Phantom Investigators is an American children's animated TV show that aired on Kids' WB in 2002, premiering on May 25 and ending on August 17 for 13 episodes. It was created using a special mixture of stop-motion (used for the main cast and the other citizens), puppetry (used for many of the supernatural creatures that are encountered), and live-action (used mainly for ghosts). The show was created by Stephen Holman, known for his work on Joe Normal for MTV's Liquid Television and Life with Loopy for Nickelodeon's KaBlam! which ran during all the duration.
Synopsis
The show revolved around four 13-year-olds who attend Lugosi Junior High School in San Francisco. The group is known as The Phantom Investigators, or "P.I.s" for short, who solve supernatural mysteries that occur all over town ranging from ghost hauntings to demonic encounters. While leading double lives as P.I.s, the group must also balances everyday issues such as homework, personal hobbies, and friendships.
Characters
PI
Daemona Prune, the leader of the Phantom Investigators. She is the only member who hides their identity by donning a mask and trench coat. Though lacking in supernatural powers, she utilizes her knowledge of the paranormal along with an assortment of gadgets to identify paranormal entities and vanquish them; voiced by Courtney Vineys. Jericho, the most laid back of the Phantom Investigators who loves physical activities such skateboard & martial arts and utilizes telekinetic abilities; voiced by Alecsander Kocev. Casey, the most academically inclined member of the Phantom Investigators who has a love for sci-fi movies and can shapeshift into anything; voiced by Andrew Decker. Kira Jones, the most empathic member of the Phantom Investigators who dreams of being a famous DJ with versatility in telepathy that allow her to communicate with others, probe minds, and influence people; voiced by Amber Ross.
Companions
Wad, a gum-chewing sprite who was once a pixie named Todd but was demoted to a sprite as a punishment for his mischief; voiced by Stephen Holman. Jinxy, an bad luck demon who reluctantly at times helps the Phantom Investigators by offering information about the Nether Realm and its entities; voiced by Stephen Holman.
Others
Professor Felix Navarro, mentor to the Phantom Investigators, he supplies the P.I.s gadgets and vehicles from time to time to help with their investigations; voiced by Richard Cansino Mr. & Mrs. Prune, Daemona's parents who are unaware of Daemona's double life as a Phantom Investigator; voiced by Dave Mallow and Jessica Gee respectively. Mustafa, a former janitor of Lugosi Junior High turned ghost that resides in the school and offers information about the school and the paranormal to the P.I.s; portrayed by Stephen Chirazzi. Mary Prune, Daemona's Grandmother, a member of The Mystery & Horror Book Club at Lugosi Junior High back in the 50's but in reality was a Phantom Investigator with telepathic abilities. Hal Prune, Daemona's Grandfather, a member of The Mystery & Horror Book Club at Lugosi Junior High back in the 50's but in reality was a Phantom Investigator with teleportation abilities.
Episodes
Phantom Investigators only ran for 6 weeks before Kids’ WB pulled it from their schedule and replaced it with X-Men: Evolution. Holman would say in a 2019 podcast interview that its cancellation came in spite of it being the top-rated program in its time slot because it failed to catch on with the demographic the network wanted. Kids’ WB was looking to attract and maintain a strong viewership with young boys. Phantom Inspectors was attracting more and more girls and losing the boys each successive week. After the cancellation, Sony cut the funding to the show killing any chance of finding a new network to take it on. The remaining episodes eventually aired outside of the United States, first debuting on Teletoon in Canada.