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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Best 80s Toon You've NEVER Heard Of..., January 27, 2008
"Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors" was one of my favorite 80s animated series. It's right up there with "ThunderCats" -- that good! But "Jayce" was rather overlooked compared to the likes of "ThunderCats", "He-Man", "She-Ra", "Voltron" and many other good animated series of that decadent decade.
"Jayce" has very good storytelling for starters: the basic premise is about a scientist named Audric (Jayce's father) who nearly succeded with ending starvation and hunger in vast star systems with the creation of genetically-engineered vegetation. Out of the blue, a cosmic explosion occurs and causes Audric's creations to wildly mutate into creatures with evil brains (called Monster Minds). Audric had to flee his laboratory with one half of a magical relic called "The Root" (Jayce somehow has the other half) that, when fused, would revert the evil creations and their machinations back to harmless vegetation. Jayce, with the help of an old and wise wizard named Gillian, an empathic girl named Flora, and an intergalactic traveling merchant named Herc Stormsailor, sets out to search for his father before the Monster Minds take over the universe. And I can't forget Jayce's little companion, a robot squire named Oon who believes his lance is "magic" (which adds a degree of cuteness to what is otherwise dramatic and thrilling stories).
"Jayce" was among J. Michael Strasyncski's ("of "Babylon 5" fame) first major efforts at sci-fi storytelling and was also co-producer of this series. It also has great music by Shuki Levy and Haim Saban (some of the most talented musicians for animated fare), and is pretty nicely animated by DIC (the creators of "M.A.S.K.", "Inspector Gadget" and "Where On Earth is Carmen Sandiego?).
I think "Jayce" is a timeless series and is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, especially if you are a fan of 80s toons, or any 80s TV program for that matter.
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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
about time it came out in full seasons, February 8, 2008
I recently purchased the rag-tag collection of 3 episodes plus a "bonus" 4th, but that was a year ago and it was the only bit of Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors availible. Now finally we get to see the whole first season with all the characters we remembered in the 80's. I remember this being my favorite cartoon on TV at that time and aside from Transformers, nothing else mattered. Jayce is a Luke Skywalker rip-off but who cares? His unique land vehicle command is what makes him unigue. In additon to the Thundercats, this is the other animation DVD I have been waiting to purchase. Herc the Jerc is the likable character as in Han Solo clone, yet he is awesome as a horseback rider and has some other qualities Han Solo didn't. Odviously, Herc was voiced by a guy experienced in D.J. radio or a sports caster as his voice is that quality. Jayce's side-kick Oone is a miniture cavalier who is annoying more than funny. Flora is a young plant/human girl hybrid and the fish named Broc, is even weirder. The wizard utilises magic and science in equal measure proving they are one(as in ether I suppose). Other characters(NPCs) are more interesting in these tapes than in the mere foursome collction I was milked for, where mostly the regulars appeared. I assume the rest of the series will soon be out! Don't settle for "difinitive collections" but seasons.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Flashback of a great sci-fi cartoon..., April 9, 2009
Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors has a very simple plot. Father accidently ends up making a race of EVIL half-plant half-machines. Father escapes with half a magical root, giving the other half to his son. Now his son, with the rest of the Lightning League who, must find it, to combine the two halves and SAVE the universe. If they can find the Father. Who is also being chased by the EVIL plant-car-creatures. The EVIL plant-machines call themselves Monster Minds, which seems kind of a give away, and their leader is the EVIL Saw Boss. EVIL! Oops, lets move on.
The whole cartoon, like most cartoons, was made to sell something. In this case action figures with fighting Road Warrior kind of cars that fought alien Road Warrior kind of cars. Think cars with saws, guns, lasers and arms. While there is little to no character development and the story never gets past the quest phase, my young mind at the time just enjoyed the combat and, for the time, the advanced artwork. This is an American, kind of, cartoon yet the designs and artwork has the feel of an Japanese anime.
Magic, science fiction, rogue pilots, pirates, bounty hunters, and robotic cars. This had everything my young heart wanted. Herc Stormsailor is the character I liked the most - he is Hans Solo in cartoon form. Once he even responded to a insult by saying - Who are you calling scruffy? He loved money, his space barge Pride of the Skies II was always in need of repair, and he has a interesting background which is slowly revealed during the show. Seems he worked on BOTH sides of the law and knows some people in high places.
The music is great and the battles were fun. Some of the episodes, like Ghostship seem to have been thoughtfully plotted out, others were just shot-them-ups, bang-bang, which was great for a kid. Yet Steel Against Shadow, by J. Michael Straczynski, had a very heavy hand when dealing with the Good vs. EVIL theme, with little or no action. In other words - BOO! LAME! More explosions! Who wants themes and thoughtfully stuff - more mindless firing of weapons into the massed ranks of the EVIL enemy!
This set is the first part of the series and I plan to look for volume 2 when it comes out. Many of my memories seem to be from the latter episodes and I hope to enjoy them too!
Good for small kids or adults who like to watch cartoons with lots of explosions, lasers, war machines while eating pizza and thinking of high school. Think of it as a American-Canadian-French cartoon version of Robotech before Robotech came to the American TV.
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