Bob Morane is a 1998 animated series based off the popular eponymous book series created by Belgian writer Henri Vernes in 1953.
The tone and genre of any given segment can shift dramatically - the adventurer protagonist may take part in a James Bond-like espionage story, then go on an Indiana Jones-esque adventure, then on to a modern Western fighting corrupt tycoons in the American Southwest, and then on a Doctor Who-style time-travelling sci-fi trip.
Bob Morane provides examples of:
- Alternative Foreign Theme Song: The original French opening
features an instrumental based on Indochine's song "L'Aventurier", which is a homage to the book series. Possibly because of copyrights, foreign broadcasts used a different track.
- The Big Guy: Bill Ballantine. He stands at least half a head taller than Bob Morane (himself rather tall), has the build of a rugby player and regularly accomplishes feats of strength bordering on Charles Atlas Superpower - once, during a medieval caper in the comic books, to show how strong he was, he straightened by himself an iron bar that had required four stout men to bend in half in the first place.
- Bloodless Carnage: The show features a lot of violence, but no blood. In the first episode alone, Ming's hand gets chopped off at the wrist without him spilling a single drop of blood, an oddity made all the more apparent when Bob applies a makeshift tourniquet to the bloodless stump.
- Body Backup Drive: One of the major villains (Ming/the Yellow Shadow) dies over and over. And returns every time.
- Code Name: In one episode, code names Eagle and Bear are used for Bob and Bill.
- Cool Car: Bob's Jaguar E-Type convertible seen in several episodes.
- Don't Call Me "Sir": A Running Gag: Bob often asks his friend Bill to stop calling him "commander" but Bill keeps doing it anyway.
- Evil Duo: Smog's top agents, cool-headed Miss Ylang-Ylang and bloodthirsty Orgonetz.
- Evil Laugh: The comics version of the Yellow Shadow is quite fond of this, as for a time at least it was part of his signature style to let off one of these at least once peralbum. This is is contrast with his much more stoic portrayal in the cartoon series.
- Identical Grand Son: Les Hénaurmes, of all people, have artistocratic ancestors who lived during The Middle Ages.
- Intrepid Reporter: Sophia Paramount searches for stories. And finds them.
- Large and in Charge: Ming. Also Orgonetz, despite his short stature.
- Leeroy Jenkins: When Bob is around, Orgonetz tends to forget about anything else.
- Living Statue: In one episode, stone soldiers attack the team.
- Mad Scientist's Beautiful Daughter: Well actually, Tania Orloff is Ming's niece.
- Pragmatic Adaptation: The animated series is based on Henry Vernes' novels but the stories are often streamlined or altered in order to fit 20 minutes. Sofia and Clairembart appear in adventures where they are originally absent to keep a consistent main cast.
- Side Kick: Morane is quite often in company of William "Bill" Ballantine, a former airplane mechanic and companion from World War II.
- Skyward Scream: Orgonetz tends to do this when Bob outsmarts him.
- The Starscream: Orgonetz clearly doesn't enjoy taking orders from Miss Ylang-Ylang.
- The Professor: Professor Aristide Clairembart is just that.
- Thou Shalt Not Kill: Morane tries not to kill his villains.
- Trapped in Another World: In the Ananke arc, Bob, Bob and Sophia ends up in the fantastic world of Ananke and must find their way home.
- Weaponized Car: In the first episode, Ming tries to escape Bob Morane with a car full of weapons.
- You Called Me "X"; It Must Be Serious: Bill utters Bob's name only once in the series. At the end of "Revenge of the Yellow Shadow" when he believes Ming killed Bob and swears revenge.
