The Inspector (animation)

The second animated series from DePatie-Freleng Enterprises, and something of a Spin-Off from The Pink Panther series, The Inspector can best be described as what would happen if you turned the Mind Screw of the Pink Panther films Up to Eleven, while dialling down the incompetence of its main character. The cartoons feature the titular Inspector attempting to solve surreal crimes in his home country of France, and generally failing miserably. The other main characters are the Inspector's dim-witted Spanish assistant, Deux-Deux, and the Inspector's boss, the Commissioner.

There were 34 cartoons produced between 1965 and 1969, making it DF-E's longest running series apart from the animated Pink Panther shorts. The Inspector was also the companion series for the Pink Panther cartoons in The Pink Panther Show for its first three seasons, after which it was replaced by The Ant and the Aardvark.

Both the Inspector and Commissioner were revived as recurring characters in the 1993 Pink Panther revival.

Tropes used in The Inspector (animation) include:

Animated Adaptation: While the series differs in many ways from the live-action Pink Panther films, it's far more like an animated version of the films than the actual Pink Panther cartoons are.
The Bad Guy Wins: The Inspector very rarely solves cases successfully, and even when he does, the bad guys still find some way to screw him over.
Beam Me Up, Scotty: While the Inspector is undoubtedly inspired by Clouseau, he isn't called Clouseau. In fact, we never find out what his full name is.
- However, in the animated title sequence for the Alan Arkin film, Inspector Clouseau, the Inspector is featured and he is clearly named Clouseau.
Expy: The Inspector himself, for the live-action Inspector Clouseau. Unlike Clouseau, the animated Inspector isn't dangerously incompetent, and while he certainly isn't very good at his job, he's much more prone to bad luck than bad judgement. Likewise, the Commissioner is in effect an animated version of Dreyfus from the live-action films, though he only lashes out at the Inspector in anger rather than actually plotting to kill him.
Only Sane Man: Either the Inspector or the Commissioner. If the Commissioner appears in the cartoon then he'll be the Only Sane Man, and if not, then the Inspector himself will take on the role.
The Other Darrin: The Commissioner was voiced by Larry Storch, Paul Frees, Mark Skor, and Marvin Miller over the course of the series. When he appeared in the 1993 Pink Panther series he was voiced by Kenneth Mars.
- Deux-Deux was voiced by Don Messick for one cartoon, although Pat Harrington still voiced the Inspector in that cartoon.
- In the bumper segments for the 1969 Pink Panther Show both the Inspector and Sgt. Deux-Deux were voiced by Marvin Miller.
Talking to Himself: Pat Harrington voices both The Inspector and Deux-Deux, meaning this trope occurs practically Once an Episode. Many of the cartoons even have Harrington voicing the villains as well.
Take That: "London Derierre" is basically one gigantic Take That against the British Police, mocking them because they don't carry guns.