from Mars: Basics: A Biker Mice Primer

If you've never heard of "Biker Mice," here's the very least you need to know to understand what you find here and at other sites dedicated to the series.

BASIC SERIES INFO

"Biker Mice from Mars" is a 65-episode animated series which ran from 1993-1996. The first and last season consisted of 13 episodes each (weekly), and the second ran 52 (weekdays). The concept was the brainchild of Rick Ungar. Music for the series was composed by Will Anderson. Tom Tataranowicz handled production and direction. Writers included Bob and Eve Forward and Greg Johnson. Animation primarily courtesy of Phillipine Animation Studios Inc. (PASI), although a few others did contribute episodes.

THE BASIC PLOT

The Biker Mice are Throttle, Modo, and Vinnie. Refugees from Mars, they fought in a rebel group called the Freedom Fighters during a war against the Plutarkians, a race of stinking fish-faced aliens who steal natural resources from other planets and ship them back to their own. The Martians lost the war, and their planet was devastated. Now in Chicago, the mice fight Lawrence Limburger, who is himself a Plutarkian in disguise.

THE CAST

THE GOOD GUYS

	Throttle is the tan-furred mouse in sunglasses and a leather vest. A natural leader, he's cool, confident, quick-witted, and level-headed, although he enjoys a good rumble as much as the next mouse. In addition, Throttle is easily the best hand-to-hand fighter of the group, and the best shot with a pistol. During the Plutarkian War, Throttle was the unofficial second-in-command of the Freedom Fighters. Among fans, Throttle is generally regarded as the sexiest Biker Mouse, due largely in part to the masterful voice acting of Rob Paulsen.
	Modo is the gray-furred mouse with the bionic arm and the eyepatch. He's your classic "gentle giant"--while the strongest of the team, and the best-armed (literally), he's got a soft spot for kids, animals, and the traditional ideas espoused by his beloved "dear old gray-furred Momma" (in keeping with that "home and family" orientation, Modo's the only one of the bros with known relatives). Modo's no creampuff, however; he's as rowdy as his bros, and can be surprisingly violent when his beliefs are tested. He shares a special bond with his bike, which he calls "Lil' Hoss" or "Little Darlin'."
	Vinnie is the white-furred mouse with the metal mask and green bandoleers. He's a wild, unpredictable adrenaline junkie to whom the words "dangerous" and "fun" are completely interchangeable. Vinnie is also extremely egotistical, particularly with regards to his looks (the mask being a reminder of his true imperfection). Still, his pride isn't without grounds--he's the best rider of the mice. That vanity usually gives him trouble with Charley, the mice's human mechanic ally, with whom he shares a love-hate relationship.

Charlene "Charley" Davidson is a skilled mechanic, owner of Chicago's Last Chance Garage, and the Biker Mice's #1 human compatriot. Charley keeps the mice's bikes in tip-top shape, helps them in their fight against Limburger, and even gets them their hot dogs and root beer on occasion. However, the lady is nobody's slave; extremely independent and strong-willed, if Charley feels like the mice are abusing their friendship, she lets them know. Charley seems to get a particular kick out of keeping Vinnie's ego in check.

...AND THE BAD GUYS

The Biker Mice's enemies are the Plutarkians. The Plutarkians are a race of extremely smelly fish-like aliens who ruined their home planet and now use their military might, advanced technology, and fat wallets to raid other worlds for their natural resources. Generally, their actions result in the total annihilation of all native flora and fauna. Mars, the Biker Mice's home planet, was destroyed in just such a fashion. The carnage was so extreme that Martian mice are regarded as extinct by other races. As a general rule, Plutarkians have hugely overblown egos and little regard for the lives they destroy in pursuit of galactic conquest.

	Lawrence Limburger is the Plutarkian resident of Chicago, and is the Biker Mice's major foe throughout the series. He's a Plutarkian's Plutarkian: scheming, ambitious, snobbish, two-faced, egotistical, and opportunistic. Preferring to leave arduous physical labor to his underlings, Limburger employs an army of goons, lead by Greasepit, and the brilliant Dr. Karbunkle as his mad scientist.
	Greasepit is the leader of Limburger's goon army. He drips grease constantly, hence the name. He's a complete and total idiot, although in a sort of endearing way. Many of Limburger's schemes are actually foiled by Greasepit's incompetence.
	Dr. Karbunkle is Limburger's resident mad scientist. Brilliant but deranged, Karbunkle crafts almost all of the machinery used by Limburger to destroy Chicago. Karbunkle is responsible for Modo's bionic arm and eye and Throttle's bionic eyes. His assistant is Fred the Mutant, a masochistic patchwork monster.

IMPORTANT PLACES

For the most part, the series takes place in Chicago, where the mice crash-landed after they were shot down by a Plutarkian destroyer near Earth.

The mice reside in the Quigley Field Scoreboard, which seems to be a magnet for Martian mice in crashing spaceships.

Limburger's home base in Limburger Tower, a heavily-armed skyscraper fortress. The Tower is part of the larger Limburger Plaza, which encompasses several buildings. The Tower itself is destroyed in nearly every episode.

Charley lives and works in the Last Chance Garage, located in the bad section of Chicago. As its name implies, the garage is one of the last buildings to remain standing in this part of town. When the mice aren't at Quigley Field, they're usually at the Last Chance.

OTHER NOTES

The mice's favorite food is hot dogs, and their beverage of choice is root beer. They despise cheese. Plutarkians, on the other hand, adore nothing so much as slime worms. Limburger almost always has a bowl of them on his desk.

The mice enjoy playing extreme versions of normal sports. They use wheel rims for pucks while playing street hockey, break through walls during football, and use manhole covers for POGs.

All three of the mice's bikes are possessed of artificial intelligence; however, Modo's bike is generally the only one that shows it.

All Martian mice are named after motorcycle-related stuff or gun stuff.

Okay! That ought to get you started! Now, return to the Basic Information main page, and continue learning!