Hercules (1998 TV series) facts for kids

Disney's Hercules: The Animated Series is an American cartoon show. It is based on the 1997 movie Hercules and old Greek stories. The show first aired on August 31, 1998. It also appeared on ABC as part of the Disney's One Saturday Morning block. The series had 65 episodes over two seasons.

Story of Hercules

This cartoon follows Hercules when he is a teenager. He is learning to be a hero and trying to fit in. Hercules goes to Prometheus Academy, a high school for heroes.

He has two best friends:

• Icarus: A free-spirited boy who loves to fly. He once flew too close to the Sun, which made him a bit silly.
• Cassandra: A smart girl who can see into the future. Her visions are often about bad things.

Hercules' teacher is Philoctetes (called "Phil"). Together, they often fight against Hercules' evil uncle, Hades. Hades is the ruler of the Underworld. Like many teenagers, Hercules also deals with peer pressure. The snobby prince Adonis often makes fun of him.

Episodes

Main Characters

Many actors from the original movie came back to voice characters in the TV series.

• Hercules (voiced by Tate Donovan)
  • He is a hero-in-training and the son of Zeus and Hera.
  • Even though he is brave, Hercules can be clumsy. He sometimes accidentally breaks things or embarrasses himself.

• Philoctetes (voiced by Robert Costanzo)
  • Phil is a satyr and Hercules' hero trainer. He is also Hercules' best friend and helper.
  • He trained other famous heroes like Odysseus and Achilles.
  • Phil often reminds Hercules about his awkward teenage years.

• Pegasus (voiced by Frank Welker)
  • Pegasus is a winged horse made from clouds by Zeus.
  • He is Hercules' childhood pet and loyal friend. He is known for having "the brain of a bird."

• Icarus (voiced by French Stewart)
  • Icarus is Hercules' best friend. He is a bit crazy because he flew too close to the Sun with wax wings.
  • He still loves to fly, which often gets him into trouble. Hercules usually has to save him.
  • Icarus is very adaptable and can fit into most situations.
  • He is also very interested in Cassandra and tries to flirt with her often.
  • His father, Daedalus (voiced by David Hyde Pierce), teaches at the academy.
  • After high school, Icarus becomes a rich inventor with his father.

• Cassandra (voiced by Sandra Bernhard)
  • Cassandra is a prophet from the Trojan War. She is smart but not very social.
  • She has visions of the future, usually bad ones. People rarely believe her.
  • Icarus wants to marry her, but she does not feel the same way.
  • She became friends with Hercules and still hangs out with Icarus. She even said he was a good friend.
  • After graduating, she joins the Oracle Friends Network.

• Zeus (voiced by Corey Burton)
  • Zeus is Hercules' father and the king of the gods.
  • He often gives Hercules advice on being a hero. However, Zeus can also make mistakes and be reckless himself.

• Hades (voiced by James Woods)
  • Hades is the ruler of the Underworld and Hercules' uncle. He is also Hercules' main enemy.
  • He is funny, sneaky, and gets angry easily.
  • Hades is always trying to take control of Mount Olympus from his brother, Zeus.

• Pain and Panic (voiced by Bobcat Goldthwait and Matt Frewer)
  • These two tiny shapeshifting demons are Hades' clumsy helpers.

Special Guest Voices

Some famous people lent their voices to the show. These included Merv Griffin, Jennifer Aniston, and Lisa Kudrow. When Aniston, Kudrow, and Tate Donovan (who voices Hercules) were on the show, it was like a mini-reunion for the TV show Friends. Donovan had played Aniston's boyfriend, Joshua, on Friends. Aniston also voiced Gallatea, a character made from clay who was Hercules' love interest in one episode.

How the Show Was Made

Animation Style

Many different animation studios helped create the episodes of Hercules: The Animated Series. These studios were located in places like Manila (Philippines), Australia, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and New Zealand. They worked together to bring the characters and stories to life.

Where to Watch It

TV Broadcasts

In 1998, the show aired on both ABC and CTV stations in Canada. Some CTV stations also showed Hercules: The Legendary Journeys on the same day.

In 2000, Hercules moved to the channel Toon Disney. It stayed there until 2009. Later, Disney XD in Canada began airing the series in June 2011.

Online Streaming

You can currently watch the first season of Hercules: The Animated Series on Disney+.

What People Thought

CommonSenseMedia gave the series a good rating of 4 out of 5 stars. They said it was a "better-than-average spinoff" that had "heart and brawn." The Calhoun Times and Gordon County News also gave the show 3 out of 4 stars.

Awards and Nominations

Home Videos

Four episodes of Hercules were put together to make a movie called Hercules: Zero to Hero. This movie was released on home video in 1999. The episode "Hercules and the Yearbook" was used to connect the other episodes. These included "Hercules and the First Day of School," "Hercules and the Grim Avenger," and "Hercules and the Visit From Zeus." Some of the talking parts between Hercules and Meg were changed to fit the new movie.

In 2003, another VHS tape was released called Hercules: TV Series. It had two episodes: Hercules and the World's First Doctor and Hercules and the Secret Weapon.

• Disney's Hercules at Curlie

See also

In Spanish: Hércules (serie de televisión de 1998) para niños