Diabolik (TV series)

Diabolik
Also known as
  • Saban's Diabolik
  • Diabolik: Track of the Panther
GenreAction
Adventure
Police drama
Superhero
Based onDiabolik
by Angela and Luciana Giussani
Written by
  • Jean Cheville
  • Florence Sandis
Directed by
  • Charles Corton
  • Jean-Luc Ayak
  • Thierry Coudert
Composers
Country of origin
  • United States
  • France
  • Italy
Original languages
  • English
  • French
  • Italian
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes40 (list of episodes)
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Production
Executive producers
  • Vincent Chalvon-Demersay
  • Jacqueline Tordjman
ProducerWill Meugniot
EditorStéphane Berry
Running time24 minutes
Production companies
Original release
Network
ReleaseMay 7, 1999 (1999-05-07) –
January 28, 2001 (2001-01-28)
Infobox instructions (only shown in preview)

Diabolik (also known as Saban's Diabolik and Diabolik: Track of the Panther; French: Diabolik: Sur les Traces de la Panthère, lit. "Diabolik: In the Footsteps of the Panther")[1] is an animated television series based on the Italian comic book series of the same name by Angela and Luciana Giussani.[2] Developed by Charles Corton and written by Jean Cheville and Florence Sandis,[3] the series was an international co-production between Saban Entertainment, Saban International Paris, M6 Métropole Télévision and Mediaset,[4] with Asiatic animation services by Ashi Productions and Saerom Animation.[3][5]

Production on the show began in 1997.[6] In Europe, it premiered on Fox Kids on May 5, 1999, and lasted for 40 episodes before ending on January 1, 2001.[7][8] Ownership of the series passed to Disney in 2001 when the company acquired Fox Kids Worldwide, which also includes Saban Entertainment.[9][10][11] Although it was co-produced in the U.S., it never aired in that country.[12]

The series that focuses on master thief Diabolik and his woman companion Eva, as they fight the criminal organisation Brotherhood and its leader Dane, while evading Inspector Ginko.[3][5] The series differs considerably from the darker-toned comic, making it more suitable for a young audience;[1] the main differences include the rejuvenation of Diabolik and Eva Kant, the introduction of new characters (such as the main antagonist Dane), the replacement of Diabolik's Jaguar E-Type with a fictional modern car, the absence of murders by the title character, and the setting in the real world rather than fictional locations.[1]

  1. ^ a b c "Diabolik - Track of the Panther". Guide Supereva (in Italian). 2015.
  2. ^ Animation Magazine. 1997. p. 59.
  3. ^ a b c "Diabolik sur les Traces de la Panthère". Planete Jenusse (in French).
  4. ^ TV World. Alain-Charles Pub. 1997. p. 16.
  5. ^ a b "Cartoni animati: in autunno arriva Diabolik" (in Italian). 19 June 2000.
  6. ^ "Programming power house". 15 September 1997.
  7. ^ Scott Roxborough (20 February 2014). "21st Century Fox's Sky Deutschland Greenlights Superhero Series 'Diabolik'". The Hoolywood Reporter.
  8. ^ Nick Vivarelli (February 20, 2014). "Rupert Murdoch's European Payboxes Join Forces on 'Diabolik' TV Drama Series". Variety.
  9. ^ "U.S. Copyright Public Records System".
  10. ^ "Disney+ and Missing Saban Entertainment & Fox Kids-Jetix Worldwide Library - StreamClues". 14 September 2022. Archived from the original on 26 December 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  11. ^ "Liste - BVS Entertainment | Séries".
  12. ^ Gerard Raiti (July 1, 1999). "Comics to Animation: What's Coming Next?". AWN.