Colleen (Road Rovers)
Encyclopedia
Colleen is a fictional anthropomorphic
dog from the action/comedy cartoon Road Rovers
that premiered in September 1996 on Kids' WB
. She is a rough collie
from the United Kingdom
(as is evidenced by her cockney accent) and the only female in the group. She is apparently the second-in-command, right behind Hunter. She was a street dog prior to joining the Road Rovers, which serves as a good explanation for her fighting skills, as she is an accomplished martial artist in her Cano-sapien form and, as seen in the first episode, uses a similar fighting style as an ordinary dog. She apparently enjoys the flexibility and freedom of movement that come with her Cano-sapien form, as she is often visible in the background performing motions resembling a cross between ballet
and slow-motion martial arts
during briefings or while the other Road Rovers are discussing a situation in the foreground.
mix
from the United States
), frequently makes quips in the middle of a fight. She has a clever, flirtatious attitude and a flippant sense of humor. She has shown signs of attraction to Hunter, and he to her, leading to endless speculation on the part of viewers.
It is one of the running gag
s of the show that Colleen receives endless confessions of love from the German
doberman
Blitz, but seems to be constantly forgetting his name and even existence (or rather pretends to). Instead, she gives him new names (the most famous of which seems to be "Mr. Stuffington Fluffy Pants") and kicks him across the scene if he starts to complain, which he usually does. It seems possible that this is a form of payback for his frequent tendency to address her as "pretty she-dog" rather than by her name, but it seems just as likely that she is simply doing it to tell him, "Not interested." She once suggested leaving after Blitz had been captured (specifically, leaving without Blitz), although it seems likely she was joking. Actually, there have been signs that almost every one of the male Rovers is attracted to her, but Blitz is by far the most persistent and least welcomed.
One skill she does not appear to possess, however, seems to be safe driving - once when she is at the wheel, Hunter says that he is looking for his donor card. However, this rather seems to be another running joke, since there are also various other scenes where she safely flies aircraft, navigates submarines or handles complicated scientific equipment. In the first episode, she even has to tell Hunter that he needs to turn the ignition key in order to start a motorized vehicle. Later in the same episode, she responded to a question about Hunter's driving by remarking, "I hope the airbags work." However, true to the show's tendency toward irony, it was Colleen, not Hunter, who was driving when the airbags went off. Probably the reason she cannot drive properly as portrayed is because of the directions of the sides of the roads in the United states, in which they are mirrored in her native Britain.
The "canine couple," as some viewers refer to them, are never known to have officially dated. However, there have been several cases of romantic or semi-romantic remarks in both directions, the most frequent being Colleen's nickname for Hunter: Huntie-Wuntie (Huntie for short). She has even gone so far as to call him 'Love' in the episode "Reigning Cats and Dogs." And when, in "A Day In The Life," Hunter appears to be tracking down an old girlfriend (much to Colleen's relief, the so-called girlfriend turned out to be Hunter's mom), Colleen is very clearly broken-hearted until the truth is revealed. In a related note, one of her lines in the episode implies that she may have gone through similar cases before or during her days as a street dog, with less fortunate outcomes. Blitz also explains to Hunter at the end the reason for Colleen's depression was that she thought he had a NEW girlfriend and he was dumping her, indicating the two had paired up.
Hunter has shown some signs of attraction to Colleen as well, going so far as to call her "cutie" in the episode, "The Dog Who Knew Too Much," adding, "Stick with me, kid, and you won't have to worry about a thing again," much to Colleen's obvious delight. The pair have been the subject of considerable fan art
and fan fiction
, often eventually getting married. However, due to the show's cancellation, the question of a bona-fide relationship of any kind is will most likely remain unanswered.
, with lots of allusion
s to the action
, spy
and science fiction
film genres.
The particular character Colleen has a lot of similarities with Emma Peel
, a fictional female spy
in the British
1960s adventure series The Avengers
. Both characters are of British origin, and Colleen's interactions with Hunter appear to be similar to Emma Peel's relation with John Steed
, whose professional respect always keeps him from acting upon his attraction to his female colleague. Colleen's abilities in martial arts are another indication of this similarity, as Emma Peel was the first female martial artist to appear in a TV series.
During fighting scenes, Colleen uses various battle cries, similar to kiai
as they are used in karate
. But different from real kiai, which are nothing more than a short yell without a specific meaning, Colleen always uses terms which are related to dogs, literature, music, sports or politics. Some examples: "Shar Pei
- Shih Tzu
!" (two dog breeds from Asia); "Nelson Mandela
!" (former South Africa
n president); "Jacques Cousteau
- Platini
!" (a French underwater explorer and a former French football
manager, now president of the UEFA
). This last one, it has been noted, fit the situation especially well: Colleen was in the process of beating up Blitz on board a submarine
.
Anthropomorphism
Anthropomorphism is any attribution of human characteristics to animals, non-living things, phenomena, material states, objects or abstract concepts, such as organizations, governments, spirits or deities. The term was coined in the mid 1700s...
dog from the action/comedy cartoon Road Rovers
Road Rovers
Road Rovers is an American 2D animated television series written and produced by Warner Bros. Animation that premiered on Kids' WB on September 7, 1996. It lasted one season and ended on February 22, 1997. Reruns continued to air until September 6, 1997. It was then on Cartoon Network from February...
that premiered in September 1996 on Kids' WB
Kids' WB
Kids' WB! was Warner Bros. American childrens programing division brand for The WB Television Network. In September 2006, the block moved to The CW Television Network. The CW is the result of The WB's merger with UPN in 2006...
. She is a rough collie
Rough Collie
The Rough Collie is a long coated breed of medium to large size dog that in its original form was a type of collie used and bred for herding in Scotland. Originating in the 1800's, it is now well known through the works of author Albert Payson Terhune, and through the Lassie novel, movies, and...
from the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
(as is evidenced by her cockney accent) and the only female in the group. She is apparently the second-in-command, right behind Hunter. She was a street dog prior to joining the Road Rovers, which serves as a good explanation for her fighting skills, as she is an accomplished martial artist in her Cano-sapien form and, as seen in the first episode, uses a similar fighting style as an ordinary dog. She apparently enjoys the flexibility and freedom of movement that come with her Cano-sapien form, as she is often visible in the background performing motions resembling a cross between ballet
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
and slow-motion martial arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
during briefings or while the other Road Rovers are discussing a situation in the foreground.
Personality
Colleen is a classic example of a tough girl. She, like her fellow team member Hunter (a golden retrieverGolden Retriever
The Golden Retriever is a medium-sized breed of dog. They were historically developed as gundogs to retrieve shot waterfowl such as ducks and upland game birds during hunting and shooting parties. As such, they were bred to have a soft mouth to retrieve game undamaged and have an instinctive love...
mix
Mixed-breed dog
A mixed-breed dog, also known as a mutt or mongrel, is a dog whose ancestry is generally unknown and that has characteristics of two or more types of breeds. A mixed-breed may be a cross-breed dog, a random-bred dog, or a descendant of feral or pariah dog populations...
from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
), frequently makes quips in the middle of a fight. She has a clever, flirtatious attitude and a flippant sense of humor. She has shown signs of attraction to Hunter, and he to her, leading to endless speculation on the part of viewers.
It is one of the running gag
Running gag
A running gag, or running joke, is a literary device that takes the form of an amusing joke or a comical reference and appears repeatedly throughout a work of literature or other form of storytelling....
s of the show that Colleen receives endless confessions of love from the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
doberman
Doberman
Doberman or Dobermann most commonly refers to Doberman Pinscher, a breed of dog, or to its creator, Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann.It may also refer to:*Doberman , a 2003 album by Tomoyasu Hotei*Doberman , a Japanese ska/punk band...
Blitz, but seems to be constantly forgetting his name and even existence (or rather pretends to). Instead, she gives him new names (the most famous of which seems to be "Mr. Stuffington Fluffy Pants") and kicks him across the scene if he starts to complain, which he usually does. It seems possible that this is a form of payback for his frequent tendency to address her as "pretty she-dog" rather than by her name, but it seems just as likely that she is simply doing it to tell him, "Not interested." She once suggested leaving after Blitz had been captured (specifically, leaving without Blitz), although it seems likely she was joking. Actually, there have been signs that almost every one of the male Rovers is attracted to her, but Blitz is by far the most persistent and least welcomed.
Talents
Although she is the only member of the team without any superpowers per se (aside from her cunning and agility, which are debatable as superpowers), her quick mind and quicker fists and feet make her a valuable team member in a fight. In addition, she has a sharp tactical mind and considerable skill as a medic. She is never mentioned having superstrength, although in one episode she shatters a massive piece of cement with one punch, displaying no signs of pain.One skill she does not appear to possess, however, seems to be safe driving - once when she is at the wheel, Hunter says that he is looking for his donor card. However, this rather seems to be another running joke, since there are also various other scenes where she safely flies aircraft, navigates submarines or handles complicated scientific equipment. In the first episode, she even has to tell Hunter that he needs to turn the ignition key in order to start a motorized vehicle. Later in the same episode, she responded to a question about Hunter's driving by remarking, "I hope the airbags work." However, true to the show's tendency toward irony, it was Colleen, not Hunter, who was driving when the airbags went off. Probably the reason she cannot drive properly as portrayed is because of the directions of the sides of the roads in the United states, in which they are mirrored in her native Britain.
Relationship with Hunter
There is no real doubt that Colleen is attracted to Hunter, but the matter of a relationship between the two is not so clear. Of all the Rovers, she seems to have the most in common with Hunter, such as the fact that they were both strays with no owner (Muzzle had Professor Shepherd before), and they both seem to take the missions the most seriously of the Rovers as in "A Day In The Life" and "Take Me To Your Leader". The possibility and/or existence of a relationship, the extent of said relationship, and whether or not Hunter even feels the same about Colleen is a matter of some dispute among fans of the show. The only thing that remains undisputed is that Colleen has feelings of love for Hunter, and he has some for her.The "canine couple," as some viewers refer to them, are never known to have officially dated. However, there have been several cases of romantic or semi-romantic remarks in both directions, the most frequent being Colleen's nickname for Hunter: Huntie-Wuntie (Huntie for short). She has even gone so far as to call him 'Love' in the episode "Reigning Cats and Dogs." And when, in "A Day In The Life," Hunter appears to be tracking down an old girlfriend (much to Colleen's relief, the so-called girlfriend turned out to be Hunter's mom), Colleen is very clearly broken-hearted until the truth is revealed. In a related note, one of her lines in the episode implies that she may have gone through similar cases before or during her days as a street dog, with less fortunate outcomes. Blitz also explains to Hunter at the end the reason for Colleen's depression was that she thought he had a NEW girlfriend and he was dumping her, indicating the two had paired up.
Hunter has shown some signs of attraction to Colleen as well, going so far as to call her "cutie" in the episode, "The Dog Who Knew Too Much," adding, "Stick with me, kid, and you won't have to worry about a thing again," much to Colleen's obvious delight. The pair have been the subject of considerable fan art
Fan art
Fan art or fanart is artwork that is based on a character, costume, collage, item, or story that was created by someone other than the artist, such as a fan, from which the word is derived from. The term, while it can apply to art done by fans of characters from books, is usually used to refer to...
and fan fiction
Fan fiction
Fan fiction is a broadly-defined term for fan labor regarding stories about characters or settings written by fans of the original work, rather than by the original creator...
, often eventually getting married. However, due to the show's cancellation, the question of a bona-fide relationship of any kind is will most likely remain unanswered.
Allusions
Much of the humor contained in the show was derived from popular culturePopular culture
Popular culture is the totality of ideas, perspectives, attitudes, memes, images and other phenomena that are deemed preferred per an informal consensus within the mainstream of a given culture, especially Western culture of the early to mid 20th century and the emerging global mainstream of the...
, with lots of allusion
Allusion
An allusion is a figure of speech that makes a reference to, or representation of, people, places, events, literary work, myths, or works of art, either directly or by implication. M. H...
s to the action
Action film
Action film is a film genre where one or more heroes is thrust into a series of challenges that require physical feats, extended fights and frenetic chases...
, spy
Spy film
The spy film genre deals with the subject of fictional espionage, either in a realistic way or as a basis for fantasy . Many novels in the spy fiction genre have been adapted as films, including works by John Buchan, John Le Carré, Ian Fleming and Len Deighton...
and science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
film genres.
The particular character Colleen has a lot of similarities with Emma Peel
Emma Peel
Emma Peel was a fictional spy played by Diana Rigg in the British 1960s adventure television series The Avengers. She was born Emma Knight, the daughter of an industrialist, Sir John Knight.-Casting:...
, a fictional female spy
SPY
SPY is a three-letter acronym that may refer to:* SPY , ticker symbol for Standard & Poor's Depositary Receipts* SPY , a satirical monthly, trademarked all-caps* SPY , airport code for San Pédro, Côte d'Ivoire...
in the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
1960s adventure series The Avengers
The Avengers (TV series)
The Avengers is a spy-fi British television series set in the 1960s Britain. The Avengers initially focused on Dr. David Keel and his assistant John Steed . Hendry left after the first series and Steed became the main character, partnered with a succession of assistants...
. Both characters are of British origin, and Colleen's interactions with Hunter appear to be similar to Emma Peel's relation with John Steed
John Steed
John Steed is a fictional character and the central protagonist on the popular British series The Avengers and The New Avengers, played by Patrick Macnee and Ralph Fiennes in the movie....
, whose professional respect always keeps him from acting upon his attraction to his female colleague. Colleen's abilities in martial arts are another indication of this similarity, as Emma Peel was the first female martial artist to appear in a TV series.
During fighting scenes, Colleen uses various battle cries, similar to kiai
Kiai
is a Japanese term used in martial arts. There are numerous examples of the battle cry in other cultures: kiai is perhaps primarily a development of this. In the representation of Asian martial arts in cinema and in animated cartoons, Modern Kiai are often written by westerners in Romaji as...
as they are used in karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
. But different from real kiai, which are nothing more than a short yell without a specific meaning, Colleen always uses terms which are related to dogs, literature, music, sports or politics. Some examples: "Shar Pei
Shar Pei
The Shar Pei, or Chinese Shar-Pei, is a breed of dog known for its distinctive features of deep wrinkles and a blue-black tongue. The breed comes from China. The name translates to "sand skin" and refers to the texture of its short, rough coat...
- Shih Tzu
Shih Tzu
The Shih Tzu is a breed of dog weighing with long silky hair. The breed originated in China and is among the earliest breeds. Shih Tzu were officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1969...
!" (two dog breeds from Asia); "Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
!" (former South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n president); "Jacques Cousteau
Jacques-Yves Cousteau
Jacques-Yves Cousteau was a French naval officer, explorer, ecologist, filmmaker, innovator, scientist, photographer, author and researcher who studied the sea and all forms of life in water...
- Platini
Michel Platini
Michel François Platini is a former French football player, manager and current president of UEFA. Platini was a member of the French national team that won the 1984 European Championship, a tournament in which he was the top goalscorer and voted the best player. He participated in the 1978, 1982...
!" (a French underwater explorer and a former French football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
manager, now president of the UEFA
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
). This last one, it has been noted, fit the situation especially well: Colleen was in the process of beating up Blitz on board a submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
.