Dogmatix and the Indomitables (Idéfix et les Irréductibles in French) is a 2021 French CGI animated TV series. A prequel based on the Asterix comic book series, it centers around the dog companion of Obelix, Dogmatix, as he leads a group of animals known as the "Indomitables" against the Romans' occupation of the Gaulish city of Lutetia.
The year is 52 B. C. All of Lutetia is occupied by the Romans…all of Lutetia? No! A group of indomitable pets, led by Dogmatix, doesn’t give up resisting the invaders.The Indomitables consist of:
- Dogmatix, a little white terrier mixed-breed and The Leader, who goes berserk when being called small – or when a tree is cut down.
- Stamina, a greyhound with a notoriously short memory span, but with very fast running speed.
- Gluttonix, a strong and muscular bulldog from Tolosa (Toulouse) owned by a butcher. Although a member of La Résistance, there is one thing he cannot resist – sausages.
- Bantera, a snarky, streetwise black and white cat with maybe the sharpest claws of Lutetia.
- Asmatix, an old, sickly pigeon with a wooden leg who is a veteran of the Gallic War (he served as a mail pigeon for the Gauls).
- Nocturnix, a know-it-all, but nevertheless helpful owl. Also the Familiar of Psychoanalytix, the druid known from the Asterix volume ‘’Asterix and the Big Fight’’.
The first season premiered on France Television in September 2021. A second season was released in 2023.
Provides examples of:
- Absurdly Sharp Claws: Bantera can use her claws like knives or blades and can e. g. cut ropes with them.
- A Cat in a Gang of Dogs: Downplayed. Bantera is the only feline member of the Indomitables, which is dominated by dogs, but also has a pigeon and an owl as members.
- Action Girl:
- Chevrotine is implied to have been a canine example. She was the Canine Companion of the Gaulish chieftain Camulogene and is said to have been the “bravest she-dog in Gaul” during the Gallic War. In one episode, the Indomitables need to save her ball.
- Bantera also counts as an example, frequently fighting and cutting things with her claws.
- Adaptation Expansion:
- Homeopathix, Impedimenta’s brother, is seen around his shop and sells a perfume to Labienus in one episode. Vitalstatistix and Impedimenta are sometimes walking through Lutetia, implied to be visiting him.
- Vitalstatistix's nephew Justforkix is a rather frequent character, singing punk rock songs against the Roman occupation, and has to be saved twice.
- Psychoanalytix, the druid from Asterix and the Big Fight, is a human friend of the Indomitables and one of their suppliers with magic potions.
- The prefect Surplus Dairiprodus from Asterix and the Golden Sickle. He makes his debut in the second season.
- Clovogarlix from the same medium as Surplus Dairiprodus, who would go out of his way to steal things. He'd also later work with the prefect in secret during the second season.
- In general one for Dogmatix, whose life before he went to live with Asterix and Obelix is described.
- Agony of the Feet: In the intro, the antagonist General Labienus experiences this when the chief Camoulgene threw his shield and sword at his feet.
- Anachronism Stew: As per usual for Asterix. One episode involves Squaronthehypotenus building an underground railway transit, which was not invented until centuries later in 1863.
- Beagles, who appear as attack dogs here, were bred much later in England.
- Monalisa is unambiguously a Siamese cat. This breed of cat originated in modern-day Thailand and wasn’t known in Europe until the 19th century came around.
- Animal Talk: Animals of any species are able to talk to each other without problems – just only humans don’t understand them.
- Attention Deficit... Ooh, Shiny!: Stamina has a severe case of that. She cannot focus on anything, nearly always forgets what she just heard immediately and seems to be also Book Dumb at times.
- Berserk Button: Dogmatix has two: His well-known one about cutting down trees, and he also flies off the handle when he is insulted for being small. Really, never use the word “microbe” to describe him.
- Big Bad: In this series, it is General Labienus, the prefect of Lutetia.
- Big Eater: Gluttonix, well, like in his name. He can never say no to good sausages.
- The Big Guy: Gluttonix is the strongest member of the Indomitables and usually takes over the tasks that need brute force.
- Bloodless Carnage: Similarly to the Asterix comics, neither the Canine Legion nor the Indomitables ever receive bleeding wounds from their fights.
- Butt-Monkey: The Roman characters, notably Arquebus and the Canine Legion, and Squaronthehypotenus.
- Cats Are Mean: At least housecats. Deadpan Snarker at best and the human main villain’s Right-Hand Cat at worst. They also tend to be bad at teamwork (justified by the psychology of real housecats). Wild felines like lions are usually nicer.
- Cats Are Snarkers: Bantera in a nutshell.
- Cock-a-Doodle Dawn: In one episode, we meet the rooster with the responsibility to wake up Lutetia in the morning. He is the one who must be saved from the Romans in the respective episode.
- Damsel in Distress: Tortilla, the Iberian niece of Gluttonix, was one abducted by Labienus while visiting her uncle. Gluttonix and the Indomitables had to save her.
- Deadpan Snarker: Bantera (well, like in her name). The street cat is there to deliver the sarcastic, black humor.
- Denied Food as Punishment: The usual punishment for Arquebus and his Canine Legion for failure is “Off with your food bowl!”. Often with Monalisa throwing over the bowl with her tail. note
- The Dreaded Toilet Duty: Just ask Keepquietus and Pipeusdownus. The poor sods always have to do it after another failure in finally overcoming the Indomitables.
- Drunk on Milk: The legionaries Keepquietus and Pipeusdownus frequently go to the pub to have a … goat milk.
- Dystopian Edict: Here and then used by the bad guys. For example, bans on Gallic cheese, or Gallic music.
- The Empire: The Roman Empire, the Greater-Scope Villain.
- Fountain of Youth: Asmatix was once under the influence of a magic potion that rejuvenated him. So much that he became an egg again.
- Funetik Aksent: Gluttonix speaks with a regional accent due to coming from Tolosa (modern-day Toulouse).
- Green Aesop: Dogmatix’ well-known Berserk Button on deforestation makes a considerable impact on the episodes. The Indomitables stop an unnecessary street from being built, make some mice a new home and save an eagle chick.
- Interspecies Friendship: The Indomitables consist of three dogs, a cat, a pigeon and an owl. They also have pigeons, dogs, mice, lions, and humans as their friends.
- Invincible Hero: It may be hard for them sometimes, but the Indomitables always get what they were in for at the end of the episode.
- Kill the Poor: Downplayed. In one episode, Arquebus and his Canine Legion arrest all stray dogs of Lutetia. The Indomitables’ mission is to free them; this time, it is very personal to them since Stamina accidentally left some magic potion around that makes dogs run faster (and was a huge help for the Canine Legion in getting around).
- Know-Nothing Know-It-All: Nocturnix.
- Occupiers Out of Our Country: The Indomitables fight the Roman occupiers of their hometown Lutetia.
- The Owl-Knowing One: Nocturnix is a subversion. He appears intelligent and is the Familiar of Psychoanalytix, the druid from "Asterix and the Big Fight", but his self-made potions never work the way they are supposed to, and he is a Know-Nothing Know-It-All.
- Predator-Prey Friendship: Well…dogs, cats and even lions being friends with pigeons and mice.
- Prequel: The series takes place before Dogmatix meets Asterix and Obelix in Asterix and the Banquet.
- Punny Name: As per usual for the Asterix series, this show features characters that have punny names.
- The cat Monalisa is named after Leonardo da Vinci's painting of the same name.
- An interesting one for the original French dub. The names of the two legionaries Keepquietus (Motus) and Pipepusdownus (Bouchecousus), when combined, spell out "motus et bouche cousue", a French idiom that translates to "Mum's the word".
- La Résistance: A rare take on this trope with animals. Dogmatix, Stamina, Gluttonix, Bantera, Asmatix and Nocturnix are all animals living in Lutetia and at the same time a Ragtag Bunch of Misfits fighting the Roman occupation of their town.
- Retired Badass: Astmatix, the oldest member of the Indomitables, is a veteran of the Gallic War, in which he delivered messages for the Gaulish soldiers. Like many examples of this trope, he likes to tell stories about his service. He also serves as an mentor to the younger Indomitables.
- The Revolution Will Not Be Vilified: The only ones who don’t like the Indomitables are the villains. Non-villainous humans are usually at least okay with them, and other animals often love them.
- Right-Hand Attack Dog: The Canine Legion, led by Arquebus and consisting largely of beagles. They are enforcers for the Romans, and their efforts must be frequently foiled.
- Right-Hand Cat: Monalisa is this to Labienus, although she would prefer being seen as operating on her own.
- Running Gag:
- Monalisa swiping away the Canine Legion's dog bowls for failing a mission, usually preceded with her saying "Off with your dog bowl!"
- Labienus sending two of his prominent guards to latrine duty whenever they screw up direct orders.
- Status Quo Is God: Even when the Indomitables allow a new member or make a new friend, they are only there for one episode (but maybe come back for short cameos later). The basic cast never changes. Same goes for the bad guys, where you really ask yourself how poor Arquebus didn’t starve to death yet.
- War Was Beginning: The Indomitables were formed in the aftermath of the Gallic War, in which Gaul was conquered and annexed by the Roman Empire.