Mysterious Cities of Gold, Episode 1
Jul. 17th, 2009 01:40 pm![[personal profile]](http://s.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mwbworldWell, I'm really pleased that Hulu has posted the entire series The Mysterious Cities of Gold (1982-83).
Here's Episode 1: Esteban, Child of the Sun (about 26 minutes long)
Some of the 1970s/early 1980s character design can be a bit painful and bland by modern animation standards, but overall a good start to the show for me.
It's a setup episode where we are introduced to the basic scenario of Spanish explorers searching in the New World for legendary golden cities. But it is also the tale of Esteban a mysterious child raised by local monks in Spain who has the strange ability to make the sun come out (dispelling clouds and storms.) An adventurer Mendoza, who has ties to Esteban (I won't spoil the background story introduced in the episode), convinces Esteban to join their journey to the New World. And Esteban meets a girl (Incan) - but more on that in future episodes I suspect.
The development may be slow for some, since it really just begins to introduce some of the characters and premises but given the show was mapped out to tell a complete story in 39 episodes, I think the pace works better for the committed viewer.
Perfect? Not so much. But definitely enough interest on my part between the nostalgia value (I vaguely remember seeing episodes of the show, but not the whole thing) and the hints about what is to come that I'll keep watching. From what I remember and read about it the show is a mix of historical fiction, adventure and science fiction.
And I see elements that would be played out in the later series Nadia: Secret of Blue Water which was also 39 episodes long.
I have mixed feelings about the credit sequence it kind of annoys me (not a big fan or that style of live action and animation), but I suspect it will grow on me due to repeat viewings.
BTW, the DVD set of the complete series is available at Amazon.
Next episode Crossing the Atlantic.
Here's Episode 1: Esteban, Child of the Sun (about 26 minutes long)
Some of the 1970s/early 1980s character design can be a bit painful and bland by modern animation standards, but overall a good start to the show for me.
It's a setup episode where we are introduced to the basic scenario of Spanish explorers searching in the New World for legendary golden cities. But it is also the tale of Esteban a mysterious child raised by local monks in Spain who has the strange ability to make the sun come out (dispelling clouds and storms.) An adventurer Mendoza, who has ties to Esteban (I won't spoil the background story introduced in the episode), convinces Esteban to join their journey to the New World. And Esteban meets a girl (Incan) - but more on that in future episodes I suspect.
The development may be slow for some, since it really just begins to introduce some of the characters and premises but given the show was mapped out to tell a complete story in 39 episodes, I think the pace works better for the committed viewer.
Perfect? Not so much. But definitely enough interest on my part between the nostalgia value (I vaguely remember seeing episodes of the show, but not the whole thing) and the hints about what is to come that I'll keep watching. From what I remember and read about it the show is a mix of historical fiction, adventure and science fiction.
And I see elements that would be played out in the later series Nadia: Secret of Blue Water which was also 39 episodes long.
I have mixed feelings about the credit sequence it kind of annoys me (not a big fan or that style of live action and animation), but I suspect it will grow on me due to repeat viewings.
BTW, the DVD set of the complete series is available at Amazon.
Next episode Crossing the Atlantic.