Tommy West

Tommy West is an American animated science-fiction adventure television series about a young boy who accompanies his scientist brother on extraordinary journeys. It’s produced by DePatie-Freleng Enterprises, and created & designed by comic book artist Dennis Wilcox.

Inspired by radio serials and comics in the action-adventure genre, it featured more realistic art, characters and stories than DePatie-Freleng’s previous cartoon programs. It’s the first of several DePatie-Freleng action-based adventure shows. It aired on CBS in primetime on early Friday nights.

Development
Comic book artist Dennis Wilcox, after having worked at King Features Syndicate, found work at the DePatie-Freleng studio, which asked him to design an action-adventure series.

Characters
The West family has a home compound in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. However, their adventures take them around the world. The team travels the globe studying scientific mysteries, which generally end up being explained as the work of various villains. Such pursuits get them into scrapes with opponents, ranging from espionage robots and electric monsters to Egyptian mummies and medieval dragons.
 * Thomas “Tommy” West is a 12-year-old American boy who lost his parents at an early age. Although unenthusiastic about his schooling, he’s intelligent, courageous, adventurous and generally athletic — with a proficiency in judo, snorkeling, scuba-diving and the handling of firearms. He takes on responsibility willingly, attending to his homework (and/or household chores), telling the honest truth and treating adults with respect & obedience.
 * Dr. Benjamin G. West is Tommy’s 20-year-old brother and a scientific genius who attends Nova Southeastern University. He’s considered to be “the youngest scientist to be ranked about the top 10 in America,” with interests and technical know-how spanning many fields. Taking care of Tommy, Farjie and Sonia like his father once did, he’s benevolent, conscientious and decent, even though he’s ready, willing and able to take decisive action when necessary for survival and/or defense.
 * Ronald K. “Reese” Peyton is a 19-year-old special FBI junior agent, assigned to safeguard Tommy “24 hours a day and 7 days a week as tutor, companion and all-around watchdog.” He’s an efficient expert in both judo & kendo, having a third-degree black belt. He also has the ability to defeat notorious experts in various sporting techniques, like fencers and sumo wrestlers. Reese is also a daring pilot.
 * Farjie is a streetwise 13-year-old Mumbai orphan who becomes the adoptive brother of Dr. Benjamin West, as well as Tommy’s best friend. Rarely depicted without his bejeweled turban and Nehru jacket, he’s proficient judo, which he learned from an American Marine. The seventh son of a seventh son, Farjie seems to possess mystical powers (including snake-charming, levitation and hypnotism), which may or may not be attributed to parlor trickery. The West company meets Farjie — while Dr. West is lecturing at the University of Mumbai; he subsequently joined the team after saving Dr. West’s life (by blocking a knife intended to throw at the doctor with a basket lid). Although slightly more circumspect than Tommy, Farjie can be reliably talked into participating in most any adventure by his adoptive brother.
 * Sonia is a high-spirited 13-year-old Gypsy girl who becomes the adoptive sister of Dr. Benjamin West, as well as Tommy and Farjie’s best friend. Rarely depicted without her scarlet bandanna and light blue polka-dot dress, she’s proficient in gymnastics, which she learned from an American tourist. Sonia seems to possess the art of dancing, which may or may not be attributed to distraction. The West company (and Farjie) meet Sonia — while Dr. West is lecturing at the University of Athens; she simultaneously joined the team after saving Dr. West’s life (by blocking an unfriendly bullet intended to aim at the doctor with her tambourine). Even though she has the same circumspection as Farjie, Sonia can dependably be talked into almost every adventure by her adoptive brothers.
 * Gambit is Tommy’s pet beagle, so named because he’s brown and white with black markings — including what appears to be a black club mark around his right eye. This coloration is occasionally instrumental in foiling adversaries. Still, Gambit seems uncannily capable of understanding human speech and is using his complex facial expressions.

Although most adversaries appear in only one episode each, one supporting nemesis is known as Dr. Kim (an Asian criminal mastermind). With yellow skin and a maniacal laugh, Dr. Kim is an example of the Yellow Peril villains common in Cold War-era fiction.