Doug Wildey created this 1964 animated
Adventure Series, the first produced by
Hanna-Barbera and the first to use realistically drawn human characters in
Science Fiction or adventure settings. The series aired in prime time on
ABC.
The young hero Jonny Quest (voiced by later
Animal House star Tim Matheson) traveled the world with his father, Dr. Benton Quest; Roger "Race" Bannon, a friend and bodyguard of Dr. Quest; Hadji, Jonny's adopted brother from India, and Bandit, the family dog. (The first episode establishes that Jonny's mother, Rachel, died before the series began.)
A second
Jonny Quest series was syndicated in 1986-87, with two new characters: Jessie Bradshaw, whose father was a colleague of Dr. Quest, and Hard Rock, a man made of living stone. This series culminated in two
made-for-TV movies -
Jonny's Golden Quest and
Jonny Quest Versus The Cyber Insects - which introduced Race Bannon's daughter, Jessie (not the same character as Jessie Bradshaw).
Cartoon Network made some changes to the format when it debuted
Jonny Quest The Real Adventures in 1996. New characters included Race's daughter
Jessie (not the same as the non-canon Jessie above), the recurring villains Jeremiah Surd and Ezekiel Rage, and
the twin daughters of Dr. Zin (who, of course, was from the original series). Also, the characters had access to Questworld, a
virtual reality realm represented in most episodes by 3-D computer animation. According to this
Wikipedia article
, development began in 1992, but the series went through three production teams over the next four years.
A
Live-Action Adaptation of
Jonny Quest was announced in August 2007, with recent news placing Zac Efron as Jonny and
The Rock as Race Bannon.
Tropes:
- Adventure Series
- Affectionate Parody: Freakazoid! segment "Toby Danger".
- A Handful for an Eye: Jonny does it to a guard in "Arctic Splashdown."
- Air Vent Passageway: Jonny in "The Mystery of the Lizard Men".
- All Animals Are Dogs: "Turu The Terrible" and "Dragons of Ashida".
- Alternative Foreign Theme Song: The Japanese version has this.
- Androcles Lion: "A Small Matter of Pygmies" and "Treasure of the Temple".
- Animal Assassin: A tarantula in "The Fraudulent Volcano."
- Anti-Sneeze Finger: The episode "Monster in the Monastery". Jonny does it to himself so he doesn't sneeze and alert the "yeti". He doesn't sneeze afterwards, but Bandit does.
- Apocalyptic Log: "The Invisible Monster" and "The Sea Haunt."
- As Long as It Sounds Foreign: Hadji's name and any foreign languages spoken in the series.
- Aside Glance: Multiple episodes, usually by Bandit.
- Badass Family: Dr. Quest and son, Race and daughter — and let's not forget Hadji.
- Banister Slide: "Monster in the Monastery" and "House of the Seven Gargoyles".
- Being Watched: The sergeant in "The Fraudulent Volcano."
- Big Bad: Dr. Zin.
- Big Badass Wolf: A gray one in "Werewolf of the Timberland."
- Big Electric Switch: "The Invisible Monster" and "The Sea Haunt".
- Big "NO!"/Oh Crap: Von Dueffel in "The Devil's Tower."
- Big Red Button: Used to signal the Red Scramble in "The Robot Spy".
- Blow Gun: In "The Deadly Doll", the villain Korbay uses a blowgun to fire darts that have a poison that causes its victims to enter a coma.
- Bodyguard Betrayal: In "Dragons of Ashida," Sumi throws Ashida to his own dragons.
- Body Horror: Mr. Trudge in the 1980's episode "Creeping Unknown".
- Bollywood Nerd: Hadji, even before the stereotype was around.
- Bottomless Magazines: Many times, including 70+ shots from an automatic pistol.
- Brainwashed: In "Pirates from Below," Hadji hypnotizes a guard with a flashing ruby.
- Canon Discontinuity
- Captain Ethnic: Hadji
- Cargo Cult: "A Small Matter of Pygmies".
- Caught in a Snare: In "Treasure of the Temple", while the Quest team is traveling to the temple, a native cuts a line and one of the bearers is hauled into the air by the ankle.
- The Cavalry: "A Small Matter of Pygmies". Dr. Quest and a group of helicopters arrive just in time.
- The Cavalry Arrives Late: "The Quetong Missile Mystery."
- Character Celebrity Endorsement: Jonny hawked PF Flyers tennis shoes.
- Character Title
- Chased by Angry Natives: In the Title Sequence, no less, as well as "Pursuit of the Po-Ho".
- Chekhov's Gun: Multiple times.
- Chekhov's Skill
- Chiaroscuro: The animation style used very heavy blacks. (This is especially obvious when a character's face is in shadow, eliminating the need to animate their mouth.)
- Choke Holds: In "The Quetong Missile Mystery", Race Bannon uses a sleeper hold on a Mook guard.
- Cold War
- Contrived Coincidence: "The Mystery of the Lizard Men"
- Deconstructive Parody: The Venture Brothers series that airs on [adult swim].
- Defeat Means Friendship: Jonny and Hadji in "Calcutta Adventure."
- Diabolical Mastermind: Dr. Zin
- Did Not Do the Research: Why does a little Hindu boy have a Muslim name*
"Hadji"="one who has made the hadj, i.e., the pilgrimage to Mecca"
and kneel down to pray in the Christian manner* in "Shadow of the Condor"
? - Disappeared Dad: Hadji's
- Disney Villain Death
- Distress Call: "The Invisible Monster" and "Pursuit of the Po-Ho."
- The Dog Bites Back: "Dragons of Ashida." Sumi, to his master Dr. Ashida.
- Doing It for the Art: The World War I biplanes in "Shadow of the Condor".
- Double Don't Know: Dr. Quest in "The Robot Spy".
- Double Tap: Race Bannon to a leopard in "A Small Matter of Pygmies".
- The Dragon: Sumi to Dr. Ashida in "Dragons of Ashida".
- Dragon Lady: "Jezebel" Jade, especially in "Terror Island."
- Dramatic Chase Opening: Usually natives running away from the bad guys.
- Dressing as the Enemy: Dr. Quest and Race in "The Fraudulent Volcano."
- Elaborate Underground Base: Several episodes.
- Energy Being: The title creature in "The Invisible Monster."
- Episode Title Card
- Everybody Laughs Ending: Usually at Bandit, e.g. in "The Robot Spy."
- Every Car Is a Pinto: After Singh's car is wrecked in "The Quetong Missile Mystery".
- Evil Detecting Dog: Bandit in "Skull and Double Crossbones" and "Shadow of the Condor."
- Evil Laugh: Dr. Zin in "The Robot Spy" and von Dueffel in "The Devil's Tower."
- Evil Minions: Zin has them by the bushel.
- Executive Meddling
- Fair for Its Day
- Family Unfriendly Death: What set it apart from other cartoons in its time. Or other cartoons today, for that matter.
- Famous-Named Foreigner: Hadji
- Fish Person: The sea monster in "The Sea Haunt".
- Flare Gun: The Very pistols in "The Sea Haunt".
- For the Evulz: Seems to be the raison d'etre for some of the villains.
- For Science!: See Mad Scientist.
- Frickin' Laser Beams: In "The Mystery of the Lizard Men."
- Furry Fandom: The buff, speedo-clad lizardman in "Peril of the Reptilian."
- Giant Enemy Crab: ''Terror Island"
- God Guise: Dr. Quest and Race Bannon in "Pursuit of the Po-Ho."
- Gone Horribly Wrong: "The Invisible Monster."
- Government Agency of Fiction: Intelligence One, the U.S. Government agency Race Bannon works for and Dr. Quest occasionally helps.
- The Guards Must Be Crazy
- A Handful for an Eye: Jonny does it to a guard in "Arctic Splashdown."
- Hand Signals: Colonel Svedry to his subordinate in "Pirates from Below".
- He's a Friend: Gray One in "Werewolf of the Timberland", Pasha Peddler in "Calcutta Adventure".
- Heel Face Turn: Mr. Trudge in the 1986 episode "Creeping Unknown".
- Hoist by His Own Petard: Multiple episodes.
- Hollywood Torches: In Professor Ericson's castle in "The House of Seven Gargoyles".
- Honest John's Dealership: Pasha Peddler in "Calcutta Adventure."
- Iconic Characters
- The Igor: Dr. Phorbus' assistant Simon in "Peril of the Reptilian."
- I Like Those Odds: Race's comment in "Monster in the Monastery".
- Incredibly Lame Pun: Hadji on yetis in "Monster in the Monastery."
- Indy Hat Roll: Jonny and Hadji in the episode "The Fraudulent Volcano."
- Invincible Incompetent: Jonny is pretty powerless through the show's whole run, and is constantly being plucked from danger by his father and Race.
- Invisible Monsters: "The Invisible Monster," strangely enough.
- I Surrender, Suckers: Race Bannon to some guards in "Terror Island."
- It's Raining Men: Dr. Quest and Race Bannon in "The Fraudulent Volcano."
- Jet Pack: "The Invisible Monster" and "Turu The Terrible."
- Jungle Drums: "Pursuit of the Po-Ho". Used by the title tribe.
- Just Between You and Me: Dr. Zin in "The Robot Spy" and "The Fraudulent Volcano."
- Karmic Death: Multiple episodes.
- Knockout Gas: In the episode "The Quetong Missile Mystery". Sleep gas knocks out General Fong in a couple of seconds.
- LEGO Genetics: 1986 episode "Peril of the Reptilian".
- Let's Split Up, Gang: Subverted in "The Devil's Tower".
- Little Stowaway: Lampshaded in "Terror Island".
- Mad Scientist: Dr. Ashida, Dr. Chu Sing Ling, Dr. Phorbus and Dr. Zin.
- Made-for-TV Movie: It had two in the early 90's: Jonny's Golden Quest and Jonny Quest Versus The Cyber Insects, neither of which were considered very good.
- Matchlight Danger Revelation: "The Fraudulent Volcano."
- Meaningful Name: In "The Devil's Tower" the villain is named "Von Deufel", very similar to "Teufel" ("devil" in German).
- Missing Mom: Jonny's and Hadji's.
- The Mole: Four in various episodes.
- Ninja Pirate Zombie Robot: Zartan's henchman Scorpio in the 1986 "The Monolith Man".
- No Fourth Wall: Jonny in "Monster in the Monastery".
- Non-Human Sidekick: Bandit.
- Now Do It Again Backwards: How Dr. Quest destroys "The Invisible Monster".
- Obviously Evil: Jonny Quest villains in general.
- Oculothorax: The title creature in "The Invisible Monster".
- Omnidisciplinary Scientist: Dr. Benton Quest.
- Panthera Awesome: The tiger in "Riddle of the Gold".
- Pistol Whipping: Multiple episodes
- Plunger Detonator: General Fong's guards use them to detonate mines in "The Quetong Missile Mystery".
- Powder Trail: "Riddle of the Gold".
- Puppy Love: The 80's animated series had two movies Jonny's Golden Quest and Jonny Quest vs. The Cyber Insects both of which featured Race's daughter Jesse. She and Jonny appear to be about 10 to 12 years old. She kisses him in both movies.
- Put Their Heads Together: "Terror Island". Race kicks a guard in the butt and causes his head to collide with that of another guard, knocking them both out.
- Ravens and Crows: Dr. Zin's pet raven in "The Fraudulent Volcano."
- Real After All: The Yeti in "Monster in the Monastery".
- Red Alert: In "The Sea Haunt," "Arctic Splashdown" and "The Robot Spy."
- Red Eyes, Take Warning: The "yeti" in "Monster in the Monastery" and the title opponent in "The Robot Spy".
- Red Scare
- Reflective Eyes: "Pirates from Below". A guard's eyes reflect glints from Hadji's ruby.
- Retcon: Jessie Bradshaw in the 80s series -> Race Bannon's daughter in the TV movies.
- Right-Hand Attack Dog: "Dragons of Ashida".
- Rope Bridge: In "The Devil's Tower."
- Ruthless Modern Pirates: The villains in "Skull And Double Crossbones."
- Scary Scorpions: In "The Curse of Anubis".
- Scooby-Doo Hoax: Used constantly in each version.
- Second Person Attack: In "Dragons of Ashida" and "A Small Matter of Pygmies".
- Self-Destruct Mechanism: In the missile in "Arctic Splashdown."
- Sensor Suspense: The Air Force radar operators in "The Robot Spy".
- Shield Surf: Jonny and Hadji in "Monster in the Monastery".
- Shirtless Scene: All 4 of the main characters in various episodes.
- Shout Out: "That's a horse of a different color!" in "Attack of the Tree People".
- Siege Engines: Catapults flinging flaming missiles in "Monster in the Monastery".
- Sim Sim Salabim: The Trope Namer.
- The Sixties: Made in 1964.
- Skintone Sclerae
- Skunk Stripe: Dr. Phorbus in "Peril of the Reptilian."
- Slippery Skid: The chief yeti in "Monster in the Monastery".
- The Smurfette Principle: All three series.
- Somewhere, a Palaeontologist is Crying: In "Turu the Terrible", Turu survives multiple direct hits by bazooka rounds.
- Speaks Fluent Animal: White Feather in "Werewolf of the Timberland."
- Spider Tank: The title device in "The Robot Spy."
- Stab the Scorpion: "A Small Matter of Pygmies". The pygmy who cuts Hadji's bonds.
- Standard Hollywood Strafing Procedure: In "Calcutta Adventure."
- Stealth Hi/Bye: White Feather in "Werewolf of the Timberland."
- Stock Phrases
- Stun Guns: The antennae of "The Robot Spy."
- Submarine Pirates: "Pirates from Below". They approach Dr. Quest's private island in a submarine and steal his submersible vehicle, the Underwater Prober. Later on when the Quest team escapes in the Prober the pirates attack in torpedo-firing one man subs.
- Tap on the Head: Many episodes.
- Team Pet: Bandit.
- Tempting Fate: "Pirates from Below", "Turu the Terrible" and "The Devil's Tower".
- That Was The Last Entry: In "The Sea Haunt", while Dr. Quest is reading from an Apocalyptic Log left by a ship's captain, describing how he and his crew were threatened by a monster.
- Throw a Barrel at It: In "The Sea Haunt."
- Throwing The Distraction: "The Dreadful Doll" and "Terror Island".
- Timmy in a Well: Bandit and Superintendent Owens in "Skull and Double Crossbones."
- Tranquilizer Dart: "The Quetong Missile Mystery" and "Pirates from Below"
- Trap Door: The title Villain uses one in "Dragons of Ashida."
- Tribal Face Paint: In "Pursuit of the Po-Ho".
- Twenty Minutes into the Future
- Vampiric Draining: "The Invisible Monster". The title creature can drain the energy from a human body by touch, thus "consuming" the person.
- Van in Black: One is keeping an eye on the Quests in "The Quetong Missile Mystery."
- Visible Invisibility: "The Invisible Monster"
- Walking the Earth
- Win Your Freedom: "Dragons of Ashida"
- Wild Wilderness: Any episode from old to new has this trope to a T.
- Yellow Peril: Dr. Zin... and Dr. Ashida, and General Fong, and Chu Sing Ling — heck, TOS lived on this trope.
- You Shall Not Pass: In "Dragons of Ashida," Race does this to Sumi and two dragons.
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