Cadillacs et dinosaures

Dinosaurs we've always had a fascination with, we always wonder what they really when they existed, we may never really know since we were around. But what would happen if we had that chance to co exist? This is another under the radar gem that I really like, this show of course is based on a Graphic Novel mini series "Zenozodic Tales" which makes this a comic book adaptation show and I personally fell it's one of the best.

I like the fact that one of my favorite script writers Steven E. Soza created this show which I was surprised about and that was cool. The fact he help make this show really showed how versatile he was, shame he didn't make more animated shows or even get this show to become a live action film. I also felt like this show was a way of showing how animation was beginning to take the next step.

The animation is great I really love the color scheme, the enviormental backgrounds really capturing both the exotic and wild jungle but also seeing the modern day ruins showing how our civilization has meet the same fate as many other lost civilizations. The music is good/decent there is a decent theme.

I really love the concept which is a wild one but I think it's great, it's something different in the post apocalyptic sub genre. Instead of zombies, aliens, or robots it's Dinosaurs which is awesome. The world created is fascinating, from seeing the ruins of our civiliatzion is a bit disturbing but just goes to show that nothing is forever, the things we take for granted once their gone it's forever. The dinosaurs whom are the highlight of the show that are roaming around, each episode I always wonder what other dinosaurs were we going to see. But I really like how despite the circumstances we actually still have some technology and a form of subculture going on; from the guns, motorbikes, radios, down to of course the Cadilacs which of course are the other highlight of the show.

The action is solid, there is a shootout or two, liked seeing Jack use the grenade launcher gun which unfortunately we don't see him use enough. Though it really the vehicular action, there are some solid chases and it's just cool to see both Jack and Hannah drive the Cadilac in the strange landscape. Driving the point more on past values trying to continue to exist in our wild ever changing structure.

I like both the protagonists Jack and Hannah, both have their strength's a weaknesses. Jack Teneric is cool he's a gear head, he cares about both nature and the people living in it, just as he fixes his cars he is constantly trying to fix the world around him to keep thing fair. Though he's not perfect, he's a little guilty of being a little socially inept as he does sometimes say the wrong thing to two with Hannah. But that's because he's slightly inexperienced with human interaction especially with people like Hannah; let alone never received the same educational standards as Hannah.

Hannah Dundie is also great, hot with the persona to boot. She's smart, can hold her own against danger, does care, ambitious, has a lot of fire and energy to her. But like with Jack even she not perfect either, she's highly educated but inexperienced as she has barely left the city. There is a small hint of arrogance as she sometimes has attitudes that certain things Jack does don't work or her way is better, not to say she wrong due to her educational standpoint but she's of course not always right.

Both balance each other out well, I really liked seeing them clash and both do that because their both by their nature the same despite only minor differences. In a way both sort of metaphorically represent the conflicting relationship with both civility and nature, past values and new wisdom.

I really like the mature themes on Civility vs. Savagry, man's troubled relationship to nature, importance of past values and new wisdom and ethical boundaries.

I would love a revival to this series, or better yet make either a live action TV show or Movies, make it more for an older audience give it a more darker edge as well as more vehicular action. With the effects and technology we have now I see no reason why this can't happen.

Like a well audio mated Cadalac, it's worth a drive.

Rating: 3 and a half stars

Growing up as a kid, I was a fan of the comics and the animated series. I would love to find the show on DVD or on line somewhere even without the conclusion of the final episode. I would like to clear something up, though. Contrary to popular belief, Mark Schultz has not vanished from the face of the earth. He is the current writer of the famed Prince Valiant comic strip series. Hopefully someday he will regain the motivation to revive the Cadillacs and Dinosaurs Series. I'm more than sure that the dedicated followers of his work can help re-inspire him. I would also like to believe the Zenozoic Tales are worthy of a big budget, Hollywood movie. With the current trend of Comic Book movies, one may never know what could happen with enough support.

Jason Z. Hunt

This show is way ahead of its time. Not only does it forward a message of environmental consciousness but it has strong stories with great characters that was typically unseen in other cartoons at this time. The whole concept of island settlements reminds the viewer of ABC's Lost and how many zombie movies are situated in post apocalyptic worlds? Granted, one villains name is Hammer but that probably a consequence of the year in which it was created rather than poor writing. A show in which Cadillacs meet dinosaurs... how could anyone resist. 13 episodes does not do this show justice. The main character, Jack, was some kind of anthropologist, environmentalist, weight lifter, mechanic. It was fun to watch and reminds me why I loved cartoons in the early 90s. A DVD release of this show is a must!

Cadillacs and Dinosaurs was the brainchild of black-and-white comics artist Mark Shultz. A longtime illustrator--and automobile enthusiast--Shultz hit upon unique idea: why not create a world in which humans inhabit a world side-by-side with dinosaurs?

Cadillacs and Dinosaurs was the result, and it was an immediate hit. The comic book series spawned trade paperback collections (published by the now-defunct Kitchen Sink Press) and a season of animated cartoons. All of the stories explored the new world through the eyes of Jack Tenrec, a garage mechanic and espouser of an obscure philosophy called Machinato Vitae (Machinery of Life). His constant companion is Hannah Dundee, a very capable woman who thinks Jack is a savage. His foil is an ogre of a woman named Scharnhorst, who wants to push human civilization forward at whatever the cost.

The stories worked because the people were realistic, but largely ignorant of their past. Only in the comic books did you get a hint of how this world came about (clue: think Jurassic Park on a global scale!), and even then it was never said outright, which gave the whole series an air of mystery.

So why didn't the series work? Probably because the series was too unique. Animated shows typically fall into one of three categories: slapstick (Loony Tunes), satire (The Simpsons), or adventure (X-Men). Cadillacs and Dinosaurs really didn't fit into any of these molds, and its underlying environmental message undoubtedly confused the cable and TV executives into thinking it was an "Educational Show" which to media moguls says, "No profit margin". Rather than try something new, the powers-that-be elected to scuttle the show.

As a final note, it's unknown what happened to the series' creator. Mark Shultz has literally dropped from sight, leaving the Cadillacs and Dinosaurs saga hanging on a precipice. In the final story, Hannah and friends have faked Tenrec's death in order to throw Scharnhorst (who has seized power in a coup) off his trail. To this day, there has been no word as to how this extraordinary tale will end! That is perhaps the biggest tragedy of all.

This was my favourite show when I was a kid. It had incredible animation and amazing storylines. Sadly, it only lasted a season, however, if you can find re-runs somewhere, WATCH THEM!! You'll be hooked! The show I think was based on a comic series called Xenozoic Tales, and I think there are also comics with this title. But it was an incredible show, which is something I can't stress enough.