Hercules (1998 TV series)

Did You Know?

• The series contradicts the film by having Hades know Hercules is alive while Hercules is still a teenager.
• The series aired on Toon Disney from 2000 until 2009, and later on Disney XD in Canada starting June 2011.

Characters

Most of the film's cast reprised their roles. Hercules, voiced by Tate Donovan, is the son of Zeus and Hera and is training as a hero, though he is socially awkward and prone to accidents. Philoctetes, voiced by Robert Costanzo, is the satyr hero trainer who serves as Hercules's coach and friend; Danny DeVito did not return for the role. Pegasus, voiced by Frank Welker, is the winged horse formed from clouds by Zeus and is Hercules's childhood pet. Icarus, voiced by French Stewart, is Hercules's best friend; after flying too close to the Sun, he became eccentric and still flies whenever possible, often requiring rescue. Icarus is obsessed with Cassandra and flirts with her constantly. His father Daedalus, voiced by David Hyde Pierce, is a teacher at the academy, and Icarus does not acknowledge his parents' divorce. After graduating, Icarus goes into inventing with his father and becomes wealthy.

Production

The series was produced by Tad Stones, who had previously produced and directed Aladdin. Film directors John Musker and Ron Clements jokingly suggested a pilot during production. The producers chose to set the series before the film, believing this better captured the movie's irreverence. James Woods signed to voice Hades again, and most of the film cast returned, attracting over 150 celebrities to guest star, including Merv Griffin as a griffin talk show host, Wink Martindale as a riddle-expert sphinx, and Mike Connors as Chipacles. The series enrolled Hercules at Prometheus Academy, a school for gods and mortals, before he meets Megara. New friends include Cassandra, voiced by Sandra Bernhard, and Icarus. Episodes and the direct-to-video film Hercules: Zero to Hero were animated by multiple studios in the Philippines, Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom, Taiwan, Thailand, South Korea, China, and New Zealand.

Reception

CommonSenseMedia rated the series 4 out of 5 stars, calling it a better-than-average spinoff with heart and brawn. Calhoun Times and Gordon County News gave it 3 out of 4 stars. The series received multiple Emmy nominations and wins: in 1999, an Emmy for Outstanding Sound Editing – Special Class; in 2000, James Woods won an Emmy for Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program for playing Hades, and French Stewart won the same award for playing Icarus; also in 2000, another Emmy for Outstanding Sound Editing – Special Class was awarded. Casey Stone won a Golden Reel Award in 1999 for Best Sound Editing – Television Animation – Music for the episode Twilight of the Gods.