Hercules (TV series)
Tag: Visual edit
Tag: Visual edit
Line 138: Line 138:*"Hercules and the Visit From Zeus"
*"Hercules and the Visit From Zeus"
−Some of the dialogue between Hercules and Meg are altered to fit the episodes. An example of this is '''Hercules and the Visit From Zeus''' replacing the clip of Hercules graduating from Promethous Academy.
Some of the dialogue between Hercules and Meg are altered to fit the episodes. An example of this is '''Hercules and the Visit From Zeus''' replacing the clip of Hercules graduating from Prometheus Academy.
==Trivia==
==Trivia==
Line 147: Line 147:*Hercules is shown in the film and in this series to be a son of Zeus and Hera but in the mythology, he is the illegitimate child of Zeus and a mortal woman (named Alcmene in Greek mythology). In this version, Alcmene is the mortal woman, who, with her husband, Amphitryon, simply finds the abandoned infant Hercules and raises him as their own. The legends generally depict Hera as despising Hercules; with the Goddess frequently trying to kill him or otherwise hinder his quests.
*Hercules is shown in the film and in this series to be a son of Zeus and Hera but in the mythology, he is the illegitimate child of Zeus and a mortal woman (named Alcmene in Greek mythology). In this version, Alcmene is the mortal woman, who, with her husband, Amphitryon, simply finds the abandoned infant Hercules and raises him as their own. The legends generally depict Hera as despising Hercules; with the Goddess frequently trying to kill him or otherwise hinder his quests.
*Unlike the series and the film, which all Greek characters are described as demigods, in ancient Greek mythology no one, including Hercules himself, was a real demigod, as even their mortal parents were direct or indirect descendants of the Greek gods themselves. Hercules is descended from the gods, because Zeus is not only his father, but also his maternal great-great-grandfather. Achilles is descended from the gods because his mother Thetis is a sea nymph, and his father Peleus is the grandson of Zeus. Narcissus is depicted in the series as an Olympian god, which he was not in original mythology.
*Unlike the series and the film, which all Greek characters are described as demigods, in ancient Greek mythology no one, including Hercules himself, was a real demigod, as even their mortal parents were direct or indirect descendants of the Greek gods themselves. Hercules is descended from the gods, because Zeus is not only his father, but also his maternal great-great-grandfather. Achilles is descended from the gods because his mother Thetis is a sea nymph, and his father Peleus is the grandson of Zeus. Narcissus is depicted in the series as an Olympian god, which he was not in original mythology.
−*There were 9 [[Muses]] in Greek mythology; in the series there are only five shown, with no mention as to the other four.
+*There were 9 [[Muses]] in Greek mythology; in the movie and series there are only five shown, with no mention as to the other four.
*The series shows [[Pegasus]] being created by Zeus to be Hercules' pet and servant. In Mythology, Pegasus was a wild beast created from [[Medusa]]'s blood, who was captured by another hero, Bellerophon. The original Hercules never even encountered Pegasus.
*The series shows [[Pegasus]] being created by Zeus to be Hercules' pet and servant. In Mythology, Pegasus was a wild beast created from [[Medusa]]'s blood, who was captured by another hero, Bellerophon. The original Hercules never even encountered Pegasus.
*[[Homer]] appears as a reporter, yet is a historical, not mythological figure.
*[[Homer]] appears as a reporter, yet is a historical, not mythological figure.
*Icarus originally died when he flew too close of the Sun.
*Icarus originally died when he flew too close of the Sun.
−*In the Series, young Hercules claims to be a fan of Odysseus, whose exploits took place after the mythological Heracles
*In the series, young Hercules claims to be a fan of Odysseus, whose exploits took place after the mythological Heracles.
*In mythology, Cassandra received her ability to see negative events from [[Apollo (Hercules)|Apollo]], but with the curse that nobody would believe her predictions. In the series, everyone usually believes Cassandra's predictions, unlike the original myth.
*In mythology, Cassandra received her ability to see negative events from [[Apollo (Hercules)|Apollo]], but with the curse that nobody would believe her predictions. In the series, everyone usually believes Cassandra's predictions, unlike the original myth.
*The original Adonis was a deity, while the one in the series is a mortal.
*The original Adonis was a deity, while the one in the series is a mortal.
Line 163: Line 163:*In mythology, the Nemean Lion is killed by Hercules and isn't able to talk, unlike the series' version.
*In mythology, the Nemean Lion is killed by Hercules and isn't able to talk, unlike the series' version.
*Galatea was created by Pygmalion, not Hercules.
*Galatea was created by Pygmalion, not Hercules.
−*Hercules never found [[Medusa]] in Greek mythology. In the series Medusa gradually becomes Hercules' friend.
+*Hercules never found [[Medusa]] in Greek mythology. In the series, Medusa gradually becomes Hercules' friend.
−*Unlike the Circe of the series, that seduces men to her island, the original Circe turned to animals those who dared to go there.
*Unlike the Circe in the series that seduces men to her island, the original Circe turned to animals those who dared to go there.
*Unlike in the series, griffins can't talk in mythology.
*Unlike in the series, griffins can't talk in mythology.
*Hercules participates in the Ancient Olympics, which he didn't in the original mythology. Also, most likely due to the family-friendly theme, the participants of the Olympics wear clothes.
*Hercules participates in the Ancient Olympics, which he didn't in the original mythology. Also, most likely due to the family-friendly theme, the participants of the Olympics wear clothes.
Line 174: Line 174:*Although Philoctetes was a friend of Heracles, he wasn't a satyr in the mythology, and never even trained him.
*Although Philoctetes was a friend of Heracles, he wasn't a satyr in the mythology, and never even trained him.
*In the series, Hercules was born on Mount Olympus and later taken down to Earth. But in the mythology, he was born on Earth.
*In the series, Hercules was born on Mount Olympus and later taken down to Earth. But in the mythology, he was born on Earth.
−*Paris and Helen are not shown as lovers even though they were famous for it in legend.
+*Paris and Helen are not shown as lovers, even though they were famous for it in legend.
*Geryon in Greek myth was the grandson of Medusa. In the series they are considered siblings born from Echidna and Typhon.
*Geryon in Greek myth was the grandson of Medusa. In the series they are considered siblings born from Echidna and Typhon.
*In contrast to the series, Athena and Ares aren't twins but half-siblings in mythology.
*In contrast to the series, Athena and Ares aren't twins but half-siblings in mythology.
This article is about the animated series. For articles that share the same name, see Hercules.
Hercules is a spinoff and midquel to the 1997 Disney animated feature film Hercules that introduces more Greek mythological characters. The series premiered in syndication on August 31, 1998 and on Disney's One Saturday Morning on September 12, 1998. The syndicated series ran 52 episodes while the Saturday morning run ran 13.
The series follows teenage Hercules training as a hero, as well as trying to adjust to life. With his free-spirited friend Icarus, his future-seeing friend Cassandra, and his teacher Philoctetes ("Phil"), he battles his evil uncle Hades. Like all teenagers though, Hercules has to worry about peer pressure when the snobbish prince Adonis ridicules him. The theme song is a shortened version of Zero to Hero.
Disney's Hercules, like Disney's The Little Mermaid and Disney's Aladdin, is a spin-off from the film of the same name (Hercules) and is based on his teenage adventures while training with Phil. The whole series is something of a midquel, taking place during the song "One Last Hope" (which Phil sings while Hercules is training).
Many of the Olympian Gods and Goddesses only glimpsed during the film pay visit to the young hero-to-be and help or hinder him in his adventures. Other characters from the film that appear are Hades (James Woods), Pegasus (Frank Welker), and Hercules' mortal parents Amphitryon and Alcamene.
The series would adapt elements from numerous other Greek mythologies, such as Icarus, Triton, Medusa, and many more.
Disney's revamping of Greek legend moved to the small screen in the fall of 1998. Disney’s Hercules had the Greek god still in "geek god" mode, before his "Zero to Hero" transformation. In the series, "Herc" was enrolled at Prometheus Academy, a school for both gods and mortals. Since events occur before Hercules meets and falls for Megara, he is joined by two new friends: Cassandra (Sandra Bernhard) and Icarus (French Stewart).
The show is noted as having many inconsistencies from the movie it was based of. The most glaring of these is the fact that Hades is well aware Hercules is alive during his teenage years, while in the movie he assumed Hercules was dead until his adult years. Hades' master plan to unleash the Titans, his very reason for trying to kill Hercules in the first place, is never referenced, rather Hades attempts to destroy Hercules because he poses a threat to his plot of the day. Hercules also encounters a number of mythological heroes, such as Jason, Theseus, and Achilles, whom Phil establishes as having already perished upon meeting him. Hercules is also shown to have met his future wife Megara prior to their encounter in the movie, although this is resolved by the fact the two lost their memories of having met each other by the episode's end, by water from the Lethe river.
Several visual elements from the film were also tweaked for the show, mainly due to the smaller television budgets. Most notably, divine characters, such as Zeus lack their glowing aura, while Hades' smoke trail was visibly reduced. The characters Cupid and Artemis were completely redesigned, while several characters received minor design tweaks. Hercules is also frequently seen wearing the outfit he wears as an adult as a teenager, something never seen in the film.
The show was also known for employing a large number of well-known actors for both recurring and guest roles, including Jason Alexander, Ed Asner, Jim Belushi, Dan Castellaneta, David Cross, Tia Carrere, Merv Griffin, Jennifer Aniston, Jon Cryer, Jane Curtin, Dom DeLuise, Wink Martindale, William Shatner, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Jim Varney, Jay Thomas, Brad Garrett, Annie Potts, Harvey Fierstein, Melissa Manchester, Idina Menzel, Mandy Patinkin, Chris Elliott, David Alan Grier, Kathie Lee Gifford, Louis Gossett Jr., Gilbert Gottfried, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Linda Hamilton, Eugene Levy, Miguel Ferrer, Jane Leeves, Eric Idle, Jeffrey Tambor, Craig Ferguson, Vince Vaughn, Reba McEntire, Andrea Martin, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Heather Locklear, Carl Reiner, Paul Reubens, Richard Simmons, Jerry Stiller, Lisa Kudrow, George Takei, Patrick Warburton, RuPaul, Steven Weber, Steven Wright, Will Ferrell, Cheri Oteri, Fred Willard, Wayne Newton, Charles Nelson Reilly, Tim Conway, and John O'Hurley.
Disney's Hercules debuted as part of Disney’s One Saturday Morning block, joining The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and Disney's Doug. The show proved to be as big a hit on television as it had been in theaters, still going strong into the early 00's.
Hercules, Icarus and Cassandra.
Jr. Prometheus Academy
Guest characters
4 episodes of Hercules: The Animated Series were put onto direct-to-video home video in movie format: Hercules: Zero to Hero. The episode "Hercules and the Yearbook" is the main plot of the video. Unlike the televised version, the random clips are replaced with 3 other episodes (in the following order):
Some of the dialogue between Hercules and Meg are altered to fit the episodes. An example of this is Hercules and the Visit From Zeus replacing the clip of Hercules graduating from Prometheus Academy.
- The series depicts Atlantis being sunk. The island was sunk many years before Hercules' time.
- Ceto, Medusa, the Minotaur, the Harpies, Geryon, Argus Panoptes, the Cyclops, the Erymanthian Boar, and the Furies are depicted as children of Echidna and Typhon, which they are not in mythology.
- In mythology, the Nemean Lion is killed by Hercules and isn't able to talk, unlike the series' version.
- Galatea was created by Pygmalion, not Hercules.
- Hercules never found Medusa in Greek mythology. In the series, Medusa gradually becomes Hercules' friend.
- Unlike the Circe in the series that seduces men to her island, the original Circe turned to animals those who dared to go there.
- Unlike in the series, griffins can't talk in mythology.
- Hercules participates in the Ancient Olympics, which he didn't in the original mythology. Also, most likely due to the family-friendly theme, the participants of the Olympics wear clothes.
- Hades refers to himself as Zeus' younger brother, but Zeus is the youngest of his brothers in mythology while Hades is the oldest.
- However, this could be in reference to the fact that he was the last to be extracted from Cronus, making him the "youngest" to be "born".
- In the series, Hades is evil. But in the Mythology, He's an ally of Zeus, and he doesn't even care about Mount Olympus. He just wants to stay in the Underworld.
- Hades never wanted to unleash the Titans. Nor were the Titans ever unleashed, so the Titans never stormed Mount Olympus. However, snake-legged children of Mother Earth did try to storm Olympus once.
- In the movie, Nessus the centaur attacks Hercules. But in the mythology, he at first offers to help Heracles' wife, Deinera, across the river but later changes his mind and tries to carry her off, causing Heracles to shoot the centaur with one of his poisoned arrows.
- Although Philoctetes was a friend of Heracles, he wasn't a satyr in the mythology, and never even trained him.
- In the series, Hercules was born on Mount Olympus and later taken down to Earth. But in the mythology, he was born on Earth.
- Paris and Helen are not shown as lovers, even though they were famous for it in legend.
- Geryon in Greek myth was the grandson of Medusa. In the series they are considered siblings born from Echidna and Typhon.
- In contrast to the series, Athena and Ares aren't twins but half-siblings in mythology.
- In mythology, Amazons want nothing to do with men except to aid them in producing daughters however in the series, Tempest who is an Amazonian princess is sent to a mix-gender school to be educated and her father is living in the Amazonian kingdom.
- In mythology, Helios is the god of the sun. Apollo is the god of light.
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