For basic series information see Carmen Sandiego.

ACME

The ACME Detective Agency is dedicated to stopping the efforts of V.I.L.E. and keeping order in the world.

Carmen Sandiego was once an agent of the ACME Detective Agency, until she quit to pursue greater intellectual challenges. Lynne Thigpen played the Chief of ACME on the PBS Carmen Sandiego series and some of the computer products. ACME headquarters is located in San Francisco.

In the computer games, the user is always an agent of ACME, and is promoted thoughout the game.

ACME agents include:

• The Chief - The Chief differs from program to program. The most notable is the live action Chief depicted by Lynne Thigpen. Another Chief, featured in Where on Earth is Carmen Sanidego? and in Carmen Sandiego: Junior Detective Edition is a computerized image. There are others, such as the Chief featured in Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego: Treasures of Knowledge, but most only appear once.

• Chase Devineaux - When Carmen was at ACME, Chase Devineaux (pronunced dev-in-no) was her partner. When she left ACME, Devineaux had to go undercover and started working separately from ACME. He started working with ACME again on the Bable-On Case and has since become an ACME Special Agent. Devineaux was featured in Carmen Sandiego Word Detective, Carmen Sandiego Math Detective and Carmen Sandiego's ThinkQuick Challenge.

• Ivy - Ivy (age 18) has multiple black belts in the martial arts. She's an expert pilot and has razor sharp crime tracking skills. She's more driven than her brother Zack is, and gets frustrated easily. Ivy's last name is unknown. Ivy was featured in Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego? and in Carmen Sandiego: Junior Detective Edition

• Zack - Zack (age 14) has a photographic memory and can speak twenty languages. He is a kid genius who knows millions of facts. He manages to be a cool, floppy haired, baggy clothed, skate boarding teen, and takes cases less seriously than his sister Ivy. Zack's last name is unknown. Zack was featured in Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego? and in Carmen Sandiego: Junior Detective Edition

• Stretch the Crime Dog - As a pup, Stretch nabbed so many V.I.L.E. villains, that ACME awarded him its highest K-9 honor: "The Golden Snout Award." Stretch should be kept away from Carmine the cat, or they fight, quite literally, like cats and dogs. Stretch was featured in Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego? and in Carmen Sandiego: Junior Detective Edition

• Penelope Paparazzi - Penelope Paparazzi’s motto is "Ladies first," and her career as a photographer for the ACME Detective Agency, proves it. This elegant camera expert has risen to the top, despite the spills and frills that follow her on every assignment. Her last name is a pan on the term Paparazzi used for certain journalists and photographers. Her namesake Penelope is a figure of the Odyssey, attributed to Homer. Her first name was more likely chosen, simply because it started with the same letter as her last name. Penelope was featured in Carmen Sandiego: Junior Detective Edition.

• Candid Cammie - Candid Cammie is a photographer for the ACME Detective Agency. She would be a great photographer...if she ever opened her eyes. Her name is a pun on that of the television series Candid Camera. Candid was featured in Carmen Sandiego: Junior Detective Edition.

• Olympia Vu-Finder - Olympia Vu-Finder is a photographer for the ACME detective agency, who’s mother was an athlete and father was a great photographer. Unfortunately, Olympia does both at the same time. Her first name is probably a reference to the Olympus company which manufactures photographic equipment. Olympia was featured in Carmen Sandiego: Junior Detective Edition.

• Flash Dweebly - Flash Dweeby is the nerdiest photographer for the ACME detective agency. Flash was featured in Carmen Sandiego: Junior Detective Edition.

• "No Focus" Norman - A former spy and now a photographer for ACME, Norman carries a whole wardrobe of hat-cameras, shoe-cameras and phone-cameras. It’s said that if he ever learns to use a camera correctly, all of V.I.L.E. will be packed off to jail. Norman was featured in Carmen Sandiego: Junior Detective Edition.

• Calvin the Caped Camera Kid - Calvin is a photographer for the ACME Detective Agency. Apparently, he thinks of himself as some kind of superhero, as he flies down on a cape with a rope tied around his waist and take the culprit's picture. What the other end of the rope is attached to is anyone’s guess. Calvin was featured in Carmen Sandiego: Junior Detective Edition.

• F-Stop Freddy - ACME loves Freddy, as a robot photographer doesn’t need a vacation, paycheck or anything else normal employees need. However, their compared expenses are matched due to all the bills from the robot mechanic shop. Freddy was featured in Carmen Sandiego: Junior Detective Edition.

• Julia "Jules" Argent - Jules was once Carmen Sandiego's partner. She considers Carmen the best agent ACME ever had. Jules is experienced with Carmen's methods and is full of facts. Jules keeps a journal to keep track of clues. Jules was featured in Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego: Treasures of Knowledge

• Shadow Hawkins - Hawkins was so arrogant when he started his first assignment, that he thought he could, "catch that ACME traitor and be home in time for dinner." As the case went on though, it became clear, even to him, that Carmen wasn't easy to catch. Hawkins seems to believe gadgets are the answer to everything. Hawkins was featured in Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego: Treasures of Knowledge

• Ivan Idea - Ivan Idea an ACME Good Guide and a teenage genius invented the ACME Bable-Link Translator, ACME Get-Clue Case Pad and the ACME Cronoskimmer. Ivan's hobby is conducting investigations of the Pyramids of Egypt, the Great Wall of China and other past feats of engineering. Ivan likes to study the great inventors of the past. "Ivan Idea" is a pun that sounds like "I have an idea."

• Herman Nootix - Herman is an ACME Good Guide and his nose can usually be found in a stack of books. Herman is a serious and hard working scholar. "Herman Nootix" is a play on "hermeneutics."

• Dee Plomassy - Dee Plomassy is an ACME Good Guide. Dee's career as a diplomat started in childhood, when she convinced a classmate who stole third base to return it. Dee can speak 17 languages fluently and is frequently called upon by world leaders, impressing people with her grace, her elegance and her very tall turban. "Dee Plomassy" is a play on "diplomacy."

• Renee Santz - Renee, an ACME Good Guide, has been interested in Art since birth, as her father is renowned bassist Red Cheeks, and her mother is the famous architect Fallen Arches. Renee is the head of the ACME orchestra, and her works of painting and sculpture can be found in museums through out the world. "Renee Santz" is a play on "renaissance."

• Rock Solid - A geologist, forester, and an ACME Good Guide, Rock may be as big and tough as a rocky mountain bolder, but has a soft hart when it comes to the well being of animals. He is fearless when it comes to exploring realms of the unknown. "Rock Solid" is a play on "rock solid."

• Ann Tickwittee - Ann, an ACME Good Guide, has been interested in archaeology, since she read about the lost city of Troy, and wondered how was it possible to lose an entire city. She graduated from the ACME Institute of Carmenology (ACME's school of Good Guides) with a degree in "Ancient Cities and Other Dusty Stuff." Ann guards the world's treasures, because she wants to be sure that "the past is always present." "Ann Tickwittee" is a play on "antiquity."

• Polly Tix - Polly Tix is the youngest ACME Good Guide, and is a wiz when it comes to politics. Her high school voted her, "Most Likely to Run a Country...Any Country!" Polly is still to young to vote. "Polly Tix" is a play on "politics."

• Kim Yoonity - Kim is a firm believer in the world being just one, big, global village. Kim is one of the most well connected people on the planet Earth, and has the telephone bill to prove it. Kim is also an ACME Good Guide. "Kim Yoonnity" is a play on "community."

• Cole Gannon - Cole (age 17) traine in ACME to be a secret agent.. after school and on weekends, for a year when he had the chance to go after Carmen in his first "oficcial" mission. He's a computer genious and a martial arts expert, but he's a little overconfident and doesn't seem to fear very much (ACME is still working with him on this.) In combat, Cole use a staff. Cole was featured in Carmen Sandiego: The Secret of the Stolen Drums

V.I.L.E.

The Villains International League of Evil or V.I.L.E. is dedicated to causing as much chaos around the world as possible in order for Carmen to show off her intellectual abilities.

V.I.L.E. is clearly a very large organization. Well over 150 members of V.I.L.E. have been recorded by fans. V.I.L.E. has bases around the world (see V.I.L.E. Hideouts) and operates entirely underground due to its sinister intentions.

"V.I.L.E." is always pronounced the same as "vile," which is often used to create amusing puns, (example: "There's something V.I.L.E. around here."

V.I.L.E villians include:

• Carmine - Carmine is the pet cat of Carmen Sandiego. Carmen recruited her due to how much she is dedicated to her career. After an unfortunate incident involving a very large sack of kitty litter, Carmine was left with the warped mind of a criminal. Carmine was trained by Carmen to follow her hench-people to scare off any ACME agents. She should be kept away from Stretch the Crime Dog, lest fur will fly. Carmine appeares in Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?, Where in the U.S.A. is Carmen Sandiego? and Carmen Sandiego: Junior Detective Edition.

• Rick and Nick ICK - Rick and Nick originally entered their chosen profession as janitors, because they heard if they could "clean up" they'd be rich. The brothers have been fired from every cleaning job they ever had (and for good reason) so they decided to join V.I.L.E. and attempt to clean up the tracks left by Carmen's hench-people. The ICK brothers were featured in Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? and Where in the USA is Carmen Sandiego?

• RoboCrook - RoboCrook is Carmen's right hand robot. RoboCrook's history is a mystery, but one things clear, he'll do anything Carmen tells him to. His name is presumably a pan on that of Robocop, a cyborg police officer.

• Anita Dayoff - A workaholic, Anita loved working 23½ hours a day, 7 days a week as a high-powered executive. One day Carmen spotted her at an "all-you-can-drink" coffee house, and gave her an offer she couldn't refuse, a job with no time off. "Anita Dayoff" is a play on "I need a day off." Anita Dayoff was featured in Carmen Sandiego: Junior Detective Edition.

• Tip Dover - Tip Dover isn't clumsy, she's a disaster! Carmen recruited her because she "creates an obstacle course wherever she goes." Tip makes it nearly impossible for the authorities to catch up with her. "Tip Dover" is a play on "tipped over." Tip was featured in Carmen Sandiego: Junior Detective Edition.

• Jim Shorts - Once an 88 pound weakling, who thought he would never become a criminal heavyweight, Jim Shorts was shown a shortcut by Carmen, an inflatable body suit. "Jim Shorts" is a play on "gym shorts." Jim Shorts was featured in Carmen Sandiego: Junior Detective Edition.

• Cal I. Fornya - Cal is a "cool dude" who is the star of "discount video" surf movies. His charm occasionally got him invited to the homes of the rich and famous, where he discovered another hobby, stealing. When he visited a King’s house he tried to make off with the entire royal beach. Carmen was impressed, and invited him to join V.I.L.E. "Cal I. Fornya" is a play on "California." Cal was featured in Carmen Sandiego: Junior Detective Edition.

• Telly Phone - Telly Phone has never been spotted without a dialing devise at hand. Telly can break into the private calls of just about anybody Carmen wants to hear. "Telly Phone" is a play on "telephone". Telly was featured in Carmen Sandiego: Junior Detective Edition.

• Jess U. Wait - Slow and steady is too fast for Jess U. Wait. She is always the last villain to be packed up for international stealing sprees and sometimes even misses her get-away car. Carmen recruited her because she is a master at out-waiting the authorities. "Jess U. Wait" is a play on "just you wait." Jess was featured in Carmen Sandiego: Junior Detective Edition.

• Hardley Worthit - Hardley Worthit is a master at avoiding attention. In school he used to sneak in and out of off-limits rooms without anyone knowing. He's the kind of guy who "the guard locks in the museum because he thinks everyone has left." He’s wanted on all seven continents, but so far nobody has been able to identify him. "Hardley Worthit" is a play on "hardly worth it." Hardley was featured in Carmen Sandiego: Junior Detective Edition.

• Carri Daway - Carri has such a huge voice, that when she made her Broadway debut she shook the whole theater. Her large voice is used by V.I.L.E. to crack foundations. "Carri Daway" is a play on "carried away." Carri was featured in Carmen Sandiego: Junior Detective Edition.

• Ella Vator - Ella Vator is so tall that in college she set a record for pole-vaulting, without using a pole. Ella was apparently made a member of V.I.L.E. because nothing is out of her reach. She even tried to steal the North Star (morning arrived before she could swipe it.) The Chief joked that she might be the daughter of Ella Fitzgarled and Darth Vader. "Ella Vator" is a play on "elevator." Ella was featured in Carmen Sandiego: Junior Detective Edition.

• Manny Mistakes - Manny stops at green lights and crosses the street when the lights turn red, puts salt in his coffee and sugar on his French fries. Nobody can confuse V.I.L.E. pursuers like the unpredictable Manny. "Manny Mistakes" is a play on "many mistakes." Manny was featured in Carmen Sandiego: Junior Detective Edition.

• Stu Pidname - There's no end to Stu Pidname’s energy, he’ll do anything to keep from getting bored . "Stu Pidname" is a play on "stupid name." It isn't clear how the name relates to the character. Stu was featured in Carmen Sandiego: Junior Detective Edition.

• Hugh Stink - Nobody knows when Hugh Stink took his first bath, but it must have been a bad experience, because he hasn't taken one since. His smell can he advantageous, even police dogs won’t go near him. "Hugh Stink" is a play on "you stink." Hugh was featured in Carmen Sandiego: Junior Detective Edition.

• Cy Berpunk - When Cy Berpunk was two years old, he crawled into the moniter at his dad's computer repair shop. Ever since, he’s "been wired." When it comes to data, Cy is genius. He can wire up a toaster to open the gold vault at Fort Knox. "Cy Berpunk" is a play on "cyberpunk." Cy was featured in Carmen Sandiego: Junior Detective Edition.

• Jacqueline Hyde - Jacqueline Hyde has a split personality, Jacqueline is sweet and soft spoken but Hyde's berserk personality loves to cause catastrophies. Jacqueline Hyde is featured in the game show, Where in Time is Carmen Sandiego?, as well as the third version of computer game. The character is presumably a reference to the novel The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson, first published in 1886. The novel's main character seems to suffer from Dissociative identity disorder and has created two distinct identities as the "civilised" Dr. Henry Jeckyll and the misanthropic and brutal Edward Hyde. Her name is meant to sound like "Jeckyll and Hyde."

• Sir Vile - Sir Vile is an evil knight in "not-so-shining" armor, who has been in a bad mood since the Middle Ages when he failed to corner the market on round tables. Vile will do anything "Lady Carmen" tells him to. Sire Vile is featured in the game show, Where in Time is Carmen Sandiego?, as well as the third version of computer game. The Round Table of Camelot is part of the legend of King Arthur and his knights. "Sir Vile" is a play on "servile." It is also worth noting that "Vile" is prononced the same as "V.I.L.E."

• Medeva - Medeva is a sorceress who graduated from a witch's charm school centuries ago, and even her victims say she's enchanting. Medeva is featured in the game show, Where in Time is Carmen Sandiego?, as well as the third version of computer game. Her name is presumably a pan on that of the Medieval period. Like Sir Vile she also seems to come from this period of European history. How the two of survived hundreds of years, and what they've been doing before the encountered Carmen, is anyone's guess.

• Dr. Belljar - Dr. Belljar is a cyborg scientist. He works as Carmen's computerized scientist-in-residence, and plans to rewrite history, and record himself as the world's greatest scientist. Dr. Belljar is featured in the game show, Where in Time is Carmen Sandiego?, as well as the third version of computer game. His name apparently refers to bell jars

• Baron Grinnit - Baron Grinnit is an aviator who has devoted himself to a life of high flying crime. For years, he has "used his million dollar smile to steal millions." The Baron is Carmen's ace in the hole. Baron Grinnit is featured in Where in Time is Carmen Sandiego, the computer game. "Baron Grinnit" is a play on "grin and bear it."

• Buggs Zapper - Buggs Zapper has a "pin-striped suit and a pin-sized brain" who's got one fear: insects. His goal is to "rub out" the single fly that endlessly torments him. Buggs Zapper is featured in the game show, Where in Time is Carmen Sandiego?, as well as the third version of the computer game. "Buggs Zapper" is a play on "bug zapper."

• Jane Reaction - Jane was a "well-behaved kid from a supportive nuclear family" until she had a "personal meltdown". She was once a chemistry wiz and respected scientist, but now she's an accident waiting to happen. Jane Reaction is featured in Where in Time is Carmen Sandiego, the computer game and Carmen Sandiego's ThinkQuick Challenge. "Jane Reaction" is a play on "chain reaction."

• General Mayham - After Mayham was thrown out the Boy Scouts for stealing merit badges, Mayhem formed his own militia and promoted himself to General. Mayhem brags that he's the greatest military mind in history, and wants to alter history to make that true. General Mayham is featured in Where in Time is Carmen Sandiego, the computer game. "General Mayham" is a play on "general mayhem."

• Dee Cryption - Dee Cryption is a hacker with a microchip on her shoulder, and ever since she caught a computer virus, she has been pursuing a program to take over the world's computer networks. However, Dee's fuzzy logic hasn't helped her reach her goal. Dee Cryption is featured in Where in Time is Carmen Sandiego, the computer game. "Dee Cryption" is a play on "decryption."

• Dr. Ima LeZaarde - Space alien or a haughty French scientist? You decide. "Ima LeZaarde" is a play on "I'm a lizard." Madame LeZaarde was featured in Carmen Sandiego Word Detective and Carmen Sandiego ThinkQuick Challenge.

• Dr. Depth - Dr. Depth is an egomaniacal master of the underworld, whose plans for world domination are as fuzzy as his eyesight. Dr. Depth was featured in Carmen Sandiego Math Detective and Carmen Sandiego ThinkQuick Challenge.

• Snarla Swing - Snarla Swing is tomb-raider and technology hater who has a penchant for snakes. Snarla was featured in Carmen Sandiego Word Detective and Carmen Sandiego ThinkQuick Challenge.

• Otto Readmore - Otto Readmore ("Gnash") is "the bruiser with a bookworm soul." Otto has a fear of the dentist. "Otto Readmore" is a play on "Ought to read more." In Carmen Sandiego's ThinkQuick Challenge, he is known as "Gnash." Otto was featured in Carmen Sandiego Word Detective and Carmen Sandiego ThinkQuick Challenge.

• Count Hypno - Count Hypno is "a master of hypnotic rhythms and mind-bending fashion apparel." ACME agents are advised not to look him in the eye. Count Hypno was featured in Carmen Sandiego ThinkQuick Challenge.

• Touchy-Feely Bot - Touchy-Feely Bot is one of Carmen's KnowBots with a dramatic soul. Apparently battling her music and art data is a real emotional experience. Touchy-Feely Bot was featured in Carmen Sandiego ThinkQuick Challenge.

• Dim Bot - KnowBots, such as Dim Bot, eat information, not food, but Dim Bot has the munchies.

• HALie Bot - HALie Bot is a KnowBot with a calm scientific attitude. HALie was featured in Carmen Sandiego ThinkQuick Challenge. HALie's name is probably a play on HAL 9000 from 2001 A Space Odyssey.

• Pure-E Bot - Pure-E Bot is a tyrannical KnowBot with ice-cold geography coursing through her circuits. Pure-E was featured in Carmen Sandiego ThinkQuick Challenge.

• Synic Bot - If you've ever wonderied if artificial intelligence can be cynical, Synic Bot, one of Carmen's KnowBots, might just be the answer. Synic Bot was featured in Carmen Sandiego ThinkQuick Challenge.

• Bruiser Bot - Brusier Bot, another KnowBot, has "the heart of a pussycat, but the body of a hydraulic car-crusher." Brusiser Bot was featured in Carmen Sandiego ThinkQuick Challenge.

V.I.L.E. hideouts

• Abner Cadabr's Magic Shop, Kolkata, India (Carmen Sandiego Math Detective)
• A. Leon Being's Space Station, in orbit around Jupiter (Carmen Sandiego Math Detective)
• Ann Fibian's Sunken Ship, Bermuda Triangle (Carmen Sandiego Math Detective)
• Blona Fuse's Robot Factory, Filchner Ice Shelf (Carmen Sandiego Math Detective)
• C. D. Romm's House, Seattle, Washington (Carmen Sandiego Math Detective)
• Count Hypno's Hideout (Carmen Sandiego's ThinkQuick Challenge)
• Dinah Saur's Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom (Carmen Sandiego Math Detective)
• Doug Grave's Cemetery, Hungary (Carmen Sandiego Word Detective)
• Dr. Depth's Mine, Andamooka, Australia (Carmen Sandiego Math Detective, Carmen Sandiego's ThinkQuick Challenge)
• Dr. D. Ranged's Laboratory, Moldova (Carmen Sandiego Word Detective)
• Dr. Ima LeZaarde's Space Lab, Peru (Carmen Sandiego Word Detective, Carmen Sandiego's ThinkQuick Challenge)
• Electra Vector's Cave, Under the Hoover Dam (Carmen Sandiego Word Detective)
• Esther Odious' Estate, Monaco (Carmen Sandiego Word Detective)
• Estancia Mandoza's Ranch, Argentina (Treasure of Knowledge)
• Ferda Lyzer's Lab, Amazon Rainforest (Carmen Sandiego Math Detective)
• I. I. Captain's Ship, Indian Ocean (Carmen Sandiego Word Detective)
• Ill Will's Playhouse, London, United Kingdom (Carmen Sandiego Word Detective)
• Jane Reaction's Chemical Lab (Carmen Sandiego's ThinkQuick Challenge)
• Mel Ancholy's Music Hall, Vienna, Austria (Carmen Sandiego Word Detective)
• Nick Furtive's Detective Office, Chicago, Illinois (Carmen Sandiego Word Detective)
• Otto Readmore's Library, New York State (Carmen Sandiego Word Detective, Carmen Sandiego's ThinkQuick Challenge)
• Power Plex, V.I.L.E. Central, Washington, DC (Where in the USA is Carmen Sandiego?, Carmen Sandiego Math Detective)
• Queen Notalotenkammen's Crypt, Egypt (Carmen Sandiego Word Detective)
• Rig Atony's Amusement Park, Barcelona, Spain (Carmen Sandiego Math Detective)
• Roger Overnout's Hanger, Sahara Desert (Carmen Sandiego Math Detective)
• Snarla Swing's Temple (Carmen Sandiego's ThinkQuick Challenge)
• Snarla Swing's Treehouse, Tanzania (Carmen Sandiego Word Detective)
• Teri Yaki's Flat, Tokyo, Japan (Carmen Sandiego Math Detective)
• Tower of Babel, Iraq (Carmen Sandiego Word Detective)
• Velma N. Ventress's Cave, Samoa (Carmen Sandiego Math Detective)