The Legend of Zorro (anime series)

Kaiketsu Zorro

Promotional poster for the television series Kaiketsu Zorro
快傑ゾロ
(Extraordinary Zorro)
Genre Historical, adventure
Anime television series
Directed by Katsumi Minoguchi
Written by Sukehiro Tomita
Music by Hiromoto Tobisawa
Studio Ashi Productions
Mondo TV
Original network NHK
Original run April 5, 1996 – March 28, 1997
Episodes 52

Kaiketsu Zorro (Japanese: 快傑ゾロ, Hepburn: Kaiketsu Zoro, lit. "Extraordinary Zorro") is an Italian/Japanese anime, based on the western character Zorro. Fifty-two episodes were produced, however, only forty-six were broadcast in Japan. The series became very popular in European countries, including Portugal and Spain, the colonial powers in the story.

Plot

Diego de la Vega, the eighteen-year-old scion of a local landowner, returns from studying in Spain and discovers that his homeland has fallen under the dictatorship of Captain Raymond and Lieutenant Gabriel. Outraged by the oppression, Diego decides to fight the tyrants. Disguised as Zorro, the masked swordsman helps the weak, riding away on his horse, Viento.

In his day to day life, Diego portrays himself as a clumsy, cowardly boy who flees when faced with dangerous situations only to appear moments later as Zorro. As the local hero, he is known to punish his enemies by cutting a "Z" shaped mark into them with the tip of his blade. Diego is accompanied by Bernard, his sidekick who wears a similar costume and has the nickname "Little Zorro".

Diego's childhood friend and sweetheart, Lolita Prideaux, believes that Spain changed him and she scolds him relentlessly for his idiotic behavior. Lolita is a sweet-tempered girl who wants to fight evil and protect the people by helping Zorro from behind the scenes. She later develops feelings for Zorro, though she is unaware of his true identity.[1][2]

Main characters

Don Diego de la Vega/Zorro
Voiced by: Toshihiko Seki (Japanese)
The main protagonist of the series. As Diego he pretends to be lazy and clumsy, playing the role of a cowardly fool to hide his secret identity, but as Zorro he is the most noble-minded swordsman in the world. Diego is a rival of Captain Raymond but feels a deep affection for the other man. Diego is calm and reasonable, contrasting with his hot-headed and stubborn companions.
Lolita Prideaux
Voiced by: Maria Kawamura (Japanese)
The female protagonist of the series. Diego's spunky blond childhood friend and love interest. She is a laid-back and average girl. She acts bossy towards Diego, but she has romantic feelings for Zorro.
Bernard/Little Zorro
Voiced by: Rica Matsumoto (Japanese)
Diego/Zorro's sidekick, an abandoned orphan found by Diego when he was still a baby. Diego adopted and took care of him as if he was his younger brother. He helps Zorro by eavesdropping and gathering information, and later develops his own alter ego, "Little Zorro".
Captain Raymond
Voiced by: Jûrôta Kosugi (Japanese)
The main villain of the series, commander of the Spanish Army in California. Zorro describes Captain Raymond as an honorable man who keeps his word. Captain Raymond has his own agenda, but he helps other people as well. He is initially portrayed as handsome, generous, and loyal. However, in episode 47, the character suddenly changes and plots to assassinate the governor general. This change was controversial with audiences, and episodes 47 onward were not broadcast in Japan for that reason.
Lieutenant Gabriel
Voiced by: Kenyuu Horiuchi (Japanese)
A young Spanish officer who serves as Captain Raymond's right hand man in California. Lt. Gabriel has feelings for Lolita.
Don Alejandro de la Vega
Voiced by: Ikuya Sawaki (Japanese)
Diego's father.
Sergeant Pedro Gonzales
Voiced by: Kôzô Shioya (Japanese)
Stout sergeant who often serves as comic relief. Comparable to Johnston McCulley's character from 1920's The Mark of Zorro.

Episode list

The Legend of Zorro (1996)

No. Official English title [3]
1"Return of the Hero"
In 1800, California is under The Spanish Empire. Diego on a ship to go back to his home country California because his father asks for his return. Lolita taking Cekita and his wife with a baby to run away from California, because Cekita was teaching freedom to his fellow people. Lolita meet Zorro at the ship and he helps her to hide them but failed. The army found them and left the baby. Diego and Lolita back to Diego welcome back party. The army came and report that there will be an execution for Cekita. Everyone from the party is insisted on coming to watch the execution. Zorro (Diego) come to stop the execution and help Cekita and his wife to run away. Tomorrow dawn, all the army are searching inside the ship, but nothing was found. Lieutenant Gabriel saw some other small boat and thinking Cekita will be on other shore preparing to do the same thing. Gabriel found Cekita and his wife and stopped them. Zorro came and defeat Gabriel. Cekita and his wife are safe to run away..
2"The Barrels of Wine"
At one night, two carts full of wine is being moved from the farm to the storage area. The carts passing through the mountain road. A group of bandit found the wines and steal them. These bandits actually being paid by a liquor seller, Brown. Brown sell these Vega’s wines with a higher price to the California farmers. The army goes to Vega family to collect taxes, but the Vega’s can’t pay it since they don’t make any money from the wine. The army took their wheats instead. Diego plans to lure the bandits. He, Lolita and Bernard with the help of Sergeant Pedro with two police securing the transporting the wines. Some Bandits rule the Police away. Another bandits were coming to steal the wines. Diego pretends to be scared and run away. Lolita tried to rush through the Bandit but failed. Zorro came and stopped all the bandits. One of bandits takes away a cart of wines. Zorro whispers to Bernard that he has already marked all the barrel with “Z” sign. Bernard with his friends search the barrel around the city. They found the Barrel with “Z” sign on Brown yard. Brown tried to bribe the army Commander, Luis, with the wine. Zorro came to interrupt them. He fought with the bandits and won. He steals Brown’s money which he owns by selling Vega’s wine and return it to Vega.
3"Proposal of Marriage"
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4"Wake Up My Friend!"
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5"The Ties of Blood"
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6"The Red Jewel"
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7"Too Many Borros"
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8"Killer Guitar"
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9"The Treasure of Dreams"
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10"Untrue Feelings"
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11"Mystery Mountain"
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12"Man's Best Friend"
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13"Little Zorro at Full Blast"
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14"Mystery Mountain"
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15"Lolita's Kiss"
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16"The Sword from Japan"
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17"Cornered"
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18"The Clever Detective"
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19"A House of Deadly Tricks"
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20"Vengeance"
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21"Wings of Dreams!"
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22"Gonzales, the Thief"
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23"The Bride from Spain"
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24"The People's Enemy"
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25"Tears of a Clown"
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26"Pepita"
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27"Lady Barbara"
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28"The Haunted Ruins"
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29"The Great Art Swindle"
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30"Gonzales in Love"
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31"Fire in the Sky"
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32"A Doctor's Dilemma"
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33"Lolita in Love"
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34"The Order to Kill Zorro"
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35"Gonzales in Love again"
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36"Unmasked!"
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37"Diego Under Cover"
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38"The Underwater Adventure"
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39"The Battle in the Storm"
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40"My Fair Lady Zorro"
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41"Lolita, Get Your Gun!"
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42"Trapped By Ninja Magic"
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43"Beauty and the Monster"
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44"Gabriel's Rebellion"
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45"The Legend of the Sacred Wood"
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46"The Hypnotic Doctor"
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47"The Kidnapping of the Governor General"
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48"A Righteous Military Officer"
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49"Farewell to the Army"
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50"The Blast Off the Demonic Cannons!"
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51"A Prelude to the Collapse"
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52"The Sword of Justice Forever"
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Music

The series soundtrack contains two pieces of thematic music. The opening theme is titled "Zorro", and the closing theme "Chikai" (誓い; "Oath"). Both are sung by Masaaki Endoh and are used for all 51 aired episodes.

References

  1. ↑ Production Reed
  2. ↑ 1996 Ashi Productions TV Series
  3. ↑ . KissAnime =The Legend of Zorro Episodes and Dubbed http://kissanime.ru/Anime/The-Legend-of-Zorro-Dub =The Legend of Zorro Episodes and Dubbed Check |url= value (help). Retrieved August 9, 2017. Missing or empty |title= (help)
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