Los Herculoides

Zandor, Tara, and their son Dorno live on a distant planet. With their animal friends, they protect the planet from all enemies as the Herculoids. There is flying dragon Zok with laser beam eyes and tail, powerful ape Igoo, rhino-like Tundro firing energy rocks from its horn, and shape-shifting blobs Gloop and Gleep.

This Saturday morning cartoon is from Hanna-Barbera. It's two 10-min segments. It's action-packed as they seem to have an endless number of enemies kidnapping Tara and Dorno or scheming to take over the planet. The animation is good 60's TV. The creatures are memorable. The plot is simple and pretty much the same. They do recycle many shoots like Zandor using his slingshot and Zok firing its laser beams. This is great for kids.

THE HERCULOIDS-was a half-hour animated action packed cartoon show that originally was shown on Saturday Mornings and ran originally on CBS-TV from the premiere episode on September 9,1967 to the last episode of the series on September 6,1969. Only 17 episodes were produced for the series,all in full color and produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions. However,to note that the original episodes only appeared during the 1967-1968 season while it second season on the air comprised of repeated episodes from the first season.

However,THE HERCULOIDS was basically a great example of pulp science-fiction mixed in with high adventure and breathtaking action sequences that kept viewers tuned into the show since it was mostly shown during Saturday Mornings. This was one of the best and probably the second greatest action packed cartoon ever made,which is one of the great Hanna-Barbera action adventure shows and it is right up there with "Jonny Quest",and "Space Ghost" as one of the best. This show had ever you could hope for and then some: monsters from other worlds, science-fiction,aliens with incredible powers,and not to mention formable villains that came within a drop of a hat. Even though some of the segments ran no more than eight minutes(and it was put within a half-hour show)every episode featured a host of new villains and alien nemesis with little or no explanation. In other words,the action kicks in gear once the characters were set to battle and some battles they had too which was impressive!!! The scenery for THE HERCULOIDS is set on the distant planet of Quasar under the rule of King Zandor(leader of the Herculoids),his wife Tara,and there son Dorno. The trio,handsome by human standards(mom and dad dressed like Amazons in the jungle while the son Dorno had a cute blond haircut)found themselves in a world they're constanting defending from invaders of other worlds and hostile predators that always required the talents of a unique quintet of animals. There was Tundro,the hybrid-looking rhino triceratops that was 10-legged and shoots energy rocks from its nose; Zok,the flying dragon that shoots laser beams emanating from both its eyes and tail;Igoo the powerful huge rock-like ape,and of course Gloop and Gleep,two shapeless ectoplasmic ghosts like creatures who mumbled a lot but were handy when it came to taking down the baddies and mostly protecting the human counterparts from great danger from some diabolical villain. Like the other animated series that came out during the mid-1960's they were about traditional looking superheroes,replete with costumes and secret identities. Here we have a family that looks like the equivalent of Tarzan,Jane and Boy(hence the humanlike characteristics of Johnny Weissmuller,Maureen O'Sullivan,and Johnny Sheffield). But instead of the African jungle,we have a jungle planet with alien animals using various powers and imaginative villains and creatures out to destroy the family's own natural habitat. The art work for this series was not only impressive but unique and exquisitely brilliant among the numerous creations that was designed and executed with sheer perfection by Alex Toth,the master and the designer of head hon co of the Hanna-Barbera action adventure shows that came out during the mid-1960's. The imaginative landscapes for this series was some of the best animated of its day and well as with some of the stories with some of the creatures were even good or loyal and sometimes evil. Not to mention the voice work for the series,especially from Hanna-Barbera stock player Mike Road(who was also the voice of Race Bannon for the Jonny Quest TV Series and other voices too),along with Virginia Gregg and Ted Eccles not to mention Don Messick(as the voices of Gloop and Gleep). When CBS-TV cancelled this show in the fall of 1969,the choice to get rid of this series was due to the violent content that appears in some of the segments not to mention the replacement for some of the "wussie cartoons" that came out during that period(for example "Scooby Doo"). As a cartoon it rocked. It hooked me in as a boy and it hooks me in today when the repeated episodes are shown on Boomerrang from Cartoon Network.

Herculoids,created by Alex Toth was unique among the numerous superhero cartoons of the 60's being done by Hanna/Barberra & others.Focusing on 5 different creatures who lived on the planet Quasar along with the human-looking Zandor,his wife Tarra, & their son Dorno,they would battle alien invaders every week.Or some menace already existing upon their world.We really never knew why Quasar was so important to all of the alien invaders who seemed to have no connection to one another.There didn't seem to be any other lifeforms like Zandor & his family,or the Hercs themselves.Were they all indigenous to the planet?But it was still funto see the weekly action with this group.Zok the flying dragon that had ray beams emanating from both eyes & tail,Igoo the huge,powerful rock-like ape,Tundro a hybrid-looking triceratops/rhino,& Gloop & Gleep,the blobs.The other animated series were about traditional looking superheroes,replete with costumes & secret identities.Here we had a family like Tarzan,Jane & boy.Instead of African wildlife,we had alien animals with various powers.The art was wonderful,as was the voice talent.In this age of revivals,Herculoids would be wonderful to see again.This time around though let's hope the mysteries of the series could be addressed.

I can not get over how well the Herculoids series have stood up over time. I watch it every chance I get (it drives my wife crazy)! The art work is still wonderful and fantastic. The stories are full of action and (the real reason it works) it's short stories of good over evil are quite compelling. I went to the 2008 Comic-Con with my son (who is an illustrator) and did not see the Herculoids represented at all. This series deserves major front burner attention. For such a short plot line it's got all the stuff to make it to the big screen. A strong family theme mixed with self reliance and Dorno's sense of responsibility taught by his farther Zandor. Yeah it has a little Tarzan twist to it's flow but that's why it works, keep it simple stupid ! Zandor seems to understand the line between what machinery and technology can and can't do for you. Even though he is surrounded by it he is not a slave to it and prefers his and his family simple life in the Forrest of Amzot. I would love to see The Herculoids adapted for the big screen. Just imagine a live action seen with Igoo (The Rock Ape) pounding his metal foe into the ground. Hulk, Iron Man, Batman watch your back. The Herculoids are the next sleeping Si-Fi giant ! ! !

The Herculoids might be the only great example of pulp sci-fi animation. Every episode featured a host of new alien nemeses with little or no explanation. Delightfully however it also featured little or none of the "master of the obvious" dialogue that plagued all the later Hanna Barbera cartoons; "Zoiks Scoob it's a sea monster..." The art has a very warm comic book feel. You won't find the nightmarish rainbow palette that many of todays toons are subjected to. The quality of each episode is consistently high given the archetypal characters, stories etc... In fact, it is precisely the simplistic pulpiness that keeps me wide awake even at ridiculous hours of the morning. The imaginative landscapes and creatures hooked me as a boy, and have yet to let go.