This show has a wiki of its own: Dexter's Laboratory Wiki.
Theme Song - Dexter's Laboratory - Cartoon Network
Dexter's Laboratory Intro (Season 1)
Dexter's Laboratory Intro (Version 2, 1080p HD)
Dexter's Laboratory Intro (Season 2-4)
Dexter's Laboratory (commonly abbreviated as Dexter's Lab) is an American animated television series created by Genndy Tartakovsky for Cartoon Network, it is the first Cartoon Cartoon. The series follows Dexter, a boy-genius with a secret laboratory filled with his inventions. He constantly battles his sister Dee Dee, who always gains access despite his best efforts to keep her out, as well as his arch-rival and neighbor, Mandark. The series' first two seasons contain additional segments: Dial M for Monkey, which focuses on Dexter's pet lab-monkey-turned-superhero, and The Justice Friends, about a trio of superheroes who share an apartment.
Tartakovsky first pitched the series to Hanna-Barbera's animated shorts showcase World Premiere Toons, basing it on student films he produced while attending the California Institute of the Arts. A pilot aired on Cartoon Network in February 1995, and by that August viewer approval ratings convinced the network to order a half-hour series, which premiered on April 28, 1996. By 1999, 52 episodes and a television movie had been produced, and Tartakovsky then left the series to begin work on his other projects, Samurai Jack and Star Wars: Clone Wars. In 2001, the network revived the series under a different production team at Cartoon Network Studios, and after 26 more episodes, the series ended on November 20, 2003.
Dexter's Laboratory received high ratings and became one of Cartoon Network's most popular and successful original series. During its run, the series was nominated for 4 Primetime Emmy Awards, 4 Golden Reel Awards, and 9 Annie Awards, winning 3 additional Annie Awards. The series is notable for helping launch the careers of several cartoonists, such as Craig McCracken (The Powerpuff Girls, Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, and Wander Over Yonder), Seth MacFarlane (Family Guy, American Dad!, and The Cleveland Show), Butch Hartman (The Fairly OddParents, Danny Phantom, T.U.F.F. Puppy, and Bunsen Is a Beast), Rob Renzetti (My Life as a Teenage Robot), Chris Savino (The Loud House), and Cody Taylor (Colorforce). The revival, on the other hand, was a critical failure compared to the original series. Spin-off media include comic books, DVD and VHS releases, music albums, collectible toys, and video games. It ended up being the second longest-running of the 1990s Cartoon Cartoon series, behind Ed, Edd n Eddy (which ran for 10 years on Cartoon Network), though Dexter's Lab is tied with The Powerpuff Girls for longest-running in terms of episode count.
Production[]
Dexter's Laboratory was inspired by one of Genndy Tartakovsky's drawings of a ballerina. After drawing her tall and thin shape, he decided to pair her with a short and blocky opposite, Dexter. In 1991, Tartakovsky made his first "Dexter" short. On February 20, 1995, Dexter's Laboratory made its debut on the What a Cartoon! show. Three more "Dexter" shorts would be produced before the show was given a full-series order. In April 1996, the first season began airing on Cartoon Network and ran for 13 episodes. Directors and writers on the series included Tartakovsky himself, Rumen Petkov, Craig McCracken, Seth MacFarlane, Butch Hartman, Cody Taylor, Rob Renzetti, Paul Rudish, Mark O'Hare, John McIntyre and Chris Savino. The second season began airing in July 1997 and ran for 39 episodes, which was a notable record for a single production season on Cartoon Network at the time.
Dexter's Laboratory ended its initial run in June 1998, with the series finale being the episode "Last But Not Beast", but was followed by the TV movie Ego Trip in December 1999. The series itself re-entered production in 2000. The new episodes, which ran for two more seasons, had a different production team than the originals, since Genndy Tartakovsky was busy working on Samurai Jack and Star Wars: Clone Wars. The revived series featured new character and background designs, alternative storyline and character backgrounds, and different sound effects (which were mostly all classic Hanna-Barbera sound effects). Dexter's original voice actress, Christine Cavanaugh, reprised her role for the first few episodes of the revival before retiring from voice acting for personal reasons, and was replaced by Candi Milo for the remainder of the revival's run.
On November 18, 2001, Cartoon Network aired the 12-hour "Dexter Goes Global" marathon in 96 countries and 12 languages. The marathon featured fan-selected episodes of Dexter's Laboratory and culminated with the premiere of the first two episodes of season 3. On January 16, 2006, the series began airing in reruns on Cartoon Network's sister channel Boomerang; the occasion was marked by a 12-hour Martin Luther King Jr. Day marathon.
The show was rerun on Cartoon Network during weekday mornings from November 8, 2010, until March 4, 2011. On March 30, 2012, the series returned to Cartoon Network in the United States in reruns on the revived block Cartoon Planet. The Canadian version of Cartoon Network airs reruns as well, with the series being featured on the channel's launch on July 4, 2012. The launch was commemorated by parent network Teletoon, which aired Cartoon Network-related programming blocks and promotions in the weeks leading up to the event, including episodes of Dexter's Laboratory.
On January 22, 2013, Adult Swim uploaded the never-aired episode "Rude Removal". It has since disappeared from Youtube.
In December 2021, the series made a one-time return to Cartoon Network for the holidays.
In August 2023, the series, along with Ed, Edd n Eddy, Courage the Cowardly Dog and The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy, began airing reruns on Adult Swim as part of their new Checkered Past throwback block.
Characters[]
Main[]
- Dexter
- Dee Dee
- Dexter's Mom
- Dexter's Dad
- Susan "Mandark" Astronomov
- Quadraplex T-3000 Computer
Secondary[]
- Douglas E. Mordecai III
- Philips Luzinsky
- Oceanbird
- Windbear
- Koosalagoopagoop
- Mee Mee and Lee Lee
Minor[]
- Olga "Lalavava" Astronomov
Cast[]
- Christine Canavaugh as Dexter (Seasons 1 and 2; Ego Trip)
- Candi Milo as Dexter (Seasons 3 and 4)
- Allison Moore as Dee Dee (Seasons 1 and 3)
- Kat Cressida as Dee Dee (Seasons 2 and 4; Ego Trip)
- Kath Soucie as Dexter's Mom, Agent Honeydew, and Quadraplex T-3000 Computer
- Jeff Bennett as Dexter's Dad
- Eddie Deezen as Mandark
- Frank Welker as Monkey and The Infraggable Krunk
- Rob Paulsen as Mayor Glory
- Tom Kenny as Valhallen
- Dom DeLuise as Koosalagoopagoop
Premise[]
The series revolves around a boy genius named Dexter who has a secret laboratory filled with highly advanced equipment that is hidden behind a bookshelf in his bedroom. Access to this seemingly endless laboratory is achieved by speaking various passwords or by activating hidden switches hidden on the bookcase (such as pulling out a specific book). Another mean of lab access is a retinal scanner. Dexter is normally in conflict with his ditzy older sister Dee Dee who has an uncanny talent for gaining access to Dexter's lab despite his best efforts to keep her out. Dee Dee eludes all manner of lab security and once inside, delights in playing in the lab, often destroying many of Dexter's inventions and creations. For reasons left unexplained, Dexter still manages to keep his lab a secret from his clueless, cheerful parents. In the beginning of the series Dee Dee is the only other character who knows about his lab, in several episodes however, he is forced to reveal the lab to his parents, although all of these episodes end with all of his parents' memories being wiped. Dexter also has an arch-nemesis, another boy genius named Susan "Mandark" Astronomonov. Mandark often competes with Dexter and tries to outdo him any chance he gets, examples of this include: a school science fair, a soapbox derby, etc. Mandark is also madly in love with Dee Dee.
Recurring segments[]
Episodes from the first two seasons of Dexter's Laboratory are usually divided into three segments, with each segment being a separate Dexter's Laboratory cartoon. Occasionally, the middle segment centers around characters from the Dexter's Laboratory universe other than Dexter and his family. Two of these segments are shown, primarily during the first season: "Dial M for Monkey" and "The Justice Friends". Dial M for Monkey appeared in the first half of the first season, while The Justice Friends appeared in the second half of the first season. The Dial M for Monkey characters sometimes appear in the Justice Friends segments and vice versa, though Dexter and Dee Dee only appear in the Dial M for Monkey segments.
Mini-segments are played during the first two seasons between the main three segments, which involve Dexter and Dee Dee in various scenarios. Live-action segments feature "The Puppet Pals", a TV show seen in the main segments. "The Puppet Pals" are two puppets named Puppet Pal Mitch (voiced by Rob Paulsen) and Puppet Pal Clem (voiced by Tom Kenny). These segments involve Puppet Pal Clem telling Puppet Pal Mitch a joke, with the punchline being a pun on the word "bonk". Puppet Pal Mitch then bonks Puppet Pal Clem on the head with a foam-padded stick.
Dial M for Monkey[]
"Dial M for Monkey" is a segment that airs between two Dexter's Laboratory segments during the first half of the first season. In the segment, Dexter's pet lab monkey (voiced by Frank Welker) fights crime as a masked superhero. Monkey is joined by his partner Agent Honeydew (voiced by Kath Soucie), the Commander General (voiced originally by Robert Ridgely and later Earl Boen), and sometimes "The Justice Friends".
- Monkey - Dexter's lab monkey whom he often experiments on. Unbeknownst to Dexter, Monkey secretly takes on the superhero persona of "Monkey".
- Agent Honeydew - Monkey's sidekick and partner who can ask Monkey for help with her telepathic abilities. She has short black hair with curly bangs and wears a blue S.H.I.E.L.D.-style jumpsuit.
- Commander - The head of Global Security whose main duty is to monitor the Earth for any signs of danger. He is never seen outside of a TV monitor, even when at a barbeque in the episode "Barbequor".
The Justice Friends[]
"The Justice Friends" is a segment that airs between two Dexter's Laboratory segments during the second half of the first season and two episodes of the second season.
The Justice Friends consists of Major Glory, The Infraggable Krunk, and Valhallen, who are roommates living in an apartment complex called "Muscular Arms". The adventures of the Justice Friends deal with the three trying to balance out their superhero adventures while trying to keep their composure living together in the apartment. Episodes play out like a sitcom along with a laugh track, used in a satirical manner.
- Major Glory - parody of Captain America with some traits of Superman. Nephew of Uncle Sam.
- Infraggable Krunk - parody of the Incredible Hulk. Color is reversed of Hulk. Krunk is kinder than Hulk, but still speaks in poor English: "You want Krunk smash?" He calls Major Glory "Flagman", similar to Hulk referring to Iron Man as "Metal Man".
- Valhallen - combination of Valhalla and Van Halen. A parody of Thor. Has hard rock/heavy metal powers. Has a "surfer dude" personality.
- White Tiger - parody of Black Panther
- Tiki Torch - parody of Human Torch
- Capital G - parody of Giant Man
- Living Bullet - parody of Iron Man
- Sam-R-I - parody of Silver Samurai
- Phan Tone - parody of the Vision
- Miss Spell - parody of the Scarlet Witch
Series overview[]
| Season: | Episodes: | premiere: | end: |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pilots | 4 | February 26. 1995 | March 25, 1996 |
| 1 | 13 | April 27, 1996 | January 1, 1997 |
| 2 | 39 | July 16, 1997 | June 15, 1998 |
| 3 | 13 | November 16, 2001 | September 20, 2002 |
| 4 | 13 | November 22, 2002 | November 20, 2003 |
| TV movie | December 10, 1999 | ||
| banned episode | February 21, 1998 (World Animation Celebration) | ||
| theatrical short | July 3, 2002 | ||
Episodes[]
Dexter's Laboratory broadcast 78 half-hour episodes over 4 seasons during its 7-year run. Two pilot shorts were produced for World Premiere Toons that aired in 1995 and 1996 and were subsequently fused into the series' first season. 52 episodes were produced over the original run from 1996 to 1998, which was followed by the TV movie Dexter's Laboratory: Ego Trip in 1999.
An additional 26 episodes were produced and broadcast from 2001 to 2003. The short "Chicken Scratch" debuted theatrically with The Powerpuff Girls Movie in 2002 and was later broadcast as a segment in the series' fourth and final season.
Home media[]
VHS releases[]
- Ego Trip (November 2000)
- Greatest Adventures (2001)
DVD releases[]
- Season One (October 12, 2010)
- The Complete Series (June 25, 2024)
Crossovers[]
- Cartoon Network Halloween: 9 Creepy Capers (August 10th, 2004)
- Cartoon Network: Yuletide Follies (October 5th, 2004)
- Cartoon Network: Grossest Halloween Ever (August 9th, 2005)
- Cartoon Network: Christmas Rocks (October 4th, 2005)
Another complete series DVD set known as "Collected Experiments" was released in Australia in 2017. It includes the TV movie, Ego Trip.
Digital releases[]
Dexter's Laboratory was available on Netflix along with other Cartoon Network shows from March 2013 to March 2015. The series was later available on Hulu from May 1, 2015 to May 2018.
All 4 seasons of the series, with the exceptions of Ego Trip and the controversial episodes “Barbequor” and "Rude Removal", are available for purchase on iTunes and Amazon Prime Video. As for Ego Trip, it was available on Amazon Prime Video from December 30, 2022 to December 30, 2023.
The series was available on HBO Max from May 27, 2020 to May 10, 2023.
Ego Trip was released on Max in Asia on November 2024 and was released on the service in Latin America/Brazil on March 21st, 2025.
Video games[]
Dexter's Laboratory was spawned into six video games:
- Robot Rampage for GameBoy Color (2000)
- Deesaster Strikes! for GameBoy Advance (2001)
- Science Ain't Fair for PC (2001)
- Chess Challenge for GameBoy Advance (2002)
- Mandark's Lab? for PlayStation (2002)
- Security Alert! for mobile phones (2007)
Dexter, Dee Dee, Mom, Dad, and Mandark are playable characters in the 2006 video game, Cartoon Network Racing. Mom and Dad are exclusive to the PlayStation 2 version, while Dexter, Dee Dee, and Mandark are playable in both Nintendo DS and PlayStation 2 versions.
Dexter and Monkey are playable characters in Cartoon Network: Punch Time Explosion for Nintendo 3DS, Dee Dee and Mandark appear as assist characters, Mayor Glory and Valhallen are featured in the XL version (Wii, PS3, X360) as assist characters like Dee Dee and Mandark.
Dexter, Dee Dee, Mandark, Dexter's computer, and Major Glory are featured as NPCS in the MMO online game Cartoon Network Universe: FusionFall.
Dexter appears as a boardwalk customer in the 2018 mobile game Cartoon Network: Match Land. He later became a playable character in the 1.2.0. update, which features Dee Dee as a boardwalk customer.
Music releases[]
A snapshot of the Dee Dee and Dexter music video produced by Klasky Csupo.
Dexter's Laboratory has spawned two music soundtrack albums: The Musical Time Machine, which was released by Atlantic Records on May 19, 1998, and The Hip-Hop Experiment, which was released by the Kid Rhino and Atlantic Records dual label on August 20, 2002. The Hip-Hop Experiment concurrently released with three hip hop music videos for the tracks "Back to the Lab" by Prince Paul, "Dexter (What's His Name?)" by Coolio, and "Secrets" by will.i.am. A fourth music video featuring Japanese-style animation was released by They Might Be Giants for the song "Dee Dee and Dexter", which was produced by Klasky Csupo, the animation studio known for producing Nickelodeon's Rugrats, Aaahh!!! Real Monsters, The Wild Thornberrys, Rocket Power, and As Told by Ginger animated series. Upon Cartoon Network's request for the artist to write an original song for Dexter's Laboratory: The Hip-Hop Experiment, rapper Coolio, who provided the track "Dexter (What's His Name?)", stated, "I didn't really know what I wanted to do at first, but I knew I wanted it to be positive and lively." Three Dexter's Laboratory tracks are featured on Cartoon Network's 1999 compilation album Cartoon Medley.
Appearances in other projects[]
Dexter makes a non-speaking role as an elderly man in the I Am Weasel episode "I Am My Lifetime".
Dexter, Dee Dee, and Monkey appear as a toys in The Powerpuff Girls episode "Ploys R' Us". Dexter cameos in the episodes "Powerpuff Bluff", "Uh Oh Dynamo", "Criss Cross Crisis", "Him Diddle Riddle", and "Forced Kin". Dexter's Dad makes a cameo in the episode "Beat Your Greens".
Dexter appears in the Time Squad episode "Orphan Substitute".
A Dexter balloon appears in the Codename: Kids Next Door episode "Operation U.N.C.O.O.L."
A cardboard cutout of Dexter (facing backwards) appears in The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy special "Billy & Mandy Moon the Moon", which aired as part of Cartoon Network Invaded.
Dexter, Dee Dee, and Mandark make brief cameo appearances in the Codename: Kids Next Door and The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy crossover special The Grim Adventures of the KND, where the three of them are seen popping out of the Delightful Reaper. Mandark later appears during the end credits along with Jake Spidermonkey with a mini-crossover of My Gym Partner's a Monkey titled "My Gym Partner's a Mandark".
In the Steven Universe episode "Say Uncle", Dexter and Dee Dee's names appear on Uncle Grandpa's list.
Dexter and Dee Dee appear as cameos in a segment of the Uncle Grandpa episode "Pizza Eve", along with characters from current and ended Cartoon Network shows.
A Dexter's Laboratory skit is featured in an episode of the Adult Swim series Robot Chicken.
Dexter makes a cameo in the OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes episode "Crossover Nexus", where he appears as one of Ben Tennyson's transformations to defeat Strike. Monkey appears both as stone and one of Ben Tennyson's transformations. A Dexter's Laboratory poster is seen.
In the Craig of the Creek episode, "Kelsey the Elder", Barry, a character, mentions the series.
Dee Dee is featured in the Adult Swim short, "Come and Learn with Pibby".
The series is acknowledged in Cartoon Network's 30th Anniversary video in October 2022.
Dexter and Dee Dee appeared in the Teen Titans Go! special, "Warner Bros. 100th Anniversary".
Dexter, Dee Dee, Monkey, Mandark, and Major Glory all appeared in the Jellystone! episode "Crisis on Infinite Mirths". In the special, Dexter and Dee Dee make full appearances, Monkey and Mandark appear in the battle between Cartoon Network and Jellystone! characters, and Major Glory makes a cameo on the TV set of Billy from The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy. Dexter's signature Robo-Dexo 2000 mecha is also featured in the special's climatic battle.
In other languages[]
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Norwegian | Dexters laboratorium | Dexter's laboratory |
| Spanish | El laboratorio de Dexter | The laboratory of Dexter |
Broadcast history[]
- Cartoon Network (original run: 1996-2003; re-runs: 2003-2008, 2010-2011, 2012-2014, 2021, 2022)
- Boomerang (re-runs: 2006-2015, 2016-2017, 2018-2019, 2020-2021)
- Adult Swim (re-runs: 2023-2024)
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- In the 2001 revival, many aspects of the main villain Mandark are retconned, including his full name (replaced that of Susan) and his little sister (which in question only appears in one episode of the original series as Mandark is portrayed as an only child of Hippie parents in the revival).
- Dee Dee has two friends, Lee Lee and Mimi in the original run. In the revival, they are strangely absent.
- The show's first season DVD set from 2010 was the only single season set to be released on DVD in the US, while Seasons 2-4 are only part of the complete series DVD set from 2024.
- In April 2023, creator Genndy Tartakovsky confirmed that he has no interest in another revival of Dexter's Laboratory, due to the death of Christine Cavanaugh (Dexter's original voice actress) in 2014.
- In a 2022 interview with Polygon, Tartakovsky commented on the scarcity of the show's television movie, Ego Trip, stating, "I don't think people know about it, honestly. Like, as far as the people who run HBO Max and Cartoon Network, I don't think it's been on their radar since we released it". The 2024 complete series DVD set marked the first Region 1 DVD release of the movie Ego Trip, as it had previously only been released to VHS in the US.
- While the series has four seasons, iTunes, Amazon Prime, and HBO Max listed it six seasons. The complete series DVD set also has the series listed as six seasons rather than four, with the 39-episode second season listed as three separate seasons.
- Only Apple TV and the "Collected Experiments" DVD set from Australia show seasons numbered in their correct order.
- During the 20th anniversary of Cartoon Network in 2012, Dexter appeared in the bumpers but was not given any lines, possibly due to Christine Cavanaugh's retirement from voice acting in 2001. An archived recording of Cavanaugh's is used for one of the bumpers.
- The TV movie, Ego Trip, aired on Checkered Past in Latin America on April 2024, however, it is yet to be on the block in the United States.
References[]
This show has a wiki of its own: Dexter's Laboratory Wiki.
| 1957 | Ruff and Reddy |
| 1958 | The Huckleberry Hound Show • Yogi Bear • Pixie and Dixie and Mr. Jinks |
| 1959 | The Quick Draw McGraw Show • Augie Doggie and Doggie Daddy • Snooper and Blabber |
| 1980 | Drak Pack • The Flintstone Comedy Show • The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang • The Richie Rich/Scooby-Doo Show |
| 1981 | Laverne & Shirley in the Army • Space Stars • Teen Force • The Kwicky Koala Show • Trollkins • The Smurfs |
| 1982 | The Flintstone Funnies • Mork and Mindy: The Animated Series • The Little Rascals • Pac-Man • Jokebook • Shirt Tales • The Gary Coleman Show |
| 1983 | The Dukes • Monchhichis • The New Scooby and Scrappy Doo Show • The Biskitts • Lucky Luke |
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| 1985 | Paw Paws • Yogi's Treasure Hunt • Galtar and the Golden Lance • The Berenstain Bears • The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo • The Greatest Adventure: Stories from the Bible |
| 1986 | The New Adventures of Jonny Quest • Pound Puppies • The Flintstone Kids • Foofur • Wildfire |
| 1987 | Sky Commanders • Popeye and Son |
| 1988 | A Pup Named Scooby-Doo • The Completely Mental Misadventures of Ed Grimley • The New Yogi Bear Show • Fantastic Max |
| 1989 | The Further Adventures of SuperTed • Paddington Bear |
| 1990 | The Adventures of Don Coyote and Sancho Panda • Tom & Jerry Kids • Wake, Rattle, and Roll • Rick Moranis in Gravedale High • Midnight Patrol: Adventures in the Dream Zone |
| 1991 | The Pirates of Dark Water • Yo Yogi! |
| 1992 | Fish Police • Capitol Critters • The Addams Family |
| 1993 | Droopy, Master Detective • The New Adventures of Captain Planet • 2 Stupid Dogs • SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron |
| 1995 | Dumb and Dumber • What a Cartoon! |
| 1996 | Cave Kids: Pebbles & Bamm Bamm • The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest • Dexter's Laboratory |
| 1997 | Johnny Bravo • Cow & Chicken • I Am Weasel |
| 1998 | The Powerpuff Girls |
| 1996 | What a Cartoon! • Dexter's Laboratory |
| 2010 | Adventure Time • Ben 10: Ultimate Alien • Generator Rex • The Cartoonstitute • Regular Show • Tower Prep • Sym-Bionic Titan • Robotomy |
| 2011 | The Problem Solverz • Secret Mountain Fort Awesome |
| 2012 | Level Up • Ben 10: Omniverse |
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| 2016 | The Powerpuff Girls • Mighty Magiswords |
| 2017 | Ben 10 • OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes |
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| 2019 | Victor and Valentino • Mao Mao: Heroes of Pure Heart • Infinity Train • Primal • Steven Universe Future |
| 2030 |
| 1993 | The Moxy Show |
| 1994 | Space Ghost Coast to Coast |
| 1995 | What a Cartoon! |
| 1996 | Dexter's Laboratory • Big Bag |
| 1997 | Johnny Bravo • Cow and Chicken • I Am Weasel |
| 1998 | The Powerpuff Girls |
| 1999 | Ed, Edd n Eddy • Mike, Lu & Og • Courage the Cowardly Dog |
| 2030 |