This animated series is an amazingly complex, well-structured and imaginatively-designed fantasy based closely on an Italian comic series. The television version was devised in France, uses American voice-actors, and much of the animation was done by a studio in Korea, so it is very much an international production.
The story revolves around a so-called meta-world named Metamoor, on whose principal kingdom of Meridian an evil man, Prince Phobos, has risen to power. To protect the rest of the unverse from Phobos, a veil has been put up to enclose Metamoor, and this is guarded by five Guardians of the Veil. The former Guardians are now too old to perform this task, so five early-teenage females are recruited to take over the task.
They each have a natural affinity toward aparticular element or characteristic, so when these five young ladies come together in the town of Heatherfield, Hay-Lin's grandmother (who was formerly a member of the previous Guardians) gathers them together in a back room of her restaurant and explains it all to them, including an amulet that holds the Heart of Kandrakhar which provides their full powers.
Four of the Guardians have their natural power over a particular element hugely enhanced when they transform into Guardian mode, using the Heart, and they also then grow to their 16-year-old size in the process. The fifth Guardian, Will, holds the Heart and controls the Guardians' transformations, also having (after a time of development) the fifth elemental power (quinta essentia or quintessence) which is effectively pure bio-electric energy. This gives her the shocking power of a Pikachu(!) and even allows her to talk to (and hear from) electrical appliances, such as the fridge, toaster and even her calculator, to all of whom she has given names and has conversations with!
Will is a great character, as are they all in their own ways, but Will probably has more than any of the others, and it has now become clear why it was Will who just had to be the leader of the Guardians and the Keeper of the Heart. Even so, it is when they all work together that the most impressive (and often very original!) results occur.
The four elements are:
Thus the scene is set for a classic good-versus-evil story, but this one has a wide range of intrigues, amazing creatures (some of whom can take on other appearances, including human), combination uses of different Guardians' powers, and various other complexities that enrich a very good storyline and help to make this ostensibly children's series into something way beyond the norm, highly detailed and intelligently written. Some of the creatures are very well crafted, from the deadly larveks and huge mudslugs, plus sewer-troopers and scuttlers, via the deceptive mogriffs, through the rascally passlings such as Blunk and Jeek, and to the gentle hoogong beasts. And then there are Phobos's Lurden servants and, of course, the unforgettable serpentine Lord Ssssedric...
Other original villains, some of whom are shape-shifters like Cedric, include Sandpit, Gargoyle, Tracker, Frost the hunter (on his trusty rhino-like steed, Crimson), Raythor and Miranda the shape-shifting spider-beast who can also take on an innocent-looking child-like human appearance. Oh, and in the second season there is of course former first-generation Guardian Nerissa who has now turned to the dark side...
The most appealing character of all, I find, is Elyon, Cornelia's school friend who turns out to be so much more than merely that. In the comic book original, Elyon is drawn in a somewhat sly-looking style, and is a much less well fleshed-out character; but in the television series her appearance and personality bring her far more to life.
In the TV series we get to learn much more of Elyon's wisdom and moral compass, despite her youthful flaws and apparent gullibility in the early stages of the story. The difference between the first comic book and the first TV series is that one tends to dislike her immensely in the comics, but on TV we know enough of the background to realise that poor Elyon is a victim of her evil brother's wiles and has been very cleverly taken in by him. We want her to come to her senses and realise what is really going on around her, but do not hate her for being fooled.
Anyway, it all comes out well in the end; but then there is the second season, and amazingly that is even darker and even more of an emotional roller-coaster than the first season was.
I have been immensely impressed by this series, and have been buying the DVDs as they are released. It really is that good, and is worth just allowing oneself to be enveloped in the story and the wonderful scenery, especially in Meridian and its villages, as well as Phobos' palace with its black roses and whisperers. Overall: highly recommended!
Here are some pictures of the scenery and a few of the creatures, including a Hougong and some Whisperers...
To date there have been two seasons of 26 episodes each, as tabulated below. The second season's titles are of particular note:
| Season 1 | Season 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Episode No. | The Battle for Meridian | Nerissa's Revenge |
| 1 | It Begins | A is for Anonymous |
| 2 | It Resumes | B is for Betrayal |
| 3 | The Key | C is for Changes |
| 4 | Happy Birthday, Will | D is for Danger |
| 5 | A Service to the Community | E is for Enemy |
| 6 | The Labyrinth | F is for Façades |
| 7 | Divide and Conquer | G is for Garbage |
| 8 | Ambush at Torus Filney | H is for Hunted |
| 9 | Return of the Tracker | I is for Illusion |
| 10 | Framed | J is for Jewel |
| 11 | The Stone of Threbe | K is for Knowledge |
| 12 | The Princess Revealed | L is for Loser |
| 13 | Stop the Presses | M is for Mercy |
| 14 | Parents' Night | N is for Narcissist |
| 15 | The Mudslugs | O is for Obedience |
| 16 | Ghosts of Elyon | P is for Protectors |
| 17 | The Mogriffs | Q is for Quarry |
| 18 | Walk This Way | R is for Relentless |
| 19 | The Underwater Mines | S is for Self |
| 20 | The Seal of Phobos | T is for Trauma |
| 21 | Escape from Cavigor | U is for Undivided |
| 22 | Caleb's Challenge | V is for Victory |
| 23 | The Battle of Meridian Plains | W is for Witch |
| 24 | The Rebel Rescue | X is for Xanadu |
| 25 | The Stolen Heart | Y is for Yield |
| 26 | The Final Battle | Z is for Zenith |