Theodore and the Invention That Doesn't Work – the 1989 animated series

Animation is a rich and colorful universe, capable of crossing national borders and creating bridges between different cultures. A clear example of this transcultural connection is “Teodoro and the Invention That Doesn't Go”, an Italian-Japanese animated series inspired by the Franco-Belgian comic strip “Cubitus”, born from the creative flair of Dupa.

The Series and its protagonists

The series tells the story of Teodoro, a white anthropomorphic dog with a lazy character, who seems to want to spend his days between food and sleep. However, Teodoro's life is anything but monotonous, thanks to his master, an eccentric professor with boundless ingenuity. Unfortunately for Teodoro, the professor's inventions, although ingenious, have a tendency to never work as expected, giving rise to a series of hilarious and unpredictable situations.

These daily adventures are enriched by the presence of secondary characters who give depth and color to the plot: the black and white cat, Teodoro's historical rival, who never misses an opportunity to torment our protagonist with his pranks and mischief; and Linda, the young neighbor with whom Teodoro is secretly in love, making the story even more intriguing and compelling.

An Anime with an international flavor

Despite its clear Franco-Belgian inspiration, “Theodore and the Invention That Doesn't Work” is an example of how animation can be a fusion of different styles and influences. This series represents a perfect union between the typically European humor of the “Cubitus” strips and the narrative tradition of Japanese animation.

The TV theme songs, then, are further confirmation of this anime's ability to adapt and reinvent itself for different audiences. The first theme song, broadcast on Italia 1, performed by the famous Cristina D'Avena, has a decidedly Italian flavour, while the second, broadcast on Fox Kids, reflects the essence of the original US intro, thanks to the voice of Rachelle Cano.

Characters

Theodore (Dommel):

• Description: Teodoro is the protagonist of the series. He is a large white dog, with a good and cheerful character, but with an insatiable appetite. Although he tries to have peaceful days, he often finds himself irritated by the actions of Cat or Bea. He is also the Professor's favorite guinea pig to test his new inventions.
• Original voice actor: Naoki Tatsuta
• Italian voice actor: Sante Calogero

Professor (Ron):

• Description: The Professor is Teodoro's master, recognizable by his large white mustache and pink sweater. Although he is a brilliant inventor, his eccentric creations often tend not to work as intended, largely due to the interference of people or Cat. He usually uses Teodoro to test his inventions.
• Original voice actor: Kaneta Kimotsuki
• Italian voice actor: Antonio Paiola

Cat (Ratso):

• Description: Cat is an annoying black and white feline in the neighborhood. Although he often pretends to be friendly, he tries to sabotage the Professor's inventions and acts as a rival towards Teodoro.
• Original voice actor: Rika Matsumoto
• Italian voice actor: Diego Sabre

Linda (Cherry):

• Description: Linda is a young teenager who seems to have a fondness for Teodoro. Teodoro and the Professor also seem to have a crush on her.
• Original voice actor: Mīna Tominaga
• Italian voice actress: Roberta Gallina Laurenti

Bea (Beatrix):

• Description: Bea is a middle-aged, corpulent and rather authoritarian woman. She often behaves rudely towards Teodoro, but she seems to have a secret crush on the Professor.
• Original voice actor: Kazuko Sugiyama
• Italian voice actress: Lidia Costanzo

Agent Whistle:

• Description: He is a policeman characterized by the whistle that he always carries in his mouth, used to scold people when trouble occurs.

Conclusion

“Theodore and the Invention That Doesn't Work” is an anime that, despite drawing inspiration from a Franco-Belgian comic series, has managed to combine elements from different cultures, giving the public a fun and international series. An insight into how the art of animation can be a truly universal language, capable of uniting enthusiasts of all ages and backgrounds under a single banner.

Technical Sheet of “Teodoro and the invention that doesn't work”

• Author: Luc Dupanloup
• Regia:
  • Hidehito Ueda
  • Hiroshi Sasakawa
  • Jun'ichi Sakata
  • Keiichiro Mochizuki
  • Yukio Okazaki
• Subject: Kaoru Toshima
• Character Design: Luc Dupanloup
• Artistic direction: Torao Arai
• Music: Takanori Arisawa
• Animation Studio:
  • Telescreen Netherlands
  • TV Tokyo
• Original Network: TV Tokyo
• First Transmission: From April 5, 1988 to March 7, 1989
• Number of Episodes: 52
• Relationship: 4: 3
• Duration per Episode: 24 minutes

Italian version:

• Network: Italy 1
• First Transmission: 1989
• Duration per Episode: 24 minutes
• Dialogues: Cristina Robustelli
• Dubbing studio: Deneb Film
• Dubbing Direction: Lidia Costanzo

With its combination of humor, adventure and interpersonal relationships, “Teodoro and the Invention That Doesn't Go” has won the hearts of many viewers, both in Japan and in Italy, becoming a reference series in the panorama of Italian-Japanese animation .