The series debuted on 16 September 1991 and ran 65 episodes before ending on 13 December of the same year. It was the first ever television series produced based on the Bond franchise, and, as of 2025, is the only animated adaptation to date.
This was the second attempt to create an animated series based on the Bond franchise. Bond screenwriterKevin McClory announced in a February 1988 issue ofVariety that he was working to produce an animated James Bond series calledJames Bond vs. S.P.E.C.T.R.E., to be produced by an unnamed Dutch company. The series never came to fruition.[2]
Eon Productions later began developing what would becomeJames Bond Jr. The show was produced byMurakami-Wolf-Swenson andMGM Television, and debuted on 16 September 1991, with a total of 65 half-hour episodes produced.
James Bond Jr. was fully sanctioned by, and produced in association with,Danjaq andUnited Artists, who held the rights to the James Bond property. It was the first attempt to bring the Bond franchise to television since the 1954 live adaptation ofCasino Royale. Only one season was produced.
While attending prep school at Warfield Academy, James Bond Jr, with the help of his friends IQ (the grandson ofQ), Gordo Leiter (the son ofFelix Leiter) and Tracy Milbanks, fights against the evil terrorist organization S.C.U.M. (Saboteurs and Criminals United in Mayhem), aSPECTRE-like organization.[3] Expanding on his uncle's famous line, James Bond Jr'scatchphrase was "Bond, James Bond... Junior."[4][unreliable source?]
The show regularly surpasses the Bond movies in terms of fantastical gadgets, while the violence of the Bond series is nowhere in evidence.Jaws, a recurring villain from the filmsThe Spy Who Loved Me[5][unreliable source?] andMoonraker,[6][unreliable source?] made regular appearances, usually partnered with Nick Nack, a villain fromThe Man with the Golden Gun,[7][unreliable source?] the two forming a bickering comical duo.Auric Goldfinger also appears, alongside his assistant,Oddjob, from theGoldfinger film.[8][unreliable source?] It is revealed Goldfinger has a teenage daughter named Goldie Finger with equally expensive tastes. The only other villain from the films to appear in the show, though one that is very loosely based on his film counterpart, is Dr. No, who is depicted as being Asian and having green skin, a common practice at the time in children's media whenever Asian villains are showcased such as Ming the Merciless inDefenders of the Earth and The Mandarin in the 90'sIron Man TV series. Several episode titles parodied the titles of Bond films such asLive and Let's Dance andRubies Aren't Forever.
The main characters consist of James Bond Jr., his friends, several featured members of the Warfield Academy staff, and Trevor Noseworthy IV. They appear in almost every episode of the series. Sometimes only two or three of Jr.'s friends will accompany him on an adventure, leaving the others behind at Warfield to create a B-plot. These plots normally revolve around Trevor's misguided attempts to get James into trouble.
James Bond Jr. (voiced byCorey Burton) — The thrill-seeking teenage nephew ofMI6 agentJames Bond 007, who shares his uncle's penchant for quips and puns. He attends Warfield Academy with friends who aid him in his missions. Romance is occasionally hinted at between Bond and Tracy Milbanks.[9]
Horace 'I.Q.' Boothroyd III (voiced byJeff Bennett) — The grandson ofQ (007's gadget inventor), he is a scientific genius and one of James' best friends. Quick-witted and highly logical, he is responsible for developing and building the gadgets that help James defeat agents of S.C.U.M. He is mistakenly called "Ike" in the Italian dub of the series.[9]
Tracy Milbanks (voiced byMona Marshall) — The daughter of Bradford Milbanks and one of James' closest friends, regularly accompanying him on his missions. Bossy and quick-tempered, Tracy sometimes betrays her feelings for James. Her first name is a reference to 007's late wife,Tracy Bond.[9]
Gordon "Gordo" Leiter (voiced byJan Rabson) — The tanned, blonde, athletic "strong fist" among James' friends, Californian Gordo is also kindly and amiable. The son of 007's CIA associate and friendFelix Leiter, he never backs down when his comrades need force to solve their problems.[9]
Phoebe Farragut (voiced bySusan Silo) — Tracy's best friend and the daughter of a rich businessman. She makes no secret of her crush on James, although the feelings are never reciprocated, paralleling Bond's relationship withMiss Moneypenny in the films.[9]
Trevor Noseworthy IV (voiced bySimon Templeman) — He comes from a wealthy family, and has an inflated sense of superiority and self-importance. Arrogant, egocentric and spiteful, as well as cowardly and fearful, he constantly plans to get James into trouble, hoping for him to be expelled from Warfield, which inevitably backfires.[9]
Bradford Milbanks (voiced byJulian Holloway) — An ex-RAF officer and Tracy's father, who now presides over Warfield Academy as theheadmaster. Although serious and rigid, he is a fair and accommodating disciplinarian and parent.[9]
Burton "Buddy" Mitchell (voiced byBrian Stokes Mitchell) — A formerFBI agent and associate of 007, now working as Warfield'sgym teacher. Strong and intelligent, he serves as James's mentor. Burton knows more about James's adventures than he lets on to the rest of the school's staff, frequently risking his own job by allowing the youngster and his friends to get into danger.[9]
There were numerous villains in the series, most of whom worked for S.C.U.M. and made recurring appearances throughout the 65-episode run. Many characters looked nothing like their movie counterparts. All recurring villains in the show are listed here:
S.C.U.M. – Short for Saboteurs and Criminals United in Mayhem, S.C.U.M. is the evil organization that is the main antagonist of the series.
Scumlord (voiced byJeff Bennett) — The mysterious leader of S.C.U.M., never seen outside the shadows. Believed by some to be none other thanErnst Stavro Blofeld.[citation needed] He often relays commands to other S.C.U.M. villains via telescreen. Scumlord has a dog named Scuzzball. Key appearances includeThe Beginning,Location: Danger,Avalanche Run,Barbella's Big Attraction andThe Thing in the Ice, although he made many cameo appearances. Scumlord is never seen outside of his surveillance room. He is always sitting in the dark wearing a trench coat, a fedora hat and sunglasses.
Jaws (voiced byJan Rabson) — A dim-witted villain whose trademark steel teeth destroy almost anything he chews. His clothing not only serves as a small source of comedy for the series but also complements his lack of intelligence. He usually acts as a henchman for higher-ranking S.C.U.M. agents and is often paired with Nick Nack. Unlike his movie counterpart, his lower jaw is also metallic, and he is able to talk clearly. In the novelization "A View to a Thrill", it is explained that he was shot in the mouth during a bank robbery and "to save his life, the doctors had given him a set of metal teeth, and motors for jaw muscles".[citation needed] Appearances includeThe Beginning,Plunder Down Under,Valley of the Hungry Dunes,Never Give a Villain a Fair Shake,No Such Loch,The Inhuman Race,Fountain of Terror,Ship of Terror,Queen's Ransom,Avalanche Run,Barbella's Big Attraction,Invaders from S.C.U.M.,Ol' Man River,Catching the Wave,Between a Rock and a Hard Place,Sherlock IQ,Quantum Diamonds,Rubies Aren't Forever,The Thing in the Ice,Monument to S.C.U.M. andNorthern Lights.
Nick Nack (voiced byJeff Bennett) — A small henchman with a huge chin, Nick Nack is often the butt of "short jokes" from both James Bond Jr. and his villainous "other half", Jaws. Appearances includeValley of the Hungry Dunes,Cruise to Oblivion,The Inhuman Race,Queen's Ransom,Avalanche Run,Barbella's Big Attraction,Invaders from S.C.U.M.,Ol' Man River,Catching the Wave,Sherlock IQ,The Thing in the Ice,Goldie Finger at the End of the Rainbow,Monument to S.C.U.M. andNorthern Lights.
Dr. Derange (voiced byJulian Holloway) — Thismad scientist with long black hair speaks with a French accent and has an insane passion for all kinds ofradioactive materials, mainlyplutonium. According to the novelization "The Eiffel Target", Derange is part man and part machine making him acyborg. He is by far the most frequently appearing villain in the series, appearing in at least sixteen episodes. He is also featured in most of the spin-off material. Appearances includeThe Eiffel Missile,A Race Against Disaster,The Inhuman Race,It's All in the Timing,Fountain of Terror,Deadly Recall,Red Star One,Invaders from S.C.U.M.,A Deranged Mind,The Last of the Tooboos,The Emerald Key,Canine Caper,Weather or Not,Between a Rock and a Hard Place,Quantum Diamonds andMonument to S.C.U.M.
Skullcap (voiced byJan Rabson) — A top-ranking S.C.U.M.assassin who is almost always found working for Dr. Derange. His name is derived from the steelheadgear encasing the top part of his head. Skullcap is extremely cold and insidious though not particularly cunning. According to the novelizationThe Eiffel Target, he is Number 17 on Interpol's Most Wanted list and it was Dr. Derange who crafted his metallic dome after being seriously injured in a robbery. The dome also conducts static electricity. Whenever Skullcap scratches his head, it triggers little sparks. Appearances includeThe Eiffel Missile,The Inhuman Race,It's All in the Timing,The Last of the Tooboos,The Emerald Key,Weather or Not,Canine Caper andThor's Thunder.
Auric Goldfinger (voiced byJan Rabson) — One of 007's cleverest and most manipulative villains. Whenever there is gold, there is Goldfinger. His schemes are motivated entirely by greed, and he is most often assisted by henchman Odd Job. He was arguably the SCUM villain who was the least altered from his movie counterpart. Appearances includeEarth Cracker,Cruise to Oblivion,Goldie's Gold Scam andKiller Asteroid.
Goldie Finger (voiced byKath Soucie) — Goldfinger's spoiled and equally crooked daughter, who shares her father's love of gold and his ruthlessness. She often teamed up with Barbella, although she would sometimes aid her father. Appearances includeCity of Gold,Going for the Gold,Goldie's Gold Scam andGoldie Finger at the End of the Rainbow.
Oddjob (voiced byJeff Bennett) — Much like Jaws and Nick Nack, he is seen working for the other villains, especially Goldfinger. He wears an odd-looking purplejumpsuit with red-orange stripes, red and white sneakers, pale green half gloves, a gold necklace bearing the initials OJ, a pale green winter scarf and flying goggles. His trademark razor-sharp hat is also present, although now it is a miniaturetop hat instead of abowler hat. Appearances includeEarth Cracker,Cruise to Oblivion,Far Out West,A Deranged Mind,Goldie's Gold Scam,Between a Rock and a Hard Place,Killer Asteroid andGarden of Evil.
Barbella (voiced byMona Marshall) — A hot-tempered female bodybuilder, Barbella often exhibits superhuman strength. Cunning and cold, she has loyalty for no-one, least of all S.C.U.M., whom she betrays in one episode by attempting to destroy their international headquarters. Barbella often works with Goldie Finger. Appearances includeCity of Gold,Barbella's Big Attraction,Going for the Gold,A Deranged Mind andGoldie Finger at the End of the Rainbow.
Dr. No (voiced byJulian Holloway) — One of 007's most fiendish opponents. The animated version differs a lot from the filmDr. No, as he has green skin, likely as a result of his defeat at the hands of 007 in the original movie. His accent, costume and mustache have Asiatic themes and many of his schemes involveninjas, samurai swords, and the like. Appearances includeA Chilling Affair,Valley of the Hungry Dunes,Appointment in Macau,The Sword of Power,Far Out West,Garden of Evil andNo Time to Lose.
Spoiler (voiced byMichael Gough) — A gravel-voiced S.C.U.M. agent who leads a savage, chain-wieldingbiker gang. He has worked for various agents including Baron von Skarin, Dr. Derange, and Dr. No. Appearances includeScottish Mist,No Time to Lose andMonument to S.C.U.M.
Baron Von Skarin (voiced byJulian Holloway) — This wealthyBavarian baron is also an international terrorist and firearms smuggler. Von Skarin is cold and cruel but never neglects his elegant appearance. He is often seen reporting directly to Scumlord and is apparently one of his more favored agents. Appearances includeLive and Let's Dance,Dance of the Toreadors,Scottish Mist,Catching the Wave,Sherlock IQ,Rubies Aren't Forever andNorthern Lights.
Walker D. Plank (voiced byEd Gilbert) — Apirate with a hook hand,eye-patch, a peg leg, and a talking parrot that also has an eye-patch and a peg-leg. His schemes are invariably nautical and involve pillage, plunder, and domination of all the oceans in the world. He seemed to be inspired by Karl Stromberg; with one episode showing his plot foiled in a manner akin toThe Spy Who Loved Me. Appearances includePlunder Down Under,Nothing to Play With,Never Give a Villain a Fair Shake,No Such Loch,Ship of Terror,Queen's Ransom,S.C.U.M. on the Water,Ol' Man River,Danger Train andThor's Thunder.
Bilge and Pump — A pair of sinister seafaring sidekicks, often found instigating criminality on behalf of Captain Plank. Appearances includeNo Such Loch andS.C.U.M. on the Water.
Ms. Fortune (voiced bySusan Silo) — A wealthy criminal aristocrat, Ms. Fortune's wealth never prevents her from attempting to acquire more, through highly illegitimate means. She was an original villainess for the series, though her conspiracies to gain financial domination suggest she was a feminine version of Goldfinger. Appearances includeFountain of Terror,Mindfield,The Heartbreak Caper,There But For Ms. Fortune andDanger Train.
Snuffer (voiced byJan Rabson) — Ms. Fortune's crooked and deeply unpleasantbutler and accomplice. He ends every sentence with 'ma'am', unless he is ordered by Ms. Fortune to wait on her male SCUM allies, in which case he will end a sentence with "sir". Appearances includeFountain of Terror,Mindfield,The Heartbreak Caper,There But For Ms. Fortune andDanger Train.
The Chameleon (voiced byAlan Oppenheimer) — This dangerous criminal is a facial shapeshifter due tonano-technologic mechanisms implanted under the skin on his face. Cunning and sly, he is a villain to be feared. Appearances includeThe Chameleon,Red Star One andThe Art of Evil.
Tiara Hotstones (voiced byMona Marshall) — This jewel-loving mercenary shares a rapport with James Bond Jr. Despite being ruthless, she is inclined to pursue only jewels and money rather than power or world domination. Appearances includeDance of the Toreadors,Rubies Aren't Forever andDutch Treat.
Maximillion Cortex — A diminutive villain with a very large brain. Cortex is very wealthy but is always looking for ways to increase that wealth. Appearances includeLamp of Darkness andLeonardo da Vinci's Vault.
Leftbrain and Rightbrain — Cortex's assistants, they are a pair of overweight halfwits whose size and intelligence counter those of their boss. While similar in appearance and completely inseparable, they are not related. Appearances includeLamp of Darkness andLeonardo da Vinci's Vault.
The Worm (voiced byJan Rabson) — The only recurring villain in the series not to be associated with S.C.U.M., The Worm is a first-rate terrorist andhypochondriac with an intense dislike of sunlight, making most of his plans taking place deep underground. Appearances includeA Worm in the Apple andPompeii and Circumstance.
In most episodes James Bond Jr. encounters guest women, whom he is often forced to rescue. Following in the 007 tradition, many of their names are based on puns or double entendres, although they are less salacious than the parent series. Some of the more notable include:
Lotta Dinaro — Daughter of an archaeologist in search of El Dorado. They are both kidnapped by Oddjob and Goldfinger in the episodeEarthcracker.
Lt. Shelley Kaysing — A US Army lieutenant whom the Chameleon attempts to assassinate to further his plan to steal a secret army device in the episodeThe Chameleon.
Marcie Beaucoup (voiced byKath Soucie) — A French spy who encounters James Bond Jr. on a hovercraft. She and Bond are captured by Dr. Derange and Skullcap and must escape from the Eiffel Tower before a missile is launched killing them both in the episodeThe Eiffel Missile.
Terri Firma — The daughter of a leading seismologist, she is forced to work for Walker D. Plank and Jaws when her father is kidnapped in the episodeNever Give a Villain a Fair Shake.
Hayley Comet — A student at Warfield whose professor father is kidnapped by agents of S.C.U.M. disguised as aliens from outer space in the episodeInvaders from S.C.U.M.
Wendy Day — A weather forecaster who assists James in preventing Doctor Derange from carrying out his plot to take control of the weather in the episodeWeather or Not.
Sgt. Victoria Province — A mountie whom James befriends in Toronto. She assists him in foiling Baron von Skarin's plan to cut electrical power to the city in the episodeNorthern Lights.
Princess Yasmine (voiced by Sheryl Bernstein) — Daughter of the sheikh of Al-Khaline who is taken captive by Dr. No along with her father's water for ransom. She is freed by James Bond Jr. and they both flood the facility, sabotaging Dr. No's operation in the episodeValley of the Hungry Dunes.
A board game,James Bond Jr. The Game, was released byCrown and Andrews,[10] the plot of which was to try to prevent the launch of nuclear missile.[11] Players collected computer disks, in order to deactivate the missile, while watching out for SCUM agents.[11]
As with most animated series, a large number of episodes were only broadcast and never commercially released. Some episodes were only commercially released in the US, and some episodes were only commercially released in the UK.
In 1992,Puffin Books published six novels based on theJames Bond Jr. animated television show. The books were written byJohn Peel under the pseudonym John Vincent, and were based on episodes from the television run.
In the UK, four of the TV episodes were adapted into a young children's series by Buzz Books. Although the plots were basically the same, the books were much shorter and sometimes featured different characters from the TV show. The only villains never to appear in these books were Dr. No and Walker D. Plank.
James Bond Jr. had a limited 12 issue run withMarvel Comics spanning from January 1992 to December 1992.[83] The first five stories were lifted directly from the TV series, but the other seven were original stories. The writers wereCal Hamilton andDan Abnett, and the artists were Mario Capaldi, Colin Fawcett, Adolfo Buylla, and Bambos Georgioli.
James Bond Jr. had two video games based on the series, published byTHQ in1992 for theNES[91] and theSuper NES[92] (the former developed byEurocom and the latter developed byGray Matter).
^Erickson, Hal (2005).Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. pp. 440–442.ISBN978-1-4766-6599-3.
