7.2 /10 1 Votes7.2
6.6/10 TV Opening theme "Wildfire" Final episode date 13 December 1986 Number of seasons 1 | 7.7/10 IMDb First episode date 13 September 1986 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Genre AnimationAdventureDramaFantasySci-fi Directed by Art DavisOscar DufauDon LuskCarl UrbanoRudy ZamoraRay Patterson (supervising director) Voices of John VernonGeorgi IreneJessica WalterDavid AckroydRené AuberjonoisBilly BartySusan BluTownsend ColemanGeorgi IreneRobert JayneRob PaulsenFrank Welker Ending theme "Wildfire" (Instrumental) Cast Similar The Get Along Gang, Augie Doggie and Dogg, Captain Caveman and the T, The Ruff and Reddy Show, The Quick Draw McGraw | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wildfire is an American animated series produced by Hanna-Barbera about the adventures of Sara, a 13-year-old girl growing up in the American West as she discovers her true identity as a princess-in-hiding from another realm who is destined to fight the evil witch Lady Diabolyn. The show was first broadcast on CBS for 13 episodes from September 13 to December 6, 1986.
Contents
Plot
As a baby, Princess Sara (voiced by Georgi Irene) of Thurinia was saved from the clutches of the evil Lady Diabolyn (voiced by Jessica Walter) by a mystic talking horse named Wildfire (voiced by John Vernon) following the death of Sara's mother Queen Sarana (voiced by Amanda McBroom) who is Lady Diabolyn's step-sister. Wildfire took her away from the planet Dar-Shan and deposited her in Montana, where she is taken in by a farmer named John Cavanaugh (voiced by David Ackroyd). Lady Diabolyn was a stepsister to Queen Sarana, whom she always considered weak and unfit to rule. To gain her "rightful" throne, she learned dark magic and allied herself with the demonic Spectres.
Twelve years later when Sara was ready to fight evil, Wildfire brought her back to Dar-Shan to regain her kingdom. Wildfire summons Sara through her magic amulet and transports her across dimensions to her real home in Dar-Shan. Sara joins with her friends consisting of a sorcerer named Alvinar (voiced by René Auberjonois), a young boy named Dorin (voiced by Bobby Jacoby), and his cowardly colt Brutus (voiced by Susan Blu) in order to thwart her wicked step-aunt. John and Sara's Indian friend Ellen (voiced by Lilly Moon) provide moral support on Earth.
Lady Diabolyn is helped by the Goons, mischievous creatures led by Dweedle (voiced by Billy Barty). They were formerly Diabolyn's guards until they gained their monstrous appearances by the Spectres upon opening the urn containing them when Diabolyn told them not to.
Each episode revealed more and more of the mythical world of Dar-Shan and gave its audience a new puzzle piece to help reason out the past events that led up to the current state of affairs. It was later revealed that Sara's adopted father John was actually Prince Cavan, her biological father, sent to Earth to protect him from the curse which Lady Diabolyn and the Spectres had placed on Dar-Shan. Sara and Wildfire are the only ones who know John's true identity, which has been kept secret even from him.
Production
The layouts were done by Jaime Diaz Productions in Buenos Aires (Argentina), where famous historieta/comic artists and cartoonists collaborated, including: Armando Dacol, Victor Braxator, Carlos Meglia, Sergio Mulko, Carlos Leopardi, José Massaroli, Alberto Caliva, Daniel Haupt, Andrew Klacik, and Jesus Balbi.
Crew
Reception
According to Los Angeles Times, "despite the hackneyed writing and poor animation (the artists don't understand how a horse moves), Wildfire is sure to be a hit with little girls, its obvious audience".