Manimal
Created by Glen A. Larson
On NBC
A 1980s action-adventure procedural built on a high-concept gimmick—a professor who transforms into animals to solve crimes—that prioritizes spectacle and playful invention over depth.
Jonathan Chase was a British college professor at New York University who had the unusual ability to transform into any kind of animal. He used his powers to battle crime alongside pretty policewoman Brooke and Vietnam-war pal Ty.
Questions people ask
Is Manimal sad? Barely. Less sad than 88% of series.
Is Manimal scary? Not especially. Less frightening than 59% of series.
Is Manimal violent? About average. Almost exactly mid-range.
Does Manimal leave you hopeful? About average. Almost exactly mid-range.
Is Manimal easy watching? About average. Almost exactly mid-range.
These describe how the series comes across across its whole run, compared with other well-known series. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked episode by episode, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.
Written about
- The Shows That Know They EndFinding
- Whose Show Is It?Finding
Cinnamon Score
How much this series gives you that nothing else will, and whether it delivers.
Familiar shape, done well.
How unlike any other series this one feels
How much more it delivers than it promises
How much audiences actually like it
Ensemble
Everything like Manimal, and what each one shares →
Like Manimal
Nearest across the full emotional profile.
Same Mood as Manimal
Nearest on what's most distinctive about this one.
Like Manimal, But Darker
Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.
Like Manimal, But Lighter
Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.
Like Manimal, But Less Popular
Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.
