The long running era of the Saturday morning cartoon has officially ended, but no one can stop you from fulfilling your true weekend calling. Cartoons and Saturday mornings were made for each other and no one can tell us otherwise. It is to that end that we maintain vigil, bringing you animated selections each Saturday morning until the internet dies, or until we run out, good thing there’s always reruns.
“Pirates of Dark Water” (7 out of 10) Created by David Kirschner; George Newbern, Jodi Benson, Earl Boen, Peter Cullen, Jim Cummings, Tim Curry, Hector Elizondo, Brock Peters, and Frank Welker; Run time: 22 minutes; Originally aired February 25, 1991.
A dark substance known as dark water threatens to destroy the alien world of Mer. During a storm, a young man called Ren saves the life of an old man when his boat is dashed violently against the rocks. In the last moments of the old man’s life Ren is given an enchanted compass that will point the way to thirteen treasures.
Upon returning to his home within a lighthouse, Ren’s adopted mother confesses to Ren that the old man was Ren’s true father Primus, the once great king of Mer. Ren is given the broken remnants of his father’s sword. Equipped with the sword and the compass Ren leaves home and is kidnapped by Niddler, a flying monkey-bird mutant and taken to the evil pirate Bloth who is also in search of the thirteen treasure of Rule.
Bloth threatens to kill Niddler for bringing the boy in place of the king but Niddler narrowly escapes. Ren and Niddler form an alliance based on their mutual enemy Bloth and go in search of the treasure. After they escape together they visit a cave inhabited by a sentient dragon Alamar who gives Ren information that will help him on his quest.
Ren and Niddler make a deal with the pirate Loz to split their spoils fifty/fifty in exchange for use of his ship and navigation skills.
Unbeknownst to Ren and Niddler they board a stolen ship and leave port following the compass toward the first treasure of rule. Along the way they discover a stowaway, Tula, who uses her knowledge of sailing to help them escape certain destruction at the hands of the landscape and the pursuing pirate Bloth.
“Pirates of Dark Water” has mutant creatures, evil pirates, mystical treasures, and magical destruction threatening all life. It’s “Treasure Planet” meets “The NeverEnding Story.”
Unlike many cartoons from the same era that concentrated on merchandizing in place of quality storytelling, “Pirates of Dark Water” cares about content and world building, offering a story of interest both to kids and adults. Unfortunately it was cancelled after only twenty-one episodes without ever completing Ren’s quest to find the thirteen treasures of rule and save the Mer from the encroaching dark water.
In this world of reboots, remakes, and continuations, “Pirates of Dark Water” would be perfect for a modernized return. Unfortunately, it’s fantasy elements make it more difficult to market in the toy aisle and it isn’t a recognizable existing franchise, so we’ll probably never seen it. Which is really too bad, there was something worthwhile here and it never had a chance to see itself through.