The character was originally created for the opening credits for the film La pantera rosa (1963), and after this series would be a part of every Inspector Clouseau film made from here on in.
There are only two cartoons that the Pink Panther verbally speaks English, they were Rock-a-Bye Pinky/Toulouse la Trick/Sink Pink (1969) and Pink Pajamas/Sicque! Sicque! Sicque!/Pink Ice (1969).
The character of The Inspector is based upon Inspector Jacques Clouseau. It has been noted that the animated character owes more to Alan Arkin's portrayal in the then-recent El Inspector Clouseau (1968) than to Peter Sellers.
The Pink Phink won an Academy Award.