The New Adventures of Zorro (1981) User Reviews

One of Filmations best

[euroasiangenetic · 10/10 · 13 December 2018]

This cartoon series is the new version similar to Guy Williams Zorro. Characters that look identical to 1958 Zorro and a good introduction to this great hero.

Don Diego is secretly Zorro by night, and with his loyal sidekick red rider Miguel, they fight for freedom of their people against the tyranny of captain Ramon.

The anime for a Filmation animation is great for its time, the fencing looks handwritten and printed on real fencing masters. And I remember as a kid it was interesting to see Zorro have a sidekick Miguel. This series knew what they were doing and did it brilliantly. 10/10

One of Filmation's all-time best!

[khaosjr · 9/10 · 2 August 2006]

It's a pity Filmation didn't make more of their cartoons like this one, possible exceptions being "the Lone Ranger" and (especially) "Flash Gordon" and "Fat Albert & the Cosby Kids."

One of the best things about "Zorro" is the typical ending-teaser. It's way different from those used for "Shazam," "Isis," "Masters of the Universe," "Princess of Power," "Ghostbusters" and "Bravestarr." Rather than some kind of message driven home with jackhammer-like subtlety, "Zorro" features a sort of geography/history lesson regarding California (before it joined the USA). I also enjoyed the way Zorro carves his trademark "Z" into some convenient location, then rides away on Tempest at the end.

It all makes me wish Filmation had done the same for "The Warriors": gathered all 9 original actors to lend their voices and live-action commentary; then stayed as true to that movie and its subject matter as they did with "Zorro." It would have been nice to see Cleon, Swan and Company give our kids a history/geography lesson regarding various NYC spots (Bensonhurst, the Bowery, Chinatown, Coney Island, Gramercy, Gunhill, Harlem, Hell's Kitchen, Pelham, Riverside Park, Sheep's Head Bay, Soho, Tremont, etc) and then spray-paint their trademark red "W" on a convenient location nearby, before departing.

This is one of those Filmation series that DEMANDS re-discovery and/or re-release on DVD (that is, a boxed set with audio-commentary and other special features). Another is "Manta & Moray" (A blond beauty in a sexy one-piece wetsuit; what more could anyone ask?); a third is "Kid Superpower Hour W/Shazam" (worth it just for Glorious Gal).