Mill Creek Entertainment has released Volume I of Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors on DVD. This volume consists of the first 32 episodes of the series on 3 discs, along with a bonus episode of C.O.P.S.
First released in 1985, this was a really well-animated cartoon with an interesting storyline. The story is that Jayce is on a quest to find his father, Audric, to unite the magic root. Once the root is united, the Monster Minds will be destroyed. Audric was a scientist who was finding a way to cure hunger. In his efforts, he inadvertently created the Monster Minds who are led by the sinister Saw Boss.
Audric disappears and leaves one-half of the magic root with Jayce. Jayce is joined by his friends, known as the Lightning League. The Lightning League was Gillian (a wise old magician), Flora (a living plant who can detect the Monster Minds), Herc (a Han Solo-type smuggler who provides a transportation vehicle), Oon (a robotic knight who looks like a Castle Lego mini-figure) and Brock (Flora’s flying pet fish). Each member of the Lightning League had a really great vehicle that would help them in their quest.
Each episode was self-contained and usually consisted of the Lightning League getting a clue about Audric’s whereabouts, finding that the Monster Minds were already there, and escaping by the skin of their teeth still trying to find Audric. The stories were not bad. Many episodes were written by J. Michael Straczynski, who would go on to later fame creating the popular sci-fi series Babylon 5.
Ironically, this series was based on a line of toys created by Mattel. The toyline was a series of military vehicles that were “Quick Changin’ Fightin’ Machines”. The figures that came with the vehicles were basic military figures and not Jayce and his friends. You gotta love the 80s, making a cartoon based on a toyline where there was very little connection between the two.
The picture and sound quality of the DVDs is not bad considering each disc has 11-12 episodes on it. The cost of the set is great (less than $10). I would highly recommend it to any fan of 80s cartoons!
A great deal!!
I remember them! I had a few of the vehicles, but never caught the show. I must just have to pick that up. Thanks for the write up!
I’m sold! I’ve actually never seen this show but have always been pretty curious about it. Maybe a future full moon review post. Thanks to your post ill be picking this up. It is a little ajeard that You didn’t mention in the article that you work for Mill Creek…but I’m sure You have your reasons. Keep up the good work buddy!
Add this DVD set to the Amazon wish list. Right behind MASK, G.I.Joe Series 2, etc etc etc!
I’ll buy it for the theme tune alone. 80s cartoons had the BEST theme tunes! Think Jayce was my all time favourite, alongside Ulysses.
God that flying fish was the worst! If you notice very similar music to MASK it’s because the same people were doing it.
Oh man never realized that – now looking back the similarities are evident.
Yeah, Haim Saban and Shuki Levy did the music for a lot of the 80s toons out there. They did a great job with all of the songs that they wrote during that era!