Why Gargoyles?
“It was just a
cartoon,” you say. “Sure, it was a good
show, but there are lots of good shows that get cancelled. Why make such a big deal about this one?”
Gargoyles was a Disney cartoon show that debuted in 1994. It was
targeted for 6-11 year old boys, but it was so skillfully done that it appealed
to teens and adults as well as children. This was not your average children's
cartoon. It did not feature two-dimensional characters and slapstick or vulgar humor.
It did feature fully-rounded, respectable characters with believable-- if
fantastical-- lives and personalities. They were more "human" than
cartoon characters, if you can apply such a term to a cast full of gargoyles,
robots, cybots, dragons, aliens, mythic deities,
clones, immortals, and the Fae.
Gargoyles taught lessons in trust, responsibility, love, integrity,
morality, and justice. Due to the heavy mythological and historical content, I
learned about Native American, Norse, Irish, Scottish, Australian, and African
mythology, folktales, and superstitions. I learned about history, Shakespeare,
literature, science, even vocabulary. And I loved every minute of it. How many
cartoons can claim such a record? This
was a show with the perfect blend of elements: action/adventure, character
development, romance, magic, adept storytelling, and a serious tone unlike most
Disney cartoons. It was the most
masterfully crafted cartoon I have ever seen, and the most hypnotically
enthralling show to which I have ever had the pleasure of being addicted.
Gargoyles aired for 65 episodes on the Disney Afternoon, then was
followed by a spinoff series on ABC called Gargoyles: The Goliath Chronicles. After a change in creative staff, the show
went downhill and was cancelled 13 episodes later. And across the United States
and around the world, faithful fans that had devoted two years to Gargoyles were suddenly alone and
abandoned.
But they fought back.
They created websites. They wrote
fanfiction and filks.
They created fanart. They published online zines
and held art contests. They signed
petitions. They went out into the world
to convert new fans. And in 1997, they
held the very first Gathering. They
refused to mourn their show quietly and move on. They refused to forget.
And after ten years, Disney has taken note.
On December 7th, 2004, the first season of Gargoyles will
be released on DisneyDVD. No one at Disney knows how well it will
sell. No one knows how many fans there
are, or how much demand there is for the DVD.
If it sells well, the second season will probably be released. If that sells well… The sky is the limit.
Shows have been resurrected on the basis of DVD
sales. Feature films have been
developed. It’s happened before. If we want new episodes of Gargoyles, now is
the time to prove it.
Now is the time.
On December 7th, they live again.
And I want to be along for the ride.
Kaylle