Horror and science fiction have always been a part of the television canvas, and constant attempts have been made over the years to produce classic entertainment. Some have fallen by the wayside, while others became mainstream phenomena. With “TV Terrors,” we take a look back at the many genre efforts from the 80’s, 90’s, and 00’s, exploring some shows that became cult classics, and others that sank in to obscurity.
This week, we revisit the animated series “Gargoyles”…
Aired from: 1994 – 1996 on Disney Afternoon, 1996 – 1997 on ABC Network
Once upon a time, before the internet and cable, network television was a treasure trove for kids television with animation running weekday mornings and afternoons, as well as Saturday mornings. If you were lucky, there were even Sunday morning cartoons. Among one of the best weekday afternoon line ups was Disney Afternoon, where among their adventure programming like “Darkwing Duck” and “Goof Troop,” Disney introduced the very sophisticated dark fantasy “Gargoyles” one Friday afternoon.
As a TV junkie, happening upon this series’ premiere was kind of a jolt, because I was so accustomed to the lighter series for Disney Afternoons; it was great to see Disney visiting more sophisticated storytelling. “Gargoyles” was heavily steeped in dark fantasy and adventure with tinges of horror here and there, and the latter was heavily centered on our heroes. While they were anthropomorphic and presented human traits and were very mild mannered, whenever they were forced in to battle mode, they were terrifying, clawing up walls and growling as they faced off against various nemeses.
“Gargoyles” fits in its mythology and culture shock tale well, flashing back and forth between modern times where we meet Elisa, a police officer for the NYPD who gets an unusual introduction to the titular Gargoyles. We then explore ancient times where Gargoyles were once a massive race of guardians and protectors for various parts of the land. Led by the mighty Goliath, they live in Scotland and fend off enemies by night. By day, they sleep, transforming into stone statues. Vulnerable to various threats, they’re protected by their human allies.
After one of their human comrades betrays their kingdom, a rival kingdom strikes the castle by day and lays waste to the entire race of gargoyles. By mere chance, Goliath and a small group of his Gargoyle comrades survive, but must lie dormant for a millennium. When they re-awaken not only has their Scotland based castle been reconditioned in to a skyscraper/mansion by a very popular millionaire named David Xanatos, but they’re now monsters in the foreign land known as New York. Committing themselves to knowing the new world, Goliath lives with his small group of gargoyles in a clock tower.
There, they try to adapt to the new world, even naming themselves after parts of New York. There’s the dog-like Bronx, the smaller Lexington, the white haired second in command Brooklyn, the elder Hudson, and heavy set warrior Broadway. Their only friend is the shady Xanatos, and police officer Elisa Maza (Salli Richardson) who forms a bond with the tribe of Gargoyles and tries to help them learn more about how their people were slaughtered. “Gargoyles” commits to wonderful feats of storytelling for a format that wasn’t always considered high brow in that era.
Along with carrying elements of fantasy, there are also references to Shakespeare, very complex explorations about morality, xenophobia, and racism. There’s an (controversial, often censored) episode about gun violence, where Elisa is accidentally shot. In the latter episodes, there’s even a hate group called the Quarrymen, devoted to hunting down and murdering Gargoyles of all kinds. One of my favorite episodes involves Lexington befriending a group of television thrill seekers called “The Pack.” After bonding with them, he and Goliath learn too late that they’ve been tricked into fighting for their lives in a deadly obstacle course.
Not only were the characters fun and relatable, but the designs of the gargoyles were dazzling and often times beautiful. Every gargoyle had their own unique design and appeal, which often inspired a lot of debate among fans in regards to which their favorite was. Of course I was partial to Brooklyn, but everyone had a love for Goliath. It also helped that the series packed in a rich cast of performers to bring the characters to life, including the great Keith David, Jonathan Frakes, Ed Asner, Frank Welker, Nichelle Nichols, and John Rhys Davies, respectively.
Despite the inherent fanfare and ratings, Disney cancelled the series in 1996 and quickly rebooted it for their Saturday Morning line up, renaming it “The Goliath Chronicles.” Though inferior in storytelling and animation quality, the continuation expanded on the world of the Gargoyles and their foes. The writers sent Goliath and his comrades on the search for other gargoyles, said to exist in other parts of the world, and later on even introduced his long lost daughter who becomes an official part of the canon.
After being unceremoniously taken off the air and ending on an abrupt question mark climax, the series and property remained dormant until the internet age where the fan base kept the series alive for years. The show even earned a limited comic series that the creator Greg Wiseman wrote as an official sequel to the original series run, ignoring most of “The Goliath Chronicles.” Whichever incarnation it takes, “Gargoyles” is one of the more entertaining original Disney properties of the nineties and is still highly sought after and beloved by genre buffs to this day.
In 2018, a short film was released by fan Carlos Ferrer, and “Get Out” director Jordan Peele has even expressed great interest in building a live action franchise for the “Gargoyles” property with Disney. To boot, Funko even unleashed a line of Gargoyles POP! toys (the core Manhattan Clan), so to say there’s renewed interest in the property is a safe bet.
Is It On DVD/Blu-Ray? The series can still be purchased on DVD and can also be streamed on Amazon Video in individual episodes or full seasons.
