The cartoon show, Secret Squirrel makes it debut on NBC.
Secret Squirrel was a popular cartoon character created by Hanna-Barbera Productions who first appeared on American television in 1965. Known as Agent 000, Secret Squirrel was a clever, gadget-equipped secret agent who worked for an international intelligence organisation, taking on dangerous missions and battling eccentric villains. The character was a humorous parody of the spy genre, particularly the James Bond films, which were enormously popular during the 1960s. Wearing a distinctive purple trench coat and matching fedora, Secret Squirrel relied on disguises, sophisticated gadgets and quick thinking to defeat his enemies. His adventures combined espionage, slapstick comedy and the exaggerated action typical of Hanna-Barbera cartoons.
Secret Squirrel was accompanied on his missions by his loyal sidekick, Morocco Mole, a small mole wearing a fez and spectacles. Morocco Mole, who spoke with a distinctive accent, frequently helped Secret Squirrel escape difficult situations, although his occasional clumsiness often added to the comedy. The pair received their assignments from their superior, known as Double-Q, who operated from a secret headquarters. Their enemies included the notorious Yellow Pinkie, a parody of the James Bond villain Goldfinger, and other bizarre criminals intent on stealing valuable objects or threatening world security. Secret Squirrel carried an extraordinary assortment of miniature weapons and devices concealed inside his coat and hat, allowing him to produce almost anything required to complete a mission.
The character made his debut on 2 October 1965 in The Atom Ant/Secret Squirrel Show, a Hanna-Barbera animated television programme broadcast on NBC. Secret Squirrel’s adventures were presented alongside those of Atom Ant, another popular Hanna-Barbera character. The original Secret Squirrel segments continued into 1967 and became a familiar part of Saturday morning television. Veteran voice actor Mel Blanc, famous for portraying Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and numerous other Warner Bros. characters, provided the voice of Secret Squirrel, while Paul Frees voiced Morocco Mole. The cartoons were characterised by fast-paced storytelling, visual gags and absurd inventions, with each short episode featuring a new mission that Secret Squirrel and Morocco Mole would inevitably complete despite numerous setbacks.
Secret Squirrel returned to television in 1993 as part of Hanna-Barbera’s animated series 2 Stupid Dogs, appearing in newly produced segments titled Super Secret Secret Squirrel. This updated version introduced a more exaggerated animation style, new characters and additional comic situations while retaining the original secret-agent concept. Jess Harnell voiced Secret Squirrel in the revival, introducing the character to a new generation of viewers. Although Secret Squirrel never achieved the worldwide fame of Hanna-Barbera creations such as Scooby-Doo, Yogi Bear or The Flintstones, he remains a memorable figure in the history of American television animation. His combination of spy-film satire, imaginative gadgets and lighthearted comedy reflects the enormous influence of the 1960s espionage craze on popular culture, and his adventures continue to be remembered by fans of classic Saturday morning cartoons.