Gargoyles

In a medieval Scotland stronghold, a clan of stone gargoyles swears to stand guard as daylight turns them to mere statues. By night, the guardians awaken to defend their castle and those who rely on it, sworn to a vow of protection across centuries. Centuries later a shrewd industrialist buys the same fortress and hauls it into New York City, upending the myth and testing loyalties. When the new arrangement invites trouble, the gargoyles break their long slumber and confront a city that never sleeps. The show follows their secret war against a world that barely believes in their existence, while a human ally helps bridge two very different ages.

Created for Disney's Television Animation by Greg Weisman, Gargoyles debuted in 1994 and quickly set itself apart with a mature approach to fantasy. It features Keith David as Goliath with Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Ed Asner, Jeff Bennett, and Thom Adcox-Hernandez voicing the core gargoyles and their human allies.

Gargoyles pushed animated storytelling beyond action hijinks by weaving serialized plots, Shakespearean echoes, and complex character arcs into a genre usually aimed at younger audiences. Its moody tone and adult themes earned a devoted fanbase and helped influence later mythic fantasy in animation, inspiring long form arcs and dense worldbuilding in subsequent series.

Critics praised its intelligent writing, mature themes of loyalty, power, and identity, and the chemistry between the gargoyles and their human allies. The series balanced mythic lore with city concrete grit, exploring exile, leadership, and what it means to belong in a globalized world. It earned praise for its voice acting and visual design.

This show earned recognition within the animation industry for its ambitious storytelling, garnering nominations from major awards bodies and earning praise from critics for its bold approach to an animated hero tale and a lasting legacy.