In 1994, Walt Disney Television Animation launched a series called "Gargoyles." The show aired as part of The Disney Afternoon syndicated lineup, but the Disney stamp was not on the series. On merchandise, you'll usually find "BVTV" (Buena Vista Television) instead of "Disney." The show was darker in tone than other Disney Afternoon shows, more like "Batman: The Animated Series." In the original pitch for the show, the gargoyle characters were comedic and trouble-makers.
As the show was developed, changes were gradually made. Producer Frank Paur and character designer Greg Gular shaped the look and feel of the show, with input from Disney CEO Michael Eisner.The impressive voice cast included Keith David (Goliath), Ed Asner (Hudson), Bill Fagerbakke (Broadway), Jeff Bennett (Brooklyn), Frank Welker (Bronx), Thom Adcox-Hernandez (Lexington) and Salli Richardson (Elisa Maza). Star Trek fans no doubt enjoyed hearing Jonathan Frakes (David Xanatos) and Marina Sirtis (Demona) as the major antagonists of the series.
The Gargoyles were stone creatures by day, and came to life every night. The series featured complex stories and character relationships. The show has a strong fan following, but it is not really promoted much, maybe because it is so different.
Marvel released a Gargoyles comic book in 1995.
Now that Disney and Marvel have joined forces, I think Goliath and his crew should be marketed as Marvel characters.Maybe we'd finally see a Gargoyles movie!
I could go for that. A Gargoyles movie, if they developed a good script, could be a very cool thing.
ReplyDeleteA Snow White Sanctum: I think it would be great if they could use the writers from the series on a movie. I would love to see the technology used for "Avatar" and Gollum in "Lord of the Rings" to bring the Gargoyles to the big screen!
ReplyDeleteI just saw this today and wanted to say that I don't think Gargoyles should marketed as marvel.They give Disney a good dark tone and let's face it Goliath just couldn't fit anywhere in the Marvel world.Most everyone has powers and abilities that far surpass him.In crossovers he wouldn't really be able to help out much against Villains.
ReplyDeleteDejaTwo: I guess a Gargoyles/Marvel character crossover story could be tricky. I don't think Gargoyles has much in common with anything else at Disney, so the "franchise" never flourished. When Marvel and Gargoyles teamed up in 1995, I thought the comic books were very impressive. Note that the Disney brand is not used on the Gargoyles comic book cover.
ReplyDeleteDo you have more artwork the Gargoyles pitch in 1991?
ReplyDeleteSorry, Chaz-Toons---that's all I got!
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