Native Name: | Jayce et les Conquérants de la Lumière (Jayce and the Conquerors of Light) |
Genre: | Sci-fi/Animation |
Runtime: | 22 min. |
Developer: | J. Michael Straczynski |
Company: | DIC Audiovisuel ICC TV Productions, Ltd. |
Voices: | Darrin Baker Len Carlson Luba Goy Charles Jolliffe Valerie Politis Dan Hennessey Guilio Kukurugya |
Narrated: | Ernie Anderson |
Composer: | Shuki Levy Haim Saban |
Opentheme: | "Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors Opening Theme" performed by Shuki Levy |
Endtheme: | "Keep on Rolling" performed by Shuki Levy |
Country: | France Canada |
Language: | French English |
Network: | TF1 (France) Syndication (United States) |
Num Episodes: | 65 |
Num Seasons: | 1 |
Executive Producer: | Jean Chalopin John Kemeny |
Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors (French: Jayce et les Conquérants de la Lumière) is an animated show which was first broadcast on TF1 on September 9, 1985, on the block Salut les p'tits loups !, and eventually on September 16 in the United States in syndication. It was produced by DIC Audiovisuel (originally distributed for syndication by SFM Entertainment) and animated by the Japanese animation studios Sunrise, Shaft, Studio Giants, Studio Look and Swan Production.[1] The show, which ran for 65 thirty-minute episodes, was created to support Mattel's Wheeled Warriors toyline.[2] The show had an ongoing plot which was left unresolved, with no series finale.
The show featured two duelling forces. The heroes are humans called the Lightning League who drive white and silver vehicles with assorted weaponry led by a teenager named Jayce. The villains are organic plant-based creatures called the Monster Minds who travel via large green organic vines, which can grow in and across interstellar space, and sprout seeds that grow rapidly into further Monster Minds. They are led by the very first of the Monster Minds, Saw Boss.[3]
The series was created, to accompany the pre-existing line of toys. No backstory was given with the toys for the Lightning League and the Monster Minds doing battle, and so distinct characters were created by DIC and Straczynski to allow for a structured story.[1]
Most of the episodes were written by the French writers Jean Chalopin and Haskell Barkin. Writers at DIC also included Larry DiTillio, Barbara Hambly and J. Michael Straczynski. Straczynski wrote about a quarter of the episodes attempting, in his words, to "hijack a dopey concept and make it into something more".[4] Haim Saban and Shuki Levy provided the music for the show.[5] Nearly a decade later, it was rerun on USA Network's USA Cartoon Express block from July 3, 1994 to August 25, 1995.[6] [7]
In the United Kingdom, the series was first screened in some regions on the ITV network in a Sunday early morning slot in 1985, but with not all of the regional franchises having a Sunday morning service at that time, it was moved to Channel 4 where it was broadcast nationally for the first time in 1986. The series was subsequently frequently repeated on Sky Channel between 1989 and 1993.[8] It later gained renewed popularity in the UK when it was repeated intermittently in a Friday and Saturday evening slot on the children's television networks Fox Kids and Jetix, between 2001 and 2009.
The series follows protagonists Jayce, Flora, Herc Stormsailor, Oon, and Gillian in their search for Jayce's father Audric. Meanwhile, they are opposing the main antagonist Saw Boss and his followers, the Monster Minds. Audric was a botanist who performed experiments with biotechnology, and one experiment created Flora. In another experiment, Audric attempted to create a plant that could prevent starvation. But when he succeeded, a nearby star exploded into a supernova. The radiation from the supernova's explosion changed the plant and four others into the Monster Minds: a race of plant-like monsters who wish to conquer the universe. Audric created a root that could destroy the Monster Minds, but was forced to flee before he could complete the task, after which the Monster Minds made Audric's laboratory their headquarters. Audric kept half of the root himself and gave the other half to his servant, the Eternal Squire Oon, whom he sent to serve Jayce. Jayce and his friends are thereafter on a quest to find Audric and form the complete root.[9]
Due to less than successful toy sales, the series' 65-episode run was not extended, and the series ended unresolved. However, according to Straczynski,[1] a film had also been commissioned along with the series, following in the footsteps of other toy-based animated series such as Transformers and G.I. Joe; if the series had proven successful by increasing toy sales, production would have begun. Straczynski wrote the script, but due to the failure of the toy line, preparation for the film was shelved.[1]
Had the movie been filmed, it would have provided a finale for the series, with Jayce and his Lightning League meeting the original Lightning League and being trained on the home world of the Guardians. Jayce would be reunited with his father Audric, but Audric would have been killed by Saw Boss as the Monster Minds began a final assault on the galaxy, and in a final battle, Jayce would unite the root and destroy Saw Boss, ending the Monster Mind threat forever.[1]
Every Lightning League vehicle can be driven by members of the League.[1] [8] [10] They can also operate on pre-programmed battle plans, without drivers, through commands issued on Jayce's communicator. When he talks to the vehicles, they respond with a single phrase, "Command Acknowledged".
The 1st Lightning League AI Ground Vehicles created by Gillian:
The 2nd Lightning League AI Ground Vehicles created by Gillian:
The Lightning League AI Air And Space Vehicles:
Generally, Monster Mind battles are carried out by clones of the main Monster Minds that are grown from vines.[1] [8] [10] Saw Boss is able to communicate with these clones telepathically. These clones are referred to as "troopers"; Saw Trooper, Terror Trooper, K.O. Trooper, etc. The true Monster Minds change from their humanoid forms into vehicles upon leaving their headquarters, although they are significantly larger and more powerful than their mass-produced clones.[8]
The 1st Monster Minds' Ground Legions:
The second Monster Minds' Ground Legions:[8]
The Monster Minds' Air and Space Legions:[10]
The Monster Minds' Network of Legions:[10]
Title | US air date | ||
---|---|---|---|
1 | "Escape from the Garden of Evil" | September 16, 1985 | |
2 | "The Vase of Xiang" | September 17, 1985 | |
3 | "Steel Against Shadow" | September 18, 1985 | |
4 | "Silver Crusaders" | September 19, 1985 | |
5 | "Ghostship" | September 20, 1985 | |
6 | "Flora, Fauna and the Monster Minds" | September 23, 1985 | |
7 | "Fire and Ice" | September 24, 1985 | |
8 | "Space Outlaws" | September 25, 1985 | |
9 | "Future of the Future" | September 26, 1985 | |
10 | "Underwater" | September 27, 1985 | |
11 | "Frostworld" | September 30, 1985 | |
12 | "Critical Mass" | October 1, 1985 | |
13 | "The Purple Tome" | October 2, 1985 | |
14 | "Hook, Line and Silver" | October 3, 1985 | |
15 | "Bloodstone" | October 4, 1985 | |
16 | "The Slaves of Adelbaren" | October 7, 1985 | |
17 | "The Hunt" | October 8, 1985 | |
18 | "Blockade Runners" | October 9, 1985 | |
19 | "The Sleeping Princess" | October 10, 1985 | |
20 | "Deadly Reunion" | October 11, 1985 | |
21 | "Sky Kingdom" | October 14, 1985 | |
22 | "Quest into Shadow" | October 15, 1985 | |
23 | "Unexpected Trouble" | October 16, 1985 | |
24 | "Bounty Hunters" | October 17, 1985 | |
25 | "Double Deception" | October 18, 1985 | |
26 | "Gate World" | October 21, 1985 | |
27 | "Space Thief" | October 22, 1985 | |
28 | "Moon Magic" | October 23, 1985 | |
29 | "Affair of Honor" | October 24, 1985 | |
30 | "Doomed Flower" | October 25, 1985 | |
31 | "The Stallions of Sandeen" | October 28, 1985 | |
32 | "Brain Trust" | October 29, 1985 | |
33 | "Lightning Strikes Twice" | October 30, 1985 | |
34 | "The Liberty Stone" | November 1, 1985 | |
35 | "The Vines" | November 4, 1985 | |
36 | "The Space Fighter" | November 5, 1985 | |
37 | "Heart of Paxtar" | November 6, 1985 | |
38 | "Appointment at Forever" | November 7, 1985 | |
39 | "What's Going On?" | November 8, 1985 | |
40 | "Dark Singer" | November 11, 1985 | |
41 | "Swamp Witch" | November 12, 1985 | |
42 | "Deadly Reflections" | November 13, 1985 | |
43 | "Early Warning" | November 14, 1985 | |
44 | "A Question of Conscience" | November 15, 1985 | |
45 | "Life Ship" | November 18, 1985 | |
46 | "The Mirage Makers" | November 19, 1985 | |
47 | "Do Not Disturb" | November 20, 1985 | |
48 | "Dreamworld" | November 21, 1985 | |
49 | "The Children of Solarus II" | November 22, 1985 | |
50 | "The Gardener" | November 25, 1985 | |
51 | "Armada" | November 26, 1985 | |
52 | "The Chimes of Sharpis" | November 27, 1985 | |
53 | "Galaxy Gamester" | November 28, 1985 | |
54 | "Circus Planet" | November 29, 1985 | |
55 | "Common Bond" | December 2, 1985 | |
56 | "Mistress of Soul Tree" | December 3, 1985 | |
57 | "The Life Eater" | December 4, 1985 | |
58 | "Wasteland" | December 5, 1985 | |
59 | "The Oracle" | December 6, 1985 | |
60 | "Short Circuit, Long Wait" | December 9, 1985 | |
61 | "Time and Time Again" | December 10, 1985 | |
62 | "The Source" | December 11, 1985 | |
63 | "The Raid" | December 12, 1985 | |
64 | "The Squire Smith" | December 13, 1985 | |
65 | "Final Ride at Journey's End" | December 16, 1985 |
Originally conceived as a line of toy vehicles with "stack & attack" as a selling point, the tagline was: "Monster Minds gone mad! Lightning League to the rescue!".[12]
The vehicles could be mixed and matched across most of the product line to allow children to create their own combinations. Accessory packs were released with extra wheels and weapons to allow for even more options. A mini comic was included with the toys, but no overarching story line was established beyond premise of the Monster Minds versus the Lightning League. Characters included with the toys were blank human drivers as pilots of the Lightning League vehicles and green brains for the Monster Minds.[12]
Mattel ordered an animated series to promote the product, but development on this did not start until after the toys had already been produced and sales of the toys had been disappointing. When the animated series premiered, it had a vastly different story line and, aside from the vehicles and their names, nothing linked the toys to the animated series so the show did little to boost sales.[1]
Due to the success of the animated series, Mattel developed new drivers for a second series of vehicles that more resembled their animated counterparts, as well as new vehicles, but the toys never made it to the shelves.[1] [12]
Armed Force | Lightning League Leader | The Lightning League | Vehicle | 9001 | |
Drill Sergeant | Lightning League Escape Artist | The Lightning League | Vehicle | 9002 | |
Spike Trike | Lightning League Scout | The Lightning League | Vehicle | 9003 | |
Quick Draw | Lightning League Weapons X-pert | The Lightning League | Vehicle | 9004 | |
Saw Boss | Monster Minds Tyrant | Monster Minds | Vehicle | 9005 | |
K.O. Kruiser | Monster Minds Demolitions X-pert | Monster Minds | Vehicle | 9006 | |
Gun Grinner | Monster Minds Enforcer | Monster Minds | Vehicle | 9007 | |
Terror Tank | Monster Minds Cannibal | Monster Minds | Vehicle | 9008 | |
Trail Blazer | Lightning League Combat Stalker | The Lightning League | Battery powered vehicle | 9407 | |
Beast Walker | Monster Minds Combat Creature | The Lightning League | Battery powered vehicle | 9408 | |
Battle Base | Lightning League Mobile Fighting Fortress | The Lightning League | Vehicle | 9406 | |
Victory Pack | Lightning League X-changeable X-tras | The Lightning League | Accessories | 9403 | |
Attack Pack | Monster Minds X-changeable X-tras | Monster Minds | Accessories | 9403 |
Thunderstruction | Environment Set | The Lightning League | Carrying Case | 2697 | |
Thunderstruction Vehicle Set | Environment Set with Armed Force | The Lightning League | Carrying Case | 2696 | |
Fling Shot | Lightning League Long-range Marksman & Herc figure | The Lightning League | Vehicle | 2514 | |
Spray Gunner | Lightning League Marine Machine & Jayce Figure | The Lightning League | Vehicle | 2699 | |
Grim Creeper | Monster Minds Battle Spy | Monster Minds | Vehicle | 2700 | |
Bru-Toss | Monster Minds Hurler | Monster Minds | Vehicle | 2514 | |
Motorvator Set | Lightning League Power Pack & Jayce Figure | The Lightning League | Motorised Expansion pack | 2701 | |
Monstervator Set | Monster Minds Power Pack | Monster Minds | Motorised Expansion pack | 2702 | |
Run-A-Mut | Lightning League Zoggies | The Lightning League | Windup Pet | 2078 | |
Rev-Em-Mut | Lightning League Zoggies | The Lightning League | Windup Pet | 2079 | |
Scraps | Lightning League Zoggies | The Lightning League | Windup Pet | 2800 | |
Adventure Pack | Jayce - Lightning League Leader | The Lightning League | Figure | 2447 | |
Adventure Pack | Flora - Mischievous Tomboy | The Lightning League | Figure | 2447 | |
Adventure Pack | Oon - comical Suit of Armor | The Lightning League | Figure | 2447 | |
Adventure Pack | Gillian - Wise Wizard | The Lightning League | Figure | 2447 | |
Adventure Pack | Herc Stormsailor - Cocky Starpilot | The Lightning League | Figure | 2447 | |
Adventure Pack | Saw Boss - Monster Minds Leader | Monster Minds | Figure | 2447 |
In France, the entire series was released on two VHS box sets[13] and later released as two DVD boxed sets by Manga Distribution.[14] In 2014, the entire series was re-released as two DVD box sets by IDP Home Video.[15] In America, several compilations were released on VHS in the 1980s by Magic Window, a sub-division of RCA-Columbia Pictures Home Video.[16]
In October 2003, Sterling Entertainment released a single disc release on DVD in Region 1 entitled Escape from the Garden of Evil, which contains four episodes from the series.[17] The DVD was re-issued by NCircle Entertainment in 2007.
Shout! Factory acquired the rights to the series in 2007[18] and subsequently released Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors - Volume 1, a four-disc set containing the first 33 episodes of the series, on March 25, 2008.[19]
In 2011, Mill Creek Entertainment acquired the rights to the series.[20] They subsequently released Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors - Volume 1, containing the first 32 episodes of the series, and a 10 episode "best of" collection on DVD in Region 1 on February 21, 2012 both include a bonus episode of C.O.P.S..[21] Volume 2, featuring the final 33 episodes of the series, was released on February 19, 2013.[22] Mill Creek later released Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors - The Complete Series on DVD in Region 1 in March 2018.[23]
DVD name | Ep # | Release date | |
---|---|---|---|
Volume 1 | 32 | February 21, 2012 | |
Volume 2 | 33 | February 19, 2013 | |
Complete Series | 65 | March 14, 2018 |
An uncredited, unfinished comic based on the series was published in the French comic magazine Pif Gadget #922. The 13-page adventure ended on a cliffhanger as the next issue did not include the follow-up story and the conclusion to that story was never published in Pif Gadget. It included characters created specifically for the comic, such as a white-haired young sorceress called Algora who was an ally of Saw Boss. The story, entitled "Le Sortilège d'Algora" ("Algora's Spell") was later re-printed and completed in Poche Junior, a free supplement for younger readers in the French television listing magazine Télé Poche, in several installments: Poche Junior #1 (May 1987),[24] Poche Junior #2 (May 1987),[25] Poche Junior #17 (August 1987),[26] Poche Junior #23 (October 1987),[27] and Poche Junior #25 (October 1987).[28]