The show focuses on the early adolescent life and zany hijinks of its title character, Douglas "Doug" Funnie, who experiences common predicaments while attending school in his new hometown of Bluffington.

The series addresses numerous topics, including trying to fit in, platonic and romantic relationships, self-esteem, bullying, and rumors.

Doug, a mostly autobiographical creation, was largely inspired by Jinkins's childhood growing up in Virginia, with most characters in the series being based on real individuals.

The original run consisted of 52 episodes over four seasons that were broadcast from 1991 to 1994, with Games Animation and Ellipse Programmé co-producing.

The series revolves around Douglas "Doug" Funnie, an 11 (later 12)-year-old boy who wants to be another face in the crowd, but by possessing a vivid imagination and a strong sense of right and wrong, he is more likely to stand out.

[2] He keeps a journal, which he treats as an autobiography, as he records numerous experiences over the series, which range from learning to dance to getting a bad haircut.

[3] Doug Funnie and his family (which consists of his parents Theda and Phil, sister Judy, and dog Porkchop) move from the town of Bloatsburg to Bluffington after his dad receives a job promotion.

However, Bluffington is loosely based on the city of Richmond, Virginia, where creator Jim Jinkins was born and raised.

He went on to animation and filmmaking at Ohio State University, and upon graduation, got a job working at PBS in their children's programming unit.

[5] In 1984, Jinkins's career took a turn for the worse, as well as his personal life: he had a rough breakup and suffered injuries in a biking accident.

[8] Desiring to "create a place where there was no overdue rent and no delinquent phone bills," he began doodling and formed the basis for Bluffington, the central location in Doug.

The character's early designs were solidified alongside friend David Campbell at a small Mexican restaurant in New York.

[6] The character made its first animated appearance in a 1988 Florida Grapefruit Growers commercial,[7] and it was also used for a 1989 promotional bumper for the USA Network.

"[7] Coffey was the main executive in charge of the series' production, and Jinkins would later give her credit in bringing the show to air.

Jinkins felt it was important to not insert overly religious themes into the series, but he viewed it essential that each episode contain a moral.

In the show's pitch bible, which Jinkins described as "huge", contain floor plans for each main character's homes, as well as maps of each street.

Jinkins asked each writer to place a central theme at the top of each script — what issue Doug is dealing with, and what he learns.

The episode, "Doug Is Quailman/Doug Out in Left Field", was apparently vandalized by the staff with hidden Ren and Stimpy cameos, which were not visible in the final cut.

In the series, Doug's favorite rock group is The Beets, a play on the Beatles—the band's members also visually resemble caricatures of Ringo Starr (of the Beatles) and Robert Plant (of Led Zeppelin), and their penchant for endless reunion tours owes to the Who.

[5] Newman deliberately attempted to deviate from the standard for animated cartoons, which traditionally followed the style of Carl Stalling's work, with the frantic pacing being ill-suited for the show.

[15] The most complicated piece of music created for the series was for the opening sequence, which was recorded preceding animation, rather than the typical method of composing it afterward.

The series' theme song is largely composed of simple sounds, mostly "doo-doo" and "na-na", performed in a scat singing style with increasing intensity, and culminating in a crescendo of several harmonies.

The deal involved buying Jumbo Pictures and "signing them to five-year contracts, with stock options, to be Disney executives."

Billy West was replaced by Tom McHugh as the voice of Doug, while the role of Roger was taken over by Chris Phillips.

[12] Jinkins argues that he worked hard to keep West on the series, claiming that the deal the company offered him was breaking their budget.

David Campbell felt the Nickelodeon episodes were "quirkier" and better, while Constance Shulman, Patti Mayonnaise's voice actress, felt voice recording sessions were not the same in the show's newer incarnation: "I missed all the gang crammed in the studio, waiting for their turn for the big group scene.

"[15] Another factor in Doug going to Disney might have been Nickelodeon's high expectations for the series not being met, something that has been acknowledged by Jinkins as well as Ren & Stimpy creator John Kricfalusi.

"[6]For example, the episode "Doug's in the Money" finds the titular character coming across an envelope of cash and returning it to its elderly owner.

[clarification needed] When creating the show, he came across his 200 design markers and employed an array of bright, wild colors for the characters.

Nickelodeon and Amazon.com teamed up to release Doug and other Nick shows on manufacture-on-demand DVD-R discs available exclusively through Amazon.com's CreateSpace arm.