Diabolik (TV series)

Diabolik (also known as Saban's Diabolik and Diabolik: Track of the Panther; French: Diabolik: Sur les Traces de la Panthère, lit. "Diabolik: In the Footsteps of the Panther") is an animated television series based on the Italian comic book series of the same name by Angela and Luciana Giussani. Developed by Charles Corton and written by Jean Cheville and Florence Sandis, the series was an international co-production between Saban Entertainment, Saban International Paris, M6 Métropole Télévision and Mediaset, with Asiatic animation services by Ashi Productions and Saerom Animation.

Production on the show began in 1997. In Europe, it premiered on Fox Kids on May 5, 1999, and lasted for 40 episodes before ending on January 1, 2001. Ownership of the series passed to Disney in 2001 when the company acquired Fox Kids Worldwide, which also includes Saban Entertainment. Although it was co-produced in the U.S., it never aired in that country.

The series that focuses on master thief Diabolik and his woman companion Eva, as they fight the criminal organisation Brotherhood and its leader Dane, while evading Inspector Ginko. The series differs considerably from the darker-toned comic, making it more suitable for a young audience; the main differences include the rejuvenation of Diabolik and Eva Kant, the introduction of new characters (such as the main antagonist Dane), the replacement of Diabolik's Jaguar E-Type with a fictional modern car, the absence of murders by the title character, and the setting in the real world rather than fictional locations.

Plot
Diabolik is a master thief with a deep knowledge in many scientific fields, including chemistry, mechanics, and computers. He has a set of lifelike masks which he uses to fool his opponents, assuming every identity at will. He was raised as an orphan on a secret island hideout of a criminal organisation known as the Brotherhood, where he learned all his criminal skills; as a baby, he was found abandoned on a boat by King, the leader of the organisation, and welcomed into his home like a son. Dane, King's legitimate son, never accepted him as a brother. Years later, Dane, jealous of Diabolik, framed him for a crime where he didn't commit (the murder of a man, the father of Diabolik's future partner Eva Kant), and Diabolik remained in prison. Five years later, after King's death, Dane became the leader of the Brotherhood and organised the rescue of his brother, but that was all a cover for his brother's murder, his real plan. Diabolik survived the assassination and swore that he will destroy the Brotherhood and his brother. Together with his partner Eva Kant, who also got personal vendetta against Dane and the Brotherhood, Diabolik manages to make life miserable to Dane and his organisation, while being pursued by Inspector Ginko.

Production and broadcast
The series is based on the Italian comic book series of the same name by Angela and Luciana Giussani, although it is significantly different from the source material, as it is more suitable for a young audience. It was developed by Charles Corton and written by Jean Cheville and Florence Sandis, and produced by the French studios Saban International Paris and M6 Métropole Télévision, the American Saban Entertainment, and the Italian Mediaset, with Asiatic animation services by Ashi Productions and Saerom Animation. The production started in 1997. Mario Gomboli (it), Italian script writer and editor of the original comics and artistic consultant of the series, stated: "In 1997, Saban International wanted to project cartoons, I proposed my children's books but they wanted something more adventurous, and so I told them about Diabolik." The series premiered in Europe on Fox Kids on May 5, 1999, and lasted for 40 episodes before ending on January 1, 2001; it also aired on M6 in France and on Italia 1 in Italy. The English dub of the series was initially set to air on Fox Family Channel in the United States in 2000, but was cancelled before being aired, although the series was broadcast in Australia. Although Disney owns the rights to the series episodes, plot, "TRACK OF THE PANTHER" label, recurring characters not based on comics and other fictional materials/IP's created especifically for the animated TV show through BVS Entertainment, while Astorina S.r.l holding the rights of the original  Diabolik  franchise and its original characters.

About the series' development and broadcast, Mario Gomboli also said: "The project started well, but when Saban was bought by Fox Kids the production moved [from France] to Los Angeles, and the first problems arose. The Americans didn't want Diabolik and Eva to be, I won't say lovers, but simply to live together. One guy wanted them to be brother and sister to justify unmarried people living under the same roof. We argued in a couple of situations. Especially on the use of daggers since the Toronto regulations say that weapons cannot be used on human beings. So Diabolik could only use daggers to puncture tires, blow out a light bulb or cut a rope, but never against anyone. In the end it was never distributed in the US because, last but not least, Disney bought Fox Kids and they believed that Diabolik was a name that reminded people of Satanism, and therefore not suitable for kids."