Top Cat Begins (film)

Top Cat Begins is a Mexican-Indian-American computer-generated animated comedy film, acting as a prequel to the Top Cat TV series in 1961, with the blessing of the copyright holders, Time Warner. It was written by Jim Krieg, Doug Langdale, with additions by Jorge Ramírez-Suárez, produced by Fernando De Fuentes S. and José C. García de Letona, and directed by Andrés Couturier. It was animated by Mexican studio Ánima Estudios, and distributed theatrically by Warner Bros. Pictures in Mexico on October 30, 2015, then a theater release in the United Kingdom on May 27, 2016, followed by a direct-to-video release in the United States on October 10, 2017.

Due to Top Cat: The Movie being a moderate success in Mexico, Ánima Estudios were rewarded with the opportunity to produce this second film, but it didn't perform as well as its predecessor and was a box office bomb in the UK, so that's why you haven't seen them make a third one.

The film reveals how circumstances brought together each of the alley cats of Hoagy's Alley under Top Cat's leadership.

Characters
Patty Mattson
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Spook
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Ben Diskin
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Top Cat
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Jason Harris
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Fancy Fancy
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Matthew Piazzi
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Maitre'd
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| David Shaughnessy
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Choo Choo
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Jason Harris
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Brain
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Jason Harris
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Furletta Duchat
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Meghan Trainor (singing)
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Jason Harris
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Brain
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Jason Harris
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Furletta Duchat
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Meghan Trainor (singing)
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Furletta Duchat
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Meghan Trainor (singing)
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Waiter
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Diedrich Bader
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Mr. Big
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Darin De Paul
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Health inspector
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Unavailable
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Goon #1
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Nick Shakoour
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Goon #2
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Steve Blum
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Benny the Ball
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Chris Edgerly
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Hair Bear (poster)
 * style="background-color:#ffff00"| N/A
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Officer Dibble
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Bill Lobley
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Boy kitten
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Grey Griffin
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Girl kitten
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Grey Griffin
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Lady tourist
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Diane Michelle
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Mad Dog
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Diedrich Bader
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Panther
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Marieve Herington
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Rat
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Joey D'Auria
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Nun
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Unavailable
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Chief Thumbton
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Dave Boat
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Officer Lopez
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Unavailable
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Mrs. Ball
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Lauri Fraser
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Feline waitress
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Sariann Monaco
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Driver
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Jim Ward
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Kid with stuffed kitty
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Patty Mattson
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Hard hat guy
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Ben Diskin
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Suspicious guy
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| David Shaughnessy
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Amish guy
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Darin De Paul
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Muttley (drawing)
 * style="background-color:#ffff00"| N/A
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Mime
 * style="background-color:#ffff00"| N/A
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Lady on speaker
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Rachael MacFarlane
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Granny Dibble
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Charlie Adler
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Chopper (photo)
 * style="background-color:#ffff00"| N/A
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Lion
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Unavailable
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Hong Kong Phooey (picture and graffiti)
 * style="background-color:#ffff00"| N/A
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Francois Papin (picture)
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Darin De Paul
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Madame Fifi (picture)
 * style="background-color:#ffff00"| N/A
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Pie shop sales lady
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Pamela Chollet
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Muscle dog
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Steve Blum
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Stage manager
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Jim Ward
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Counter person
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| David Hoffman
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Human footstool
 * style="background-color:#ffff00"| N/A
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Flight attendant
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| GK Bowes
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Spot (graffiti)
 * style="background-color:#ffff00"| N/A
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Wilma Flintstone (billboard)
 * style="background-color:#ffff00"| N/A
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Snagglepuss Lion (poster)
 * style="background-color:#ffff00"| N/A
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Chopper (photo)
 * style="background-color:#ffff00"| N/A
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Lion
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Unavailable
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Hong Kong Phooey (picture and graffiti)
 * style="background-color:#ffff00"| N/A
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Francois Papin (picture)
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Darin De Paul
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Madame Fifi (picture)
 * style="background-color:#ffff00"| N/A
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Pie shop sales lady
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Pamela Chollet
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Muscle dog
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Steve Blum
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Stage manager
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Jim Ward
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Counter person
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| David Hoffman
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Human footstool
 * style="background-color:#ffff00"| N/A
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Flight attendant
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| GK Bowes
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Spot (graffiti)
 * style="background-color:#ffff00"| N/A
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Wilma Flintstone (billboard)
 * style="background-color:#ffff00"| N/A
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Snagglepuss Lion (poster)
 * style="background-color:#ffff00"| N/A
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Human footstool
 * style="background-color:#ffff00"| N/A
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Flight attendant
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| GK Bowes
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Spot (graffiti)
 * style="background-color:#ffff00"| N/A
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Wilma Flintstone (billboard)
 * style="background-color:#ffff00"| N/A
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Snagglepuss Lion (poster)
 * style="background-color:#ffff00"| N/A
 * style="background-color:#ffff00"| N/A
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Snagglepuss Lion (poster)
 * style="background-color:#ffff00"| N/A
 * style="background-color:#ffff00"| N/A

Organizations

 * New York City Transit Authority
 * The Fabulous Murdock and the Woockies
 * New York Police Department
 * New York Film Festival
 * Enigma Inc.
 * Great Couture Inc.

Locations

 * Earth
 * United States
 * New York
 * New York City
 * Manhattan
 * Starlight Club
 * Grethel Donuts
 * McClaw Tavern
 * Bank-O
 * Empire State Building
 * Upper New York Bay
 * Liberty Island
 * Statue of Liberty
 * Segova Coffee Shop
 * Hoagy's Alley
 * Police station
 * Dibble residence
 * Bagel Corner
 * Grand Central Terminal
 * Gerano's Laundry
 * Fabric House
 * Brooklyn
 * Airport
 * Rapka Record Store
 * Boonsville
 * Granny Dibble's residence
 * Florida
 * Mexico
 * Ireland
 * Dublin
 * Germany
 * France
 * Paris
 * Eiffel Tower
 * Saint-Tropez
 * Canada
 * Ontario
 * Niagara Falls
 * India
 * Japan
 * The Moon

Objects

 * New York Press
 * Fire in the Hole
 * Enter the Dog
 * la beauté étourdie
 * Top Cat comic
 * Fray's
 * Bronto burger
 * Mrs. Handy

Vehicles

 * Train
 * Granny Dibble's tank
 * Eleanore
 * Brunhilda
 * Phooeymobile (graffiti)

Music
The music was composed by Leoncio Lara Bon.

Songs

 * 1) "Little Green Bag" - George Baker Selection
 * 2) "All About That Bass" - Meghan Trainor
 * 3) "Best Day of My Life" - American Authors
 * 4) "Diamond's Are a Girl's Best Friend" - Patty Mattson
 * 5) "A-Punk" - Vampire Weekend
 * 6) "Top Cat" - Ben Diskin, Matthew Piazzi, and Jason Harris

Release
Dates are in order of release:


 * Mexico: October 15, 2015
 * United Kingdom and Ireland: May 27, 2016
 * United States: October 10, 2017 on DVD

Behind the scenes

 * The bottom half of Wilma Flintstone seems to appear on a fashion billboard.
 * The movie title is a reference to the film Batman Begins, also owned and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.
 * A billboard reads "Future is Now", with a picture of a building based on the Sky Pad Apartments from The Jetsons.
 * Unique to this film, is the promotion of beer at a supermarket.
 * There's an advertisement for Sugar Flakes and Kentucky Chicken Factory, parodies of Kellogg's Corn Flakes and Kentucky Fried Chicken, respectively.
 * There's a poster advertisement of a film called Judgement Day: The Last Clean, with a robot resembling Rosie from The Jetsons, but she is gray, and wears sunglasses and a jacket to evoke the T-800 Terminator, played by Arnold Schwarzenegger.
 * Outside of McClaw Tavern, there's a couple of posters advertising Hair Bear (albeit just his hair), from Help!... It's the Hair Bear Bunch!
 * Gerano's Laundry accepts parodies of MasterCard and Visa.
 * The garbage bins T.C. and Benny hid in are full of DVDs of Top Cat: The Movie, which is ironic, because it performed better than this movie.
 * Muttley, from Wacky Races and Dastardly and Muttley in the Their Flying Machines, has a cameo with his face drawn on a dumpster.
 * Top Cat's disguise of Dr. Sylvester Garfield, comes from two other animated anthropomorphic, talking cats: Sylvester from Looney Tunes, and Garfield, the star of his own comic strips.
 * A newsstand has parodies of Time, a Marvel NOW! era comic, and Variety.
 * The stage manager cries out "God" as a profanity.
 * Photos of Chopper, from the Yakky Doodle shorts, hangs in Granny Dibble's living room and her bookcase.
 * Granny Dibble also has a painting of Dogs Playing Poker.
 * Hong Kong Phooey, from the TV series of the same name, is the star of the film Enter the Dog, a parody of the 1973 film Enter the Dragon. Also, a public wall in New York has been painted with Hong Kong Phooey, Spot, and the Phooeymobile.
 * la beauté étourdie is a parody of the 1989 film When Harry Met Sally...
 * The Cutu Comics logo on the fourth wall breaking Top Cat comics, is a parody of Charlton Comics, which did print their own Top Cat series for 20 issues between 1970-1973.
 * A vending machine is selling Fray's chips, a parody of Lay's.
 * A billboard is promoting bronto burgers and giant ribs, the kind seen in The Flintstones TV series.
 * In Furlette's dressing room, there are a couple of photos on the wall of a bird resembling Yakky Doodle.
 * When Benny is singing undercover at the Starlight Club, one of the patrons is wearing a hat from the Loyal Order of Water Buffaloes seen in The Flintstones TV series.
 * The counter person at the airport is written as a flamboyant gay stereotype.
 * Top Cat's line, "Elementary, my dear Dibble" is a paraphrase from Sherlock Holmes saying, "Elementary, my dear Watson." Although technically speaking, Sherlock never uttered that specific line in Sir Arthur Doyle's canon.
 * Top Cat rather harshly cries out several censored profanities to Mr. Big when he is defeated.
 * The bottom half of Snagglepuss's body is on a poster for the New York Film Festival.

Errors

 * Why rewrite Spook as being his own person before he met Top Cat, just to then retcon that retcon and turn him back into a loyal subordinate of Top Cat?
 * The one dollar and five dollar bills have made up people on them, instead of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, respectively. The only one they seemed to have got right is Alexander Hamilton on the ten dollar bill.
 * Officer Dibble says, "Sorry, boys" when the kittens were clearly a boy and a girl.
 * If Officer Dibble is sending Top Cat and Benny to Boonsville, then why is there a poster on Chief Thumbton's bulletin board that says Boonsville Police Department?
 * It's a prequel, yet there are modern day technologies such as a DVD player.
 * Top Cat takes four boxes from the pie sales lady, but when he leaves the shop, he's holding three.

Home availability

 * In Mexico:
 * March 18, 2016: Top Cat Begins on DVD.
 * March 18, 2016: Top Cat Begins on Blu-ray Disc.
 * In the United Kingdom and Ireland:
 * October 17, 2016: Warner Home Video releases Top Cat Begins on DVD.
 * In the United States:
 * October 10, 2017: Viva Pictures releases Top Cat Begins on DVD.

Trailers
UK trailer:

US trailer: