The Mask: Animated Series is an American animated television series based on the 1994 film of the same name. The series aired on CBS and ran for a total of three seasons and fifty-four episodes from August 12, 1995, to August 30, 1997. It spawned its own short-run comic book series, Adventures of The Mask. John Arcudi, former writer of the original comics, wrote two episodes of the series.
The Mask was one of three animated series based on Jim Carrey movies that premiered the same year. These included the 1995–2000 Ace Ventura: Pet Detective series, and the 1995–1996 Dumb and Dumber series.
The series retained major plot points from the film, with insecure bank clerk Stanley Ipkiss using an ancient mask to gain superpowers while taking on the mischievous and cartoonish, but heroic and good-hearted personality of The Mask. The major alteration is that Stanley can use the mask in daytime as well as at night. Following the events of the film, Stanley's friend and coworker Charlie thinks that Stanley threw the mask away, but Stanley either discovers that his dog Milo retrieved it, or pretended to get rid of it and decided to keep it.
Reporter Peggy Brandt is the main female character in the series, though Stanley is upset with her for selling him out to the mob. Tina Carlyle (Cameron Diaz's character in the film) is absent from the series. Niko and Dorian Tyrell, the two primary antagonists of the 1994 film who died during the course of it, do not appear in the animated series and are never even mentioned (though Peggy does make a mention of the mob in the pilot). Dr. Arthur Neuman (voiced by Ben Stein) once again appears in three episodes in this series, even ending up wearing the mask in one episode.
Despite having a "realistic" setting in the fictional town of Edge City, the series often relies more on Tex Avery-style humor and occasionally breaks any meaningful laws of reality.[citation needed] For example, one episode featured the Goofalotatots, parodies of the Animaniacs, treating them as if they were naturally alive. Another featured the Mask becoming a personal assistant to the President of the United States, with the job merely handed to him (former Mask comic writer John Arcudi wrote both example episodes, a stark departure from his usual writing). Police officers are portrayed as idiots unable to recognize obvious clues.
Also continued from the film were The Mask's frequent visits to the Coco Bongo: a fictional, glamorous nightclub frequented by the Edge City well-to-do, which was based on the Copacabana in New York City.[citation needed] The destruction of the Coco Bongo in the episode "A Comedy of Eras" horrifies and enrages The Mask, and provides him with the motivation to ultimately defeat the antagonist.
During the late 1990s, Rob Paulsen appeared on the US TV talk show Donny & Marie. When talking about his role as Stanley Ipkiss/The Mask, Paulsen said, "I get to be Jim Carrey for a whole lot less cake."
