will succeed.

Commissioner Rowan
Commissioner Rowan, a cat, is the head of Scotland Yard and was solely responsible for sending Dix and Bully to Fog, warning them that they would be fired if they got the job wrong. Throughout the series, he must deny the demands of Sullivan, who has learned of the suspicions against Fog.

The corn brigadier
A stag, a member of the British army stationed in India, Brigadier Corn is about to rejoin his regiment when he meets Fog and his friends. He chooses to accompany them on their journey through India "for the honor of Great Britain" and is instrumental in helping organize the rescue of Princess Romy. It is not known whether his being a stag or a brigadier is a deliberate pun.

Andrew Speedy
Andrew Speedy (a bear) is the irascible captain of the merchant ship Henrietta. He doesn't normally carry passengers, believing they are a responsibility, but agrees to take Fog and his group after Fog offers to pay him $ 2000 for each member of his group. After falling victim to Transfer's attempt to poison Fog, he gives Fog command of the ship and orders him to head to Liverpool so that he can receive medical treatment; however, he recovers while still at sea. Shortly thereafter, the Henrietta runs out of coal, forcing Fog to purchase the ship to burn the wood on board as fuel; Speedy, who can keep whatever remains, is forced to watch helplessly as the ship is stripped of its wood. Oddly enough, Speedy appears in the show's opening sequence (among a group consisting of Dix, Transfer and Ralph), despite the fact that he only appeared in a small number of episodes towards the end of the series.

Episodes

1 The bet - La apuesta
「フォグ氏賭に挑戦の巻」 - Fogu-shi kake ni chōsen no kan 10 October 1987
2 The departure - The partida
「さらばロンドンよの巻」 - Saraba Rondon yo no kan 17 October 1987
3 A bad trip - Viaje accidentado
「花のパリは大騒動の巻」 - Hana no Pari wa ōsōdō no kan October 24, 1987
4 Wanted - If he knocks Willy Fog
「エジプト遺跡冒険の巻」 - Ejiputo-iseki bōken no kan November 7, 1987
5 The ghost - Willy Fog y el ghost
「フォグ氏二人登場の巻」 - Fogu-shi futari tōjō no kan November 14, 1987
6 Pagoda Adventure - Aventura en pagoda
「ボンベイさんざんの巻」 - Bonbei sanzan no kan 21 November 1987
7 Calcutta Express - El expreso de Calcuta
「線路は、ここまでの巻」 - Senro wa, koko made no kan 28 November 1987
8 Danger in the jungle - Peligro en la selva
「ジャングル象旅行の巻」 - Janguru-zō ryokō no kan December 5, 1987
9 The liberation of Romy - El rescate de Romy
「ロミー姫救出作戦の巻」 - Romī-hime kyūshutsu sakusen no kan 12 December 1987
10 A gift for Parsi - A gift for Parsi
「象代金は千ポンドの巻」 - Zō daikin wa sen pondo no kan December 19, 1987
11 Rigodon's bowler hat - El bombín de Rigodón
「裁判はカルカッタの巻」 - Saiban wa Karukatta no kan December 26, 1987
12 Storm in the China Sea - Tempestad en el mar de la China
「愛のシンガポールの巻」 - Ai no Shingapōru no kan January 9, 1988
13 Rigodon and the sleeping pill - Rigodón cae en la trampa
「ホンコン罠また罠の巻」 - Honkon wana mata wana no kan January 16, 1988
14 Departure for Yokohama - Rumbo in Yokohama
「海賊船長いい船長の巻（テレビ未放映）」 - Kaizokusen nagai i senchō no kan (terebi mihōei) -
15 Asuka's circus - El circo de Akita
「横浜大サーカス! の巻」 - Yokohama from the sākasu! no kan January 23, 1988
16 Hawaii Holidays - Fiesta en Hawai
「ハワイアン大感動の巻」 - Hawaian dai kandō no kan January 30, 1988
17 Hot air balloon trip - Viaje en Globo
「メキシコ気球脱出の巻」 - Mekishiko kikyū dasshutsu no kan February 6, 1988
18 The train to the Pacific - En el ferrocarril del pacífico
「フォグ対ガンマンの巻（テレビ未放映）」 - Fogu tai ganman no kan (terebi mihōei) -
19 The escape - La estampida
「列車橋を飛び越すの巻」 - Ressha-hashi wo tobikosu no kan 13 February 1988
20 A risky decision - Una decisión arriesgada
「インデアン大襲撃の巻」 - Indean dai shūgeki no kan February 20, 1988
21 A very special train - Un tren muy especial
「駅馬車東部へ進むの巻（テレビ未放映）」 - Ekibasha tōbu he susumu no kan (terebi mihōei) -
22 The return of Rigodon - El regreso de Rigodón
「渡れナイヤガラの滝（テレビ未放映）」 - Watare Naiyagara no taki (terebi mihōei) -
23 Destination New York - Destino Nueva York
「大西洋に乗り出すの巻」 - Taiseiyō ni noridasu no kan February 27, 1988
24 Mutiny on the Henrietta - Motín en la Henrieta
「ついに船を燃やすの巻」 - Tsui ni fune wo moyasu no kan 12 March 1988
25 Willy Fog arrested - El arrest de Willy Fog
「フォグ氏逮捕さるの巻」 - Fogu-shi taiho saru no kan March 19, 1988
26 The last decision - Decisión final
「フォグ氏大逆転の巻」 - Fogu-shi dai gyakuten no kan March 26, 1988

Technical data

Author Jules Verne (from the novel Around the World in 80 Days)
Regia Fumio Kurokawa
Character design Isamu Kumata
Mechanical design Submarine
Music Shunsuke kikuchi
Studio BRB Internacional (Spain), Nippon Animation (Japan)
Network 2 antenna
1st TV from 1 August to 26 August 1983
Episodes 26 (complete)
Episode duration 24 min
Italian network Italy 1, Boing, DeA Kids
1st Italian TV January 1985