Courageous Cat and Minute Mouse was a 1960s cartoon about animal superheroes. The characters were created by Bob Kane – yes, Batman creator Bob Kane – and Gerald J. Rappoport. They were designed to be spoofs of Batman and Robin, embracing a campier tone in crime fighting. Kane even hired his regular ghost artist Sheldon Moldoff to handle the storyboard designs.

Courageous and Minute operated out of their Cat Cave, and when their help was needed, the pair was called via a Cat Signal. They’d race to the scene in their Cat Mobile, which could also be converted into a Cat Boat or Cat Plane. Courageous used a Cat Gun that could fire whatever he needed, like a cage, magnetic ray, parachute, or water. He also used gadgets that were hidden in the emblem on his chest or in his belt buckle.

The heroes were often joined by the canine police officer, the Chief, and Minute’s movie star girlfriend, Marilyn Mouse. The heroes protected Empire City from the likes of regular nemesis Chauncy “Flat-Face” Frog. Other villains included the mad scientist Professor Shaggy Dog, the bull dog gangster Big Shot, and the Black Cat burglar.

Courageous Cat and Minute Mouse cartoons were about five minutes long, typically used as fillers during local children’s shows or to adjoin movie presentations. The show totaled 130 episodes that ran from September 1960 to November 1962.