The Mysterious Cities of Gold is a show I remember seeing bits and pieces of when it was broadcast on Nickleodeon. The series was released on DVD and I ordered it based on my nostaligia and boy I'm glad I did!
A unique show, a French-written, Japanese
animated story about a young Spanish boy brought to the New World by a
group of conquistadors trying to find El Dorado. It feels sort of like
an Indiana Jones story set in the 1500's with mild science fiction
elements.
I'm happy and surprised at how well it holds up. The
Spanish are portrayed as greedy and brutal, the Inca are portrayed in a
sympathetic light. Tao, who looks like he would normally be the comedy
relief is actually the smartest of the group, a descendant of the lost
race of Hiva. The complicated feelings Esteban has for Mendoza (who is
both a father-figure and a villain) is deeper than you would normally
find in a kids show. I also appreciated that the children in the show
were voiced by actual children, rather than adults. And the music is to
die for.
The discs have a few extras. Nothing outstanding. I wish
the video had been remastered. A couple of the episodes were noticeably
darker than the rest. But really, the fact that the show has been
released on DVD at all is a miracle. Highly, highly recommended. They don't make kids shows like this anymore.
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