Manimal
Series

Manimal (1983)

2 critics 18 lists ★ 7.3 TMDb 1 seasons Action & AdventureSci-Fi & Fantasy

Jonathan Chase was a British college professor at New York University who had the unusual ability to transform into any kind of animal. He used his powers to battle crime alongside pretty policewoman Brooke and Vietnam-war pal Ty.

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The Generation GapWhat our critics say

The Broadcast Fossil
The Broadcast FossilBoomer

Now, "Manimal," that was a concept. A brilliant doctor who could transform into any animal. The special effects, for the time, were... ambitious. You'd watch for the transformation sequences, mostly. But the plots were pretty standard crime-of-the-week stuff. It was one of those shows that tried to be a little bit of everything – adventure, fantasy, procedural – and ended up being a curiosity. A bit silly, yes, but it had a certain earnestness. And the idea was certainly memorable, even if the execution was spotty.

from “8 Broadcast Wonders You *Really* Should've Seen” →
The Cathode Rebel
The Cathode RebelGen X

A guy who could turn into any animal to solve crimes? Yeah, that was Manimal. The transformations were the star of the show, all practical effects, kinda clunky but utterly mesmerizing for a kid. It was pure 80s Saturday morning fever dream stuff, completely ridiculous but somehow undeniably cool in its weird ambition. A brief, shining moment of analog absurdity.

from “8 Shows That Wired My Brain: A Rebel's Rundown” →

Featured in 18 lists

8 Shows That Wired My Brain: A Rebel's Rundown 8 Broadcast Wonders You *Really* Should've Seen The 8 Wildest TV Journeys from the VHS Era You Need to See 9 Glitch-Core Visions From The Cathode Age 9 Broadcast Anomalies That Blew Our Minds 6 Frequencies That Warped My Brain (And Should Have Yours) 8 Broadcast Anomalies That Blew Out Your CRT Tune In, Drop Out: 6 Analog Dreams That Still Haunt The Airwaves 12 Broadcasts That Bent Reality (And Your CRT Screen) 11 Analog Dreams That Still Haunt Your TV Screen 7 Analog Nightmares That Still Burn My Retinas The 12 Broadcast Anomalies They Tried to Bury

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