Gargoyles, the hit TV series from 1994-1997, has developed an avid following that has only continued to grow. With all episodes now available on Disney+, rumors of a new animated series have surfaced along with discussions for a live-action adaptation that dates back to 1995. The series generated the idea of a Disney action universe to rival DC and Marvel, however, Disney chose to distribute the show through Buena Vista Television and remained hesitant in attaching their name to it until changes were made for its third season.
The series began in 1994 when winged creatures, known as gargoyles, awaken at night to assist in the defense of a Scottish castle from the Viking attack. Their leader Goliath, played by Keith David, was caught outside when daybreak hit, turning him to stone. The captain of the guards, behind the setup that led Goliath outside, betrays the clan and all the gargoyles, save a few, were smashed while in their daytime stone form. Believing the princess of the castle had been killed, the remaining gargoyles are cursed in their stone sleep “until the castle rises above the clouds.” They are awakened when their castle is reconstructed atop a New York skyscraper by industrialist David Xanatos, whose intentions are ultimately villainous.
What makes Gargoyles unique in the mid-1990s, especially in comparison to Disney’s other animated fare, was its darker, more mature themes, including an episode that sparked the gun control debate. The series incorporated Shakespearean themes throughout its run and explored a serialized storyline that was unheard of in syndication. Gargoyles broke barriers by featuring a female character, Detective Elisa Maza, who was always able to hold her own, saving Goliath’s life on numerous occasions. Moreover, one of the gargoyles, Lexington, was gay, which was groundbreaking for its era, as it wasn’t explicitly stated due to social ramifications.
Sadly, when it came time for the third season, numerous circumstances spelled the end of Gargoyles. Key Disney executives had left, the O.J. Simpson trial dominated TV coverage, and the show was cut from syndicated programming due to changes in scheduling and an aggressive new TV program, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. The series moved to ABC’s Saturday morning lineup, renamed The Goliath Chronicles while losing its darker edge. This move marked a great loss for the show, as it traded its unique style for a safer, more formulaic approach.
Today’s audiences can fully appreciate Gargoyles on Disney+ in all its glory with its classic world-building narrative that looks at everything from the dark ages to the metropolitan life of New York City. This series, with its unusual themes and story arcs, still stands out as one of the greatest animated shows of its time and an early pioneer in serialized storytelling, pushing the boundaries of animation to new heights.
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Khushi Patel is a science fiction author who lives in Austin, Texas. She has published three novels, and her work has been praised for its originality and imagination. Khushi is a graduate of Rice University, and she has worked as a software engineer. She is a member of the Science Fiction Writers of America, and her books have been nominated for several awards.
