The Undersea Adventures of Captain Nemo

The Undersea Adventures of Captain Nemo was a series of five-minute cartoons produced in Canada in the mid-1970s. They told the story of Captain Mark Nemo and his young assistants, Christine and Robbie, in their nuclear-powered submarine, the Nautilus.

Background

In the fall of 1975, children in the United States and Canada were introduced to the animated series The Undersea Adventures of Captain Nemo. In America, Captain Nemo was introduced as part of the long running children's program Captain Kangaroo on CBS. In Canada, one five-minute Captain Nemo cartoon was shown during each episode of Peanuts and Popcorn which ran on CBC Television.

Created by Al Guest & Jean Mathieson who were also the producers and directors as well as writers, it was produced by their studio, Rainbow Animation of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Undersea Adventures of Captain Nemo was a fanciful re-imagining of the original Jules Verne character Captain Nemo, from his book Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea.

This time Nemo was depicted as an ocean researcher named Mark Nemo. Blonde and hunky, Mark traveled the world's oceans doing scientific research, providing assistance to both humans and animals and thwarting evil doers. Along for the ride came two kids Christine and Robbie who learned (along with the viewers) about life beneath the sea as they went.

These cartoons were quite short, exactly five minutes in length (30 seconds of which was the opening). Besides being educational, these cartoons are an insight into some of the philosophy around children's education of the mid 70's. Each episode would attempt to convey some information about oceanography or marine biology, and all of the plot lines would be resolved cleanly in five minutes without resorting to much violence.

At times, Captain Nemo reflects the influence of the 1970s environmental movement, but the sometimes serious attempts to convey environmentalist themes are softened by its lighthearted style.

Voice talent

Len Carlson and Billie Mae Richards provided all of the character voices for the entire series.

Production

Al Guest was a legend in Canadian broadcasting circles since the 1960s. His partner, Jean Mathieson joined him in the seventies to found Rainbow Animation in Toronto which produced Nemo.

Episodes

Airdates are unknown, nor is this a confirmed airing order.

Rescue of a Killer
Battle of the Giants
Poachers of the Deep
Jaws of Death
Monsters on the Beach
The Invisible Girl
Deadly Ribbons
The Floating Peril
Guess What's Coming for Dinner
Killer From the Past
The Golden Trap
The Floating Gold Mine
The Tuna Trapper
The Fish Bomber
The Devil's Doorway
The Coral Maze
The Mine at the Bottom of the Sea
Wild Water and Oil
The Silver Age
The Ice Menagerie
Behind Bars
Shark Patrol
Dolphin Express
Collision At Sea
Eyes of the Deep
The Bloodhound of the Sea
The Arab Solution
The Undersea Looters
Shadow of Death
The Pearl Snatchers
Circle of Fire
Rapture of the Deep
Fish Farm
Cool It, Captain
The Little Island
Mystery Island
All That Glitters
Queen of the Deep
Don't Raise the Bridge, Lower the River
The Big Prize
Go Fetch, Killer
Dangerous Welcome
Mystery Triangle
The Meteorite Shower
Snake Charmer
Haul Away Joe
See Through Killer
The Shark Catalog

Media availability

Digiview Entertainment have published some of the episodes of the animated series to DVD. Digiview Entertainment's releases are found in thin-cases and have been found for as low as a dollar a DVD.

DVD Episodes

Monsters on the Beach (VOL. 1): Rescue of a Killer, Battle of the Giants, Poaches of the Deep, Jaws of Death, Monsters on the Beach, The Invisible Girl, Deadly Ribbons, The Floating Peril, Guess What's Coming For Dinner, Killer from the Past, The Golden Trap, The Floating Gold Mine

The Coral Maze (VOL. 2): The Tuna Trapper, The Fish Bomber, The Devil's Doorway, The Coral Maze, The Mine at the Bottom of the Sea, Wild Water and Oil, The Silver Sea, The Ice Menagerie, Behind Bars, Shark Patrol, Dolphin Express, Collision at Sea

Mystery Island (VOL. 3): Eyes of the Deep, The Bloodhound of the Sea, The Arab Solution, The Undersea Solution, Shadow of Death, The Pearl Snatchers, Circle of Fire, Rapture of the Deep, Fish Farm, Cool Lt. Captain, The Little Island, Mystery Island

Dangerouse Welcome (VOL. 4): All That Glitters, Queen of the Deep, Don't Raise the Bridge Lower the River, The Big Prize, Go Fetch Killer, Dangerous Welcome, Mystery Triangle, The Meteorite Shower, Snake Charmer, Haul Away Joe, See Through Killer, The Shark Catalog

External links

• The Undersea Adventures of Captain Nemo fansite, retrieved from Archive.org on 2010-8-2