Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds! at the Cartoon Archive
All for One and One for All!
This cartoon was based on the Alexandre Dumas novel the Three Musketeers, it was a revolutionary show for its time - as it was one of the first cartoons to opt for one continual storyline over its 26 episodes. The story of the Three Musketeers was told over the 26 episode season in great detail, making the show educational as well as entertaining and turning a whole generation of young readers onto this novel.
The concept of the cartoon was simple, it faithfully converted the Three Musketeers story into a world where humans were dogs! For example D’Artagnian the aspiring musketeer becomes Dogtanian. This is a truly beautiful piece of work, a great idea brilliantly executed - a cartoon that will easily stand the test of time! There was also a second season of the cartoon created in 1990, called the 'Return of Dogtanian', which doesn't have a page on this site (yet). But in short it comes back to Dogtanian ten years after the events of the Three Muskehounds, and he and Juliet are happily married with two children. The story is partially based on the story of the 'Man in the Iron Mask'. The creators of Dogtanian (a Spanish studio BRB Internacional and a Japanese animation company Nippon animation) also went on to produce another favourite of the CartoonArchive - Around the World in Eighty Days with Willy Fog.
Dogtanian
Dogtanian is our intrepid hero, born in a village in Gascony [France], he has a lot to learn (which he does along the way) about becoming a Musketeer, especially controlling his temper, which often gets him into trouble.
Dogtanian is sent to Paris by his father to train to become a musketeer (under his father's old friend Monsieur Treville). He aspires to become one of King Louis XIII's Musketeers, and on the way to acheiving this falls in love with Juliet.
Dogtanian has two sidekicks, one is his horse Sandy, as you can see above a very tired, but loyal nag, and the other is an annoynig mouse thing called Pip Squeak, that to be honest I'd completely forgotten about until I watched the show again.
Juliet
Juliet is a lady in waiting to Queen of France (Queen Anne of Austria). She meets Dogtanian in the first episode, he is carryong Sandy's saddle on his head on the way to Paris (long story as to how this happened!) and her cart splashes him as she passes.
Dogtanian being bad-tempered and youthful chases after the cart to give the driver a piece of his mind, but falls in love with Juliet as soon as he sees her.
One of the key storylines running throughout the series is that the Queen is having an affair with the Duke of Buckingham, Juliet helps to facilitate this by passing messages etc. between them, which is a very dangerous undertaking, as if the king discovered this the Queen (and Juliet) would be tried for treason.
Aramis and Porthos
Aramis is the romantic out of the three Musketeers. He is always out wooing the ladies using poems and love sonnets etc, although he is no wimp and stil a courageous and accomplished fighter. I have included him and Porthos in a section together as I couldn't fit them in anywhere else!
Porthos is the leader of the three musketeers. He is probably the most experienced and strategic fighter of the three.
Athos
Athos is the biggest of the three Musketeers by a long shot! He likes his food and drink and is wrestler more than a fighter, typically banging peoples heads together, breaking tables over their backs etc!
Although the three are referred to as the Muskehounds in the title, throughout the episodes they are always referred to as Musketeers
Rochefort
Count Rochefort meets and becomes an enemy of Dogtanian early in episode one (Dogtanian refers to him as the Black Moustache!). Rochefort is a suave and fox-like enemy, who alongside 'Mi Lady' is one of the Cardinal's key henchmen.
Richelieu
If you remember anyone from Dogtanian it's Cardinal Richelieu! He is the chief bad-guy of the cartoon, he wants to bring King Louis down and take over his power-base within France and there is no limit to the amount of dirty tricks he's willing to undertake to achieve this.
Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds: The Lyrics
One for all and all for one, Muskehounds are always ready.
One for all and all for one, helping everybody.
One for all and all for one, it's a pretty story.
Sharing everything with fun. That's the way to be.
One for all and all for one, Muskehounds are always steady.
One for all and all for one, helping everybody.
One for all and all for one. It sounds pretty corny.
But if you've got a problem chum, think how it could be.
They cross their hearts and pray. They cross their swords night and day,
They drink their beer and swear. They're faithful to their King.
No matter what you say, they're never far away,
They're always ready to fight or to sing.
One for all and all for one, Muskehounds are always ready.
One for all and all for one, helping everybody.
One for all and all for one, it's a pretty story.
Sharing everything with fun. That's the way to be.
One for all and all for one, Muskehounds are always steady.
One for all and all for one, helping everybody.
One for all and all for one. It sounds pretty corny.
But if you got a problem chum, think how it could be.
Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds Theme 
