The New Adventures of Flash Gordon

1979

Seasons & Episodes

  • 2
  • 1
  • 0
6.9| 0h30m| en| More Info
Released: 08 September 1979 Ended
Producted By: Filmation Associates
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website: http://www.hearstent.com/flashgordon.html
Synopsis

The New Adventures of Flash Gordon, also known as The Adventures of Flash Gordon, is an animated television series. The series is actually called Flash Gordon but the expanded title is used in official records to distinguish it from previous versions. Filmation produced the series in 1979, partly as a reaction to the mammoth success of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope in 1977. The series was a homage to the original Flash Gordon comic strip and featured most of the original characters, including Flash's girlfriend Dale Arden, and the scientist Hans Zarkov. The series is still regarded as one of the most faithful adaptations, and one of Filmation's finest overall efforts. The basic story follows Flash and his companions as they travel to Mongo, where they are forced into battle by its ruler, Ming the Merciless, his daughter Princess Aura, and his army of Metal Men. To help their cause the heroes lead the formation of an alliance beginning with King Thun, leader of the Lion People; Prince Barin, ruler of Arboria; and King Vultan, leader of the Hawkmen. The original project was produced as a made-for-television feature film. When NBC saw the finished work, it was decided to turn the work into an animated TV series. The change in format resulted in the story being significantly expanded with a subplot of Ming secretly giving military technology to Hitler being dropped, as well as being set in the present day rather during World War II. When the series was cancelled after its 2nd season, the original footage was reassembled with the original soundtrack, including the final role of Ted Cassidy, and aired on primetime in 1982 as a TV movie, Flash Gordon: The Greatest Adventure of All.

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Reviews

Mjeteconer Just perfect...
Sexyloutak Absolutely the worst movie.
Zlatica One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.
Fleur Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.
loleralacartelort7890 When I was a kid there was not many animated shows on Danish TV (I.E. I am from Denmark). The only thing that was on, was classic Tom and Jerry, Disney and Scooby-Doo. And ever since I saw those animated shows, i've been in love with animation - but I never could seem to get enough.Then suddenly I was at the supermarket "Bilka" in the city of Aalborg, there me and my bigger-brother received a VHS-tape of "The New Animated Adventures of Flash Gordon". We got home an watched it. And I was amazed.The start of the series was so cool and intriguing. It started with the classical score/music of the beginning....... Man - I can still remember the theme in my head. The animation is so classy in this animation-show. It is really good. The creators of the show have also done so much out of the music and sound of the story. The sound-scapes was on of the best at the times. The story was so imaginative and well-told. The art-work of Mongo (I.E. the planet the story takes place on) is so vividly drawn, thought-of and animated. I can't give this show enough phrase. It is SO good.If I have not seen it back then, and saw it today, then I would probably give it 8 out of 10.But I saw it back then, so for nostalgic reasons, I have to give it 10 out of 10 - Nuff said.
ricknorwood 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.
sshumsuper7fan78 Filmation's Flash Gordon is a richly realized, beautifully animated serial, a highpoint for television animation. Few animated series have even managed to approach its grace. Prior to it, perhaps The New Adventures of Huck Finn comes to mind, and after, IMO, it's only challengers have been Bravestarr (latter-day Filmation work), Don Bluth's The Pirates of Darkwater, and Batman: The Animated Series.This version of Flash Gordon is unmatched, by either the wonderful 30s serial, or the camped up but fun Dino Delaurentis version, released the same year.Filmation captured perfectly the splendor and spirit of Alex Raymond's strip, utilizing (for 1979) the best technology could offer: Body rotoscope, fx animation, moiré patterns, rotoscoping over motion control shots of model ships. The end result? A 16 chapter serial, which, while flawed with repetitive (at times) animation, delivered non-stop action, breathtaking animation and artistry with a truly "full" look and feel to it. Filmation managed this with their earlier Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle, basing it partly on the work of comics artist Burne Hogarth.The first 8 chapters are virtually flawless, if you can put aside the repetition. The best among them are: "A Planet in Peril", "The Beast Men's Prey", "Vultan, King of the Hawkemen", and "To Save Earth". The serial blazes away in epic proportions: There are fighter ship battles (Ming's fleet annihilating the Hawkmen and Vultan's city is utterly brutal and has a tragic beauty), gunfights in grand palaces, exotic locations and alien creations. There is a slight, but noticeable dropoff in animation quality in the latter half of the serial (chapters 9-16), but the standards remain high, and ultimately the viewer is rewarded.This magnificent series, and it's pilot film: Flash Gordon: The Greatest Adventure of All deserve to be preserved on DVD. Commentary from Filmation execs Lou Scheimer and Norm Prescott and living Raymond relatives would be GREAT extra features.Additional notes: Sadly, the serial gained a small, but loyal following in it's first season, the bane of many great SF series. NBC decided that, rather than give the show a bit more time to develop a larger following, that a format change was in order. The serial format was scrapped in favor of 12 minute shorts, which have disappointing animation measured against the serial, juvenile stories, and an overly cute pink dragon named Gremlin added to the cast. Gremlin is up there near the top of sickenly over-cute characters, such as Barney, Jar-Jar Binks, Gurgi (from Disney's The Black Cauldron), and Elmo. On several occasions, for instance, he blows smoke hearts.Lastly, if you think you have seen Flash Gordon: The Greatest Adventure of All having seen the serial, better think again. The animation standards are even higher here, and while some of the footage was used in the series, the vast majority of it will be new to you. It is an overwhelming, highly recommended experience which you won't regret seeking out. While it has not been officially released, it is fairly common among video traders.
Mister-6 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.

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