Mythic Warriors: Guardians of the Legend | |
---|---|
Narrated by | James Blendick |
Country of origin |
Canada France |
No. of seasons | 2 |
No. of episodes | 26 (list of episodes) |
Production | |
Running time | 22 minutes |
Release | |
Original network | first-run syndication |
Original release | 1998 – 2000 |
Mythic Warriors (also known as Mythic Warriors: Guardians of the Legend) is a French/Canadian/Chinese animated television series, which featured retellings of popular Greek myths that were altered so as to be appropriate for younger audiences, produced by Nelvana and Marathon Media. Two seasons of episodes were produced in 1998 and 1999; then aired alongside reruns until 2000, when CBS' abolition of its children's programming resulted in its cancellation.
The series was a fixture of CBS' Saturday-morning cartoon lineup. The show. Scottish Television screened the series as part of its children programme Inside Out. The show was repeat in 2009 on wknd@stv, which is a children's television strand on Scottish television channel, then on Saturday mornings on STV during 2010. The series has been translated into Scottish Gaelic and is broadcast on BBC Alba since 2010.
Most of the characters in the show are all portrayed with their original Greek names, though Romanized exceptions (e.g. Hercules, Ulysses, etc.) were also utilized.
This show is well known for its unique depictions of the Greek gods. Most were shown as gigantic (approximately 10–12 feet tall) humanoids possessing immortality, the abilities to fly and teleport, supernatural powers of a magical nature (as opposed to cosmic), and the ability to alter their appearances at will; including reducing themselves to the size of a typical human, as well as completely altering their looks, voices, and even gender. When in their natural form, an echo would accompany their voice whenever they spoke.
Instead of classic attire resembling that which human nobility often employed during Hellenic times, the Olympians were instead depicted as wearing brightly colored clothing more typical of a warrior's formal attire. The exceptions being Hera, Demeter, and Hephaestus.
Between the first and second seasons, the depictions of several gods changed. Hades' attire was slightly altered. Persephone aged from a teenage-looking young girl to a grown goddess. The most significant changes, however, were to Aphrodite and Athena; the former shifted from a giggling pencil-thin schoolgirl-like teenager, to a conniving fully mature armor-clad lust goddess, with an entirely different voice and manner of speech as well. Athena was altered from a blonde in monotonous silver armor; to a brunette cloaked in blood-red dual-split dress with matching cape, plus golden shin guards and arm-bands in addition. Despite the complete change in depiction, her voice did remain the same.