Television series
Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds
- Swashbuckler
- Light-hearted
A Spanish-American animated comedy that transplants The Three Musketeers into a dog-filled 17th century, where a scrappy puppy joins three noble hounds in swashbuckling adventures. It's gleefully silly, endearingly earnest about friendship and honour, and the kind of show that doesn't try too hard—which is exactly why it works. For anyone who loves adventure that doesn't take itself seriously.
Should you watch it?
Watch it if you love old-school hand-drawn serials where a scruffy underdog's loyalty and a gang of swordsmen's code of honour carry every episode, and you don't mind a cartoon that wears its heart openly.
Skip it if you want sleek modern animation or tight, self-contained storytelling, since this is broad, sentimental and built for kids, with a plot that sprawls across its run.
What it asks of you: Twenty-six half-hour episodes in a single season, a steady run of brisk, bouncy instalments that rarely slow down to let quieter moments breathe.
Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.
If you liked this
The Three Musketeers1973
Richard Lester's version is a romp—witty, physically inventive, genuinely funny, and it treats the source material with affection rather than reverence. If you love Dogtanian's spirit, this is where it comes from.
But It's from the 1970s and moves at a different pace than modern action. Some gags land softer than others, and the two-part structure feels baggy.
Animaniacs1993
Anarchic energy, constant jokes, genuine affection for old cartoons and adventure serials. It's modern but has that same spirit of loving chaos.
But It can feel scattered. Jokes come so fast that some will miss you, and the quality varies between segments.
Samurai Jack2001
A lone hero journeying through bizarre landscapes, fighting injustice with style and honour. Beautiful animation, clever action, and it trusts its audience to feel genuine stakes alongside the humour.
But Later seasons lose focus. The first three are essential; after that it drifts.
Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds
The wildcard
Something you would not have found on your own.
Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas2003
Same core engine: a charismatic outsider + a tight band of companions + the motto that friendship matters more than winning. But filtered through a more cinematic lens than cartoons allow.
DreamWorks animation at its most fun: a rogue with a code, a crew bound by loyalty, action sequences that genuinely impress. It's gorgeously animated and doesn't apologise for being adventure fantasy.
But It's technically a 'failure'—expensive, underperforming, and glossy in a way that can feel shallow. Modern animation can look dated very quickly.
More like this (6)
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power2018
A found-family adventure with a ragtag group learning loyalty and what 'one for all' actually means. Gorgeous animation, real heart underneath the fun.
But It prioritises emotion over action. If you want sword-swinging spectacle, you won't get it here.
Dungeons & Dragons1983
Six kids trapped in a magical world, relying on each other against impossible odds. Legitimately suspenseful adventure where the friendships matter as much as the quests.
But Animation is stilted even by 1980s standards. Some episodes feel like padding, and the cliff-hanger ending never resolved.
The Adventures of Robin Hood1938
Errol Flynn is made of charm and mischief. Technicolor swashbuckling, genuine wit, adventure that trusts fun more than cynicism.
But It's in Technicolor and very old. The romance subplot is slack, and some comedy moments haven't aged gracefully.
Tiny Toon Adventures1990
Scrappy cartoon characters learning from veteran mentors in a world stuffed with affectionate parody. It's chaotic and clever and made by people who loved what came before.
But It's a grab-bag. Some cartoons are brilliant; others feel obligatory. The pop-culture references will date it.
The Owl House2020
A human girl and a trio of demons stumbling through adventure and found family. Genuinely funny, beautifully drawn, and it builds real emotional stakes as it goes.
But The first season is uneven while it finds its voice. Disney's cancellation means it ends before the creator wanted, which stings.
The Tale of Despereaux2008
A small, unlikely hero proving that honour and loyalty matter. But where Dogtanian is action-comedy, this trades slapstick for storybook sadness—the same themes told in a completely different register.
A tiny mouse, a rat, a princess, a love of stories. It's whimsical and strange and animated with genuine tenderness. The voice work is wonderful, and it builds something unexpectedly moving about courage and forgiveness.
But It's slower than Dogtanian, and visually dense in ways that can exhaust. The middle section drags. Some will find it too fairy-tale precious.
People
Cast
Tom WynerNarrator