Everyone remembers the little red-haired guy, Dexter, who has a secret lab behind his room. The lab is the scene of various physical, chemical, and biological experiments where Dexter can solve almost any important scientific problem. This week we'll fly away to the secret lab and watch 7 curiosities about the cartoon series.
1. Dexter’s Lab was the first original animated series on Cartoon Network.
Initially running old Warner Bros., MGM, and Hanna-Barbera cartoons 24 hours a day, the new cable channel started to air original animated shorts in 1995 during the showcase series What a Cartoon! One of those was Dexter’s Laboratory, which won a most popular short series vote, and was subsequently picked up as a series. Not only was the show the first original animated series in Cartoon Network history, it was the highest-rated series on the Turner-owned network in both 1996 and 1997.
2. The creation of the series was inspired by a drawing of a ballerina
One day Tartakovsky the creator of the series drew a tall blonde ballerina for college. This made him draw a character who was the complete opposite of making a little boy who loved science. The idea for these two characters eventually grew with Dee Dee and Dexter.
3. Dexter was voiced by three different women.
Christine Cavanaugh was the first voice actress to voice Dexter and also voiced Chuckie Finster from Rugrats. She was later replaced by Candi Milo after she retired from voice acting. In addition, Tara Strong provided the voice for Dexter in Cartoon Network: Punch Time Explosion. Strong also voiced Bubbles from Powerpuff Girls.
Candi Milo
4. . Dexter’s age is never mentioned in the show.
The series did not expose specifically to Dexter’s age. However, Dexter is said to be 8 years old based on the episode “Love According to Dexter”.
5. The Justice Friends were inspired by comics Tartakovsky read as a child.
Tartakovsky left Russia with his parents and emigrated to Chicago at the age of seven. His father left behind a career as a dentist whose clients included the Soviet National hockey team. Watching Warner Bros. cartoons and reading Marvel Comics helped the budding animator learn English.
6. Dexter’s family name
It didn’t show up to most viewers during the series, but Dexter’s last name never came to light.
7. Dexter’s Burrito Palace is actually real.
Tartakovsky often eats at Burrito Palace while growing up in Chicago.
Did you know these things about Dexter?
What was the most surprising thing to you?
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