Dungeons & Dragons (TV series) facts for kids

Dungeons & Dragons
DVD cover
Genre	Action Adventure Fantasy
Created by	Kevin Paul Coates Dennis Marks Takashi
Developed by	Mark Evanier
Written by	Karl Geurs
Directed by	John Gibbs
Voices of	Willie Aames Don Most Katie Leigh Adam Rich Tonia Gayle Smith Teddy Field III Sidney Miller Peter Cullen Frank Welker Bob Holt
Composer(s)	Johnny Douglas Rob Walsh (additional music)
Country of origin	United States Japan
Original language(s)	English
No. of seasons	3
No. of episodes	27
Production
Executive producer(s)	David H. DePatie (season 1) Lee Gunther (seasons 1–3) Margaret Loesch (seasons 2–3)
Producer(s)	Bob Richardson (season 1) Karl Geurs (seasons 2–3)
Running time	24 minutes
Production company(s)	Marvel Productions D&D Entertainment Toei Animation
Distributor	New World Television
Release
Original network	CBS
Original release	September 17, 1983 (1983-09-17) – December 7, 1985 (1985-12-07)

Dungeons & Dragons is an exciting American cartoon show. It is based on the popular Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. The show was made by Marvel Productions and TSR.

It first aired from 1983 to 1985 on CBS. There were three seasons with a total of 27 episodes. A Japanese company called Toei Animation created the animation for the series.

The story is about six friends who get pulled into a magical world. This world is called the "realm of Dungeons & Dragons." They try to find a way back home with help from their guide, the Dungeon Master.

The show was cancelled before a final episode could be made. This last episode would have ended their adventure. The script for this episode was later published online. Fans even made an animated version of it in 2020.

About the Show

The show begins with a group of friends, aged 8 to 15. They are on a magical dark ride at an amusement park. Suddenly, they are transported to the "realm of Dungeons & Dragons."

In this new world, they meet the Dungeon Master. He is named after the person who runs the game. He gives each child a special magical item. Their main goal is to find a way back home.

But often, they stop to help others in need. They also discover that their journey is connected to other people's lives. They face many enemies, but their biggest foe is Venger.

Venger is a powerful wizard who wants to rule the realm. He believes the children's magical weapons will help him do this. Another enemy they often meet is Tiamat. She is a five-headed dragon and the only creature Venger fears.

As the show goes on, you learn that Dungeon Master and Venger might be connected. In one episode, Dungeon Master calls Venger "my son." The unmade final episode would have shown that Venger is Dungeon Master's son. He had been turned evil.

Main Characters

Left to right: Hank, Eric, Diana, Presto, Sheila, Bobby and Uni. in the first episode "The Night of No Tomorrow"

• Hank, the Ranger (voiced by Willie Aames): Hank is 15 years old and the leader of the group. He is brave and noble. Hank has a magical bow that shoots glowing energy arrows. He uses these arrows in many ways, like for climbing or to hurt enemies.
• Eric, the Cavalier (voiced by Don Most): Eric is also 15. He comes from a rich family and can be a bit spoiled. He often complains and acts like a comic relief coward. But deep down, Eric is heroic. His magical shield can create a force field, often saving his friends.
• Diana, the Acrobat (voiced by Tonia Gayle Smith): Diana is a brave and honest 14-year-old. She is an Acrobat. She carries a magic staff that can change its length. Diana uses her staff as a weapon or to help with her amazing acrobatic moves. She is also good with animals.
• Presto, the Magician (voiced by Adam Rich): Albert, known as Presto, is 14 years old. He is the Wizard. Presto is kind but often nervous and lacks self-confidence. His magical hat can pull out many different things. Sometimes they seem useless, but often they are exactly what the group needs to escape danger.
• Sheila, the Thief (voiced by Katie Leigh): Sheila is 13 and the Thief. She has a magical cloak. When she pulls the hood over her head, she becomes invisible. Sheila can be shy and nervous. But she is always brave when her friends, especially her younger brother Bobby, are in trouble.
• Bobby, the Barbarian (voiced by Ted Field III): Bobby is the youngest, starting at 8 years old. He is Sheila's younger brother. Bobby is very impulsive and ready to fight. He carries a magical club. He uses it to cause earthquakes or dislodge rocks by hitting the ground. He has a close bond with Uni.
• Uni, the Unicorn (vocal effects by Frank Welker): Uni is Bobby's pet, a baby unicorn. She can speak, but her words are not always clear. Uni can also teleport once a day. She is still too young to use this power often. Uni also shows she can use magic from Presto's hat better than he can!
• Dungeon Master (voiced by Sidney Miller): He is the group's wise friend and teacher. Dungeon Master gives them important advice and help. His clues are often mysterious until the children figure them out. He also provides them with their magical weapons and hints on how to get home.

Villains

Venger, the main villain; trapped in "The Dragon's Graveyard"

• Venger, the Force of Evil (voiced by Peter Cullen): Venger is the main bad guy. He is a very powerful evil wizard. He wants to use the children's magical weapons to become even stronger. He especially dislikes the kids because they are "pure of heart."
  • Shadow Demon (voiced by Bob Holt): This shadowy demon is Venger's personal spy and helper. He often tells Venger what the children are doing.
  • Night-Mare: This is a black horse that Venger rides for transportation.
• Tiamat (vocal effects by Frank Welker): Tiamat is Venger's biggest rival. She is a scary female dragon with five heads. Each head breathes a different element: ice, toxic gas, fire, lightning, and acid. Both Venger and the children try to avoid Tiamat. However, the children sometimes make deals with her to fight Venger.

Episodes Guide

Season 1 (1983)

Season 2 (1984)

Season 3 (1985)

Unfinished Finale

The show was cancelled before a final episode could be made. This episode was called "Requiem." It was written by Michael Reaves, who wrote many other episodes.

"Requiem" would have ended the story and perhaps changed the show if it continued. The script for this episode was later shared online. You can even find an audio version of it on the DVD release.

In September 2020, fans created an animated version of "Requiem." They used existing animation from the show and added new parts. They also used the audio from the audio drama. One of the original voice actors, Katie Leigh (Sheila), even returned to record new lines!

In "Requiem," Venger offers the group a chance to finally go home. This offer divides the friends. Eric wants to help Venger, but Hank doesn't trust him. Both groups reach a tomb with a key Venger wants to destroy.

Hank realizes Venger is also trapped in the realm. Instead of destroying the key, Hank convinces Eric to use it. The key opens a magic door that changes Venger back to his good self. It also creates portals for others trapped in the realm to escape.

The Dungeon Master opens a portal back to the amusement park for the kids. He offers them a choice: go home or stay and keep fighting evil. The original script ends with this open choice. The fan animation shows most of the group returning home. However, Presto stays behind to look after Uni and become a full wizard.

See also

In Spanish: Dungeons & Dragons (serie de televisión) para niños