"Flash Gordon" (1979) TV series 1979-1982

Directors:

Hal Sutherland
Don Towsley
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

8 September 1979 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Action | Adventure | Fantasy | Sci-Fi

Plot:

The adventures of the comic strip space hero and his friends as they battle the tyranny of Ming the Merciless on the planet Mongo.

Plot Keywords:

Flash Gordon | Evil Man | Based On Comic | Based On Comic Strip | Alien

Cast

Robert Ridgely

...

Flash Gordon / ... (unknown episodes)

Series Directed by
Hal Sutherland		(unknown episodes)
Don Towsley		(unknown episodes)
Lou Zukor		(unknown episodes)

Series Writing credits
Ted Pedersen		(9 episodes, 1979-1980)
Samuel A. Peeples		(7 episodes, 1979)
Paul Dini		(4 episodes, 1982)
Dan DiStefano		(4 episodes, 1982)
Michael Reaves		(3 episodes, 1982)
Tom Ruegger		(2 episodes, 1982)

Series Produced by
Don Christensen	....	producer (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Norm Prescott	....	executive producer (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Lou Scheimer	....	executive producer (16 episodes, 1979-1980)

Series Original Music by
Ray Ellis		(16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Norm Prescott		(16 episodes, 1979-1980)

Series Cinematography by
R.W. Pope		(16 episodes, 1979-1980)

Series Film Editing by
Earl Biddle		(16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Jim Blodgett		(16 episodes, 1979-1980)

Series Art Direction by
Herb Hazelton		(16 episodes, 1979-1980)

Series Art Department
Kurt Conner	....	storyboard artist (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
John Dorman	....	storyboard artist (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Paul Fennell	....	storyboard artist (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Eddie Fitzgerald	....	storyboard artist (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Rich Fogel	....	storyboard artist (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Karl Geurs	....	storyboard artist (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Mike Joens	....	storyboard artist (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Bob Kline	....	storyboard supervisor (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
John Kricfalusi	....	storyboard artist (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Lonnie Lloyd	....	storyboard artist (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Tom Minton	....	storyboard artist (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Mitch Schauer	....	storyboard artist (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Wendell Washer	....	storyboard artist (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
John Grusd	....	storyboard artist (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
George Mahana	....	sound effects supervisor (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Robert Waxman	....	sound effects editor (16 episodes, 1979-1980)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Patty Burns	....	camera operator (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Don Dinehart	....	camera operator (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Roncie Hantke	....	camera operator (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Dan Larsen	....	camera operator (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
David J. Link	....	camera operator (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Dean G. Teves	....	camera operator (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
David Valentine	....	camera operator (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
F.T. Ziegler	....	camera operator (16 episodes, 1979-1980)

Series Animation Department
Francesca Allen	....	animator (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Bob Arkwright	....	animator (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
John Allan Armstrong	....	animator (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Tom Baron	....	animator (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Barbara Benedetto	....	background artist (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Alan Bodner	....	background artist (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Sheila Brown	....	background artist (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Jim Brummett	....	animator (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Kent Butterworth	....	animator (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Bill Carney	....	animator (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
John Conning	....	animator (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Franco Cristofani	....	animator (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
James A. Davis	....	animator (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Zeon Davush	....	animator (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Ed DeMattia	....	animator (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Jaime Diaz	....	animator (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Dianne Erenberg	....	background artist (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Jeff Etter	....	animator (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Chuck Eyler	....	animator (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Sharon Forward	....	layout artist (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Ed Friedman	....	animation director (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Kennetha Gaebler	....	animator (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Sergio Garcia	....	layout artist (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
John Garling	....	animator (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Milton Gray	....	animator (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Ed Haney	....	layout artist (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Karen Haus	....	animator (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Mike Hazy	....	layout key assistant (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Barry Helmer	....	animator (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
David Hoover	....	layout artist (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Richard Hoover	....	layout artist (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Mary Jorgensen	....	layout artist (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Vern Jorgensen	....	background artist (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Lou Kachivas	....	animation director (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Ervin L. Kaplan	....	color director (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Ellen Kashan	....	background artist (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Pat Keppler	....	background artist (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
John Koch	....	layout artist (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Marsh Lamore	....	animation director (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Carol Lundberg	....	key layout artist (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Alla Marshall	....	paint supervisor (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Marlene Robinson May	....	assistant animation supervisor (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Larry Miller	....	animator (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Michael Mitchell	....	layout artist (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Ron Myrick	....	animator (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Greg Nocon	....	animator (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Phillip Norwood	....	layout artist (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Bill Nunes	....	animator (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Tom O'Loughlin	....	background artist (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Frank Onaitis	....	animator (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Jack Ozark	....	animator (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Norly Paat	....	background artist (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Tony Pabian	....	animator (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Curt Perkins	....	background artist (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Don Peters	....	background artist (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Karen Peterson	....	animator (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Tom Ray	....	animator (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
William Recinos	....	animator (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
John Remmel	....	xerography supervisor (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Virgil Ross	....	animator (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Don Ruch	....	animator (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Sonja Ruta	....	animator (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Ernie Schmidt	....	animator (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Don Schweikert	....	background artist (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Larry Silverman	....	animator (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Nick Stern	....	animator (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Leo Sullivan	....	animator (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Reuben Timmins	....	animator (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Bob Trochim	....	animator (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Linn Trochim	....	animator (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Richard Trueblood	....	animator (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Marion Turk	....	checking supervisor (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Bob Tyler	....	animator (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Dardo Velez	....	animator (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Val Vreeland	....	paint supervisor (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
James T. Walker	....	animator (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Don Watson	....	background artist (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Gwen Wetzler	....	animation director (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Larry White	....	animator (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Barry Whitebook	....	animator (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Kay Wright	....	animation director (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Woody Yocum	....	animator (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Lou Zukor	....	animation director (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Daryl Carstensen	....	cel painter / xerox checker (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Marc Ellis	....	composer: theme music (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
George Mahana	....	music supervisor (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Norm Prescott	....	composer: theme music (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Robert Waxman	....	music editor (16 episodes, 1979-1980)

Series Other crew
Toni Christiansen	....	film coordinator (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
June Gilham	....	film coordinator (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Ted Pedersen	....	story editor (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Robert W. Wilson	....	production controller (16 episodes, 1979-1980)

Production Companies

• Filmation Associates
• King Features Syndicate

Distributors

• Divisa Home Video (2007) (Spain) (DVD)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1979-1982) (USA) (TV)

Other Companies

• Glen Glenn Sound Company  sound by (as Glen Glenn Sound)
• Technicolor  color by
• Shermley Music Co.  music publisher

Also Known As:

"The New Adventures of Flash Gordon" - USA (promotional title)

Runtime:

30 min | 20 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:TV-Y7

Company:

Filmation Associates

Trivia:

This series was originally conceived as a live action film for television, but it soon became clear that live-action would be cost prohibitive, so an animated film was instead commissioned. The results were so well received that it was decided not to air it as a film, but instead as a series. The film was heavily re-edited to play as a weekly serial and many additional episodes were ordered. After the series was canceled, the original version of the film (which included a lengthy prologue and other scenes that were never seen in the series) aired under the title Flash Gordon: The Greatest Adventure of All (1982) (TV).

Quotes:

Narrator:Flash, Dale and Zarkov have set out for Mongo on a mission of mercy: to prevent the impending collision between Earth and the mysterious comet world. But as their rocketship enters the atmosphere of the alien planet, there is an unprovoked attack which destroys the guidance system, plummeting them toward unknown danger below.

Movie Connections:

Edited into Flash Gordon: The Greatest Adventure of All (1982) (TV)

Probably the greatest piece of animation to ever grace the late 1970's

"The New Adventures Of Flash Gordon",was a brilliant masterpiece of animation that was probably the greatest piece of animation that ever grace the late 1970's well into the early 1980's. This Saturday Morning cartoon series came out a full year before the theatrical version with Sam Jones and Max Von Sydow(just to let you know the cartoon version came out in 1979 and the theatrical version came out in 1980). But for sheer entertainment value you couldn't ask for more on an early weekend morning. And with this new installment of Flash Gordon,this was a excellent series that delivered the goods. This was the best adaption of the classic comic strip by Alex Raymond. The series captured both the look of the strip and it remained faithfully adapted to the adventures. Produced by Filmation Productions,the new installment of Flash Gordon is richly realized,beautifully animated and at the time this came out was a highpoint for television especially in the animation department. Filmation captured perfectly the splendor and the overall spirit of Alex Raymond's strip utilizing(for its time in 1979)the best technology could offer and was the first cartoon series to show new techniques in animation that were never before seen or presented to audiences on television. This was a series that featured body rotoscope,special effects animation,moire patterns that were rotoscoping over motion control shots of model ships. The end result? A 16-chapter serial that delivered some of the most breathtaking animation ever presented along with non-stop action and delivered a truly "full" look and feel to it not to mention some of the scariest monsters ever created. The 16-part serial format from the first season was incredible since it created excitement. And since some of the episodes ended in a cliffhanger of sorts,you'll probably had to tune in next week to see what happens next or find out what would happen. Expect the unexpected.

Speaking of the rotoscoping effect,Filmation managed to use this same method some three years earlier with the animation series "Tarzan,Lord Of The Jungle"(which was also a brilliant masterpiece as well using the splendor and spirit of Edgar Rice Burroughs'character),basing it partly on the work of comics artist Burne Hogarth. The new version of Flash Gordon went beyond what the theatrical version did not to mention bringing a more updated style of the comic strip with some of the best animators and writers around(one of the writers for this series was that of Samuel A. Peeples,who was also behind the scenes for Filmation's animated Star Trek series six years earlier)under the direction of Hal Sutherland. Of the 16 episodes that were produced for NBC-TV from September 8,1979-May 20,1980,the network repeated the episodes until 1981. In some of the episodes,and this was especially in the first season that each chapter was built on the previous one,with each adventure covering two episodes.

The first 8 chapters from the first season were not only virtually flawless but was masterpieces within there own right. The best among them are beginning with the pilot episode "A Planet In Peril". The rest included "The Beast Men's Prey", "Vultan:King Of The Hawkemen",and "To Save Earth". The serial blazes away in epic proportions leaving with as much non-stop action and adventure as anyone can handle and them some. There are fighter ship battles,gunfights in grand palaces,exotic locations,damsels in distress,not to mention alien creatures and creations that drop from out of a hat. The second part consisted of chapters 9-16,but during those chapters there is a slight drop in animation quality but what almost killed it was the adding one of the most infertile and annoying characters in the series...a overly cute pink dragon named Gremlin who was just a repulsive as anyone can imagine. As for voice work it was impressive featuring the voices of Robert Ridgely(who gave Flash the right All-American voice),Alan Oppenheimer(as the voice of Ming The Merciless and Dr.Zarkov),Diane Pershing(who gave a light touch to Dale although was in some of the episodes was mostly there to be rescued),and Melendy Britt(who gave a sultry voice to the vixen Aura).

This was one of the best Saturday Morning cartoons of the era,but its ratings were never that good. NBC however kept it on the roster until 1981. And it was one of the great serial cartoons shows that was made for pre-teens and kids alike but adults were watching this too.