courage the cowardly dog is an american animated horror comedy children's television series created by john r. dilworth for cartoon network as part of the network's cartoon cartoons block. it follows a purple anthropomorphic beagle who lives with a married elderly couple in the middle of nowhere. the trio are frequently thrown into bizarre misadventures, often involving the paranormal/supernatural. the series is known for its dark, surreal humor and atmosphere.

dilworth pitched the series to hanna-barbera's animated shorts showcase what a cartoon!, and a pilot (entitled "the chicken from outer space") aired on cartoon network in early 1996. the segment was nominated for an academy award, but lost to wallace and gromit's a close shave. cartoon network greenlit a series from the short, which premiered on november 12, 1999 and ended on november 22, 2002, with four seasons of 13 episodes each produced. during its run, the series was nominated for 3 golden reel awards and 1 annie award. spin-off media include home video releases and collectible toys.