Why Disney's GARGOYLES Is One of the Greatest Animated Shows Created
Disney's Gargoyles is such an incredible animated series! I loved it as a kid, and after recently rewatching the first two seasons, I appreciate it even more for what it gave us when we were kids. This was truly a groundbreaking animated series that explored mature themes like violence, loyalty, betrayal, revenge, the consequences of power, and morality in a way that had never been seen before in a Disney production.
One of the most striking elements of the show was its dark and edgy atmosphere, which was a far cry from the light-hearted and family-friendly fare that Disney was known for at the time. That’s one of the things that I enjoyed most about the stories that this series told. Disney broke the mold and did something different and they haven’t made an animated series since that is as good as what Gargoyles was.
The show's central characters are a clan of ancient gargoyles who are brought back to life in modern-day New York City after being frozen in stone for a thousand years. These characters included Goliath, Hudson, Broadway, Lexington, Brooklyn, and Bronx. Their struggles to adapt to a world that was vastly different from the one they had once lived in was a compelling and thought-provoking exploration of being an outsider in a strange technologically advanced world. The human characters included David Xanatos and Elisa Maza, and all of the character were complex and flawed.
It was the show's handling of adult themes in its stories and character structure that set it apart from other animated series at the time. The Gargoyles were not just misunderstood creatures, they were also warriors fighting for good, and they grappled with the harsh realities of a violent world. Their battles against villains like the evil tycoon David Xanatos were intense and often brutal, and the show didn't shy away from showing the consequences of their actions.
At the same time, the show also delved into more mature topics like relationships, and firearms. One episode that particularly stuck with me was the episode “Deadly Force” where the character Broadway accidentally shoots Elisa, which almost killed her. The consequences of that followed through in to the next episode “Enter Macbeth,” where we see Elisa on crutches. It was a reminder to the viewers that, yes, the consequences of something like being shot will carry through in life. On top of that, for the remainder of the series, Broadway actually makes it a personal mission to destroy guns that were identified as having been illegally sold by an organized crime boss in the episode.
The entire series is pretty much an examination of the consequences of hate and betrayal. The whole history of Demona who conspired with the members of the royal court in 994 to allow for Castle Wyvern to be sacked, had so much significance to the whole overarching story of the series. Not only was it a heavy backstory, but the consequences of that, both direct and indirect, informed multiple storylines.
But perhaps the strongest aspect of Gargoyles was its exploration of moral ambiguity. The show's central conflict was often not between good and evil, but between different shades of gray. Characters like Xanatos and the villainous Demona were complex and multi-dimensional, and the show often challenged the audience to question their own assumptions about right and wrong.
Overall, Disney's Gargoyles was a bold and ambitious series that pushed the boundaries of what was possible in an animated show for kids.
