Flash Gordon

I watched parts of the new DVD version of this series, which I remembered with a certain fondness from the time it was on the air. It starts out looking good -- but that is only because it constantly borrows footage from the much better made-for-TV movie by Sam Peeples, Flash Gordon, the Greatest Adventure of Them All. The movie version was released second, but made first. When you get to the part written by Ted Pederson, the only good thing you can say about it is that it follows the Alex Raymond comic strip. But why watch the film when you can read the strip, which has been reprinted many times? The dialog is rudimentary, the animation is pathetic. When it is not borrowing footage from somewhere else, the animation often doesn't even fit the action, or the action takes place off stage so they can reuse some footage that doesn't really belong. For example, in the underwater sequence, the characters walk underwater as often as they swim, so the animator can reuse walking footage. Have you ever tried to walk upright under water? The second season, which introduces a cowardly baby dragon who is supposed to be cute but is only annoying, is even worse. The dragon is a rip-off of Godzookie, the Godzilla sidekick. I'm sorry to say, give this DVD a pass. Watch the Buster Crabbe serials instead -- they may be cheap, but at least they are fun.

This Saturday morning cartoon series came out a full year before the theatrical version with Sam Jones and Max Von Sydow; but for sheer entertainment value, you couldn't ask for more on an early weekend morning.

Anyone who knows Flash and company already knows the plot of "The New Animated Adventures of Flash Gordon". It follows the age-old plot of Flash and Dale accompanying Dr. Hanz Zarkov into space and, up[on landing on the planet Mongo, become quick enemies of the evil Emperor Ming the Merciless. Eventually, they ally themselves with King Vultan and help fight for truth, justice and the American (or at least non-Mongo) way.

This is the kind of series that benefits from animation and the Hal Sutherland logo always signified something worth watching in the mid-to-late '70s as far as TV animation goes. All the heroes look appropriately heroic, the damsels are all alluring, the villains more villainous and the monsters more... monstrous. Outer space has never looked more exciting or dangerous than it does here, and the "roto-scoping" of the spaceships and actors is well-used in this venue.

TIDBIT - the voice for Flash Gordon was actually that of Robert Ridgley, who most may remember as the "airport cop" who accosts Mel Brooks in "High Anxiety" and the mayor of Beverly Hills in Eddie Murphy's "Beverly Hills Cop II".

Eight stars for "The New Animated Adventures of Flash Gordon", proof positive that space is not the final frontier - Saturday mornings are.

The 16 episodes are without doubt one of best cartoons of the late 1970's. The graphics sometimes repeated themselves as you saw the same ship getting hit over and over again during some of the battle scenes. But, they had other scenes that were great and the overall story line was great. I only found out later that some of the great facial expressions were the actual actors who did the voices. It should have run more then just one season and the movie they made later. I don't count the 2nd season run later in 1980's as the new episodes were not as good as the ones from 1979. Being a Flash Gordon buff like I was. I loved this cartoon and wish it was available on DVD. I have videos of the originals from the 1930's and Movie made in 1980. I wish I had a copy of this. This was true to comic and the original story and deserves the 10 stars I gave it and two thumbs up.

When this came out I was hooked 1979 aninated shows were very stale on saturdays then this came out. First thing I noticed was a shinyness to the look and it reminded me of a advanced Johnny Quest and then the story line that I found out from my Dad who saw the serial back in the Phillipines at the movies that, it was pretty true to the classic serial. Then I noticed wow the characters are very well drawn and animated. Later finding out that they were using horoscope to capture a more realistic look. Then at the end a cliff hanger. What? how cool gonna have to watch it episode to episode. So that hooked me. To me the animation even got better later. There is a bit of "that scene again "that's why a 9. Otherwise my choice for one of the best Saturday cartoons ever along w Johnny Quest.

I'm watching the Flash Gordon cartoon, and it's hitting all those pulp fiction itches I needed scratched. Throw in the rotoscope and early CGI, and it's a great cartoon. The best part is that the same guy who did Skeletor (Alan Oppenheimer) does Ming (including the throwing back of the head and laughing) so it's even more glorious. I even love it when they reuse animation bits every so often.

There is a notable lack of color, but the women are presented as large and in charge, so that's pretty cool. Overall, the cartoon has aged well, and is all sorts of fun.