Don Gato y Su Pandilla

My 8 year old asked what cartoons I used to watch. I'm 56 so I mentioned Top Cat.I explained to him it was a show about cats that acted out people roles.There was no violence or evil villains, just a bunch of guys trying to beat the system.The old get by while the other guys do all the work.They always had a get rich quick gimmick going that was going to put them on easy street and every time they made it on to easy street they missed the good old days and officer Dibble.It was similar to Bilko, McHales navy and other popular sitcoms of that era.

I was amazed my 8 year old hadn't seen an episode. We have DISH TV so I did a search and it did not come up. I thought Boomerang or Cartoon network would have had it on. My 17 year old son came home and caught me looking up Top Cat. He remembered the show. He told his brother it was a great show where a cat had a bunch of trash can buddies that hung out in an alley. How the cartoon network can not have this show on the air is a crime against children everywhere.

This is a jewel of a show: fun, clean, sometimes even very clever. Why was this show so short running? Maybe it was ahead of its time. As not as cynic as more recent cats (like Garfield), Top Cat has its dose of pinching quotes and memorable, clever one-liners, as the 'hobo-like' background puts the acid dose to the series. The show is maybe naive for the 90's and beyond, but in the innocence of the early 60's it had punch and spice, maybe 20 years before its time.

Top Cat is another one of my favorite Hanna-Barbera cartoons! Set in the Alleys of New York, "Top Cat" tells the story of a gang of low-life cats (Choo Choo, Benny the Ball, Fancy-Fancy, Spook and Brian) with their charismatic Leader, Top Cat. With ability and mischief, Top Cat will always try to get rich gambling, to eat for free, or to play jokes on someone, but he is always being watched by Officer Dibble, who is very strict and fierce with them, but in fact is a friend to all of them. This is series is so funny.

User Rating: 9/10

BOTTOM LINE: HE IS THE KING, HE IS TIP TOP, TOP CAT!

Based on "The Phil Silvers show",this cartoon translates army capers into the adventures of a bunch of cats in a rundown New York alley.They are led by Top Cat,a conniver who could even teach Bilko a thing or two!Their nemesis and sometime victim is policeman Charlie Dibble.Each of the cats has his own very distinct character.I especially like Spook with his beatnik "hep cat" language. The show is full of humor,wit and charm.The voice actors are superb-including Bilko regular Maurice Gosfield("Benny").Fortunately Hanna-Barbera haven't revived the show;the result would undoubtedly be of much lower standard than the 30 original gems from 1961-2

I love this show, I have loved it ever since I was 8. Just for the record I love Hanna Barbera cartoons-Scooby Doo, Tom and Jerry, the Flintstones etc. but I will always have a soft spot for Top Cat. The animation is typical of Hanna Barbera and holds up reasonably well after all these years. The theme tune is in one word irresistible, and the show is very funny a vast majority of the time, especially with the character of Benny. Another character I loved was Officer Dibble, he was priceless and had a caring side towards the mischievous cats. And I have to love Top Cat, such an iconic and individual character.

Top Cat is constantly witty, humorous and charming. It is non-violent and often simple, but this is in most ways a good thing. The voices are superb particularly from the late Arnold Stang, Allen Jenkins and Marice Gosfield. Superb show, wish it had lasted longer though. 10/10 Bethany Cox