Ultimate Disney
Review
November 29, 2004
From UltimateDisney.com (Read
the entire review, with pictures, here)
"Gargoyles"
The Complete First Season DVD Review
One Saturday morning in September of 1985,
"The Gummi Bears" and "The Wuzzles" made their debuts as the Walt Disney studio's
first two fully-animated television series. Nearly twenty years have passed,
and those years have given us over two dozen additional Disney cartoon
programs. The children of the '80s who were nourished on fare like "DuckTales" and "Chip n' Dale's Rescue
Rangers" are now grown up, in their twenties, and maybe parents. A good
number of those twentysomethings (and those outside
of the target audience who have caught the shows in the years since) may look
back fondly on their childhood programs. Those colorful shows filled with
comedy and adventure that reside in their memory and make for a fine topic of
discussion with someone else who would have been watching sometime.
With the popularity of DVD releases for
television shows not just from the present but from decades past, it is
somewhat surprising that Disney has ignored the home video potential of their
cartoon programs. What also may surprise is that their first genuine foray into
a season set for an animated television series is not something bright, bouncy
and familiar, but "Gargoyles", a dark, dramatic series that
ran for just a few years in the middle of the 1990s.
But, if you're not in the know about
"Gargoyles", you'll learn that it is a pretty solid water-tester for
Disney. This series, created by Greg Weisman and animated by Disney's studio in
Tokyo, has attracted quite a following in the ten years since it first aired.
In fact, its fanbase seems as epic in scope as the
Shakespearian tales the show tackled.
In the fall of 1994, "Gargoyles" ran
in syndication as part of "The Disney Afternoon"--a popular weekday
block of animation filled mostly with bright colors and comedic characters. On
Fridays, the show would air in between "Goof Troop" and
"Aladdin." The subject matter and storylines of "Gargoyles"
may seem out of place sandwiched between Goofy and the Genie. But audiences
would find it, and thanks to the persistence of fans and creator Greg Weisman,
Disney brings us this two-disc Complete First Season set on DVD. Whether or not
season sets for other Disney cartoons will rely on the sales performance of
this, as some have indicated, it's a pretty significant first.
As the title makes clear, "Gargoyles"
is an action-filled drama about...well, gargoyles. In daylight, these stone
creatures stay perched and motionless high above a castle. At night, they come
to life as winged beasts who powerfully defend themselves and their allies. The
five-part pilot episode, which aired on 5 consecutive days in October of 1994,
does a great job at setting up the show's very interesting premise. As stated
in a commentary, this pilot "Awakening" was intended to be four parts
and was expanded. Whereas most situation comedies can fully set up their
premise in about 10 minutes or the first half of one episode,
"Gargoyles" does indeed need five shows to flesh out the full backstory for its relocated heroes.
Once the fearless protectors of a 10th century
Scottish castle, most of the gargoyles were killed off and those that survived
were cursed to spend a millennium unawakened in stone
form. That curse was lifted in the modern day when the gargoyles were
transported to Manhattan thanks to the amoral billionaire David Xanatos. This storyline presented in the pilot (which was
later edited into a direct-to-video feature Gargoyles: The Movie - The
Heroes Awaken) grabs you in and makes you want to keep on watching.
Most of the American cartoons that are on
television today seem to be comedies, as is most child-friendly animation. So
"Gargoyles", as an action series, has material that might not be
"child-friendly" but it also has an intelligence and depth that older
viewers will find extremely rewarding, provided that they can get past the
"it's animated" aspect of the show. (Which, of course, is no problem
for regular UltimateDisney.com visitors.)
The show mostly works quite well. The potent
dramatic score from Carl Johnson serves the material appropriately. Action
sequences make up a substantial part, but they never overpower the rest of the
show and they're pretty skillfully crafted rather than flashy detours the way
they may be in some live action films. The emphatic delivery of sharp dialogue
narrowly eschews camp, and lends itself to the mythos and the pathos that make
up the series.
Let me provide a very quick overview of the
compelling heroes. The towering Goliath is the strong and wise leader of the
pack, plus the central figure of the series. His closest advisor is the eldest
gargoyle, the scarred Hudson. The three supporting characters are mostly comic
relief - like all the gargoyles, they are nameless for much of the pilot before
taking names after parts of New York City. These three are eataholic
Broadway, the thrill-seeking Brooklyn, and Lexington (who most resembles Gollum
of The Lord of the Rings films). The first 3 episodes of the pilot would
each highlight one of these three supporting gargoyles, but the stories emerged
more than the characters. I'm assuming more will come in future episodes that
would define their personalities. Lastly, there is the watchdog they dub Bronx.
The most important task for these gargoyles in
994 was to protect the castle. Transported to modern day Manhattan, this
remains a duty they deem valuable, but the show comes to focus more on their
efforts to find their place in this advanced society. The gargoyles aid their
human friend, police detective Elisa Maza, in her
attempts to thwart crime. At the same time, they must avoid peril directed
squarely at them, often deriving from Xanatos, the
smart and shrewd bigwig who brought them back to life. The more lighthearted
and less immediate journey of the gargoyles has them adapting to contemporary
phenomenon like TV and video games, and embracing current slang.
Following the impressive and engulfing
"Awakening" with standalone 22-minute episodes seems like a tough
thing, but "Gargoyles" pulls it off fairly well. What occurs in
earlier episodes is not forgotten, and the various adventures of the gargoyles
as they awaken at night and glide above life remain compelling. While the
episodes are more down-to-earth and occasionally somewhat silly, they still
engage. From the biblical overtones of "Temptation" to the
surprisingly violent act of the rarely-seen "Deadly Force", the show
offers intelligent storylines, exciting action, and rich, nuanced characters.
As there is a strong and continuous narrative
especially in the first five episodes, chronological viewing seems imperative.
I've made my best effort to avoid revealing surprises, but those unfamiliar
with the show might still wish to skip over most or all of the episode
descriptions below, so as not to have the story twists "spoiled."
Disc One houses the first 7 episodes, 8 through 13 are located on Disc 2.
THE EPISODES
1. Awakening (22:52) (Originally aired
October 24, 1994)
In the very first episode, the series opens in present day Manhattan with a
scene of chaos, as rocks fall from down from a skyscraper. Then we jump back to
Scotland in the year 994 A.D., when Goliath and the nameless gargoyles protect
the castle from a group of ruthless vikings. Princess
Katharine is ungrateful for the help; she wants nothing to do with the beasts.
But she comes to need them, when the vikings return.
2. Awakening: Part Two (22:49)
(Originally aired October 25, 1994)
After failing to stop the vikings on their path to
the castle, Goliath returns to a state of disarray. Princess Katharine's
advisor, a sorcerer named Magus, puts an irreversible spell on the few
surviving gargoyles that curses them to remain in stone form indefinitely.
Jumping ahead to the present day, David Xanatos, a ponytailed tycoon, brings the gargoyles to Manhattan, where
they come to life for the first time in one thousand years and soon after must
defend their relocated castle top. This finally makes clear the first episode's
opening sequence.
3. Awakening: Part Three (22:56)
(Originally aired October 26, 1994)
Detective Elisa Maza investigates the commotion from Xanatos' building. While there, she discovers Goliath who
saves her when she falls off the roof. Goliath tells Elisa about his kind, and
they agree to meet again. While Xanatos moves forward
with secret plans, Elisa shows Goliath the town and they see the potential he
could have helping her take care of Manhattan's crime.
4. Awakening: Part Four (22:51)
(Originally aired October 27, 1994)
Goliath and Elisa escape a close call from their commando attackers. When dawn
breaks, Goliath turns to stone in the park. After the rest of the gargoyles
decide on names, Xanatos has a surprise. He provides
Goliath's old love; the two are thrilled to see each other again for the first
time in 1,000 years. As a way to thank Xanatos, Goliath
and company seek to find and return for him the important disks that have been
stolen.
5. Awakening: Part Five (22:57)
(Originally aired October 28, 1994)
Against the odds, Goliath and company bring back all three disks to Xanatos. But, Goliath learns from Elisa, that the disks
were never stolen from Xanatos in the first place.
The cunning billionaire has been using the gargoyles, and now he is ready to
unveil his superior robotic gargoyle replacements. Goliath's lover has a couple
of surprises as well.
6. The Thrill of the Hunt (22:50)
(Originally aired November 4, 1994)
"The Pack", a band of TV action heroes that the gargoyles have been
watching, makes an appearance at Madison Square Garden. Starstruck
Lexington can't resist the urge to meet them, and "The Pack" in turn
wishes to meet Goliath. But when Lexington returns with Goliath, they soon
realize it's a trap and combat ensues.
7. Temptation (22:53) (Originally aired
November 11, 1994)
Brooklyn goes joyriding on his homemade motorcycle and encounters some vicious
bikers. He is saved by Demona, who tries to show him
how awful humanity is. Convinced, Brooklyn agrees to help Demona
put a spell on Goliath that will reveal to him the truth about humans.
8. Deadly Force (22:53) (Originally aired
November 18, 1994)
Broadway really enjoys the gun-totin' Western
"Show Down." Elisa suspects slick gangster Tony Dracon
(voiced by "21 Jump Street" star Richard Grieco)
and his cronies in the theft of hundreds of high-tech weapons. When Elisa gets
shot, Goliath and the NYPD assume it's the work of Dracon,
but it's not. Elisa fights for her life at the hospital, while the gargoyles
aim to enact justice. Pretty intense for any animated series, this episode has
mostly been shelved instead of reairing on the Toon Disney cable channel with the rest of the series.
9. Enter Macbeth (23:06) (Originally
aired January 6, 1995)
Just days from the end of his jail sentence, Xanatos
gets a visit from Macbeth, who offers to fumigate Xanatos'
tower of the gargoyles. In an effort to trap Demona,
Macbeth puts up quite a fight against the gargoyles, but they escape to
freedom. Goliath reluctantly agrees with Elisa that they'll need a new home for
their safety.
10. The Edge (22:48) (Originally aired
January 13, 1995)
The gargoyles settle into their new home. To her dismay, Elisa is assigned a
partner named Matt Bluestone (Back to the Future's Tom Wilson). Fresh
out of jail, Xanatos stages a museum heist with the
Steel Clan, his robotic gargoyle replicas, to direct the authorities' attention
to the real gargoyles. A battle between the sets of gargoyles ensues atop the
Statue of Liberty.
11. Long Way to Morning (22:50)
(Originally aired January 20, 1995)
Hudson is at the foreground of this episode, which uses dual narratives to link
a past experience with the present. In the year 984, Hudson struggles to defend
the Prince when the gargoyles protected Scotland's castle. In the present day,
Hudson does battle with Demona, who has attempted to
poison Elisa to get Goliath's attention. This episode includes a nice homage to
The Fugitive.
12. Her Brother's Keeper (22:43)
(Originally aired January 27, 1995)
Jackal and Hyena, two members of "The Pack", plot to steal an
expensive diamond that Xanatos has purchased. When
Elisa and her brother Derek foil the robbery in a police helicopter, Xanatos offers Derek a job as bodyguard and pilot. While
Elisa struggles with telling her brother about the gargoyles and about Xanatos' nature, Derek is quickly accepting the new
position.
13. Reawakening (22:47) (Originally aired
February 3, 1995)
Working together, Demona and Xanatos
bring to life Coldstone, Goliath's rookery brother. Coldstone isn't looking to serve ice cream, but revenge to
Goliath, who Demona has identified as his enemy. This
pretty exciting episode ends with Goliath declaring all of Manhattan as the
"castle" that the gargoyles need to protect.
VIDEO and AUDIO
"Gargoyles" is presented in 1.33:1 fullscreen, the aspect ratio it was animated and aired in.
The show's animation is obviously not of big screen feature quality, but the
hand-dawn artwork holds up reasonably well 10 years later. As with any
syndicated television cartoon, the animation is limited, but certainly not to
the degree that those which rely on comedy do. Since it is an action series,
there aren't shortcuts on motion and lively visuals.
Some episodes looked quite better than others.
There is a good amount of detail within the mostly nighttime environments,
which gives many things a deep blueish-gray tint.
With production values far below a feature film, it's not surprising that the
video quality isn't perfectly pleasing. In the weakest-looking episodes, an
inconsistency among lines and colors understandably mars the presentation, and
there's a bit of ringing and some moiré effect.
Audio, in the way of a Dolby Surround track,
doesn't exhibit any drawbacks that recognizable. Carl Johnson's strong score is
nicely conveyed, making fine use of the surround speakers. Dialogue is richly
recorded and sounds natural within the environments. There's a fair amount of
sound effects that are aptly mixed with the rest of the audio. There's a
reasonable amount of bass present in the track. There's even some well-done
directional effects among the speaker setup. Overall, the soundtrack is every
bit as effective as one could hope for on a 10-year-old syndicated cartoon
series.
BONUS FEATURES
Disc One features audio commentary on the five
pilot episodes with co-creator/co-producer Greg Weisman and supervising
producer Frank Paur. Showing up for the third episode
and sticking around to the end is Keith David, the voice of Goliath.
The audio commentaries are very informative and
easy to listen to. All three speakers are clearly enthusiastic about having
been a part of this series. Weisman discusses his inspirations, which include
"The Gummi Bears" ("Gargoyles"
was originally developed with a similar action/comedy tone), the crime drama
"Hill Street Blues" and the visual style of Disney's Sleeping
Beauty. Paur reflects upon how the show's
violence (atypical for a Disney cartoon) bypassed network standards and
practices since it aimed for syndication from the start. On the third episode,
when David joins in, the commentary devotes a lot of discussion to the voice
cast. David talks about his genuine appreciation for the series and recalls how
he auditioned in his best Sean Connery voice. Paur
remarks on Ed Asner's character, "If Lou Grant
was a gargoyle from Scotland, he would be Hudson."
The discussion remains laudatory, but it is
open, revealing, and thorough. There are tons of interesting tidbits that the
diehard fanbase may already know much about, but were
quite enlightening for me. Weisman and Paur recall
the fear they had that people would avoid the show if they thought it was set
entirely in the 10th century (hence the contemporary opening and departures
from linear narrative in the pilot). There's talk of certain sequences that had
to be deleted for time (nowhere to be found elsewhere on the DVD), how the
score was stretched to fill the show with editing since they couldn't afford a
full score with their budget, how their specific target audience was kids
between the ages of 6 and 11 but it found a fanbase
far beyond, and how Michael Eisner passed on the premise they pitched not once
but twice.
The commentaries succeed both at giving
background information and enhancing your appreciation for the show. The latter
is achieved due to the willingness of the three speakers to discuss their creation
and their intentions, both visually and dramatically.
On Disc 2, you find two additional bonus
features.
"The Gathering of the Gargoyles"
(13:45) is a featurette on the annual fan convention
of the same name. This extra allows the diehard fanbase
to sing the show's praises, citing its mixture of mythology and action as a
source of wide appeal. The fans repeatedly cite the theme of outcast heroes as
something they could relate to. For many of them, "Gargoyles" has
become more than a animated show; it has become an important part of their
lives. One woman cites online fan chats as helping her get through high school;
others credit the show for developing interest in writing fan fiction and
pursuing a animated voice career.
We also get a look at what goes down at the
convention (which has now been held for eight years), from the elaborate
costumes to the radio play and reflections from Keith David. Co-creator Greg
Weisman shows up a bit to talk about the show and its ardent followers. Though
the focus of this slickly-edited featurette would be
easy to ridicule in some social circles, there's definitely something
refreshing about the enthusiasm seen here, and surely it is because of Weisman
and the fans that "Gargoyles" is seeing the light of DVD at this
time, which makes it an appropriate and enjoyable bonus feature.
Last is the original show pitch from 1993
introduced by Greg Weisman. In this 4-minute video presentation for Disney,
Weisman explains the premise of the series and the principle characters, with
conceptual artwork (which isn't too far from the show's final look) providing
the relevant visuals. It's interesting to see something like this, and to note
that the show came to be part of the Disney family in the fall of 1994 pretty
much exactly as Weisman envisioned it.
Sneak Peeks at the start of Disc One are for Aladdin
Trilogy, Spider-man: The Venom Saga, Bionicle
2: Legends of Metro Nui, and Power Rangers: DinoThunder. These are also accessible individually and
altogether from a Sneak Peeks menu.
MENUS, DESIGN and PACKAGING
Each of Season 1's thirteen episodes are
presented in their entirety, running just under 23 minutes. To serve the
continuing narrative of the first five episodes, there are "previously
on" recaps and "next time" previews. There are unfortunately no
chapter stops within any of the episodes. The fadeouts for commercials that are
here seem like obvious places to add these for quick scene access.
The 4x3 menus are neatly animated, with an
intro, well-done moving background, and transitions.
This 2-disc set is packaged in a rather low key
fashion. The dark, dramatic cover and disc art features Goliath. The two discs
are housed in a standard-width black dual Amaray keepcase. A double-sided insert lists the episodes for each
disc and bonus features for Disc two.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
A solid collection of episodes and some
well-done bonus features at a very affordable price, this Complete First Season
set should please the large "Gargoyles" fanbase
and hopefully will pave the way for more Disney animated series to come to DVD
in similar fashion.