Mentok the Mind-Taker
Encyclopedia
Mentok the Mind-Taker is a fictional alien in the 1960s television program Birdman and the Galaxy Trio
. His character re-appeared in the send-up series, Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law
. Mentok uses his powers of telepathy
or "Mind-Taking", for his own purposes.
, teleportation
, precognition
, and telepathy. He used these powers to brainwash Birdman and force him to be a mindless servant for Mentok's own nefarious deeds.
Unusually, he enlists the help of various "Mind-Taking" machines in spite of the fact he doesn't need them.
, plays the role of judge in this series - taking over the job from Mighty Mightor, since renamed Hiram Mightor, after his disappearance in the 5th episode of the first series (Shoyu Weenie). He is now retired from villainy, and uses his powers to entertain himself during trials, which apparently bore him, as he frequently holds his head in his hands or stares vacantly into space. His most regular displays of his powers occur during his entrances into court.
His catchphrase "Boweeeeeeeop" imitates the eerie musical instrument, the theremin
, which he does often after he's announced his self made title: "I am Mentok, the mind-taker!"
During his time on Earth, Mentok has worked as a mufti (having renamed himself from Muzzi Mufti to Mentok sometime within the last two centuries); a sex trade worker, a Cossack, and an E.S.T. instructor.
Much like all of the characters that have reappeared within the series, Mentok's personality has been revamped for comedic effect: to be more specific, he was revamped to act like a sarcastic, immature stage magician. He has a childish attitude towards the cases, and frequently enjoys patronizing characters for their individual quirks, including Inch High Private Eye for his size, and Secret Squirrel
for his proclaimed inability to keep his "Squirrel Secret" (Blackwatch Plaid).
In the episode "Identity Theft", Elliott, known as The Deadly Duplicator, accidentally duplicates Judge Mentok. Now elated at having four copies of himself (three of whom were later shot dead by Phil Ken Sebben), he clicks his fingers and the four snap into red and white vests and straw hats and begin to sing in barbershop quartet style – his reaction suggests this has been a secret ambition of his for a while.
In the episode "Mindless", it is revealed via home video that, in an obvious parody of Superman's origin, Mentok was rocketed to Earth by his parents to save him from a doomed planet. His mother, ironically, then told her son not to go into law, a warning he chose to ignore (and he later regrets his ignorance to his mother's wishes).
In the series, Mentok seems to have befriended Birdman. He places trust in him by requesting Birdman be his attorney when he was arrested in the episode "Mufti Trouble", and is tolerant of Birdman's requirement to do-over 38 cases in one hour in the final episode. In spite of this, however, his penchant for mischief resulted in his releasing Nitron in that episode ("The Death of Harvey").
. As Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law progresses into season two, Mentok loses the sleeves to his garment, instead brandishing two purple cuffs.
Birdman and the Galaxy Trio
Birdman and the Galaxy Trio is an animated science fiction TV series created by Alex Toth and produced by Hanna-Barbera. It debuted on NBC on September 9, 1967, and ran on Saturday mornings until September 6, 1969...
. His character re-appeared in the send-up series, Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law
Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law
Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law is an American animated television series comedy created by Williams Street and produced by Cartoon Network Studios that aired on Cartoon Network during its Adult Swim late night programming block. The series' pilot first aired in 2000, and later became a series in...
. Mentok uses his powers of telepathy
Telepathy
Telepathy , is the induction of mental states from one mind to another. The term was coined in 1882 by the classical scholar Fredric W. H. Myers, a founder of the Society for Psychical Research, and has remained more popular than the more-correct expression thought-transference...
or "Mind-Taking", for his own purposes.
Appearance
Mentok is an alien, with green skin and luminous yellow eyes. He also has the initial 'M' secreted cleverly across his face; both his hair and his beard are in the shape of an 'M'. His face is generally very triangular and thick-set. He wears a black shirt with a purple tunic. Embroidered on this is his "M" logo.Birdman and the Galaxy Trio
In this series Mentok appeared as a villain, using his telepathic powers to cause general havoc. His telepathic powers include mind-reading, hypnotismHypnosis
Hypnosis is "a trance state characterized by extreme suggestibility, relaxation and heightened imagination."It is a mental state or imaginative role-enactment . It is usually induced by a procedure known as a hypnotic induction, which is commonly composed of a long series of preliminary...
, teleportation
Teleportation
Teleportation is the fictional or imagined process by which matter is instantaneously transferred from one place to another.Teleportation may also refer to:*Quantum teleportation, a method of transmitting quantum data...
, precognition
Precognition
In parapsychology, precognition , also called future sight, and second sight, is a type of extrasensory perception that would involve the acquisition or effect of future information that cannot be deduced from presently available and normally acquired sense-based information or laws of physics...
, and telepathy. He used these powers to brainwash Birdman and force him to be a mindless servant for Mentok's own nefarious deeds.
Unusually, he enlists the help of various "Mind-Taking" machines in spite of the fact he doesn't need them.
Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law
Mentok, voiced by John Michael HigginsJohn Michael Higgins
John Michael Higgins is an American actor whose film credits include Christopher Guest's mockumentaries, the role of David Letterman in HBO's The Late Shift, and a starring role in the American version of Kath & Kim....
, plays the role of judge in this series - taking over the job from Mighty Mightor, since renamed Hiram Mightor, after his disappearance in the 5th episode of the first series (Shoyu Weenie). He is now retired from villainy, and uses his powers to entertain himself during trials, which apparently bore him, as he frequently holds his head in his hands or stares vacantly into space. His most regular displays of his powers occur during his entrances into court.
His catchphrase "Boweeeeeeeop" imitates the eerie musical instrument, the theremin
Theremin
The theremin , originally known as the aetherphone/etherophone, thereminophone or termenvox/thereminvox is an early electronic musical instrument controlled without discernible physical contact from the player. It is named after its Russian inventor, Professor Léon Theremin, who patented the device...
, which he does often after he's announced his self made title: "I am Mentok, the mind-taker!"
During his time on Earth, Mentok has worked as a mufti (having renamed himself from Muzzi Mufti to Mentok sometime within the last two centuries); a sex trade worker, a Cossack, and an E.S.T. instructor.
Much like all of the characters that have reappeared within the series, Mentok's personality has been revamped for comedic effect: to be more specific, he was revamped to act like a sarcastic, immature stage magician. He has a childish attitude towards the cases, and frequently enjoys patronizing characters for their individual quirks, including Inch High Private Eye for his size, and Secret Squirrel
Secret Squirrel
Secret Squirrel is a cartoon created by Hanna-Barbera. Secret Squirrel was one of two co-stars of The Atom Ant/Secret Squirrel Show, which debuted in 1965. He was given his own show in 1966, but was reunited with Atom Ant for one more season in 1967...
for his proclaimed inability to keep his "Squirrel Secret" (Blackwatch Plaid).
In the episode "Identity Theft", Elliott, known as The Deadly Duplicator, accidentally duplicates Judge Mentok. Now elated at having four copies of himself (three of whom were later shot dead by Phil Ken Sebben), he clicks his fingers and the four snap into red and white vests and straw hats and begin to sing in barbershop quartet style – his reaction suggests this has been a secret ambition of his for a while.
In the episode "Mindless", it is revealed via home video that, in an obvious parody of Superman's origin, Mentok was rocketed to Earth by his parents to save him from a doomed planet. His mother, ironically, then told her son not to go into law, a warning he chose to ignore (and he later regrets his ignorance to his mother's wishes).
In the series, Mentok seems to have befriended Birdman. He places trust in him by requesting Birdman be his attorney when he was arrested in the episode "Mufti Trouble", and is tolerant of Birdman's requirement to do-over 38 cases in one hour in the final episode. In spite of this, however, his penchant for mischief resulted in his releasing Nitron in that episode ("The Death of Harvey").
Altered appearance
Several deviations in Mentok's appearance have occurred since his revamp for Harvey Birdman, including a bigger goatee, with a more distinct 'M' shape. His altered facial shape is possibly due to the transition from traditional cel animation to Adobe FlashAdobe Flash
Adobe Flash is a multimedia platform used to add animation, video, and interactivity to web pages. Flash is frequently used for advertisements, games and flash animations for broadcast...
. As Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law progresses into season two, Mentok loses the sleeves to his garment, instead brandishing two purple cuffs.
See also
- Hanna-BarberaHanna-BarberaHanna-Barbera Productions, Inc. was an American animation studio that dominated North American television animation during the second half of the 20th century...
- Williams StreetWilliams StreetWilliams Street Productions, LLC, operating under the name Williams Street, is a division of Cartoon Network, which is owned by Turner Broadcasting, an operational unit of Time Warner...
- Adult SwimAdult SwimAdult Swim is an adult-oriented Cable network that shares channel space with Cartoon Network from 9:00 pm until 6:00 am ET/PT in the United States, and broadcasts in countries such as Australia and New Zealand...
- Harvey Birdman, Attorney at LawHarvey Birdman, Attorney at LawHarvey Birdman, Attorney at Law is an American animated television series comedy created by Williams Street and produced by Cartoon Network Studios that aired on Cartoon Network during its Adult Swim late night programming block. The series' pilot first aired in 2000, and later became a series in...