Created by: Earl Derr Biggers
Directed by: William Hanna, Joseph Barbera
Voices of: Keye Luke, Robert Ito, Brian Tochi, Don Messick, Gene Andrusco, Jodie Foster
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Distributed by: Warner Archive
Release Date: June 26, 2012
Episodes: 16
Running time: 344 minutes
Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars
“The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan” was not a long-running show from Hanna-Barbera but its certainly a fun show. It had an original run from September 9, 1972 – December 30, 1972, which included only 16 episodes. The show resolves Mr. Chan, his ten children and their dog Chu Chu. They go around the world and solve mysteries with the children helping their father in every episode. In fact it actually reminds me a lot of “Scooby-Doo”. They also even travel around in a van, but their’s is much cooler since it can transform into other vehicles with the push of a button. For a show that is aged 40 years, the DVD presentation looks sharp and very impressive.
The voice of Mr. Chan, Keye Luke is the only actor of Chinese descent. Also another notable voice on the show is Jodie Foster as Anne Chan, that’s right THE Jodie Foster. I love the cross-overs between about Hanna-Barbara shows like their is one of the characters disguises themselves as Yogi Bear and their car reminds a lot of Hong-Hong Phooey’s car. This show was also spoofed in Adult Swim’s “Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law”. Props need to go to Warner Archive Collection for releasing this manufacture-on-demand (MOD). If you are a fan of classic Hanna-Barbara series, this is a no-brainer to pick up!
The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan: The Complete Series is now available: (http://bit.ly/M9VnMH)
Synopsis: Chinese-American supersleuth Charlie Chan made his cartoon transition with his customary grace, only this time he brought along the clan. Maintaining Hanna-Barbera’s winning formula (kids, mysteries, canine, van), the hit kid show also introduced some innovations (the van transforms, a double-sized team, HOWdunnits not whodunits). Most significant among these is the casting of the amazing Keye Luke (Kato, Master Po) as the voice of Charlie Chan. Not only was this the first time that an Asian-American would play Charlie Chan, it marked an apropos “graduation” for Mr. Luke, the original “Number One Son” Lee Chan of the classic Warner Oland Chan mysteries. Among those joining Mr. Luke on voice duties are Jodie Foster (Anne Chan), Lennie Weinrib (Stanley Chan) and Don Messick (Chu-Chu) in this complete 16-episode, two-disc collection.