'Peter Pan and the Pirates' very quickly not only became one of my favourite animated shows but also one of my favourites ever. Of all the adaptations of 'Peter Pan', it's also my personal favourite.
All the characters are not only interesting but remarkably complex, especially Hook, even when not looking like Barrie's Hook all the character traits of the character are fully explored and expanded upon. The show is advantaged furthermore by good animation (with some exceptions here and there). Great music particularly the theme tune, one of the best of any animated 90s show. Remarkably good writing that had real maturity and a wide range of emotions rare in animated shows today. Gripping and imaginative stories that maintain the spirit of Barrie's source material while expanding on the themes, events and characterisation. And really excellent voice acting, for one of the most talented voice actors in the business and near-unequalled in villain roles Captain Hook contains some of the best work Tim Curry has ever done.
Interesting for being the first and only episode to not feature Captain Hook, "Vanity Thy Name is Mermaid" is a great episode even without him. It could have been a little bit better if Wendy had the ability to breathe underwater, something that would have been an actual incentive for the conflict to happen and be resolved.
On the most part, the animation is colourful and detailed enough, especially when underwater. There are more visually imaginative episodes before and since though with better video transfer.
Music is a great mix of lively, haunting and lush, the theme tune immediately sticks in one's head and never leaves it.
Writing is as mature, intelligent and emotionally complex as one would expect, never feeling dumbed down for adults or too complicated for children. The story is absorbing and fun with some beautifully written conflict.
How the show portrays Peter is both likeable but very flawed, very like how Barrie wrote him. Wendy is not too cloying and it is hard not to love the chemistry between her and Peter, the closest the show got to showing a love between them. The episode stealers though are the mermaids, shown as beautiful and dangerous.
All the voice acting is very good from especially Jason Marsden and Linda Gary (as Crooked-Tail).
In summary, great. 9/10 Bethany Cox
All the characters are not only interesting but remarkably complex, especially Hook, even when not looking like Barrie's Hook all the character traits of the character are fully explored and expanded upon. The show is advantaged furthermore by good animation (with some exceptions here and there). Great music particularly the theme tune, one of the best of any animated 90s show. Remarkably good writing that had real maturity and a wide range of emotions rare in animated shows today. Gripping and imaginative stories that maintain the spirit of Barrie's source material while expanding on the themes, events and characterisation. And really excellent voice acting, for one of the most talented voice actors in the business and near-unequalled in villain roles Captain Hook contains some of the best work Tim Curry has ever done.
Interesting for being the first and only episode to not feature Captain Hook, "Vanity Thy Name is Mermaid" is a great episode even without him. It could have been a little bit better if Wendy had the ability to breathe underwater, something that would have been an actual incentive for the conflict to happen and be resolved.
On the most part, the animation is colourful and detailed enough, especially when underwater. There are more visually imaginative episodes before and since though with better video transfer.
Music is a great mix of lively, haunting and lush, the theme tune immediately sticks in one's head and never leaves it.
Writing is as mature, intelligent and emotionally complex as one would expect, never feeling dumbed down for adults or too complicated for children. The story is absorbing and fun with some beautifully written conflict.
How the show portrays Peter is both likeable but very flawed, very like how Barrie wrote him. Wendy is not too cloying and it is hard not to love the chemistry between her and Peter, the closest the show got to showing a love between them. The episode stealers though are the mermaids, shown as beautiful and dangerous.
All the voice acting is very good from especially Jason Marsden and Linda Gary (as Crooked-Tail).
In summary, great. 9/10 Bethany Cox