Jonny Quest

When I was a kid (you know, back when Hanna-Barbera dominated TV cartoons and dinosaurs roamed the antediluvian plain), there was an incredibly, inexplicably popular show named…"Scooby Doo". But, for those of us who considered ourselves smarter and hipper than the average bear, there was only one cartoon that ruled and it ruled with an iron fist. I'm talking about "Jonny Quest", a combination of pulp adventure, science fiction, spy flicks, horror, drama and comedy that was utterly irresistible to me and millions of other little boys around the world back in the mid-60's. From the opening bars of Hoyt Curtin's driving, jazzy theme song, the opening credits were enough to drive any kid insane: a savage jungle with giant lizards, a mummy, a pteranodon, jet packs, gunfire, fisticuffs, giant robot spiders, hover platforms, giant death rays and then the introduction of the Quest family: 11-year old Jonny, scientific genius Dr. Benton Quest, tutor-pilot-combat expert-bodyguard Roger T. "Race" Bannon, Indian mystic Hadji, and Jonny's bulldog pup Bandit racing around the world to another thrilling adventure in Dr. Quest's sleek, needle-nosed jet aircraft. Jonny and his dad lived in a secluded island fortress-secret laboratory with Race Bannon, Hadji and Bandit. Dr. Quest was a scientific genius working for the U.S. Government, a widower (Mrs. Quest's death is only mentioned once, but the impression lingered that she was killed by bad guys trying to get to Dr. Quest – hence, government agent Race Bannon is assigned to protect father and son) who was constantly called to come up with some piece of super-science or a solution to a strange mystery in some remote and exotic corner of the world – and, more often than not, how Jonny (with considerable assists from Hadji and Bandit) saved or gave him critical assistance. "Jonny Quest" was different because it was obviously a show that was striving for a maturity and realism that had never been seen in television animation before. From the lush and detailed backgrounds to the almost-adult level of violence (all sorts of people and animals die in this show - and when someone died, they stayed dead), there was a lot in this show that wasn't for kids. And now, after years of waiting, Warner Brothers has released all 26 episodes in a massive and elegant 4-disc set, presented in their original broadcast order. From "Mystery of the Lizard Men" to "The Robot Spy" to "The Sea Haunt", they're all here and looking absolutely smashing along with all sorts of DVD goodies like trailers, a featurette on the animators, everything you'd ever want to know about the good and bad guys on the show and even a vintage commercial for sneakers starring Jonny! I fell in love with this show when I was about 8 years old, watching it dubbed in Spanish and in black-and-white, rediscovered it again in color when we came to the States and now, after 30+ years I can say with total assurance that some pleasures from childhood are just as good when you're an adult.

OK so I'm a big kid at heart according to my wife- I have recently purchased the JOnny Quest first series on DVD- what quality! Even my young son is hooked on it- Great music, superb animation design which looks good on DVD, fantastic extras including a Jonny Quest TV ad on sneakers- wow never knew that. Overall a highly enjoyable package and well worth the £ 29 i paid for this on Region 1( not available in UK yet so i had to order from the USA!)- SO THE EVENINGS are now spent watching Monster in the MOnastery or the Lizard men,instead of a chardonnay with the missus- how sad am I? OR how excited can one get> Jonny Quest undoubtedly is the best animation adventure ever made!

I was 6-7 years old when Jonny Quest came out and I loved the show (still do!)- and yes, I am a female! The artwork employed was incredible for its time and every show had tidbits of scientific or technological info that fed hungry young minds. No, I didn't grow up wanting to be a mad scientist! And no, I didn't grow up with any violent tendencies from watching Jonny use judo or anything- compared to cartoons today the violence in Jonny Quest is pretty mild (nothing graphic)! The cartoons are exciting and interesting...and who doesn't love Bandit???? He's better than Scooby Doo! I was so happy to see the boxed set of first season episodes in the store. I bought it right away to watch with my husband (also a Jonny Quest fan) and 14-year old daughter (who remembers the new Jonny Quest from the 1990's). Although the cartoons are somewhat dated they are still fun to watch. The locales are exotic, the action and adventure thrilling! All Jonny Quest fans will love this boxed set and treasure it for the nostalgic memories it will evoke of that 1960's era when science and technology were at the gateway of the future (outer space travel, moon landings, robotics...)! Jonny Quest was, to the children of 1964-65, a visionary glimpse into the future. Today it is a nostalgic visit to the much more innocent past.

This was the coolest show ever! You had top notch designs from Doug Wildey and Alex Toth, great voices from the likes of Don Messick and Tim "Otter" Matheson, great stories and kick-a** music. People actually died in this show! (unlike 80's fare, like GI Joe, where they always parachuted to safety, or everyone misses with lasers). Despite being tagged as violent, the show illustrated that violence had consequences. You learned that if you fire a gun, people die, or at least get hurt.

What's not to love about a show with dinosaurs, WWI airplanes, robot spiders, lizard men, Dr Zin, invisible monsters, mummies, and secret armies? You got jet packs, lasers, submarines, hovercraft, hydrofoils, vstol jets, and other cool rides. You have evil villains like Dr Zin, Ivar, Dr Karim, Ashida and his dragons, and a host of foreign spies. Throw in exotic locales and you can't lose.

Yeah, it wasn't the most PC of shows (take that you heathen monkeys, indeed) but it was still pretty entertaining; and, Hadji was always portrayed as an intelligent and equal character. Sure, Dr Quest and Race Bannon sure seemed to avoid women (except Jezebel Jade) but, you know, they were positive role models.

By the way, if you ever wondered what happened to Jonny's mother, check out the excellent Comico comic book from the 80's. It was an outstanding story that will bring tears to your eyes, and add a wrinkle to Dr Zin.

There are very few pieces of Animation that I will remember for the rest of my life....and when I have children, will want to sit them down and say, "This is what animation is all about." Many of them came from the minds of Hanna-Barbera, and were "age appropriate": such as The Flintsones, The Jetsons, Quick Draw McGraw, Yogi Bear, etc. Others VERY dear to my heart were straight from Japan such as "Astro-Boy", "Marine Boy", "Prince Planet" among others. But this one..this is the one that stole my little girl heart, and these were the first tv "guys" I ever developed my first crush on.

No, Not Jonny. Dr. Benton Quest and Race Bannon. When you're three/ four years old, many folks say: "Ah, they wont remember a thing at that age." Oh yeah, I remember.

Race Bannon was it! I swore when I grew up, I was going to find a man similar to "Race Bannon". He was cool, swave, strong, smart, and oh, so sexy. Dr. Benton Quest, was - the genius. He was the quiet/sensitive type, smart, a work-a-holic and WANTED for his brain. Whatever happened to his wife...I didn't CARE!

For that time, this cartoon was of a higher calibre than "let's just entertain the kiddies with colorful images." This had action, adventure and a little boy close to our age we could relate to. Adding Hadji was a stroke of smartness as well, here was a character in a cartoon from a background...no one else brought to the screen (Quick, tell me how many Indians from India are cast in Hollywood mainstream films? Cartoons? Commercials?) Of course by today's standards Haji might be a bit dry, but it was interesting to watch Jonny and Hadji interact.

Jonny Quest was NOT your run of the mill cartoon from that era. And to be perfectly honest..the opening and closing music and montage scenes were to die for, made me excited about the series just as much as the series itself. Cartoons today wont go through that much production. ("The Simpsons" being the exception!)

I recommend this 60's series highly to those who want to see the early Hanna-Barbera animation of action-adventure, done with pretty decent scripts that never talked down to its audience, even parents enjoyed this one. Smart, fun, sexy. See all of the installments if you can. Don't go to the 80's/90's ones, this is the set to get!