The Legend of Prince Valiant

Did You Know?

• The series' pre-production period lasted a year and a half before production formally commenced in July 1990 at a budget of $350,000 per episode.
• The character of Rowanne was created to play to the female demographic and was designed with modern sensibilities compared to Maid Marian's depiction in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.

Premise

The series begins with the fall of Thule, the fictional kingdom to which Prince Valiant is heir. Valiant, his parents, and a group of survivors are exiled by the conqueror Cynan to a hostile marsh across the sea. The young prince, saddened by this defeat and vengeful toward Cynan, craves a greater purpose. He finds it after a series of dreams about Camelot, King Arthur, Merlin, and the Knights of the Round Table. Valiant becomes devoted to Camelot's New Order, which holds that might does not make right and that truth, justice, honor, and friendship should guide people's dealings. Against his father's wishes, Valiant leaves the exiles' settlement to find Camelot and serve King Arthur as a knight. On his quest he meets two peasants who join him: Arn, a wandering woodsman ashamed of his class and illiteracy, and Rowanne, a blacksmith's daughter who is an expert with a bow and arrow. The three become best friends, find Camelot, and must undergo training, face enemies, and mature. The first episodes establish Valiant's backstory, unite him with Arn and Rowanne, and locate Camelot. Two main story arcs guide the season: Valiant's training and emotional growth, and Cynan's growing threat to Camelot. Valiant learns humility, patience, responsibility, and temper control. He encounters emissaries connected to Cynan that indicate an ambition to invade Camelot. By season's end, Valiant leads an army back to Thule and reclaims his homeland with help from Arn, Rowanne, Merlin, and his father King Williem. The season ends with Valiant being knighted by King Arthur. Several stand-alone adventures increase the trio's fame throughout the kingdom.

Characters

The exiled Prince of Thule, Valiant, is a courageous, noble, and kind dreamer voiced by Robby Benson. He is fiercely loyal to Camelot and his friends, though he can be reckless and egotistical. He carries the Singing Sword, a blade sister to Excalibur, and rides a black horse named Caliburn. After defeating Cynan, he is knighted. He falls in love with Princess Aleta at first sight, matures over time, and briefly becomes King of Camelot. Valiant appears in every episode of the series. Arn, voiced by Michael Horton, is an insecure but good-hearted wandering woodsman. He feels unworthy of knighthood due to his illiteracy, low social status, and occasional clumsiness. He has strong tracking and survival skills, rides a brown horse named Crux, and was orphaned in a Viking raid. He considers Valiant and Rowanne his family and has an unrequited love for Rowanne. Arn is knighted after defeating the treacherous Baron of Lionsgate and his son, who plotted against Camelot. Rowanne of Bridgesford, voiced by Noelle North, is a strong-willed, spirited peasant who rejects tradition and aims to become the first female Knight of the Round Table. She rides an unnamed white horse, is temperamental and stubborn but romantic, and is a skilled archer who learned blacksmithing from her father. She is knighted at the same time as Arn, choosing Camelot over a courtship with King Michael. Merlin, voiced by Alan Oppenheimer, is a mysterious royal advisor with great wisdom and knowledge of alchemy and sciences that others mistake for magic. He raised and protected Arthur from infancy and mentors both Arthur and Valiant through direct advice and cryptic hints. King Arthur, voiced by Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., is the ruler of Camelot and founder of the New Order. Stern and fair, he believes in ruling through peace, truth, and honor rather than war. He is very sensitive to betrayal, especially by Sir Mordred, has an affectionate marriage to Guinevere, a lasting friendship with Merlin, and sees Valiant as central to Camelot’s future.

Connections to Arthurian lore and the comic strip

The series includes King Arthur, Queen Guinevere, Merlin, Sir Gawain, Sir Mordred, Lady Morgana, and Sir Kay, all originating in Arthurian legend. Camelot, the Knights of the Round Table, and Excalibur also appear. The chivalric principles of Camelot are codified as the New Order. The second-season episode "The Black Rose" features King Lot, King Uther, and Queen Igraine in a flashback retelling the sword-in-the-stone legend. The Prince Valiant comic strip is also set in Arthur's world and shares major characters. Both the comics and the TV show include Prince Valiant, Queen Aleta, the realms of Thule and the Misty Isles, and Valiant's Singing Sword. The comic strip has two characters named Arn: a young prince who rivals Valiant for a maiden, and Valiant and Aleta's firstborn son, who becomes a heroic figure. In the comics Valiant's father is named Aguar (not Williem), his mother is unnamed (Briana on the series), and Thule is conquered by Sligon rather than Cynan. Several situations, adventures, and minor characters from the comics are retold in the animated series. Rowanne and Sir Bryant are major characters from the television show without counterparts in Arthurian legends or the comic strip.

Merchandise

The Legend of Prince Valiant Soundtrack contains eighteen tracks of background themes produced, composed, and performed by the duo Exchange (Gerald O'Brien and Steve Sexton). It includes the full version of the show's opening theme "Where the Truth Lies" and a pop song using the show's love music, "Love Called Out My Name." The track listing includes "Where the Truth Lies" (performed by Exchange featuring Marc Jordan), "Celebration Dance," "Sir Bryant," "Love Called Out My Name" (performed by Exchange featuring Amy Sky and Marc Jordan), "Guinevere," "Search and Journey," "In the Shadows," "Valiant's Theme," "A Monks Evil Drone," "Ending Title Theme," "The Majesty's Feast," "The Serenade," "Valiant & Rolf," "Victory March," "All Alone," "Danger is Near," "Valiant Leaves Home," and "Where the Truth Lies (reprise)." In 1991 and 1992, King Features Syndicate licensed Ocean Software to make video game versions for Nintendo Entertainment System (developed by Special FX Software, published only in Europe) and Game Boy (developed by Sculptured Software, published outside Europe as Kingdom Crusade by Electro Brain). The NES version is a fighter/action game about Valiant's search for Camelot; the player controls Valiant walking, jumping, and throwing objects, facing pit traps, water hazards, and archers. The Game Boy version is a strategy game with arcade-style fighting; players must destroy all opponent units or capture all castles to win. BCI Eclipse LLC, under its Ink & Paint brand and license from Hearst Entertainment and SGC Entertainment, released the complete series on DVD in 2006/2007 in two volume sets, each with five double-sided DVDs and extras including cast/crew commentaries and video interviews. These releases were discontinued and out of print as of 2009 when BCI Eclipse ceased operations.