"Defenders of the Earth" (1986) TV series 1986-

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

8 September 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Adventure | Sci-Fi

Plot:

The four of the greatest comic strip heroes join forces to battle Ming the Merciless.

Plot Keywords:

Orphan | Father Daughter Relationship | 2d Animation | 21st Century | 2010s

Cast

Adam Carl	...	Kshin (8 episodes, 1986)
Ron Feinberg	...	Ming the Merciless (8 episodes, 1986)
Buster Jones	...	Lothar / ... (8 episodes, 1986)
Loren Lester	...	Rick Gordon (8 episodes, 1986)
Sarah Partridge	...	Jedda Walker (8 episodes, 1986)
Diane Pershing	...	Dynak X / ... (8 episodes, 1986)
Peter Renaday	...	Mandrake the Magician (8 episodes, 1986)
Lou Richards	...	Flash Gordon (8 episodes, 1986)
Peter Mark Richman	...	The Phantom (8 episodes, 1986)
Dion Williams	...	L.J. (8 episodes, 1986)
William Callaway	...	Ming the Merciless / ... (6 episodes, 1986)

Series Directed by
John Gibbs		(5 episodes, 1986)
Ray Lee		(5 episodes, 1986)

Series Writing credits
David Wise		(13 episodes, 1986)
Lee Falk		(8 episodes, 1986)
Alex Raymond		(8 episodes, 1986)
Mark Zaslove		(6 episodes, 1986)
Chris Bunch		(6 episodes)
Allan Cole		(6 episodes)
Mark Edward Edens		(5 episodes)
Chuck Lorre		(4 episodes, 1986)
Francis Moss		(4 episodes)
Evelyn Gabai		(3 episodes, 1986)
Mel Gilden		(3 episodes, 1986)
Bryce Malek		(3 episodes, 1986)
Dick Robbins		(3 episodes, 1986)
Arthur Byron Cover		(2 episodes, 1986)
Jimmy Griffin		(2 episodes, 1986)
Gar Anthony Haywood		(2 episodes, 1986)
Richard Merwin		(2 episodes, 1986)
Larry Parr		(2 episodes, 1986)
Dave Weathers		(2 episodes, 1986)
Paul Davids		(2 episodes)
Bill DuBay		(2 episodes)

Series Produced by
John Ahern	....	producer (6 episodes, 1986)
Karl Geurs	....	supervising producer (6 episodes, 1986)
Lee Gunther	....	executive producer (6 episodes, 1986)
Rick Hoberg	....	producer (6 episodes, 1986)
Bill Hutten	....	producer (6 episodes, 1986)
Glenn Johnson	....	producer (6 episodes, 1986)
Margaret Loesch	....	executive producer (6 episodes, 1986)
Tony Love	....	producer (6 episodes, 1986)
Bruce L. Paisner	....	executive producer (6 episodes, 1986)
Don Sheppard	....	producer (6 episodes, 1986)
Lee Orgel	....	producer (4 episodes, 1986)
George Singer	....	producer (2 episodes, 1986)

Series Original Music by
Robert J. Walsh		(5 episodes, 1986)

Series Film Editing by
Nicholas James		(unknown episodes)

Series Art Direction by
Gary Hoffman		(3 episodes, 1986)

Series Production Management
David J. Corbett	....	director of production (5 episodes, 1986)
Barbara Stoddard	....	production manager (5 episodes, 1986)

Series Art Department
Pat Boyette	....	storyboard director (5 episodes, 1986)
Richard Broderick	....	storyboard assistant (5 episodes, 1986)
Adrian Gonzales	....	storyboard director (5 episodes, 1986)
Larry Houston	....	storyboard director (5 episodes, 1986)
Bob Kline	....	storyboard director (5 episodes, 1986)
Don Manuel	....	storyboard director (5 episodes, 1986)
Rhoydon Shishido	....	storyboard director (5 episodes, 1986)
Jim Smith	....	storyboard director (5 episodes, 1986)
Michael Swanigan	....	storyboard director (5 episodes, 1986)
Fernando Tenedora	....	storyboard assistant (5 episodes, 1986)
Jim Valentino	....	storyboard director / storyboard assistant (5 episodes, 1986)
Douglas Vandegrift	....	storyboard director (5 episodes, 1986)
Craig Zukowski	....	storyboard assistant (5 episodes, 1986)
Will Meugniot	....	storyboard artist / storyboard director (4 episodes, 1986)
Larry Kim	....	storyboard assistant (3 episodes, 1986)
Janet Chin	....	storyboard assistant (2 episodes, 1986)
Nicola Cuti	....	storyboard assistant (2 episodes, 1986)
Gregg Davidson	....	storyboard director (2 episodes, 1986)
Frank Paur	....	storyboard director (2 episodes, 1986)
Mario Piluso	....	storyboard director (2 episodes, 1986)
Roy Allen Smith	....	storyboard director (2 episodes, 1986)
Vincenzo Trippetti	....	storyboard director (2 episodes, 1986)

Series Sound Department
Richard C. Allen	....	sound effects editor (5 episodes, 1986)
Jim Blodgett	....	sound effects editor (5 episodes, 1986)
Barbara Cane	....	recording assistant (5 episodes, 1986)
Michael L. DePatie	....	sound effects editor (5 episodes, 1986)
John Detra	....	sound effects editor (5 episodes, 1986)
Karen Doulac	....	sound effects editor (5 episodes, 1986)
Ron Fedele	....	sound effects editor (5 episodes, 1986)
Jacquie Freeman Ross	....	dubbing supervisor (5 episodes, 1986)
David Hankins	....	sound effects editor (5 episodes, 1986)
Jerry Jacobson	....	sound effects editor (5 episodes, 1986)
Nicholas James	....	sound effects editor (5 episodes, 1986)
Warren Taylor	....	sound effects editor (5 episodes, 1986)
Michael Tomack	....	sound effects editor (5 episodes, 1986)
Ed Barton	....	sound effects editor (3 episodes, 1986)
George Nemzer	....	sound effects editor (3 episodes, 1986)
Elen Orson	....	dialogue editor (3 episodes, 1986)
John F. Reynolds	....	sound effects editor (3 episodes, 1986)
Roy Braverman	....	sound effects editor (unknown episodes)
Peter Reale	....	sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)

Series Animation Department
Warren Batchelder	....	animation director (5 episodes, 1986)
Armando Carrillo	....	model designer (5 episodes, 1986)
Brad Case	....	animation director (5 episodes, 1986)
Joan Case	....	animation director (5 episodes, 1986)
Gerry Chiniquy	....	animation director (5 episodes, 1986)
Vanessa Coffey	....	model designer (5 episodes, 1986)
Chuck Downs	....	animation director (5 episodes, 1986)
Bill Exter	....	animation director (5 episodes, 1986)
Milton Gray	....	animation director (5 episodes, 1986)
Donn Greer	....	model designer (5 episodes, 1986)
Tim Gula	....	model designer (5 episodes, 1986)
Barbara Huggins	....	model designer (5 episodes, 1986)
Bob Kirk	....	animation director (5 episodes, 1986)
Al Kouzel	....	animation director (5 episodes, 1986)
Rudy Nebres	....	model designer (5 episodes, 1986)
Barbara Ann Nelson	....	model designer (5 episodes, 1986)
Margaret Nichols	....	animation director (5 episodes, 1986)
Alex Nino	....	model designer (5 episodes, 1986)
Karen Peterson	....	animation director (5 episodes, 1986)
Tom Ray	....	animation director (5 episodes, 1986)
Nestor Redondo	....	model designer (5 episodes, 1986)
Mike Sekowsky	....	model designer (5 episodes, 1986)
Robert Shellhorn	....	animation director (5 episodes, 1986)
Bob Treat	....	animation director (5 episodes, 1986)
Stephanie Pyren-Fortel	....	model designer (4 episodes, 1986)
Wallace Sides	....	model designer (4 episodes, 1986)
Thomas Warkentin	....	model designer (4 episodes, 1986)
Alan Wright	....	model designer (4 episodes, 1986)
Nicola Cuti	....	model designer (3 episodes, 1986)
Christopher Green	....	layout artist (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
Steven C. Brown	....	supervising editor (5 episodes, 1986)
Sarah Swiskow	....	telecine supervisor (5 episodes, 1986)

Series Music Department
Peter Collier	....	music editor (6 episodes, 1986)
Mark Shiney	....	music editor (6 episodes, 1986)
Stan Lee	....	main title lyrics / lyricist: main title (5 episodes, 1986)
Tony Pastor	....	composer: main title / main title music (5 episodes, 1986)
Robert J. Walsh	....	conductor / composer: main title / ... (5 episodes, 1986)

Series Other crew
Bryce Malek	....	story editor (6 episodes, 1986)
Larry Parr	....	story editor (6 episodes, 1986)
Tony Pastor	....	voice director / supervising story editor (6 episodes, 1986)
Dick Robbins	....	story editor (6 episodes, 1986)
Alan Swayze	....	story editor (6 episodes, 1986)
Maddy Aaronson	....	talent coordinator (5 episodes, 1986)
Billy Aronson	....	production assistant (5 episodes, 1986)
Richard J. Crowley	....	clinical psychology consultant (5 episodes, 1986)
Joyce C. Mills	....	clinical psychology consultant (5 episodes, 1986)
Stu Rosen	....	voice director (5 episodes, 1986)
Austin Hearst	....	production executive: King Features (4 episodes, 1986)
James R. McGee	....	production executive: King Features (4 episodes, 1986)
Mary K. Walker	....	production assistant (3 episodes, 1986)
Bill DuBay	....	story editor (2 episodes, 1986)
Stan Lee	....	supervising story editor (2 episodes, 1986)

Production Companies

• Marvel Productions
• King Features Entertainment

Distributors

• Avid Video (video)
• BCI Eclipse (2006) (USA) (DVD) (complete series, vol. one)
• BCI Eclipse (2007) (USA) (DVD) (complete series, vol. two)
• Mill Creek Entertainment (2010) (USA) (DVD) (complete series)
• Orbis Communications (1986) (USA)

Other Companies

• Dai Won Animation Co.  animation services (uncredited)
• Sei Young Animation Co. Ltd.  animation services (uncredited)
• Toei Animation Company  animation services (uncredited)
• Vitello Productions  sound post-production

Also Known As:

Runtime:

30 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG | Australia:G (some episodes) | USA:TV-Y7

Company:

Marvel Productions

Trivia:

In order to prevent his Mongolian appearance to open the door to the character being seen as racist due to his villainous nature, Ming the Merciless' appearance was recreated as a more alien and rather inhuman one.

Quotes:

Jedda Walker:Father, I don't understand?

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "Robot Chicken: Werewolf vs. Unicorn (#3.1)" (2007)

Phantom 2015

A quite good '80s cartoon.The music is good.Most characters are rather boring except:1)Ming the Merciless.The ruler of Mongo and would-be conqueror of Earth.Witiful and inspiring.This guy should have his own series.He always has plans to keep his opponents occupied.No defeat actually influences him much.He seems to believe he has time.2)The Phantom,apparently Phantom the 22th,practicaly the star of this series.Intelligent and mysterious.3)Jedda Walker,the Phantom's daughter and heir.Equaly intelligent and mysterious with powers developing. The episodes that revolve around the Walkers are the best.They examine some aspects of the Phantom's legend:1)Each Phantom passes his mantle to a descentant of him.What happens when they are more than one leaving?In a flashback episode we have young Phantom facing his own older brother for the right to inherite his father.His brother almost kills him.How many times has such fight among the Walkers happened?2)The Walkers are no saints.The older brother is still alive trying to kill his brother and niece in order to obtain the title that should be his own long ago,he was the strongest.To fulfil his goal he has alied with Ming.The family genes can provide super criminals as well as superheroes.3)Jedda has to make her father understand that her being a female doesn't disqualify her as the next Phantom.This son to son tradition seems to be currently based on male sobinism.4)Another issue is what kind of influence do the Walkers have on Bengala and through what means are they planning to keep it? This should have featured only the Walkers not the rest.It should be seen by anyone who is interested in The Phantom Who Walks.