Visionaries: Knights Of The Magical Light

No time for technology in the future.

"The planet Prysmos - post-technological loss. Two groups rise to dominance from the devastation to wage war upon each other. One is controlled by honest and law-abiding people and the other by criminals and villains. Following an open challenge thrown down by the great wizard Merklynn, fourteen surviving knights are granted powers of transformation and magical energy. The groups are now divided between the good Spectral Knights and the evil Darkling Lords. The battle for supremacy begins... "

From the animation company who gave us Transformers in the 80s and 90s incarnations of Marvel Comics's X-men and Spiderman on the small screen, TMS Entertainment made a follow-up to Transformers, in response to its success on TV and its popular toy line, titled: Visionaries- Knights of the Magical Light.
I was a big fan of the fantasy genre ever since I was six, I was a big fan of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe as well as Dungeons and Dragons so you can easily guess this is another franchise that caught my eye.

Good guys.

Bad Guys.

This is an under the radar gem that I personally felt had a lot of potential to be the next big thing but unfortunately the show just never had the chance to catch up.

I really love the whole idea of the show, which I think is a great concept in general that I feel the fantasy genre should think of tackling more, the only other that did something like this was the film "Wizards" from Ralph Bashi. The idea of the fantasy world set in a post apocalyptic world and having to rebuild or run the world with the aid of the wisdom and power of magic is awesome.

The animation I think is very good and really showed how up to date animation was when they were starting to become as the years rolled on. Really like the detail on the world and character models let alone armor which is colorful and unique, but mainly the animation that interested me the most was when they used the magical powers, really liked the blending of both regular animation and light which really made the powers feel like they really have popped out. The theme song I think is very good, it has a really heroic and almost epic tone to it which fits.

Fight!

Would you like to hear about Darkstorm, our saviour?

The characters not much to say for them, they serve their purpose. I'll admit for a show that didn't last long this show had a very good ensemble of voice actors which I don't see or should I say hear often. Like Peter Cullen whom you of course know as Optimus Prime on "Transformers" as well as Susan Blu whom was Arcee. Jim Cummings whom you know as Negaduck in "Darkwing Duck" and even a few experienced actors from TV like Johnathan Harris from "Lost in Space" and Jennifer Darling from "Six Million Dollar Man" whom plays Vigulia whom I'll admit is my favorite character in the show, what can I say I have a thing for bad girls.

However, this show were really in it for the action and adventure. The chirography in the battles was solid, though the highlight was always seeing each of them use their magical powers as well as the vehicles they use. The designs of the vehicles are memorable and cool, the fact that their powered by magic is interesting though at the same time really inconsistent since those vehicles would have to be constructed though the principles of engineering and science which both are hardly existent in that world. So what do they just build engines and all the other stuff and just zap them with a certain amount of magical juice is this like the same principles as the electric car. I don't know I just simply rolled with this idea which is cool all the same.

The magnificent toy line.

I wish I didn't lost mine...

Down to the power which I think are just excellent, I really like how each of the knights had three abilities to work with. From the typical practical weapons which are all uniquely designed and look cool and useful, but it's the magic powers were all in for. Each of them are held by magic mirrors one located on their bodies to represent their totem animals and another which is a simple staff with a mirror which is simply just an extra ability; though throughout the fights I'm a little surprised despite using magic against each other why they never thought of breaking each other mirrors so their disabled of their powers, I wouldn't know, maybe the mirrors are made of a chemical that makes bulletproof glass or super windows.

Anyway, I also like how both we see with these powers both have to act as a team sort of like with "X-Men". Yes, each of them are powerful individually but not invincible, their powers have both strengths and weaknesses. As a team the factions can really balance each other out and fill in that weak point. This isn't too special but everything done right.

Awesome powers!

Fear Leoric motherfuckers!

And yeah, this is another cartoon I think can be revived. Make it sort of like "Game of Thrones" where the post apocalyptic earth is sub divided into realms. Have a little more depth with this world, how it was formed and even with the characters how they all came to where they are now, as well as ongoing plot lines. With todays animation, technology and writing techniques, it's possible.

Visionaries have enough magic to keep you entertained.

Here's the legendary intro sequence:

And some toy ads: