This is one of my favorite animated shows of all time, and once again another under the radar gem as it's another forgotten gem. I really loved this cartoon show, this of course was based on another toy line from Mattel whom once again dealt in the realm of fantasy. I really loved those toys and played with them a lot, I have a collection of them as they were these big miniature compacts that each contained a different kind of adventures.
I really love the premise of the show which in a way I can't help but feel if they ever made an animated series on "Doctor Who" it would have been something like this. Basically, an ordinary boy whom finds a magical key which is disguised as an ordinary baseball cap, which makes sense if you were ever to conceal something powerful in the modern day world. This cap is pretty much like the Tardis as it opens portals to just about anywhere and everywhere, from any place in the world, time, space, another dimension, the destinations are just endless. Unfortunately, you can't really do it at will as it never really takes you where you want to go, but only where you need to go (same with the Tardis).
The animation is great I really like the character and background animation. But I really like the use of some of the dark colors really giving this show a dark fantasy feel, which I love dark fantasy are sort of the equivalent of neo noir where it shows the world Max inhabits despite fascinating still carry hints of danger even from his own home. Music is also very good, it's a bit of a heavy metal/rock soundtrack even like the theme, it fits the nature of the show as it just screams excitement which this show delivers.
Really love the voice ensemble cast, it's one of the best in my book.
The late Tony Jay is great as the foul Virgil. He's much like who Luna and Artimis are to "Sailor Moon" as he's the mentor figure for Max as he is telling Max what is. But I like how despite filled with wisdom he's also funny as he gets a lot of grief from Max due to his unortadox ways or certain methods that don't fall into his set of protocols.
Norman voiced by Ricard Moll is awesome as Max's bodyguard. He is just a bad ass as he is a Viking warrior that just kicks all kinds of ass wherever they go. He's also not a character that talks much but that's because he's a man of action, but when he does talk it's something interesting as opposed to any character that talks a lot where most of what he/she says in the film is practically useless and filler dialog by its nature. He's dryly funny and charismatic he's got a lot of memorable lines.
I also really like there is some mystery to his character as we see some depth to him as we hear his character truly did exist in the Viking Age which makes him almost one of the immortals from "Highlander" or maybe an Asguardian like in the movie/comic series"Thor", seeing that made me all the more wonder about his life.
Tim Curry my favorite actor and one of my favorite voice actors is just awesome as the Skull Master. Skull Master is one of my favorite animated villains. It's a bit ironic that Curry plays this role as the character is a little uncannily like his former role Darkness in the film "Legend". I'll admit as a kid I found Skull Master kind of scary as he is true to his name in every sense, from his big size, sword and attitude you honestly aren't sure you can win in a fight with him. He's a ruthless merciless beast that rules a direction called the Doom Zone that looks a lot like Hell and Skull Master might not be the devil but is close. He in a way could be a DC verse villain as his scheme like those in the DC verse wants to conquer our dimension and all others. He has some of the best line and just concocts some of the best scheme that the good guys come close to losing.
Max played by one of my favorite voice actors Rob Paulsen is great, it really fits like a glove for the character. Max is one of my favorite fictional protagonists he's a pulp hero kind of similar to "Doctor Who", just like the Doctor he doesn't use weapons (well due to the fact he's a kid he can't legally buy or use them) nor does he have any combative training, Max has to use the best weapon he possesses his wits. I really love it really gave me a gratifying feeling seeing Max able to triumph over these adversaries that are armed or outmatch him in strength and power, which of course makes Max live up to his name.
But also, really love his sharp charisma which is funny, reminds me a little of the kind from actor Bruce Campbell (him as a voice guest on this show, that would have been something) as there is some wisecracks, smart ass quips, and even how he simply reacts to certain situations which feel like how any ordinary person would.
But of course, the adventures are also what make this show, most of them are random but that's a good thing as each episode is always a different adventure which made waiting for the next episode all the more exciting, I always wonder what other monster is Max and company going to face or what other dimension or place are they going to. There are a lot of memorable episodes and even a few arcs like one episode which was the shows version of "The Magnificent Seven", another episode where it's two versions of Max fighting for the title which yeah, a cliché plotline but a good one reminding us why Max (main one) is worthy. And the finale of the show which was dark as it's coming to all or nothing, but to me what made this episode is the fact that an animated show has a conclusion which was rare for its time.
Mighty Max is a mighty adventure.
Rating: 4 stars
I really love the premise of the show which in a way I can't help but feel if they ever made an animated series on "Doctor Who" it would have been something like this. Basically, an ordinary boy whom finds a magical key which is disguised as an ordinary baseball cap, which makes sense if you were ever to conceal something powerful in the modern day world. This cap is pretty much like the Tardis as it opens portals to just about anywhere and everywhere, from any place in the world, time, space, another dimension, the destinations are just endless. Unfortunately, you can't really do it at will as it never really takes you where you want to go, but only where you need to go (same with the Tardis).
The animation is great I really like the character and background animation. But I really like the use of some of the dark colors really giving this show a dark fantasy feel, which I love dark fantasy are sort of the equivalent of neo noir where it shows the world Max inhabits despite fascinating still carry hints of danger even from his own home. Music is also very good, it's a bit of a heavy metal/rock soundtrack even like the theme, it fits the nature of the show as it just screams excitement which this show delivers.
Really love the voice ensemble cast, it's one of the best in my book.
The late Tony Jay is great as the foul Virgil. He's much like who Luna and Artimis are to "Sailor Moon" as he's the mentor figure for Max as he is telling Max what is. But I like how despite filled with wisdom he's also funny as he gets a lot of grief from Max due to his unortadox ways or certain methods that don't fall into his set of protocols.
Norman voiced by Ricard Moll is awesome as Max's bodyguard. He is just a bad ass as he is a Viking warrior that just kicks all kinds of ass wherever they go. He's also not a character that talks much but that's because he's a man of action, but when he does talk it's something interesting as opposed to any character that talks a lot where most of what he/she says in the film is practically useless and filler dialog by its nature. He's dryly funny and charismatic he's got a lot of memorable lines.
I also really like there is some mystery to his character as we see some depth to him as we hear his character truly did exist in the Viking Age which makes him almost one of the immortals from "Highlander" or maybe an Asguardian like in the movie/comic series"Thor", seeing that made me all the more wonder about his life.
Tim Curry my favorite actor and one of my favorite voice actors is just awesome as the Skull Master. Skull Master is one of my favorite animated villains. It's a bit ironic that Curry plays this role as the character is a little uncannily like his former role Darkness in the film "Legend". I'll admit as a kid I found Skull Master kind of scary as he is true to his name in every sense, from his big size, sword and attitude you honestly aren't sure you can win in a fight with him. He's a ruthless merciless beast that rules a direction called the Doom Zone that looks a lot like Hell and Skull Master might not be the devil but is close. He in a way could be a DC verse villain as his scheme like those in the DC verse wants to conquer our dimension and all others. He has some of the best line and just concocts some of the best scheme that the good guys come close to losing.
Max played by one of my favorite voice actors Rob Paulsen is great, it really fits like a glove for the character. Max is one of my favorite fictional protagonists he's a pulp hero kind of similar to "Doctor Who", just like the Doctor he doesn't use weapons (well due to the fact he's a kid he can't legally buy or use them) nor does he have any combative training, Max has to use the best weapon he possesses his wits. I really love it really gave me a gratifying feeling seeing Max able to triumph over these adversaries that are armed or outmatch him in strength and power, which of course makes Max live up to his name.
But also, really love his sharp charisma which is funny, reminds me a little of the kind from actor Bruce Campbell (him as a voice guest on this show, that would have been something) as there is some wisecracks, smart ass quips, and even how he simply reacts to certain situations which feel like how any ordinary person would.
But of course, the adventures are also what make this show, most of them are random but that's a good thing as each episode is always a different adventure which made waiting for the next episode all the more exciting, I always wonder what other monster is Max and company going to face or what other dimension or place are they going to. There are a lot of memorable episodes and even a few arcs like one episode which was the shows version of "The Magnificent Seven", another episode where it's two versions of Max fighting for the title which yeah, a cliché plotline but a good one reminding us why Max (main one) is worthy. And the finale of the show which was dark as it's coming to all or nothing, but to me what made this episode is the fact that an animated show has a conclusion which was rare for its time.
Mighty Max is a mighty adventure.
Rating: 4 stars