I used to watch this show when I was a little girl. When I think about it, I only remember it vaguely. If you ask me, it was a good show. The opening sequence and theme song are two things I only remember vaguely, too. In addition to that, everyone was ideally cast. Also, the writing was very strong. The performances were top-grade, too. I hope some network brings it back so I can see every episode. Before I wrap this up, I'd like to say that I'll always remember this show in my memory forever, even though I don't think I've seen every episode. Now, in conclusion, if some network ever brings it back, I hope that you catch it one day before it goes off the air for good.
12 Reviews
eerie and unforgettable
melancholicmoon10 May 2012
French speakers will be pleased to watch the original version of these two seasons again, because cartoon series are not what they used to be ! The language used in the dialogue is brilliant, literary yet not pompous; so, parents who want their children to learn correct French should make them watch such series instead of today's superficial material.
And despite the very basic effects (it does look old, with faded colors and glitches), the atmosphere here is just lovely ! Every tableau, every place these guys visit aboard Shashag is eerie and beautifully made.
And to avoid taking itself too seriously (the main synopsis isn't exactly a walk on the beach), there are comic relief characters, like Bik and Bak, and those pirates with 80's rockers haircuts ! So cool !
The main theme is haunting and the other songs, even though they're repeated in almost every episode, are always fun to watch.
And despite the very basic effects (it does look old, with faded colors and glitches), the atmosphere here is just lovely ! Every tableau, every place these guys visit aboard Shashag is eerie and beautifully made.
And to avoid taking itself too seriously (the main synopsis isn't exactly a walk on the beach), there are comic relief characters, like Bik and Bak, and those pirates with 80's rockers haircuts ! So cool !
The main theme is haunting and the other songs, even though they're repeated in almost every episode, are always fun to watch.
Les mondes engloutis - A journey to the center of the Earth without leaving one's sofa
eightylicious21 April 2022
Before the advent of Nickelodeon, European animation was dominant in the continent, and France had a lot to offer; from Albert Barillé's "Once upon a time... " series, to Nina Wolmark's fiction programmes, the country exported its animation series continent-wide, meeting success. One of the most charming products of this golden age was "Les mondes engloutis", which successfully combined curiosity, enthusiasm and humanity to create an unforgettable experience.
In the course of a single evening (according to the laws of Physics), our friends the considerate Bob, the lovable Rebecca, the all-knowing Arkana, Spartakus with his mysterious past, and their flying ship Shagshag, together with the adorable pangolins Bic and Bac discover worlds the human eye has never seen. All of them, with the exception of Spartakus, come from Arkadia, a mysterious underground civilization, that is supplied all energy by its sun, the Shagma. When it falls I'll, the heroes are sent to find the cure, two pieces of brass, through which their sun can shine again. Travelling in a cave, they meet former gladiator Spartakus, and set out for their mission that will mark a generation of viewers.
We can't define the series as something specific: it has elements of science fiction (Shagshag the talking vessel being an example), comedy (the infamous Pirates of the Lake, the heroes' enemies that are so incompetent even Bic and Bac can beat them), and even musicals, since, in an act of gentle greed, Wolmark added some songs written by herself and composed by the great Vladimir Cosma to almost every episode, knowing she would receive royalties every time they would play. Who can forget the infectious them song, "Les mondes engloutis", with its lyrics motivating the viewers to follow the brave heroes to their journey?
"Go, follow the engulfed worlds/ to the centre of the Earth" sang (in translation) Ministar. And what worlds were they! During the course of their journey, the heroes found anything and anyone; they met Galileo and Einstein, crossed forests and lakes, islands and deserts, all the while being chased by the pirates, making their entrance with their own theme song. With every episode taking place in a different place, one could only feel anticipation for what would happen next. This is the curiosity entailed in the show, marking every one of its fifty-two episodes unique.
Not only was the show captivating, it also taught timeless lessons about progress and tolerance. The heroes treat science as something magnificent, that can help their friends and cure their sun. In the episodes with the scientists, Wolmark's vision about science becomes clear. Treated with suspicion and prejudice by their compatriots, they are threatened with death until the truth in their theories is uncovered with the help of the heroes. We are supposed to applaud them for discovering and spreading the truth to people still living in an age as enlightened as a room without current. In an age when the threat of nuclear war was imminent, this may seem old-fashioned, but it is, surely, hopeful. By making the series a science fiction programme, the creator had the opportunity to explore its brave new world more broadly, showing both more "primitive" areas, and big cities à la Metropolis. In one such, the citizens are governed by an oppressive regime whose members wear armbands with a black shape on them. It is clearly a reference to the Nazis. By showing this state of constant surveillance, Wolmark very intelligently communicates the message that no dictatorship is acceptable. In contrast to the supsicious, oppressed citizens of this city, our heroes accept everyone and help whoever asks them, with the condition that their cause is just. Through the diversity of the show's different worlds, "Les mondes engloutis" delivers its message with a subtlety very much needed for a children's show.
For all these reasons, "Les mondes engloutis" is special . Rich in plot, with characters one can't help falling for, a soundtrack that kills and messages transcending the programme itself, it is a show that has earned its cult status deservedly. Every time I watch it, I dream. That I were on Shagshag, searching with my friends Spartakus, Bob and Arkana for the Shagma's cure.
So, thank you Nina Wolmark for enriching my adolescence with your amazing show, that in its low-quality, two-dimensional, handmade world showed me things that I had never thought about. "Les mondes engloutis" deserves to be remembered, not only because its pangolins were thought as the cause of COVID-19. It has this often inexplicable attractiveness that makes one come back to it again and again, diving to the centre of the Earth without leaving their sofa.
In the course of a single evening (according to the laws of Physics), our friends the considerate Bob, the lovable Rebecca, the all-knowing Arkana, Spartakus with his mysterious past, and their flying ship Shagshag, together with the adorable pangolins Bic and Bac discover worlds the human eye has never seen. All of them, with the exception of Spartakus, come from Arkadia, a mysterious underground civilization, that is supplied all energy by its sun, the Shagma. When it falls I'll, the heroes are sent to find the cure, two pieces of brass, through which their sun can shine again. Travelling in a cave, they meet former gladiator Spartakus, and set out for their mission that will mark a generation of viewers.
We can't define the series as something specific: it has elements of science fiction (Shagshag the talking vessel being an example), comedy (the infamous Pirates of the Lake, the heroes' enemies that are so incompetent even Bic and Bac can beat them), and even musicals, since, in an act of gentle greed, Wolmark added some songs written by herself and composed by the great Vladimir Cosma to almost every episode, knowing she would receive royalties every time they would play. Who can forget the infectious them song, "Les mondes engloutis", with its lyrics motivating the viewers to follow the brave heroes to their journey?
"Go, follow the engulfed worlds/ to the centre of the Earth" sang (in translation) Ministar. And what worlds were they! During the course of their journey, the heroes found anything and anyone; they met Galileo and Einstein, crossed forests and lakes, islands and deserts, all the while being chased by the pirates, making their entrance with their own theme song. With every episode taking place in a different place, one could only feel anticipation for what would happen next. This is the curiosity entailed in the show, marking every one of its fifty-two episodes unique.
Not only was the show captivating, it also taught timeless lessons about progress and tolerance. The heroes treat science as something magnificent, that can help their friends and cure their sun. In the episodes with the scientists, Wolmark's vision about science becomes clear. Treated with suspicion and prejudice by their compatriots, they are threatened with death until the truth in their theories is uncovered with the help of the heroes. We are supposed to applaud them for discovering and spreading the truth to people still living in an age as enlightened as a room without current. In an age when the threat of nuclear war was imminent, this may seem old-fashioned, but it is, surely, hopeful. By making the series a science fiction programme, the creator had the opportunity to explore its brave new world more broadly, showing both more "primitive" areas, and big cities à la Metropolis. In one such, the citizens are governed by an oppressive regime whose members wear armbands with a black shape on them. It is clearly a reference to the Nazis. By showing this state of constant surveillance, Wolmark very intelligently communicates the message that no dictatorship is acceptable. In contrast to the supsicious, oppressed citizens of this city, our heroes accept everyone and help whoever asks them, with the condition that their cause is just. Through the diversity of the show's different worlds, "Les mondes engloutis" delivers its message with a subtlety very much needed for a children's show.
For all these reasons, "Les mondes engloutis" is special . Rich in plot, with characters one can't help falling for, a soundtrack that kills and messages transcending the programme itself, it is a show that has earned its cult status deservedly. Every time I watch it, I dream. That I were on Shagshag, searching with my friends Spartakus, Bob and Arkana for the Shagma's cure.
So, thank you Nina Wolmark for enriching my adolescence with your amazing show, that in its low-quality, two-dimensional, handmade world showed me things that I had never thought about. "Les mondes engloutis" deserves to be remembered, not only because its pangolins were thought as the cause of COVID-19. It has this often inexplicable attractiveness that makes one come back to it again and again, diving to the centre of the Earth without leaving their sofa.
I want this show!!!
Angel_Meiru8 February 2004
Geez, I love this show. It was actually a family show that was not afraid to tell a story many people these days would find "odd" or "out there".
It is about a civization called Arkadia, a lost world that is alot like Atlantis, Mu, Lemoria or Reh. Long ago, Arkadia got hit with a wave with disasters, sending them into the sub-terranean ocean, thus, their world and our world has came to an end. However, the people of Arkadia, despite their being a museum in their world, have lost memory of where they came from and the Earth around them. But two children talk an ancient machine and two prehistoric beings named "Bik" and "Bak" into going into the museum. The children find out the Planet Earth still has civilization flouishing. It was not destroyed, but however, the su-terranean sun, "Shagma" (core of earth) is failing and the Earth is having problems too. So the Arkadian children create a cloned replica of their ancestors, naming her Arkana.
That is the basic plot, but there is alot more too. Arkana joins two children and a mysterious warrior named Spartakus, whom is looking for his self-identity. There are also neo-pirates who have strange hair styles and wear leotards. Lizardmen who ride giant dinosaur-like creatures, mouse people and ever creatures of ancient mythology and folklore make their appearance too.
Too bad they took this show off. Probably people whined about it having "dark plot moments" or some crap like that; thus, resorting to the dreaded era of "political correctness".
At least in Europe and French speaking have it out on DVD. Mabye I can get my hands on it someday ^_~
It is about a civization called Arkadia, a lost world that is alot like Atlantis, Mu, Lemoria or Reh. Long ago, Arkadia got hit with a wave with disasters, sending them into the sub-terranean ocean, thus, their world and our world has came to an end. However, the people of Arkadia, despite their being a museum in their world, have lost memory of where they came from and the Earth around them. But two children talk an ancient machine and two prehistoric beings named "Bik" and "Bak" into going into the museum. The children find out the Planet Earth still has civilization flouishing. It was not destroyed, but however, the su-terranean sun, "Shagma" (core of earth) is failing and the Earth is having problems too. So the Arkadian children create a cloned replica of their ancestors, naming her Arkana.
That is the basic plot, but there is alot more too. Arkana joins two children and a mysterious warrior named Spartakus, whom is looking for his self-identity. There are also neo-pirates who have strange hair styles and wear leotards. Lizardmen who ride giant dinosaur-like creatures, mouse people and ever creatures of ancient mythology and folklore make their appearance too.
Too bad they took this show off. Probably people whined about it having "dark plot moments" or some crap like that; thus, resorting to the dreaded era of "political correctness".
At least in Europe and French speaking have it out on DVD. Mabye I can get my hands on it someday ^_~
I love it!
sigrunth3 August 2006
I give this show full house in my voting, because I was very little when I saw it, and I loved it then, and so I have to think that I still might.
I would very much like to see this show again, or even better: buy it. But how?
It is available on French DVD, but there are no English subtitles - or in any other language, for that matter. Ergo, I can't buy the French DVD-version.
I therefore ask you, guys:
Is there a DVD version out there, with English subtitles???
I would very much like to see this show again, or even better: buy it. But how?
It is available on French DVD, but there are no English subtitles - or in any other language, for that matter. Ergo, I can't buy the French DVD-version.
I therefore ask you, guys:
Is there a DVD version out there, with English subtitles???
Enlighting Journey
hellraiser721 May 2018
This show is another one of my favorite animated shows of all time, though sadly it's also an under the radar gem that like the ancient civilizations on the show has been forgotten. I watched this show when I was about seven years old on Nickelodeon and it blew me away. The 80's decade to me was a golden age for animation as the market was starting to become more open along with our culture; a lot of animated shows were coming in overseas. Seeing this show blew me away because I honestly never seen anything like it and to this day there hasn't been any other show like it. It's too bad that French Animation didn't become a big wave like Japanese Anime over time, I honestly would love to see what other animated shows they have that I have yet to see.
I really love the animation style; the character animation is pretty good I really like how each look unique which creates some diversity and was a bit of a novelty at the time. But it's mainly the background animation that impresses me the most, I really love the detail in each of the lands and the ancient civilizations which really have just this otherworldly and slightly post-apocalyptic quality from just how colorful, strange, and even slightly familiar they all look.
The characters serve their functions they're not deep characters though they have a bit of persona and there are bits of development as the adventure goes on. Arcana whom wears this unique almost Aztec dress and head gear. She's an evolved version of the Arcadia species as she has two legs and even her figure is shaped like any humanoid. But she is armed with their mind powers which are useful throughout the show.
Spartacus whom looks like a native American /Aztec which is cool seeing a hero of that nationality which I don't see often is sort of a Tarzan like character as he a man that has lived outside of Arcadia and knows about most of the underground world. He acts as a bodyguard for Arcana and the two human surface dwellers.
Supporting characters Bic and Bac are fun as they are these smart duck bill platypus/armadillos like creatures. Other than serving up comic relief their both useful as they both have some knowledge about things in the underground world.
Then there are the villains, the Pirates whom are this odd-looking bunch that look like characters from a "Mad Magazine" cartoon. They are constantly pursuing the characters trying to capture them for their own gain. Despite all their fancy toys they have one huge problem, their all idiots. Their also kind of comic relief characters as their always fumbling around in their plight.
But really, we're all in this show for the adventure. I love the story line, it's strange yet unique and easy to understand it honestly feels like it's one that came from another world; and I love that one of the joys of the sci-fi and fantasy genre is in different kinds of plotlines, most that think outside the box. It's a cool idea on a lost ancient civilization that resides under the earth and has an artificial sun for its people to live. It sort of makes me think of a lot of the other lost civilizations like Lemuria and Atlantis and what happened to them.
This show also to me also follows a lot of the pulp adventures stories which always put fun and adventure first and store logic in the closet. Like for example, how is there oxygen and atmosphere in the layers of the earth; let alone due to the earth's mass how is it possible each land overtops the other without collapsing, what the heck is holding them? But most importantly those stories always had this fascination with Lost Civilizations and the possibilities on what they were like. I really love those kinds of stories and there really aren't that many shows that do this except for "Stargate: Atlantis" and "Nadia: Secret of the Blue Water" another underrated gem.
By its nature the plotline in saving Arcadia is just a driving point as we're all in this show not so much for the destination but the adventure. And it's on hell of an adventure, I really love how the underground world is conceived as we see the characters going deeper and deeper in their journey back we discover new kinds of lands, creatures, and civilizations that once existed. Each episode was always something new, which added to the adventure feel of the show. It always made me excited wondering what is the next land their going to, what are we going to find there?
I love how in each of these lands and civilizations we discover lots of things from the customs of people, creatures, plant life, buildings and what they were for, technology and their function, you name it. The writing and the amount of depth to each of these episodes and lands are just great there are just full of creativity and color, the possibilities are as deep as the earth the characters descend down. We even learn a little more as we go along about the underground civilization Arcadia, where it's technologically advanced, they have some sort of pet droids along with some that act as ships, their humanoid but their have no legs they float which makes me wonder more about their anatomy. But I really like how it's a civilization that is devout to the powers of the mind as they seem to value knowledge and other things of intellectual value but also possess psychic abilities.
One other thing that stands out about the show is at time it turns into a musical as in some episode there are these musical numbers that appear, at times for no reason at all. But the highlight is the theme song itself which is just fantastic, it's one of my favorite theme songs of all time which fits as it has a mysterious and adventurous tone to it.
It's true that the only bad thing about this show is it didn't have a seasonal follow up, there were just a lot of plot threads/questions that never really got answered like Spartacus's origins which we never know about or why Arcadia's history is being covered up, could there be some dark conspiracy at work? Hopefully somewhere along the line, this will be another show that will return with a new season. In this era there have been a lot of shows that have came back after ending a long time ago with new seasons like "The X-Files" so why not. Or if not do a revival so that the questions can be answered, it's a thought anyway.
"Spartacus and the Sun Beneath the Sea" shines bright.
Rating: 4 stars
I really love the animation style; the character animation is pretty good I really like how each look unique which creates some diversity and was a bit of a novelty at the time. But it's mainly the background animation that impresses me the most, I really love the detail in each of the lands and the ancient civilizations which really have just this otherworldly and slightly post-apocalyptic quality from just how colorful, strange, and even slightly familiar they all look.
The characters serve their functions they're not deep characters though they have a bit of persona and there are bits of development as the adventure goes on. Arcana whom wears this unique almost Aztec dress and head gear. She's an evolved version of the Arcadia species as she has two legs and even her figure is shaped like any humanoid. But she is armed with their mind powers which are useful throughout the show.
Spartacus whom looks like a native American /Aztec which is cool seeing a hero of that nationality which I don't see often is sort of a Tarzan like character as he a man that has lived outside of Arcadia and knows about most of the underground world. He acts as a bodyguard for Arcana and the two human surface dwellers.
Supporting characters Bic and Bac are fun as they are these smart duck bill platypus/armadillos like creatures. Other than serving up comic relief their both useful as they both have some knowledge about things in the underground world.
Then there are the villains, the Pirates whom are this odd-looking bunch that look like characters from a "Mad Magazine" cartoon. They are constantly pursuing the characters trying to capture them for their own gain. Despite all their fancy toys they have one huge problem, their all idiots. Their also kind of comic relief characters as their always fumbling around in their plight.
But really, we're all in this show for the adventure. I love the story line, it's strange yet unique and easy to understand it honestly feels like it's one that came from another world; and I love that one of the joys of the sci-fi and fantasy genre is in different kinds of plotlines, most that think outside the box. It's a cool idea on a lost ancient civilization that resides under the earth and has an artificial sun for its people to live. It sort of makes me think of a lot of the other lost civilizations like Lemuria and Atlantis and what happened to them.
This show also to me also follows a lot of the pulp adventures stories which always put fun and adventure first and store logic in the closet. Like for example, how is there oxygen and atmosphere in the layers of the earth; let alone due to the earth's mass how is it possible each land overtops the other without collapsing, what the heck is holding them? But most importantly those stories always had this fascination with Lost Civilizations and the possibilities on what they were like. I really love those kinds of stories and there really aren't that many shows that do this except for "Stargate: Atlantis" and "Nadia: Secret of the Blue Water" another underrated gem.
By its nature the plotline in saving Arcadia is just a driving point as we're all in this show not so much for the destination but the adventure. And it's on hell of an adventure, I really love how the underground world is conceived as we see the characters going deeper and deeper in their journey back we discover new kinds of lands, creatures, and civilizations that once existed. Each episode was always something new, which added to the adventure feel of the show. It always made me excited wondering what is the next land their going to, what are we going to find there?
I love how in each of these lands and civilizations we discover lots of things from the customs of people, creatures, plant life, buildings and what they were for, technology and their function, you name it. The writing and the amount of depth to each of these episodes and lands are just great there are just full of creativity and color, the possibilities are as deep as the earth the characters descend down. We even learn a little more as we go along about the underground civilization Arcadia, where it's technologically advanced, they have some sort of pet droids along with some that act as ships, their humanoid but their have no legs they float which makes me wonder more about their anatomy. But I really like how it's a civilization that is devout to the powers of the mind as they seem to value knowledge and other things of intellectual value but also possess psychic abilities.
One other thing that stands out about the show is at time it turns into a musical as in some episode there are these musical numbers that appear, at times for no reason at all. But the highlight is the theme song itself which is just fantastic, it's one of my favorite theme songs of all time which fits as it has a mysterious and adventurous tone to it.
It's true that the only bad thing about this show is it didn't have a seasonal follow up, there were just a lot of plot threads/questions that never really got answered like Spartacus's origins which we never know about or why Arcadia's history is being covered up, could there be some dark conspiracy at work? Hopefully somewhere along the line, this will be another show that will return with a new season. In this era there have been a lot of shows that have came back after ending a long time ago with new seasons like "The X-Files" so why not. Or if not do a revival so that the questions can be answered, it's a thought anyway.
"Spartacus and the Sun Beneath the Sea" shines bright.
Rating: 4 stars
One of the best science fiction animated series you will find
julianmarku11 September 2023
This series can't be put into words.
The world building is so amazing that you basically can't. The story could only be described as "A Journey to The Center of the World" and "The Odyssey".
And this series was very much ahead of its time, what it explores in the 80s we explore today.
It had a lot of influences too. In the show we see Stanley Kubrick's Monolith.
The show explores ideas of industrialism, natural disasters, isolationism, classism, science gone too far, religion gone too far, and so on. It pretty much did everything.
I am honestly disappointed that this show did not get the respect and praise it deserved.
Netflix should get on this series and make a remake or remastered version.
The world building is so amazing that you basically can't. The story could only be described as "A Journey to The Center of the World" and "The Odyssey".
And this series was very much ahead of its time, what it explores in the 80s we explore today.
It had a lot of influences too. In the show we see Stanley Kubrick's Monolith.
The show explores ideas of industrialism, natural disasters, isolationism, classism, science gone too far, religion gone too far, and so on. It pretty much did everything.
I am honestly disappointed that this show did not get the respect and praise it deserved.
Netflix should get on this series and make a remake or remastered version.
A very good show that will always be remembered.
Chibi Riza2 November 2000
"Les Mondes Engloutis" (aka.Arkadia/Spartakus and the Sun Beneath the Sea) has to be one of the most memorable European animations that was played on TV.
There was once a great cataclysm that made a prosperous civilization live underground for the many years that pasted.They have relied on the sun "Saggy" to nourish their world Arkadia,but now,Saggy is fading.Some children entered a forbidden grotto and created a messenger and named her Arcana.Alongside her journey,Arcana meets up with magical twin aardvarks named Bic and Bac,a mysterious wanderer named Spartakus,a spacecraft with a mind of it's own and two kids,Bob and Rebecca.Alongside their journeys,they travel back in time,travel to other worlds and even to unknown places and run into such advisories such as barbarian herders,persistant soldiers/warriors, strange creatures and animals and pirates whom resemble 80's punk rock singers.
Wonderful storyline,intresting and deep character development,good animation and a memorable soundtrack (for once,these toons can sing!).There is nothing corny about this show."Les Mondes Engloutis", alongside "Mysterious Cities of Gold","Ulysse 31" and "Flower Princess Angel" are some of the most memorable shows that children of the 80's got.They got some of the animated "Deutchland Frankenfurters",while kids now-a-days are getting lame "Balogna"!
There was once a great cataclysm that made a prosperous civilization live underground for the many years that pasted.They have relied on the sun "Saggy" to nourish their world Arkadia,but now,Saggy is fading.Some children entered a forbidden grotto and created a messenger and named her Arcana.Alongside her journey,Arcana meets up with magical twin aardvarks named Bic and Bac,a mysterious wanderer named Spartakus,a spacecraft with a mind of it's own and two kids,Bob and Rebecca.Alongside their journeys,they travel back in time,travel to other worlds and even to unknown places and run into such advisories such as barbarian herders,persistant soldiers/warriors, strange creatures and animals and pirates whom resemble 80's punk rock singers.
Wonderful storyline,intresting and deep character development,good animation and a memorable soundtrack (for once,these toons can sing!).There is nothing corny about this show."Les Mondes Engloutis", alongside "Mysterious Cities of Gold","Ulysse 31" and "Flower Princess Angel" are some of the most memorable shows that children of the 80's got.They got some of the animated "Deutchland Frankenfurters",while kids now-a-days are getting lame "Balogna"!
A classic series that I miss
action-65 July 2000
Les mondes engloutis or Arkadia as it`s also known by is one of the classic series that I would love to see again someday.
The series was broadcasted on television over here in the late 80`s and the re-runs used to be broadcasted in the early 90`s, but now the series seems to have disappeared.
The music is exceptionally memorable and the atmosphere and style is absolutely of the highest class. This is a series with nostalgic value so catch it on tv whenever you can!
The series was broadcasted on television over here in the late 80`s and the re-runs used to be broadcasted in the early 90`s, but now the series seems to have disappeared.
The music is exceptionally memorable and the atmosphere and style is absolutely of the highest class. This is a series with nostalgic value so catch it on tv whenever you can!
Adventures of a ragtag group looking to save a subterranean lost civilization
mitch07414 April 2005
Warning: Spoilers
I saw it when it came out - I was a kid. I saw it again during one of its very few few re-runs - I was a pre-teen. I got 2 DVD box sets recently. I'm pretty much an adult.
I still love it.
The animation quality isn't that great (it wasn't made in Japan by a professional studio like the Mysterious Cities of Gold, but in France in a created just for the occasion studio) but there are a few interesting things to mention: lots of hidden treasures in it (watch the pirates closely!) and it gets much better in later episodes, where you can feel the animators letting go of the reins on their creativity and honing their style. Backgrounds are usually beautifully painted, character motions can be very complicated and innovative... This cartoon would definitely benefit from a remastering, the original films having suffered from time... The music - it's plain beautiful, with some moody pieces, a few very catchy tunes, and an opening theme that can give you goosebumps of pleasure. Dubbing was sometimes a bit approximative, but usually very taking. The characters (both main, bad-asses, and occasional) usually had an historical origin, or a legend: here a Chinese emperor, there an alien King Kong, or even a Renaissance scientist - or a gladiator leading a slave revolt. If they didn't, then they pretty often had enough depth - or comic value - to be remembered. Those pirates had a bit of Tex Avery in them... The main story: read other users' comments, you'll get a good start. Suffice to say, the first season initially concluded the series with a good ending, but left enough questions in the air to allow for a second one - which comprised even more intricate per episode plots! Such plots as: what happened to those Arkadians refusing to forget their past? What are Spartakus' origins and what happened to his family? Is Arkana really human? Why was Thot all alone in his ruins? What was the purpose of the ghost ship? Who leads the Mogohks? All of these are connected somehow, and this connection might well prove to be the way to save Arkadia... The final ending took 2 episodes of 25 mins each (not counting credits) and was creative enough to rate the series amongst the pieces of arts of animation. It contained humour, angst, romance, some epic battles, intricate storytelling, a healthy dose of mystery... It probes domains of space, time continuum, philosophy, mathematics, iconography... Enough to keep most people hanging until the end, where the second Orichalque is completely unexpectedly found and the Shagma restored to lead the whole people of Arkadia to its future.
Amongst derived products, one could find a few plastic dolls of the characters, some novels retelling some specific episodes, but - and I liked those best - a few episodes redrawn in comics format around 1988 in the recently resurrected Pif Gadget. Those included 'Of Mice and Children', 'The Court of Miracles' and 'Thot'. Find them. Read them. Compare to actual European productions. Yup, out 15 years before their time.
Shoo, I wanna watch it again.
I still love it.
The animation quality isn't that great (it wasn't made in Japan by a professional studio like the Mysterious Cities of Gold, but in France in a created just for the occasion studio) but there are a few interesting things to mention: lots of hidden treasures in it (watch the pirates closely!) and it gets much better in later episodes, where you can feel the animators letting go of the reins on their creativity and honing their style. Backgrounds are usually beautifully painted, character motions can be very complicated and innovative... This cartoon would definitely benefit from a remastering, the original films having suffered from time... The music - it's plain beautiful, with some moody pieces, a few very catchy tunes, and an opening theme that can give you goosebumps of pleasure. Dubbing was sometimes a bit approximative, but usually very taking. The characters (both main, bad-asses, and occasional) usually had an historical origin, or a legend: here a Chinese emperor, there an alien King Kong, or even a Renaissance scientist - or a gladiator leading a slave revolt. If they didn't, then they pretty often had enough depth - or comic value - to be remembered. Those pirates had a bit of Tex Avery in them... The main story: read other users' comments, you'll get a good start. Suffice to say, the first season initially concluded the series with a good ending, but left enough questions in the air to allow for a second one - which comprised even more intricate per episode plots! Such plots as: what happened to those Arkadians refusing to forget their past? What are Spartakus' origins and what happened to his family? Is Arkana really human? Why was Thot all alone in his ruins? What was the purpose of the ghost ship? Who leads the Mogohks? All of these are connected somehow, and this connection might well prove to be the way to save Arkadia... The final ending took 2 episodes of 25 mins each (not counting credits) and was creative enough to rate the series amongst the pieces of arts of animation. It contained humour, angst, romance, some epic battles, intricate storytelling, a healthy dose of mystery... It probes domains of space, time continuum, philosophy, mathematics, iconography... Enough to keep most people hanging until the end, where the second Orichalque is completely unexpectedly found and the Shagma restored to lead the whole people of Arkadia to its future.
Amongst derived products, one could find a few plastic dolls of the characters, some novels retelling some specific episodes, but - and I liked those best - a few episodes redrawn in comics format around 1988 in the recently resurrected Pif Gadget. Those included 'Of Mice and Children', 'The Court of Miracles' and 'Thot'. Find them. Read them. Compare to actual European productions. Yup, out 15 years before their time.
Shoo, I wanna watch it again.
I remember this now!
Mitora-san9 July 2002
I remember whenever I was visiting relatives in Japan, I would always turn on this show "Âkadia Monogatari" (Les Mondes Engloutis' Japanese title) on every morning on NHK and I instantly fell in love with it and started my fascination with European animation as well as Asian!
It follows the adventures of two surface children (Bab and Rebekka), mysterious wanderer Spartakus, magical being Akana and two twin ardvark type creatures called Bik and Bak. The end of the world happened long ago, making the floating mystical continent of Arkadia fall beneath the oceans of planet earth. The Arkadian civilization mutate into legless people whom look part human, part jelly-bean and wear strange headdresses and lost memories of the surface world after the creation of their sun, the Shaguma. However, this sun, after many years, is fading away and something must be done, so the children of the Arkadian clan and their organic living spaceship go into the forbidden grottos of this civilization, research their ancestors and create a magical woman from the life force of the ancient Arkadians and named her "Akana".
That is the basic plot, but it gets deeper and deeper with every episode you watch of it, combining original storytelling, with time travel, paradoxes, some comedy, mythological elements and of course, a big cast of colourful characters.
I reccomend this animated series to you. It was a long time since it aired in Japan (have not seen the French version yet, want to though), but it maybe airing in other places, since LME seems to have a cult following in Europe.
It follows the adventures of two surface children (Bab and Rebekka), mysterious wanderer Spartakus, magical being Akana and two twin ardvark type creatures called Bik and Bak. The end of the world happened long ago, making the floating mystical continent of Arkadia fall beneath the oceans of planet earth. The Arkadian civilization mutate into legless people whom look part human, part jelly-bean and wear strange headdresses and lost memories of the surface world after the creation of their sun, the Shaguma. However, this sun, after many years, is fading away and something must be done, so the children of the Arkadian clan and their organic living spaceship go into the forbidden grottos of this civilization, research their ancestors and create a magical woman from the life force of the ancient Arkadians and named her "Akana".
That is the basic plot, but it gets deeper and deeper with every episode you watch of it, combining original storytelling, with time travel, paradoxes, some comedy, mythological elements and of course, a big cast of colourful characters.
I reccomend this animated series to you. It was a long time since it aired in Japan (have not seen the French version yet, want to though), but it maybe airing in other places, since LME seems to have a cult following in Europe.
Wow I miss this show
heweaver2 October 2003
I watched this show as much as I did the Mysterious Cities of Gold...apparantly MCOG was much more popular...you can buy VCD's from ebay (I have a set myself and they are wonderful quality) but I have yet to find ANY episodes of this series anywhere... I would love to find them again! If you have any idea where I might look, I would greatly appreciate it!
Thanks!
Thanks!
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