Dragon's Lair (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Dragon's Lair is a short-lived television cartoon series by Ruby-Spears Productions
based on the 1983
video game of the same name
. Thirteen half-hour episodes were produced from 1984
-1985
, airing on ABC
. Between the late '80s and the early '90s, the show was rerun on the USA Cartoon Express
, and has also aired on Boomerang
.
In keeping with the spirit of the game, before each commercial break the storyteller would ask what the viewer would do to solve the cliffhanger
Dirk the Daring faces. After the commercial break, the outcomes of the various choices were shown before Dirk acts on the correct idea (with the occasional exception) to save the day.
Several enemies from the original game also make their appearance as adversaries, such as the dragon Singe, the Lizard King, the Phantom Knight, the Giddy Goons, the Mudmen etc. In the episode "The Legend of the Giant's Name", an Ardu giant awoken by Singe forces Dirk to find his way out of an enchanted cave, which gradually transforms him into a skeleton, much like the death animations of the game.
released Dragon's Lair: The Complete Series on DVD in region 1 via their Warner Archive Collection. This is a Manufacture-on-Demand (MOD) release, available exclusively through Warner's online store and only in the US.
Ruby-Spears Productions
Ruby-Spears Productions is a Burbank, California-based entertainment production company that specializes in animation...
based on the 1983
1983 in video gaming
-Events:* A major shakeout of the video game industry begins. By 1986, total video games sales will decrease from US$3.2 billion to US$0.1 billion.* MCA Universal files suit against Nintendo, claiming that the latter company's video arcade hit Donkey Kong violated Universal's copyright on King Kong...
video game of the same name
Dragon's Lair
Dragon's Lair is a laserdisc video game published by Cinematronics in 1983. It featured animation created by ex-Disney animator Don Bluth....
. Thirteen half-hour episodes were produced from 1984
1984 in television
This article is a list of television-related events in 1984.-Events:*January 9 – Wendy's "Fluffy Bun" ad first airs, which propels Clara Peller and her "Where's the beef?" catchphrase to national prominence....
-1985
1985 in television
The year 1985 involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1985.For the American TV schedule, see: 1985-86 United States network television schedule.-Events:*January 1 – VH1 launches in the United States....
, airing on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
. Between the late '80s and the early '90s, the show was rerun on the USA Cartoon Express
USA Cartoon Express
The USA Cartoon Express was a programming block of animated productions which aired on cable television's USA Network from late 1982 to September 15, 1996...
, and has also aired on Boomerang
Boomerang (TV channel)
Boomerang is a 24-hour American cable television channel owned by Turner Broadcasting System, a division of Time Warner. Boomerang specializes in reruns of animated programming from Time Warner's extensive archives, including pre-1986 MGM, Hanna-Barbera, Cartoon Network, DePatie-Freleng Enterprises...
.
Synopsis
The series chronicles the adventures of Dirk the Daring, who is best knight in King Ethelred's kingdom. Dirk performs all sorts of great deeds while protecting the kingdom and his love, Princess Daphne. In his adventures there are several original characters like his stallion Bertram, his Squire Timothy and arrogant knight Hubert Blunt who frequently antagonizes Dirk.In keeping with the spirit of the game, before each commercial break the storyteller would ask what the viewer would do to solve the cliffhanger
Cliffhanger
A cliffhanger or cliffhanger ending is a plot device in fiction which features a main character in a precarious or difficult dilemma, or confronted with a shocking revelation at the end of an episode of serialized fiction...
Dirk the Daring faces. After the commercial break, the outcomes of the various choices were shown before Dirk acts on the correct idea (with the occasional exception) to save the day.
Several enemies from the original game also make their appearance as adversaries, such as the dragon Singe, the Lizard King, the Phantom Knight, the Giddy Goons, the Mudmen etc. In the episode "The Legend of the Giant's Name", an Ardu giant awoken by Singe forces Dirk to find his way out of an enchanted cave, which gradually transforms him into a skeleton, much like the death animations of the game.
List of episodes
- The Tale of the Enchanted Gift (1984·Sep·08) -
- Sir Timothy's Quest (1984·Sep·15) -
- The Tournament of the Phantom Knight (1984·Sep·22) -
- The Smithee's Haunted Armor (1984·Sep·29) -
- The Pool of Youth (1984·Oct·06) -
- The Story of Old Alf (1984·Oct·13) -
- The Song of the Chimes (1984·Oct·20) -
- The Girl from Crow's Wood (1984·Oct·27) -
- Mirror, Mirror (1984·Nov·03) - Singe uses a magic mirror to turn himself into a copy of Dirk and discredit him.
- The Snow Witch (1984·Nov·10) -
- The Tale of Dirk's New Sword (1984·Nov·17)
- The Legend of the Giant's Name (1984·Nov·24) - In his latest plot against King Ethelred's kingdom, Singe awakens the last of the Ardu Giants by saying his real name.
- The Mist of Wishes (1984·Dec·01) -
Cast
- Bob Sarlatte - Dirk the Daring
- Ellen GerstellEllen Gerstell-Voice roles:*Jem *Monchhichis *Dragon's Lair - Princess Daphne *My Little Pony: The Movie *Little Clowns of Happytown *My Little Pony TV series...
- Princess Daphne - Fred TravalenaFred TravalenaFrederick Albert "Fred" Travalena III was an American entertainer, specializing in comedy and impersonations.-Early life:...
- King Ethelred - Michael Mish - Timothy
- Arthur BurghardtArthur BurghardtArthur Burghardt is an American actor known for portraying Dr. Jack Scott on the soap opera One Life to Live.His first movie appearance was as the Great Ahmed Kahn in Network . A prolific voice actor during the 1980s, his most celebrated roles were Destro in the animated series G.I. Joe and...
- Singe - Peter CullenPeter CullenPeter Claver Cullen is a Canadian voice actor, known as the voice of Eeyore in the Winnie-the-Pooh franchise, Optimus Prime and Ironhide in the original Transformers series, and the narrator in both of the original American Voltron series...
- Bertram the Horse, Sir Hubert Blunt - Clive RevillClive RevillClive Selsby Revill is a New Zealand-born British character actor best known for his performances in musical theatre and on the London stage.-Early life and stage career:...
- Storyteller
DVD release
On September 20, 2011, Warner Bros.Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
released Dragon's Lair: The Complete Series on DVD in region 1 via their Warner Archive Collection. This is a Manufacture-on-Demand (MOD) release, available exclusively through Warner's online store and only in the US.
External links
- Episode guide at the Big Cartoon DataBaseBig Cartoon DataBaseThe Big Cartoon DataBase is an online database of information about animated cartoons, animated feature films, animated television shows and cartoon shorts....