Even today, Gargoyles is one of the most beloved animated series of all time. And yet, it’s still such an under-utilized franchise. Premiering in 1994, during a time where Disney was really trying to create series with mythos and complexities, Gargoyles stands out as one of company’s most ambitious animated series of the past decade.
Set in New York, the series first introduces us toofficer Elisa Maza who is tasked with investigating a series of strange occurrences in the high rise of local billionaire David Xanatos. We’re then drawn into medieval times, 994 Scotland, where we meet gargoyle clan leader Goliath who presides over a large civilization of gargoyles. Despite some of the more resistant humans, gargoyles live side by side humans in their castle.
By day the Gargoyles sleep, transforming in to stone statues, which helps them regain strength and energy, and by night they come alive, living among civilization as protectors. Their one weakness is during the day as they sleep, that’s when they’re most vulnerable to attacks. When Goliath’s clan is accused of a crime they didn’t commit, five of the gargoyles are locked in a dungeon while Goliath flies off oblivious to the incidents, anxious warning their allies of an invasion.
Little do the Gargoyles know that a member of the humans in their castle has betrayed their own and stages a siege during the day where the enemy army slaughters every single gargoyle in their vulnerable stone state. Goliath returns to find his clan in shambles, and he and his remaining clan are frozen in a perpetual stone stage for an entire millennia.
When they awaken from their curse in modern day 1994, there’s a massive culture shock for mighty Goliath and his group. During the time asleep, billionaire David Xanatos shipped the castle’s remains to New York to add to his high rise, bringing the gargoyles with him. As Goliath struggles to figure out who his allies and enemies are, the gargoyles meet officer Elisa and she gradually becomes friends with the team, promising to keep their existence a secret.
Gargoyles came with an unparalleled production quality that was just impressive all around. From an excellent score to a massive cast of voice actors comprised mostly from “Star Trek” alums and right down to the amazing animation, Gargoyles was anything but a gimmick. The writers unfolded complex mythos and great back stories for each of the gargoyles, many of whom had their own strengths and weakness, all the while trying to adjust to modern times.
The great Keith David lent Goliath the immense presence that he deserved, playing the conflicted leader who longed for the old days, but inevitably had to adjust to modern times. The lovely Salli Richardson voiced Maza, who was an often loyal and tough as nails heroine who would eventually form affection for Goliath. There was also Jonathan Frakes who played the group’s enemy David Xanatos, a scheming billionaire who delved in to the magic and mysticism of the Gargoyles’ era to help his agenda.
The show did had its share of fish out of water moments, but it rarely resorted to slapstick comedy, or demeaning moments. Often times the adjustment to modern times was jarring, especially for the group, many of whom found modern technology and vices like movies and television hard to resist. There were many excellent foes and episodes to boot, with the group confronting the vicious and brilliant MacBeth, as well as the Wolf Pack, a team of sports stars that make it their mission to hunt down the Gargoyles.
The first two seasons aired on the Disney Afternoons animation block in America and then was eventually aired on Disney’s One Saturday Morning for its final and third season. The last season is a very controversial among fans and the show’s creators, as the show returned with the subtitle “The Goliath Chronicles.” Less focus was placed on the group and more on Goliath, and his storylines, while the show featured a lower budget which meant often terrible animation, and a clunky series of convoluted storylines.
The final season revolved more around Goliath and his group fighting a group of masked anti-gargoyle extremists named the Quarrymen, devoted to killing gargoyles. Obviously modeled after the KKK, they became the final season’s villains, ending the series’ run in 1998. The creator of the series would later dismiss the third season entirely, writing a comic book that took off after season two and formed its own arc and ending for the Gargoyles.
Disney released a slew of merchandise for the series during its initial run including toys, school supplies, clothing, and a video game et al. Though the series was only mildly successful upon its run, it formed a very loyal fan base after its cancellation in 1998, saving it from obscurity with fan conventions, online communities and the like. The series later flourished for many years in syndication after its cancellation with (heavily edited and censored) repeats, and would later be released on DVD uncut by Disney, along with a few comic book mini-series that continued the storylines for fans.
