Pirates of Dark Water

Sometimes a show comes along and changes everything. A show that reaches millions of people and produces a fanbase that continues on well after the show is cancelled.

This isn't one of those shows.

The Pirates of Dark Water was a Hanna-Barbara show that barely ran two seasons. The first five episodes ran on FOX, the next eight on ABC, then the rest in syndication. The year wait between season also didn't help matters.

So, what was the show about? The planet Mer is suffering from Dark Water, a semi-sentient oily mass from the planet's core that corrupts and devours everything it touches. Only the thirteen Treasures of Rule can halt the blight, but all thirteen are scattered across the globe.

Ren (George Newburn), prince of the ruined Octopon, is tasked with gathering the treasures by his dying father. Along the way he recruits the pirate Ioz (Hector Elizondo), ecomancer Tula (Jodi Benson), and the monkey-bird Niddler (Roddy McDowell, later replaced by Frank Welker). Complicating the quest is the pirate lord Bloth (Brock Peters), who desires the treasures for himself.

The episodes were decently written. The animation, especially in the opening episodes, was breath taking at the time. There was a rather decent sense of continuity, with past exploits being mentioned, even in passing.  The characters remain fairly unchanging(Ren's often too trusting, Ioz's greed, etc.), but the writers build with the characteristics and let the adventure flow from that. Serious topics, such as death, weren't glossed over either. The problem (scheduling aside) with the series, was also the characters. You had the Chosen One, the rouge, the Quest, etc. All cliches by this point, although the performances manage to elevate the show past that. 

 The entire series was released onto a MOD-DVR, so you can enjoy the entire series.