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{{short description|1983 animated television series}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{short description|1980s animated television series}}
{{Infobox television
{{Infobox television
| image = Dungeons and Dragons DVD boxset art.jpg
| image = Dungeons and Dragons DVD boxset art.jpg
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| genre = [[Action (fiction)|Action]]<br>[[Adventure fiction|Adventure]]<br>[[Fantasy]]
| genre = [[Action (fiction)|Action]]<br>[[Adventure fiction|Adventure]]<br>[[Fantasy]]
| creator = Kevin Paul Coates<br>[[Dennis Marks (screenwriter)|Dennis Marks]]<br>Takashi
| creator = Kevin Paul Coates<br>[[Dennis Marks (screenwriter)|Dennis Marks]]<br>Takashi
| based_on = {{Based on|[[Dungeons & Dragons]]|[[TSR (company)|TSR]]}}
| developer = [[Mark Evanier]]
| developer = [[Mark Evanier]]
| writer = Karl Geurs
| writer = Karl Geurs
| director = John Gibbs
| director = John Gibbs
| creative_director =
| creative_director =
| voices = [[Willie Aames]]<br>[[Don Most]]<br>[[Katie Leigh]]<br>[[Adam Rich]]<br>Tonia Gayle Smith<br>Teddy Field III<br>[[Sidney Miller (actor)|Sidney Miller]]<br>[[Peter Cullen]]<br>[[Frank Welker]]<br>[[Bob Holt (actor)|Bob Holt]]
| voices = [[Willie Aames]]<br>[[Don Most]]<br>[[Adam Rich]]<br>[[Peter Cullen]]<br>Teddy Field III<br>[[Katie Leigh]]<br>[[Sidney Miller (actor)|Sidney Miller]]<br>Tonia Gayle Smith<br>[[Frank Welker]]
| composer = [[Johnny Douglas (conductor)|Johnny Douglas]]<br>[[Robert J. Walsh|Rob Walsh]] (additional music)
| composer = [[Johnny Douglas (conductor)|Johnny Douglas]]<br>[[Robert J. Walsh|Rob Walsh]] (additional music)
| country = United States
| country = United States
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| list_episodes =
| list_episodes =
| executive_producer = [[David H. DePatie]] <small>(season 1)</small><br>[[Lee Gunther]] <small>(seasons 1–3)</small><br>[[Margaret Loesch]] <small>(seasons 2–3)</small>
| executive_producer = [[David H. DePatie]] <small>(season 1)</small><br>[[Lee Gunther]] <small>(seasons 1–3)</small><br>[[Margaret Loesch]] <small>(seasons 2–3)</small>
| producer = Bob Richardson <small>(season 1)</small><br>Karl Geurs <small>(seasons 2–3)</small>
| producer = [[Bob Richardson (animator)|Bob Richardson]] <small>(season 1)</small><br>Karl Geurs <small>(seasons 2–3)</small>
| runtime = 24 minutes
| runtime = 24 minutes
| company = {{Ubl|[[Marvel Productions]]|[[TSR (company)|D&D Entertainment]]}}
| company = {{Ubl|[[Marvel Productions]]|[[TSR (company)|D&D Entertainment]]}}
| animator = [[Toei Animation]]
| animator = [[Toei Animation]]
| distributor = [[New World Television]]
| network = [[CBS]]
| network = [[CBS]]
| first_aired = {{Start date and age|1983|9|17}}<ref name="D&Dfaq"/>
| first_aired = {{Start date|1983|9|17}}
| last_aired = {{End date|1985|12|7}}
| last_aired = {{End date|1985|12|7}}
}}
}}
'''''Dungeons & Dragons''''' is an American animated television series based on [[TSR (company)|TSR's]] ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' [[role-playing game]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Perlmutter |first1=David |title=The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows |date=2018 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-1538103739 |page=174 }}</ref> It is a co-production of [[Marvel Productions]] and TSR, with the Japanese [[Toei Animation]]. It ran on [[CBS]] from 1983 through 1985 for three [[Television season|seasons]], for a total of twenty-seven episodes.
'''''Dungeons & Dragons''''' is an American [[animated television series]] based on [[TSR, Inc.|TSR's]] ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' [[role-playing game]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Perlmutter |first1=David |title=The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows |date=2018 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-1538103739 |page=174}}</ref> It is a co-production of [[Marvel Productions]] and TSR, with the Japanese [[Toei Animation]]. It ran on [[CBS]] from 1983 through 1985 for three seasons, for a total of twenty-seven episodes.


The show focuses on a group of six friends who are transported into the realm of Dungeons & Dragons, following their adventures as they try to find a way home with the help of their guide the Dungeon Master while combating an evil wizard.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Erickson |first1=Hal |title=Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 |date=2005 |edition=2nd |publisher=McFarland & Co |isbn=978-1476665993 |page=298}}</ref>
The show focuses on a group of six friends who are transported into the realm of ''Dungeons & Dragons'', following their adventures as they try to find a way home with the help of their guide the Dungeon Master while combating an evil wizard.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Erickson |first1=Hal |title=Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 |date=2005 |edition=2nd |publisher=McFarland & Co |isbn=978-1476665993 |page=298}}</ref>

A final unproduced episode would have served as both a conclusion to the story and as a re-imagining of the show, had it been picked up for a fourth season. However, it was canceled before the episode was made. The script has since been published online and was performed as an [[radio drama|audio drama]] as a special feature for the BCI Eclipse DVD edition of the series.


==Overview==
==Overview==
The show focuses on a group of friends aged between 8 and 15 who are transported to the realm of Dungeons & Dragons by taking a magical [[dark ride]] on an amusement park [[roller coaster]]. Upon arriving in the realm they meet Dungeon Master (named for the referee in the role-playing game) who gives each child a magical item.
The show focuses on a group of friends aged between 8 and 15 who are transported to the realm of ''Dungeons & Dragons'' by taking a magical [[dark ride]] on an amusement park [[roller coaster]]. Upon arriving in the realm they meet Dungeon Master (named for the referee in the tabletop role-playing game), who gives each child a magical item granting each of them powers appropriate to a ''D&D'' character class.


The children's main goal is to find a way home, but they often take detours to help people or find that their fates are intertwined with that of others. The group comes across many different enemies, but their primary antagonist is Venger. He is a powerful wizard who wishes to rule the realm and believes the power from the children's weapons will help him to do so. Another recurring villain is Tiamat, who is a five-headed dragon and the only creature that Venger fears.
The children's main goal is to find a way home, but they often take detours to help people or find that their fates are intertwined with that of others. The group comes across many different enemies, but their primary antagonist is Venger. He is a powerful wizard who wishes to rule the realm and believes the power from the children's weapons will help him to do so. Another recurring villain is Tiamat, who is a five-headed dragon and the only creature that Venger fears.


Throughout the series, a connection is suggested between Dungeon Master and Venger. At the end of the episode "The Dragon's Graveyard", Dungeon Master calls Venger "my son". The final unproduced episode "Requiem" would have confirmed that Venger is the Dungeon Master's corrupted son (making Karena the sister of Venger and the daughter of Dungeon Master), redeemed Venger (giving those trapped in this realm their freedom), and ended on a cliffhanger where the six children could finally return home or deal with evil that still existed in the realm.
Throughout the series, a connection is suggested between Dungeon Master and Venger. At the end of the episode "The Dragon's Graveyard", Dungeon Master calls Venger "my son". At the end of another episode, he states "We all make mistakes. Venger... was mine." The final unproduced episode "Requiem" would have confirmed that Venger is the Dungeon Master's corrupted son (making Kareena the sister of Venger and the daughter of Dungeon Master), redeemed Venger (giving those trapped in the realm their freedom), and ended on a cliffhanger where the six children could finally return home or deal with evil that still existed in the realm.

Said unproduced episode would have served as both a conclusion to the story and as a re-imagining of the show, had it been picked up for a fourth season, but was canceled before the episode was made. The script has since been published online and was performed as an [[radio drama|audio drama]] as a special feature for the BCI Eclipse DVD edition of the series.{{cn|date=April 2024}}


==Characters==
==Characters==
===Heroes===
===Heroes===
[[File:D&DCharacters.jpg|thumb|right|Hank, Eric, Diana, Presto, Sheila, Bobby, and Uni in the first episode "The Night of No Tomorrow"]]
[[File:D&DCharacters.jpg|thumb|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]]): At 15 years of age,<ref name="bible">{{cite web|url=http://www.kryschenns-fortress.com/The_Show/seriesbible.html|title=Archive of Development of the Dungeons and Dragons Cartoon: Series Bible|publisher=Mark Evanier|access-date=October 6, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071006120734/http://www.kryschenns-fortress.com/The_Show/seriesbible.html|archive-date=October 6, 2007}}</ref> he is the leader of the group. Hank is brave and noble, maintaining a focus and determination even when presented with grave danger. Hank is a [[Ranger (Dungeons & Dragons)|Ranger]], with the [[Magic of Dungeons & Dragons|magical]] [[bow and arrow|Energy Bow]] that shoots arrows of glowing energy. These arrows can be used in many different ways such as a climbing tool, to hurt enemies, to bind them or to create light.
* Hank, the Ranger (voiced by [[Willie Aames]]) – at 15 years of age,<ref name="bible">{{cite web|url=http://www.kryschenns-fortress.com/The_Show/seriesbible.html|title=Archive of Development of the Dungeons and Dragons Cartoon: Series Bible|publisher=Mark Evanier|access-date=October 6, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071006120734/http://www.kryschenns-fortress.com/The_Show/seriesbible.html|archive-date=October 6, 2007}}</ref> he is the leader of the group. Hank is brave and noble, maintaining a focus and determination even when presented with grave danger. Hank is a [[Ranger (Dungeons & Dragons)|Ranger]], with a [[Magic of Dungeons & Dragons|magical]] [[bow and arrow|bow]] that shoots arrows of glowing energy. These arrows can be used in many different ways such as a climbing tool, to hurt enemies, to bind them, to create light, or to form temporary makeshift cages.
* Eric, the Cavalier (voiced by [[Don Most]]): The [[Cavalier (Dungeons & Dragons)|Cavalier]], age 15, is the spoiled child, originating from a rich home. On the surface, Eric is a big-mouthed [[comic relief]] coward. Eric has a heroic core, and frequently saves his friends from danger with his magical [[shield|Griffon Shield]], which can project a [[Force field (fiction)|force field]]. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsfromme.com/pov/col145-2/|title=Point of view, by Mark Evanier|publisher=NewsFromMe.com|access-date=November 1, 2016}}</ref>
* Eric, the Cavalier (voiced by [[Don Most]]) – the [[Cavalier (Dungeons & Dragons)|Cavalier]], at the age of 15, is the spoiled child, originating from a rich home. On the surface, Eric is a big-mouthed [[comic relief]] coward. Eric has a heroic core, and frequently saves his friends from danger with his magical [[griffin]] [[shield]], which can project a force field. Despite his aloofness and several instances of selfishness, Eric shares the common camaraderie of the group, and occasionally steps to the fore as a substitute leader in Hank's absence.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsfromme.com/pov/col145-2/|title=Point of view, by Mark Evanier|publisher=NewsFromMe.com|access-date=November 1, 2016}}</ref>
* Diana, the Acrobat (voiced by Tonia Gayle Smith): Diana is a brave and outspoken 14-year-old girl.<ref name="bible"/> She is an [[Thief-acrobat|Acrobat]] who carries the Javelin Staff, which can shift in length from as short as a few inches (and thus easily carried on her person) to as long as six feet.
* Diana, the Acrobat (voiced by Tonia Gayle Smith) a brave, athletic, and outspoken 14-year-old girl,<ref name="bible"/> she is an [[Thief-acrobat|Acrobat]] who carries the javelin [[quarterstaff]], which can change size to suit her needs and be easily reconstructed if broken. Diana is also known to provide inspiration, guidance and support for her friends at times of peril or worry.
* Presto, the Magician (voiced by [[Adam Rich]]): the 14-year-old [[Wizard (Dungeons & Dragons)|Wizard]] of the team.<ref name="bible"/> Presto fulfills the role of well-meaning, [[diligence|diligent]], but hopeless magic user.
* Presto, the Magician (voiced by [[Adam Rich]]) the 14-year-old [[Wizard (Dungeons & Dragons)|Wizard]] of the team, equipped with a magic hat.<ref name="bible"/> Friendly and fiercely loyal to all in the group, Presto fulfills the role of the well-meaning, diligent magic user whose spells frequently—though not always—either fail or produce unintended results.
* Sheila, the Thief (voiced by [[Katie Leigh]]): As the [[Rogue (Dungeons & Dragons)|Thief]], Sheila, aged 13, has the [[cloak|Cloak of Invisibility]] which, when the hood is raised over her head, makes her [[Invisibility|invisible]]. She can speak and understand Fairy language due to an accidental encounter with Dungeonmaster magic.
* Sheila, the Thief (voiced by [[Katie Leigh]]) – as the [[Rogue (Dungeons & Dragons)|Thief]], Sheila, aged 13, has the [[cloak|Cloak of Invisibility]] which makes her [[Invisibility|invisible]] when the hood is raised over her head. Although occasionally emotionally vulnerable and with a great fear of being alone in the realm, Sheila regularly utilizes the stealth attributes of her cloak at great peril to herself for the benefit of the common goals of her group.
* Bobby, the Barbarian (voiced by Ted Field III): Bobby is the youngest member of the team at eight years old. He is the [[Barbarian (Dungeons & Dragons)|Barbarian]], as indicated by his [[fur]] pants and boots, horned helmet, and cross belt harness.
* Bobby, the Barbarian (voiced by Ted Field III) the youngest member of the team at eight years old<ref name="bible"/> and the younger brother of Sheila. He is the [[Barbarian (Dungeons & Dragons)|Barbarian]], as indicated by his [[fur]] pants and boots, horned helmet, and cross belt harness. Brash, brave and selfless but occasionally impulsive, Bobby's personality frequently puts himself and his friends in danger. His [[cudgel]] saves the protagonists from peril on numerous occasions.
* Uni, the Unicorn (vocal effects provided by [[Frank Welker]]): Uni is Bobby's pet, a baby [[Unicorn (Dungeons & Dragons)|unicorn]].
* Uni (vocal effects provided by [[Frank Welker]]) Uni is Bobby's pet, a baby [[Unicorn (Dungeons & Dragons)|unicorn]]. Markedly timid, Uni is closest to Bobby. She is remarkably intelligent, shown to be capable of using Presto's hat's magic on at least one occasion, and can teleport once per day.
* [[Dungeon Master]] (voiced by [[Sidney Miller (actor)|Sidney Miller]]): The group's friend and mentor, he provides important advice and help, but often in a cryptic way that does not make sense until the team has completed the [[quest]] of each episode. He supplies the companions with their weapons and clues for their numerous opportunities to return home.<ref name="requiem">{{cite web |url=http://www.michaelreaves.com/pdf/requiem_sec.pdf |title=Requiem |website = Michael Reaves |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720142026/http://www.michaelreaves.com/pdf/requiem_sec.pdf |archive-date=July 20, 2011}}</ref>
* [[Dungeon Master]] (voiced by [[Sidney Miller (actor)|Sidney Miller]]) – the group's friend and mentor, he provides important advice and help, but often in a cryptic manner that does not make sense until the team has completed the [[quest]] of each episode. Dungeon Master supplies the companions with their weapons and clues for their numerous opportunities to return home.<ref name="requiem">{{cite web |url=http://www.michaelreaves.com/pdf/requiem_sec.pdf |title=Requiem |website = Michael Reaves |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720142026/http://www.michaelreaves.com/pdf/requiem_sec.pdf |archive-date=July 20, 2011}}</ref>


===Villains===
===Villains===
[[File:D&DVenger.jpg|thumb|right|Venger, the main villain; trapped in "The Dragon's Graveyard"]]
[[File:D&DVenger.jpg|thumb|right|Venger as seen in "The Dragon's Graveyard".]]
* Venger, the Force of Evil (voiced by [[Peter Cullen]]) - The main [[antagonist]] and the Dungeon Master's son (as revealed in "The Dragon's Graveyard" when Dungeon Master refers to him as "my son"), Venger is an evil wizard of great power who seeks to use the children's magical weapons to bolster his power.
* Venger, the Force of Evil (voiced by [[Peter Cullen]]) the main [[antagonist]] and the Dungeon Master's son, Venger is an evil wizard of great power sporting one horn, white skin, fangs, and bat-like wings. He seeks to use the children's magical weapons to bolster his power.
* Shadow Demon (voiced by [[Bob Holt (actor)|Bob Holt]]) - A shadowy demon, he is Venger's personal spy and personal assistant. Shadow Demon often informs Venger about the children's current quests and often refers to them as "Dungeon Master's young ones".
** Shadow Demon (voiced by [[Bob Holt (actor)|Bob Holt]]) a shadowy demon who is Venger's personal spy and assistant. Shadow Demon often informs Venger about the children's current quests and often refers to them as "Dungeon Master's young ones".
* Night-Mare - A [[black horse]] that serves as Venger's mode of transportation.
** Night-Mare a [[black horse]] that serves as Venger's mode of transportation.
* [[Tiamat (Dungeons & Dragons)|Tiamat]] (vocal effects provided by [[Frank Welker]]) - Venger's arch-rival is a fearsome female five-headed [[Dragon (Dungeons & Dragons)|dragon]] with a reverberating multi-level voice. Her five heads are a white head breathing ice, a green head breathing toxic gas, a central red head breathing fire, a blue head breathing lightning, and a black head breathing acid.
* [[Tiamat (Dungeons & Dragons)|Tiamat]] (voiced by [[Frank Welker]]) a fearsome five-headed [[Dragon (Dungeons & Dragons)|dragon]] with a reverberating multi-level voice. Her five heads are a white head that breathes ice, a green head that breathes toxic gas, a central red head that breathes fire, a blue head that breathes lightning, and a black head that breathes acid. Tiamat is known to be the sole creature that Venger fears.
* Karena (voiced by [[Diane Pershing]]) - The sister of Venger and his rival in conquering their world. The unmade finale "Requiem" would've confirmed that Karena would also be Dungeon Master's daughter.
* Kareena (voiced by [[Diane Pershing]]) Venger's sister and rival. Kareena first appears in the episode "Citadel of Shadow" when she encounters Sheila as she herself is confined within a force field imposed by Venger. Sheila's [[altruism]] within this episode unleashes [[Humanity (virtue)|humanity]] within Kareena. The unmade final episode to the series "Requiem" was planned to confirm that Kareena was also Dungeon Master's daughter.


==Episodes==
==Episodes==
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===Season 1 (1983)===
===Season 1 (1983)===
{{Episode table|background=#8b0816|overall=4|title=19|director=16|writer=16|airdate=12|episodes=
{{Episode table|background=#009FE9|overall=4|title=19|director=16|writer=16|airdate=12|episodes=

{{Episode list
{{Episode list
|Title=The Night of No Tomorrow
|Title=The Night of No Tomorrow
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|EpisodeNumber=1
|EpisodeNumber=1
|ShortSummary=Tricked by Venger, Presto conjures up a horde of fire-breathing dragons to threaten the town of Helix. The kids must rescue Presto and save Helix before it is too late.
|ShortSummary=Tricked by Venger, Presto conjures up a horde of fire-breathing dragons to threaten the town of Helix. The kids must rescue Presto and save Helix before it is too late.
|LineColor=8b0816
|LineColor=009FE9
}}
}}
{{Episode list
{{Episode list
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|EpisodeNumber=2
|EpisodeNumber=2
|ShortSummary=Led by a cowardly knight named Sir John, the children must seek and destroy an evil monster known as the [[Beholder (Dungeons & Dragons)|Beholder]] to find a gateway back to their own world.
|ShortSummary=Led by a cowardly knight named Sir John, the children must seek and destroy an evil monster known as the [[Beholder (Dungeons & Dragons)|Beholder]] to find a gateway back to their own world.
|LineColor=8b0816
|LineColor=009FE9
}}
}}
{{Episode list
{{Episode list
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|EpisodeNumber=3
|EpisodeNumber=3
|ShortSummary=Dungeon Master sends the kids on a journey to the Ancient Hall of Bones, where they must recharge their magical weapons. As usual, trouble awaits them around every corner.
|ShortSummary=Dungeon Master sends the kids on a journey to the Ancient Hall of Bones, where they must recharge their magical weapons. As usual, trouble awaits them around every corner.
|LineColor=8b0816
|LineColor=009FE9
}}
}}
{{Episode list
{{Episode list
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|WrittenBy=Paul Dini & Karl Geurs
|WrittenBy=Paul Dini & Karl Geurs
|EpisodeNumber=4
|EpisodeNumber=4
|ShortSummary=Bobby and the others must rescue Uni when she is captured by a fiendish sorcerer named Kelek, who plans to remove the horns of all unicorns and steal their magical power.
|ShortSummary=Bobby and the others must rescue Uni when she is captured by a fiendish sorcerer named Kelek, who plans to remove the horns of all unicorns and steal their magical power. Of course he will have to give the unicorn horns to his master Venger when he arrives.
|LineColor=8b0816
|LineColor=009FE9
}}
}}
{{Episode list
{{Episode list
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|EpisodeNumber=5
|EpisodeNumber=5
|ShortSummary=Dungeon Master is captured by Warduke and frozen in a magic crystal. When the kids discover this terrible truth, they try to rescue him before Venger gets there first.
|ShortSummary=Dungeon Master is captured by Warduke and frozen in a magic crystal. When the kids discover this terrible truth, they try to rescue him before Venger gets there first.
|LineColor=8b0816
|LineColor=009FE9
}}
}}
{{Episode list
{{Episode list
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|EpisodeNumber=6
|EpisodeNumber=6
|ShortSummary=Eric is turned into a comical but ugly Bogbeast when he sniffs a forbidden flower. Now he must help the others of this cowardly race defeat an evil [[Ogre (Dungeons & Dragons)|ogre]] who is damming The River that Runs Upside Down.
|ShortSummary=Eric is turned into a comical but ugly Bogbeast when he sniffs a forbidden flower. Now he must help the others of this cowardly race defeat an evil [[Ogre (Dungeons & Dragons)|ogre]] who is damming The River that Runs Upside Down.
|LineColor=8b0816
|LineColor=009FE9
}}
}}
{{Episode list
{{Episode list
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|EpisodeNumber=7
|EpisodeNumber=7
|ShortSummary=The search for the gateway home leads the kids into the Swamp of Sorrow, where they meet a fearsome monster and the dwarf wizard, Lukyon, who guides them on a journey to the Heart Of The Dragon.
|ShortSummary=The search for the gateway home leads the kids into the Swamp of Sorrow, where they meet a fearsome monster and the dwarf wizard, Lukyon, who guides them on a journey to the Heart Of The Dragon.
|LineColor=8b0816
|LineColor=009FE9
}}
}}
{{Episode list
{{Episode list
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|EpisodeNumber=8
|EpisodeNumber=8
|ShortSummary=Bobby's birthday is ruined when Sheila and the others are captured and thrown into Venger's Prison of Agony. With Dungeon Master's guidance, Bobby and Uni must locate the prison, befriend a giant, and rescue their friends.
|ShortSummary=Bobby's birthday is ruined when Sheila and the others are captured and thrown into Venger's Prison of Agony. With Dungeon Master's guidance, Bobby and Uni must locate the prison, befriend a giant, and rescue their friends.
|LineColor=8b0816
|LineColor=009FE9
}}
}}
{{Episode list
{{Episode list
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|EpisodeNumber=9
|EpisodeNumber=9
|ShortSummary=Dekkion, a [[Skeleton warrior (Dungeons & Dragons)|spellbound ancient warrior]], sends the kids to the Lost Tower, where they must face their greatest fears as they seek the Circle Of Power.
|ShortSummary=Dekkion, a [[Skeleton warrior (Dungeons & Dragons)|spellbound ancient warrior]], sends the kids to the Lost Tower, where they must face their greatest fears as they seek the Circle Of Power.
|LineColor=8b0816
|LineColor=009FE9
}}
}}
{{Episode list
{{Episode list
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|WrittenBy=Jeffrey Scott
|WrittenBy=Jeffrey Scott
|EpisodeNumber=10
|EpisodeNumber=10
|ShortSummary=When Bobby is bitten by a poisonous [[Dragon turtle (Dungeons & Dragons)|Dragon Turtle]], he and Sheila must remain in the care of a strange creature named Solarz while the others seek out an antidote - the foot of a yellow dragon - in the mysterious Garden of Zinn. To save Bobby, will Eric become a king in the realm he hates so much?
|ShortSummary=When Bobby is bitten by a poisonous [[Dragon turtle (Dungeons & Dragons)|Dragon Turtle]], he and Sheila must remain in the care of a strange creature named Solarz while the others seek out an antidote the foot of a yellow dragon in the mysterious Garden of Zinn. To save Bobby, Eric must become a king in the realm he hates so much.
|LineColor=8b0816
|LineColor=009FE9
}}
}}
{{Episode list
{{Episode list
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|WrittenBy=Jeffrey Scott
|WrittenBy=Jeffrey Scott
|EpisodeNumber=11
|EpisodeNumber=11
|ShortSummary=The kids find a way home at long last. But their return leaves Dungeon Master and the realm in great jeopardy as Venger seeks his chance to take over ''both'' the realm and the kids' home as well.
|ShortSummary=The kids accidentally find Zandora's Box, which can open doorways to many other places. This may be their best chance of getting home, but only Zandora herself knows how to use the box, and she is trapped somewhere inside it.
|LineColor=8b0816
|LineColor=009FE9
}}
}}
{{Episode list
{{Episode list
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|EpisodeNumber=12
|EpisodeNumber=12
|ShortSummary=With the help of another group of lost children, the kids must brave the dangers of Venger's castle to locate a [[Spacecraft|spaceship]] which, according to Dungeon Master, just might take them home.
|ShortSummary=With the help of another group of lost children, the kids must brave the dangers of Venger's castle to locate a [[Spacecraft|spaceship]] which, according to Dungeon Master, just might take them home.
|LineColor=8b0816
|LineColor=009FE9
}}
}}
{{Episode list
{{Episode list
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|EpisodeNumber=13
|EpisodeNumber=13
|ShortSummary=Another one of Presto's spells misfires, this time leaving Presto and Uni to search for the others who are trapped in a giant's castle and pursued by a strange creature called a Slime Beast.
|ShortSummary=Another one of Presto's spells misfires, this time leaving Presto and Uni to search for the others who are trapped in a giant's castle and pursued by a strange creature called a Slime Beast.
|LineColor=8b0816
|LineColor=009FE9
}}
}}
}}
}}


===Season 2 (1984)===
===Season 2 (1984)===
{{Episode table|background=#e7bc0d|overall=4|title=19|director=16|writer=16|airdate=12|episodes=
{{Episode table|background=#AE181D|overall=4|title=19|director=16|writer=16|airdate=12|episodes=


{{Episode list
{{Episode list
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|WrittenBy=Karl Geurs
|WrittenBy=Karl Geurs
|EpisodeNumber=14
|EpisodeNumber=14
|ShortSummary=The kids meet Terri, a lost child like themselves who is also a [[clairvoyant]] who can dream the future and leads them toward their doorway home - where trouble awaits. Bobby must make a heartbreaking choice to save his soulmate Terri from Venger.
|ShortSummary=The kids meet Terri, a lost child like themselves who is also a [[clairvoyant]] who can dream the future and leads them toward their doorway home where trouble awaits. Bobby must make a heartbreaking choice to save his soulmate Terri from Venger.
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}}
}}
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|WrittenBy=[[Michael Reaves]]
|WrittenBy=[[Michael Reaves]]
|EpisodeNumber=15
|EpisodeNumber=15
|ShortSummary=Dungeon Master warns the kids that they are in danger from the monstrous Demodragon, a half-demon, half-dragon monster capable of destroying the entire realm. Now they must find a bit of dragonsbane in order to render the monster helpless.
|ShortSummary=Dungeon Master warns the kids that they are in danger from the monstrous Demodragon, a half-demon, half-dragon monster capable of destroying the entire realm. Now they must find a bit of dragonsbane in order to render the monster helpless while contending with Venger, Shadow Demon, and an army of orcs.
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}}
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|EpisodeNumber=16
|EpisodeNumber=16
|ShortSummary=The kids must seek out The City At The Edge of Midnight and save its children from The Nightwalker, who steals little children at the stroke of midnight.
|ShortSummary=The kids must seek out The City At The Edge of Midnight and save its children from The Nightwalker, who steals little children at the stroke of midnight.
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}}
}}
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|EpisodeNumber=17
|EpisodeNumber=17
|ShortSummary=Dungeon Master warns the kids that they are about to face the most difficult trial of their lives. The others are shocked when Hank turns out to be a traitor, not only to them, but to his own courage and insight. Fortunately, it is this that leads him to redemption.
|ShortSummary=Dungeon Master warns the kids that they are about to face the most difficult trial of their lives. The others are shocked when Hank turns out to be a traitor, not only to them, but to his own courage and insight. Fortunately, it is this that leads him to redemption.
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}}
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|EpisodeNumber=18
|EpisodeNumber=18
|ShortSummary=When Dungeon Master decides to take a rest and gives Eric his Garb of Power, Venger goes after the Garb, and Eric's powers are truly put to the test.
|ShortSummary=When Dungeon Master decides to take a rest and gives Eric his Garb of Power, Venger goes after the Garb, and Eric's powers are truly put to the test.
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}}
}}
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|WrittenBy=Jeffrey Scott
|WrittenBy=Jeffrey Scott
|EpisodeNumber=19
|EpisodeNumber=19
|ShortSummary=When Presto finds himself lost in a forest, he sees the apparition of a beautiful young girl named Varla. Dungeon Master tells Presto that by finding the girl, he may find his way home.
|ShortSummary=When Presto finds himself lost in a forest, he sees the apparition of a beautiful young girl named Varla. Dungeon Master tells Presto that by finding the girl, he may find his way home. Though Venger has plans to use Varla in his latest plot to claim the kids' weapons by framing Presto for causing harm to a local village.
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|WrittenBy=Michael Reaves
|WrittenBy=Michael Reaves
|EpisodeNumber=20
|EpisodeNumber=20
|ShortSummary=At the end of their patience with Venger ruining their attempts to return home, the kids resolve to bring the fight to him. The kids seek the help of Tiamat, the most dangerous dragon in the realm, who assists them in a confrontation with Venger and helps them get one step closer to home.
|ShortSummary=At the end of their patience with Venger ruining their attempts to return home with the latest attempt involving Venger attacking them with a frost giant, the kids resolve to bring the fight to him. The kids seek the help of Tiamat, the most dangerous dragon in the realm, who assists them in a confrontation with Venger and helps them get one step closer to home.
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|WrittenBy=Michael Reaves
|WrittenBy=Michael Reaves
|EpisodeNumber=21
|EpisodeNumber=21
|ShortSummary=Kosar, the son of an astrologer from another country, escapes from the evil Demon-Queen Syrith and involves the kids in a battle against good and evil. Diana must make a personal choice regarding going home - her soulmate Kosar, or saving a community.
|ShortSummary=Kosar, the son of an astrologer from another country, escapes from the evil Demon-Queen Syrith and involves the kids in a battle against good and evil. Diana must make a personal choice regarding going home her soulmate Kosar, or saving a community.
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}}
}}
}}


===Season 3 (1985)===
===Season 3 (1985)===
{{Episode table|background=#E6717F|overall=4|title=19|director=16|writer=16|airdate=12|episodes=
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{{Episode list
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|WrittenBy=Michael Reaves
|WrittenBy=Michael Reaves
|EpisodeNumber=22
|EpisodeNumber=22
|ShortSummary=While in the Tower of Darkness, the kids open The Box of Balefire and let loose the ultimate evil called the Nameless One who is Venger's master. The Nameless One strips Dungeon Master and Venger of their powers. They must now venture to The Heart Of Dawn to restore Dungeon Master's powers while holding a truce with Venger and Shadow Demon.
|ShortSummary=While in the Tower of Darkness, the kids open The Box of Balefire and let loose the ultimate evil called the Nameless One who is Venger's master. The Nameless One strips Dungeon Master and Venger of their powers. The kids must now venture to The Heart Of Dawn to restore Dungeon Master's powers while holding a truce with Venger and Shadow Demon when things get worse.
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|EpisodeNumber=23
|EpisodeNumber=23
|ShortSummary=Venger has been abducting military personnel from different battles in Earth, and his latest captive is a [[US Air Force]] pilot, whose fighter jet Venger commandeers. Venger then goes to the [[Second World War]] and captures a [[Luftwaffe]] pilot named Josef, intending to give him the modern fighter jet to make World War II an Axis victory, which would change Earth's history and prevent the kids from ever being born. Josef has a severe struggle within himself about Venger's temptation to make him a war hero, although getting to know the kids revealed his true nature when he privately disposed of his swastika armband, happy to learn from the kids that his native Germany ended being "freed from [[Adolf Hitler|that tyrant]]".
|ShortSummary=Venger has been abducting military personnel from different battles in Earth, and his latest captive is a [[US Air Force]] pilot, whose fighter jet Venger commandeers. Venger then goes to the [[Second World War]] and captures a [[Luftwaffe]] pilot named Josef, intending to give him the modern fighter jet to make World War II an Axis victory, which would change Earth's history and prevent the kids from ever being born. Josef has a severe struggle within himself about Venger's temptation to make him a war hero, although getting to know the kids revealed his true nature when he privately disposed of his swastika armband, happy to learn from the kids that his native Germany ended being "freed from [[Adolf Hitler|that tyrant]]".
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|WrittenBy=Mark Shiney & Michael L. DePatie
|WrittenBy=Mark Shiney & Michael L. DePatie
|EpisodeNumber=24
|EpisodeNumber=24
|ShortSummary=The Dungeon Master assigns the kids to find the missing Stone Of Astra, the Twelfth Talisman, which makes the wearer invincible. Venger, who also wants the talisman, instigates a battle and wreaks havoc.
|ShortSummary=The Dungeon Master assigns the kids to find the missing Stone Of Astra, the Twelfth Talisman, which makes the wearer invincible. An evil wizard named Korac, who also wants the talisman, wreaks havoc until Venger, who also wants the talisman, instigates a battle.
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|WrittenBy=[[Katherine Lawrence]]
|WrittenBy=[[Katherine Lawrence]]
|EpisodeNumber=25
|EpisodeNumber=25
|ShortSummary=While fleeing an army of orcs, the kids hide in The Hills Of Never; Sheila helps a young woman named Karena trapped by a spell - whom the children discover is Venger's sister and rival in evil! With two magic rings Sheila must make a personal choice-of either going home-or saving Karena from being destroyed by Venger.
|ShortSummary=While fleeing an army of orcs, the kids hide in The Hills Of Never; Sheila helps a young woman named Kareena trapped by a spell whom the children discover is Venger's sister and rival in evil. With two magic rings Sheila must make a personal choice-of either going home-or saving Kareena from being destroyed by Venger.
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|WrittenBy=Katherine Lawrence
|WrittenBy=Katherine Lawrence
|EpisodeNumber=26
|EpisodeNumber=26
|ShortSummary=When they are attacked by giant ants, the kids are saved by Amber, a Fairie Dragon. Amber then asks them to help rescue the Queen of the Fairie Dragons, who was kidnapped by the evil King Varin. Can the kids help the Fairie Dragons and find a portal that will take them home at last?
|ShortSummary=When they are attacked by giant ants, the kids are saved by Amber, a Fairie Dragon. Amber then asks them to help rescue the Queen of the Fairie Dragons, who was kidnapped by the evil King Varin. The kids must help the Fairie Dragons and find a portal that will take them home at last.
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|WrittenBy=[[Michael Cassutt]] & [[Katherine Lawrence|Kathy Selbert]], Karl Geurs (Story)
|WrittenBy=[[Michael Cassutt]] & [[Katherine Lawrence|Kathy Selbert]], Karl Geurs (Story)
|EpisodeNumber=27
|EpisodeNumber=27
|ShortSummary=The Darkling has created a purple fog that consumes all trapped in it, and the kids try to enlist the aid of Martha, an embittered former pupil of Dungeon Master, to save Hank from the fog and destroy The Darkling. Will Martha help them?
|ShortSummary=The Darkling has created a purple fog that consumes all trapped in it, and the kids try to enlist the aid of Martha, an embittered former pupil of Dungeon Master, to save Hank from the fog and destroy The Darkling.
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The intended final episode from the third season, and potential series finale, entitled "Requiem", was written by the series' frequent [[screenwriter]] [[Michael Reaves]], but was not finished due to the show's cancellation. It would have served as both a conclusion to the current story as well as a re-imagining of the series had the show continued into a fourth season. Reaves has discussed the episode online,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.michaelreaves.com/requiem_preface.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720142014/http://www.michaelreaves.com/requiem_preface.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 20, 2011|title=Final Episode of Dungeons and Dragons|date=July 20, 2011}}</ref> and published the original script on his personal website.<ref name="requiem" /> The BCI Eclipse Region 1 DVD release includes the script recorded in the form of an audio drama as a special feature.
The intended final episode from the third season, and potential series finale, entitled "Requiem", was written by the series' frequent [[screenwriter]] [[Michael Reaves]], but was not finished due to the show's cancellation. It would have served as both a conclusion to the current story as well as a re-imagining of the series had the show continued into a fourth season. Reaves has discussed the episode online,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.michaelreaves.com/requiem_preface.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720142014/http://www.michaelreaves.com/requiem_preface.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 20, 2011|title=Final Episode of Dungeons and Dragons|date=July 20, 2011}}</ref> and published the original script on his personal website.<ref name="requiem" /> The BCI Eclipse Region 1 DVD release includes the script recorded in the form of an audio drama as a special feature.


A fan-made animated version of the finale appeared online in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thegamer.com/dungeons-and-dragons-cartoon-ending/|title=Fans Create Ending To 80s D&D Cartoon|date=July 28, 2021}}</ref> It includes the original audio drama, with animations mostly recut from the series.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.belloflostsouls.net/2020/10/dd-the-fan-made-final-episode-of-the-dd-cartoon-is-heart-melting.html|title=D&D: The Fan-Made Final Episode Of The D&D Cartoon Is Heart-Melting|date=July 28, 2021}}</ref>
A fan-made animated version of the finale appeared online in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thegamer.com/dungeons-and-dragons-cartoon-ending/|title=Fans Create Ending To 80s D&D Cartoon|date=July 28, 2021}}</ref> It includes the original audio drama, with animations mostly recut from the series.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.belloflostsouls.net/2020/10/dd-the-fan-made-final-episode-of-the-dd-cartoon-is-heart-melting.html|title=D&D: The Fan-Made Final Episode Of The D&D Cartoon Is Heart-Melting|date=July 28, 2021}}</ref> It stars [[Wally Wingert]] as Dungeon Master and Hank, [[Daniel Roebuck]] as Eric, Jarrod Nead as Presto, [[Neil Kaplan]] as Venger, and Ryan Nead as Redeemed Venger, with Katie Leigh and Frank Welker reprising their roles as Shiela and Uni while Leigh voices Bobby.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.filmaffinity.com/us/film617448.html | title=Dungeons & Dragons: Requiem the Final (2020)}}</ref>


==Cast==
==Cast==
* [[Willie Aames]] – Hank the Ranger<ref>{{Cite web |title=Willie Aames (visual voices guide) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Willie-Aames/ |website=Behind The Voice Actors |access-date=17 November 2022}}</ref>
*[[Katie Leigh]] - Sheila the Thief
* [[Don Most]] – Eric the Cavalier<ref>{{Cite web |title=Don Most (visual voices guide) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Don-Most/ |website=Behind The Voice Actors |access-date=17 November 2022}}</ref>
*[[Frank Welker]] - Uni
* Tonia Gayle Smith – Diana the Acrobat<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tonia Gayle Smith (visual voices guide) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Tonia-Gayle-Smith/ |website=Behind The Voice Actors |access-date=17 November 2022}}</ref>
*[[Willie Aames]] - Hank the Ranger
* [[Adam Rich]] – Presto the Magician<ref>{{Cite web |title=Adam Rich (visual voices guide) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Adam-Rich/ |website=Behind The Voice Actors |access-date=17 November 2022}}</ref>
*[[Don Most]] - Eric the Cavalier
* [[Peter Cullen]] – Venger, The Darkling (in the episode "The Winds of Destruction"), additional voices<ref>{{Cite web |title=Peter Cullen (visual voices guide) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Peter-Cullen/ |website=Behind The Voice Actors |access-date=17 November 2022}}</ref>
*[[Adam Rich]] - Presto the Magician
* Teddy Field III – Bobby the Barbarian<ref>{{Cite web |title=Teddy Field III (visual voices guide) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Teddy-Field-III/ |website=Behind The Voice Actors |access-date=17 November 2022}}</ref>
*[[Peter Cullen]] - Venger / The Darkling
* [[Katie Leigh]] – Sheila the Thief<ref>{{Cite web |title=Katie Leigh (visual voices guide) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Katie-Leigh/ |website=Behind The Voice Actors |access-date=17 November 2022}}</ref>
*Teddy Field III - Bobby the Barbarian
* [[Sidney Miller (actor)|Sidney Miller]] – Dungeon Master<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sidney Miller (visual voices guide) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Sidney-Miller/ |website=Behind The Voice Actors |access-date=17 November 2022}}</ref>
*[[Sidney Miller]] - Dungeon Master
* [[Frank Welker]] – Uni, Tiamat, Sir John (in the episode "The Eye of the Beholder"), Starfire (in the episode "The Time Lost"), Fairy, Jimmy's Dad, Pilot (in the episode "The Time Lost"), Rugar (in the episode "Dungeon at the Heart of Dawn"), Fairie Dragon (in the episode "Cave of the Faerie Dragons"), additional voices<ref>{{Cite web |title=Frank Welker (visual voices guide) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Frank-Welker/ |website=Behind The Voice Actors |access-date=17 November 2022}}</ref>
*[[Tonia Gayle Smith]] - Diana the Acrobat
*[[Bob Holt]] - Shadow Demon


===Additional voices===
===Additional voices===
* [[Laurie O'Brien]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Laurie O'Brien (visual voices guide) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Laurie-O'Brien/ |website=Behind The Voice Actors |access-date=19 November 2022}}</ref>
*Laurie O'Brien
* [[Jennifer Darling]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jennifer Darling (visual voices guide) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Jennifer-Darling/ |website=Behind The Voice Actors |access-date=19 November 2022}}</ref>
*Jennifer Darling
* Gary Goren<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gary Goren (visual voices guide) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Gary-Goren/ |website=Behind The Voice Actors |access-date=19 November 2022}}</ref>
*Gary Goren
* [[Bob Holt (actor)|Bob Holt]] – the Shadow Demon<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bob Holt (visual voices guide) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Bob-Holt/ |website=Behind The Voice Actors |access-date=17 November 2022}}</ref>
*Georgi Irene
* Georgi Irene<ref>{{Cite web |title=Georgi Irene (visual voices guide) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Georgi-Irene/ |website=Behind The Voice Actors |access-date=19 November 2022}}</ref>
*Maia Mattisse
* Maia Mattisse<ref>{{Cite web |title=Maia Mattisse (visual voices guide) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Maia-Mattisse/ |website=Behind The Voice Actors |access-date=19 November 2022 }}{{Dead link|date=February 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
*Diane Pershing - Karena
* [[Diane Pershing]] – Kareena (in the episode "Citadel of Shadow")<ref>{{Cite web |title=Diane Pershing (visual voices guide) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Diane-Pershing/ |website=Behind The Voice Actors |access-date=19 November 2022}}</ref>
*Hank Saroyan
* Hank Saroyan<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hank Saroyan (visual voices guide) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Hank-Saroyan/ |website=Behind The Voice Actors |access-date=19 November 2022}}</ref>
*Russi Taylor - Amber the Fairie Dragon
* [[Russi Taylor]] – Amber the Fairie Dragon (in the episode "Cave of the Faerie Dragons")<ref>{{Cite web |title=Russi Taylor (visual voices guide) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Russi-Taylor/ |website=Behind The Voice Actors |access-date=19 November 2022}}</ref>
*Wally Wingert - Dungeon Master
*Daniel Roebuck - Eric
*Jarrod Nead - Presto
*Neil Kaplan - Venger
*Ryan Nead - Redeemed Venger
*Laura Pavlakovich - Diana


==Reception==
==Reception==
The level of violence was controversial for American children's television at the time, and the script of one episode, "The Dragon's Graveyard", was almost canceled because the characters contemplated killing their nemesis, Venger.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.michaelreaves.com/requiem_preface.htm|title=Preface to Requiem: The Unproduced Dungeons and Dragons Finale|publisher=MichaelReaves.com|access-date=May 23, 2007| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110720142014/http://www.michaelreaves.com/requiem_preface.htm|archive-date=July 20, 2011}}</ref> In 1985, the National Coalition on Television Violence demanded that the FTC run a warning during each broadcast stating that ''Dungeons & Dragons'' had been linked to real-life violent deaths.<ref>{{cite book| title= Evil Influences: Crusades Against the Mass Media| page= [https://archive.org/details/evilinfluencescr00star/page/153 153]| first= Steven| last= Starker| year= 1989| publisher= Transaction Publishers| isbn= 9780887382758| url-access= registration| url= https://archive.org/details/evilinfluencescr00star/page/153}}</ref> The series spawned more than 100 different licenses,<ref name="history">{{cite web| url=http://www.wizards.com/dnd/DnDArchives_History.asp| title=The History of TSR| publisher=[[Wizards of the Coast]]| access-date=August 20, 2005| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080924195557/http://www.wizards.com/dnd/DnDArchives_History.asp| url-status=dead| archive-date=September 24, 2008}}</ref> and the show led its time slot for two years.<ref name="D&Dfaq">{{cite web| url = http://www.wizards.com/dnd/DnDArchives_FAQ.asp| title = ''Dungeons & Dragons'' FAQ| access-date = October 3, 2008| publisher = [[Wizards of the Coast]]| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081002132129/http://www.wizards.com/dnd/DnDArchives_FAQ.asp| url-status = dead| archive-date = October 2, 2008}}</ref><ref name="history"/>
The series received critical acclaim but the level of violence was controversial for American children's television at the time, and the script of one episode, "The Dragon's Graveyard", was almost canceled because the characters contemplated killing their nemesis, Venger.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.michaelreaves.com/requiem_preface.htm|title=Preface to Requiem: The Unproduced Dungeons and Dragons Finale|publisher=MichaelReaves.com|access-date=May 23, 2007|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110720142014/http://www.michaelreaves.com/requiem_preface.htm|archive-date=July 20, 2011}}</ref> In 1985, the National Coalition on Television Violence demanded that the FTC run a warning during each broadcast stating that ''Dungeons & Dragons'' had been linked to real-life violent deaths.<ref>{{cite book | title= Evil Influences: Crusades Against the Mass Media | page= [https://archive.org/details/evilinfluencescr00star/page/153 153]| first= Steven | last= Starker | year= 1989 | publisher= Transaction Publishers | isbn= 9780887382758 | url-access= registration | url= https://archive.org/details/evilinfluencescr00star/page/153}}</ref> The series spawned more than 100 different licenses,<ref name="history">{{cite web | url=http://www.wizards.com/dnd/DnDArchives_History.asp | title=The History of TSR | publisher=[[Wizards of the Coast]] | access-date=August 20, 2005 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080924195557/http://www.wizards.com/dnd/DnDArchives_History.asp | url-status=dead | archive-date=September 24, 2008}}</ref> and the show led its time slot for two years.<ref name="D&Dfaq">{{cite web | url = http://www.wizards.com/dnd/DnDArchives_FAQ.asp | title = ''Dungeons & Dragons'' FAQ | access-date = October 3, 2008 | publisher = [[Wizards of the Coast]] | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081002132129/http://www.wizards.com/dnd/DnDArchives_FAQ.asp | url-status = dead | archive-date = October 2, 2008}}</ref><ref name="history"/>


===Awards===
===Awards===
For her work on the series, Tonia Gayle Smith (as "Diana") was nominated for ''Outstanding Young Actress in an Animation Voice-over'' at the 1984–1985 [[Youth in Film Awards]].<ref name="YAA">{{cite web |url=http://www.youngartistawards.org/pastnoms7.htm |title=Seventh Annual Youth in Film Awards: 1984-1985|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101114094139/http://www.youngartistawards.org/pastnoms7.htm |archive-date=November 14, 2010 |website=[[Young Artist Awards]] |access-date=December 6, 2013}}</ref> In January 2009, IGN ranked ''Dungeons & Dragons'' at #64 on its "Best 100 Animated Series" list.<ref>{{cite web|title=Top 100 Animated Series|url=http://www.ign.com/lists/top-100-animated-series/64|website=IGN|access-date=February 13, 2017}}</ref>
For her work on the series, Tonia Gayle Smith (as "Diana") was nominated for ''Outstanding Young Actress in an Animation Voice-over'' at the 1984–1985 [[Youth in Film Awards]].<ref name="YAA">{{cite web |url=http://www.youngartistawards.org/pastnoms7.htm |title=Seventh Annual Youth in Film Awards: 1984–1985|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101114094139/http://www.youngartistawards.org/pastnoms7.htm |archive-date=November 14, 2010 |website=[[Young Artist Awards]] |access-date=December 6, 2013}}</ref> In January 2009, IGN ranked ''Dungeons & Dragons'' at #64 on its "Best 100 Animated Series" list.<ref>{{cite web|title=Top 100 Animated Series|url=http://www.ign.com/lists/top-100-animated-series/64|website=IGN|access-date=February 13, 2017}}</ref>


==Home media==
==Home media==
In 2004, Contender Entertainment Group released the series on four stand-alone DVDs (under license from Fox Kids Europe/Jetix Europe). Extra features on each volume include fan commentary tracks on two episodes, character profiles, and [[DVD-ROM]] content. The original series bible, scripts, character model sheets, original promo artwork, an interview with [[Michael Reaves]] (writer on the unproduced finale episode "Requiem"), and a featurette on the title sequence are spread amongst the discs. The fourth volume includes the script for "Requiem" and a featurette about it. The four DVDs each have different original cover artwork (by Eamon O'Donoghue) that form a panorama when placed side by side, depicting the series' main characters: Hank and Sheila with Venger, Presto with Tiamat, Eric and Diana with Shadow Demon, and Bobby with Uni and Dungeon Master.
In 2004, Contender Entertainment Group released the series on four stand-alone DVDs (under license from Fox Kids Europe/Jetix Europe). Extra features on each volume include fan commentary tracks on two episodes, character profiles, and [[DVD-ROM]] content. The original series bible, scripts, character model sheets, original promo artwork, an interview with [[Michael Reaves]] (writer on the unproduced finale episode "Requiem"), and a featurette on the title sequence are spread amongst the discs. The fourth volume includes the script for "Requiem" and a featurette about it. The four DVDs each have different original cover artwork (by Eamon O'Donoghue) that form a panorama when placed side by side, depicting the series' main characters: Hank and Sheila with Venger, Presto with Tiamat, Eric and Diana with Shadow Demon, and Bobby with Uni and Dungeon Master.


The first Region 1 DVD release, ''Dungeons & Dragons - The Complete Animated Series'', was on December 5, 2006, by BCI Eclipse LLC, under its Ink & Paint classic animation entertainment brand (under license from Disney). The 5-disc set featured all 27 episodes, uncut, digitally re-mastered, and presented in story continuity order, as well as an extensive array of special features including documentaries, commentaries, character profiles, a [[radio play]] of the unproduced finale episode "Requiem", and more. This release is now out of print, as BCI Eclipse ceased operations in December 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Site-News-BCI-Shut-Down/11064 |title= Site News DVD news: Navarre shutters BCI Eclipse division | date= December 18, 2008| website=[[TVShowsOnDVD.com]] | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100531025036/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Site-News-BCI-Shut-Down/11064 |archive-date=May 31, 2010 }}</ref>
The first Region 1 DVD release, ''Dungeons & Dragons The Complete Animated Series'', was released on December 5, 2006, by BCI Eclipse LLC, under its Ink & Paint classic animation entertainment brand (under license from Disney). The 5-disc set featured all 27 episodes, uncut, digitally re-mastered, and presented in story continuity order, as well as an extensive array of special features including documentaries, commentaries, character profiles, a [[radio play]] of the unproduced finale episode "Requiem", and more. This release is now out of print, as BCI Eclipse ceased operations in December 2008.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Site-News-BCI-Shut-Down/11064 | title= Site News DVD news: Navarre shutters BCI Eclipse division | date= December 18, 2008 | website=[[TVShowsOnDVD.com]] | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100531025036/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Site-News-BCI-Shut-Down/11064 | archive-date=May 31, 2010}}</ref>


In June 2009, Mill Creek Entertainment acquired the rights to the series and subsequently re-released the complete series on August 25, 2009 (once again under license from Disney), in a 3-disc set without any special features, but with almost all the original music restored; the release contains all the televised episodes but does not contain the radio play of "Requiem".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Dungeons-Dragons-Mill-Creek-Release/12115 |title=Dungeons and Dragons - Mill Creek Acquires the License to the Classic '80s Cartoon |date= June 16, 2009 |first= David |last= Lambert |website=[[TVShowsOnDVD.com]] |access-date= June 26, 2009 |url-status= dead| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090619071840/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Dungeons-Dragons-Mill-Creek-Release/12115 |archive-date=June 19, 2009}}</ref>
In 2009, Mill Creek Entertainment released the complete series on August 25 (once again under license from Disney), in a 3-disc set without any special features, but with almost all the original music restored; the release contains all the televised episodes but does not contain the radio play of "Requiem".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Dungeons-Dragons-Mill-Creek-Release/12115 |title=Dungeons and Dragons Mill Creek Acquires the License to the Classic '80s Cartoon |date= June 16, 2009 |first= David |last= Lambert |website=[[TVShowsOnDVD.com]] |access-date= June 26, 2009 |url-status= dead| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090619071840/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Dungeons-Dragons-Mill-Creek-Release/12115 |archive-date=June 19, 2009}}</ref>


The series was on [[Toon Disney]]'s [[Jetix]] block during 2006, 2007, and 2008.{{cn|date=August 2022}}
The series was on [[Toon Disney]]'s [[Jetix]] block during 2006, 2007, and 2008.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}


The complete series was streamed on [[Twitch (service)|Twitch]] on July 9, 2021, as part of the Saturday Morning D&D Secret Lair, which is a limited edition of ''[[Magic the Gathering]]'' cards showcasing characters from the cartoon, later released on October 29, 2021.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/Wizards_DnD/status/1410991671718912003 |title=WotC Twitter Post |access-date=July 25, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://secretlair.wizards.com/us/product/648194/saturday-morning-dd |title=Saturday Morning D&D |access-date=July 25, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Dungeons & Dragons Cartoon to Stream on Twitch|url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/dungeons-dragons-cartoon-twitch-reruns/|access-date=July 3, 2021|website=GAMING|language=en}}</ref>
The complete series was streamed on [[Twitch (service)|Twitch]] on July 9, 2021, as part of the Saturday Morning D&D Secret Lair, which is a limited edition of ''[[Magic the Gathering]]'' cards showcasing characters from the cartoon, later released on October 29 the same year.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/Wizards_DnD/status/1410991671718912003 |title=WotC Twitter Post |access-date=July 25, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://secretlair.wizards.com/us/product/648194/saturday-morning-dd |title=Saturday Morning D&D |access-date=July 25, 2022 |archive-date=July 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220730111925/https://secretlair.wizards.com/us/product/648194/saturday-morning-dd |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Dungeons & Dragons Cartoon to Stream on Twitch|url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/dungeons-dragons-cartoon-twitch-reruns/|access-date=July 3, 2021|website=GAMING|language=en}}</ref>


==Merchandise and other media==
==Merchandise and other media==
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===Books===
===Books===
Several books based on this series were released at the time of its highest popularity.
Several books based on this series were released at the time of its highest popularity:


* ''Pick a Path to Adventure'' books: TSR published six [[gamebooks]] written from the point of view of each of the children, each focused on a different character (though Eric's book gave the role of protagonist to his younger brother Michael, who did not appear in the cartoon series).<ref>{{cite web|title=Dungeons and Dragons Cartoon Show books|url=https://rpggeek.com/rpgseries/10451/dungeons-and-dragons-cartoon-show-books|website=RPGGeek|access-date=February 13, 2017}}</ref>
* ''Dragones y Mazmorras''. Comic book adaptations of all 27 episodes by Comics Forum, a division of Spanish publisher Editorial Planeta De Agostini under license from TSR.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://kuronons.blogspot.com/2011/03/d-comics-history-special-d-animated.html |title=Kuronons': D&D comics history special - D&DC (animated serie) related |date=March 13, 2011 |access-date=May 8, 2020}}</ref>
* UK Annuals: Two hardcover books published in the United Kingdom in 1985 and 1987 by World International Publishing Limited, each including various prose stories. The first featured seven original adventures, while the second only included three, plus Comics Forum's adaptation of "[[#ep2|The Eye of the Beholder]]" (translated as "The Eye of the Watchman!").
* ''Pick a Path to Adventure'' books. Six [[gamebooks]] written from the point of view of one of the children, each focused on a different character (though Eric's book gave the protagonism to his younger brother Michael, who did not appear in the cartoon series). These books were released by TSR.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dungeons and Dragons Cartoon Show books|url=https://rpggeek.com/rpgseries/10451/dungeons-and-dragons-cartoon-show-books|website=RPGGeek|access-date=February 13, 2017}}</ref>
* UK Annuals. Two hardcover books published in the United Kingdom in 1985 and 1987 by World International Publishing Limited, each including various prose stories. The first featured seven original adventures, while the second only included three, plus Comics Forum's adaptation of "[[#ep2|The Eye of the Beholder]]" (translated as "The Eye of the Watchman!").
* ''Marvel Summer Special 1987''. Published in the United Kingdom. An English-language reprint of Comics Forum's adaptation of the episode "[[#ep7|Prison Without Walls]]".
* ''Donjons et Dragons'': Published in France, a six-book collection adapting different episodes in storybook form.
* ''Donjons et Dragons'': Published in France, a six-book collection adapting different episodes in storybook form.
* ''Forgotten Realms: The Grand Tour'': One-shot comic book published by TSR in 1996. Features the now-adult protagonists still living in a ''Dungeons & Dragons'' world, this time the [[Forgotten Realms]], with Presto seeking an apprenticeship with [[Elminster]] the Sage.<ref name="tgt">''Forgotten Realms: The Grand Tour'' (January 1996)</ref>


===Card games===
===Card games===
In June 2021, Wizards of the Coast announced a "Secret Lair set" for ''[[Magic the Gathering]]'' based on the animated series.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dungeons & Dragons Cartoon Resurrected as Magic: The Gathering Secret Lair Cards|url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/dungeons-dragons-cartoon-magic-the-gathering-secret-lair/|access-date=July 3, 2021|website=GAMING|language=en}}</ref>
In 2021, Wizards of the Coast released a "Secret Lair set" for ''[[Magic the Gathering]]'' based on the animated series.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dungeons & Dragons Cartoon Resurrected as Magic: The Gathering Secret Lair Cards|url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/dungeons-dragons-cartoon-magic-the-gathering-secret-lair/|access-date=July 3, 2021|website=GAMING|language=en}}</ref>

===Comic books===
* ''Dragones y Mazmorras'' are comic book adaptations of all 27 episodes by Comics Forum, a division of Spanish publisher Editorial Planeta De Agostini under license from TSR.<ref>{{cite web |date=March 13, 2011 |title=Kuronons': D&D comics history special D&DC (animated serie) related |url=https://kuronons.blogspot.com/2011/03/d-comics-history-special-d-animated.html |access-date=May 8, 2020}}</ref>
* ''Marvel Summer Special 1987'': Published in the United Kingdom, it is an English-language reprint of Comics Forum's adaptation of the episode "[[#ep7|Prison Without Walls]]".
* ''Forgotten Realms: The Grand Tour'': one-shot comic book published by TSR in 1996. It features the now-adult protagonists still living in a ''Dungeons & Dragons'' world, this time the [[Forgotten Realms]], with Presto seeking an apprenticeship with [[Elminster]] the Sage.<ref name="tgt">''Forgotten Realms: The Grand Tour'' (January 1996)</ref>
* A miniseries based on the show, ''Saturday Morning Adventures'', written by David M. Booher and [[Sam Maggs]], with artwork by George Kambadais, was released in March 2023 by [[IDW Publishing]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Blum |first=Jeremy |date=2022-12-13 |title=Dungeons & Dragons' Classic Cartoon Returns With a New Miniseries |url=https://www.cbr.com/dungeons-and-dragons-classic-cartoon-saturday-morning-adventures-miniseries/ |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=CBR |language=en-US}}</ref>


===Music===
===Music===
A full orchestral version of the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' animated series main theme, composed by [[Johnny Douglas (conductor)|Johnny Douglas]], was released as the sixth track of the 1991 album ''The Johnny Douglas Strings - On Screen'', published by the label Dulcima,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/The-Johnny-Douglas-Strings-On-Screen/release/10691933|title=The Johnny Douglas Strings - On Screen|website=Discogs.com |language=en|access-date=December 11, 2018}}</ref> a record label founded by Douglas in 1983.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/label/449940-Dulcima|title=Dulcima|website=Discogs|language=en|access-date=December 11, 2018}}</ref>
A full orchestral version of the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' animated series main theme, composed by [[Johnny Douglas (conductor)|Johnny Douglas]], was released as the sixth track of the 1991 album ''The Johnny Douglas Strings On Screen'', published by the label Dulcima,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/The-Johnny-Douglas-Strings-On-Screen/release/10691933|title=The Johnny Douglas Strings On Screen|website=Discogs.com |date=September 3, 1991 |language=en|access-date=December 11, 2018}}</ref> a record label founded by Douglas in 1983.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/label/449940-Dulcima|title=Dulcima|website=Discogs|language=en|access-date=December 11, 2018}}</ref>

===Roleplaying games===
''Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 – Animated Series Handbook'' was produced by Wizards of the Coast and included with the DVD box set of the series released by Ink & Paint in 2006. It contains profiles of each protagonist and an [[adventure (role-playing games)|adventure]] to be played, set chronologically before the episode "[[#ep20|The Dragon's Graveyard]]".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-11-08 |title=NEWS: The D&D Cartoon is Coming to DVD |url=http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/news/20061004a |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141108174806/http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/news/20061004a |access-date=2023-03-31|archive-date=November 8, 2014}}</ref> In 2024, characters from the series appear in the ''[[D&D Beyond]]'' adventure ''Uni and the Hunt for the Lost Horn''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=D&D 50th Anniversary Play Series—2024 Player's Handbook {{!}} WPN |url=https://wpn.wizards.com/en/event/d-and-d-50th-anniversary-play-series-2024-players-handbook |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=Wizards Play Network |language=en}}</ref>


===Television advertisements===
===Television advertisements===
The characters were licensed for a Brazilian live-action television advertisement, released in May 2019 to promote the launch of [[Renault]]'s [[Renault Kwid|Kwid Outsider]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.renault.com.br/veiculos/conheca-nossa-gama/kwid.html|title=KWID {{!}} O SUV dos compactos |website=Renault Brasil |language=pt-BR |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190605234643/https://www.renault.com.br/veiculos/conheca-nossa-gama/kwid.html |archive-date=June 5, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://oglobo.globo.com/economia/hit-dos-anos-1980-caverna-do-dragao-volta-tv-em-comercial-para-renault-23662340 |title=Hit dos anos 1980, Caverna do Dragão volta à TV em comercial para a Renault |trans-title=1980s Hit 'Dragon's Cave' returns to TV in a commercial for Renault |date=May 13, 2019 |website=O Globo|language=pt-BR|access-date=May 20, 2019}}</ref> It was shot in [[Salta]], in Argentina, near the Andes mountain range.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://entretenimento.uol.com.br/noticias/redacao/2019/05/12/descobrimos-o-que-e-o-live-action-de-caverna-do-dragao.htm |title=Descobrimos o que é o live-action de 'Caverna do Dragão' |trans-title=We found out about the live-action 'Dragon's Cave' |website=[[Universo Online|UOL]] |language=pt-br |access-date=May 20, 2019}}</ref>
The characters were licensed for a Brazilian live-action television advertisement,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHoG3RS4QL8 |title= Renault Kwid Outsider: Dungeons and Dragons, May 2019}}</ref> released in May 2019 to promote the launch of [[Renault]]'s [[Renault Kwid|Kwid Outsider]], which saw the characters using it to return home to the real world.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.renault.com.br/veiculos/conheca-nossa-gama/kwid.html|title=KWID {{!}} O SUV dos compactos |website=Renault Brasil |language=pt-BR |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190605234643/https://www.renault.com.br/veiculos/conheca-nossa-gama/kwid.html |archive-date=June 5, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://oglobo.globo.com/economia/hit-dos-anos-1980-caverna-do-dragao-volta-tv-em-comercial-para-renault-23662340 |title=Hit dos anos 1980, Caverna do Dragão volta à TV em comercial para a Renault |trans-title=1980s Hit 'Dragon's Cave' returns to TV in a commercial for Renault |date=May 13, 2019 |website=O Globo|language=pt-BR|access-date=May 20, 2019}}</ref> It was shot in [[Salta]], in Argentina, near the Andes mountain range.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://entretenimento.uol.com.br/noticias/redacao/2019/05/12/descobrimos-o-que-e-o-live-action-de-caverna-do-dragao.htm |title=Descobrimos o que é o live-action de 'Caverna do Dragão' |trans-title=We found out about the live-action 'Dragon's Cave' |website=[[Universo Online|UOL]] |language=pt-br |access-date=May 20, 2019}}</ref>


===Toys and collectibles===
===Toys and collectibles===
An ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' toy line was produced by [[List of Acclaim Entertainment subsidiaries#LJN|LJN]] in 1983,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.toyarchive.com/Dungeons&Dragons/Figures/ActionFigures.html|title=Series 1 & 2 of the original LJN toyline at toyarchive.com|access-date=January 23, 2008}}</ref> including original characters such as Warduke, Strongheart the Paladin, and the evil Wizard Kelek, who would later appear in campaigns for the [[Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set|''Basic Set'']] of the roleplaying game. None of the main characters from the TV series are in the toy line, but Warduke, Strongheart, and Kelek each appear in one episode of the series. Only in Spain and Portugal were [[PVC]] figures of the main characters produced.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.toyarchive.com/DungeonsDragonsSpanishPVC.html|title=Spanish set of PVC figures based on the TV series at toyarchive.com|access-date=January 23, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.toyarchive.com/Dungeons&Dragons/DungeonsDragonsPortugalPVC.html|title=Portuguese set of PVC figures based on the TV series at toyarchive.com|access-date=January 23, 2008}}</ref> The Brazilian company [[Iron Studios]] will release in 2019 an entire set of [[Artificial stone|polystone]] collectible statues for most of the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' cartoon characters, using a 1/10 scale and forming a full diorama.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://jovemnerd.com.br/nerdbunker/caverna-do-dragao-iron-studios/|title=Caverna do Dragão {{!}} Iron Studios lança coleção de estatuetas da animação - NerdBunker |trans-title=Dragon's Cave: Iron Studios Launches Animation Figurines Collection |website=Jovem Nerd|language=pt-BR|access-date=December 10, 2018}}</ref> PCS Collectibles announced for June–August 2019, two versions of Venger in 1:4 scale, both fully sculpted and hand painted polystone statues.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://comics-x-aminer.com/2018/05/27/pcs-collectibles-announces-dungeons-dragons-venger-14-statue/|title=PCS Collectibles Announces Dungeons & Dragons VENGER 1:4 Statue |website=Comics-X-Aminer |date=May 27, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401164514/https://comics-x-aminer.com/2018/05/27/pcs-collectibles-announces-dungeons-dragons-venger-14-statue/ |archive-date=April 1, 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sideshowtoy.com/collectibles/dungeons-and-dragons-venger-pop-culture-shock-9035971/|title=Dungeons and Dragons Venger Statue by Pop Culture Shock|website=Sideshow Collectibles|language=en|access-date=December 11, 2018}}</ref> In 2022, Hasbro launched the Cartoon Classics action figurine series based on ''Dungeons & Dragons''.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://bigcomicpage.com/2022/09/23/hasbro-to-release-dungeons-dragons-cartoo/ | title=Hasbro to release Dungeons & Dragons Cartoon Classics Toy Series in January 2023 | date=September 23, 2022 }}</ref>
An ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' toy line was produced by [[List of Acclaim Entertainment subsidiaries#LJN|LJN]] in 1983,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.toyarchive.com/Dungeons&Dragons/Figures/ActionFigures.html|title=Series 1 & 2 of the original LJN toyline at toyarchive.com|access-date=January 23, 2008}}</ref> including original characters such as Warduke, Strongheart the Paladin, and the evil Wizard Kelek, who would later appear in campaigns for the [[Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set|''Basic Set'']] of the roleplaying game. None of the main characters from the TV series are in the toy line, but Warduke, Strongheart,<ref>{{cite book |title=Dungeons & Dragons Art & Arcana: a visual history |last1=Witwer |first1=Michael |last2=Newman |first2=Kyle |last3=Peterson |first3=Jonathan |last4=Witwer |first4=Sam |last5=Manganiello |first5=Joe |date=October 2018 |isbn=9780399580949 |publisher=[[Ten Speed Press]] |oclc=1033548473 |page=161}}</ref> and Kelek each appear in one episode of the series. Only in Spain and Portugal were [[PVC]] figures of the main characters produced.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.toyarchive.com/DungeonsDragonsSpanishPVC.html|title=Spanish set of PVC figures based on the TV series at toyarchive.com|access-date=January 23, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.toyarchive.com/Dungeons&Dragons/DungeonsDragonsPortugalPVC.html|title=Portuguese set of PVC figures based on the TV series at toyarchive.com|access-date=January 23, 2008}}</ref> The Brazilian company [[Iron Studios]] released in 2019 an entire set of [[Artificial stone|polystone]] collectible statues for most of the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' cartoon characters, using a 1/10 scale and forming a full diorama.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://jovemnerd.com.br/nerdbunker/caverna-do-dragao-iron-studios/|title=Caverna do Dragão {{!}} Iron Studios lança coleção de estatuetas da animação NerdBunker |trans-title=Dragon's Cave: Iron Studios Launches Animation Figurines Collection |website=Jovem Nerd|date=October 22, 2018 |language=pt-BR|access-date=December 10, 2018}}</ref> The same year, PCS Collectibles released two versions of Venger in 1:4 scale, both fully sculpted and hand painted polystone statues.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://comics-x-aminer.com/2018/05/27/pcs-collectibles-announces-dungeons-dragons-venger-14-statue/|title=PCS Collectibles Announces Dungeons & Dragons VENGER 1:4 Statue |website=Comics-X-Aminer |date=May 27, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401164514/https://comics-x-aminer.com/2018/05/27/pcs-collectibles-announces-dungeons-dragons-venger-14-statue/ |archive-date=April 1, 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sideshowtoy.com/collectibles/dungeons-and-dragons-venger-pop-culture-shock-9035971/|title=Dungeons and Dragons Venger Statue by Pop Culture Shock|website=Sideshow Collectibles|language=en|access-date=December 11, 2018}}</ref> In 2022, [[Hasbro]] launched the Cartoon Classics action figurine series based on ''Dungeons & Dragons''.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://bigcomicpage.com/2022/09/23/hasbro-to-release-dungeons-dragons-cartoo/ | title=Hasbro to release Dungeons & Dragons Cartoon Classics Toy Series in January 2023 | date=September 23, 2022}}</ref>

In 2024, the characters in the series won miniatures given by the Brazilian fast food chain [[Giraffas]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Teixeira |first=Yuri |date=2024-08-26 |title=Giraffas traz novos brindes de 'A Caverna do Dragão' |url=https://gkpb.com.br/169330/giraffas-caverna-do-dragao-2024/ |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=GKPB - Geek Publicitário |language=pt-BR}}</ref>

===Film===
The 2023 film ''[[Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves]]'' featured adult versions of Hank, Bobby, Sheila, Diana, Eric and Presto in live-action cameos with Edgar Abram as Hank, Luke Bennett as Bobby, Emer McDaid as Sheila, Moe Sasegbon as Diana, Trevor Kaneswaran as Eric, and Seamus O'Hara as Presto.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kelley |first=Aidan |date=2023-03-30 |title='Dungeons & Dragons' Animated Series Cameo in 'Honor Among Thieves' Explained |url=https://collider.com/dungeons-and-dragons-honor-among-thieves-animated-series-cameo-explained/ |access-date=2023-04-02 |website=Collider |language=en}}</ref> They are seen competing in a special tournament and have made it to a cage in the middle of a shifting labyrinth.

==== Stop-motion short film ====
In December 2024 during [[CCXP]], the Brazilian blog ''Jovem Nerd'' and Hasbro announced a stop-motion animated short based on the series called "O Episódio Perdido" (The Lost Episode).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-12-06 |title=Jovem Nerd traz Caverna do Dragão de volta em stop motion |url=https://www.uol.com.br/splash/noticias/2024/12/06/jovem-nerd-traz-caverna-do-dragao-de-volta-em-stop-motion.htm |access-date=2024-12-09 |website=UOL |language=pt-br}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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==External links==
==External links==
{{Portal|Cartoon}}
{{Wikiquote}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{IMDb title|id=0085011|title=Dungeons & Dragons}}
* {{IMDb title|id=0085011|title=Dungeons & Dragons}}
* {{cite web |url = http://www.zaksrealm.net/IntroStoryboard/introstoryboard.html |title = A storyboard for the second season's introduction |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110724140557/http://www.zaksrealm.net/IntroStoryboard/introstoryboard.html |archive-date = July 24, 2011 }}
* {{cite web |url = http://www.zaksrealm.net/IntroStoryboard/introstoryboard.html |title = A storyboard for the second season's introduction |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110724140557/http://www.zaksrealm.net/IntroStoryboard/introstoryboard.html |archive-date = July 24, 2011}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20121025023807/http://www.dungeonsdragonscartoon.com/2011/05/character-sketches.html Model sheets for characters]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20121025023807/http://www.dungeonsdragonscartoon.com/2011/05/character-sketches.html Model sheets for characters]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHoG3RS4QL8 Renault | Kwid Outsider: Dungeons and Dragons | May 2019]


{{Steve Gerber}}
{{Steve Gerber}}
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[[Category:1980s American animated television series]]
[[Category:1980s American animated television series]]
[[Category:1983 American television series debuts]]
[[Category:1983 American television series debuts]]
[[Category:1983 animated television series debuts]]
[[Category:1985 American television series endings]]
[[Category:1985 American television series endings]]
[[Category:American children's animated action television series]]
[[Category:American children's animated action television series]]
[[Category:American children's animated adventure television series]]
[[Category:American children's animated adventure television series]]
[[Category:American children's animated fantasy television series]]
[[Category:American children's animated fantasy television series]]
[[Category:CBS original programming]]
[[Category:American English-language television shows]]
[[Category:English-language television shows]]
[[Category:American teen animated television series]]
[[Category:Television shows based on role-playing games]]
[[Category:Animated television series about children]]
[[Category:CBS animated television series]]
[[Category:High fantasy television series]]
[[Category:Television series about being lost from home]]
[[Category:Television series by Marvel Productions]]
[[Category:Television series by Marvel Productions]]
[[Category:Television shows based on role-playing games]]
[[Category:Toei Animation television]]
[[Category:Works based on Dungeons & Dragons]]
[[Category:Works based on Dungeons & Dragons]]

Latest revision as of 14:08, 18 December 2024

Dungeons & Dragons
DVD cover
GenreAction
Adventure
Fantasy
Created byKevin Paul Coates
Dennis Marks
Takashi
Based onDungeons & Dragons
by TSR
Developed byMark Evanier
Written byKarl Geurs
Directed byJohn Gibbs
Voices ofWillie Aames
Don Most
Adam Rich
Peter Cullen
Teddy Field III
Katie Leigh
Sidney Miller
Tonia Gayle Smith
Frank Welker
ComposersJohnny Douglas
Rob Walsh (additional music)
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons3
No. of episodes27
Production
Executive producersDavid H. DePatie (season 1)
Lee Gunther (seasons 1–3)
Margaret Loesch (seasons 2–3)
ProducersBob Richardson (season 1)
Karl Geurs (seasons 2–3)
AnimatorToei Animation
Running time24 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkCBS
ReleaseSeptember 17, 1983 (1983-09-17) –
December 7, 1985 (1985-12-07)

Dungeons & Dragons is an American animated television series based on TSR's Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game.[1] It is a co-production of Marvel Productions and TSR, with the Japanese Toei Animation. It ran on CBS from 1983 through 1985 for three seasons, for a total of twenty-seven episodes.

The show focuses on a group of six friends who are transported into the realm of Dungeons & Dragons, following their adventures as they try to find a way home with the help of their guide the Dungeon Master while combating an evil wizard.[2]

Overview

[edit]

The show focuses on a group of friends aged between 8 and 15 who are transported to the realm of Dungeons & Dragons by taking a magical dark ride on an amusement park roller coaster. Upon arriving in the realm they meet Dungeon Master (named for the referee in the tabletop role-playing game), who gives each child a magical item granting each of them powers appropriate to a D&D character class.

The children's main goal is to find a way home, but they often take detours to help people or find that their fates are intertwined with that of others. The group comes across many different enemies, but their primary antagonist is Venger. He is a powerful wizard who wishes to rule the realm and believes the power from the children's weapons will help him to do so. Another recurring villain is Tiamat, who is a five-headed dragon and the only creature that Venger fears.

Throughout the series, a connection is suggested between Dungeon Master and Venger. At the end of the episode "The Dragon's Graveyard", Dungeon Master calls Venger "my son". At the end of another episode, he states "We all make mistakes. Venger... was mine." The final unproduced episode "Requiem" would have confirmed that Venger is the Dungeon Master's corrupted son (making Kareena the sister of Venger and the daughter of Dungeon Master), redeemed Venger (giving those trapped in the realm their freedom), and ended on a cliffhanger where the six children could finally return home or deal with evil that still existed in the realm.

Said unproduced episode would have served as both a conclusion to the story and as a re-imagining of the show, had it been picked up for a fourth season, but was canceled before the episode was made. The script has since been published online and was performed as an audio drama as a special feature for the BCI Eclipse DVD edition of the series.[citation needed]

Characters

[edit]

Heroes

[edit]
Hank, Eric, Diana, Presto, Sheila, Bobby, and Uni in the first episode "The Night of No Tomorrow".
  • Hank, the Ranger (voiced by Willie Aames) – at 15 years of age,[3] he is the leader of the group. Hank is brave and noble, maintaining a focus and determination even when presented with grave danger. Hank is a Ranger, with a magical bow that shoots arrows of glowing energy. These arrows can be used in many different ways such as a climbing tool, to hurt enemies, to bind them, to create light, or to form temporary makeshift cages.
  • Eric, the Cavalier (voiced by Don Most) – the Cavalier, at the age of 15, is the spoiled child, originating from a rich home. On the surface, Eric is a big-mouthed comic relief coward. Eric has a heroic core, and frequently saves his friends from danger with his magical griffin shield, which can project a force field. Despite his aloofness and several instances of selfishness, Eric shares the common camaraderie of the group, and occasionally steps to the fore as a substitute leader in Hank's absence.[4]
  • Diana, the Acrobat (voiced by Tonia Gayle Smith) – a brave, athletic, and outspoken 14-year-old girl,[3] she is an Acrobat who carries the javelin quarterstaff, which can change size to suit her needs and be easily reconstructed if broken. Diana is also known to provide inspiration, guidance and support for her friends at times of peril or worry.
  • Presto, the Magician (voiced by Adam Rich) – the 14-year-old Wizard of the team, equipped with a magic hat.[3] Friendly and fiercely loyal to all in the group, Presto fulfills the role of the well-meaning, diligent magic user whose spells frequently—though not always—either fail or produce unintended results.
  • Sheila, the Thief (voiced by Katie Leigh) – as the Thief, Sheila, aged 13, has the Cloak of Invisibility which makes her invisible when the hood is raised over her head. Although occasionally emotionally vulnerable and with a great fear of being alone in the realm, Sheila regularly utilizes the stealth attributes of her cloak at great peril to herself for the benefit of the common goals of her group.
  • Bobby, the Barbarian (voiced by Ted Field III) – the youngest member of the team at eight years old[3] and the younger brother of Sheila. He is the Barbarian, as indicated by his fur pants and boots, horned helmet, and cross belt harness. Brash, brave and selfless but occasionally impulsive, Bobby's personality frequently puts himself and his friends in danger. His cudgel saves the protagonists from peril on numerous occasions.
  • Uni (vocal effects provided by Frank Welker) – Uni is Bobby's pet, a baby unicorn. Markedly timid, Uni is closest to Bobby. She is remarkably intelligent, shown to be capable of using Presto's hat's magic on at least one occasion, and can teleport once per day.
  • Dungeon Master (voiced by Sidney Miller) – the group's friend and mentor, he provides important advice and help, but often in a cryptic manner that does not make sense until the team has completed the quest of each episode. Dungeon Master supplies the companions with their weapons and clues for their numerous opportunities to return home.[5]

Villains

[edit]
Venger as seen in "The Dragon's Graveyard".
  • Venger, the Force of Evil (voiced by Peter Cullen) – the main antagonist and the Dungeon Master's son, Venger is an evil wizard of great power sporting one horn, white skin, fangs, and bat-like wings. He seeks to use the children's magical weapons to bolster his power.
    • Shadow Demon (voiced by Bob Holt) – a shadowy demon who is Venger's personal spy and assistant. Shadow Demon often informs Venger about the children's current quests and often refers to them as "Dungeon Master's young ones".
    • Night-Mare – a black horse that serves as Venger's mode of transportation.
  • Tiamat (voiced by Frank Welker) – a fearsome five-headed dragon with a reverberating multi-level voice. Her five heads are a white head that breathes ice, a green head that breathes toxic gas, a central red head that breathes fire, a blue head that breathes lightning, and a black head that breathes acid. Tiamat is known to be the sole creature that Venger fears.
  • Kareena (voiced by Diane Pershing) – Venger's sister and rival. Kareena first appears in the episode "Citadel of Shadow" when she encounters Sheila as she herself is confined within a force field imposed by Venger. Sheila's altruism within this episode unleashes humanity within Kareena. The unmade final episode to the series "Requiem" was planned to confirm that Kareena was also Dungeon Master's daughter.

Episodes

[edit]

Season 1 (1983)

[edit]
No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
1"The Night of No Tomorrow"John Gibbs & Bob RichardsonMark EvanierSeptember 17, 1983 (1983-09-17)
Tricked by Venger, Presto conjures up a horde of fire-breathing dragons to threaten the town of Helix. The kids must rescue Presto and save Helix before it is too late.
2"The Eye of the Beholder"John Gibbs & Bob RichardsonHank Saroyan, Mark Evanier, Kimmer RingwaldSeptember 24, 1983 (1983-09-24)
Led by a cowardly knight named Sir John, the children must seek and destroy an evil monster known as the Beholder to find a gateway back to their own world.
3"The Hall of Bones"John Gibbs & Bob RichardsonPaul DiniOctober 1, 1983 (1983-10-01)
Dungeon Master sends the kids on a journey to the Ancient Hall of Bones, where they must recharge their magical weapons. As usual, trouble awaits them around every corner.
4"Valley of the Unicorns"John Gibbs & Bob RichardsonPaul Dini & Karl GeursOctober 8, 1983 (1983-10-08)
Bobby and the others must rescue Uni when she is captured by a fiendish sorcerer named Kelek, who plans to remove the horns of all unicorns and steal their magical power. Of course he will have to give the unicorn horns to his master Venger when he arrives.
5"In Search of the Dungeon Master"John Gibbs & Bob RichardsonJeffrey ScottOctober 15, 1983 (1983-10-15)
Dungeon Master is captured by Warduke and frozen in a magic crystal. When the kids discover this terrible truth, they try to rescue him before Venger gets there first.
6"Beauty and the Bogbeast"John Gibbs & Bob RichardsonJeffrey ScottOctober 22, 1983 (1983-10-22)
Eric is turned into a comical but ugly Bogbeast when he sniffs a forbidden flower. Now he must help the others of this cowardly race defeat an evil ogre who is damming The River that Runs Upside Down.
7"Prison Without Walls"John Gibbs & Bob RichardsonSteve GerberOctober 29, 1983 (1983-10-29)
The search for the gateway home leads the kids into the Swamp of Sorrow, where they meet a fearsome monster and the dwarf wizard, Lukyon, who guides them on a journey to the Heart Of The Dragon.
8"Servant of Evil"John Gibbs & Bob RichardsonJeffrey ScottNovember 5, 1983 (1983-11-05)
Bobby's birthday is ruined when Sheila and the others are captured and thrown into Venger's Prison of Agony. With Dungeon Master's guidance, Bobby and Uni must locate the prison, befriend a giant, and rescue their friends.
9"Quest of the Skeleton Warrior"John Gibbs & Bob RichardsonBuzz DixonNovember 12, 1983 (1983-11-12)
Dekkion, a spellbound ancient warrior, sends the kids to the Lost Tower, where they must face their greatest fears as they seek the Circle Of Power.
10"The Garden of Zinn"John Gibbs & Bob RichardsonJeffrey ScottNovember 19, 1983 (1983-11-19)
When Bobby is bitten by a poisonous Dragon Turtle, he and Sheila must remain in the care of a strange creature named Solarz while the others seek out an antidote – the foot of a yellow dragon – in the mysterious Garden of Zinn. To save Bobby, Eric must become a king in the realm he hates so much.
11"The Box"John Gibbs & Bob RichardsonJeffrey ScottNovember 26, 1983 (1983-11-26)
The kids accidentally find Zandora's Box, which can open doorways to many other places. This may be their best chance of getting home, but only Zandora herself knows how to use the box, and she is trapped somewhere inside it.
12"The Lost Children"John Gibbs & Bob RichardsonJeffrey ScottDecember 3, 1983 (1983-12-03)
With the help of another group of lost children, the kids must brave the dangers of Venger's castle to locate a spaceship which, according to Dungeon Master, just might take them home.
13"P-R-E-S-T-O Spells Disaster"John Gibbs & Bob RichardsonJeffrey ScottDecember 10, 1983 (1983-12-10)
Another one of Presto's spells misfires, this time leaving Presto and Uni to search for the others who are trapped in a giant's castle and pursued by a strange creature called a Slime Beast.

Season 2 (1984)

[edit]
No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
14"The Girl Who Dreamed Tomorrow"John GibbsKarl GeursSeptember 8, 1984 (1984-09-08)
The kids meet Terri, a lost child like themselves who is also a clairvoyant who can dream the future and leads them toward their doorway home – where trouble awaits. Bobby must make a heartbreaking choice to save his soulmate Terri from Venger.
15"The Treasure of Tardos"John GibbsMichael ReavesSeptember 15, 1984 (1984-09-15)
Dungeon Master warns the kids that they are in danger from the monstrous Demodragon, a half-demon, half-dragon monster capable of destroying the entire realm. Now they must find a bit of dragonsbane in order to render the monster helpless while contending with Venger, Shadow Demon, and an army of orcs.
16"City at the Edge of Midnight"John GibbsMichael Reaves & Karl GeursSeptember 22, 1984 (1984-09-22)
The kids must seek out The City At The Edge of Midnight and save its children from The Nightwalker, who steals little children at the stroke of midnight.
17"The Traitor"John GibbsJeffrey ScottSeptember 29, 1984 (1984-09-29)
Dungeon Master warns the kids that they are about to face the most difficult trial of their lives. The others are shocked when Hank turns out to be a traitor, not only to them, but to his own courage and insight. Fortunately, it is this that leads him to redemption.
18"Day of the Dungeon Master"John GibbsMichael ReavesOctober 6, 1984 (1984-10-06)
When Dungeon Master decides to take a rest and gives Eric his Garb of Power, Venger goes after the Garb, and Eric's powers are truly put to the test.
19"The Last Illusion"John GibbsJeffrey ScottOctober 13, 1984 (1984-10-13)
When Presto finds himself lost in a forest, he sees the apparition of a beautiful young girl named Varla. Dungeon Master tells Presto that by finding the girl, he may find his way home. Though Venger has plans to use Varla in his latest plot to claim the kids' weapons by framing Presto for causing harm to a local village.
20"The Dragon's Graveyard"John GibbsMichael ReavesOctober 20, 1984 (1984-10-20)
At the end of their patience with Venger ruining their attempts to return home with the latest attempt involving Venger attacking them with a frost giant, the kids resolve to bring the fight to him. The kids seek the help of Tiamat, the most dangerous dragon in the realm, who assists them in a confrontation with Venger and helps them get one step closer to home.
21"Child of the Stargazer"John GibbsMichael ReavesOctober 27, 1984 (1984-10-27)
Kosar, the son of an astrologer from another country, escapes from the evil Demon-Queen Syrith and involves the kids in a battle against good and evil. Diana must make a personal choice regarding going home – her soulmate Kosar, or saving a community.

Season 3 (1985)

[edit]
No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
22"The Dungeon at the Heart of Dawn"John GibbsMichael ReavesSeptember 14, 1985 (1985-09-14)
While in the Tower of Darkness, the kids open The Box of Balefire and let loose the ultimate evil called the Nameless One who is Venger's master. The Nameless One strips Dungeon Master and Venger of their powers. The kids must now venture to The Heart Of Dawn to restore Dungeon Master's powers while holding a truce with Venger and Shadow Demon when things get worse.
23"The Time Lost"John GibbsMichael ReavesSeptember 21, 1985 (1985-09-21)
Venger has been abducting military personnel from different battles in Earth, and his latest captive is a US Air Force pilot, whose fighter jet Venger commandeers. Venger then goes to the Second World War and captures a Luftwaffe pilot named Josef, intending to give him the modern fighter jet to make World War II an Axis victory, which would change Earth's history and prevent the kids from ever being born. Josef has a severe struggle within himself about Venger's temptation to make him a war hero, although getting to know the kids revealed his true nature when he privately disposed of his swastika armband, happy to learn from the kids that his native Germany ended being "freed from that tyrant".
24"Odyssey of the Twelfth Talisman"John GibbsMark Shiney & Michael L. DePatieSeptember 28, 1985 (1985-09-28)
The Dungeon Master assigns the kids to find the missing Stone Of Astra, the Twelfth Talisman, which makes the wearer invincible. An evil wizard named Korac, who also wants the talisman, wreaks havoc until Venger, who also wants the talisman, instigates a battle.
25"Citadel of Shadow"John GibbsKatherine LawrenceOctober 12, 1985 (1985-10-12)
While fleeing an army of orcs, the kids hide in The Hills Of Never; Sheila helps a young woman named Kareena trapped by a spell – whom the children discover is Venger's sister and rival in evil. With two magic rings Sheila must make a personal choice-of either going home-or saving Kareena from being destroyed by Venger.
26"Cave of the Fairie Dragons"John GibbsKatherine LawrenceNovember 9, 1985 (1985-11-09)
When they are attacked by giant ants, the kids are saved by Amber, a Fairie Dragon. Amber then asks them to help rescue the Queen of the Fairie Dragons, who was kidnapped by the evil King Varin. The kids must help the Fairie Dragons and find a portal that will take them home at last.
27"The Winds of Darkness"John GibbsMichael Cassutt & Kathy Selbert, Karl Geurs (Story)December 7, 1985 (1985-12-07)
The Darkling has created a purple fog that consumes all trapped in it, and the kids try to enlist the aid of Martha, an embittered former pupil of Dungeon Master, to save Hank from the fog and destroy The Darkling.

Unfinished finale

[edit]

The intended final episode from the third season, and potential series finale, entitled "Requiem", was written by the series' frequent screenwriter Michael Reaves, but was not finished due to the show's cancellation. It would have served as both a conclusion to the current story as well as a re-imagining of the series had the show continued into a fourth season. Reaves has discussed the episode online,[6] and published the original script on his personal website.[5] The BCI Eclipse Region 1 DVD release includes the script recorded in the form of an audio drama as a special feature.

A fan-made animated version of the finale appeared online in 2020.[7] It includes the original audio drama, with animations mostly recut from the series.[8] It stars Wally Wingert as Dungeon Master and Hank, Daniel Roebuck as Eric, Jarrod Nead as Presto, Neil Kaplan as Venger, and Ryan Nead as Redeemed Venger, with Katie Leigh and Frank Welker reprising their roles as Shiela and Uni while Leigh voices Bobby.[9]

Cast

[edit]
  • Willie Aames – Hank the Ranger[10]
  • Don Most – Eric the Cavalier[11]
  • Tonia Gayle Smith – Diana the Acrobat[12]
  • Adam Rich – Presto the Magician[13]
  • Peter Cullen – Venger, The Darkling (in the episode "The Winds of Destruction"), additional voices[14]
  • Teddy Field III – Bobby the Barbarian[15]
  • Katie Leigh – Sheila the Thief[16]
  • Sidney Miller – Dungeon Master[17]
  • Frank Welker – Uni, Tiamat, Sir John (in the episode "The Eye of the Beholder"), Starfire (in the episode "The Time Lost"), Fairy, Jimmy's Dad, Pilot (in the episode "The Time Lost"), Rugar (in the episode "Dungeon at the Heart of Dawn"), Fairie Dragon (in the episode "Cave of the Faerie Dragons"), additional voices[18]

Additional voices

[edit]

Reception

[edit]

The series received critical acclaim but the level of violence was controversial for American children's television at the time, and the script of one episode, "The Dragon's Graveyard", was almost canceled because the characters contemplated killing their nemesis, Venger.[28] In 1985, the National Coalition on Television Violence demanded that the FTC run a warning during each broadcast stating that Dungeons & Dragons had been linked to real-life violent deaths.[29] The series spawned more than 100 different licenses,[30] and the show led its time slot for two years.[31][30]

Awards

[edit]

For her work on the series, Tonia Gayle Smith (as "Diana") was nominated for Outstanding Young Actress in an Animation Voice-over at the 1984–1985 Youth in Film Awards.[32] In January 2009, IGN ranked Dungeons & Dragons at #64 on its "Best 100 Animated Series" list.[33]

Home media

[edit]

In 2004, Contender Entertainment Group released the series on four stand-alone DVDs (under license from Fox Kids Europe/Jetix Europe). Extra features on each volume include fan commentary tracks on two episodes, character profiles, and DVD-ROM content. The original series bible, scripts, character model sheets, original promo artwork, an interview with Michael Reaves (writer on the unproduced finale episode "Requiem"), and a featurette on the title sequence are spread amongst the discs. The fourth volume includes the script for "Requiem" and a featurette about it. The four DVDs each have different original cover artwork (by Eamon O'Donoghue) that form a panorama when placed side by side, depicting the series' main characters: Hank and Sheila with Venger, Presto with Tiamat, Eric and Diana with Shadow Demon, and Bobby with Uni and Dungeon Master.

The first Region 1 DVD release, Dungeons & Dragons – The Complete Animated Series, was released on December 5, 2006, by BCI Eclipse LLC, under its Ink & Paint classic animation entertainment brand (under license from Disney). The 5-disc set featured all 27 episodes, uncut, digitally re-mastered, and presented in story continuity order, as well as an extensive array of special features including documentaries, commentaries, character profiles, a radio play of the unproduced finale episode "Requiem", and more. This release is now out of print, as BCI Eclipse ceased operations in December 2008.[34]

In 2009, Mill Creek Entertainment released the complete series on August 25 (once again under license from Disney), in a 3-disc set without any special features, but with almost all the original music restored; the release contains all the televised episodes but does not contain the radio play of "Requiem".[35]

The series was on Toon Disney's Jetix block during 2006, 2007, and 2008.[citation needed]

The complete series was streamed on Twitch on July 9, 2021, as part of the Saturday Morning D&D Secret Lair, which is a limited edition of Magic the Gathering cards showcasing characters from the cartoon, later released on October 29 the same year.[36][37][38]

Merchandise and other media

[edit]

The show produced a variety of spin-off merchandise.

Board games

[edit]

In 1984 TSR, Inc. released the board game named Quest for the Dungeonmaster, inspired by the episode "In Search of the Dungeon Master", in which Dungeon Master is captured by Warduke and frozen in a magic crystal, and the kids try to rescue him before Venger gets there. Brazilian company Grow released a Portuguese-language version of this game in 1993.

Books

[edit]

Several books based on this series were released at the time of its highest popularity:

  • Pick a Path to Adventure books: TSR published six gamebooks written from the point of view of each of the children, each focused on a different character (though Eric's book gave the role of protagonist to his younger brother Michael, who did not appear in the cartoon series).[39]
  • UK Annuals: Two hardcover books published in the United Kingdom in 1985 and 1987 by World International Publishing Limited, each including various prose stories. The first featured seven original adventures, while the second only included three, plus Comics Forum's adaptation of "The Eye of the Beholder" (translated as "The Eye of the Watchman!").
  • Donjons et Dragons: Published in France, a six-book collection adapting different episodes in storybook form.

Card games

[edit]

In 2021, Wizards of the Coast released a "Secret Lair set" for Magic the Gathering based on the animated series.[40]

Comic books

[edit]
  • Dragones y Mazmorras are comic book adaptations of all 27 episodes by Comics Forum, a division of Spanish publisher Editorial Planeta De Agostini under license from TSR.[41]
  • Marvel Summer Special 1987: Published in the United Kingdom, it is an English-language reprint of Comics Forum's adaptation of the episode "Prison Without Walls".
  • Forgotten Realms: The Grand Tour: one-shot comic book published by TSR in 1996. It features the now-adult protagonists still living in a Dungeons & Dragons world, this time the Forgotten Realms, with Presto seeking an apprenticeship with Elminster the Sage.[42]
  • A miniseries based on the show, Saturday Morning Adventures, written by David M. Booher and Sam Maggs, with artwork by George Kambadais, was released in March 2023 by IDW Publishing.[43]

Music

[edit]

A full orchestral version of the Dungeons & Dragons animated series main theme, composed by Johnny Douglas, was released as the sixth track of the 1991 album The Johnny Douglas Strings – On Screen, published by the label Dulcima,[44] a record label founded by Douglas in 1983.[45]

Roleplaying games

[edit]

Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 – Animated Series Handbook was produced by Wizards of the Coast and included with the DVD box set of the series released by Ink & Paint in 2006. It contains profiles of each protagonist and an adventure to be played, set chronologically before the episode "The Dragon's Graveyard".[46] In 2024, characters from the series appear in the D&D Beyond adventure Uni and the Hunt for the Lost Horn.[47]

Television advertisements

[edit]

The characters were licensed for a Brazilian live-action television advertisement,[48] released in May 2019 to promote the launch of Renault's Kwid Outsider, which saw the characters using it to return home to the real world.[49][50] It was shot in Salta, in Argentina, near the Andes mountain range.[51]

Toys and collectibles

[edit]

An Advanced Dungeons & Dragons toy line was produced by LJN in 1983,[52] including original characters such as Warduke, Strongheart the Paladin, and the evil Wizard Kelek, who would later appear in campaigns for the Basic Set of the roleplaying game. None of the main characters from the TV series are in the toy line, but Warduke, Strongheart,[53] and Kelek each appear in one episode of the series. Only in Spain and Portugal were PVC figures of the main characters produced.[54][55] The Brazilian company Iron Studios released in 2019 an entire set of polystone collectible statues for most of the Dungeons & Dragons cartoon characters, using a 1/10 scale and forming a full diorama.[56] The same year, PCS Collectibles released two versions of Venger in 1:4 scale, both fully sculpted and hand painted polystone statues.[57][58] In 2022, Hasbro launched the Cartoon Classics action figurine series based on Dungeons & Dragons.[59]

In 2024, the characters in the series won miniatures given by the Brazilian fast food chain Giraffas.[60]

Film

[edit]

The 2023 film Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves featured adult versions of Hank, Bobby, Sheila, Diana, Eric and Presto in live-action cameos with Edgar Abram as Hank, Luke Bennett as Bobby, Emer McDaid as Sheila, Moe Sasegbon as Diana, Trevor Kaneswaran as Eric, and Seamus O'Hara as Presto.[61] They are seen competing in a special tournament and have made it to a cage in the middle of a shifting labyrinth.

Stop-motion short film

[edit]

In December 2024 during CCXP, the Brazilian blog Jovem Nerd and Hasbro announced a stop-motion animated short based on the series called "O Episódio Perdido" (The Lost Episode).[62]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Perlmutter, David (2018). The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 174. ISBN 978-1538103739.
  2. ^ Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. p. 298. ISBN 978-1476665993.
  3. ^ a b c d "Archive of Development of the Dungeons and Dragons Cartoon: Series Bible". Mark Evanier. Archived from the original on October 6, 2007. Retrieved October 6, 2010.
  4. ^ "Point of view, by Mark Evanier". NewsFromMe.com. Retrieved November 1, 2016.
  5. ^ a b "Requiem" (PDF). Michael Reaves. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 20, 2011.
  6. ^ "Final Episode of Dungeons and Dragons". July 20, 2011. Archived from the original on July 20, 2011.
  7. ^ "Fans Create Ending To 80s D&D Cartoon". July 28, 2021.
  8. ^ "D&D: The Fan-Made Final Episode Of The D&D Cartoon Is Heart-Melting". July 28, 2021.
  9. ^ "Dungeons & Dragons: Requiem the Final (2020)".
  10. ^ "Willie Aames (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
  11. ^ "Don Most (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
  12. ^ "Tonia Gayle Smith (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
  13. ^ "Adam Rich (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
  14. ^ "Peter Cullen (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
  15. ^ "Teddy Field III (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
  16. ^ "Katie Leigh (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
  17. ^ "Sidney Miller (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
  18. ^ "Frank Welker (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
  19. ^ "Laurie O'Brien (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
  20. ^ "Jennifer Darling (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
  21. ^ "Gary Goren (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
  22. ^ "Bob Holt (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
  23. ^ "Georgi Irene (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
  24. ^ "Maia Mattisse (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved November 19, 2022.[permanent dead link]
  25. ^ "Diane Pershing (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
  26. ^ "Hank Saroyan (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
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