![]() Summarized best by Shakespeare’s line, “All that glitters is not gold” from The Merchant of Venice, this first theme is often used throughout his plays and books. But the show goes beyond name-checking characters: Weisman clearly constructed Gargoyles with Shakespearean themes baked into its narrative DNA from the start.Ī theme that drives the first story arc of Gargoyles and continues on throughout the rest of the run is the conflict between appearance and reality. Several recurring characters are even named after Shakespeare characters - Macbeth, Oberon, Puck, Titania - proving Weisman was inspired by the Bard and was not interested in disguising his allusions. For Gargoyles, Weisman undeniably drew heavily from the works of William Shakespeare. It should come as no surprise that his presumed fluency in classic literature would bleed through in any of his works. Series creator and co-producer, Greg Weisman, is a former English composition and writing teacher. ![]() No shade, but Gargoyles was simply operating on a different level - even compared to cartoons with a similar tone. ![]() It was airing alongside shows like DuckTales, Goof Troop, and Bonkers in its programming block. For Disney at the time, however, Gargoyles was a stark departure from their usual fare. All of them are dynamic, action-packed cartoons geared toward young viewers, but they also have a self-serious tone and a flair for the dramatic in most episodes. Gargoyles was in good company with shows like Batman: The Animated Series and X-Men airing on Fox Kids. It’s unlike anything you’ve ever seen before. They wax philosophical and struggle with the inherent mistrust between their kind and humanity. These “monsters” aren’t so scary when they’re not trying to be. It’s dark and brooding, but also at times tender and sentimental. Flipping through the channels, you see it on the Disney Afternoon programming block: Gargoyles. Backpack off, shoes off, and, before the front door closes, your butt is on the couch and the TV is on. Imagine coming home after a long school day in 1994.
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