History WesternAnimation / TheAntAndTheAardvark

* SuperSpeed: The episode "Isle of Caprice" ends with the Aardvark sinking the island he was marooned on. He says ''Well, Honolulu is about 2000 miles from here. But with him'' (the Shark) ''on my tail, I should get there in 15 minutes'' before running off to the sunset with shark in hot pursuit. Assuming he's not exaggerating, to travel that distance in a short time, that poor Aardvark would be traveling 8,000 mph (over 10 times the speed of sound)!

-->'''Aardvark:''' Well...Honolulu is about two thousand miles from here, but with him on my tail I oughta make it in about fifteen minutes!

/!'''This show contains examples of'''

* InformedSpecies: The Aardvark doesn't look very much like an actual aardvark (though he does have a lot of resemblance to an anteater, and refers to himself as an anteater all the time). He's got the aardvark ears, at least. Though he looks a heck of a lot more like an aardvark than "WesternAnimation/{{Arthur}}" does.

!'''This show contains examples of'''

* NoCanOpener:
** This is the plot of "Odd Ant Out". The blue and green aardvarks fight over a can of chocolate-covered ants, but neither of them has a can opener.
** In a [[JustForPun delicious]] irony, they didn't even need one as the can had a pull-off ring cap.

* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: John Byner voiced the Aardvark in the style of comedian Jackie Mason, while voicing Charlie Ant in the style of singer/western actor Music/DeanMartin. In fact, most of the minor characters that John Byner voiced were imitations of famous celebrities of that time period.

* SeldomSeenSpecies: The Aardvark

* AbsenteeActor: Charlie has no lines in "Isle of Caprice".

* AardvarkTrunks: The titular Aardvark looks more like an anteater with his mouth at the end of his snout, and even then, it's super flexible and he usually tries to eat Ant by sucking him rather than slurping him up. Even worse in ''WesternAnimation/Panther and Pals'', this time, the Aardvark's snout is curved upwards like an elephant's.

* AardvarkTrunks: The titular Aardvark looks more like an anteater with his mouth at the end of his snout, and even then, it's super flexible and he usually tries to eat Ant by sucking him rather than slurping him up. Even worse in ''Pink Panther and Pals'', this time, the Aardvark's snout is curved upwards like an elephant's.

** WesternAnimation/{{The A|ntAndTheAardvark}}ardvark.

* GenderFlip: The Aardvark was changed to a female character named Elise in the German version.

''The Ant and the Aardvark'' was a theatrical cartoon series created by Creator/DePatieFrelengEnterprises, the same company who created ''WesternAnimation/ThePinkPanther'', among other cartoons, including most of the ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'' cartoons from the late 1960s. The series consisted of 17 cartoons that ran from 1969 to 1971. It followed the misadventures of a [[AmazingTechnicolorWildlife blue aardvark]] who tried but failed to eat a red ant named Charlie. After its initial theatrical run, ''The Ant and the Aardvark'' later became a part of ''The Pink Panther Show'', with all 17 episodes airing in reruns, with the characters themselves being integrated into later iterations of ''The Pink Panther'' itself.

* HodgepodgeComputer: The Aardvark assembles a computer to advise him how to catch Charlie. None of the machine's methods succeed, leading the Aardvark to declare, "And for a computer, you stink!" Subverted when the device responds, "Who said I was a computer? I'm an automatic pop-up toaster! And I'll prove it!" The Aardvark gets deluged with fresh toast.

* NudeColoredClothes: Aardvark is a rare animal example.

* ForciblyFormedPhysique: One episode has the Aardvark go sledding down a snowy hill in pursuit of the ant. The ant passes through a wire mesh fence ... and so does the Aardvark. Once the Aardvarks's sled slows to a stop, he observes that his body is entirely cut in a criss-cross pattern, and examines a square piece taken from his snout. The Aardvark then puts it back hastily, and sits perfectly still, hoping that nothing worse happens.

* HodgepodgeComputer: The Aardvark assembles a computer to advise him how to catch the ant. None of the machine's methods succeed, leading the Aardvark to declare, "And for a computer, you stink!" Subverted when the device responds, "Who said I was a computer? I'm an automatic pop-up toaster! And I'll prove it!" The Aardvark gets deluged with fresh toast.

* MetronomicManMashing: This happens after the ant takes some vitamins.

* PalatialSandcastle: In "Dune Bug", the ant builds a sandcastle on the beach and moves into it. Of course, this is just a normal-sized sandcastle, but an ant is very small, so...

* SecondFaceSmoke: The Aardvark tries doing this to Charlie in the first short with a cigar, taking deep drags and blowing the smoke into the ant hill to "smoke him out." It backfires, and the Aardvark is the one who ends up sick from the smoke, while Charlie isn't harmed.

** In the very first short, titled "The Ant And The Aardvark", the Aardvark's entire body turned red after sticking his snout in Charlie's ant hill, trying to suck in the ant. The hue change happens when he inhales Tabasco sauce, flames emit from the bottom of his feet, and he launches into the air like a rocket before landing in a lake. He then drinks up some of a lake to cool down, which reverts his color to his usual blue.

** In an episode of ''The New Pink Panther Show'', the Aardvark (as a Franchise/{{Tarzan}} parody) screams "Oy Vey!" in a Tarzan-like manner.

** "Dune Bug", the Aardvark getting kicked off the beach by the lifeguard who keeps telling him "[[NoIndoorVoice OFF THE BEACH!!!!]]".

--> '''Charlie:''' There's only one thing I got to say to you! You're a stupid, long-nosed—[''Gets sucked into the straw.]

* AbsenteeActor: The Ant has no lines in "Isle of Caprice".

* UsefulNotes/AmericanAccents: John Byner imitated Jackie Mason to provide the voice (and accent) for Aardvark.

** The blue aardvark also feeds via VacuumMouth, rather than by extending a long sticky tongue as real aardvarks or anteaters do.

* BarefootCartoonAnimal: While he is barefoot, Aardvark goes around in pants and a t-shirt, the same blue color as his fur.

* BearsAreBadNews: The bear who beats the crap out of Aardvark in his house in "The Froze Nose Knows".
* BullyingADragon: Rather like [[WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes Sylvester]] before him, Aardvark ends up in a hospital with an angry dog in "From Bed to Worse". His response to the dog's noisy barking, when limping by, is to smack the dog's leg cast. Soon enough the dog gets his revenge.

* DeadpanSnarker: Both Charlie and the Aardvark. Charlie's nemesis with his brainless schemes gives him more than enough stimulation to practice snarking. As for the Aardvark his snarkiness can be divided into two types: the first is the one that comes before a plan and involves lots of puns, and the second comes after the plan ''and'' the fall and naturally ends up [[SelfDeprecation directed to himself]].
* DesertedIsland: Aardvark winds up on one of these in "Isle of Caprice".

* ForciblyFormedPhysique: One episode has the aardvark go sledding down a snowy hill in pursuit of the ant. The ant passes through a wire mesh fence ... and so does the aardvark. Once the aarvarks's sled slows to a stop, he observes that his body is entirely cut in a criss-cross pattern, and examines a square piece taken from his snout. The aardvark then puts it back hastily, and sits perfectly still, hoping that nothing worse happens.
* GenderFlip: Aardvark was changed to a female character named Elise in the German version.
* GreenAroundTheGills: Aardvark's face turns green briefly in "The Ant from Uncle", when Charlie lights a cigar in his stomach and smoke comes out of his ears.

-->'''Charlie:''' Hey, pal...is there anything I can do for ya?
-->'''Aardvark:''' (''weakly'') Yeah...make a wish for me. Wish I was dead.
* GrowlingGut: Happened to Aardvark in "Odd Ant Out".
* HodgepodgeComputer: Aardvark assembles a computer to advise him how to catch the ant. None of the machine's methods succeed, leading the Aardvark to declare, "And for a computer, you stink!" Subverted when the device responds, "Who said I was a computer? I'm an automatic pop-up toaster! And I'll prove it!" The Aardvark gets deluged with fresh toast.
* HumiliationConga: Sometimes the Aardvark doesn't just have ''one'' thing blow up in his face...at times, he makes Wile E. Coyote look lucky.
* IAmNotWeasel: Aardvark refers to himself as an anteater in most of the cartoons, and he does look more like an anteater than an aardvark. Anteaters and aardvarks are only distantly related in RealLife.
* InevitableWaterfall: Parodied in "Hasty but Tasty" when the aardvark, on a motorcycle, falls over a cliff into a river, heading for the InevitableWaterfall. He restarts the bike at the last possible moment and does an aquatic U-turn...right into ''another waterfall''.
* InformedSpecies: Aardvark doesn't look very much like an actual aardvark (though he does have a lot of resemblance to an anteater, and refers to himself as an anteater all the time). He's got the aardvark ears, at least. Though he looks a heck of a lot more like an aardvark than "WesternAnimation/{{Arthur}}" does.

--> '''Aardvark''' (using a long straw): Look, ant! I am inventing a new kind of communication system between us! If you want to say something to me, all you do is speak through the tube!
--> '''Charlie''': There's only one thing I gotta say to you! You're a stupid, long-nosed -- *gets sucked into the straw*
--> '''Aardvark''': *gulp* I hated to cut him off in the middle of an insult, but I couldn't resist his aroma!
* {{Jerkass}}: Aardvark. Very much so. And he's got the [[TooDumbToLive brains to match]].

--> '''Aardvark''' (in a hospital): And that's enough out of you dog! If you don't like the cast system around here, take a walk!
--> '''Aardvark''': That's one reason why they don't send ants to college! Nobody likes a smart ant!

* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: John Byner voiced Aardvark in the style of comedian Jackie Mason, while voicing Charlie Ant in the style of singer/western actor Music/DeanMartin. In fact, most of the minor characters that John Byner voiced were imitations of famous celebrities of that time period.
* NoIndoorVoice: The lifeguard from "Dune Bug" who constantly [[BerserkButton mistook Aardvark for a dog]].

* PunctuatedForEmphasis: In "From Bed to Worse", Aardvark says while whacking with his cane on the dog's leg cast: "DON'T! '''WHACK!''' BE! '''WHACK!''' A! '''WHACK!''' WISE! '''WHACK!''' GUY! '''WHACK!'''" All it gets him is (another!) SlasherSmile.

* RuleOfFunny: Whenever Aardvark tries to suck up Charlie, the sound of a vacuum cleaner is used.

** "Hasty But Tasty", the instant hole showing up at unfortunate times and foiling Aardvark's plans.
** "Dune Bug", Aardvark getting kicked off the beach by the lifeguard who keeps telling him "[[NoIndoorVoice OFF THE BEACH!!!!]]".
** "Isle of Caprice", the shark chasing after Aardvark every time he tries to invade the ants' island.
** "Scratch A Tiger", the tiger beating up Aardvark every time he tries to eat the ants.
** "Science Friction", the scientist kicking Aardvark out of his lab when he tries to eat Charlie.
** "Mumbo Jumbo", Aardvark getting beaten up by Charlie's friend, Tiny the elephant.
** "Don't Hustle an Ant With Muscle", Charlie using his newfound strength to give Aardvark the what-for.
** "Rough Brunch", Term eating any of the wood around him to help Charlie out against Aardvark.

** In "Never Bug an Ant", Charlie moves his anthill over flat land. Aardvark puts a lit stick of dynamite in the anthill, runs and covers his ears. Charlie yells "POW!" as Aardvark puts his head in and says "Hey, Ant! Whaddaya think of that?" After the dynamite explodes in his face, Aardvark walks off saying, "I know what ''I'' think of that...but I shouldn't say it in public!"
* SecondFaceSmoke: The Aardvark tries doing this to the Ant in the first short with a cigar, taking deep drags and blowing the smoke into the ant hill to "smoke him out." It backfires, and the Aardvark is the one who ends up sick from the smoke, while the Ant isn't harmed.
* SeldomSeenSpecies: Aardvark

* StrongAnts: Charlie himself. Played to ridiculous extent in "Don't Hustle an Ant with Muscle".

* TermiteTrouble: The episode "Rough Brunch" had Aardvark being accosted by a termite named Term, who just so happened to be [[ArtisticLicenseBiology Charlie's cousin]].
* ThreateningShark: The shark who chases after Aardvark in "Isle of Caprice".

** In the very first short, titled "The Ant And The Aardvark", Aardvark's entire body turned red after sticking his snout in Charlie's ant hill, trying to suck in the ant. The hue change happens when he inhales Tabasco sauce, flames emit from the bottom of his feet, and he launches into the air like a rocket before landing in a lake. He then drinks up some of a lake to cool down, which reverts his color to his usual blue.
** In the same short, Aardvark's full body turns green from illness, after inhaling and exhaling cigar smoke into Charlie's ant hill in an effort to smoke him out of it (his eyes become a bloodshot reddish/pinkish color as well).
** In "Hasty But Tasty", Aardvark's usual blue hue is changed to black, following an explosion from a rocket when it and Aardvark fall into the "instant hole" at the end.
** In "Isle of Caprice", Aardvark's body also turns black from another explosion after attempting to fire himself from a cannon and to another island. It does fire, but he isn't shot out of it, so he doesn't launch.
** In "Technology, Phooey", Aardvark attempts to use some spray on Charlie. But instead, he inadvertently ends up spraying himself, which results in the side effect reaction of him switching positions quickly and spasmodically, and changing into an assortment of colors and patterns.
** In "The Froze Nose Knows", Aardvark's body becomes a pale shade of blue twice, covered with ice, shivering and walking away stiffly once, and back to his cave to warm up, and thaw off the ice, after having fallen into a hole in a frozen lake while pursuing Charlie; the other time when he gets into bed with a bear (who moved into what was the anteater's cave, having stolen it and claiming it as his home), who pummels and sends him flying across and back outside. Aardvark climbs out the hole the second time, quits pursuing Charlie and hitchhikes to Palm Springs.

* OhCrap: In "Don't Hustle an Ant With Muscle," Charlie discovers vitamins that give him SuperStrength. When the effects wear off, Charlie gets chased by the Aardvark once more, leading to them to jump into a moving truck. The Aardvark thinks he's finally caught his quarry—until he realizes that they are in the truck that was carrying the same vitamins and that Charlie has just taken some, leading to a CurbStompBattle on the Aardvark once more.

** "Don't Hustle An Ant With Muscle", Charlie using his newfound strength to give Aardvark the what-for.

* AndroclesLion: This was the plot to "Scratch a Tiger", where the Tiger agrees to protect Ant and his gang from the Aardvark after he pulled a thorn out of his foot. In the end, the Tiger steps on another thorn and this time the Aardvark pulls it out. You can guess what happens next.

* OhCrap: Once the vitamins that granted the ant SuperStrength wore off, Charlie gets chased by the Aardvark once more leading to them to jump into a moving truck. The Aardvark thinks he finally caught his quarry until he realizes that they are in the truck that was carrying the same vitamins and Charlie has just ate some leading to a CurbStompBattle on the Aardvark once more.

* SuperSpeed: The episode "Isle of Caprice" ends with the Aardvark sinking the island he was marooned on. He says ''Well Honolulu is about 2000 miles from here. But with him'' (the Shark) ''on my tail, I should get there in 15 minutes'' before running off to the sunset with shark in hot pursuit. Assuming he's not exaggerating, to travel that distance in a short time, that poor Aardvark would be traveling 8,000 mph (over 10 times the speed of sound)!

* AndroclesLion: This was the plot to "Scratch a Tiger", where the Tiger agrees to protect Ant and his gang from the hungry Aardvark after he pulled a thorn off his foot. In the end, the Tiger steps on another thorn and this time the Aardvark pulls it off. You can guess what happens next.

--> '''Aardvark''': That's one reason why they don't send ants to college! Nobody likes a [[GettingCrapPastTheRadar smart ant]]!

** In "Technology, Phooey", the Aardvark's quicksand trap backfires on him, prompting him to quip, "I'd say something right now, but it would only be censored!"