| Hercules | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | |
| Based on | Hercules by Walt Disney Animation Studios |
| Directed by | Phil Weinstein |
| Starring |
|
| Theme music composer | Alan Menken |
| Composers |
|
| Country of origin | United States |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 65 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Tad Stones |
| Producers |
|
| Running time | 23 minutes |
| Production companies |
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| Distributor | Disney–ABC Domestic Television |
| Original release | |
| Network | |
| Release | August 31, 1998 – March 1, 1999 |
Disney's Hercules: The Animated Series is an American animated television series based on the 1997 film of the same name and the Greek myth. The series premiered in syndication on August 31, 1998, and on ABC through its Disney's One Saturday Morning block on September 12, 1998. The syndicated run lasted 52 episodes, while the ABC run lasted 13 episodes.[1]
Premise[]
Disney's Hercules, like the animated series Disney's The Little Mermaid, is a spin-off of the 1997 theatrically released animated film of the same name (Hercules) and is based on his teenaged adventures, though it is not a prequel to the film of the same name (Disney's The Little Mermaid featured tales of a 16-year-old Ariel which occurred before the start of the theatrical film) or truly a sequel like Disney's Aladdin (whose tales takes place after the original film and The Return of Jafar). Rather, the Hercules TV series is a set during the film's song "One Last Hope", during his years in training on the Isle of Idra under the tutelage of Philoctetes (Phil) the satyr. Many of the Olympian Gods and Goddesses only glimpsed during the film pay visit to the young hero-to-be and help or hinder him in his adventures. Other characters from the film that appear are the evil god Hades (voiced by James Woods) and winged stallion Pegasus (voiced by Frank Welker). Corey Burton portrayed Hercules' father Zeus, as Rip Torn did not return.
Plot[]
The series follows Hercules, as a teenager, training as a hero, as well as trying to adjust to life. With his free-spirited friend Icarus, his future-seeing friend Cassandra, and his teacher Philoctetes ("Phil"), he battles his evil uncle Hades. Like all teenagers though, Hercules has to worry about peer pressure when the snobbish prince Adonis ridicules him. The series notably contradicts several events in the original film.
Episodes[]
List of Hercules (1998 TV series) episodes
Characters[]
The main cast of the series includes:
- Hercules (voiced by Tate Donovan) – The god-turned-mortal hero-in-training; thus, he is half-mortal, half-god. He is the son of both Zeus and Hera (in contrast to the myth).
- Philoctetes (voiced by Robert Costanzo) – The satyr hero trainer. One of the few characters from the movie whose voice actor (Danny DeVito) didn't return.
- Pegasus (voiced by Frank Welker) – The winged horse "with the brain of a bird" formed from clouds by Zeus, he is the childhood pet and faithful companion of his owner Hercules.
- Icarus (voiced by French Stewart) – Hercules' best friend. The boy who escaped from a labyrinth with his father on wax wings appears as a complete nut (he was "brain-fried" by flying too close to the Sun). Despite his accident, Icarus still flies every chance he gets resulting in a few more encounters with the sun and other perils, often requiring Hercules to rescue him. Icarus is very adaptive and hence could adjust to about every situation, except when he is very jealous and acts irrational. He could become an ultra serious soldier at boot camp or a nearly identical version of Hades himself. Thankfully, at the end of each episode, he reverts to his own odd self. He is also completely obsessed with Cassandra and flirts with her at every opportunity he gets. His father, Daedalus (voiced by David Hyde Pierce), is a teacher in the academy and Icarus doesn't acknowledge his parents' divorce. When Icarus graduates, he goes into inventing with his father and makes a fortune, earning the commercial title "Icarus, the Wax-Wing King".
- Cassandra (voiced by Sandra Bernhard) – The Trojan War prophet appears as an attractive, yet anti-social girl, that has visions of the future (usually bad) once in a while, which are rarely believed. Icarus is obsessed with marrying her even though she has shown she has no reciprocation. She tolerated his presence even before Hercules joined the trio because otherwise she would have had no friends. But even after she gained Hercules as a friend she still continues to socialize with Icarus and even admitted to him that she considers him a good friend. After graduating, she joins the Oracle Friends Network.
- Zeus (voiced by Corey Burton) – Hercules' father and king of the gods. He is always ready to provide advice on hero work, but is often prone to mistakes and recklessness himself.
- Hades (voiced by James Woods) – Ruler of the Underworld as well as Hercules' uncle and nemesis. Wisecracking, devious, and hot-tempered, he constantly schemes to steal control of Mt. Olympus from his brother Zeus.
- Pain and Panic (voiced by Bobcat Goldthwait and Matt Frewer) – Two tiny shapeshifting demons who are Hades's bumbling henchmen.
- Herculad - He is a small clone of Hercules and in the show. He flexes and cheers Hercules on because he's his biggest fan.
Production[]
Development[]
The series was produced by Tad Stones, who had previously done Aladdin. The directors of Hercules, John Musker and Ron Clements, jokingly said to him while the film was being produced: "Hey, Tad, we're doing a pilot for a series". The producers decided that the irreverence of the movie would be captured more easily by setting it within the events of the movie, with Stones declaring that "by ignoring continuity and trying to stay true to the elements of humor and adventure in the film, we came up with a much stronger series that really stands on its own". Since James Woods signed to voice Hades again, along with most of the cast of the film, many big-name actors were interested in taking part on the show. Over 150 celebrities took a part in the series, some self-lampooning: Merv Griffin played a griffin talk show host, game show host Wink Martindale played a riddle-expert sphinx and Mike Connors, famous for Mannix, played Athenian policeman Chipacles (named after CHiPs).[2]
Disney's revamping of Greek legend moved to the small screen in the late summer of 1998. Disney's Hercules had the Greek god still in "geek god" mode, before his "Zero to Hero" transformation. In the series, "Herc" was enrolled at Prometheus Academy, a school for both gods and mortals. Since events occur before young Herc meets and falls for the lovely Megara (Meg), he is joined by two new friends Cassandra (voiced by comedian Sandra Bernhard) and Icarus (voiced by French Stewart).
Animation[]
The animated television series' episodes and the direct-to-video film Hercules: Zero to Hero were animated by Toon City Animation, Inc. in Manila, Philippines, Walt Disney Animation Australia, Walt Disney Animation Japan, Studios Basara, Tama Productions, Delta Peak Productions, Frontier Pictures, Win Wood Productions, Nakamura Productions, Wang Films Productions Co., Ltd. and Thai Wang Films Productions Co., Ltd., Hanho Heung-Up Co., Ltd., Plus One Animation, Inc., Sunmin Image Pictures Co., Ltd., Sunwoo Animation, Korea, Hana Animation, Jade Animations International Co., Ltd. and a New Zealand studio called Slightly Off Beat Productions NZ Co., Ltd. which was also based in the other countries of Seoul, Korea, Xindian District, Taipei, Taiwan and Japan.
Broadcast[]
In 2000, Hercules moved to the now defunct channel Toon Disney, where it continued airing until 2008. Disney XD aired the series for the first time in June 2011 when the channel launched in Canada.[3]
Reception[]
Critical[]
CommonSenseMedia gave the series a rating of 4 stars out of 5, noting that this "better-than-average spinoff has heart and brawn."[4] Calhoun Times and Gordon County News gave the series 3 stars out of 4.[5]
Awards and nominations[]
| Year | Recipient | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Jennifer E. Mertens, Robert Duran, Paca Thomas, Marc Perlman, Brian F. Mars, Melissa Ellis, Robbi Smith, Robert Poole III, Rick Hammel, Kenneth D. Young, Charles Rychwalski, Eric Hertsgaard, William Kean, David Lynch and Otis Van Osten | Emmy Award for Outstanding Sound Editing – Special Class | Nominated |
| 1999 | Casey Stone for episode "Twilight of the Gods" | Golden Reel Award for Best Sound Editing – Television Animation – Music | Nominated |
| 2000 | James Woods for playing "Hades" | Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program | Won |
| 2000 | French Stewart for playing "Icarus" | Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program | Nominated |
| 2000 | Marc S. Perlman, Robert Duran and Paca Thomas | Emmy Award for Outstanding Sound Editing – Special Class | Nominated |
| 2000 | Joseph LoDuca | ASCAP Award for Top TV Series | Won |
Movie: Zero to Hero[]
Four episodes of Hercules were reformatted into the movie Hercules: Zero to Hero and released to home video. The episode "Hercules and the Yearbook" serves as the linking narrative, with random clips replaced with the episodes "Hercules and the First Day of School", "Hercules and the Grim Avenger" and "Hercules and the Visit From Zeus". Some of the dialogue between Hercules and Meg was altered to fit the episodes.
References[]
- ↑ "Disney's Hercules". www.bcdb.com, May 13, 2012
- ↑ Disney's Little Big Screen: Turning Animated Features Into TV Series, Animation World Magazine
- ↑ Disney XD Canada
- ↑ "Hercules – TV Review".
{{cite web}}: - ↑ "Calhoun Times and Gordon County News – Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
{{cite web}}:
External links[]
- Hercules at the Internet Movie Database
- Disney's Hercules at the Big Cartoon DataBase
- Hercules at TV.com
- Disney's Hercules at the Open Directory Project
| Disney's Hercules | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Films | Hercules (1997) • Hercules: Zero to Hero (1999) | |||
| TV series | Disney's Hercules: The Animated Series (1998–99) (episodes) | |||
| Video games | Main | Hercules • Disney's Animated Storybook: Hercules • Disney's Hercules Print Studio | ||
| Related | Kingdom Hearts series (Kingdom Hearts • Chain of Memories • II • Coded • 358/2 Days • Birth by Sleep • χ • III) • Disney Magic Kingdoms • Disney Mirrorverse • Disney Speedstorm | |||
| Music | Film soundtrack • "Go the Distance" • "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" • "Shooting Star" | |||
| Characters | Hercules • Megara • Hades | |||
| Related topics | Hercules musical • House of Mouse • Descendants 3 • Go the Distance: A Twisted Tale • Once Upon a Studio | |||
| Disney's One Too | ||
|---|---|---|
| Series | Buzz Lightyear of Star Command (2000–2001) • Digimon Frontier (2002–2003) • Doug (1996–1999) • Hercules (1998–1999) • Pepper Ann (1997–2000) • Recess (1997–2001) • Sabrina: The Animated Series (1999–2003) • The Legend of Tarzan (2001–2003) • The Weekenders (2000–2004) | |
| Related topics | UPN Kids • Disney Afternoon • Disney's One Saturday Morning • Disney Television Animation • Disney-ABC Domestic Television | |
| ABC Kids | ||
|---|---|---|
| Disney's One Saturday Morning (1997–2002) |
101 Dalmatians: The Series • The Bugs Bunny and Tweety Show • Buzz Lightyear of Star Command • Doug • Even Stevens • Hercules • House of Mouse • Jungle Cubs • The Legend of Tarzan • Lizzie McGuire • Lloyd in Space • Mary-Kate and Ashley in Action! • Mickey Mouse Works • Mrs. Munger's Class / Centerville • The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh • Pepper Ann • The Proud Family • Recess • Sabrina: The Animated Series • Science Court • Teacher's Pet • Teamo Supremo • The Weekenders | |
| ABC Kids (2002–2011) |
The Buzz on Maggie • The Emperor's New School • Even Stevens • Fillmore! • Hannah Montana • Kim Possible • Lilo & Stitch: The Series • Lizzie McGuire • NBA Inside Stuff • Phil of the Future • Power Rangers • The Proud Family • Recess • The Replacements • The Suite Life of Zack & Cody • Teamo Supremo • That's So Raven • W.I.T.C.H. | |
| Related topics | Children's programming on the American Broadcasting Company • Disney's One Too • Disney–ABC Domestic Television • Saturday morning programming on Disney Channel • It's a Laugh Productions • Jambalaya Studios • Disney Television Animation | |
| Children's programming on the American Broadcasting Company in the 1990s | ||
|---|---|---|
| First-run animated series |
A Pup Named Scooby-Doo (1988–91) • Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears (1989–90) • The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1988–1991) • Slimer! and the Real Ghostbusters (1986–91) • Beetlejuice (1989–92) • The Wizard of Oz (1990–91) • Little Rosey (1990–91) • New Kids on the Block (1990–91) • Darkwing Duck (1991–93) • Hammerman (1991–92) • The Pirates of Dark Water (1991–92) • Wild West C.O.W.-Boys of Moo Mesa (1992–94) • Goof Troop (1992–93) • The Addams Family (1992–95) • Cro (1993–95) • Tales from the Cryptkeeper (1993–95) • Sonic the Hedgehog (1993–95) • Free Willy (1994–95) • ReBoot (1994–96) • Bump in the Night (1994–96) • The New Adventures of Madeline (1995) • Dumb and Dumber (1995–96) • What-a-Mess (1995–96) • Brand Spanking New! Doug (1996–2001) • Mighty Ducks (1996–97) • Gargoyles: The Goliath Chronicles (1996–97) • Jungle Cubs (1996–97) • Quack Pack (1996–97) • Nightmare Ned (1997) • 101 Dalmatians: The Series (1997–98) • Recess (1997–2004) • Pepper Ann (1997–2000) • Science Court (1997–2000) • Hercules (1998–99) • Mickey Mouse Works (1999–2001) • Sabrina: The Animated Series (1999–2001) | |
| First-run live-action series |
Animal Crack-Ups (1987–90) • ABC Weekend Special (1977–97) • Land of the Lost (1991–92) • CityKids (1993–94) • Fudge (1995–96) • Hypernauts (1996) • Bone Chillers (1996–97) • Flash Forward (1996–97) | |
| Rebroadcasts | Pee-wee's Playhouse (1991-94) • Back to the Future (1993–95) • The Bugs Bunny and Tweety Show (1985–2000) • DuckTales (1997) | |
| Related | Disney's One Saturday Morning • Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue (1990) • Modern animation in the United States | |
| Hercules | ||
|---|---|---|
| Heracles • Hercle • Ercole • Hercule • Alcide | ||
| Family | Zeus (father) • Alcmene (mother) • Deianira (wife) • Heracleidae (children) | |
| Films | Italian series | Hercules (1957) • Hercules Unchained (1959) • Goliath and the Dragon (1960) • The Loves of Hercules (1960) • Hercules and the Conquest of Atlantis (1961) • Hercules in the Haunted World (1961) • Hercules in the Valley of Woe (1961) • The Fury of Hercules (1962) • Hercules, Samson and Ulysses (1963) • Hercules the Invincible (1964) • Hercules Against Rome (1964) • Hercules Against the Sons of the Sun (1964) • Samson and His Mighty Challenge (1964) • Hercules and the Tyrants of Babylon (1964) • Hercules and the Princess of Troy (1965) • Hercules the Avenger (1965) |
| Other films | The Warrior's Husband (1933) • Herakles (1962) • The Three Stooges Meet Hercules (1962) • Jason and the Argonauts (1963) • Hercules Against the Moon Men (1964) • Hercules in New York (1970) • Hercules (1983) •The Adventures of Hercules (1985) • Hercules (1997) • The Amazing Feats of Young Hercules (1997) • Hercules: Zero to Hero (1998) • Hercules and Xena – The Animated Movie: The Battle for Mount Olympus (1998) • Jason and the Argonauts (2000) • Immortals (2011) • The Legend of Hercules (2014) • Hercules (2014) | |
| Television | The Mighty Hercules • The Sons of Hercules (Mole Men Against the Son of Hercules (1961) • Fire Monsters Against the Son of Hercules (1962) • Ulysses Against the Son of Hercules (1962)) • Hercules (1995) • Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (1995) (Hercules and the Amazon Women (1994) • Hercules and the Lost Kingdom (1994) • Hercules and the Circle of Fire (1994) • Hercules in the Underworld (1994) • Hercules in the Maze of the Minotaur (1994)) • Hercules: The Animated Series (1998) • Young Hercules (1998) ("Hercules and the Arabian Night" (1999)) • Hercules (2005 miniseries) • Atlantis (2013) | |
| Literature | Poems | Heracles Papyrus • Shield of Heracles • Catalogue of Women • L'Atlàntida |
| Plays | Herakles • Women of Trachis | |
| Other | The Labours of Hercules • Hercules and the Wagoner | |
| Comics | Hercules (Marvel Comics) • Hercules (DC Comics) • Hercules (Radical Comics) • Spiff and Hercules | |
| Games | The Return of Heracles (1983) • Hercules (1984) • Disney's Hercules (1997) • Herc's Adventures (1997) • Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (2000) • Empire Earth (2001) • DragonFable (2006) • Rise of the Argonauts (2008) • Glory of Heracles (2008) • God of War III (2010) • God of War: Ascension (2013) | |
| Opera | Ercole amante (1662) • Alcide (1693) • Ercole su'l Termodonte (1723) • Admeto (1727) • Laßt uns sorgen, laßt uns wachen, BWV 213 (1733) • Hercules (1744) • Le nozze d'Ercole e d'Ebe (1747) • The Choice of Hercules (1750) • Hercule mourant (1761) • Le Rouet d'Omphale (1871) • Déjanire (1911) • Hercules vs. Vampires (2010) • Atlántida | |
| Art | Hercules of the Forum Boarium (2nd century BCE) • Farnese Hercules (216) • The Choice of Hercules (1596) • Hercules the Archer (1909) | |
| Other | Hercules in popular culture • Hercules (Disney franchise) • Labours of Hercules • Pillars of Hercules • Maczuga Herkulesa • Hercules in ancient Rome • Hercules' Club • Xena: Warrior Princess • Shirt of Nessus |
