The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan
| The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan | |
|---|---|
 On-screen title card. | |
| Network: | CBS |
| Production company: | Hanna-Barbera |
| Original release: | September 9—December 30, 1972
|
| Starring: | Keye Luke Robert Ito Lennie Weinrib Cherylene Lee Brian Tochi Jodie Foster John Gunn Gene Andrusco Beverly Kushida Michael Morgan Don Messick |
| Producer(s): | William Hanna Joseph Barbera |
| Music composed by: | Hoyt Curtin |
| Writer(s): | Dennis Marks |
| Director(s): | William Hanna Joseph Barbera |
The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan is an American animated mystery comedy television series produced by Hanna-Barbera for CBS' Saturday morning children's programming. It ran in 1972, airing 16 episodes that spanned one season. It was loosely based on the fictional stories of book and film character Charlie Chan, who first appeared in the 1925 novel The House Without a Key, written by Earl Derr Biggers.
Legendary Chinese sleuth Charlie Chan travels with the ten musical-gifted kids of various ages, called the Chan Clan, around the world in the Chan Van. Although Charlie leaves them out of his dangerous investigations, they always manage to solve the case themselves and catch the bad guy.
The entire series has been released on DVD.
Production
Development
Casting
Although the character of Charlie Chan has aroused controversy over the years through its Chinese stereotypes—and featured mostly white actors playing an Asian role—the cartoon's incarnation of him was different in that Keye Luke was the first actor of Chinese descent to voice the character. Luke himself was already a veteran of the Charlie Chan franchise, having played "Number One Son" Lee Chan to Warner Oland's version of the lead character in the 1930s and 1940s.
Music
The score was composed by Hoyt Curtin, who was credited as musical director, with musical supervision from Paul DeKorte.
Episodes
| Title | Number | Original air date |
|---|---|---|
| "The Crown Jewels Caper" | 1x01 | September 9, 1972 |
| "To Catch a Pitcher" | 1x02 | September 16, 1972 |
| "Will the Real Charlie Chan Please Stand Up?" | 1x03 | September 30, 1972 |
| "The Phantom Sea Thief" | 1x04 | September 30, 1972 |
| "Eye of the Idol" | 1x05 | October 7, 1972 |
| "Fat Lady Caper" | 1x06 | October 14, 1972 |
| "Captain Kidd's Doubloons" | 1x07 | October 21, 1972 |
| "Bronze Idol" | 1x08 | October 28, 1972 |
| "Double Trouble" | 1x09 | November 4, 1972 |
| "The Great Illusion Caper" | 1x10 | November 11, 1972 |
| "The Mummy's Tomb" | 1x11 | November 18, 1972 |
| "The Mardi Gras Caper" | 1x12 | November 25, 1972 |
| "The Gypsy Caper" | 1x13 | December 2, 1972 |
| "The Greek Caper" | 1x14 | December 9, 1972 |
| "White Elephant" | 1x15 | December 16, 1972 |
| "Scotland Yard" | 1x16 | December 30, 1972 |
Cast
- Keye Luke as Charlie Chan
- Robert Ito as Henry Chan
- Lennie Weinrib as Stanley Chan
- Cherylene Lee as Suzie Chan and Mimi Chan
- Brian Tochi as Alan Chan
- Jodie Foster as Anne Chan
- John Gunn as Tom Chan
- Gene Andrusco as Flip Chan
- Beverly Kushida as Nancy Chan
- Michael Morgan as Scooter Chan
- Don Messick as Chu Chu
Crossover
| Title | Number | Original air date |
|---|---|---|
| Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law: "Shoyu Weenie"* | 1 | July 21, 2002 |
- The names have been changed to protect the innocent.
