What-a-Mess is a series of children's books written by British comedy writer Frank Muir

Frank Muir

Frank Herbert Muir was an English comedy writer, radio and television personality, and raconteur. His writing and performing partnership with Denis Norden endured for most of their careers. Together they wrote BBC radio's Take It From Here for over 10 years, and then appeared on BBC radio...

 and illustrated by Joseph Wright. It was later made into an animated series in the UK in 1990 and again in 1995 by DiC Entertainment

DiC Entertainment

DIC Entertainment was an international film and television production company. In addition to animated television shows such as Ulysses 31 , Inspector Gadget , The Littles , The Real Ghostbusters , Captain Planet and the Planeteers , and the first two seasons of the English adaptation of...

 and aired on ABC

American Broadcasting Company

The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...

 in the United States. The title character is a disheveled (hence his nickname), accident-prone Afghan Hound

Afghan Hound

The Afghan Hound is one of the oldest sighthound dog breeds. Distinguished by its thick, fine, silky coat and its tail with a ring curl at the end, the breed acquired its unique features in the cold mountains of Afghanistan, where it was originally used to hunt hares and gazelles by coursing them....

 puppy, whose real name was Prince Amir of Kinjan. Central Independent Television

Central Independent Television

Central Independent Television, more commonly known as Central is the Independent Television contractor for the Midlands, created following the restructuring of ATV and commencing broadcast on 1 January 1982. The station is owned and operated by ITV plc, under the licensee of ITV Broadcasting...

, Link Licensing & Bevanfield Films produced the first series and DiC Entertainment produced the second series. Both of them were narrated by Frank Muir

Frank Muir

Frank Herbert Muir was an English comedy writer, radio and television personality, and raconteur. His writing and performing partnership with Denis Norden endured for most of their careers. Together they wrote BBC radio's Take It From Here for over 10 years, and then appeared on BBC radio...

.

Character list

• What-a-Mess - A scruffy Afghan puppy in which is the main character of the entire franchise. His Breed name is Prince Amir of Kinjan, and has a yellow duck sitting on top of his head. In the US animated version, the duck was coloured blue, as if his character was merged with the blue bird in the UK animated version and books, and was also given a name by What-A-Mess called Baldwin. In the US animated version, What-A-Mess is voiced by Ryan O'Donohue
  Ryan O'Donohue
  Ryan Sean O'Donohue is an American voice actor, most notable for his performances in many Disney projects.O'Donohue began his acting career at the age of nine when he played Zeke Byrd on the 1994 ABC drama Byrds of Paradise, filmed in Hawaii. The show was cancelled after a 13-episode run despite...
  
  

• Archbishop of Canterbury - A scruffy dark blue dog with brown patches, in which What-A-Mess met and befriended in What-A-Mess Goes to the Seaside. He name was changed to Norton in the US Animated Version, and he was voiced by Dana Hill
  Dana Hill
  Dana Hill was an American actress and voice actor with a raspy voice and childlike appearance, which allowed her to play adolescent roles into her 30s...
  
  .

• The Cat Next Door - Also known as Felicha in the US animated version, is a Siamese Cat that loves to tease What-A-Mess at times. In the US animated version, she was voiced by Jo Ann Harris Belson.

• Cynthia - A Hedgehog in which What-A-Mess befriended in What-A-Mess Goes to School. Her character was redesigned to become a mole named Remona in the US animated version, due to the fact that Hedgehogs aren't native to America.

• Trash - Only in the US animated version, Trash is a Bull Terrier
  Bull Terrier
  The Bull Terrier or English Bull Terrier is a breed of dog in the terrier family. They are known for their large, egg-shaped head, small triangular eyes, and "jaunty gait." Their temperament has been described as generally fun-loving, active and clownish...
  
   who is a real trouble maker to What-A-Mess. He is voiced by Joe Nipote.

• Frank - An Old English Sheepdog
  Old English Sheepdog
  The Old English Sheepdog is a large breed of dog which was developed in England from early herding types of dog. The Old English Sheepdog has very long fur covering the face and eyes...
  
   that narrates the US animated version of What-A-Mess, voiced by Frank Muir
  Frank Muir
  Frank Herbert Muir was an English comedy writer, radio and television personality, and raconteur. His writing and performing partnership with Denis Norden endured for most of their careers. Together they wrote BBC radio's Take It From Here for over 10 years, and then appeared on BBC radio...
  
  himself!

Large Books

1. What-a-Mess
2. What-a-Mess The Good
3. What-a-Mess at the Seaside
4. What-a-Mess Goes to School
5. Prince What-a-Mess
6. Super What-a-Mess
7. What-a-Mess and the Cat Next Door
8. What-a-Mess and the Hairy Monster

Small Books

Four Seasons

1. What-a-Mess in Spring
2. What-a-Mess in Summer
3. What-a-Mess in Autumn
4. What-a-Mess in Winter

Four Square Meals

1. What-a-Mess has Breakfast
2. What-a-Mess has Lunch
3. What-a-Mess has Tea
4. What-a-Mess has Supper

Mini Books

1. What-a-Mess has a Brain Wave
2. What-a-Mess and Little Poppet
3. What-a-Mess and a trip to the Vet
4. What-a-Mess the Beautiful
5. What-a-Mess Goes to Town
6. What-a-Mess Goes on Television
7. What-a-Mess Goes Camping

Season 1 (Bevanfield Films / UK series)

1. What-a-Mess Goes to the Seaside / 1990.03.26
2. What-a-Mess Goes to School / 1990.04.02
3. Prince What-a-Mess / 1990.04.09
4. Super What-a-Mess / 1990.04.16
5. What-a-Mess Keeps Cool / 1990.04.30
6. What-a-Mess and Cynthia the Hedgehog / 1990.05.14
7. What-a-Mess Has a Brain Wave! / 1990.05.21
8. What-a-Mess and the Cat Next Door / 1990.06.04
9. What-a-Mess and Little Poppet / 1990.06.18
10. What-a-Mess Goes Camping / 1990.07.02
11. What-a-Mess The Beautiful / 1990.07.09
12. What-a-Mess Goes to Town / 1990.07.16
13. What-a-Mess Goes to the Vet / 1990.07.23

Season 2 (DiC Entertainment / US series)

1. Talkin' Trash
2. A Bone to Pick
3. Midnight Snack
4. Schoolin' Around
5. The Legend of Junkyard Jones
6. It's Raining Cats and Dogs
7. Home Alone...Almost
8. Super What-A-Mess
9. The Recliner
10. Afghan Holiday
11. The Bone Tree
12. Just Four More Left
13. The Ropes
14. What-A-Mess Has Breakfast
15. Ultimate What-A-Mess
16. This Hydrant Is Mine
17. His Majesty, Prince What-A-Mess
18. Trash's Wonderful Life
19. Snowbound
20. The Thanksgiving Turkey
21. Santa What-A-Mess
22. All Around the Mallberry Bush
23. What-A-Mess At the Movies