Synopsis of Saturday Morning Show

Described as "animation's first dramatic series," Gargoyles brought a sleek, gothic sensibility to animated television. This was new ground for Disney, whose previous small screen cartoons ran more along the lines of the fuzzy, funny Duck Tales and Chip 'n' Dale's Rescue Rangers.

The weekly syndicated series told the story of a very powerful race of winged creatures, who were cursed to dormancy in the year 994 A.D. The curse was lifted 1000 years later when the gargoyles were resurrected in modern-day New York City. Taking up residence in the clock tower of the 23rd Precinct of the N.Y.P.D., these nocturnal beasts fought to defend and save those they loved, and destroy the evil that surrounded them.

The gargoyles, led by the fearless Goliath, had an innate mistrust of humans due to past betrayals. The only human they did trust was a police detective named Elisa Maza, who helped Goliath and fellow gargoyles Hudson, Brooklyn, Lexington, Broadway, Bronx, and Angela to assimilate into modern society. The brave detective also helped her stone friends understand other humans, who usually responded to the flying monsters' efforts with fear and prejudice, despite the protection the gargoyles provided.

The gargoyles had their work cut out for them when it came to protecting their environs, since the forces of evil were powerful and omnipresent. One of their biggest rivals was a gargoyle named Demona, who was betrayed along with the others in 994 A.D. and was now bent on committing genocide. The heroes also battled corrupt businessmen like David Xanatos, gangsters like Anthony Dracon, the mad Dr. Anton Sevarius, a clone named Thailog, and others villains such as Illuminati and the Children of Oberon.

Both the animation and the writing were very advanced for a "children’s" cartoon, full of symbolism and references to mythology and Shakespearean literature. Disney cancelled the show's syndicated run in 1996, but ABC immediately snatched it up, renaming it Gargoyles: The Goliath Chronicles. The revamped show, with a new staff of writers and animators, ran on ABC's Saturday morning schedule for less than a full season.

Release History

10/24/94 - 8/29/97 ABC
1996 syndicated

TV Sub Categories

animated
sci-fi/fantasy

TV Studio

Disney

Television Cast

Goliath Keith David
Morgan Keith David
Elisa Maza Salli Richardson
David Xanatos Jonathan Frakes
Hudson Ed Asner
Demona Marina Sirtis
Brooklyn Jeff Bennett
Owen Burnett Jeff Bennett
Magus Jeff Bennett
Lexington Thom Adcox-Hernandez
Broadway Bill Fagerbakke
Bronx  Frank Welker
Angela Brigitte Bako
Fox Renard-Xanatos Laura San Giacomo
Matt Bluestone Thomas F. Wilson
Macbeth John Rhys-Davies
Archmage David Warner

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