The Undersea Adventures of Captain Nemo

The Undersea Adventures of Captain Nemo was a series of five-minute cartoons produced in Canada in the mid-1970s. They told the story of Captain Mark Nemo and his young assistants, Christine and Robbie, in their nuclear-powered submarine, the Nautilus.

Background
In the fall of 1975, children in the United States and Canada were introduced to the animated series The Undersea Adventures of Captain Nemo. In America, Captain Nemo was introduced as part of the long running children's program Captain Kangaroo on CBS. In Canada, one five-minute Captain Nemo cartoon was shown during each episode of Peanuts and Popcorn which ran on the CBC.

Created by Al Guest & Jean Mathieson who were also the producers and directors as well as writers, it was produced by their studio, Rainbow Animation of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Undersea Adventures of Captain Nemo was a fanciful re-imagining of the original Jules Verne character Captain Nemo, from his book Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea.

This time Nemo was depicted as an ocean researcher named Mark Nemo. Blonde and hunky, Mark traveled the world's oceans doing scientific research, providing assistance to both humans and animals and thwarting evil doers. Along for the ride came two kids Christine and Robbie who learned (along with the viewers) about life beneath the sea as they went.

These cartoons were quite short, exactly five minutes in length (30 seconds of which was the opening). Besides being educational, these cartoons are an insight into some of the philosophy around children's education of the mid 70's. Each episode would attempt to convey some information about oceanography or marine biology, and all of the plot lines would be resolved cleanly in five minutes without resorting to much violence.

At times, Captain Nemo reflects the influence of the 1970s environmental movement, but the sometimes serious attempts to convey environmentalist themes are softened by its lighthearted style.

Voice Talent
Len Carlson and Billie Mae Richards provided all of the character voices for the entire series.

Production
Al Guest was a legend in Canadian broadcasting circles since the 1960s. His partner, Jean Mathieson joined him in the seventies to found Rainbow Animation in Toronto which produced Nemo.

Episodes
Airdates are unknown, nor is this a confirmed airing order.

Rescue of a Killer

Battle of the Giants

Poachers of the Deep

Jaws of Death

Monsters on the Beach

The Invisible Girl

Deadly Ribbons

The Floating Peril

Guess What's Coming for Dinner

Killer From the Past

The Golden Trap

The Floating Gold Mine

The Tuna Trapper

The Fish Bomber

The Devil's Doorway

The Coral Maze

The Mine at the Bottom of the Sea

Wild Water and Oil

The Silver Age

The Ice Menagerie

Behind Bars

Shark Patrol

Dolphin Express

Collision At Sea

Eyes of the Deep

The Bloodhound of the Sea

The Arab Solution

The Undersea Looters

Shadow of Death

The Pearl Snatchers

Circle of Fire

Rapture of the Deep

Fish Farm

Cool It, Captain

The Little Island

Mystery Island

All That Glitters

Queen of the Deep

Don't Raise the Bridge, Lower the River

The Big Prize

Go Fetch, Killer

Dangerous Welcome

Mystery Triangle

The Meteorite Shower

Snake Charmer

Haul Away Joe

See Through Killer

The Shark Catalog

Media availability
Digiview Entertainment have published some of the episodes of the animated series to DVD. Digiview Entertainment's releases are found in thin-cases and have been found for as low as a dollar a DVD.

DVD Episodes

Mystery Island (VOL. 3): Eyes of the Deep, The Bloodhound of the Sea, The Arab Solution, The Undersea Solution, Shadow of Death, The Pearl Snatchers, Circle of Fire, Rapture of the Deep, Fish Farm, Cool Lt. Captain, The Little Island, Mystery Island

Dangerouse Welcome (VOL. 4): All That Glitters, Queen of the Deep, Don't Raise the Bridge Lower the River, The Big Prize, Go Fetch Killer, Dangerous Welcome, Mystery Triangle, The Meteorite Shower, Snake Charmer, Haul Away Joe, See Through Killer, The Shark Catalog