Storylines typically involve Pepé in pursuit of what appears to be a female skunk, that is actually a black cat ('Penelope Pussycat') who has had a white stripe painted down her back, often by accident (as by squeezing under a fence with wet white paint). Usually Penelope runs away from Pepé, not only because of his putrid stench, but also because of his obnoxious, seductive manner.
'Franglais' was spoken/written in the cartoons, primarily by adding 'le' to English words (example: 'le skunk de pew'), or by mangling French expressions with English ones, such as "Sacre Maroon!", "my sweet peanut of brittle" and "Come to me, my little melon-baby collie!"
Pepé's voice, provided by Mel Blanc, was based on actor Charles Boyer's performance in 'Pépé le Moko from Algiers' (1938).
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