Flash Gordon (1979)

The New Adventures of Flash Gordon, also known as The Adventures of Flash Gordon [1], is an animated television series. The series is actually called, Flash Gordon but the expanded title is used in official records to distinguish it from previous versions. Filmation produced the series in 1979, partly as a reaction to the mammoth success of Star Wars in 1977. The series was an homage to the original Flash Gordon comic strip and featured most of the original characters, including Flash's girlfriend Dale Arden, and the scientist Hans Zarkov. The series is still regarded to be not only one of the most faithful adaptations, but also one of Filmation's finest overall efforts to this day.



Flash and company had traveled to Mongo, where they were forced into battle by its ruler, Ming the Merciless, his daughter Princess Aura, and his army of Metal Men. To help their cause the heroes lead the formation of an alliance beginning with King Thun, leader of the Lion People; Prince Barin, leader of Arboria; and King Vultan, ruler of the Hawkmen.



The original project was produced as a made-for-television feature film. When NBC saw the finished work, it was decided to turn the work into an animated TV series. The change in format resulted in the story being significantly expanded with a sub-plot of Ming secretly giving military technology to Hitler being dropped.