This is one of the shows that jump-started the subsidiary production company/studio: Walt Disney Television Animation (the other being Wuzzles). And what a great start to WDTA it was, and is. When this show premiered, it was over a year before I was born. I don't believe I ever watched it when it originally aired on CBS nor do I remember even watching it after being switched over to ABC. But I positively know for sure I watched it after it began airing as part of the Disney Afternoon block. I think I remember it airing on the Disney Channel too before it got moved to Toon Disney. Unfortunately, I wasn't fortunate enough to watch the Disney Channel with the picture unscrambled (other than for one week a month), thanks to that stupid, premium channel horse-feathers, so my parents wouldn't subscribe to it. We never had Toon Disney as part of our cable package, by the time someone finally decided to drop the premium channel thing, which should've never been conceived and executed in the first place, Toon Disney had already taken in some, certain shows. By the time we finally got the channel formerly known as Toon Disney, it had already been renamed Disney XD.
Not to get too off topic, but I just wanted and had to mention those things. Anyway, back to more about this show. First of all, if anyone wondered why it took as long as it did for a Disney animated t.v. series to be made, then the late Walt Disney's goal to have a cartoon made for the t.v. medium on a higher budget and quality should answer your question. Less than twenty years after Walt's death, this goal was achieved by all those who kept his company alive and they succeeded in what he had planned, and set out to do. I know Walt would've loved this series and the crew who worked on this would've done him proud. The top-notch animation is just one of the reasons this is considered to be one of the best and most beloved TV cartoons, Disney or otherwise, of not only the 1980s, but of all time, and deservedly so. Although there were other animations made for t.v. from that decade before it being on the same level (the various, animated adaptations of certain books for the ABC Weekend Specials). At the time, I hadn't even noticed there was that much difference in the animation qualities nor had I even heard of the term "limited animation" yet. Usually, Disney has been among the best production companies and studios with the greatest animation anyone will find.
A few years back, I became reacquainted with the show and began watching a few episodes on Youtube and Dailymotion a few years back, then to a break, then it was on again with watching what I hadn't seen in years earlier this year. And I've been enjoying them. It's been great seeing them again. An interesting thing is the similarities between this and The Black Cauldron, and what they have in common: Both were released in '85, set in medieval times, and featured aspiring knights (Taran and Cavin), and princesses (Eilonnwy and Calla). It was even more successful than The Black Cauldron. Besides the animation, the 'toon has everything else going for it: Plots, story lines, characters, etc. Pretty much what other reviewers here covered as I must concur. The theme song and the episodes are epic. This is just a well-done series that's truly adventurous overall. At the time, I had no idea just how significant this show was, especially its responsibility and impact on the t.v. animation of the '90s (though as much as I wish there was more consistency with that phenomenon, it wasn't always as much as I thought there would've been). It's full of wonder and the Gummi bears are magnificent. Another reviewer who mentioned trying to tell others about the show mentioned that they had no idea what he was talking about at all. I don't see how no one from that generation could not have heard of nor seen this, unless it pertained to those from a different generation. To all those who may not have already checked it out, I, too, recommended it as it's one of the better t.v. animations, of the '80s or otherwise. The perfect beginning to the assembly line of WDTA productions in the pre-Disney Channel Originals era (1985-2002).
Not to get too off topic, but I just wanted and had to mention those things. Anyway, back to more about this show. First of all, if anyone wondered why it took as long as it did for a Disney animated t.v. series to be made, then the late Walt Disney's goal to have a cartoon made for the t.v. medium on a higher budget and quality should answer your question. Less than twenty years after Walt's death, this goal was achieved by all those who kept his company alive and they succeeded in what he had planned, and set out to do. I know Walt would've loved this series and the crew who worked on this would've done him proud. The top-notch animation is just one of the reasons this is considered to be one of the best and most beloved TV cartoons, Disney or otherwise, of not only the 1980s, but of all time, and deservedly so. Although there were other animations made for t.v. from that decade before it being on the same level (the various, animated adaptations of certain books for the ABC Weekend Specials). At the time, I hadn't even noticed there was that much difference in the animation qualities nor had I even heard of the term "limited animation" yet. Usually, Disney has been among the best production companies and studios with the greatest animation anyone will find.
A few years back, I became reacquainted with the show and began watching a few episodes on Youtube and Dailymotion a few years back, then to a break, then it was on again with watching what I hadn't seen in years earlier this year. And I've been enjoying them. It's been great seeing them again. An interesting thing is the similarities between this and The Black Cauldron, and what they have in common: Both were released in '85, set in medieval times, and featured aspiring knights (Taran and Cavin), and princesses (Eilonnwy and Calla). It was even more successful than The Black Cauldron. Besides the animation, the 'toon has everything else going for it: Plots, story lines, characters, etc. Pretty much what other reviewers here covered as I must concur. The theme song and the episodes are epic. This is just a well-done series that's truly adventurous overall. At the time, I had no idea just how significant this show was, especially its responsibility and impact on the t.v. animation of the '90s (though as much as I wish there was more consistency with that phenomenon, it wasn't always as much as I thought there would've been). It's full of wonder and the Gummi bears are magnificent. Another reviewer who mentioned trying to tell others about the show mentioned that they had no idea what he was talking about at all. I don't see how no one from that generation could not have heard of nor seen this, unless it pertained to those from a different generation. To all those who may not have already checked it out, I, too, recommended it as it's one of the better t.v. animations, of the '80s or otherwise. The perfect beginning to the assembly line of WDTA productions in the pre-Disney Channel Originals era (1985-2002).