The Connection Between James Bond Jr. and 007

The Legacy of 007

The James Bond cinematic canon began in 1962 with Dr. No, starring Sean Connery, the first-ever on-screen 007. The franchise has since produced 25 films, making it one of the highest-grossing film series of all time. Every James Bond movie centers on the titular MI6 agent, whose codename is 007. Despite being portrayed by seven actors to date, Bond maintains a few character traits across his many iterations, including his love of martinis and fast cars.

Timothy Dalton as James Bond in a tuxedo faces the camera and holds a cigarette in a License to Kill promo image.

Created as a composite sketch of antiquated adventure heroes and officers from World War II, James Bond was fashioned as a protagonist for the modern age. Despite his faults, there's a reason he's endured for over 70 years. Over time, efforts have been made to make 007 more relatable, and this is where James Bond Jr. comes into the picture.

James Bond Jr. gives a thumbs up on the cover of a comic book

James Bond Jr.'s TV Debut

Debuting in September 1991, the James Bond Jr. cartoon series follows the adventures of 007's nephew, aimed at capturing the attention of a new generation of Bond fans. The 65-episode series was developed by EON Productions and uses the movies as a foundation. In the series, James Bond Jr. attends the prestigious Warfield Academy, all while fighting an evil terrorist organization aptly titled S.C.U.M. The thrill-seeking teenager shares his uncle's love of quips and international intrigue, and is assisted by his prep school friends, including the quick-witted IQ, Gordo Leiter, and Tracy Millbanks.

Screenshots from James Bond Jr. cartoon featuring multiple heroes and villains

Although the series isn't considered canon to the EON movies, it spawned its own novels, comics, toys, and games, likely inspiring young viewers to watch the 007 films. Notably, James Bond Jr. was the first attempt to bring the franchise to television since the 1954 live-action adaptation of Casino Royale.

James Bond Jr. fires a gun at an enemy in a SNES game based on the TV series

Classic Bond Characters in James Bond Jr.

While the series' titular MI6 agent didn't cameo in the spin-off cartoon series, quite a few other familiar faces cropped up throughout the one-season outing. James Bond Jr.'s close friends include IQ, the grandson of Q, and Gordo, the son of Felix Leiter. Additionally, several franchise villains appear in a more cartoonish light than their film counterparts. Notably, Jaws and Nick Nack are recurring henchmen in the series, alongside Auric Goldfinger, Doctor No, and others. Some fans even speculate that S.C.U.M.'s leader, Scumlord, is a well-disguised Ernst Stavro Blofeld.

Donald Pleasence as Ernst Stavro Blofeld in You Only Live Twice (James Bond)