Editing Dexter's Laboratory (section)

{{short description|American animated television series}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2020}}{{Use American English|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox television
| image                = Dexter-logo.png
| genre                = {{Plainlist|
* [[Adventure]]<ref name="Metacritic">{{Cite Metacritic |id=dexters-laboratory |type=tv |title=Dexter's Laboratory |access-date=2024-08-01}}</ref>
* [[Comedy]]<ref name="Metacritic" />
* [[Science fiction]]
}}
| creator              = [[Genndy Tartakovsky]]
| showrunner           = {{Plainlist|
* Genndy Tartakovsky{{efn|1996–1998}}
* [[Chris Savino]]{{efn|2001–2003}}
}}
| voices               = {{Plainlist|
* [[Christine Cavanaugh]]
* [[Candi Milo]]
* Allison Moore
* [[Kat Cressida]]
* [[Kath Soucie]]
* [[Jeff Bennett]]
* [[Eddie Deezen]]
* [[Rob Paulsen]]
* [[Tom Kenny]]
* [[Frank Welker]]
}}
| theme_music_composer = {{Plainlist|
* Thomas Chase
* [[Steve Rucker (composer)|Steve Rucker]]
* Gary Lionelli{{efn|name=Lionelli|Dial M for Monkey and The Justice Friends segments}}
}}
| open_theme           = "Dexter's Laboratory (Main Title)"
| end_theme            = "Dexter's Laboratory (End Title)"{{efn|Narration by [[Mako (actor)|Mako Iwamatsu]];<ref>{{Cite web |title=Main Title Narrator |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/Dexters-Laboratory/Main-Title-Narrator/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230409192009/https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/Dexters-Laboratory/Main-Title-Narrator/ |archive-date=2023-04-09 |website=BehindTheVoiceActors}}</ref> performed by Agostino Castagnola<ref>{{Cite web |title=Agostino Castagnola |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Agostino-Castagnola/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170721224706/https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Agostino-Castagnola/ |archive-date=2017-07-21 |website=BehindTheVoiceActors.com}}</ref>}}
| composer             = {{Plainlist|
* Thomas Chase
* Steve Rucker
* Gary Lionelli{{efn|name=Lionelli}}
}}
| country              = United States
| language             = English
| num_seasons          = 4
| num_episodes         = 78{{efn|The series contains 216 unique segments.}}
| list_episodes        = List of Dexter's Laboratory episodes
| executive_producer   = {{Plainlist|
* Genndy Tartakovsky
* [[Sherry Gunther]]
* [[Larry Huber]]
* [[Buzz Potamkin]]
* [[Fred Seibert]]
}}
| producer             = {{Plainlist|
* Genndy Tartakovsky
* [[Davis Doi]]
* [[Brian A. Miller]]
* [[Chris Savino]]
}}
| runtime              = 22 minutes
| company              = {{Plainlist|
* [[Hanna-Barbera|Hanna-Barbera Cartoons]]{{efn|Pilot episodes and season 2}}
* [[Cartoon Network Studios]]{{efn|Season 1 produced as a division of Hanna-Barbera Cartoons, seasons 3–4 produced as a standalone entity from its former parent}}
}}
| network              = [[Cartoon Network]]{{efn|Early episodes initially premiered on [[TBS (American TV channel)|TBS]] and [[TNT (American TV network)|TNT]] before airing on [[Cartoon Network]].}}
| first_aired          = {{Start date|1996|04|27}}
| last_aired           = {{End date|1998|06|15}}
| first_aired2         = {{Start date|2001|11|18}}
| last_aired2          = {{End date|2003|11|20}}
| related              = ''[[What a Cartoon!]]''
}}

'''''Dexter's Laboratory'''''{{efn|Commonly abbreviated as '''''Dexter's Lab'''''}} is an American [[animated television series]] created by [[Genndy Tartakovsky]] for [[Cartoon Network]]. The series follows Dexter, an enthusiastic boy-genius with a science [[laboratory]] in his bedroom, which he keeps secret from his unsuspecting parents. Dexter is at constant odds with his older and more [[extraverted]] sister Dee Dee, who regularly accesses the laboratory and inadvertently foils his experiments. Mandark, a nefarious boy-genius classmate who lives next-door to Dexter, attempts to undermine him at every opportunity. Prominently featured in the first and second seasons are other segments focusing on [[superhero]]-based characters Monkey, Dexter's pet lab-monkey with a superhero [[alter ego]], and the Justice Friends, a trio of superheroes who share an apartment.

Tartakovsky pitched the series to [[Fred Seibert]]'s animated shorts showcase ''[[What a Cartoon!]]'' at [[Hanna-Barbera]], basing it on student films he produced at the [[California Institute of the Arts]]. Four pilots aired on Cartoon Network and [[TNT (American TV network)|TNT]] from 1995 to 1996. Viewer approval ratings led to a half-hour series, which consisted of two seasons totaling 52 episodes, airing from April 27, 1996, to June 15, 1998. ''Dexter's Laboratory'' was the first original series for the channel under the [[Cartoon Cartoons]] moniker. On December 10, 1999, a [[television film]] titled ''[[Dexter's Laboratory: Ego Trip]]'' aired as the intended [[series finale]], after which Tartakovsky focused his work on another series for Cartoon Network, ''[[Samurai Jack]]''.

In November 2000, the series was renewed for two seasons, which began airing on November 18, 2001. Due to Tartakovsky's departure, [[Chris Savino]] served as showrunner, and a new team at [[Cartoon Network Studios]] produced the series. After 26 episodes, the fourth season concluded on November 20, 2003, ending the series.

''Dexter's Laboratory'', particularly its first two seasons, received critical acclaim and became one of Cartoon Network's most successful original series. It won three [[Annie Awards]], with nominations for four [[Primetime Emmy Awards]], four [[Motion Picture Sound Editors|Golden Reel Awards]], and nine other Annie Awards. Animators [[Craig McCracken]], [[Seth MacFarlane]], [[Butch Hartman]], [[Paul Rudish]], and [[Rob Renzetti]] worked on the series and later achieved further success in their careers in animation. Spin-off media include children's books, comic books, DVD and VHS releases, music albums, toys, and video games.