Watch My Chops
UK Title card
Also known asCorneil & Bernie (outside of the UK)
GenreAnimated series
Cartoon
Created by
Developed by
  • Marie-Caroline Villard
  • Fethi Nedjari
  • Isabeau Merle (S2)
Written byIsabeau Merle
Directed byAlbert Pereira Lazaro (season 1)
Paul Guidal (season 2)
Voices ofKeith Wickham
Ben Small
Dan Russell
Laurence Bouvard
Dian Perry
Bob Saker
Composers
Country of originFrance
Original languagesFrench
English
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes104 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
  • Roch Lener
  • Jonathan Peel
ProducerMarie-Caroline Villard (S2)
Animators
  • Borisfen-Lutece (S1)
  • Millimages (S2)
  • Animation Services (S2)
  • Feitong Cartoon (S2)
Running time13 minutes
Production companyMillimages
Original release
NetworkFrance 3 (season 1)
Gulli (season 2)
Release21 February 2003 (2003-02-21) –
19 August 2006 (2006-08-19)

Watch My Chops is a French animated series about an intelligent talking dog, Corneil, and his "dog sitter", Bernie Barges. It starred Keith Wickham, Ben Small, Dian Perry, Dan Russell, Becca Stewart, Laurence Bouvard and more recently Mark Laidman. The series originally aired from 2003 to 2004 for 52 episodes[1] and was revived from 2014 to 2016 for an additional 52 episodes, bringing the total to 104.

The original French title is Corneil et Bernie. In the UK, the show is called Watch My Chops, named after Corneil's catchphrase. In the United States and Australia, the show was titled Corneil & Bernie.

Plot summary

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Corneil is an intelligent dog: not only can he read and write perfect English, but he is much smarter than most people. Since he is so smart, he knows that life does not get any better than being a pampered pet, and so he does anything he can to keep his owners John and Beth from realizing his phenomenal skills. This plan begins to go awry when they hire the pinheaded Bernie Barges to "dog-sit", and Bernie learns about Corneil's secret. Though the two frequently bicker, they form an uneasy friendship, and Corneil finds himself using his brainy powers to bail Bernie out of various scrapes.

Most episodes are driven by Corneil's reluctance to let anyone know that he is intelligent and capable of human speech. The only person who does know is dogsitter Bernie, whose Uncle Rico minds John and Beth's apartment. Bernie discovered Corneil's speaking abilities by accident, and unfortunately he is somewhat lacking in intelligence and mostly devoid of morals. All this puts Corneil in an uncomfortable position, as Bernie often takes it upon himself to be 'the voice' of Corneil, capitalising on Corneil's reluctance to communicate and ignoring Corneil's requests.

In the 2014 retool of the series, Corneil and Bernie start to get into more bizarre adventures such as hunting for a legendary monster, battling a computer virus, or trying to face the apocalypse. Most of the supporting characters are reduced to background roles and a few minor ones get more focus. This adaptation also features more humans who find out about Corneil’s secret, and he begins to worry less about being exposed.

Characters

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Main

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Supporting and minor

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Episodes

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Broadcast & home media

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Watch My Chops premiered in France in December 2003, where it aired on France 3 for its first season, and on Gulli for its second. The series has since aired in the United States on Nicktoons from 2004 to 2008, in the UK on CBBC from 2003 to 2011 [1], and in Australia on ABC Me as of 2016.

Mill Creek Entertainment released the complete first season on DVD in Region 1 on 18 March 2008.[2] This release has since been discontinued and is now out of print.

Production

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This show is animated, produced, written and directed in Paris by Millimages, and the English dialogue is recorded in London at The Sound Company studios. The first season was animated with digital ink and paint, whereas the 2014 revival was animated in flash.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Crump, William D. (2019). Happy Holidays—Animated! A Worldwide Encyclopedia of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year's Cartoons on Television and Film. McFarland & Co. pp. 267–268. ISBN 9781476672939.
  2. ^ "Corneil & Bernie: The Complete Series (DVD 2006) | DVD Empire".
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