Completely Different Title: Most of the dubs changed the episode names, although currently only the titles for the French, Russian (missing three episodes), Italian (missing Season 3 and an episode each from the first two seasons), German (missing only season 3), two different Korean dubs (one of which is missing only one episode and the other of which is missing all but two), nine episodes of the Finnish dub, four episodes of the Hebrew dub, and two episodes of the Polish dub have been located. The German, Italian, Polish, and one of the Korean dubs also changed the name of the whole series to, respectively, “Oskar, der fliegende Flügel” (“Oscar, the Flying Piano”), “Oscar e le sette note perdute” (“Oscar And The Seven Lost Notes”), “Zakazane instrumenty” (“Illegal Instruments”) and “오스카 음악대” (“Oscar’s Music Team/Oscar’s Music Corps”).
“The Battle Begins” became “Сражение начинается” (“The Fight Begins”) in Russian, “La bataille commence” (“The Battle Commences”) in French, “La battaglia comincia!” (“The Battle Commences!”) in Italian, “Taistelu alkaa” (“The Fight Begins”) in Finnish, “הקרב מתחיל” (“The Fight Begins”) in Hebrew, “음악 없는 세상” (“A World Without Music”) in the Korean dub, “전투는 시작되었다” (“The Battle Has Begun”) in the ‘’other’’ Korean dub, and “Oskar bekommt seine Flügel” (“Oscar Gets His Wings”) in German.
“Bach To The Future” became "Хоровод треугольника" (“Round Dance Of The Triangle”) in Russian, “La ronde du triangle” (“The Round Of The Triangle”) in French, “Viaggio nel tempo” (“Travel Through Time”) in Italian, "Mozart matkassa" ("Mozart On The Road") in Finnish, “בחזרה לעתיד” (“Back To The Future”) in Hebrew, “ 과거로의 시간여행” (“Time Travel To The Past”) in the Korean dub, “시간여행” (“Time Travel”) in the ‘’other’’ Korean dub, and “Ab durch die Triangel” (“Off Through The Triangle”) in German.
“The Flight Of The Bumble-Bees” became "Полёт шмеля" (“The Bee’s Flight”) in Russian, “Le vol du bourdon” (“The Flight Of The Bee”) in French, “Un problema spinoso” (“A Thorny Problem”) in Italian, "Kimalaisen lento" ("Bumblebee’s Flight") in Finnish, “זמזום הדבורה” (“The Hum Of The Bee”) in Hebrew, “거인 꿀벌, 레그” (“The Giant Bee, Reg”) in the Korean dub, and “Der Hummelflug” (“The Bumblebee Flight”) in German.
“Star Tours” became "Планеты" (“Planets”) in Russian, “Un tour dans l'espace” (“A Tour In Outer Space”) in French, “Viaggio tra i pianeti” (“Travel Between Planets”) in Italian, "Planeetat" ("The Planets") in Finnish, “혹성탈출” (“Planetary Escape”) in the Korean dub, and “Sphärenmusik” (“Music Of The Spheres”) in German.
“Battle On Ice” became "Ледовое побоище" (“Fight On The Ice”) in Russian, “La bataille sur glace” (“The Battle Of Ice”) in French, “Battaglia sul ghiaccio” (“Battle On The Ice”) in Italian, “הקרב על הקרח” (“The Battle On Ice”) in Hebrew, “시베리아에 간 몬티” (“Monty In Siberia”) in the Korean dub, and “Die Schlacht auf dem Eis” (“The Battle On The Ice”) in German.
“The Four Seasons” became "Времена года" (“Seasons”) in Russian, “Les quatre saisons” in French, “Le quattro stagioni” in Italian, "Vuodenajat" ("Seasons") in Finnish, “비발디의 사계” (“Vivaldi’s Four Seasons”) in the Korean dub, and “Die Wettermaschine” (“The Weather Machine”) in German.
“Oscar Cracks A Nut” became "Оскар щёлкает орешки" (“Oscar Cracking Nuts”) in Russian, “Oscar casse une noisette” in French, “호두까기 인형” (“Nutcracker”) in the Korean dub, and "Oskar knackt ’ne harte Nuss” (“Oscar Cracks A Tough Nut”) in German.
“1812” became "18 часов 12 минут" (“18 Hours 12 Minutes”) in Russian, “18h12” (“6:12 PM”) in French, “Il compleanno” (“Birthday”) in Italian, “테디우스의 생일” (“Thaddius’s Birthday”) in the Korean dub, “Eine Geburtstagskanone” (“A Birthday Canon”) in German, and “Urodziny Thadiusa Venta” (“Thaddius Vent’s Birthday”) in Polish.
“Star Crossed” became "Любовь с первого взгляда" (“Love At First Sight”) in Russian, “Coup de foudre” (“Love At First Sight”) in French, “Colpo di fulmine” (“Lightning Strike”) in Italian, "Romeo ja Julia" ("Romeo And Juliet") in Finnish, “로미오와 줄리엣” (“Romeo And Juliet”) in the Korean dub, and "Romeo und Julia” (“Romeo And Juliet”) in German.
“My Kingdom For A Tank” became "Ум за разум" (“Mind For Reason”) in Russian, “Têtes brouillées” (“Scrambled Heads”) in French, “Teste matte” (“Crazy Heads”) in Italian, “천재가 된 탱크” (“The Tank That Became A Genius”) in the Korean dub, and "Die Kopfverdrehmaschine” (“The Mind-Twisting Machine”) in German.
“Once Upon A Ragtime” became “Ca swingue à Chicago” (“It Swings In Chicago”) in French, “Avventure a Chicago” (“Adventure In Chicago”) in Italian, “몬티의 쌍둥이 동생” (“Monty’s Twin Brother”) in the Korean dub, and "Abenteuer in Amerika” (“Adventure In America”) in German.
“Viva España!” became “Вива Hспания” (“Long Live Spain”) in Russian (it kept its name in French), “Tempo di vacanze” (“Vacation Time”) in Italian, “스페인에서의 휴가” (“Vacation In Spain”) in the Korean dub, "Viva Espania” in German, and “Niech żyje Hiszpania” (“Long Live Spain”) in Polish.
“The Ring” became "Волшебное колесо" (“Magic Wheel”) in Russian, “L'anello magico” (“The Magic Ring”) in Italian, “라인강의 요술반지” (“Magic Ring Of The Rhine”) in the Korean dub, and "Die Jagd nach dem Ring” (“The Hunt For The Ring”) in German.
“The Queen Of Sheba” became "Царица Савская" (“Tsarina Sheba”) in Russian, “La reine de Shabada” (“The Queen Of Shabada”) in French, “Nero Stonato si sposa” (“Thaddius Vent Is Getting Married”) in Italian, “테디우스의 결혼식” (“The Wedding Of Thaddius”) in the Korean dub, and "Der verschmähte Schmäh” (“The Despised Shame” [?]) in German.
“Radio Oscar” became "Оскар F.M." (“Oscar F.M.”) in Russian, “Radio capitaine FM” (“Captain F.M. Radio”) in French, “Radio Capitano FM” (“Captain FM Radio”) in Italian, “볼륨을 높혀라” (“Turn Up The Volume”) in the Korean dub, and "Piraten auf Sendung” (“Pirates On Air”) in German.
“Dance Of The Forty Thieves” became "Танец с саблями" (“Saber Dance”) in Russian, “La danse des 40 voleurs” in French, “La danza dei 40 ladroni” in Italian, “알리바바와 40인의 도둑” (“Ali Baba And The Forty Thieves”) in the Korean dub, and "Oskar und die 40 Räuber” (“Oscar And The Forty Robbers”) in German.
“Back To Bach” became "Встреча с Бахом" (“Meeting With Bach”) in Russian, “Le retour de Bach” (“The Return Of Bach”) in French, “Il ritorno di Bach” (“The Return Of Bach”) in Italian, “바흐 구출작전” (“Bach Rescue Operation”) in the Korean dub, and "Krach um Bach” (“Noise About Bach”) in German.
“Carnival Of The Animals” became "Карнавал животных" (“Animal Carnival”) in Russian, “Le carnaval des animaux” in French, "Eläinten karnevaalit" ("Animal Carnivals") in Finnish, “동물들의 사육제” (“Fair Of The Animals”) in the Korean dub, and "Karneval der Tiere” (“Carnival Of Beasts”) in German.
“Black Keys” became “Concerto pour deux pianos” (“Concerto For Two Pianos”) in French, “Concerto per due pianoforti” (“Concert For Two Pianos”) in Italian, “이중주” (“Piano Duet”) in the Korean dub, and "Der verflixte zweite Flügel” (“The Darn Second Piano”) in German.
“Hall Of The Mountain King” became "В пещере горного короля" (“Cave Of The Mountain King”) in Russian, “Crin-Crin ce héros” (“Crin-Crin The Hero”) in French, “Il re della montagna” (“The King Of The Mountain”) in Italian, "Vuorenkuninkaan luolassa" ("In The Mountain King’s Cave") in Finnish, “지하왕국의 임금님” (“The King Of The Underground”) in the Korean dub, and "In der Höhle des Bergkönigs” (“In The Cave Of The Mountain King”) in German.
“Sleeping Beauty” became “La belle endormie” (“The Beauty Sleeps”) in French, “La bella addormentata” (“The Sleeping Beauty”) in Italian, “잠자는 숲속의 미녀” (“The Beauty Sleeps”) in the Korean dub, and "Der Hexenkuss” (“The Witch’s Kiss”) in German.
“A Fight At The Opera” became "Оперная баталия" (“Opera Battle”) in Russian, “La cantatrice brise la glace” (“The Singer Breaks The Ice”) in French, “Una voce da brividi” (“A Creepy Voice”) in Italian, “오페라의 여왕, 리나” (“Lina, Queen Of The Opera”) in the Korean dub, and "Die Sängerin im Eis” (“The Singer In The Ice”) in German.
“A Tale Of Two Tells” became "Телль освободитель" (“Tell The Liberator”) in Russian, “Tell père Tell fils” (“Tell Father Tell Son”) in French, “Tale padre tale figlio” (“Like Father Like Son”) in Italian, “윌리엄 텔 이야기” (“The Story Of William Tell”) in the Korean dub, and "Der doppelte Tell” (“The Double Tell”) in German.
“Fangs But No Fangs” became “В гостях у вампира" (“Visiting A Vampire”) in Russian, “Vampire ou pas vampire” (“Vampire Or No Vampire”) in French, “Il conte Giungla” (“The Count Jugula”) in Italian, “드라큐라 백작의 복수” (“Count Dracula’s Revenge”) in the Korean dub, and "Wer mit dem Wolf tanzt” (“Who Dances With The Wolf”) in German.
“World Tour” became "Мировое турне" (“World Trip”) in Russian, “Oscar en tournée” (“Oscar On Tour”) in French, “Oscar in tournée” (“Oscar On Tour”) in Italian, “음악대, 순회공연 가다!” (“Band, On Tour!”) in the Korean dub, and "Einmal New York und zurück” (“Once In New York And Back”) in German.
“Four Of Our Notes Are Missing” became "4 ноты" (“4 Notes”) in Russian, “La victoire en chantant” (“A Victory In Song”) in French, “Il trionfo della musica” (“The Triumph Of Music”) in Italian, "Karkulaiset" ("Runaways") in Finnish, “음표 대소동” (“Musical Notes”) in the Korean dub, and "Vier Noten für ein Halleluja!” (“Four Notes For A Hallelujah”) in German.
“The Lost Chords” became "Расторгнутый договор" (“Broken Contract”) in Russian, and “L'accord perdu” (“The Missing Chord”) in French.
“Out Of Tune” became "Камертон" (“Tuning Fork”) in Russian, “Le diapason” (“The Tuning Fork”) in French, and “마법사 튜닝의 음모” (“Mage Tuning Conspiracy”) in the Korean dub.
“Knight In Shining Armor” became "Рыцарь в блестящих доспехах" (“Knight In Polished Armor”) in Russian, “Le chevalier à l'armure étincelante” (“Cavalier In Shining Armor”) in French, and “루시어스 결혼하다” (“Lucius Gets Married”) in the Korean dub.
“Musical Exercise” became "Музыкальное упражнение" (“Musical Aerobics”) in Russian, “Exercice musical” in French, and “신나는 에어로빅” (“Exciting Aerobics”) in the Korean dub.
“Raiders Of The Lost Park” became "Сокровище затерянного киоска" (“Lost Kiosk Treasure”) in Russian, “Les aventuriers du kiosque perdu” (“Raiders Of The Lost Kiosk”) in French, and “고대 보물을 찾아라” (“Find The Ancient Treasure”) in the Korean dub.
“The Soothsayer's Convention” became "Съезд магов" (“Congress Of Magicians”) in Russian, “La convention des mages” (“The Convention Of Mages”) in French, and “마술대회” (“Magic Duel”) in the Korean dub.
“Water Music” became "Подводная музыка" (“Underwater Music”) in Russian, “Musique aquatique” (“Aquatic Music”) in French, and “용궁에서의 공연” (“Performance At Dragon Palace”) in the Korean dub.
“Return Of Scheherazade” became "Возвращение Шехиризады" (“Shehirizade’s Return”) in Russian, “Le retour de Schéhérazade” in French, and “돌아온 세헤라자데” (“Scheherazade Returns”) in the Korean dub.
“Maestro Thadius” became "Маэстро Модератус" (“Maestro Moderatus”) in Russian, and “철부지 테디우스의 공연” (“Childish Thadius’s Performance”) in the Korean dub.
“An Inside Job” became "Тиран под влиянием" (“Tyrant Under The Influence”) in Russian, “Tyran sous influence” (“Tyrant Under The Influence”) in French, and “가짜 곰돌이 에릭” (“Fake Bear Eric”) in the Korean dub.
“Lieder Of The Pack” became "Шуберт в Бемольт" (“Schubert In Bermolt”) in Russian, “Schubert en bémol” (“Schubert In Flat”) in French, and “진공청소기 대소동” (“The Vacuum Cleaner Uproar”) in the Korean dub.
“Greensleeves” became "Путешествие во времени" (“Time Travel”) in Russian, “Voyage dans le temps” (“Voyage Through Time”) in French, and “중세음악 여행” (“Medieval Music Tour”) in the Korean dub.
“The Toy Symphony” became "Симфония игрушек" (“Toy Music”) in Russian, “La symphonie des jouets” (“The Symphony Of Playthings”) in French, and “생일선물 대소동” (“Birthday Present Trouble”) in the Korean dub.
Cowboy BeBop at His Computer: Many sources, including the show's IMDB page, claim that Oscar's Orchestra is set in the year 2743. This year is contradicted by the opening of the very first episode, which says that it takes place in the year "735 squillion, 22 million, 381 thousand, 604".
Further digging reveals that the figure of 2743 appears to originate from the show's quotes.net page, seemingly as a result of someone mishearing the narrator then saying that it's Tuesday in the future as the narrator saying that the show is taking place "735 squillion, 22 million, 381 thousand, 604 Tuesdays in the future". This is followed up by some extremelybad calculations (and the person apparently thinking that the show began in '94 instead of '95) that end up producing an output figure of the year 2743.
Cross-Dressing Voices: Thadwina (Thaddius Vent's mother) was voiced by the male Jimmy Hibbert.
The Danza: Eric the triangle was voiced by and named after Eric Meyers.
Dueling Dubs: The show was dubbed in Korean twice: On Tooniverse in 1998 as “오스카 오케스트라” (a fairly literal translation of “Oscar’s Orchestra”), and by EBS in 2001 as “오스카 음악대” (“Oscar’s Music Team/Oscar’s Music Corps”). And. to make things even more confusing, there’s also a Korean bootleg version (which is unrelated to either of the legit dubs) as well.
Incidental Multilingual Wordplay: Oscar’s flying ability leads to a rather funny Pun in the German dub, as in German “Flügel” can mean both “wing” and “grand piano”. note It becomes even more hilarious when one realizes that the use of “Flügel” to mean “grand piano” came from the fact that the lidpiece of a grand piano is shaped a bit like a wing… which is also why the writers even decided to give Oscar flying powers in the first place!
Keep Circulating the Tapes: The show's third season has yet to be found in English, with only Russian and Sinhala dubs of it surviving on the Internet.
Tuckerization: Jan (one of the cymbals) seems to be named after series creator Jan Younghusband.
Unfinished Dub: The series’ German, Italian, and Finnish dubs only ever covered the first two seasons, leaving Season 3 untranslated.
Unspecified Role Credit: The series provides a particularly confusing example: Most of the orchestra has their voices credited, as do Thaddeus, Lucius, Goodtooth and Tank, guest characters sometimes have their voices credited and sometimes don't (and generally not more than one guest actor will ever be credited, even if the episode featured multiple) and, despite being part of the orchestra, Jan and Stan's voices are not credited.
At some point in development, there was intended to be an episode wherein New Vienna is hit by a cold snap, and Thaddeus Vent tries to acquire every possible scrap of fuel to power his palace's boiler; this episode was eventually scrapped, but storyboards from it are still available online.
Conceptimages from early in the series' development reveal that Rebecca and Thaddius Vent both originally looked totally different, Monty had a more "quintessentially British" design, and Eric didn't used to have his baseball cap.
Other Trivia:
When auditioning for the show, John Baddeley did a series of funny voices and impressions to show his voice talent. The producers liked one of him impressions- Field Marshal Bernhard Mongomery- so much that they named Baddeley's character "Monty" after it.
by Cristina D'Avena, and one in Sinhala