Visionaries: Knights of the Magical Light is an action-adventure, science fantasy animated television series. Sunbow Productions based this cartoon on the Hasbro-produced toy line of the same name. The series was unique in production because it was the first property of Hasbro that Sunbow production produced without the intervention of Marvel productions. Meanwhile, TMS Entertainment, a Japanese Studio, was instrumental in the overseas animation work.
The show ran for one season between September 21, 1987, and December 14, 1987, consisting of thirteen episodes lasting for 22 minutes. Although it ran for a brief time, Visionaries: Knights of the Magical Lights was immensely popular precisely due to its unique theme and storyline, which was suited for children and people of advanced age groups.
The Animated Series
Sunbow set the series in a not-too-distant future. It features a fictional planet called Prysmos, which consists of advanced and sophisticated technology that experienced a sudden halt in technologies. When the planet’s three suns aligned, the technology of the world suffered a sudden breakdown from radiation. Thus, those on the planet could only turn to ancient magic, which was the only means of survival.
The visionaries who are the planet’s inhabitants divide into two warring groups: the spectral knights and the evil darkling lords. Meanwhile, a wizard called Merklynn guides the use of magic and invites whoever is interested in a dangerous competition. His competition includes extremely wild animals and dangerous tasks.
Any survivor receives the award of animal totems that affix onto their armor. Survivors also become empowered in diverse ways, which could include the use of a powerful staff. This staff activates with the recitation of a specific spell. After use, the bearers of the staff must return to the iron mountain, facing many risks, to reactivate them.
While other groups of knights did not receive a staff, they could infuse vehicles with various spells. However, there were only a few knights who could enchant vehicles.
Join us on a retrospective on the Visionaries: Knights of the Magical Lights cartoon
Episode 1: The Age of Magic Begins
As the three suns of Prysmos align, the effect was disastrous on the sophisticated technology of the planet. All machines stopped working.
In the aftermath, two new factions emerge among the visionaries: the kingdom of Valarak and the darkling lord under Darkstorm. The two opposing sides face off with a desire to gain an advantage over the other faction.
An ancient wizard, Merklynn, announces to both parties that the days of magic have returned. The wizard announces that he will award those who can successfully navigate their way to his shrine with magical powers. However, those who take on this challenge face multiple risks and danger.
In the end, Darkstorm, Leoric, and others felt the need to partake in the quest, but only fourteen who got on the task made it. Merklynn delivers his promise to realize that many of those who took the task participated because of their interests.
Episode 2: Dark Hand of Treachery
Following the division of the visionaries into the good knights and the evil knights that Darkstorm led. Darkstorm and his fellow evil visionaries go on the offensive by using their magical vehicles. Thus, they capture Leoric and his allies after successfully separating them from their weapons.
Lonely and hopeless in Darkstorm’s dungeon, Leoric realizes that their hope could only come from inside. Seeing how much they share and the need for them to unite to stand a chance against Darkstorm, Leoric names the team the spectral knights.
The second episode also revealed that the magical staff and the totems only had one use, after which they require reactivation. This was a feature that made the show highly unique from other similar animated shows.
Episode 3: Quest for The Dragon’s Eye
One common event in this animated show is the emphasis on unity, whether for the villains or heroes.
After the heroes unite to form the Spectral Knights, they regain their freedom and recover their magical staff. The heroes announce a new era of freedom across the planet.
Meanwhile, the villains become chained in a factory where they must stamp traffic signs. However, their captivity was short-lived as the wizard Merklynn comes to their rescue. Merklynn often plays the role of a neutral character who does not belong to any side of the two sides but can give one the advantage over another.
While the two factions return to recharge their power staff, Merklynn sets a condition before he recharges the power staff: the two forces must get the wizard the Dragon’s eye. To achieve this aim, the two sides must set aside their differences to confront a giant dragon that a powerful wizard called Falkama empowered. After defeating the dragon, the two sides confront each other over the ownership of the dragon eye.
Episode 4: Price of Freedom
The allies of Darkstorm, Reekon, and Mortdred learn of a city with so much reliance on technology that its people could not find a way to continue without. Darkstorm promises the people, human slaves, to perform the functions executed by the robots.
The dark forces of Darkstorm then invaded the spectral knights before handing them over as slaves. Luckily, a native who feels freedom should not come at the expense of others aids them.
Episode 5: Feryl Steps Out
A small village falls victim to a pirate raid where the spectral nights did their best to come in just in time as heroes. However, Feryl, an ally of Leoric who does not get involved in fights, finds himself in the middle of three pirates. The experience discourages him, and he considers walking away from the knights.
Perceiving the opportunity, Darkstorm tries to woo him into joining the Darklings. When Darkstorm’s attempt did not bring Feryl to the dark side, he uses the opportunity to lure Leoric into a trap. So, he made Leoric experience visions that make him think Feryl is in danger. However, Feryl reestablishes his significance by trailing them to Darkstorm’s dungeon.
Episode 6: Lion Hunt
While going to recharge their power staff, Merklynn imposes another task as a criterion to recharge their power staff. However, the Darkling Lords rejected this offer and promised to find another way to recharge their staff.
While searching for another way, he found a cave inhabited by an old witch called Heskedor. With Heskedor’s powerful potion, the Darkling Lords found a way to trap Leoric in his animal form forever. So, many Darkling Lords ambushed Leoric after a fake alarm signaling a monstrous beast’s attack. Seeing the ambushed, Leoric turns into a lion, falling right into darkling lords’ trap.
So, Leoric transforms into a red lion and hunted by even his people, who do not recognize him. The other knights visit the bearer of knowledge who guides them. With the help of the bearer, the knights learn about Leoric’s state and how to get an antidote.
Episode 7: The Overthrow of Merklynn
As the darkling Lords grow tired of returning to Merklynn, Darkstorm traps Merklynn with Wizardsbane and takes possession of his orb. Ignorant about his power, Darkstorm uses the Sacred Secret Spell, which any witch has never used. With the Spectral Knights already trapped in stone, the darkling lords must bring back Merklynn to undo their damage.
Episode 8: Power of The Wise
The fear of Darkstorm’s decay spell marked the beginning of wisdom for Leoric, who feared Darkstorm’s decay spell more than any other magic. The heroes consistently looked for a way to counter the spell.
After Merklynn refuses to help, they must find the spring whose magical waters have the rejuvenating ability. However, Leoric falls victim to the spell. Also, Darkstorm and his followers destroy the spring before finding his way to the spring. Leoric still learns that he could become better with age and wisdom on his side.
Episode 9: Horn of Unicorn, Claw of Dragon
A powerful spell that could kill all the visionaries irrespective of their side affected the entire planet. The visionaries need the horn of a unicorn and the claw of a dragon to avoid impending doom. However, putting aside their differences and achieving their task looks like a daunting task.
Episode 10: Trail of Three Wizards
Evil wizards are on the loose, heading for the lost shrine. While not even Merklynn knows the location of this shrine, but he believes it is along the anarchy zone. The knights must find Falkama, Wizasquizar, and Bogavus.
However, after finding them, their familiar foes, the darkling lords, challenge them once more. The darkling lords release one of the witches and go with the witch to the lost shrine. The heroes must find the witch and fight off the influence of their familiar foes.
Episode 11: Honor Among Thieves
Merklynn awards the Spectral nights a magical crystal stone that can warn of impending danger. After Darkstorm learns about the working of the crystal, he organizes a plan to steal it. Thus, the knights must embark on a mission to recover the crystal.
Episode 12: Sorcery Squared
The Darkling Lords capture Cryotech and try to neutralize him from his totem power. Rather than lose his totem, he obtains Cavex’s instead. The two warring factions united to find him and return Cavex’s totem.
Episode 13: Dawn of The Sun Imps
The knights are on edge with a prediction that the tomb housing six imprisoned imps would open. However, Cindarr contributes to their escape after Lexor lured him to the tomb. The two factions drop off their differences again and face the imps which have gotten the best out of both parties.
Final Thoughts
The toy line that the animated show was advertising did not do as much as the producers would expect, but the show was a classic among cartoon lovers. Unarguably one of the best animated series of the 80s.
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About the author
Author: Chris Ingledue
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Bio: I am the founder and owner of Wheeljack’s Lab pop Culture and Toy Shop. My vision has always been to reunite customers with their favorite childhood toys and pop culture, triggering fond memories, and reigniting their imaginations. Every day, I work in the “lab” where it’s Christmas 365 days a year. I scour the internet, like when we had the Sears Catalog of yesteryear, for the next great treasure. Then, I await the arrival of the postman as if he were Santa Claus himself and helping collectors worldwide with their own versions of Christmas. Every day as a vintage toy buyer is an absolute joy!