Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds (Spanish: D'Artacán y los Tres Mosqueperros), known as The Dog Knight in North America, is a 2021 Spanish-Indian animated adventure comedy film directed by Toni García and written by Doug Langdale, based on the 1981 Spanish-Japanese television series of the same name, in turn adapted from Alexandre Dumas' 1844 story of d'Artagnan and The Three Musketeers. The film is produced by Apolo Films (BRB Internacional's cinema studio) and Cosmos Maya.
Contents
Plot
Dogtanian, a young swordsman, visits Paris in dreams of joining the Muskehounds. Entering Muskehound headquarters, he meets the Monsieur de Treville, where he explains that his father is framed by the Cardinal Richelieu. The latter concludes that he is unfit to become a Muskehound. He accidentally runs into the three Muskehounds, who all engage him in a duel. After a fight with the Cardinal's guards, the Muskehounds praise Dogtanian for being a hero.
One night, Dogtanian rescues Juliette, a lady which Dogtanian has meet, being captured by the Cardinal's guards. Juliette explains to Dogtanian that Richelieu is plotting a war between France and England, so he can seize all of Europe. However, Queen Anne of Austria plans to send a letter to the King of England to ensure peace between the two countries, with a diamond necklace from King Louis included. Juliette warns Dogtanian that if the necklace is stolen by Richelieu, it could lead to war. Dogtanian remembers Count Rochefort, Cardinal Richelieu's spy, discussing about the diamonds to Milady de Winter, a woman.
The next morning, Juliette warns the Muskehounds about the diamond necklace. That night, Dogtanian confronts Milady in a palace. Dogtanian gives chase, but Milady manages to escape. Juliette discovers that Milady is heading to Calais to board a ship. Dogtanian and the Muskehounds goes and splits up, and he reaches Calais, but Milady is already escaping on her ship.
Dogtanian meets Captain Bloodhound, a pirate, who agrees to pursue Milady. They reach Milady's ship, where Dogtanian duels her to acquire the necklace. Returning to surface, Dogtanian reconciles with the Muskehounds, and they return to Paris. Dogtanian sneaks into the palace, where he interrogates Rochefort about his father; the latter reveals that he arranged a plot to frame the former's father, and confesses that his father is innocent. Richelieu attempts to kill Dogtanian by a gunshot, but Pip, his friend, takes the hit. Dogtanian fears Pip is dead, but the former learns that the latter was protected by a gold coin. Milady delivers the necklace to Queen Anne, and Dogtanian officially becomes a member of the Muskehounds, while Richelieu vows revenge.
Cast
Original Spanish cast
Miguel Ángel Pérez as D’Artacan, Pom
Eduardo Jover as Padre D’Artacan
Gloria Cámara as Madra D’Artacan and Dama de la Reina
Antonio Ramírez as Rofty, Guardia del Cardenal, and Contrabandistas
Ana Esther Alborg as Juliette
Ana María Marí as Milady de Winter
Luis Bajo as Conde de Rochefort
Carlos Kaniowsky as Treville
Catalan cast
Source
Ivan Labanda as D’Artacan
Raúl Llorens as Amis
José Posada as Pontos
Santi Lorenz as Dogos
Eduardo Jover as D’Artacan's father
Núria Trifol as Juliette
Joan Carles Gustems as Richelieu
José Luis Mediavilla as Pom
Domènech Farell as Widimir
Alicia Laorden as Milady de Winter
Juan Antonio Bernal as Rochefort
Jordi Boixaderas as Treville
Pep Anton Muñoz as King Louis XIII
Alfonso Vallés as Captain Bloodhound
English dub
Tomás Ayuso as Dogtanian
Scott Cleverdon as Dogtanian's father, Captain Bloodhound, Parisian #1, Aristocrat #1
Elisabeth Gray as Dogtanian's mother, Milady, Parrot, Lady-in-Waiting, Flower Girl, Parisian #2, Aristocrat #2, Children
Miguel Ángel Pérez as Sandy, Muskehound #2, Cardinal's Guard #3, Smuggler #3
Robbie K. Jones as Pip, Treville
Karina Piper as Juliette, Queen Anne of Austria
W. Blair Holmes as Rochefort
Stephen Hughes as Porthos, Anthos, Richelieu, Muskehound #1, Cardinal's Guard #2, Palace Servants, Dubois, Parisian #3, Aristocrat #3, Capitan of the Lis D'or, Smuggler #2
Julio Perillán as Aramis, King Louis XIII
Jess Espinoza as Widimir, Cardinal's Guard #1, Smuggler #1
Production
According to their main website, BRB Internacional was planning a new feature-length CGI film to be released in 2016, but was delayed for unknown reasons. In April 2019, Apolo Films took over production of the film. The film was written by Doug Langdale and directed by Toni Garcia. The film was released in theaters under the title Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds.
Claudio had been planning to make the movie since at least 2011, as BRB Internacional had been producing less TV series due to the proliferation of dedicated channels aimed at children and their early adoption of new technologies. Claudio, under the principle that cinema is the "audiovisual cathedral", decided to begin production, but there was a lack of money. After obtaining the necessary support from skilled professionals, funding arrived from Televisión Española and Banco Santander. The female characters in the movie gained an increased role, with Milady being compared to Catwoman.
The film maintains the original series opening main theme tune composed by Guido and Maurizio De Angelis. Additionally, they have composed new songs for the film.
Animation was done by Cosmos Maya in Mumbai, India.
Release
In Spain, it was originally slated for an opening in theatres on 22 January 2021, but its release was postponed to August 18 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The film had its world premiere at the Huesca International Film Festival on 13 June 2021.
The film was released in the United Kingdom on 25 June 2021.
In 2022, Viva Pictures released the film on streaming services in North America, retitled The Dog Knight.
Reception
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 57% of 7 critics' reviews are positive.
Sequel television series
A new Dogtanian television series, titled Dogtanian, The Hero, is in development. It takes place after the events of the 2021 film.