Between 1964 to 1969, Hanna-Barbera Productions produced its first wave of action-adventure oriented cartoons. Of those series, two have been fully acknowledged as true classics of science fiction oriented animation. The first of the two series was the original JONNY QUEST which first aired in prime time on ABC back in 1964. The second series - in an ironic twist - made its debut around the same time that JONNY QUEST was beginning a Saturday morning run on CBS during the fall of 1967. That series was THE HERCULOIDS.
THE HERCULOIDS were the collective name of the super-powered creatures that starred in the series along with their human leaders. The five Herculoids were Zok, a dragon-like creature who could fire laser beams from his eyes and tail; Igoo, a gigantic gorilla-like creature with a stone body who possessed great strength and the ability to turn anything - usually boulders and trees - into weapons; Tundro, an armored rhinoceros-like creature that could fire energy rocks from a hollow horn on his head and ten legs for locomotion; and finally Gloop and Gleep, protean blob-like creatures who stretch long distances, can dived themselves, and change into various implements. They were led by the human Zandor (voiced over by Mike Road) who along with his wife Tara (Virginia Gregg) and their son Dorno (Teddy Eccles), led the five Herculoids to fight threats against their home planet of Amzot (Quasar in the later SPACE STARS revival) from menaces that threatened their home world.
Quite a few reviewers have noticed similarities between Zandor and his family to Tarzan and his family (Jane and Boy {or Korak if you prefer}). In fact, Zandor is much closer to Edgar Rice Burroughs' original conception of Tarzan than he was portrayed in much of the films up to that time (with elements of Burroughs' John Carter thrown in for good measure) as a highly intelligent jungle lord. To Zandor, his chief weapons - a slingshot (which he uses to fire energy rocks) and a disc-shaped shield (which he sometimes threw as an offensive weapon ala Captain America) was just as effective as a ray-gun. Riding on the backs of Zok or Tunndro - or his other favorite method of travel, sling-shooting himself on vines - was just as effective as flying a spacecraft. In other words, Zandor and his family weren't slaves to technology; they simply used their natural abilities, their wits, and the powers of the Herculoids not only to survive on Amzot; but to protect it as well.
As far as threats to their home world went, Zandor and the Herculoids faced menaces to their home world from inside and outside. From within Amzot itself, they faced attempted conquests from such races as the Spider Men of the Endless Caves, the Mole Men, the Reptons, the Laser Lancers, and such villains as Malak and Queen Skorra among others. From other planets came threats from Volton and his Electrode Men, Darkkon and his Faceless Ones, the Mutoids, not to mention such villains as Sta-Lak, Torrak, and the Sky Pirates among others. And on two occasions, Zandor and the Herculoids were forced to travel to other worlds to fight threats to them. All this was done in 36 11 minute cartoons, two per half-hour show.
Credit should also go to the character design work of Alex Toth the artist who was practically responsible for the distinctive look of Hanna-Barbera's action-adventure cartoons. His designs for the characters, machines, and scenery in THE HERCULOIDS gave the series its distinctive look.
THE HERCULOIDS originally aired on CBS during Saturday mornings from September of 1967 to September of 1969. The series would be revived during the late 1970's on NBC and in syndication during the early 1980's as part of HANNA-BARBERA'S WORLD OF SUPER ADVENTURE (a series that re-broadcasted all of Hanna-Barbera's 1960's superhero series sans THE SPACE KIDETTES and YOUNG SAMSON & GOLIATH). A further 10 cartoons would be done Hanna-Barbera's SPACE STARS series back in 1980, but are not on the level of the original 1967 series. THE HERCULOIDS also aired on the Cartoon Network during the 1990's and early 2000's and occasionally appears on the Boomerang Network. The original series is currently available on MOD DVD through Warner Home Video's Warner Archives as part of the Hanna-Barbera's Golden Classics series.
THE HERCULOIDS were the collective name of the super-powered creatures that starred in the series along with their human leaders. The five Herculoids were Zok, a dragon-like creature who could fire laser beams from his eyes and tail; Igoo, a gigantic gorilla-like creature with a stone body who possessed great strength and the ability to turn anything - usually boulders and trees - into weapons; Tundro, an armored rhinoceros-like creature that could fire energy rocks from a hollow horn on his head and ten legs for locomotion; and finally Gloop and Gleep, protean blob-like creatures who stretch long distances, can dived themselves, and change into various implements. They were led by the human Zandor (voiced over by Mike Road) who along with his wife Tara (Virginia Gregg) and their son Dorno (Teddy Eccles), led the five Herculoids to fight threats against their home planet of Amzot (Quasar in the later SPACE STARS revival) from menaces that threatened their home world.
Quite a few reviewers have noticed similarities between Zandor and his family to Tarzan and his family (Jane and Boy {or Korak if you prefer}). In fact, Zandor is much closer to Edgar Rice Burroughs' original conception of Tarzan than he was portrayed in much of the films up to that time (with elements of Burroughs' John Carter thrown in for good measure) as a highly intelligent jungle lord. To Zandor, his chief weapons - a slingshot (which he uses to fire energy rocks) and a disc-shaped shield (which he sometimes threw as an offensive weapon ala Captain America) was just as effective as a ray-gun. Riding on the backs of Zok or Tunndro - or his other favorite method of travel, sling-shooting himself on vines - was just as effective as flying a spacecraft. In other words, Zandor and his family weren't slaves to technology; they simply used their natural abilities, their wits, and the powers of the Herculoids not only to survive on Amzot; but to protect it as well.
As far as threats to their home world went, Zandor and the Herculoids faced menaces to their home world from inside and outside. From within Amzot itself, they faced attempted conquests from such races as the Spider Men of the Endless Caves, the Mole Men, the Reptons, the Laser Lancers, and such villains as Malak and Queen Skorra among others. From other planets came threats from Volton and his Electrode Men, Darkkon and his Faceless Ones, the Mutoids, not to mention such villains as Sta-Lak, Torrak, and the Sky Pirates among others. And on two occasions, Zandor and the Herculoids were forced to travel to other worlds to fight threats to them. All this was done in 36 11 minute cartoons, two per half-hour show.
Credit should also go to the character design work of Alex Toth the artist who was practically responsible for the distinctive look of Hanna-Barbera's action-adventure cartoons. His designs for the characters, machines, and scenery in THE HERCULOIDS gave the series its distinctive look.
THE HERCULOIDS originally aired on CBS during Saturday mornings from September of 1967 to September of 1969. The series would be revived during the late 1970's on NBC and in syndication during the early 1980's as part of HANNA-BARBERA'S WORLD OF SUPER ADVENTURE (a series that re-broadcasted all of Hanna-Barbera's 1960's superhero series sans THE SPACE KIDETTES and YOUNG SAMSON & GOLIATH). A further 10 cartoons would be done Hanna-Barbera's SPACE STARS series back in 1980, but are not on the level of the original 1967 series. THE HERCULOIDS also aired on the Cartoon Network during the 1990's and early 2000's and occasionally appears on the Boomerang Network. The original series is currently available on MOD DVD through Warner Home Video's Warner Archives as part of the Hanna-Barbera's Golden Classics series.