January 9, 2003 – May 22, 2003
Bounty Hamster is a 2003 British-New Zealand comic science fiction animated series created by David Max Freedman and Alan Gilbey.
Storyline[]
Cassie Harrison, a 13-year-old girl, is searching the universe for her father after he was kidnapped by space pirates. To help her, she enlists the aid of the only bounty hunter she can afford, a talking blue hamster named Marion. They have an odd-couple style relationship and search the universe together for Cassie's father.
The blue space ship the pair use is divided into two parts, a driving cockpit which can be detached in order to fly down to a planet in a similar manner to a jolly boat from a vessel, and a larger booster component which is attached on top of the small driving compartment. Scenes involving driving often show large objects and rooms that appear within the ship. The name of the ship is Keith.
Running gags include Marion pulling many, or odd, objects from his cheeks as if they are large pockets. In one instance he pulls out a large assortment of objects to help him and Cassie when they are falling off a cliff and this includes a cruise ship. Also, one of the science fiction references is the gag in which C-3PO from Star Wars appears in the ship and Cassie asks who he is.
Every episode starts with a brief explanation of the basic running plot and features a sequence showing Cassie's father being taken away. This is followed by a short sequence showing Marion being uncovered from a 'tough' armoured outfit and standing on stilts. The next sequence features the screen divided into four quarters, each showing several different scenes from episodes. The credits culminate in Marion uttering a fierce growl. The closing credits show an image of stars in space. The tune to the theme sounds like the words 'bounty hamster' but with notes to a 3-4 beat.
Despite airing in a children's timeslot, the show has quite a broad appeal, containing frequent science fiction references, in-jokes and puns, as well as nods to other movies and TV series. Marion's name and eyepatch is a parody of John Wayne and the character he played in True Grit. The show's premise is also based on True Grit – a young girl loses her father and then hires a bounty hunter.
TV Show Intro[]
Sound Effects Used[]
- Hollywoodedge, Baby Coo PE143901
- Hollywoodedge, Body Falls Various TE027605
- Hollywoodedge, Cats Fighting Loud Sc PE917007/Hollywoodedge, Cats Two Angry YowlsD PE022601
- Hollywoodedge, Doppler Car Horn By Ap PE077401/Hollywoodedge, Doppler Horn By HighP CT053001
- Hollywoodedge, Girl Screams Long Hi CRT028201
- Hollywoodedge, Inflate Pop Bubble CRT049104
- Hollywoodedge, Large Ceramic Pot Bre TE023001/Hollywoodedge, Pottery Drop Break PE112401
- Hollywoodedge, Object Being Squashe PE105201
- Hollywoodedge, Piano Falls Wdangli CRT033603
- Hollywoodedge, Woman Screams LongP CRT028202
- Phil Kaye Ricochet
- SKYWALKER, WHOOSH - SYNTHESIZED JET FLY BY (slowed down)
- Sound Ideas, EXPLOSION - BOULDER EXPLOSION 01
- Sound Ideas, HUMAN, BABY - CRYING, WHINING
- Sound Ideas, RICOCHET - CARTOON RICCO 04
- Wilhelm Scream