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The Organization Without a Cool Acronym (O.W.C.A., often pronounced "Aʊ-kuh"), also known as The Agency, is a secret spy agency whose mission seems to be to stop evil scientists from carrying out their diabolical plans. While the leadership is human, all of the Agency's agents are animals, with a couple of exceptions: Norm, who was fired shortly after entering, and Planty the Potted Plant. Heinz Doofenshmirtz was also briefly hired, and fired the same day. Though human, Major Monogram said Heinz Doofenshmirtz is considered an ocelot in the eyes of the law, since he was adopted by ocelots. The O.W.C.A. has its own prison that they seemingly rarely use; it is most likely used for only the real threats, like The Regurgitator and the rogue rabbit.
Major Monogram's son, Monty Monogram attended the school known as H.S.W.C.A. or High School Without a Cool Acronym ("Minor Monogram"). Its connection with O.W.C.A. is unknown. H.S.W.C.A. and O.W.C.A. may also have a connection with The Academy. It is also known that in 1914 in Panama, a similar organization was in existence known as S.O.K.W.C.A., or Secret Order of the Knights Without a Cool Acronym ("Phineas and Ferb and the Temple of Juatchadoon").
The "Original O.W.C.A." is closed after a deposit rental breaks the budget. Following that, Major Monogram starts the "New O.W.C.A." using the original's name, building, agents, and equipment.
Command Structure
Leadership
It is unknown if the Original O.W.C.A. was a government organization. In the Original Pitch it is said that Perry the Platypus is "working for the government," but this detail never made it to air. Daily operations are handled by division leaders, who lead groups of about a dozen agents. Division leaders do contact the President in cases of emergency, such as when additional resources are needed for a mission ("Out to Launch", "Day of the Living Gelatin", "Journey to the Center of Candace", "Undercover Carl").
There are two known division leaders, Major Francis Monogram and Admiral Wanda Acronym. Monogram is in charge of Perry the Platypus's division. He is assisted by summer intern Carl, who seems to be training to be a leader in the Agency himself. As a division leader, he holds meetings with agents throughout the day informing them of their missions. He also has group meetings with agents during times of high security alerts ("Traffic Cam Caper", "I Scream, You Scream", "Day of the Living Gelatin"). Monogram also seems to have some sort of position higher up in the organization, having the top office at O.W.C.A. Headquarters. Wanda is in charge of a separate division, the most notable agent from that division being Pinky the Chihuahua, Isabella Garcia-Shapiro's dog ("Day of the Living Gelatin", "Isabella and the Temple of Sap").
Not all the layers of leadership are known, but Colonel Contraction, formerly Major Monogram's superior, was fired by Monogram after the re-formating of the New O.W.C.A. ("Phineas and Ferb Save Summer")
Every agent in the O.W.C.A. works all day and there is never an agent to spare ("Journey to the Center of Candace", "Swiss Family Phineas", "Undercover Carl").
Agents
Agents are the main core of the O.W.C.A. Each agent is a highly trained, with knowledge of disguise, and knowing several different styles of fighting including a variety of martial arts. They are easily identified by their brown fedoras, and some nemeses of the agents can't even recognize them without their hat ("Traffic Cam Caper", "It's About Time!", "Lawn Gnome Beach Party of Terror").
Agents each have their own nemesis, in which they are assigned the specific duty of stopping that nemesis when they are doing something evil. This rule does not always apply, as sometimes, if necessary, an agent may be assigned another mission not involving that nemesis, such as Perry's once needing to pursue his owners carrying an important piece of Agency evidence. That nemesis is possibly picked because of closeness to the Agent's main base. The nemesis can become more than just a mission and in some cases they formed a bond with the agent ("Rollercoaster", "It's About Time!", Traffic Cam Caper", "Rollercoaster: The Musical!", "The Chronicles of Meap").
According to the O.W.C.A. by-laws, "No additional agents are allowed to thwart any single evil scientist if said first agent assigned is still well and able to carry out his duties." This is likely why Evil Scientists tend to trap their assigned agent. Because, though trapped, the agent is technically still "on duty" ("Perry the Actorpus").
Currently almost every agent is an animal - there are exceptions however. One is Norm, who was a Doofenshmirtz Evil Incorporated former assassin droid. Agent P used him to find the "borrowed" DVD in a traffic camera that spotted the agent doing missions. Afterwards, he briefly joined the Agency, joining along with Major Monogram and several agents in the song And the Animals Go. Then, because it was weird that he wasn't an animal, Major Monogram had Carl fire him. The other one is Planty the Potted Plant, a plant who accidentally defeated Dr. Doofenshmirtz ("Traffic Cam Caper", "No More Bunny Business").
Agents are adopted and probably trained at the O.W.C.A. Adoption center. Carl did work there and oversaw the adoptions and listing of new agents (Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension).
Agents sometimes turn evil as well. If so, the O.W.C.A. take it into their hands to stop them from doing evil and capture them ("No More Bunny Business", "Cheer Up Candace").
Multiple agents are in both Major Monogram's and Admiral Acronym's divisions as well ("It's About Time!", "Traffic Cam Caper", "Isabella and the Temple of Sap", "Cheer Up Candace").
Agents, along with Professor Poofenplotz, appear in the song Carpe Diem ("Rollercoaster: The Musical!"). The agents also appear with stars from Disney Channel, Disney XD, and ABC's Good Morning America in the O.W.C.A. video.
SS SN
SS SN, or "Super Secret Spy Network," is a team of heavily armed special soldiers of the government under O.W.C.A. jurisdiction. They function as the organization's paramilitary unit and evidently are only used on targets of particularly high threat or priority as designated by authority. Their troops are clad in bulletproof vests and their identities hidden by a pair of protective goggles. They are highly trained and work with deadly efficiency, their raids well coordinated and executed with perfection ("Phineas and Ferb Get Busted!").
Knowing their militarized nature and swift response capability they would appear to be the agency's most powerful asset. However, if the agency were to be taken over in hostility, they would supposedly fall under control of the enemy, as demonstrated by Doofenshmirtz ("Chez Platypus").
The building where Dr. Feelbetter's show is recorded is also called SSSN. This could be the headquarters of the SS SN officers, except that they would likely intervene if the staff of Dr. Feelbetter's show were to attempt to capture the agents ("It's About Time!").
Training and technology
- Main article: The O.W.C.A.'s equipment and technology
The Agency has a large and vast array of precautionary tactics in cases of emergencies. Due to the sole basis of the organization is protecting the world, technology is used by agents, and they are trained to be masters of several forms of fighting, from basics to even martial arts. Meetings are held in inner-structure or Agency-wide issues in an underground HQ ("It's About Time!", "Traffic Cam Caper", "Swiss Family Phineas", "No More Bunny Business").
Their training usually includes usage of technologies. New gadgets are designed every day, and technology are used by Agents in every aspect of their missions. Traveling is a basic form of it, and some Agents use devices that can help them escape some of the most perilous of traps. Some technologies are used for Agents to even enter their bases ("Tip of the Day").
Budget and daily precautions
While maintaining the daily act of emergencies, technology, and general workmanship commission, the O.W.C.A. spends an exorbitant amount of money. Funding from unknown backers (probably government[s]) appears to only give them a minimal amount, as budget cuts occur. Sometimes, this affects an agent's mission, and therefore necessary government acts are occurred by contacting the president. There is enough in the budget for minor and large remodeling, and Major Monogram's division once even went on an entire remodel because of the Major's wife ("Out to Launch," "The Ballad of Badbeard").
With agents spread globally, the O.W.C.A. can monitor situations all across the world, using different "sources" and technologies ("Out to Launch," "Chez Platypus," "One Good Scare Ought to Do It!," "The Lake Nose Monster," "Candace Disconnected").
When inner-O.W.C.A. dilemmas occur, meetings will be held in an underground HQ by the division leader. There, they will discuss what to do, and if an Agent is sent out to take care of the issue, the Agents will wait for him or her before taking care of it ("Traffic Cam Caper").
The agency faced a great sufferable loss in their budget thanks to a ballroom fiasco (caused by an unwanted battle between the agents and the members of L.O.V.E.M.U.F.F.I.N. since they were sharing the same ballroom without their knowledge until too late). This led to the complete shutdown of the agency until Carl suggested that the Major should open up a new agency and name it O.W.C.A. Monogram agrees with that, and to keep down costs on leadership, he fires his superior Colonel Contraction ("Phineas and Ferb Save Summer").
It was subsequently discovered by Carl that O.W.C.A.'s budget was far larger than previously believed. This misconception was due to an accounting error made by Major Monogram, who mistakenly used decimal points instead of commas when monitoring the finances ("O.W.C.A. Files").
Government involvement
The government's actual involvement in the O.W.C.A's activity is sketchy. They appear to give the Agency its budget and money, along with possible protection and technology. When daily activity is disturbed due to budget cuts and such, the president is contacted. This appears to be the basis of the government's involvement in the Agency ("Out to Launch"). However, it has been show the Major Monogram has some influence over the government; as seen in "Traffic Cam Caper", he was able to do a favor for Perry to thank him for retrieving the disk. It appears that either Monogram can give direct orders to the government, or he has connections with officials that owe him favors. In either event, it seems a relationship is not entirely one way as the organization could help the government stop potential threats from mad scientists or criminals; although the government giving money and possible legal protection makes it asymmetrical. The O.W.C.A. does work with and has ties to other major agencies, such as S.H.I.E.L.D ("Phineas and Ferb: Mission Marvel").
However, the O.W.C.A. faced up a loss over a ballroom fiasco, which almost led to its shutdown. Fortunately, Monogram decides to open up a new agency, rename it as O.W.C.A., and move everything to the old building so it looks like nothing happened. He also fired his superior in order to keep costs down on leadership, so it is unknown if the government continues to support the Agency or not ("Phineas and Ferb Save Summer").
List of Divisions and Known Agents
- Main article: List of O.W.C.A. agents
Background Information
- Most of the information known about the Agency comes from the interaction between Major Francis Monogram and Perry the Platypus, along with Agent P's nemesis, Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz.
- Until "Day of the Living Gelatin", it remained unclear whether Major Monogram was the highest leader in the Agency, but in that episode, Perry the Platypus drops into Pinky's lair by mistake. When he makes it back to his own lair, Major Monogram reveals that he is just one of presumably many division leaders.
- "Day of the Living Gelatin" also raises questions about the nature of the military involvement in the Agency. While Major Monogram seems to be military, Wanda does not appear to be, though the credits for "Isabella and the Temple of Sap" refer to her as Admiral Acronym. Also, Carl does not appear to have any military training even though he seems to be training for leadership in the Agency.
- It's likely that O.W.C.A. is a governmental agency, since it was revealed in "Out to Launch" that Major Monogram can contact the president. But in Phineas & Ferb Save Summer, They closed O.W.C.A. and Major Monogram reopened it and became the new owner telling Colonel Contraction his service will no longer be required. In "Traffic Cam Caper", it was revealed that Major Monogram has the governmental pull to pardon Lawrence Fletcher from a traffic ticket. In Phineas and Ferb: Mission Marvel, the O.W.C.A. has partnerships and ties to large-name agencies, including SHIELD.
- In "Elementary My Dear Stacy", Major Monogram had gotten in trouble with the British Spy Union, and they force Perry to work with Agent Double 0-0, who is under the command of Inspector Initials.
- Phineas and Ferb were never officially secret agents. However, they did stumble across Perry's lair by accident one day and made use of his equipment. This was done because Phineas believed it was Ferb's answer to what they would do that day. The boys did so again (this time, on purpose) when receiving information on how to defeat the Norm Bots, Perry the Platyborg, and Heinz Doofenshmirtz of the 2nd dimension by using their Big Ideas from past episodes, thanks to Perry's auto-scan replication device in his fedora. ("Ready for the Bettys", Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension)
- Candace was indirectly an agent when her mind and Perry's got swapped. Perry, in Candace's body, continued his mission and their brains were switched back later that day. ("Does This Duckbill Make Me Look Fat?")
- Norm was used once to retrieve a disc containing evidence that could expose the Agency. ("Traffic Cam Caper")
- Agent D and Agent O appear in "No More Bunny Business", when Carl is trying to sketch their description of Dennis a rogue Agent. Agent K, Agent F, and the rest of agents are not present.
- On Christmas, the O.W.C.A. holds a Christmas party, where all agents celebrate along with Major Monogram and Carl. They hold a Secret Santa gift giving.
- The name was first mentioned in the 2009 "Planet Premiere" of the soundtrack on Radio Disney and confirmed on-screen in "Phineas and Ferb: Summer Belongs to You!".
- O.W.C.A. is a parody of the secret organizations that appeared in 1960's spy/secret agent movies and television programs, such as The Man From U.N.C.L.E..
- The O.W.C.A. refers to its agents by their first initials similar to the Men in Black organization calling their agents "Agent K", "Agent J", etc.
- In Spain, it's called O.S.A.C.: "Organización Sin Acrónimo Chulo" (Organization Without a Cool Acronym).
- In Latin America, it's called O.S.B.A.: "Organización Sin un Buen Acrónimo" (Organization Without a Good Acronym).
- In Brazil, it's called O.S.U.S.B.: "Organização Sem Uma Sigla Bacana" (Organization Without a Cool Acronym).
- In the Czech Republic, it's called O.H.L.A.: "Organizace hledající lepší akronym" (Organization Looking for a Better Acronym).
- In Polish, it's called O.B.F.S.: "Organizacja Bez Fajnego Skrótu". (Organization Without a Cool Abbreviation).
- The O.W.C.A. has a web page made by Carl ("Misperceived Monotreme").
- An unnamed squirrel, fox, and lizard agents were seen in "Cheer Up Candace" and Manny the Mongoose was mentioned in "Phineas and Ferb-Busters!" by Dr. Doofenshmirtz for the nemesis toy.
- Though Heinz Doofenshmirtz was fired the same day he was hired in "Agent Doof," he was apparently re-hired and started training to become an O.W.C.A. agent in "The O.W.C.A. Files."
- In a trailer for the Phineas and Ferb: Across the 2nd Dimension video game, the rest of the O.W.C.A. logo was revealed.
- The O.W.C.A. photo file has a photo of Candace. ("Make Play")
- The O.W.C.A. Secret Headquarters as seen in Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension, "Agent Doof", and "Delivery of Destiny" is colored red. It's also revealed that the Agents work in cubicles while Major Monogram works in an office room.
- The organization had a low budget until "O.W.C.A. Files".
- Canada has it's own version of the O.W.C.A. that is affiliated with the Canadian government. The Canadian Organization Without a Cool Acronym has human agents. It's unknown if C.O.W.C.A. has any animal agents.
- In Polish, O.W.C.A. means sheep.
Errors
- On the DVD A Very Perry Christmas, Major Monogram's Christmas letter states that he works for the "Agency Without A Cool Acronym", when it actually is called the Organization Without a Cool Acronym.
- On one of the Perry Berry Phineas and Ferb Go-Gurt tubes, the answer to the question for "What organization does Agent P belong to?" has the Organization Without a Cool Acronym incorrectly referred to as "Super Secret Spy Network".
- In the book Thrill-o-Rama, it is called the Organization Without a Cool Anagram.