Raunchy ’90s Adult Cartoon Is Finding A New Generation

Like many adult-oriented cartoons of the 90s, Duckman was unpopular in its day, only to eventually find a cult following in syndication, especially with the rise of the internet. Despite not having much of an audience to speak of during its original tenure, the series was a major hit with critics, and even received several Emmy nominations over the course of its run.

The show is jam-packed with foul language, suggestive themes, and patently unwholesome plot lines, which clash incongruently with the series’ vibrant visual aesthetic.

For those who have not seen an episode of Duckman, the series centers on a titular talking waterfowl who struggles to run a private detective business while raising a family as a henpecked single dad. Along the way, Duckman is joined by his level-headed partner, Cornfed Pig, as they look into a series of bizarre happenings around their Southern California locale.

Seinfeld star Jason Alexander takes center stage as the voice of Duckman, in a hilarious performance that could easily be a stand-in for George Costanza if you close your eyes.

Alexander is joined in the cast of Duckman by veteran voice actors such as Gregg Berger, Nancy Travis, Dweezil Zappa, Elizabeth Daily, Futurama‘s Maurice LaMarche, and the legendary Tim Curry.

Guest stars for the show include the likes of Ben Stein, Gilbert Gottfried, and The Nanny‘s Charles Shaughnessy. Like many animated shows, the series is truly made by its cast of hilarious voice talent, who provide off-the-wall performances loaded with curse words, vitriol, and plenty of contempt for the eponymous duck.

Personally, I was somewhere between not-yet-born and freshly alive when Duckman first aired, so I obviously wasn’t aware of it during its heyday. Still, I can recall catching a few episodes here and there when they were syndicated on Comedy Central during the mid-2000s.

I didn’t truly become a fan of the show until quite recently, however, as clips and jokes from the show have become viral on social media for their shocking misanthropy and energetic line deliveries.

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If you’re a major Duckman fan, you’re in luck, as the show seems to be seeing a major renaissance at this time. While it doesn’t seem to be available on any major streaming network, it wouldn’t surprise me if some executives start to take note of the growing cult of Duckman fans on the internet and make plans to port the show onto a service like Peacock or Hulu.

While I won’t hold my breath for something as major as a reboot or reunion film, the possibility of a future outing with the character probably isn’t completely off the table as long as the series continues picking up steam on the net.