History Franchise / AlvinAndThechipmunks

'''NOTE:''' ''Tropes under here are '''specifically''' for whole franchise. Tropes for certain category such as {{Film/A Chipmunk Adventure}} or TheAlvinShow, go there''.
Tropes exclusively for the [[TheDarkAgeOfAnimation ’60s cartoon]] series goes [[WesternAnimation/TheAlvinShow here]].\\
Tropes exclusively for the [[TheRenaissanceAgeOfAnimation ’80s cartoon]] series goes [[WesternAnimation/AlvinAndTheChipmunks here]].\\
Tropes exclusively for the [[AnimatedAdaptation 1987 animated]] film goes [[Film/AChipmunkAdventure here]].\\
Tropes exclusively for the [[LiveActionAdaptation live action/CGI]] movies goes [[Film/AlvinAndTheChipmunks here]].

* PajamaCladHero: Alvin, Simon, and Theodore wear ankle-length nightshirts most of the time.
** They're sweaters.

** CoolBigSis: Don't mess with Jeanette or Eleanor, otherwise, Brittany will put the hurt on you!

** In a musical segment, Dave makes a reference to [[Literature/UncleTomsCabin Simon Legree]].

** Simon made some subtle remarks in TheAlvinShow then when the 80’s show came along, not so much in the first two seasons, but as the show goes on his sarcasms become both more frequent and more biting.

\\

The trio is managed by their human adoptive father, David “Dave” Seville.\\

And Theodore for recording engineer Ted Keep.\\

The characters became a success, and the singing Chipmunks and their manager were given life in several animated cartoon productions, using redrawn, anthropomorphic chipmunks, and eventually films.\\
\\
The voices of the group were all performed by Bagdasarian, who sped up the playback to create high-pitched voices. This oft-used process was not entirely new to Bagdasarian, who had also used it for two previous novelty songs, including a catchy little tune titled "Witch Doctor", but it was so unusual and well-executed it earned the record two Grammy Awards for engineering, mostly due to the simple but cute sound technique he used to render the voice of the Witch Doctor for the song's nonsensical refrain, "Ooh-eee-ooh-ah-ah ting-tang walla-walla bing-bang".

'''''NOTE:''''' ''Tropes under here are specifically for whole franchise. Tropes for certain category such as {{Film/A Chipmunk Adventure}} or TheAlvinShow, go there''.
Tropes exclusively for the [[TheDarkAgeOfAnimation ’60s cartoon]] series go [[WesternAnimation/TheAlvinShow here]].\\
Tropes exclusively for the [[TheRenaissanceAgeOfAnimation ’80s cartoon]] series go [[WesternAnimation/AlvinAndTheChipmunks here]].\\
Tropes exclusively for the [[AnimatedAdaptation 1987 animated]] movie go [[Film/AChipmunkAdventure here]].\\
Tropes exclusively for the [[LiveActionAdaptation live action/CGI]] movies go [[Film/AlvinAndTheChipmunks here]].

* AllJustADream: "Row, Row, Row Your Boat", in the musical segment for The Alvin Show in which the stage where Dave gets annoyed by the chipmunks goofing up the song doesn't happen for real. Dave wakes up in bed with his hand in the air at the end.
** There were some other episodes in the 80s/90s cartoon show like when Alvin had a fever.
* AnimationBump: For the animated movie, Bagdasarian Productions picked up a lot of the Disney animators who were laid off after TheBlackCauldron flopped.
* AnthropomorphicShift: The Chipmunks went from [[http://www.misterkitty.org/extras/stupidcovers/chip1.jpg looking like actual chipmunks]] to [[http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs7/i/2005/164/8/0/Alvin_and_the_Chipmunks_1_by_Eunice_P.jpg looking only sorta like chipmunks]] to [[http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/dc/Alvin_and_the_Chipmunks2007.jpg looking like actual chipmunks again]] and NOW [[http://a1787.phobos.apple.com/us/r1000/079/Purple/v4/8f/3e/41/8f3e4125-8751-6f45-9c06-97231ac9d41e/Vc4uMPNbXXlYgGKX5cg2gg-temp-upload.pfmyilnq.320x480-75.jpg looking like some sort of weird genetic experiment that combines both designs]].
* ArtEvolution: The Ruby-Spears episodes have the characters go through several subtle design changes over the seasons. It's most notable with Dave, who becomes less cartoony-looking and more realistic as the seasons go on, but the Chipmunks and Chipettes also look markedly different in the fifth season compared to the first; they get a more rounded, cuter look -- which would be further developed in ''[[TheMovie A Chipmunk Adventure]]'' and the DiC/Mukarumi-Wolf-Swenson episodes, but by this time we've crossed into...
** ArtShift: Compare the character designs for the Ruby-Spears episodes to ''[[TheMovie A Chipmunk Adventure]]'' and the DiC and Mukarumi-Wolf-Swenson era designs.
*** Ironically however, it seems more effort was put into the animation of the Ruby-Spears episodes, the supporting and one-shot characters look more human, and more detail was put into the backgrounds and layouts, while the Mukarumi-Wolf-Swenson and DiC episodes have that standard half-assed Saturday Morning look to them. The character designs did improve with the MWS episodes, and the animation was pretty decent, but the backgrounds and layout were really simplistic; the DiC episodes are pretty awful... a lot of lazy OffModel animations, the backgrounds continue to be simplistic, and unlike the Ruby-Spears episodes, the human characters have a less human, more cartoony look to them.
*** Compare them all to the original cartoon designs of the 1961 series, from Format Films (an L.A. studio started up by Herbert Klynn and Jules Engel and various other UPA expatriates). The Chuck Jones special, ''A Chipmunk Christmas'' is a very notable bridge between the two very different styles.
**** Lampshaded in the episode "Back to Alvin's Future", where the 80s/90s Chipmunks return to their home circa ''The Alvin Show'', where Simon comments, "Everything looks so flat", while Alvin adds, "Yeah, who painted this place? The Flintstones?" They even comment on how 60s Dave doesn't look right.
* AttackOfThePoliticalAd: The episode "May the Best Chipmunk Win": at one point, Alvin rides around the playground in a wagon pulled by a donkey, while Simon and Theodore proclaim, "Don't be a donkey, vote for Alvin!" THEN, in comes Brittany, riding on the back of a elephant asking for votes.
** In TheAlvinShow, we got “Alvin For President.”
* TheBet: Alvin and Brittany's egos make this a routine trope.
** Takes full affect in Film/AChipmunkAdventure
* BigEater: Theodore and Eleanor.
* BigBrotherInstinct: In his own ways, Alvin will come to his brothers' defense, such as when a school bully kept picking on Theodore.
* BirdsOfAFeather: The trope mostly describes the relationship between The Chipmunks and The Chipettes when paired with their individual DistaffCounterpart. Somewhat subverted with Alvin and Brittany, as their similarities make them clash more than they come to understand each other in their ever BelligerentSexualTension.
* BitchInSheepsClothing: "Uncle" Ian & “Uncle” Harry.
* BlindWithoutEm: Simon and Jeanette.
* BrainyBrunette: Jeanette.
* [[BroughtToYouByTheLetterS Brought To You By the Letter A]]: Alvin usually has a large 'A' on his sweater.
* BreakoutCharacter: Simon was overshadowed in a number of early episodes (as reflected in fan mail), which devastated franchise co-owner Janice Karman (feeling like a mother neglecting the middle child), so she set out to remedy that, and soon, Simon became "Mr. Popular" among fans.
** Similar can be said for Jeanette, although she IS constantly overshadowed by Brittany, she's just about THE most popular of the entire six among the fanbase.
* BlindWithoutEm: Simon and Jeanette.
* [[BroughtToYouByTheLetterS Brought To You By the Letter A]]: Alvin usually has a large 'A' on his sweater.
* ButtMonkey / ChewToy: Dave, Simon, Miss Miller, Miss Frumpington, Crashcup, about anybody . . .
* CassandraTruth: In the 2011 movie, [[spoiler:Simon]] really does go looking for [[spoiler:Alvin]]. He just absentmindedly hopped on that lever, thus winning the jackpot. It's just contrived coincident that the usher presented him with a platter full of winning, in front of Dave.
** In Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein, the boys haven’t returned home and when they do, Dave begins questioning them. They explain that they were being chased by The Frankenstein Monster, which Dave doesn’t believe.
** Also, in The Alvin Show, Dave called the cops about Stanley the Eagle. When the cops arrived, Stanley isn’t there but high above the air, flying in circle and the cops (who thinks Dave is losing it) drag him to jail or whatever
* CatchPhrase: Alvin's "Aw, nuts".
** In the 60's version, it's Dave's "Why me?".
* CharacterDevelopment: Very, ''very'' rare for an animated children's series. Simon, especially, is more of a well-rounded character as the series progresses.
* ChickMagnet: Alvin, when he's not screwing things up with his latest ZanyScheme.
* ChildProdigy: Simon.
* ChromaticArrangement:
** Alvin - Red
** Simon - Blue
** Theodore - Green
*** Also applies to [[DistaffCounterpart The Chipettes]], though with a more lighter/feminine shade of each - Brittany's pink, Jeanette's purple (with some blue), and Eleanor's turquoise respectively.
* ColorCodedCharacters: Guess.
* ComicTrio:
** Alvin = Moe
** Theodore = Curly
** Simon = Larry
** CoolBigSis: Likewise, don't mess with Jeanette or Eleanor, otherwise, Brittany will put the hurt on you!
* CoverVersion: When you get right down to it, the Chipmunks are basically a cover band. The fact that they're chipmunks who have some decent vocals is what gives them a pass, though.
* CoversAlwaysLie: Never once in the second CGI/live action movie does Brittany wear a black leather jacket as portrayed in a poster.
** As for ''The Chipmunk Adventure''...
*** In the original poster with the Chipmunks and Chipettes in their balloons, Alvin and Simon are in normal clothing, but Theodore was shown wearing his Prince Plenty outfit, Simon was shown wearing the sombrero that he got during the drop-off at Mexico, and the Chipettes were in their Egyptian clothes. This is also prevalent on the DVD covers.
*** The 1998 VHS cover. While it depicts Alvin, Simon and Theodore being sacrificed and about to fall to the alligators just like the movie, they were seen wearing their normal clothes instead of the loincloths Alvin and Simon get (Perhaps that's for censorship reasons?) and the Prince Plenty clothes that Theodore gets.
**** Also on the same cover, the Chipettes wear their normal clothes too, but in the actual movie, they were still Egyptian clad when they save the Chipmunks from being eaten by the alligators. Brittany's hair is blonde on both this cover and the DVD covers.
*** Taken to the extreme with the 2008 re-release cover. It shows the main baddies riding ''another hot-air balloon''. They didn't ride one in the movie.
* CuteClumsyGirl: Jeanette is a rare [[WesternAnimation western]] example.
* DarkerAndEdgier: Some surprising moments...
** ''The Chipmunk Adventure'' deals an international crime ring.
** An episode of the series deals with death (see DeathByNewberyMedal).
** A Halloween special in the mid-90s features a boy named Michael who [[TheGrotesque has a deformity]] that other kids ridicule him for, but Theodore quickly becomes good friends with him and realizes he's really no different from other kids.
** Some of the last season episodes (Chipmunks Go to the Movies) are very slightly more mature than the rest of the series, probably considering they did parody some more "grown-up" movies.
** One episode actually dealt with the Berlin Wall!
* DeadpanSnarker: Alvin, all through the franchise.
** Simon made some subtle remarks in TheAlvinShow then when the 80’s show came along, not so much in the first two seasons, but as the show goes on his sarcasms become both more frequent and more biting.
*** In the ''Franchise/StarTrek'' parody, he ''literally'' becomes TheSpock.
* DistaffCounterpart: The Chipettes.
** Lampshaded by Ian in ''Chipwrecked''. He refers to Theodore as "chubby one" and to Eleanor as "girl chubby one."
*** This also becomes a case of Flanderization for Eleanor; although each of The Chipettes eventually developed their own traits to differentiate themselves from The Chipmunks, Eleanor went back and forth between being a mirror to Theodore, to being her own character, back to being a mirror to Theodore for the remainder of the series.
* TheDragAlong: In TheAlvinShow, Alvin dragged Simon and Theodore. Then comes the 80’s show where Simon was occasionally dragged along and in ''all'' the movies, ''especially'' "Film/TheChipmunkAdventure."
* EvilUncle: Ian plays this role to the chipmunks in the 2007 movie and then to the Chipettes in its sequel.
** Then there's charlatan "Uncle" Harry in in the [[WesternAnimation/AlvinAndTheChipmunks 80s show]] who pretended to be the brother of their mother so he could scam them.
* FandomSpecificPlot: Dear lord, they go through so many phases. Popular ones used in fanfiction over the years have included Miss Miller dying, resulting in The Chipettes being adopted by someone else (usually a much younger, and rather abusive foster mother); specific characters (mostly Jeanette) being kidnapped and sent somewhere far from home; one of the characters making a new best friend, who has a troubled past, [[AbusiveParents or lives a sad and depressing life]]; Dave being a pedophile and secretly wanting Brittany (and it doesn't help there was moment from the show where he seems turned on by a new dress she is wearing).
** Don't even get the canon or the mixed shippers started on their opposing subjects, it's enough to start World War 3.
* FirstNameUltimatum: ''The'' series' famous RunningGag - AAAAAALVIIIIIIN!
* FiveManBand: When with The Chipettes.
** Alvin is TheHero
** Simon is TheLancer (as a {{foil}} to Alvin) and TheSmartGuy (as the most intelligent of the group)
** Theodore is TheBigGuy (as a BigEater of the group) and KidAppealCharacter(as the cutest one of the group)
** Brittany is TheChick (as the prettiest one of the group) and TheLancer (as TheRival to Alvin) and
** Jeanette is TheSmartGuy (as the wisest one of the group)
** Eleanor is TheHeart
* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: For starters, in the musical segment for "Down In the Valley" in TheAlvinShow has Theodore giving the audience [[FlipTheBird the finger]] during the line ''"hear the wind blowing, hear the wind blow"''
** In the infamous "Sploosh" episode, Brittany's character at one point asks Jeanette (as the mermaid), "Are mermen sexier than human men?"
** Even better: from the episode "Simon Seville, Superstar", Simon (an eight-year-old boy chipmunk) is asked how he feels about being a SEX SYMBOL! He is unsure how to answer that directly, but suggests that his glasses may have sex appeal.
** In the episode where Brittany dreams herself in the role of Cinderella, a scene of her forced to do various chores has her giving baths to her sisters. Both Jeanette and Eleanor's expies in the dream are shown sitting in small bathtubs, uncovered from the waist up, with small dots drawn on. Admittedly, such a thing back in the 80s was probably no big deal unlike today, but come on, what the hell?
** An episode which parodied the show ''Moonlighting'' has what appears to be a distraught Alvin suffering a hangover. Then we see that he's just been drinking ''root'' beer and he's had far too much.
** In general there seem to be a lot of {{PantyShot}}s (from the Chipettes and other young girls) for no reason, although that may be an attempt at realism, as some of their skirts are quite short. Still...
** Depending on how you interpret it, in an early episode of the series, Alvin runs for school president, and at one point, his campaign slogan is: "Don't be a donkey, vote for Alvin!"
** The entire "[[IntercourseWithYou Getting Lucky]]" number in the '{{Film/A Chipmunk Adventure}}' movie.
** There was a ''stripper'' reference in the second live action CGI movie, however, since they didn't say "stripper" or "prostitution" outright, most of the kids in the audience won't get it, which is what makes this a GettingCrapPastTheRadar...or past the kids, anyways:
-->'''''Alvin:''''' It's Aunt Jackie. She's making us a zesty five-course meal.
-->'''''Dave:''''' Really? Well, can I talk to her?
-->'''''Theodore:''''' She's practicing her pole dancing.
-->''(Alvin and Simon look at each other)''
-->'''''Dave:''''' ''Pole dancing?''
*** Not quite past the kids. In this day and age, it wouldn't be all that uncommon for a nine year old to know that pole-dancing is tied to a....certain profession.
* GenreBusting: The writings were pretty impressive.
* GirlGroup: The Chipettes.
* GirlsNeedRoleModels. Initially the Chipettes were designed so the creators could make chick versions of songs sung by women, however the girls also ended up being main stars of the show and animated movie.
** The 1987 movie ended up featuring the girls in such a big role, you realize they drive the plot more than the boys. The girls are shown in more locations, one song featuring both groups is called "The Girls of Rock and Roll", when they're captured they escape on their own, rescue a baby penguin and take him home, discover the diamond smuggling plot on their own and rescue the boys from their own capture just before they were about to be eaten by crocs.
** Not to mention that the last episode Ruby-Spears produced featured no token appearance from either Dave or the Chipmunks in both shorts -- it was all Chipettes.
* GirlishPigtails: Eleanor.
* HaveAGayOldTime: The TV show's theme contains quite a bit. The series's TotallyRadical pretensions don't help matters. "We'll give you action and satisfaction" indeed...
* HighSchoolHustler: Alvin. Though the proper term would be ''Elementary School'' Hustler for the 80s show.
* ImaginaryLoveTriangle: An episode had one involving a GirlOfTheWeek, Simon, and a biker boy. Alvin convinced Simon to try out for a bike competition to impress the girl, only to find out that the biker was her cousin.
** Played with VERY briefly at one point where both Alvin and Simon try to impress a GirlOfTheWeek (Alvin with his athletic abilities, Simon with his manners and chivelry).
* InterspeciesRomance: In the animated movie, the prince of Egypt falls in love with Brittany and intends to make her one of his brides.
** [[http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i188/StarChipette/Ansem%20Retort/ixiyiyi.jpg The Mexican girl who kissed Alvin]] in their I, Yi, Yi, Yi, Yi (Cuanto le Gusta) number.
*** The whole show was full of this, considering the Chipmunks (and Chipettes) interacted with humans. More so Alvin with his constant flirting. In one episode, Brittany wants to ask the most popular boy in school to the dance.
*** Then there was that one character in the ’60s cartoon show episode “Sir Alvin.”
* InterspeciesAdoption / HappilyAdopted: The chipmunks are raised, and treated as Dave's 'sons.'
* JerkAss: Alvin, though he eventually comes around to being the JerkWithAHeartOfGold at some point from the get-go.
** Ian in all three LiveAction/CGI movies. Mostly dropped during the second half of the third movie, however.
** The school bullies in ''The Squeakquel''.
** At the end of each credits during the 80’s series, Theodore and Simon are struggling to hold up “Bagdasarian” for Bagdasarian Productions whilst Alvin is just holding the middle “S.”
* TheMovie:\\

''Film/AChipmunkAdventure (1987)''\\

''Film/AlvinAndtheChipmunks (2007)''\\

''Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (2009)''\\

''Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (2011)''

*** After rescuing the Chipettes on the borrowed scooter, Alvin says “In the words of In the words of [[DonaldTrump The Donald]]: ‘[[Series/TheApprentice You're Fired]]!’” to Ian.

\\

Tropes exclusively for the ’60s cartoon series go [[WesternAnimation/TheAlvinShow here]].\\
Tropes exclusively for the ’80/’90s cartoon series go [[WesternAnimation/AlvinAndTheChipmunks here]].\\
Tropes exclusively for the animated film go [[Film/AChipmunkAdventure here]]\\
Tropes exclusively for the Live Action/CGI series of films go [[Film/AlvinAndTheChipmunks here]].

*** Compare them all to the original cartoon designs of the 1961 series, from Format Films (an L.A. studio started up by Herbert Klynn and Jules Engel and various other UPA expatriates). The Chuck Jones special, ''AChipmunkChristmas'' is a very notable bridge between the two very different styles.

* ButtMonkey / ChewToy: Dave, Simon, Miss Miller, Miss Frumpington, about anybody . . .

* ComicTrio: Alvin = Moe; Theodore = Curly; Simon = Larry

** Simon made one or two remarks in TheAlvinShow then when the 80’s show came along, not so much in the first two seasons, but as the show goes on his sarcasms become both more frequent and more biting.

* EvilUncle: Ian plays this role to the chipmunks in the 2007 movie and then to the Chipettes in it's sequel.

* FranchiseKiller: Inverted with TheMovie. It managed to increase Chipmunk popularity and spawned two sequels (without {{Sequelitis}}, fortunately).

* HighSchoolHustler: Alvin. Though the proper term would be ''Elementary School'' Hustler for the 80s/90s show.

* LogoJoke: The teaser for the 2009 movie features the Chipmunks doing an canella of the [[TwentiethCenturyFox 20th Century Fox]] {{Fanfare}} while dancing around the TCF structure. Unfortunately, it's trailer-exclusive.

* ShoutOut: The Chipmunks were named after the top executives of Liberty Records, their original label, Alvin Bennett, Simon Waronker, and Theodore Keep.

** Even worse in the original series, which was simply ''The Alvin Show'', not even giving Simon and Theodore the AndTheRest treatment.

** It was used in TheAlvinShow intro.
* TalkingInYourSleep: Dave at one point in “[[WesternAnimation/TheAlvinShow Alvin’s Harmonica]].”
** Alvin as Captain Chipmunk in the Valentines special.
* TalkingToHimself: Alvin, Simon, Theodore, and David Seville are all voiced by Ross Bagdasarian, Sr. in "The Chipmunk Song."
** Since the '80s, Alvin, Simon, and Dave have been voiced by Ross Bagdasarian, Jr., while Theodore and all three Chipettes are voiced by his wife, Janice Karman.
*** Later still, when the series switched to DiC for animation, almost all of the additional one-shot characters were voiced by their associate producer Thom Watkins, with Ross occasionally stepping in for other additional male characters, while Janice voiced most additional female characters.
** [[AvertedTrope Averted]] in the LiveActionAdaptation, where each chipmunk is voiced by a different actor.
*** On the second-draft ConceptAlbum ''Chipmunk Punk'' each chipmunk is sung by a different singer as well: Ross Bagdasarian Jr. was Alvin, Steve Vining was Simon and Dave Adams of Glass Moon was Theodore.

* CoversAlwaysLie:
** Never once in the second CGI/live action movie does Brittany wear a black leather jacket as portrayed in a poster.

* TheDragAlong: In TheAlvinShow, Alvin dragged Simon and Theodore. Then comes the 80’s show where Simon was occasionally dragged along and in ''all'' the movies, ''especially'' "The Chipmunk Adventure."

Tropes exclusively for the Live Action/CGI series of films go [[Film/AlvinAndTheChipmunks here]]

\\
In addition to the usual SitCom and AnimatedSeries plots common to the era, the show features a great deal of musical numbers, with the Chipmunks and their female counterparts covering popular eighties hits in musical sequences, which is why the series (save for the last season) [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes will never EVER see the light of day on DVD.]] Although with the success of the new live-action movies, some select episodes have been released by Paramount.

The show ultimately got rebooted in its final year to feature SomethingCompletelyDifferent episodes casting the Chipmunks in satires of the various shows and movies of the era like “''{{Moonlighting}}'',” “''MiamiVice'',” “''A Nightmare on Elm Street'',” and such. They were not limited to their contemporaries, either, casting Simon as SherlockHolmes, facing Alvin's Moriarty. It also spawned a nostalgiariffic feature film, “''A Chipmunk Adventure'',” which involved the Chipmunks and the Chipettes going around the world on a scavenger hunt.

The show ultimately vanished from the airwaves in the 1990s, save for a couple of direct-to-video movies that downplayed the music angle in favor of generic Holiday plotlines. In the last couple of years however, a [[Film/AlvinAndTheChipmunks live-action adaptation]] with computer-generated (and realistically sized) chipmunks and Jason Lee as the new David Seville, has revived the characters somewhat. So much so, in fact, that it has spawned two sequels, at least one of which averts {{Sequelitis}}.

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: The entire "[[IntercourseWithYou Getting Lucky]]" number in the ''{{Film/A Chipmunk Adventure}}'' movie.

** In the musical segment for "Down In the Valley" in The Alvin Show has Theodore giving the audience [[FlipTheBird the finger]] during the line ''"hear the wind blowing, hear the wind blow"''

** There was a ''stripper'' reference in the second movie. (However, since they didn't say "stripper" or "prostitution" outright, most of the kids in the audience won't get it, which is what makes this a GettingCrapPastTheRadar...or past the kids, anyway.)
-->'''''Alvin:''''' It's Aunt Jacky. She's making us a zesty five-course meal.

-->'''''Theodore:''''' She's practising her pole dancing.

* HighSchoolHustler: Alvin. Though the proper term would be ''Elementary School'' Hustler.

!!Tropes appearing for the whole franchise:
* AllJustADream: "Row, Row, Row Your Boat", in the musical segment for The Alvin Show in which the stage where Dave gets annoyed by the chipmunks goofing up the song doesn't happen for real. Dave wakes up in bed with his hand in the air at the end.
** There were some other episodes in the 80s/90s cartoon show like when Alvin had a fever.
* AnimationBump: For the animated movie, Bagdasarian Productions picked up a lot of the Disney animators who were laid off after TheBlackCauldron flopped.
* AnthropomorphicShift: The Chipmunks went from [[http://www.misterkitty.org/extras/stupidcovers/chip1.jpg looking like actual chipmunks]] to [[http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs7/i/2005/164/8/0/Alvin_and_the_Chipmunks_1_by_Eunice_P.jpg looking only sorta like chipmunks]] to [[http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/dc/Alvin_and_the_Chipmunks2007.jpg looking like actual chipmunks again]] and NOW [[http://a1787.phobos.apple.com/us/r1000/079/Purple/v4/8f/3e/41/8f3e4125-8751-6f45-9c06-97231ac9d41e/Vc4uMPNbXXlYgGKX5cg2gg-temp-upload.pfmyilnq.320x480-75.jpg looking like some sort of weird genetic experiment that combines both designs]].
* ArtEvolution: The Ruby-Spears episodes have the characters go through several subtle design changes over the seasons. It's most notable with Dave, who becomes less cartoony-looking and more realistic as the seasons go on, but the Chipmunks and Chipettes also look markedly different in the fifth season compared to the first; they get a more rounded, cuter look -- which would be further developed in ''[[TheMovie A Chipmunk Adventure]]'' and the DiC/Mukarumi-Wolf-Swenson episodes, but by this time we've crossed into...
* ArtShift: Compare the character designs for the Ruby-Spears episodes to ''[[TheMovie A Chipmunk Adventure]]'' and the DiC and Mukarumi-Wolf-Swenson era designs.
** Ironically however, it seems more effort was put into the animation of the Ruby-Spears episodes, the supporting and one-shot characters look more human, and more detail was put into the backgrounds and layouts, while the Mukarumi-Wolf-Swenson and DiC episodes have that standard half-assed Saturday Morning look to them. The character designs did improve with the MWS episodes, and the animation was pretty decent, but the backgrounds and layout were really simplistic; the DiC episodes are pretty awful... a lot of lazy OffModel animations, the backgrounds continue to be simplistic, and unlike the Ruby-Spears episodes, the human characters have a less human, more cartoony look to them.
** Compare them all to the original cartoon designs of the 1961 series, from Format Films (an L.A. studio started up by Herbert Klynn and Jules Engel and various other UPA expatriates). The Chuck Jones special, ''AChipmunkChristmas'' is a very notable bridge between the two very different styles.
**** Lampshaded in the episode "Back to Alvin's Future", where the 80s/90s Chipmunks return to their home circa ''The Alvin Show'', where Simon comments, "Everything looks so flat", while Alvin adds, "Yeah, who painted this place? The Flintstones?" They even comment on how 60s Dave doesn't look right.
* BigEater: Theodore and Eleanor.
* BlindWithoutEm: Simon and Jeanette.
* [[BroughtToYouByTheLetterS Brought To You By the Letter A]]: Alvin usually has a large 'A' on his sweater.
* ButtMonkey / ChewToy: Dave, Simon, Miss Miller, Miss Frumpington, about anybody . . .
* CassandraTruth: In the 2011 movie, [[spoiler:Simon]] really does go looking for [[spoiler:Alvin]]. He just absentmindedly hopped on that lever, thus winning the jackpot. It's just contrived coincident that the usher presented him with a platter full of winning, in front of Dave.
** In Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein, the boys haven’t returned home and when they do, Dave begins questioning them. They explain that they were being chased by The Frankenstein Monster, which Dave doesn’t believe.
** Also, in The Alvin Show, Dave called the cops about Stanley the Eagle. When the cops arrived, Stanley isn’t there but high above the air, flying in circle and the cops (who thinks Dave is losing it) drag him to jail or whatever
* CatchPhrase: Alvin's "Aw, nuts".
** In the 60's version, it's Dave's "Why me?".
* CharacterDevelopment: Very, ''very'' rare for an animated children's series. Simon, especially, is more of a well-rounded character as the series progresses.
* ChickMagnet: Alvin, when he's not screwing things up with his latest ZanyScheme.
* ChildProdigy: Simon.
* ChromaticArrangement:
** Alvin - Red
** Simon - Blue
** Theodore - Green
*** Also applies to [[DistaffCounterpart The Chipettes]], though with a more lighter/feminine shade of each - Brittany's pink, Jeanette's purple (with some blue), and Eleanor's turquoise respectively.
* ComicTrio: Alvin = Moe; Theodore = Curly; Simon = Larry
* CoverVersion: When you get right down to it, the Chipmunks are basically a cover band. The fact that they're chipmunks who have some decent vocals is what gives them a pass, though.
* DarkerAndEdgier: Some surprising moments...
** ''The Chipmunk Adventure'' deals an international crime ring.
** An episode of the series deals with death (see DeathByNewberyMedal).
** A Halloween special in the mid-90s features a boy named Michael who [[TheGrotesque has a deformity]] that other kids ridicule him for, but Theodore quickly becomes good friends with him and realizes he's really no different from other kids.
** Some of the last season episodes (Chipmunks Go to the Movies) are very slightly more mature than the rest of the series, probably considering they did parody some more "grown-up" movies.
** One episode actually dealt with the Berlin Wall!
* DeadpanSnarker: Alvin, all through the franchise.
** Simon made one or two remarks in TheAlvinShow then when the 80’s show came along, not so much in the first two seasons, but as the show goes on his sarcasms become both more frequent and more biting.
*** In the ''Franchise/StarTrek'' parody, he ''literally'' becomes TheSpock.
* DistaffCounterpart: The Chipettes.
** Lampshaded by Ian in ''Chipwrecked''. He refers to Theodore as "chubby one" and to Eleanor as "girl chubby one."
*** This also becomes a case of Flanderization for Eleanor; although each of The Chipettes eventually developed their own traits to differentiate themselves from The Chipmunks, Eleanor went back and forth between being a mirror to Theodore, to being her own character, back to being a mirror to Theodore for the remainder of the series.
* TheDragAlong: In TheAlvinShow, Alvin dragged Simon and Theodore. Then comes the 80’s show where Simon was occasionally dragged along and in ''all'' the movies, ''especially'' "The Chipmunk Adventure."
* FandomSpecificPlot: Dear lord, they go through so many phases. Popular ones used in fanfiction over the years have included Miss Miller dying, resulting in The Chipettes being adopted by someone else (usually a much younger, and rather abusive foster mother); specific characters (mostly Jeanette) being kidnapped and sent somewhere far from home; one of the characters making a new best friend, who has a troubled past, [[AbusiveParents or lives a sad and depressing life]]; Dave being a pedophile and secretly wanting Brittany (and it doesn't help there was moment from the show where he seems turned on by a new dress she is wearing).
** Don't even get the canon or the mixed shippers started on their opposing subjects, it's enough to start World War 3.
* FirstNameUltimatum: ''The'' series' famous RunningGag - AAAAAALVIIIIIIN!
* FiveManBand: When with The Chipettes.
** Alvin is TheHero
** Simon is TheLancer (as a {{foil}} to Alvin) and TheSmartGuy (as the most intelligent of the group)
** Theodore is TheBigGuy (as a BigEater of the group) and KidAppealCharacter(as the cutest one of the group)
** Brittany is TheChick (as the prettiest one of the group) and TheLancer (as TheRival to Alvin) and
** Jeanette is TheSmartGuy (as the wisest one of the group)
** Eleanor is TheHeart
* FranchiseKiller: Inverted with TheMovie. It managed to increase Chipmunk popularity and spawned two sequels (without {{Sequelitis}}, fortunately).
* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: The entire "[[IntercourseWithYou Getting Lucky]]" number in the ''{{Film/A Chipmunk Adventure}}'' movie.
** In the infamous "Sploosh" episode, Brittany's character at one point asks Jeanette (as the mermaid), "Are mermen sexier than human men?"
** Even better: from the episode "Simon Seville, Superstar", Simon (an eight-year-old boy chipmunk) is asked how he feels about being a SEX SYMBOL! He is unsure how to answer that directly, but suggests that his glasses may have sex appeal.
** In the episode where Brittany dreams herself in the role of Cinderella, a scene of her forced to do various chores has her giving baths to her sisters. Both Jeanette and Eleanor's expies in the dream are shown sitting in small bathtubs, uncovered from the waist up, with small dots drawn on. Admittedly, such a thing back in the 80s was probably no big deal unlike today, but come on, what the hell?
** An episode which parodied the show ''Moonlighting'' has what appears to be a distraught Alvin suffering a hangover. Then we see that he's just been drinking ''root'' beer and he's had far too much.
** In general there seem to be a lot of {{PantyShot}}s (from the Chipettes and other young girls) for no reason, although that may be an attempt at realism, as some of their skirts are quite short. Still...
** In the musical segment for "Down In the Valley" in The Alvin Show has Theodore giving the audience [[FlipTheBird the finger]] during the line ''"hear the wind blowing, hear the wind blow"''
** Depending on how you interpret it, in an early episode of the series, Alvin runs for school president, and at one point, his campaign slogan is: "Don't be a donkey, vote for Alvin!"
** There was a ''stripper'' reference in the second movie. (However, since they didn't say "stripper" or "prostitution" outright, most of the kids in the audience won't get it, which is what makes this a GettingCrapPastTheRadar...or past the kids, anyway.)
-->'''''Alvin:''''' It's Aunt Jacky. She's making us a zesty five-course meal.
-->'''''Dave:''''' Really? Well, can I talk to her?
-->'''''Theodore:''''' She's practising her pole dancing.
-->''(Alvin and Simon look at each other)''
-->'''''Dave:''''' ''Pole dancing?''
*** Not quite past the kids. In this day and age, it wouldn't be all that uncommon for a nine year old to know that pole-dancing is tied to a....certain profession.
* GenreBusting: The writings were pretty impressive.
* GirlsNeedRoleModels. Initially the Chipettes were designed so the creators could make chick versions of songs sung by women, however the girls also ended up being main stars of the show and animated movie.
** The 1987 movie ended up featuring the girls in such a big role, you realize they drive the plot more than the boys. The girls are shown in more locations, one song featuring both groups is called "The Girls of Rock and Roll", when they're captured they escape on their own, rescue a baby penguin and take him home, discover the diamond smuggling plot on their own and rescue the boys from their own capture just before they were about to be eaten by crocs.
** Not to mention that the last episode Ruby-Spears produced featured no token appearance from either Dave or the Chipmunks in both shorts -- it was all Chipettes.
* HaveAGayOldTime: The TV show's theme contains quite a bit. The series's TotallyRadical pretensions don't help matters. "We'll give you action and satisfaction" indeed...
* HighSchoolHustler: Alvin. Though the proper term would be ''Elementary School'' Hustler.
* ImaginaryLoveTriangle: An episode had one involving a GirlOfTheWeek, Simon, and a biker boy. Alvin convinced Simon to try out for a bike competition to impress the girl, only to find out that the biker was her cousin.
** Played with VERY briefly at one point where both Alvin and Simon try to impress a GirlOfTheWeek (Alvin with his athletic abilities, Simon with his manners and chivelry).
* InterspeciesRomance: In the animated movie, the prince of Egypt falls in love with Brittany and intends to make her one of his brides.
** [[http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i188/StarChipette/Ansem%20Retort/ixiyiyi.jpg The Mexican girl who kissed Alvin]] in their I, Yi, Yi, Yi, Yi (Cuanto le Gusta) number.
*** The whole show was full of this, considering the Chipmunks (and Chipettes) interacted with humans. More so Alvin with his constant flirting. In one episode, Brittany wants to ask the most popular boy in school to the dance.
*** Then there was that one character in the ’60s cartoon show episode “Sir Alvin.”
* InterspeciesAdoption / HappilyAdopted: The chipmunks are raised, and treated as Dave's 'sons.'
* JerkAss: Alvin, though he eventually comes around to being the JerkWithAHeartOfGold at some point from the get-go.
** Ian in all three LiveAction/CGI movies. Mostly dropped during the second half of the third movie, however.
** The school bullies in ''The Squeakquel''.
* LogoJoke: The teaser for the 2009 movie features the Chipmunks doing an canella of the [[TwentiethCenturyFox 20th Century Fox]] {{Fanfare}} while dancing around the TCF structure. Unfortunately, it's trailer-exclusive.
** At the end of each credits during the 80’s series, Theodore and Simon are struggling to hold up “Bagdasarian” for Bagdasarian Productions whilst Alvin is just holding the middle “S.”
* MediumAwareness: "Quick! Cut to a commercial!" in the episode "Food for Thought."
** The entire episode of ''Back to our Future'' was practically this trope personified, from the Chipmunks talking about the year they were created (not born, as in previous episodes) to them meeting their original designs, to the dramatic shift in animation, which both the 60's and 80's Dave notices. They even complain about how flat everything is in the 60's, a time when cartoon backgrounds were as simple as possible and things like proper perspective were not established as a standard.
** The musical segments of the 60s cartoon show.
* PajamaCladHero: Alvin, Simon, and Theodore wear ankle-length nightshirts most of the time.
** They're sweaters.
* PaperThinDisguise: The episode "Ask Alvin".
* PowerTrio: Both the Chipmunks and Chipettes.
** BeautyBrainsAndBrawn: Brittany, Jeanette and Eleanor.
** BlondeBrunetteRedhead: Eleanor, Jeanette and Brittany.
** FreudianTrio: For the Chipmunks and Chipettes respectively.
*** TheMcCoy: Alvin, Brittany.
*** TheSpock: Simon, Jeanette.
*** TheKirk: Theodore, Eleanor.
** RockTrio
** TheThreeFacesOfEve
*** Crone: Brittany
*** Mother: Jeanette (sometimes Eleanor)
*** Maiden: Eleanor (sometimes Jeanette)
* RaisedByHumans
* RedOniBlueOni: In both bands.
** Chipmunks: Alvin and Simon.
** Chipettes: Brittany and Jeanette.
* RoadShow
* RockAndRoll: While the Chipmunks covered famous songs and delved into many genres, they were mostly portrayed as a Rock band in the cartoon series, usually with Alvin on guitar, Simon on keyboards/piano, and Theodore on drums.
* SensitiveGuyAndManlyMan: Theodore and Alvin.
* ShoutOut: The Chipmunks were named after the top executives of Liberty Records, their original label, Alvin Bennett, Simon Waronker, and Theodore Keep.
* SpotlightStealingTitle: ALVIN & The Chipmunks.
** Even worse in the original series, which was simply ''The Alvin Show'', not even giving Simon and Theodore the AndTheRest treatment.
* SuspiciouslyAproposMusic: Happens very often. For example, the Chipettes sing "It's My Party" after Brittany gets upset at her birthday party.
* SuspiciouslySimilarSong: All the cover songs.
* TechnologyMarchesOn: Many times you see Simon referencing the latest computers as being incredible, despite graphics which have ''visible'' pixels and being roughly the size of a microwave oven. Audio equipment is similarly out-dated, using reel-to-reel recording devices instead of digital media which was gaining popularity even in the late eighties when this show was produced.
** “''Back to our Future''” [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] this phenomenon by having the 60's Chipmunks all amazed at the advances in technology.
--> '''60's Alvin:''' Incredible! There's music coming from [[BuffySpeak these little silver thingies!]]
--> '''60's Simon:''' And this computer has as much information on it as the public library!
--> '''60's Theodore:''' Look at this TV! It's color! And it has more than three channels!
* ThemeTuneRollCall: Alvin, Simon, The-o-dore! Doot, doot, doo-doo-doo-doot...
** It was used in TheAlvinShow intro.
* TalkingInYourSleep: Dave at one point in “[[WesternAnimation/TheAlvinShow Alvin’s Harmonica]].”
** Alvin as Captain Chipmunk in the Valentines special.
* TalkingToHimself: Alvin, Simon, Theodore, and David Seville are all voiced by Ross Bagdasarian, Sr. in "The Chipmunk Song."
** Since the '80s, Alvin, Simon, and Dave have been voiced by Ross Bagdasarian, Jr., while Theodore and all three Chipettes are voiced by his wife, Janice Karman.
*** Later still, when the series switched to DiC for animation, almost all of the additional one-shot characters were voiced by their associate producer Thom Watkins, with Ross occasionally stepping in for other additional male characters, while Janice voiced most additional female characters.
** [[AvertedTrope Averted]] in the LiveActionAdaptation, where each chipmunk is voiced by a different actor.
*** On the second-draft ConceptAlbum ''Chipmunk Punk'' each chipmunk is sung by a different singer as well: Ross Bagdasarian Jr. was Alvin, Steve Vining was Simon and Dave Adams of Glass Moon was Theodore.
* VocalEvolution: The Bagdasarians voiced the Chipmunks in a very slow and stiff manner for dialogue initially (likely due to issues timing according to the sped up audio), though throughout the eighties AnimatedSeries onwards they slowly develop a more natural emotional range. This is particularly evident in cases such as Simon, whose better acting allowed for better use of his sarcasm and neuroses.
* WiseBeyondTheirYears: Simon (who nevertheless gets a lot of NotSoAboveItAll moments to remind us he's still a kid), and to a lesser extent all the Chipmunks and Chipettes except Theodore.
* WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes: This happens to the Chipettes in the movie. This instance is [[JustifiedTrope justified]] because [[TruthInTelevision snakes really do eat rodents, including chipmunks.]]
** Justified considerably less (but still not completely unjustified) because these chipmunks are [[RodentsOfUnusualSize somewhere between the size of a housecat and the size of a human]].
*** The snakes are also absolutely humongous as well.
*** But if you're talking about the two live action ''Alvin and The Chipmunks'' movies, where The Chipmunks and the Chipettes are normal-sized chipmunks, then their fear of snakes is perfectly justified.
*** Though inverted in The Alvin Show, where The Chipmunks helped Stanley the eagle fly.
** Also justified in the episode of the '80s cartoon which shows how the Chipmunks came to live with Dave -- they were babies, and much smaller, and Dave was torn to pieces when he thought they'd been eaten by a snake at the zoo.
** In the 2009 live action/CGI movie, Theodore becomes afraid of eagles and Jeanette is for some reason scared of heights.
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***** Lampshaded in the episode "Back to Alvin's Future", where the 80s/90s Chipmunks return to their home circa ''The Alvin Show'', where Simon comments, "Everything looks so flat", while Alvin adds, "Yeah, who painted this place? The Flintstones?" They even comment on how 60s Dave doesn't look right.

**** Lampshaded in the episode "Back to Alvin's Future", where the 80s/90s Chipmunks return to their home circa ''The Alvin Show'', where Simon comments, "Everything looks so flat", while Alvin adds, "Yeah, who painted this place? The Flintstones?" They even comment on how 60s Dave doesn't look right.

* ArtShift: Compare the character designs for the Ruby-Spears episodes to ''[[TheMovie A Chipmunk Adventure]]'' and the DiC and Mukarumi-Wolf-Swenson era designs.
** Ironically however, it seems more effort was put into the animation of the Ruby-Spears episodes, the supporting and one-shot characters look more human, and more detail was put into the backgrounds and layouts, while the Mukarumi-Wolf-Swenson and DiC episodes have that standard half-assed Saturday Morning look to them. The character designs did improve with the MWS episodes, and the animation was pretty decent, but the backgrounds and layout were really simplistic; the DiC episodes are pretty awful... a lot of lazy OffModel animations, the backgrounds continue to be simplistic, and unlike the Ruby-Spears episodes, the human characters have a less human, more cartoony look to them.
** Compare them all to the original cartoon designs of the 1961 series, from Format Films (an L.A. studio started up by Herbert Klynn and Jules Engel and various other UPA expatriates). The Chuck Jones special, ''AChipmunkChristmas'' is a very notable bridge between the two very different styles.

Alvin and the Chipmunks is an American animated music group created by Ross Bagdasarian, Sr. for a novelty record in 1958. The group consists of three singing animated anthropomorphic chipmunks:\\
Alvin, the mischievous troublemaking leader (and star) of the group.\\

And Theodore for recording engineer Ted Keep.

The characters became a success, and the singing Chipmunks and their manager were given life in several animated cartoon productions, using redrawn, anthropomorphic chipmunks, and eventually films.

Jeanette, the tall absent-minded professtor\\

The voices of the group were all performed by Bagdasarian, who sped up the playback to create high-pitched voices. This oft-used process was not entirely new to Bagdasarian, who had also used it for two previous novelty songs, including "Witch Doctor", but it was so unusual and well-executed it earned the record two Grammy Awards for engineering. Bagdasarian, performing as the Chipmunks, released a long line of albums and singles, with "The Chipmunk Song" becoming a number-one single in the United States.

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*** In the ''Franchise/StarTrek'' parody, he becomes TheSpock. ''Literally.''

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: The entire "Getting Lucky" number in the ''Chipmunk Adventure'' movie.
** IntercourseWithYou

There was a ''stripper'' reference in the second movie. (However, since they didn't say "stripper" or "prostitution" outright, most of the kids in the audience won't get it, which is what makes this a GettingCrapPastTheRadar...or past the kids, anyway.)

* GenreBusting: The writing was pretty impressive.

* IllTellYouWhenIveHadEnough: Spoofed with Theodore drinking carrot juice at a bar.

*** Then there was Daisy Belle in the ’60s cartoon show.

* PantyShot: The Chipettes get ''lots'' of them, most frequent and noticable in ''A Chipmunk Adventure,'' which has a ton of GettingCrapPastTheRadar moments.

* SomethingCompletelyDifferent

** ''Back to our Future'' [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] this phenomenon by having the 60's Chipmunks all amazed at the advances in technology.

---

Bagdasarian decided to capitalize on this success by assigning the voice technique to a trio of singing chipmunks -- brainy Simon, gluttonous Theodore and HighSchoolHustler Alvin -- for the best-selling Christmas tune "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)", in which an increasingly annoyed David Seville's attempts to keep his chipmunk singers on-message served as a FramingDevice, and led to Dave Seville's trademark CatchPhrase, [[SayMyName Alvin? Alvin? ALLLLLLLVIN!"]]

Alvin and the Chipmunks is an American animated music group created by Ross Bagdasarian, Sr. for a novelty record in 1958. The group consists of three singing animated anthropomorphic chipmunks:\\ Alvin, the mischievous troublemaking leader (and star) of the group.\\

And Theodore, the chubby, impressionable one as well as backup singer.\\
The trio is managed by their human adoptive father, David “Dave” Seville.\\

The voices of the group were all performed by Bagdasarian, who sped up the playback to create high-pitched voices. This oft-used process was not entirely new to Bagdasarian, who had also used it for two previous novelty songs, including "Witch Doctor", but it was so unusual and well-executed it earned the record two Grammy Awards for engineering. Bagdasarian, performing as the Chipmunks, released a long line of albums and singles, with "The Chipmunk Song" becoming a number-one single in the United States.

** ArtShift: Compare the character designs for the Ruby-Spears episodes to ''[[TheMovie A Chipmunk Adventure]]'' and the DiC and Mukarumi-Wolf-Swenson era designs.
*** Ironically however, it seems more effort was put into the animation of the Ruby-Spears episodes, the supporting and one-shot characters look more human, and more detail was put into the backgrounds and layouts, while the Mukarumi-Wolf-Swenson and DiC episodes have that standard half-assed Saturday Morning look to them. The character designs did improve with the MWS episodes, and the animation was pretty decent, but the backgrounds and layout were really simplistic; the DiC episodes are pretty awful... a lot of lazy OffModel animations, the backgrounds continue to be simplistic, and unlike the Ruby-Spears episodes, the human characters have a less human, more cartoony look to them.
*** Compare them all to the original cartoon designs of the 1961 series, from Format Films (an L.A. studio started up by Herbert Klynn and Jules Engel and various other UPA expatriates). The Chuck Jones special, ''AChipmunkChristmas'' is a very notable bridge between the two very different styles.

* BigEater: Eleanor and Theodore.

* ButtMonkey / ChewToy: Dave, and Simon on occasion.

* TheCoverChangesTheGender: "The Girls of Rock and Roll," for TheMovie. They changed every other recitation of the chorus to "We are the ''boys'' of rock and roll," so that the Chipmunks and Chipettes could have a Battle Of The Sexes song.

*** In the infamous "Sploosh" episode, Brittany's character at one point asks Jeanette (as the mermaid), "Are mermen sexier than human men?"
*** Even better: from the episode "Simon Seville, Superstar", Simon (an eight-year-old boy chipmunk) is asked how he feels about being a SEX SYMBOL! He is unsure how to answer that directly, but suggests that his glasses may have sex appeal.

* GenreBusting: The writing was pretty impressive for a Saturday Morning cartoon.

* JerkAss: Alvin, though he eventually comes around to being the JerkWithAHeartOfGold at some point.
** He was just simply a JerkWithAHeartOfGold from the get-go.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheAlvinShow'' (the 1960s animated series)
* ''WesternAnimation.AlvinAndTheChipmunks'' (the 1980s animated series)
* ''Film.AlvinAndTheChipmunks'' (the live action movies)
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* ''Film.AlvinAndTheChipmunks'' (the live action movies)

[[WesternAnimation/TheAlvinShow The Alvin Show]].