Dennis and Gnasher (2009 TV series)

Dennis and Gnasher
Genre	Cartoon
Created by	Carol Noble Caimh McDonnell
Directed by	Glenn Kirkpatrick Jon Izen
Starring	Sophie Aldred Teresa Gallagher Jo Wyatt Rob Rackstraw Bob Golding
Theme music composer	George Guerrette
Opening theme	"Doesn't Make Sense" by Bob Saker and Mary Carewe
Composer(s)	George Guerrette
Country of origin	United Kingdom Australia
Language(s)	English
No. of series	1
No. of episodes	52
Production
Executive producer(s)	Donna Andrews Ken Anderson Tim Brooke-Hunt Ben Gray Jo Rooney
Producer(s)	Donna Andrews Jane Schneider Sue Smith
Running time	11 minutes
Production company(s)	Beano Productions Red Kite Animation Sticky Pictures
Broadcast
Original channel	CBBC (UK) Nine Network (Australia) The Hub (USA) Disney XD (India)
Original run	7 September 2009 – 2 March 2010
Chronology
Preceded by	Dennis The Menace (1996)

Dennis and Gnasher is a British/Australian animated television series currently being aired on CBBC. Based on the original comic strips from The Beano, it features the adventures of the rebellious schoolboy Dennis the Menace and his dog Gnasher. The programme is aimed for 5-to-10 year olds^[1] and commenced on 7 September 2009 and ended on 26 February 2010 after 52 episodes.^[2]

Production

The new series features the return of Dennis, Gnasher, Mum, Dad, Curly and Pie-Face and also features the introduction of Dennis' little sister Bea, as well as several original characters like Athena. The production shots also showed Dennis' treehouse with a more menacing design.^[2] Screenshots and an episode can be found at the production company Red Kite Animation's website.^[1]

Images of the characters and production were featured in The Beano's 70 year anniversary.

The show was created at Red Kite's Scottish animation studios as well as Sticky Pictures in Australia.^[3] Consisting of 52 11-minute segments, the animation is directed by Glenn Kirkpatrick with Donna Andrews as producer (Sticky Pictures) alongside Jane Schneider and Sue Smith (Red Kite).^[4] Jane O'Brien, Sarah Aubrey and Keith Scott are confirmed to be voice actors for the series.^[5]

Changes

A number of changes have been made to the original format compared to the comics and previous television series. As well as being updated and modernised, Dennis will lose his catapult and peashooter and will no longer deliberately cause trouble,^[6][7][8] In addition Walter, Dennis main rival, was made more masculine, removing elements like his pink pyjamas, a small poodle, effeminate voice and his friends being mainly girls. There were fears that Dennis could be seen as homophobic or at the least bullying Walter about his effeminacy, sparking fears and criticism that the show has been toned down for reasons of political correctness.^[9] However the producers have stated that "Dennis will not lose his sense of fun."^[6]

Cartoonist Lew Stringer has refuted on his blog the political correctness claims made by some areas of the media, especially the reports that Dennis will no longer use catapults and Gnasher will no longer bite people. Describing these claims as "another 'political correctness gone mad' myth embellished by the media", he has posted videos showing that the show has not been softened up to the extent that the media has reported.^[10]

Despite, or possibly because, of these changes, the show was received positively by the mainstream audience and a small number of professional critics, and the show was a ratings winner on the CBBC Channel at launch. However, the show has been criticised by long-standing fans of the character for changing Dennis' personality to a softer personality, and has been looked at by fans as the worst moment of the comic's history.^{[citation needed]}

DVD releases

3 volumes of DVDs have been released so far, which include Double Trouble, School Rules?, Highly Over-rated! and Fangs for the Memories.

International Broadcast

The show began airing on The Hub in the United States on the same day the network launched on 10 October 2010. The programme also airs in Australia on Nine. The programme also began unofficial airing on Disney XD in India. It will air on Disney Channel Asia on 14 May 2011.

Episode list

The full list of episodes has been released:^[3][11][12]

Ep#	Title	First aired	Production Code
1	"The Way of Den-Do"	7 September 2009	1
After Walter takes up origami as a martial art, Dennis scoffs and comes up with his own martial art, and so the two prepare to battle it out.
2	"Smelling of Roses"	8 September 2009	3
Dennis tries to launch a rocket to explore the galaxy. When his first attempt fails, Dennis is inspired by the mayor's call to make Beanotown Green-o-town and tries other fuel sources to launch his space mission. Dennis's seemingly maniacal commitment to the eco-drive earns him an award from the mayor, but just as Dennis's contribution is about to be recorded, the whole of Beanotown discover what Dennis has really been up to, with explosive results!
3	"Curtains for Dennis"	9 September 2009	2
Mum has bought curtain material for the soon to be newly decorated kitchen, and asks Dad to look after it while she is out. However, Dad falls asleep and mistakenly agrees that Dennis can use it as a giant sail. When Dad realises that it has gone, he calls Dennis to bring it back, but unfortunately Dennis gets into a spot of bother with the Colonel, who takes the curtain material off Dennis. In an attempt to steal it back, the garden being wrecked and the kitchen is left looking like a bombsite. Dennis, Gnasher and Dad have to clean up the whole kitchen and redecorate it in time for Mum returning. When Mum decides it is time to hang the new curtains, Dennis is about to get the curtain material, but Mum reveals that she has changed her mind and bought new curtains instead.
4	"Splash!"	10 September 2009	4
It is a scorching hot day in Beanotown. Walter and his friends are enjoying themselves in Walter's new swimming pool, but Dennis and his friends cannot join in. Sergeant Slipper comes past and tells them that they cannot play with water today because there is a water shortage. Hot and wanting their own pool, Dennis and his friends decide to dig one in Dennis's backyard and figure out how to fill it later. Their digging leads them to find the old drains of Beanotown. In their exploration and hunt for water, they end up being chased by Slipper, and releasing the overflow of Beanotown Lake. The water flows right through the drains and fills the hole in Dennis's garden, giving the boys the swimming pool they wanted.
5	"The Mystery of the Missing Teapot"	11 September 2009	5
Mum is clearing out the house and orders Dennis to pack up some old junk and then clean his room. During the cleaning, Dennis comes across a bundle of objects that inspire him to be a private investigator. Gran comes round to see if she can find one of her old teapots as she needs it for a date with a gentleman later on that day, so Dennis takes up the missing teapot as his first case. Starting off their trail by searching the town for the teapot, Dennis and Gnasher go back to the crime scene to investigate, and just as Gran has given up hope of finding the teapot in time for her date, Dennis sees Dad with the teapot. Gran rushes towards it and drops it. Dennis is devastated that it is smashed, but Gran reveals that it was what was inside the teapot that mattered most—her extra special set of diamond encrusted false teeth, found just in time for the arrival of her date.
6	"Castle in the Air"	14 September 2009	8
The fair comes to Beanotown and Dennis is desperate to go, but Mum needs him to take care of little sister Bea whilst she attends her relaxation class. Taking Bea with him, Dennis arrives at the fairground, only to discover that the fair's owners, recalling the chaos he and his friends caused last year, have put 'safety' measures in place which prevent Dennis, Curly, Pieface and Bea from having any kind of fun. Bea threatens to do a poo unless she gets to go on the bouncy castle, so Dennis takes advantage of the operator's tea break and fills the bouncy castle for Bea, unaware that he has used helium by mistake. Caught in the act they flee the scene, only for Dennis to discover that Bea has climbed aboard the now airborne castle. Dennis and Gnasher, Curly and Pieface execute a daring plan to save Bea, but ruins the bouncy castle in the process, landing Dennis in trouble again.
7	"Aliens Among Us"	15 September 2009	6
After watching a film about an alien invasion, Dennis, Curly and Pie Face decide to make their own film. However, Walter stumbles across them filming, and he only sees the action, not the camera. Filming what he sees on his mobile phone, he runs to tell the whole of Beanotown about the alien invasion. As panic spreads, Dennis and his friends discover the chaos and decide to keep filming in order to help make the best of their own alien film. Meanwhile, Sergeant Slipper investigates the alien landing that Walter has seen, and discovers the truth—that the spaceship is a playhouse with glow sticks in it.
8	"No Joke"	16 September 2009	7
The joke shop owner, Mr Har Har, needs Dennis's help to persuade his mother not to close the joke shop down. The gang decides to try and pass Mr Har Har off as a successful vet.
9	"Dennis V.I.P"	17 September 2009	9
With one backstage pass for a Ratbucket gig, Dennis and his friends pass themselves off as Ratbucket, only for the real Ratbucket not to be able to play at his own concert.
10	"Bad Dad"	18 September 2009	10
Determined to teach his son how to behave more like a grown up, Dad forces Dennis to accompany him to his school reunion party. Dad dresses in traditional school uniform as per the invitation's instructions, but he has been tricked by Walter's dad—all the other guests are in formal party wear. Outraged that Dad has been humiliated, Dennis urges him to take action. Joining forces in their revenge, Dennis discovers Dad has a prankster side he has never seen before, as his father shows everyone who the real menace of Beanotown School is.
11	"Gnasher in Nappies"	21 September 2009	11
Visiting Gran in hospital, Dennis has to sneak Gnasher in under the nose of hospital security. Disguising Gnasher as a baby to evade detection, Dennis can only look on as his dog is taken home by the short-sighted Mr and Mrs Butcher. It is up to Dennis and his friends Curly and Pie Face to rescue Gnasher, but this turns out to be bigger challenge than they expected.
12	"Rubberbands and Paperclips"	22 September 2009	12
After Dennis breaks his bike, Dad is unable to afford a new one, so Dennis convinces him to ask his boss for a raise. Unfortunately, Mr Scrimp reduces his wages instead. Dennis then trashes his house to convince Scrimp that his family are poor, so that Mr Scrimp will feel compelled to raise Dad's wages. Just as Scrimp has been taken in by Dennis' plan, Mum and Dad arrive home laden with shopping bags, resulting in Dad getting fired on the spot. Dennis resolves to get Dad his old job back by secretly causing chaos at his office. To restore order Scrimp rehires Dad, sealing the deal with a generous pay rise. Mum and Dad repair the house, but still don't have enough money to buy Dennis a new bike, instead it gets repaired with Dad's office rubber bands and paperclips.
13	"Boot"	23 September 2009	14
After another failed attempt to catch Dennis when he is causing trouble, Sergeant Slipper's job is on the line. Slipper's boss hires a super-efficient cop called Boot to replace him, which apprehends most of the residents of Beanotown for the most insignificant of actions and sets out to ban all modes of fun for everyone else. Teamed with Walter, Dennis plans to ensure that Slipper keeps his job and Beanotown returns to normal.
14	"Breakout"	24 September 2009	15
When Gnipper is imprisoned in Beanotown dog pound, Dennis sets up a dramatic plan to rescue him by sending Gnasher into the dog pound under false pretences. However, when Gnasher does not come home with Gnipper, Dennis takes it upon himself to rescue them both by posing as a misbehaving dog. Dennis is seized and sent to the dog pound, where he realises exactly why Gnipper and Gnasher have not come home—the dog pound is a dog palace where all the pampered dogs get whatever they want. After spotting Dennis, Gnasher is ecstatic to be reunited but trouble arises when the kennel warden arrives. She loves Gnasher, and does not want to see him taken away. Despite the sausages on offer, Gnasher makes his choice clear, and together, the three of them escape from the kennel to go home.
15	"Eyes on the Prize"	25 September 2009	16
When Dennis breaks his skateboard again, Dad agrees to buy Dennis the best skateboard there is as a replacement if he is able to win a prize at the upcoming school award ceremony. At this late stage, the only prize that Dennis has a chance of winning is the best behaviour prize, so he does everything he can to win the contest. When Walter is ruled out for knocking over the guest speaker, Dennis looks certain to win—until Gnasher escapes from the house and follows Dennis to school, where there is a reception full of food. After chaos ensues, there seemed no chance of winning the best behaviour prize but Mr Guff finds the day's events so funny that he awards Dennis a special prize for outstanding individual achievement. Dennis gets his prize and earns his new skateboard.
16	"Dance of the Seven Pies"	26 September 2009	13
After a bet from Walter on the Dance Contest, Dennis trains Pie Face to be a dancer. Meanwhile, Dennis' dad tries to cure Gnasher of his fleas.
17	"The Pond Monster"	27 September 2009	17
In an attempt to reclaim the park, Dennis and friends try to scare everyone with a 'pond monster.'
18	"Dennis' Thank-you's"	28 September 2009	18
Dennis tries to get a birthday present by saying thank you to his relatives. However, because of Dennis' lack of manners, they take his attempts in a negative way.
19	"Fish Tale"	29 September 2009	19
Dennis and friends have a go at catching the Legendary Beanotown Pike, but when Walter hears about it, the game is on.
20	"Masters of the House"	30 September 2009	20
Mum is going to the yoga school and leaves Dad in charge. During her absence, Dennis, Curly and Pie Face try to make a pie, with disastrous results to follow.
21	"Game On"	1 October 2009	21
To get his friends back from Walter's group, Dennis challenges Walter to a video games battle.
22	"All-in Menacing"	2 October 2009	22
After a wrestling accident, Gnasher swallows a canister of laughing gas at the vet's. Dennis, along with Gnasher hide in the conference centre, where dad gives a speech. However, the canister leaks, causing Gnasher to fart laughing gas and having everyone laughing.
23	"Attack of the Walterbot"	3 October 2009	31
For a school project, Dennis and Walter both build robots. However, during an accident, both robots merge, causing Dennis and Walter to defend the school.
24	"Great Outdoors"	4 October 2009	33
During a camping holiday, Dennis, Gnasher and Dad meet Terry Tuff and get challenged to a nature survivor's challenge, ending with a race to the summit of Mount Beano.
25	"No Pies for Pie Face"	5 October 2009	34
Dennis and Co. have to control Pie Face's obsession with pies during the Pie Festival. Otherwise, they will be grounded.
26	"Dog Tired"	6 October 2009	32
To win a football match against Dennis' team, Walter fattens Gnasher up and brings in top striker David Peckham. But will this stop Dennis and team from winning?
27	"Dig This"	1 February 2010	23
On a school trip, Dennis finds out that he is descentant to a warrior tribe. He also discovers that Montanna Smith (a famous Indiana Jones-esque explorer and one of Walter's personal heroes) is actually a thief who's trying to steal the treasure of Dennis' ancestor.
28	"The In Crowd"	2 February 2010	24
Athena gets envious when seeing a pampered Abyssinian Tripe Hound in a magazine and when she hears that Dennis owns one (i.e. Gnasher), she wants him. However, being an owner to Gnasher isn't all cracked up to be!
29	"First Aid Dennis"	3 February 2010	25
Dennis tries to get a first aid badge to get into a wrestling match. However, Walter's the judge and it's not going to be easy.
30	"Rock And A Hard Place"	4 February 2010	26
Dennis is made to attend a Neighbourhood Watch meeting by his parents. This, however clashes with a jam session with Curly and Pie Face.
31	"Horsey Havoc"	5 February 2010	27
Dennis breaks Bea's toy horse, so Dennis is searching for a new one to cheer her up.
32	"Grounded"	6 February 2010	28
Dennis is grounded on the first day of the summer holidays, but Dennis doesn't manage to stomach it. Still the town isn't having him sneaking out of home.
33	"Double Act"	7 February 2010	29
Gnasher and Gnipper enter a dog show, ignoring what Walter said about not having true talent. He wants Athena and Miss Mini Wuff to win, but Walter has just underestimated Gnasher's true capabilities.
34	"The Curse of Madam Gigi"	8 February 2010	30
To have Dennis be nice to him, Walter disguises as fortune teller Madam Gigi to warn Dennis that if Walter gets hurt, he "will get his just dessert."
35	"Random Access Mayhem"	9 February 2010	35
There's a new computer system which keeps data for the school which works using a memory stick. This gives Dennis a golden opportunity, but it makes Walter suspicious.
36	"Treehouse Treason"	10 February 2010	36
Gran's hurt her foot after trying to build a pigsty for her pet pig, Harley. She makes Dennis deal with Harley and then starts living in Dennis' tree house and Dennis isn't happy about it!
37	"Menace and Co"	11 February 2010	37
Walter applies for work experience at Scrimp Towers, where Dennis' dad works. Dennis tries to help dad with the work and save his job from Walter after an accident.
38	"No Place Like Home"	12 February 2010	38
Dad gets promoted, which means his new job will involve his family moving to Drainotown, much to Dennis' disappointment, so he tries to change dad's mind and stay in Beanotown.
39	"Dennis Jumps the Line"	13 February 2010	39
Dennis plays a prank on the citizens of Beanotown, causing them to evacuate, which causes trouble for Dennis later.
40	"Operation Windbreaker"	14 February 2010	40
Dennis gets a new amplifier but doesn't have a chance to try it out because of Bea's demands and threats to let off a lethal fart if not done so he decides to hide the beans. However, Bea retaliates by stealing the volume knob off the amplifier.
41	"Menace on the Mend"	15 February 2010	41
To avoid getting into trouble, Dennis acts ill, leading him into a boring night in the hospital.
42	"Athena's Party"	16 February 2010	42
Dennis builds a BMX track near Athena's VIP party. However, Athena is standing for none of it.
43	"Dennis' Hiccups"	17 February 2010	43
Dennis gets a case of the hiccups from Mr. Har Har's can-o-giggles and is looking for a way to cure them ready for a film premier.
44	"Nanny State"	18 February 2010	44
Dennis' parents hire Nanny Moonbeam, a hippy who has an unusual and peaceful way of curing Dennis' bad behaviour. However, it gets on his nerves and eventually drives his parents up the wall.
45	"Mother's Day"	19 February 2010	45
Dennis tries to please mum by behaving for the whole day. But this isn't easy for him.
46	"Run Rabbit Run"	20 February 2010	46
Dennis and Gnasher are on a mission to find Walter's pet rabbit after Gnasher scares it away.
47	"Beanotown In Bloom"	22 February 2010	51
The garden is accidentally wrecked when Dennis tries to give Gnasher a bath, so the gang have to fix the mess before Mum comes home.
48	"Fangs for the Memories"	23 February 2010	47
After hearing reports about a bat creature in Beanotown, Dennis highly suspects that The Colonel is a vampire.
49	"Curly's Collection"	24 February 2010	48
Curly doesn't attend band practice and Dennis finds out that this is because of a plan by Walter to sabotage the Dinmakers, involving a collectible series.
50	"Substitute Creecher"	25 February 2010	49
An accident happens at school and Mrs Creecher says that she will tell Dennis' parents about it at the school parent's evening. Dennis, Curly and Pie Face set up a scheme to stop this from happening.
51	"Lost"	26 February 2010	50
Dennis, his friends and Walter's friends get marooned on a desert island when Dennis attempts to escape a boring field trip.
52	"You're Joking"	2 March 2010	52
Dennis makes a line of practical jokes for Mr. Scrimp, called 'The Menace Collection'. However, Dennis soon learns that it will put Mr. Har Har out of business.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Red Kite Animation". Red Kite Animation. http://www.redkite-animation.com/index.php?page=dennis. Retrieved 19 September 2009. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "Dennis and Gnasher - Unstoppable!". Red Kite Animation. http://www.dennisandgnasher.com/. Retrieved 19 September 2009. 
3. ^ ^{a b} Bynum, Aaron (9 September 2009). "New 'Dennis & Gnasher' Animation on CBBC". Animation Insider. http://www.animationinsider.net/article.php?articleID=2183. Retrieved 19 September 2009. 
4. ^ Bynum, Aaron (17 October 2008). "New 'Dennis & Gnasher' Cartoon on the Way". Animation Insider. http://www.animationinsider.net/article.php?articleID=1876. Retrieved 19 September 2009. 
5. ^ "Screen Australia -Former AFC : Searchable Film Database". Screen Australia. http://www.afc.gov.au/filmsandawards/filmdbsearch.aspx?view=title&title=DENGNA. Retrieved 19 September 2009. 
6. ^ ^{a b} "Has Dennis lost his menace?". BBC. 8 September 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/8243807.stm?ls. Retrieved 19 September 2009. 
7. ^ Ellicott, Claire (13 August 2009). "Dennis with no Menace: BBC gives cartoon rogue a politically correct makeover". Daily Mail. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1206010/Dennis-Menace-BBC-gives-cartoon-rogue-politically-correct-makeover.html. Retrieved 19 September 2009. 
8. ^ Robertson, Colin (12 August 2009). "Dennis The Menace is de-menaced by the BBC". The Sun. http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/2583051/Dennis-The-Menace-is-de-menaced-by-BBC.html. Retrieved 19 September 2009. 
9. ^ Irvine, Chris (12 August 2009). "Dennis the Menace receives politically correct makeover". London: Telegraph.co.uk. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/6013115/Dennis-the-Menace-receives-politically-correct-makeover.html. Retrieved 19 September 2009. 
10. ^ Stringer, Lew (24 August 2009). "Another "political correctness gone mad" myth embellished by the media". Blimey! It's another blog about comics!. http://lewstringer.blogspot.com/2009/08/another-political-correctness-gone-mad.html. Retrieved 19 September 2009. 
11. ^ "BBC iPlayer - Search results for Dennis Gnasher". BBC iPlayer. http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/search/?q=Dennis%20Gnasher. Retrieved 5 February 2010. 
12. ^ "BBC - CBBC Programmes - Dennis and Gnasher - Episodes from 2009". BBC Programme Database. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00mr0kc/episodes/2009. Retrieved 5 February 2010. 
    "BBC - CBBC Programmes - Dennis and Gnasher - Episodes from 2010". BBC Programme Database. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00mr0kc/episodes/2010. Retrieved 5 February 2010. 
    "BBC - CBBC Programmes - Dennis and Gnasher - Episodes coming up". BBC Programme Database. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00mr0kc/episodes/upcoming. Retrieved 5 February 2010. 

External links

• Dennis and Gnasher
• Dennis & Gnasher at BBC Programmes
• Dennis and Gnasher at The Hub