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In 1981, British television audiences welcomed an anarchic spoof of spy thrillers. Danger Mouse paid homage to the 1960s television series, Danger Man, though the hero was a rodent with big ears, sporting an eye patch, initials on his chest, his home a postbox on Baker Street, tribute to another endearing icon. Soon the world took to the madcap adventures of Danger Mouse. In America, the newly emerging network, Nickelodeon, aired the series. In time, more than 80 nations broadcast the antics of Danger Mouse. Animator Mark Hall, creator of Danger Mouse and many other equally beloved characters, has died, losing a brief bout with cancer, November 18, 2011.
Mark Hall was a lively animated individual, much loved by his colleagues. Together with college chum Brian Cosgrove, he formed Cosgrove Hall Productions in 1976, revitalizing the world of animated cartoons with a host of zany characters: Count Duckalla, Penfold the antic hamster sidekick, the evil toad Lord Greenback, along with a delightful adaptation of Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows.
However, it is Danger Mouse that will most likely be Mark Hall’s greatest legacy. Interviewed in 2006, celebrating the 25th anniversary of his creation, according to The BBC News, “The adults watched because of that kind of anarchy," he said, “the kids watched it because they just loved the stories and the absolutely stupid gags," describing the comic critter as “a sort of cross between Bond and all sorts of things. He was supposed to be suave but he was a mouse with big ears."
Mark Hall had retired in 2000 but the urge to create was impossible to ignore. Two years ago, he reteamed with Brian Cosgrove and formed Cosgrove Hall Fitzpatrick Entertainment and plunged into a flurry of activity. Mark Hall’s friends/co-workers mourn his passing but celebrate his life. Cosgrove Hall Fitzpatrick Entertainment’s Operations Director Adrian Wilkins was quoted by The Guardian, “Mark was one of life's real gentlemen and it's wonderful he got to see his company reborn.”
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Mark Hall was a lively animated individual, much loved by his colleagues. Together with college chum Brian Cosgrove, he formed Cosgrove Hall Productions in 1976, revitalizing the world of animated cartoons with a host of zany characters: Count Duckalla, Penfold the antic hamster sidekick, the evil toad Lord Greenback, along with a delightful adaptation of Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows.
However, it is Danger Mouse that will most likely be Mark Hall’s greatest legacy. Interviewed in 2006, celebrating the 25th anniversary of his creation, according to The BBC News, “The adults watched because of that kind of anarchy," he said, “the kids watched it because they just loved the stories and the absolutely stupid gags," describing the comic critter as “a sort of cross between Bond and all sorts of things. He was supposed to be suave but he was a mouse with big ears."
Mark Hall had retired in 2000 but the urge to create was impossible to ignore. Two years ago, he reteamed with Brian Cosgrove and formed Cosgrove Hall Fitzpatrick Entertainment and plunged into a flurry of activity. Mark Hall’s friends/co-workers mourn his passing but celebrate his life. Cosgrove Hall Fitzpatrick Entertainment’s Operations Director Adrian Wilkins was quoted by The Guardian, “Mark was one of life's real gentlemen and it's wonderful he got to see his company reborn.”
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