"Don Quijote de la Mancha" (1978) TV series

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Cruz Delgado

Writers:

Gustavo Alcalde (adaptation)
Miguel de Cervantes y Saavedra (novel)

Genre:

Animation | Adventure | Fantasy

Plot Keywords:

Based On Novel

Cast

Fernando Fernán Gómez	...	Don Quijote (Don Quixote) / Alonso Quijano (voice)
Antonio Ferrandis	...	Sancho Panza (voice)
Rafael de Penagos	...	Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (voice)
Luis Varela	...	Bachiller Sansón Carrasco
José Guardiola	...	Vizcaíno
Manolo García	...	Caballero del Verde Gabán (voice)

Runtime:

26 min (39 episodes)

Country:

Spain

Language:

Spanish | Mandarin | Japanese | German | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Company:

Romagosa International Merchandising

Soundtrack:

Don Quijote y Sancho

Classic Series, excellent Don Quijote for children & adults

A magnificent animation TV-series based on the world famous Masterpiece novel by Miguel de Cervantes. It was very popular between Spanish children and, I confess, it was one of my favourite cartoons (along with "La vuelta al mundo de Willy Fogg" and some others). But this is not a mere cheap product for kids. It is a great work, an excellent way to approach to Don Quiijote's literary adventures, even adults enjoy so much with it. There are, of course, some naïve anecdotic facts inserted to amuse children and make it palatable: for example, the few anecdotic scenes played by Don Quijote's dog along with the horse 'Rocinante' and the Donkey (though there are no fantasies about talking animals). The rest is an amazingly accurate adaptation of the book to enjoy all the family.

Animation by Cruz Delgado y José Romagosa is a bit archaic, caricaturesque and naïve in some senses, but it's correct and the effort should be recognized and congratulated.

Script, action and cast elevates the series to the highest places in its category. About the cast, the voices chosen for the characters are undoubtedly excellent: specially the voices of Don Quijote (played by the huge talented actor Fernando Fernán Gómez), Sancho Panza (Antonio Ferrandis, another great professional), and Cervantes (the excellent communicator Rafael de Penagos, one of the most handsome voices in Radio and TV). I don't know if it has been translated into English, I suppose not yet, and if so, it should be translated to some languages to rejoice of children and adults all over the world. "Don Quijote" the series adapt in an excellent way the novel (both parts of the book, first and second) for kids and adults.

The music soundtrack (made by the musical group "Botones") was also a cute and naïve but effective way to enthusiasm children. Specially open musics "In a place of La Mancha..." and "Sancho – Quijote".

So don't wait if you haven't seen it yet. And if you did, surely you wish to contemplate it again. A very good series with lots of fun, adventure, humour and drama and, along with them, very educative. Archaic animation and some naïve touches, but undoubtedly a high quality product in its cultural and entertainment contents.

Valoration: 9/10