Ratz (TV series)

Ratz

Logo Ratz official
Created by Richard Zielenkiewicz
(as Monsieur Z)
Stéphane Melchior-Durand
Starring French:
Éric Judor
Ramzy Bédia
English:
Terrence Scammell
Rick Jones
Tony Robinow
Sonja Ball
Arthur Holden
Music by Herve Lavandier
Country of origin
  • France
  • Canada
No. of episodes 52
Production
Producer(s) Marc du Pontavice
Running time approx. 22 mins. (11 mins. per episode)
Production company(s) Tooncan
Xilam
Release
Original network Télétoon/Teletoon (Canada)
France 3/Canal J (France)
Original release 21 September 2003 – 11 November 2006
Website

Ratz is a Canadian/French animated television series created by France's Xilam studios, with joint production from Canada. The show stars two rats, Rapido and Razmo, aboard the S.S. Wanderer, a cheese ship with (seemingly) no actual destination. The focus of the series is on the adventures of the two rats, including guarding the cheese, interacting with other stowaways and various ill-fated encounters with the crew. The rats themselves live in the hull of the ship in a lavish two-bedroom apartment.

While being targeted at young children in France, the series has gained a small cult following of older ages in Canada, due to its original late night air time. The French version features the voices of the comedy duo Éric et Ramzy, while the English version features the voices of Terrence Scammell as Rapido and Rick Jones as Razmo. Unlike most animated programs designed for a younger audience, Ratz has (except for the episode "The Genie") no moral resolve at the end of each episode.

The show is also notable for its positive portrayal of rats, unusual for Western and North American cultures, which often give its fictional rats selfish, antagonizing and evil characteristics. Also of interest is the pure blend of traditional animation and 3D animation, and the eclectic soundtrack by Hervé Lavandier.

Ratz was originally titled Rapido and featured a chunkier animation style; some websites (including Xilam's own website ) still reflect this.

Ratboarding

An integral part of Ratz is the ratboard, a transportation device resembling a mousetrap with a jet engine strapped to the back (though in the episode "The Rat Exterminator", the rats do not recognize an actual mousetrap). The ratboard provides the rats with speedy travel in and around the ship. Rapido is very fond of his ratboard and enjoys challenging Razmo to races, often winning.

Ratboards are also used to reach otherwise inaccessible places, provide speedy rescues, move things by tether or simply to impress guests.

Characters

Oddly, Razmo is called 'Ratz' (as in the name of the show) on the blurb for the show in Sky programme guides.

The crew of the S.S. Wanderer consists of three personnel: Benny the chef, Svetlana the engineer and The Captain. Neither of them is considered a villain in the series, though Benny is the one most enraged by the rats. Usually the crew will return to their normal duties after brushing shoulders with Rapido and/or Razmo. Humorously enough, the crew's diet consists mostly of cheese, which Svetlana hates and Benny is allergic to (although Benny's allergies are not seen or discussed within the show.)

Merchandise

Albums

A single entitled Pas de panique à bord (French for No panic on board), distributed by Sony Music, is marketed in January 2004. It was ranked the twelfth of music charts in the first week with over 70,000 copies sold. An album entitled A fond les bananes! (French for Background Bananas!) with the voices of Éric and Ramzy distributed by Sony Music is marketed 5 April 2004 in France. The theme of the Pas de panique à bord, the opening credits. A video clip of this album with a duration of 90 seconds was broadcast on France 2 and France 3, 5 times a day in April.

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