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List of Carmen Sandiego characters

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This is a list of fictional characters in the Carmen Sandiego series.

ACME

The ACME Detective Agency or ACME Crimenet (changed to ACME Timenet in Where in Time Is Carmen Sandiego?) is the organization that the user or protagonists always work for. The exact nature of the organization is never explained, but it appears to be concerned mainly with tracking down and capturing international criminals. Principally, ACME trains and employs agents who act as detectives, spies, and double agents against V.I.L.E.

Although the structure of ACME Headquarters varies, it is always located in San Francisco, often being depicted as well within view of San Franciscan landmarks such as the Transamerica Pyramid and the Golden Gate Bridge. Additionally, ACME usually has numerous field offices around the globe. An ACME training academy of some kind is often stated or alluded to exist, presumably located at its San Francisco headquarters.

The Chief

File:Chief in Where in Earth.jpg
The Chief in Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego?, explaining something to Zack and Ivy.

The leader of ACME is called "The Chief", though the nature of the character varies considerably in different media. The character is never given a name beyond that title. In the original first few computer games "the Chief" was a mysterious male figure hidden in the shadows who had very little personality or role. No Chief character appears in Carmen Sandiego's Think Quick Challenge, Carmen Sandiego Word Detective and Carmen Sandiego Math Detective. The most notable "Chiefs" were the live-action Chief played by Lynne Thigpen and the Holographic Chief of Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego? voiced by Rodger Bumpass.

In the PBS game shows Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? and Where in Time Is Carmen Sandiego?, the Chief became a more dynamic character. Played by Lynne Thigpen, the Chief was a comically no-nonsense figure with a strong sense of justice who spoke with dialogue that was riddled with puns, alliteration and other forms of word play. Her catch phrase was "I salute you," which she often uttered while holding a magnifying glass over her eye. According to the World episode "The Canal Caper," her great-grandmother, Agnes Acme, is the founder of ACME. Agnes Acme was also played by Thigpen and is apparently deceased, though that didn't stop her from providing clues.

The character proved popular and the computer games Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?, Where in the U.S.A. is Carmen Sandiego? and Where in Time is Carmen Sandiego? (Carmen Sandiego's Great Chase Through Time) included QuickTime videoes of Thigpen portraying the Chief. Thigpen again played the Chief in the planetarium film Where in the Universe is Carmen Sandiego? and its sequel Where in the Universe is Carmen Sandiego? II.

In the spin-off animated series Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego, the chief (stylised as the C.H.I.E.F - Computerized Holographic Imaging Educational Facilitator) was drastically retooled, becoming a wise-cracking sentient computer image not unlike Max Headroom. Playing a slightly more important role than his counterparts in the franchise, the Chief was still limited to providing exposition, alerts of Carmen's recent crime and comic relief. He was voiced by Rodger Bumpass.

This version of the Chief had a very intimate professional and personal relationship with Carmen. They were both trained as agents when ACME was in its infancy (the Chief more likely created as an attempt at an autonomous robotic agent, complete with android body), and were often partnered up with each other on many cases. They became fast friends, and although he was angered and shocked at Carmen's defection to a life of crime, he didn't have the heart to close her file. It's clear that Carmen also thinks highly of their friendship, having once entrusted the help of ACME agents Zach and Ivy to help restore a virus-stricken Chief back to health after she 'kidnapped' him for a Christmas night to 'relive the good ol' days', and once again teaming up with him to capture the criminal Maelstrom, whom they had captured during their detective years and had returned to take his revenge.

The Chief featured in Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego: Treasures of Knowledge and Carmen Sandiego: The Secret of the Stolen Drums was voiced in both games by Marcie Henderson. Perhaps as a tribute, this Chief looks somewhat similar to Lynne Thigpen, although her voice and personality are unmistakably different. In fact, she has little personality beyond getting angry whenever Carmen breaks into ACME communication lines.

Zack and Ivy

Zack and Ivy are the teenage protagonists of Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego?. They were voiced by Scott Menville and Jennifer Hale respectively.

At eighteen years old, Ivy is an expert martial artist and skilled pilot who takes her duties as a detective seriously, being both driven and easily frustrated. In contrast, her fourteen-year-old younger brother Zack approaches his job with easygoing attitude, though he also demonstrates immaturity and impatience towards more traditional non-technological methods; however, his skills include being a polyglot and having a photographic memory, allowing the siblings to complement each other well.

In addition to appearing in television series, the siblings appear in Carmen Sandiego Junior Detective.

Chase Devineaux

Chase Devineaux is featured in Carmen Sandiego Word Detective, Carmen Sandiego Math Detective and Carmen Sandiego's ThinkQuick Challenge. Designed by Joseph John Barney,[1] Chase is voiced by Pat Fraley and his last name is pronounced "dev-in-no."

In all three of these games, Chase fulfills the role typically held by the Chief in Carmen Sandiego products in sending the user off on missions and such. It is made clear that he is not actually the Chief since in Carmen Sandiego Word Detective and Carmen Sandiego Math Detective the user occasionally receives messages from an unseen Chief. However, whereas he appears "in person" in Carmen Sandiego's Think Quick Challenge, he communicates with the user electronically in the other two games. Chase also informs the user of clues he's found throughout the course of the game. He is often shown to be speaking to the user from an exotic location in which he is presumably hunting for clues.

Chase was one of Carmen Sandiego's partners when she was at ACME. After Carmen left ACME, Chase Devineaux went undercover and started working separately from ACME. He started working with ACME again on the Babble-On-Machine case (depicted in Carmen Sandiego Word Detective) and has since become an ACME Special Agent. In Carmen Sandiego's Think Quick Challenge, he is stated to be "ACME's top agent." Chase has red hair and he seems to be around the same age as Carmen. He has a pet falcon named "Phoenix" whom can usually be seen on his shoulder in Carmen Sandiego Word Detective and Carmen Sandiego Math Detective. Phoenix does not appear in Carmen Sandiego's Think Quick Challenge.

Jules Argent

File:Jules and Shadow.jpg
Jules Argent and Shadow Hawkins in Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? Treasures of Knowledge.

Julia "Jules" Argent was once Carmen Sandiego's partner and she still considers Carmen to be the best agent ACME ever had. Jules is experienced with Carmen Sandiego's methods and is full of facts. She keeps a journal to keep track of clues and apparently has a good sense of intuition.

Jules believes that "everyone" at ACME blamed her for Carmen leaving the organization. In fact, Carmen herself considers Jules to be "very opinionated" and claims this made her "a little difficult to work with," although she never specifically states whether this had anything to do with her leaving ACME. Jules is twenty seven years old, was born in Hong Kong and has a vaguely Asian-esque appearance. According to Hawkins, she is a linguistics expert. She mentions owning a cat.

Jules was featured in Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego: Treasures of Knowledge and Carmen Sandiego: The Secret of the Stolen Drums. Jules was voiced in both by Irene Trapp.

Shadow Hawkins

Shadow Hawkins was so arrogant when he started his first assignment, that he thought he could, "catch that ACME traitor and be home in time for dinner." As the case went on though, it became clear, even to him, that Carmen Sandiego wasn't easy to catch. Shadow Hawkins seems to believe gadgets are the answer to everything. He was apparently raised on a horse farm.

Shadow Hawkins was featured in Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego: Treasures of Knowledge and Carmen Sandiego: The Secret of the Stolen Drums. He was voiced in both by Mark Atherlay, although his surname was misspelled "Atherly" in the latter.

Cole Gannon

Cole Gannon (age 17) trained in ACME to be a secret agent after school and on weekends, for about a year when he had the chance to go after Carmen Sandiego in his first "official" mission. He's a computer genius and a martial arts expert, but he's a little overconfident and doesn't seem to fear very much; ACME is still working with him on this. In combat, Cole Gannon uses a staff. Cole Gannon was featured in Carmen Sandiego: The Secret of the Stolen Drums, where he was probably voiced by Kevin Miller (given that Miller's name was listed first in the credits).

ACME Good Guides

File:Carmen Sandiego Good Guides.gif
The seven Good Guides looking skyward to an escaped Carmen Sandiego in the opening sequence to the 1996 game Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego. The only guide not pictured is Polly Tix, who is featured only in Great Chase Through Time. From left to right: Dee Plomassy, Herman Nootix, Kim Yoonity, Renee Santz, Ivan Idea, Ann Tickwittee, and Rock Solid.

Photographers

  • Calvin the Caped Camera Kid — Calvin the Caped Camera Kid, a photographer for the ACME Detective Agency, apparently thinks of himself as some kind of superhero, flying down in a cape with a rope tied to his waist to take the culprit's picture. What the other end of the rope is attached to is anyone’s guess. Calvin the Caped Camera Kid appeared in Carmen Sandiego: Junior Detective Edition.
  • Candid Cammie — Candid Cammie, a photographer for the ACME Detective Agency, would be a great photographer... if she ever opened her eyes. Her name is a pun on that of the television series Candid Camera. Candid Cammie appeared in Carmen Sandiego: Junior Detective Edition.
  • F-Stop Freddy — ACME loves F-Stop Freddy, as a robot photographer doesn’t need a vacation, paycheck or anything else normal employees need- however, the bills from the robot mechanic shop easily equal those expenses. F-Stop Freddy featured in Carmen Sandiego: Junior Detective Edition.
  • Flash Dweebly — Flash Dweebly, ACME's nerdiest photographer, appeared in Carmen Sandiego: Junior Detective Edition.
  • Olympia Vu-Finder — Olympia Vu-Finder, daughter of an athletic mother and photographer father, works for the ACME Detective Agency. Unfortunately, Olympia attempts to follow both her parents simultaneously. Her first name, Olympia, appears to reference both photographic equipment manufacturer Olympus and the athletic competition known as the Olympics, while her last name puns on the viewfinder, a camera component. Olympia Vu-Finder appeared in Carmen Sandiego: Junior Detective Edition.
  • Penelope Paparazzi — Penelope Paparazzi’s motto is "Ladies first," and her career as a photographer for the ACME Detective Agency proves it. This elegant camera expert has risen to the top, despite the spills and frills that follow her on every assignment. Her last name is a pun on the term Paparazzi used for certain journalists and photographers. While her namesake, Penelope, appears in Homer's Odyssey, her first name may simply be an example of alliteration. Penelope Paparazzi appeared in Carmen Sandiego: Junior Detective Edition.

ACME detectives

These detectives were featured in Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego?.

  • Aileen - A Hawaiian ACME detective.
  • Amati - A brilliant archaeologist and African-American ACME detective.
  • Armando - An Argentine gaucho ACME detective.
  • Barrow - A British ACME detective.
  • Billy - An Native-American ACME detective from Colorado.
  • Chester - A bird expert ACME detective.
  • Gro - A Norwegian ACME detective. He's a friend of Zack. Voice by Chadwick Pelletier
  • Jasmine - A Jamaican ACME detective.
  • Josha - A brilliant inventor and ACME detective. He has a crush on Ivy. Zack is the one who helps get them together.
  • Ketut - An ACME detective from Bali.
  • Lee - A Chinese ACME detective.
  • Lloyd - An ACME detective from Key Largo, Florida.
  • Maria - A Brazilian ACME detective from ACME Rio.
  • Max - A Hawaiian ACME detective and Aileen's older brother.
  • Marco - An Italian ACME detective.
  • Michelle - A Space Camp ACME detective.
  • Regis - A British ACME detective.
  • Shotu - An Indian ACME detective.
  • Suhara - Former partner of Carmen Sandiego back when she was a top ACME agent.
  • Tatiana - A Russian ACME detective. Zack has a crush on her. She seems to return his feelings (much to Ivy's dismay).

V.I.L.E.

The Villains' International League of Evil (or V.I.L.E. for short) is Carmen Sandiego's criminal organization whose agents either assist her in committing outrageous thefts or else commit thefts on her behalf. The organization is always referred to by its acronym, which is pronounced phonetically and is therefore often a source of puns.

Carmen Sandiego

Carmen Sandiego is the leader of V.I.L.E. She has nearly always been created through animation techniques, either with various forms of computer graphics or with traditional animation. The television version of Where in Time Is Carmen Sandiego? is, to date, the only time the character has "officially" been portrayed in live action, aside from photographs in early game manuals. Carmen was a former ACME agent who went rogue. Because of her previous days as an ACME agent, Carmen knows how to outrun the ACME agents and keep them at bay, making her the most notorious criminal that ACME wishes to capture.[2] She is most commonly depicted wearing a red trench-coat and matching wide-brimmed hat.

Carmen Sandiego's voice was heard for the first time on the Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? Deluxe computer game during her trial after she is captured. Her voice was featured regularly in the World game show, though only during the phone tap skit. Carmen had little personality on the World show, aside from being constantly exasperated by her crooks' incompetence, and no voice artist was credited. However, later performers maintained the distinctive slightly husky voice she was given on World.

In the Earth series, Carmen had a much larger role and was voiced by Academy Award-winning actress Rita Moreno.[3] Moreno would again voice the character for the game Carmen Sandiego Junior Detective and the planetarium films Where in the Universe is Carmen Sandiego? and Where in the Universe is Carmen Sandiego? II. In the computer games Carmen Sandiego Word Detective and Carmen Sandiego Math Detective, Mari Devon took on the title role, opposite Pat Fraley as Chase Devineaux. Most recently, her voice was provided by Christiane Crawford for Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? Treasures of Knowledge and Carmen Sandiego: The Secret of the Stolen Drums.

On Time, her only live-action appearance, Carmen also had little personality and was generally portrayed as a straight villain. Furthermore, her face was never fully visible and all images of her were posterized, giving her a stylized, "unreal" look. Although the actress playing her was not directly credited, it has been confirmed that she was played by actresses Janine LaManna in the first season, and then Brenda Burke in the second season. While Janine LaManna did not have any other roles, Brenda Burke was seen portraying minor characters, such as Eleanor Roosevelt.

Efforts were made at least once, in 2006, to produce a film featuring the character, possibly starring Sandra Bullock as the titular thief.[4] In 2011 or 2012, there is talk that Jennifer Lopez would play the titular thief.

V.I.L.E. Operatives

The following are operatives that work for V.I.L.E.:

  • Carmine — Carmine is Carmen Sandiego's pet cat who has been trained to chase and torment ACME Agents. After an incident involving a very large sack of kitty litter, she was left with the warped mind of a master criminal. Carmen Sandiego recruited her because she is so dedicated to her career. Carmine was featured in Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?, Where in the U.S.A. Is Carmen Sandiego?, and Carmen Sandiego: Junior Detective Edition.
File:Rick and Nick ICK.jpg
Rick and Nick ICK in the 1996 game Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?.
  • Rick and Nick ICK — Rick and Nick ICK—spelled with all caps in the manual—originally entered their chosen profession as janitors having heard if they could "clean up" they'd be rich. The brothers have been fired from every cleaning job they ever had- and for good reason!- so they joined V.I.L.E. and attempt to clean up the tracks left behind by Carmen Sandiego's hench-people. The ICK Brothers were featured in Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?, and Where in the U.S.A. Is Carmen Sandiego?
  • Contessa — As her noble name implies, Contessa considers herself to be high-class royalty. With her Italian name and a wardrobe consisting mostly of Milan fashions, Contessa is likely Italian herself. Contessa is featured in the Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? game show. She was one of the original crooks from Season 1, went missing in Seasons 2 and 3 and returned in Season 4 with a new character design. Contessa also pilots a helicopter during some capers. Her motto is "I may be a thief, but my taste is impeccable."
  • Eartha Brute — Carmen Sandiego's super strong woman with a green Marge Simpson-style beehive. Eartha Brute wears a pink singlet uniform complete with weight belt that has the V.I.L.E. initials on the gold plate. One episode revealed that despite her brutish exterior, she loves romantic stories. She is featured in the Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? game show. Her hobbies include chewing granite and house tossing.
  • Patty Larceny — A typical teenager, Patty likes things that are fashionable and/or cute. It's stated that she's not really evil and is fact quite sweet, but she suffers from kleptomania. She was in the PBS gameshow Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? and the board game Where in the U.S.A. Is Carmen Sandiego?. Her name is a play on "petty larceny" which is a case of larceny where the value of the stolen goods is below a certain legally specified amount.
  • Top Grunge — Top Grunge is Carmen Sandiego's big biker with a bad attitude and even worse hygiene habits. He rides on a badly-tuned motorcycle that spits out smoke wherever he goes. His eyes are always covered by large sunglasses. He is featured in the Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? game show. His hobbies include dumpster diving and trash collecting.
  • Vic the Slick — Vic the Slick is a shrewd salesman-type person with a seedy moustache, shifty eyes and slicked black hair. He wears loud polyester suits and an even louder tie. In one episode of Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?, Vic the Slick tried to impress Carmen Sandiego by giving her the Isla del Carmen which was located off Mexico. His motto is "Bad taste is better than no taste at all". He also is featured in the board game Where in the U.S.A. Is Carmen Sandiego?.
File:Wonder Rat Carmen Sandiego.jpg
Wonder Rat on the Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? gameshow.
  • Wonder Rat — Wonder Rat is a supervillain and Carmen's personal caped criminal who considers himself "The Rat of Steel". He can't fly on his own, so he resorts to dangling from a bungee cord attached to "the Rat-Copter" -a variant of Contessa's copter- on autopilot. Wonder Rat was added to Carmen Sandiego's V.I.L.E. Gang in Season 2 of the Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? game show.
  • Dazzle Annie — Dazzle Annie is a female criminal who is featured in the Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? video game. Like many of the early characters in the game, the likeness and name were based on a producer at Broderbund with a similar name.
  • Fast Eddie B. — Fast Eddie B. is a criminal who is featured in the Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? video game. Based on the likeness and name of Ed Bernstein, who was Broderbund's director of product development at the time.
  • Tsu Mi — Tsu Mi is a female criminal who is featured in the 1996 Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? video game. Her name is a play on "sue me" as well as being a significant name "tsumi" (which is Japanese for "crime").
  • Abe L. Body - Exclusive to Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego?, Abe L. Body is a V.I.L.E. agent and an athlete who's a team player to V.I.L.E. He likes to steal items from the Olympics and any other sports. His name is a play on "able body."
  • Auntie Bellum - Exclusive to Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego?, Auntie Bellum is a V.I.L.E. agent from the South. She likes to steal items from the South in the Civil War.
  • Al Loy - Exclusive to Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego?, Al Loy is a V.I.L.E. agent who's also hot-headed as Daryl Riska. He wanted to be a loner when it comes to crime, but he couldn't get along with Daryl Riska. Al Loy is a play on "Alloy."
  • Daryl Riska - Exclusive to Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego?, Daryl Riska is a V.I.L.E. agent who always takes any risks and sometimes get hot-headed when he gets to a fight with Al Loy.
  • Frank M. Poster - Exclusive to Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego?, Frank M. Poster is a big time master of disguise and Carmen's V.I.L.E. henchman. He can disguise himself as any person he wants to impersonate. Frank M. Poster is a play on "The Great Impostor."
  • Hannah Lulu - Exclusive to Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego?, Hannah Lulu is a V.I.L.E. agent and an expert when it comes to Hawaiian treasures and locations. Hannah Lulu is very superstitious and is afraid of almost everything including Hawaii's Nightmarchers. In one episode, Carmen Sandiego tried to make Hannah Lulu face her fears by stealing an object from the place where a Hawaiian queen died. Hannah Lulu is a play on "Honolulu."
  • Judge R.B. Traitor - Exclusive to Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego?, Judge R.B. Traitor is a criminal court judge who hunts crooks down and sentences them to a secret jail while stealing their loot. He appeared in "The Trail of Carmen Sandiego" where he had Carmen Sandiego abducted from her caper in the Mayan Ruins and subpoenaed Zack and Ivy to his hidden courtroom in Italy using Lee Galese as bait. Once Zack and Ivy arrived, Judge R.B. Traitor dismissed Lee Galese and had them represent Carmen Sandiego when she was accused of stealing the Magna Carta. When it came to where the Magna Cartta is, it turned out that Judge R.B. Traitor was actually in cahoots with Carmen Sandiego and Archie Ology. R.B. Traitor is a play on "arbitrator."
  • Lars Vegas - Exclusive to Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego?, Lars Vegas is a big shot and V.I.L.E.'s greediest member. He always complains when he is trapped in a net because it messes up his hair. His greediness can always foil his plans. Lars Vegas is a play on "Las Vegas."
  • Paige Turner - Exclusive to Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego?, Paige Turner is a V.I.L.E. agent who is a world-renowned expert on literature and loves playing out crimes from famous novels. Her name is a play on "page turner."
  • Tim Burr - Exclusive to Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego?, Tim Burr is a vile agent who teamed up with Abe L. Body, Al Loy and Daryl Riska in one mission. His name is a play on "timber."
  • Yin and Yang - Exclusive to Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego?, Yin and Yang are a pair of Chinese V.I.L.E. agents, both wearing a tattoo that is a piece of the Yin Yang symbol. They both like to steal antique Chinese artifacts.
  • Baron Grinnit — Baron Grinnit is an aviator who has devoted himself to a life of high flying crime. For years, he has "used his million dollar smile to steal millions." The Baron is Carmen Sandiego's ace in the hole. Baron Grinnit is featured in Carmen Sandiego's Great Chase Through Time. "Baron Grinnit" is a play on "grin and bear it."
  • Baron Wasteland — Baron Wasteland is an archetypical moustached villain wearing a V-marked eyepatch. Baron Wasteland is as his name suggests a wealthy aristocrat who loves pollution and enjoys destroying the environment. His name is a play on "barren wasteland" and he is supposedly from the Industrial Era. He was on the "Time" game show for the first season (he was later replaced in the second season by Buggs Zapper). Baron Wasteland made his first video game appearance in Carmen Sandiego Adventures in Math in a redesigned appearance.
  • Buggs Zapper — Buggs Zapper is a gangster with a fear of insects who wears a pinstriped suit and constantly carries around an old-fashioned bug sprayer. His goal in life is to "rub out" the single fly that supposedly torments him endlessly. His time era is presumably the 1930s or so. He was introduced in the second season replacing Baron Wasteland. He was also featured in Carmen Sandiego's Great Chase Through Time. His name is a play on "bug zapper."
  • Dee Cryption — Dee Cryption is a hacker with a microchip on her shoulder. Ever since she caught a nasty computer virus, she has been pursuing a program to take over the world's computer networks. However, Dee Cryption's fuzzy logic hasn't helped her reach her goal. Dee Cryption is featured in Carmen Sandiego's Great Chase Through Time. "Dee Cryption" is a play on "decryption." This thief was seemingly captured before the jailbreak.
  • Dr. Belljar — A cyborg mad scientist, Dr. Belljar works as Carmen Sandiego's computerized scientist-in-residence and plans to rewrite history so as to record himself as the world's greatest scientist. His name apparently refers to "bell jars." He was featured on the game show and on Carmen Sandiego's Great Chase Through Time.
  • General Mayham — After Mayham was thrown out the Boy Scouts for stealing merit badges, Mayhem formed his own militia and promoted himself to General. General Mayhem brags that he's the greatest military mind in history and wants to alter history to make that true. General Mayham is featured in Carmen Sandiego's Great Chase Through Time. General Mayham is a play on "general mayhem."
  • Jacqueline Hyde — Jacqueline Hyde is a teenage girl who has a split personality: one ("Jacqueline") being sweet and innocent with the other ("Hyde") being evil and insane. She repeatedly alternates between her personalities with each surfacing over the other for only a few seconds or so. As Jacqueline, she has a normal voice and seems soft-spoken, but as Hyde she yells loudly and has a "modulated" voice. She is either red-haired, strawberry blonde or blonde (the show's graphics make it difficult to tell) and she wears a red blazer, a pink blouse, a red miniskirt and knee-length stockings, perhaps to suggest a traditional schoolgirl uniform. Her clothing may indicate she is from the early-to-mid 20th century. Her name is a play on "Jekyll and Hyde". She is featured on the "Time" game show and on Carmen Sandiego's Great Chase Through Time.
  • Medeva — Medeva is a witch from the Middle Ages who graduated from a witch's charm school centuries ago. Her powers seem to be extensive, since many of her victims say she's enchanting. Her name seems to be a combination of "Medieval" and "diva", as well as a reference to the witch "Medea". She was featured in the "Time" game show and in Carmen Sandiego's Great Chase Through Time. She is the only thief who is not captured twice.
  • Sir Vile — Sir Vile is an obsequious Medieval knight who bends to every whim of "Lady Carmen." He is described as an evil knight in "not-so-shining" armor who has been in a bad mood since the Middle Ages when he failed to corner the market on round tables. His name "Sir Vile" implies more than just the fact that he is a knight recruited to work for V.I.L.E. for it is also a play on the term "servile." He has been featured on the "Time" game show (where he is shown to have fire-breathing abilities) and on Carmen Sandiego's Great Chase Through Time.
  • Anita Dayoff - A workaholic, Anita loved working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week as a high-powered executive. One day Carmen spotted her at an "all-you-can-drink" coffee house, and gave her an offer she couldn't refuse, a job with no time off. "Anita Dayoff" is a play on "I need a day off." Anita Dayoff was featured in Carmen Sandiego: Junior Detective Edition.
  • Cal I. Fornya — Cal I. Fornya is a "cool dude" who is the star of "discount video" surf movies. His charm occasionally got him invited to the homes of the rich and famous, where he discovered another hobby, stealing. When he visited a King’s house, he tried to make off with the entire royal beach. Carmen Sandiego was very impressed, and invited him to join V.I.L.E. "Cal I. Fornya" is a play on "California." Cal I. Fornya was featured in Carmen Sandiego: Junior Detective Edition.
  • Carri Daway — Carri Daway has such a huge voice that when she made her Broadway debut, she shook the whole theater. Her large voice is used by V.I.L.E. to crack foundations. "Carri Daway" is a play on "carried away." Carri Daway was featured in Carmen Sandiego: Junior Detective Edition.
  • Cy Berpunk — When Cy Berpunk was 3 years old, he crawled into the monitor at his dad's computer repair shop. Ever since, he’s "been wired." When it comes to data, Cy Berpunk is a genius. He can even wire up a toaster to open the gold vault at Fort Knox. "Cy Berpunk" is a play on "cyberpunk." Cy Berpunk was featured in Carmen Sandiego: Junior Detective Edition.
  • Ella Vator — Ella Vator is so tall that in college she set a record for pole-vaulting, without using a pole. Ella Vator was apparently made a member of V.I.L.E. because nothing is out of her reach. She even tried to steal the North Star (morning arrived before she could swipe it). The Chief joked that she might be the daughter of Ella Fitzgerald and Darth Vader. "Ella Vator" is a play on "elevator." Ella Vator was featured in Carmen Sandiego: Junior Detective Edition.
  • Hardley Worthit — Hardley Worthit is a master at avoiding any kind of attention. In school, he used to sneak in and out of off-limits rooms without anyone knowing. He's the kind of guy who "the guard locks in the museum because he thinks everyone has left." He’s wanted on all seven continents, but so far nobody has been able to identify him. "Hardley Worthit" is a play on "hardly worth it." Hardley Worthit was featured in Carmen Sandiego: Junior Detective Edition.
  • Hugh Stink — Nobody knows when Hugh Stink took his first bath, but it must have been a bad experience, because he hasn't taken one since. His smell can have advantageous, even police dogs won’t go near him. "Hugh Stink" is a play on "you stink." Hugh Stink was featured in Carmen Sandiego: Junior Detective Edition.
  • Jim Shorts - Once an 88 pound weakling, who thought he would never become a criminal heavyweight, Jim Shorts was shown a shortcut by Carmen, an inflatable body suit. "Jim Shorts" is a play on "gym shorts." Jim Shorts was featured in Carmen Sandiego: Junior Detective Edition.
  • Jess U. Wait — Slow and steady is too fast for Jess U. Wait. She is always the last villain to be packed up for international stealing sprees and sometimes even misses her get-away car. Carmen Sandiego recruited her because she is a master at out-waiting the authorities. "Jess U. Wait" is a play on "just you wait." Jess U. Wait was featured in Carmen Sandiego: Junior Detective Edition.
  • Manny Mistakes — Manny Mistakes stops at green lights and crosses the street when the lights turn red, puts salt in his coffee and sugar on his French fries. Nobody can confuse ACME pursuers like the unpredictable Manny. "Manny Mistakes" is a play on "many mistakes." Manny Mistakes was featured in Carmen Sandiego: Junior Detective Edition.
  • Stu Pidname — There's no end to Stu Pidname’s energy, he’ll do anything to keep from getting bored. "Stu Pidname" is a play on "stupid name." It isn't clear how the name relates to the character. Stu Pidname was featured in Carmen Sandiego: Junior Detective Edition.
  • Telly Phone — Telly Phone has never been spotted without a dialing device at hand. Telly Phone can break into the private calls of just about anybody Carmen Sandiego needs or wants to hear. "Telly Phone" is a play on "telephone". Telly Phone was featured in Carmen Sandiego: Junior Detective Edition.
  • Tip Dover - Tip Dover isn't clumsy, she's a disaster! Carmen recruited her because she "creates an obstacle course wherever she goes." Tip makes it nearly impossible for the authorities to catch up with her. "Tip Dover" is a play on "tipped over." Tip was featured in Carmen Sandiego: Junior Detective Edition.
  • A. Leon Being — A. Leon Being is a very odd character with a pale, crescent shaped face, who often wears a tight bodysuit. He lives in a space station (presumably orbiting Earth), although in Carmen Sandiego: Math Detective, the station orbits Jupiter. His name is a play on "alien being."
  • Count Hypno — Count Hypno is "a master of hypnotic rhythms and mind-bending fashion apparel." ACME Agents are advised not to look him in the eye. Count Hypno was featured in Carmen Sandiego's ThinkQuick Challenge as one of Carmen's six Master Thieves.
  • Dr. Ima LeZaarde — Space alien or a haughty French scientist? You decide. Either way, she appears as both during the gameplay. She once won a prize for her research on extraterrestrial life, not surprising as she is actually an alien. "Ima LeZaarde" is a play on "I'm a lizard." She also goes by Madame LeZaarde. Dr. LeZaarde is one of Carmen's six Master Thieves featured in Carmen Sandiego's ThinkQuick Challenge. She is also featured in Carmen Sandiego: Word Detective.
  • Esther Odious — Esther Odious is a very large, rich woman and is never seen without her little white dog Fluffy. Her hideout is her massive estate in Monaco. Esther Odious was featured in Carmen Sandiego: Word Detective.
  • I.I. Captain — I.I. Captain is a very clumsy, peg-legged pirate. His hideout is his pirate ship located in the middle of the Indian Ocean. His name is a play on the saying "Aye, aye, Captain!". I.I. Captain was featured in Carmen Sandiego: Word Detective.
  • Mel Ancholy — Mel Ancholy is a composer. His hideout is his music hall located in Vienna, Austria. His name is a play on "melancholy". Mel Ancholy was featured in Carmen Sandiego: Word Detective.
  • Otto Readmore/Gnash — Otto Readmore is "the bruiser with a bookworm soul." He has a terrible fear of the dentist. He once won first prize in a pie-eating contest. His hideout is a library located in New York City. "Otto Readmore" is a play on "Ought to read more." In Carmen Sandiego's ThinkQuick Challenge, he is known as Gnash. Otto Readmore was featured in Carmen Sandiego: Word Detective, and Gnash was featured in Carmen Sandiego's ThinkQuick Challenge as one of Carmen's six Master Thieves.
  • Queen Notalotenkammen — Notalotenkammen is an Egyptian queen who resides in a treasure filled crypt in Cairo. Notalotenkammen is a play on "not a lot in common". Notalotenkammen was featured in Carmen Sandiego: Word Detective.
  • Snarla Swing — Snarla Swing is a tomb-raider and technology hater who has a penchant for ss...nakess.... Step on her and you will ss...uffer the conss...equencess.... Her hideout is a massive treehouse located in Tanzania (although in ThinkQuick Challenge she is shown to live in an Egyptian-style tomb). Snarla Swing was featured in Carmen Sandiego: Word Detective, and in Carmen Sandiego's ThinkQuick Challenge, where she is one of Carmen's six Master Thieves.

V.I.L.E. Robots

V.I.L.E. KnowBots

File:Carmen Sandiego Knowbots.jpg
The 6 Knowbots in the game Carmen Sandiego ThinkQuick. From left to right, and from top to bottom: Bruiser Bot, Synic Bot, Dim Bot, HALie Bot, Touchy-Feely Bot, and Pure-E Bot.

These "KnowBots" (short for Knowledge Robots) were featured in the game Carmen Sandiego ThinkQuick.

  • Touchy-Feely Bot — Touchy-Feely Bot is one of Carmen Sandiego's Knowledge Robots with a very dramatic soul. Apparently battling her Music and Art knowledge is a real emotional experience. Touchy-Feely Bot's expertise is in art and music. It was featured in Carmen Sandiego's Think Quick Challenge.
  • Dim Bot — Knowledge Robots, such as Dim Bot for example, eat information, not food, but Dim Bot has the munchies. Dim Bot's expertise is in English. It was featured in Carmen Sandiego's Think Quick Challenge.
  • HALie Bot — HALie Bot is a Knowledge Robot with a calm scientific attitude. HALie Bot's name is probably a play on HAL 9000 from 2001: A Space Odyssey, and on the word "halibut", although that has little to do with her character. HALie Bot's expertise is in science (divided into the categories of life science and physical science. It was featured in Carmen Sandiego's Think Quick Challenge.
  • Pure-E Bot — Pure-E Bot is a haughty, bombastic Knowledge Robot with ice-cold geography coursing through her circuits. The "E" is believed by fans to signify "evil". Pure-E Bot's expertise is in geography. It was featured in Carmen Sandiego's Think Quick Challenge.
  • Bruiser Bot — Bruiser Bot, another KnowBot, has "the heart of a pussycat, but the body of a hydraulic car-crusher." Bruiser Bot's expertise is in maths and crime scene investigation. It was featured in Carmen Sandiego's Think Quick Challenge.

Enemies of ACME and V.I.L.E.

The following have been enemies of both ACME and V.I.L.E.:

  • Dr. Gunnar Maelstrom (voiced by Tim Curry) — Exclusive to Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego?, Dr. Gunnar Maelstrom (pronounced "goonar") is a conniving and extremely violent master criminal whose hatred of Carmen Sandiego stems from her time working for ACME. He was to her what she became to ACME agents, only much more violent. Carmen and the robotic Chief are responsible for the captures, convictions, and disbandment of his criminal empire in September 1985. Maelstrom was sent to Folsom State Prison in northern California for life. In the "Retribution" trilogy, he escapes from prison by using a bomb attached to his watch to blow up the prison as a diversion so he could escape. Carmen Sandiego was forced to team up with Zack and Ivy to help return him to prison. Dr. Maelstrom has vowed to break out again and get revenge on Carmen Sandiego and to have her sent to prison for the crimes she has committed.
  • Dr. Sarah Bellum — Carmen Sandiego's mad scientist from the cartoon Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego? who makes all sorts of gadgets for Carmen Sandiego and her V.I.L.E. agents to use. Her status changed from friend to foe in the episode When it Rains. In that episode, she wenty on a massive and ultra-destructive crime spree while disguised as Carmen in an effort to take over V.I.L.E., including trying to flood the Atacama Desert in Chile. She was captured and it is assumed that she has been fired. Sarah Bellum is a name pun on cerebellum, a part of the brain. There are other characters who use this name-pun including a duck character on Darkwing Duck while a human Sarah Bellum is on The Powerpuff Girls.
  • Lee Jordan (voiced by David Coburn) — Exclusive to Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego?. Lee Jordan is the only ACME agent to have "officially" captured Carmen Sandiego. He went on hiatus from ACME for an indeterminate amount of time, during which his outlook on his career took a drastic turn. Embittered by his fame and the lack of challenge the concept of fighting crime had become, he quit working for ACME & sought out Carmen Sandiego in order to train to be a V.I.L.E. agent. However, his impulsive and unscrupulous nature clashed greatly with Carmen Sandiego's more refined pessimistic approach and he was fired. Infuriated by this, he joined the ranks of former V.I.L.E. agents who sought to usurp Carmen Sandiego from her title as 'the world's greatest thief'. He was foiled twice in this endeavor, both by the combined efforts of ACME and Carmen Sandiego, but still remains hostile, violent and dangerous. Unlike Carmen Sandiego, he sees nothing against putting another person's life in danger to further his own gain, and has even kidnapped and used a hostage as blackmail to force Carmen Sandiego into working for him.
  • Mason Dixon — Mason Dixon is Carmen Sandiego's now-former henchman who is featured in Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego? After he was captured in 1989 and paroled 7 years later for the attempted theft of The Rembrandt, he was very bitter that Carmen left him to be captured while she fled from the police. He sought his revenge by stealing Carmen's time machine and using to change the outcome of that chase, therefore placing him in charge of V.I.L.E. His cruel side was shown when ACME discovered that he planned to use his new-found power to change the outcome of the American Civil War. ACME, with the reluctant help of an underconfident Carmen, restored history and sent Mason back to prison. His name is a play on the Mason–Dixon line.

References

  1. ^ "Chase Devineaux". Communicomics.com. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
  2. ^ "Top 100 videogame villains". IGN. Retrieved 2010-05-13.
  3. ^ Mangan, Jennifer (1994-05-04). "'Educating Rita". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2010-10-02.
  4. ^ Cox, Dan (1997-12-03). "Bullock on road to Sandiego—Entertainment News, Film News, Media". Variety. Retrieved 2011-12-16.