Don't forget to check: Sam & Max Games in various languages and Sam & Max Comics in various languages
Sam & Max Cartoon dubs info[]
As with many cartoon shows, The Adventures of Sam & Max: Freelance Police had a line of international dubs of the show for audiences from around the world to watch. This page lists every single one known and the differences between them.
After asking Steve Purcell about how many variants of the Sam & Max Cartoon has been released, Steve answered with "Nelvana once showed me a list of countries that where the series was shown. It was quite a few."
Availability[]
Due to YouTube GeoBlock caused by Nelvana going bankrupt, and giving the license of the Sam & Max cartoon to YourFamilyEntertaiment (YTE), watching the cartoons in chosen language is pretty difficult (especially in Europe). With this knowledge, a special archive for the cartoon episodes has been made on Archive Org, you can watch the cartoon in chosen language in there.
HOWEVER! The English cartoon has been uploaded on YouTube under 2 links, one link works in first part of the countries (like USA), and second in other part (Slav part) of the countries.
Link 1:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdRlaUqn4wYOVbXy-z2E2ytFFmnEtuUFL
Link 2:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtnRKb5viHwSsSJIsySeotHizRY1xgyIt
Original translations[]
Here you can find original translations from TV and official studios.
| Cartoon Name (title) | Language | Status | Version |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Adventures of Sam & Max: Freelance Police | English | Found | Dubbing |
| Sam & Max: Policías Independientes | Spanish (Latin) | Found | Dubbing |
| Sam y Max | Spanish (Spain) | LOST | Dubbing |
| Sam & Max: Privés de police!!! | French | Found | Dubbing |
| Sam eta Max: Detektibeak | Basque | Found | Dubbing |
| Sem i Maks: Privatni Policajci | Serbian/Croatian | Found | Dubbing |
| Сем и Макс: Приватна Полиција | Macedonian | Found | Subbing |
| Sem i Maks: Privatna Policija | Bosnian | Found | Subbing |
| Sam i Max | Bosnian | LOST | Dubbing |
| Сэм и Макс | Russian | LOST | VoiceOver |
| Sam a Max: Nezávislé policajné duo | Slovak | Mostly Found | Dubbing |
| Sam i Max: Niezależni policjanci | Polish | Mostly Lost | Dubbing |
| Sam & Max: Libera polizia d'assalto | Italian | Mostly Lost | Dubbing |
| As Aventuras de Sam & Max: Policiais Autonomos | Portuguese (Brazil) | Mostly Lost | Dubbing |
| Sam & Max: Detectives Independentes | Portuguese (Portugal) | LOST | Dubbing |
| Sam i Max: detectius privats | Valencian | LOST | Dubbing |
| Ντετέκτιβ Σαμ και Μαξ | Greek | LOST | Dubbing |
| مغامرات مسعور ومذعور | Arabic | LOST | Dubbing |
| ??? | Turkish | LOST | Dubbing |
| סם ומקס | Hebrew | LOST | Subbing |
Fan translations[]
Here you can find Sam and Max Cartoon fandubs made by fans.
| Cartoon Name (title) | Language | Creator | Version |
|---|---|---|---|
| Сэм и Макс Полиция на Фрилансе | Russian | EggStoneProduction | Dubbing |
| Сэм и Макс | Russian | Nerds | Dubbing |
| Приключения Сэма и Макса: Вольная полиция | Russian | NineArt | VoiceOver |
| Sam i Max - Niezależni policjanci | Polish | Matyjas94PL | Lektor |
Differences between running quotes[]
| Name | Language | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Maleni | Serbian | "Little one" |
| Stary | Polish | In Polish version Sam calls Max as "old men" (in easier translation, it's as same as calling someone "bro"). Meanwhile having all sorts of words to use such as: Maluszku (Tiny), Maleńki (little one), Kumplu (pal), Koleżko (pal), Maxiu (Max but small), Kompanie (Partner), Przyjacielu (Friend), they still used the "Stary" term, which doesn't really fit them... |
| Name | Language | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Ubijaš me, maleni | Serbian | "You kill me from laughter, little one" |
| Ja kiedyś przez ciebie skonam | Polish | "Someday I will die out of tiredness because of you".
This is the only time when "You crack me up Little Buddy" gets translated in Polish version, but it isn't known for sure if that's what Sam uses all the time on Max. |
| Name | Language | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Doživotni prijatelj | Serbian | "The Friend for whole life" |
| Przyjaciel na zawsze | Polish | "The friend for the forever" |
Differences between character names[]
| Name | Language | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Fanny Fanfreluche | French | Fanny is common French name for girls.
Fanfreluche was a Quebecois children's television series from the late 1960s. Her last name is a presumed reference to it. |
| Darla Guganik (Uča) | Serbian | Guganik is a simple translation of her surname. "Uča" is a common female Serbian name. |
| Name | Language | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Lon | Serbian | Just Lorn, but without the R. |
| Name | Language | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Le Clown Imbécile | French | The Imbecile Clown |
| Lutak Toša | Serbian | Dolly Dangly |
| Dengli Diver | Polish | A controversial issue as one people say it's exactly the "Dangly Deever" name, but just said in Polish, but from hearing, it indeed sounds like "Dengli Diver" |
| Name | Language | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Zečica Dušić | Serbian | When translated, it means "Bunny Sweetie" the word 'Honey' is removed to make it sound like a more normal Serbian Name. |
| Name | Language | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Komandosi u Pelenama | Serbian | |
| Pampersowi Komandosi | Polish | Meanwhile "Pielucha" means diaper, the "Pampers" itself is a popular diaper brand in Poland. |
| Name | Language | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Mek Losos | Serbian | 'Losos' means 'Salmon' in Serbian. |
| Makł Łosoś | Polish | He introduces himself as "Sługa uniżony" (servant on lowered position), but Max then uses his Mack Salmon Polish name. |
| Name | Language | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Laktoza Intoleranti | Serbian | |
| Glukoz Zwany Tyranem | Polish | The name that would fit the best in the language would be "Laktoz" or "Laktozo nietolerant", as Laktoza = Lactose, meanwhile Glukoza = Glucose. But I have no idea why they called him "Glucose Called Tyrant" in this version. |
| Name | Language | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Les Laiderons | French | "Laid" means "Ugly" in French. |
| Ružnići | Serbian | "Ružni" means "Ugly" in Serbian. |
| Brzydaljanie | Polish | "Brzydal" means "Ugly" in Polish. |
| Name | Language | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Zli crtaći | Serbian | "Evil Cartoons" |
| Złe kreskówki | Polish | "Evil Cartoons" |
Differences between scenes[]
Episode: S1E13 - The Final Episode
Scene: Sam leaving Max after he used his grandpa's helmet to make the traditional yuletide nog.
Language: Polish
When in original Max says "I thought it was old clotted nutmeg in there!" (which is probably mentioning the left overs in the helmet), in Polish, Max says "Myślałem że to zaschnięty miąsz z arbuza!", which can be translated to "I thought it was an old dried watermelon!" (which is most likely talking about the helmet itself).
Other interesting changes in dubs[]
- In Polish dubbing of the cartoon, Sam & Max use lots of references to Christian religion and God, which is kind of justified as times when the dubbing was made (1998) were still very much based on the Christian religion.
- In the Serbian dubbing, many setpieces of establishments or in-universe buisnesses are renamed to real world locations, such as McDonalds, Merkator, Maksi, etc. Actor names such 'Milena Dravic' are also brought up. Many movie quotes such as the one from Planet of The Apes in VS The Uglions have been changed into the original quote "Damn you all to hell".