Visionaries: Knights of the Magical Light (1987) User Reviews (17)

An Underrated Gem Which Should Have Lasted More Than One Season

[wchngliu · 8/10 · 21 October 2008]

From the animation company who gave us Transformers in the 80s and 90s incarnations of Marvel Comics's X-men and Spiderman on the small screen, TMS Entertainment made a follow-up to Transformers, in response to its success on TV and its popular toy line, titled: Visionaries- Knights of the Magical Light.

Two sets of enemies: one good, one bad- the good being the Spectral Knights, the other the Darkling Lords, with Merklyn the great wizard maintaining order, do battle against each other. Each member possesses their own weapon and is acquired with a set of special powers that enable them to magically transform into animals, best represented by the holographic emblems- or be it totems on their chest. They are also assigned to a particular animal, such as a lion, whale, a grizzly bear and a wolf to name for example. Thus, the animal also tends to, but not always reflect and connote the personality of each group member.

The series combines medieval shivery with futuristic special effects, which is and was the first of its kind to do so- think 'King Arthur' mixed with elements from Transformers, Jayce and the Wheeled warriors and Galaxy Rangers and you'll get the picture.

The dialogue was impressive, the concept is original and something that has never been attempted before for an animated show. The quality of the animation was faultless and the characters were well designed; and whereas they were often complex and detailed, the plots were unique, interesting and well- devised. As for the voice-acting, it was one of the best from any animated series.

The fact that it only lasted 13 episodes- which frankly equals to one measly season was criminal; given as this doesn't do this franchise any justice whatsoever. Visionaries was a very under-rated cartoon and one of the most overlooked ones, back in the 80s.

This is one of the many cartoons that deserve to make a comeback and be possibly remade for older and future generations of fans and admirers of Visionaries (and if it does so, to retain the original premise, design and feel of the show). I may have been a little girl at the time when this came out over 20 years, but I loved the action-packed cartoons the 80s had- and Visionaries was no exception. As it is an underrated gem.

It deserves to be released on DVD in the UK.

A forgotten gem.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 8/10 · 8 February 2022]

Visionaries is one of those shows from my childhood that I remember vividly, it's been so good to rewatch it, and relive it, so many young memories brought back.

It holds up very well, it's nicely animated, with some fun characters, and plenty of action.

I had a job getting hold of the dvd, but so glad I did, one thing I've become aware of, and perhaps the reason it didn't last, is it did become a little repetitive quite quickly.

I seemed to remember this lasting for years, it was a real surprise to see that only one series was made. I only wish I'd kept hold of the figures.

With the current love for nostalgia, wouldn't it be great to see this brought back from the ashes, it really is a story of the good and bad guys fighting one another.

Catch it is you can, 8/10.

Light Powered Knights

[hellraiser7 · 8/10 · 5 September 2014]

I was a big fan of the fantasy genre ever since I was six, I was a big fan of "He-Man and the Masters of the Universe" as well as "Dungens and Dragons" so you can easily guess this is another franchise that caught my eye.

This is an under the radar gem that I personally felt had a lot of potential to be the next big thing but unfortunately the show just never had the chance to catch up.

I really love the whole idea of the show, which I think is a great concept in general that I feel the fantasy genre should think of tackling more, the only other that did something like this was the film "Wizards" from Ralph Bashi. The idea of the fantasy world set in a post apocalyptic world and having to rebuild or run the world with the aid of the wisdom and power of magic is awesome.

The animation I think is very good and really showed how up to date animation was when they were starting to become as the years rolled on. Really like the detail on the world and character models let alone armor which is colorful and unique, but mainly the animation that interested me the most was when they used the magical powers, really liked the blending of both regular animation and light which really made the powers feel like they really have popped out. The theme song I think is very good, it has a really heroic and almost epic tone to it which fits.

The characters not much to say for them, they serve their funcions and is competently acted by some familiar voice cast members, I'll admit for a show that didn't last long this show had a very good ensemble which I don't see or should I say hear often. Like Peter Cullen whom you of course know as Optimus Prime on "Transformers" as well as Susan Blu whom was Arcee. Jim Cummings whom you know as Negaduck in "Darkwing Duck" and even a few experienced actors from TV like Johnathan Harris from "Lost in Space" and Jennifer Darling from "Six Million Dollar Man" whom plays Vigulia whom I'll admit is my favorite character in the show, what can I say I have a thing for bad girls.

However, this show were really in it for the action and adventure. The chirography in the battles was solid, though the highlight was always seeing each of them use their magical powers as well as the vehicles they use. The designs of the vehicles are memorable and cool, the fact that their powered by magic is interesting though at the same time really inconsistent since those vehicles would have to be constructed though the principles of engineering and science which both are hardly existent in that world. So what do they just build engines and all the other stuff and just zap them with a certain amount of magical juice is this like the same principles as the electric car. I don't know I just simply rolled with this idea which is cool all the same.

Down to the power which I think are just excellent, I really like how each of the knights had three abilities to work with. From the typical practical weapons which are all uniquely designed and look cool and useful, but it's the magic powers were all in for. Each of them are held by magic mirrors one located on their bodies to represent their totem animals and another which is a simple staff with a mirror which is simply just an extra ability; though throughout the fights I'm a little surprised despite using magic against each other why they never thought of breaking each other mirrors so their disabled of their powers, I don't may'be the mirrors are made of a chemical that makes bulletproof glass or super windows.

Anyway, I also like how both we see with these powers both have to act as a team sort of like with "X-Men". Yes, each of them are powerful individually but not invincible, their powers have both strengths and weaknesses. As a team the factions can really balance each other out and fill in that weak point. This isn't too special but everything done right.

And yeah, this is another cartoon I think can be revived. Make it sort of like "Game of Thrones" where the post apocalyptic earth is sub divided into realms. Have a little more depth with this world, how it was formed and even with the characters how they all came to where they are now, as well as ongoing plot lines. With todays animation, technology and writing techniques, it's possible.

Visionaries have enough magic to keep you entertained.

Rating: 3 stars

Forgotten Classic

[anxietyresister · 30 September 2003]

So anyway, there I was today watching my just recently acquired (from a car-boot sale) VHS of Visionaries, and I suddenly realised that unlike so many kids series from the 80's, this one really held up. It had remarkably good animation for a Saturday morning cartoon, the plots were quite complex without being confusing, the dialogue was sophisticated and not cheesy at all and overall it was just a very imaginative, quality programme. Plus unlike say, He-man, it didn't have some patronising moral that was rammed down your throat at the end of every episode, which has got to be worth at least an extra 50 points in my opinion. Far superior than most of the dreck that gets passed off as children's entertainment these days, this comes highly recommended. It's hard to find though, so keep an eye out..

Best cartoon ever

[wilsonbd79 · 10/10 · 15 January 2009]

I loved Visionairies. It was brilliantly written with an older age theme compared to similar cartoons such as Thunder cats.

Very well thought out with the way the good and the bad knights had animals they turned into and special powers to use from their magic staffs. The good and the bad knights were opposites to each other pretty much with the good guys being 'way too nice for their own good' and the bad knights a bit over obsessed with getting their enemies. This just made for some classic action. Don't know how it didn't get an second series! Everyone I know who watched it at the time rate it as the best cartoon they have seen...Classic! You can watch every episode on You tube if you have the time.......and that is time well spent! Ben

An Honest Review

[generationofswine · 10/10 · 26 February 2019]

Holograms...and Knights...and Holograms...and magic...and holograms...and science fiction...and holograms.

HOLOGRAMS!!!!!!

That was the selling point because, for about a decade until the magic eye paintings took over, holograms were the coolest thing on earth...especially if you were as old as I was.

And that is what both the super expensive toys and the cartoon was about, holograms...more the toys than the cartoon. But, who cares anyway, this custom made to appeal to little kids and it did it in spades.

Great

[jordan198431 · 10/10 · 25 July 2020]

Watched it around 1991-1993, best animation of any 80s/90s cartoon.

A Neat Cartoon That Is Forgoten

[jeremycrimsonfox · 9/10 · 20 April 2023]

Visionaries is a thirteen-episode cartoon based on the toyline of the same name made by Hasbro, the same company behind G. I. Joe and The Transformers. Mixing fantasy elements into a science fiction world, the series takes place on a planet whose technology has failed after a time of peace. To usher in this new age, a wizard named Merklynn invites the bravest of the people to brave his shrine atop Iron Mountain. Fourteen of these men and women succeed and are given totems based on animals represented by them, however, the evil Darkstorm and his Darkling Lords want the magic for selfish goals. To counter them, Leoric, the prince of New Valaraak, forms the Spectral Knights with other Visionaries who aim to use the magic for good.

A neat idea for an action series, Visionaries is a mix of knights and sorcery and a science fiction setting (something done in shows like He-Man). Continuing the trend of good vs. Evil that all cartoon of the 80's made to sell toys worked on, the series feels more like a movie, as the episodes are connected into a movie. Also, Merklynn is a neat change for a character who serves as the one who recharges magic for both sides, as he chooses no sides, and even goes as far as to task the good and bad guys with quests. Also, the voice acting is great, and the writing is top notch.

Excellent 80s cartoon series

[mtaylor-44844 · 10/10 · 4 October 2023]

Visionaries, Bionic Six, Galaxy Rangers, Robotech...I felt these titles were just as good as GI Joe, Transformers, MASK, Gummi Bears and Inspector Gadget but never got the attention that they deserved. Visionaries: Knights of the Magical Light is another excellent 80s cartoon series that you don't want to miss.

Visionaries takes place on the planet Prysmos. Two groups rise to dominance from the devastation the world to wage war upon each other. It's a fantasy world mixed with sword & sorcery/magic and new age weapons/technology in the vain of Thundarr the Barbarian/He-Man, but much darker.

A central character named Merklynn emerges (like Dungeon Master from Dungeons and Dragons) that conducts a test on both groups trying to gain dominance of the land and awards each person who completes his test with magic imbued banners/weapons/armor/vehicles that summon majestic creatures and terrifying monsters based upon each person's true nature or personality.

Classic series. Make sure to check it out!

Failed Hasbro Marvel Series

[chow913 · 5/10 · 5 December 2015]

Riding high the success of countless hit toy TV series such as 'Transformers' and 'G.I. Joe' toy maker Hasbro and the comics publisher Marvel launched their newest series, 'Visionaries.' With many of the same writing and voice talents as their other series, 'Visionaries' should have been a hit. But it wasn't. And it's easy to see why.

The premise was strong but the characters were weak. So was the action, and the animation itself.

The plot: On an industrialized planet similar to our own, a solar realignment causes all electrical power to stop working. The planet quickly reverts to a feudal society. Alright, no electricity would throw us back to the mid 1800s not the dark ages. Motors would still work, meaning there would still be factories, trains, steam powered ships, the printing press, film cameras and phonographs would still work. You'd think the planet would find someway to progress without electricity rather than regress.

This also beg the question, since our this series is about good vs evil, why isn't anyone using guns? Or machine guns? Or tanks? Or airplanes? None of those things require electricity.

Anyway, it's G.I. Joe vs Cobra, only this time they're knights. The knights are given magical powers by a wizard Merklynn. "Merklynn?" Really? Alright, either use the name Merlin or just come up with a new name all together.

The knights' main power is the ability to transform into animals. This is where I began to question the writers' efforts even when I was a kid. If you're going to base the characters' power around animal transformation you'd obviously choose the coolest animals possible. Right? While some deadly animals like a lion and a polar bear are used, the rest are very weak. Most of the villains' are just small animals like lizards. Not very interesting.

The knights' other powers revolve around staffs. Again, some powers are cool and others are just silly. For example one of the villains can summon a giant Godzilla like creature. Wow! But two of the heroes' powers are wasted on questions being answered with riddles. Boring.

There are vehicles. Yes, powered by magic. Every toy line needs vehicles.

The characters themselves are very dull as well. The villains come off like comic buffoons instead of real threats. The heroes have no depth.

The biggest problem with the animation are the backgrounds. Nuclear holocaust wasteland is the only thing which comes to mind. They must have really hated drawing forests. Seriously, it all looks like the moon!

It's also easy to see why the toys flopped. Their man power is morphing into animals but the action figures obviously didn't do this so it made play very difficult. It would be like having Transformers that couldn't transform!

Is the series horrible? No. But this one just seemed rushed and not thought out very well. It's a shame it came from such talented writers.

One of the best cartoons the 80s had to offer.

[Merklin · 3 November 2005]

My IMDb handle is named after one of the characters of visionaries.So that should show some indication of my feelings toward this classic.

Though it lasted for only 13 episodes, visionaries remains as one of the best cartoon shows of the 80s! Its got great characters, nice animation , supercool weapons and powers as well as one of the most exciting theme tunes a cartoon could ever have.

The pilot episode alone was one of the best pilot episodes I've seen for any television show ever,live action or otherwise..

Visionaries follows that overused 80s formula of a team of baddies vs a team of goodies, but those goodies and baddies are so interesting and their powers are so unique and imaginative that it really doesn't matter.It would have been nice to see those goodies and baddies developed over the course of another series but alas, it wasn't to be .

This is a truly great show and if you haven't heard of it - check it out !

One of the best

[Curare · 18 October 1999]

This was one of my favorite cartoons growing up the late 80's. It was on Saturday afternoons as part of the two-hour block consisting of "G.I. Joe," "Transformers," and "Jem." I was captivated by the adventures of the Spectral Knights as they battled those evil Darkling Lords, as they fought each other and the various magical elements of the planet Prysmos. I think this was one of the first cartoons to have recurring sub-plots. This cartoon is definatly a treasure worth seeking out. The tapes have become rather rare, so if you see one in your video store, snap it up and become 8 again.

overlooked 80's classic

[cain-22 · 11 February 2005]

I used to be a big visionaries fan back in the late 80's, and was slightly miffed when it disappeared into thin air. Fast forward about 18 years later and I received a DVD with all 13 episodes. It is still as entertaining as it was when I was a wee 10 year old all those years ago. I would go as far as saying it was even better than a certain animated series called Master's Of The The Universe (lets face it the animation was ropey,they seemed to use the same frames of animation for every episode and don't get me started on the damn "the moral of this story is..." style endings) that lasted for about 80 episodes,spawned a rubbish movie and is currently being revived as I write. The action takes place on the planet Prysmos a futuristic world that is thrown into disarray when the age of magic arrives, causing its inhabitants to live a near medieval existence. A mysterious wizard known as Merklyn issues a challenge I.E anyone brave enough to brave the traps and monsters in Iron Mountain will be granted magical powers. Only 14 make it and are granted a totem (an animal that represents their personalities and can therefore turn into) and a magic staff ( with which They can call on spiritual entities with names such as Destruction,Wisdom,Speed etc by reciting a poem) and are told by Merklyn to use their powers to aid the world. The lucky recipients split off into factions i.e The good Spectral Knights led by Leoric and the evil Darkling Lords led by Darkstorm Both the spectral knights and darkling lords were all rounded characters (e.g Ectar (Leoric's right hand man) a highly decorated cop in the age of science who cant seem to forget his former profession. The episode where he squares off against his arch nemesis Reekon a former master thief,with its ending showing the pair parting ways having shown each other mutual respect, is a doozy.) All 13 episodes were well written,funny,dark and gripping with top notch voice acting. The Darkling lords were always the characters that made every episode worth watching, my personal favourite being Darkstorm's snivelling serf Mortdredd voiced superbly my the former Dr Zachary Smith himself Jonathan Harris.In my opinion He deserved to be one of most memorable cartoon characters of 80's but alas it never happened the toys didn't sell particularly well and in a few short years the franchise fizzled out.

Good against Evil

[Kain_Pendragon_78 · 13 October 2002]

This cartoon used was one of the best of its time in the late 80's era. I mean it foretold about the coming of a second age of magic. You would also see spectacular animation such as man transforming into beast.

You would also see the heroic Spectral Knights fight against the evil Darkling Lords. If you haven't seen this movie or television series. You are missing out on a cartoon that became a legend.

Why oh why where there only like 13 episodes.

[Mr_Garak · 8 February 2003]

Of this series made, I just don't understand...

For once a Hasbro toy based cartoon with a decent plot and a great cast of Voice actors.

The planet Prismos a futuristic earth type world which is thrown back into a medieval type age when the planets suns a re-aligned causing there technology and energy sources to be rendered useless and an age of Magic begins.

Basically it's your same old Good Vs Evil story only both sides have magical totems which alow them to turn into Animals/Mammals/Insect and Beasts for a certin ammount of time, they are also given magical staffs each staff has a differn't power, Wisdom, Light Speeed, Knowledge, Strength, Decay, Destruction, Fear and Invunrability, Visionaries that did not have staffs found that they could magically power machines (which also had powers like the staffs)

The Voice where brilliant and Perfect for each of the parts.

Neil Ross (Springer/Slag (and various other voices) of Transformers Centurions and G.I. Joe) as the voice of Leoric.

The late Chris Latta (Starscream/Cobra Commander of Transformers and G.I. Joe) as the voices of Cravex and Darkstorm.

Peter Cullen (Voice Of Optimus Prime in Transformers) as the voice of Cindar

Roscoe Lee Browne (Voice of The Kingpin in the 90's Spiderman cartoon) as the voice of Merklyn/Reekon.

Jim Cummings (Winnie the poo and Tigger) as the voice of Witterquick and the Bearer of Knowledge.

Jennifer Darling (probably know for her role as Callahan in the six million dollar man series) as the voice of Virulina.

Bernard Erhard (Cy-kill's voice from the Go-Bots) as the voice of Cryotek (Cool name which was recently reused for the name of a repaint of Transmetal 2 Megatron toy (from the beast wars series) as a Robots In Diguise Toy)

The late Jonathan Harris (probably best know as Dr Zachary Smith from the 60's series lost in space (which also starred a young Bill Mumy of Babylon 5 fame) as the voice of Mortredd.

Michael McConnohie (Cosmos and Tracks voices from Transformers) as the voices of Ectar and Lexor.

Hal Rayle (Voice of Shrapnel and Snarl in Transformers) as the voices of Arzon and The Wisdom Owl.

Beau Weaver (Voice of Reed Richards (Mr Fantastic) from the 90's Fantastic four series and Octane from Transformers) as the voice of Feryl.

A great series which should along with G.I. Joe be brought into the 21st century by Hasbro by making a new series for it, granted it would'nt be the same without the likes of Chris Latta and Richard Harris but I'd love to see a Visionaries series remade possibly with CGI.

Or at least have the original episodes remasterd by Rhino and released on DVD.

Great animated show!

[Movie Nuttball · 8 July 2005]

When this show was on I watched it every time I could! I thought that the characters were really neat and all had great personalities. The animation in My opinion was crisp, clean, and really clear. Not to mention beautiful! Most of the characters in this show all have great personalities. in My opinion these characters are some of the best ever seen. In fact, The things that goes on in this series' cartoons are in My opinion action packed which that is what makes the show good. There are so many characters to like If you like the other 1980s' animated cartoons like M.A.S.K., Transformers, and others then I strongly recommend that you watch this show!

Deserves a reboot

[Rectangular_businessman · 9 November 2020]

Sometimes I wonder why Visionaries remained as a rather obscure 80s cartoon, considering than in many ways it could have easily become a succesful franchise as Transformers, G.I. Joe or even He-Man.

The setting, the characters and their powers had a lot of potential to explore, and it's such a shame that almost nobody remembers this series nowadays.