Top Cat: The Complete Series (1961-1962) [Warner Archive Blu-ray review]

Top Cat was a prime-time animated series that last a year on ABC. What’s weird is that the show has become a huge cultural phenomenon in Mexico and most of Latin America. I love the weird little quirks that occur in pop culture, but why was the show so short-lived? Honestly, if you’re from my generation, we’ve had the same thing happen with The Critic and Capitol Critters? Fish Police was more of a Saturday morning show, I guess. But, animation in prime time typically hits big or it fizzles out. Anyways, let’s examine Top Cat.

Classic cartoons have never looked so good

Top Cat was one of the earliest examples of Hanna-Barbera taking sitcom sensibilities and merging them with animation, something they had already done with The Flintstones. For Top Cat, they borrowed from live-action sitcom structures, and the writers, including Barry Blitzer and Harvey Bullock, were veterans of television comedy. The result is an animated series that plays like a classic situational comedy, but with the added zaniness that only animation can provide.

The gang’s schemes usually revolved around humorous cons—trying to snag free food, scamming unsuspecting marks, or just trying to make life easier in the alley. T.C.’s plans often fell apart, and the resulting chaos added to the hilarity. But what set Top Cat apart was the camaraderie between the characters. Whether it was the lovably dim-witted Benny or the hopeless romantic Fancy-Fancy, each of T.C.’s gang brought something unique to the table.

Officer Dibble’s dynamic with Top Cat is another reason why the show still resonates. Dibble, though supposedly the “antagonist,” has moments of empathy toward the cats. He’s not just a bumbling cop; he’s someone who’s genuinely trying to do his job, and in a lot of ways, he cares for the cats more than he lets on. This quasi-adversarial yet affectionate relationship gives the show some of its heart.

Why did Top Cat only last 30 episodes?

Top Cat aired from September 1961 to April 1962 on ABC, but it struggled in its prime-time slot. The ratings failed to meet the expectations set by Hanna-Barbera’s other animated hits like The Flintstones, which was airing around the same time. The show’s parody of The Phil Silvers Show may have worked better in concept than execution—audiences at the time were either too familiar with or not at all invested in seeing an animated homage to a military comedy. The humor and premise of Top Cat leaned heavily into adult sitcom territory, which also may have limited its audience reach.

Despite its failure in prime time, Top Cat found new life during Saturday morning reruns. The show’s humor, memorable characters, and colorful animation made it a hit with younger audiences during these rebroadcasts, eventually securing its status as a beloved cult classic in both the United States and internationally—particularly in the United Kingdom and Latin America, where it continues to be popular.

Let’s talk about Top Cat coming to Blu-ray

Before I get going, I want you to know you’re going to have another interlaced video problem here. Basically, converting standard definition material of way older material leads to interlacing issues when taken to higher formats. Don’t believe me? Check out the special features on your Marx Brothers and Tarzan Blu-rays. Now, on with the show.

The Warner Archive Blu-ray release brings a high-definition restoration that gives Top Cat a new lease on life. For a series that originally aired in black-and-white before transitioning to color syndication, the upgraded visuals are remarkable. The backgrounds and character designs are vibrant, allowing the stylized art of Hanna-Barbera to shine in full color. Details that were lost in old television broadcasts are now crisp, showcasing the animation’s charm and the bold design work of the early 1960s.

The audio is also enhanced, making the voice performances of Stang, Jenkins, and the rest of the cast sound sharper and clearer. Hoyt Curtin’s catchy opening theme, “The Most Effectual Top Cat,” is another highlight of the series, and it’s brought to life in a way that underscores its iconic place in animation history.

The Blu-ray includes commentary on three key episodes, 2 stellar documentaries, storyboard comparisons, a singalong, vintage commercials and a rather large art gallery of sorts. It’s a truly stacked release and one that I recommend to all fans of animated history. Especially with a show like Top Cat that lived many lives before it became the Cartoon Network/Boomerang staple that it is today.

Final thoughts on Top Cat

Though Top Cat only lasted for one season, its legacy has far outstripped its initial run. Its syndication success and the lasting appeal of T.C.’s catchphrases, quick wit, and clever cons turned what was initially a prime-time flop into a beloved favorite. The series’ themes of friendship, ingenuity, and outsmarting the authorities resonated with audiences in subsequent years, particularly kids, even though it wasn’t initially intended as a children’s show.

The influence of Top Cat on future animated series cannot be overlooked. Its group of characters, all distinct personalities coming together to form a quirky, lovable ensemble, set the groundwork for future animated sitcoms. Even the ones that might have been cancelled way too soon. So, enjoy Top Cat the show that dared to follow The Flintstones.

Top Cat: The Complete Series is available on Warner Archive Blu-ray from MovieZyng

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Buy Top Cat The Complete Series on Blu-ray

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