Mutant Enemy Productions

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Mutant Enemy end-of-credits logo.

Mutant Enemy Productions was the production company created in 1997 by Joss Whedon to produce Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The company also produced the television shows Angel, a Buffy spin-off; and Firefly, a short-lived Space Western.

Its offices (made out of glass bricks) were on the lot of 20th Century Fox in Los Angeles, previously the home of Chris Carter's Ten Thirteen Productions. According to March 2006's issue of UK magazine The Word, the office (and thus the company) were closed not long after Angel was cancelled (though a date was not given). The film Serenity credits Barry Mendel Productions instead.

Since Joss Whedon announced his new TV series Dollhouse, Fox has confirmed that it will be produced by 20th Century Fox Television and Mutant Enemy.^[1] The show got a thirteen-episode commitment and is expected to premiere in January 2009.^[2]

The name "Mutant Enemy" is taken from the song "And You and I" by prog rock band Yes, of whom Whedon is a confessed fan. It was also the name Whedon had given his first typewriter.

[edit] Logo

The company's end-of-credits logo and mascot is an intentionally poorly animated zombie cartoon figure crossing the screen from right to left and saying, "Grrr. Argghh." It was drawn and voiced by Whedon himself. However, there are certain episodes of Buffy in which the animation was changed:

• "Becoming, Part Two" - He says "Oooh, I need a hug" instead.
• "Amends" - He wears a Santa hat while bells jingle in the background.
• "Graduation Day, Part Two"- He wears a graduation cap.
• "Once More, With Feeling" - He sings the line in falsetto.
• "Storyteller" - He sings a line from the episode, "We are as Gods."
• "Chosen" - He turns and pulls a face at the viewer.

The episode "Bargaining, Part One" references the end-of-credits logo. Tara gives Giles a small rubber monster and says "Grrr. Argghh."

In season seven of Buffy, there is a species of ancient Vampires called "Turok-Han" or Ubervamps. They look like more detailed versions of the Mutant Enemy.

[edit] Members

Staff members of Mutant Enemy, all of whom have writing and/or production credits on at least one of the above shows, have included, in alphabetical order:

• Jeffrey Bell
• Elizabeth Craft
• Steven S. DeKnight
• Ben Edlund
• Jane Espenson
• Sarah Fain
• David Fury
• Drew Goddard
• Drew Greenberg
• Rebecca Rand Kirshner
• Tim Minear
• Marti Noxon
• Doug Petrie
• Mere Smith
• Joss Whedon

[edit] Robot Chicken Parody

On the adult swim show Robot Chicken entitled Rabbits on a Roller Coaster at the end of the show's credits a parody of the Mutant Enemy, Inc. logo appeared with Joss Whedon (guest starring as himself) providing the "Grrr... Arrgh..." As the enemy mutant rips apart the city, the scene cuts to an office where Joss Whedon is playing with dolls and an executive says to him, "Come on Joss, that's why you were kicked off Wonder Woman."

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Grr Argh: The Mutant Enemy, Inc. Fanlisting