The Pink Panther The first film in the series had an animated opening sequence, created by DePatie–Freleng Enterprises, featuring The Pink Panther Theme by Mancini, as well as the Pink Panther character. This character, designed by Hawley Pratt and Friz Freleng, was subsequently the subject of his own series of animated cartoons which gained its highest profile when aired on Saturday mornings as "The Pink Panther Show." The character would be featured in the opening of every film in the movie series except "A Shot in the Dark" and "Inspector Clouseau". Although the original film was actually centred on the Phantom/Sir Charles Lytton,
The Pink Panther Show with "A Fly in the Pink") when "The Pink Panther Show" began airing were produced for both broadcast and theatrical release, typically appearing on television first, and released to theaters by United Artists. A number of new series were created, including the very popular "The Ant and the Aardvark", "Tijuana Toads" (a.k.a. Texas Toads), "Hoot Kloot", "Misterjaw", "Roland and Rattfink", "The Dogfather" and two "Tijuana Toads" spinoffs: "The Blue Racer" and "Crazylegs Crane". "The New Pink Panther Show" and later shows featured newly animated bumper segments involving the Panther, the Ant and the Aardvark, Misterjaw, and the Texas Toads. In