[.ca] Highlander: The Adventure Begins (ISBN 6305751722)

From Amazon.com:
This animated show is only loosely based on the original Highlander series. In "The Chosen Highlander," the Highlanders have been waiting 700 years for their chosen one to defeat the evil Kortan. When Quentin MacLeod learns that he is that immortal Jettator, he embarks on a journey to free the just-captured Dundees and apprentices himself to the immortal Don Vincente Ramirez. Much like Yoda in the Star Wars movies, Ramirez helps Quentin develop both inner and physical strength, coaching him to rely on all his senses when he fights and teaching him the immense power of belief. Quentin experiences the lure of tyranny firsthand in "A Terrible Weapon" and realizes he has a lot to learn about himself and his powers. In "Stevenson," Quentin and Ramirez seek out a fellow Jettator who has been lured to the evil Kortan's side. In "A Trap," Quentin and Kortan duel in the Iron City. Quentin is struck blind and, after an initial victory, falls into a trap set by Kortan and his servant. Ramirez rescues Quentin and praises his quick learning, but proclaims him unprepared for the ultimate battle with Kortan. This high-quality, computer-animated movie about the strength of a chosen man in an apocalyptic world is both powerful and entertaining--it will have kids 6 and older fascinated for a full 77 minutes. Parents concerned about violence should, of course, be vigilant. --Tami Horiuchi

the music and the ideas!!!:
I love the soundtrack, it just keeps the pace for someone like me who's so affected by it. Whoever did the theme song is SOOOOO cool! ^_^ the ideas are also very cool, i've never seen any other Highlanders, but although it verges on corny, Clyde and Quentin are SOOO nice to each other, even though theyre brother and sister, the futuristic apocalyptic fresh new ideas are so thought provoking!!!!

Teenager Johnny Quest meets Luke Skywalker:
Typical Saturday morning cartoon only it is 77 min.long. Any similarity between this story and Highlander, the series, has been almost eliminated completely. Quentin McLeod is the "last of the McLeods" \oAt least we won't see "Son of Quentin".\c He becomes an immortal when a teen-ager. The events take place "after the Great Catastrophy" (as in "Planet of the Apes"). The animals mutated but the humans did not. Ramirez is Quentin's mentor. Quentin has the additional charge of taking care of his small sister and her pet while fighting off the baddies. She is, naturally, as smart as the adults. Since the story line is more about the bad guys against the good guys, there is very little spent on any immortality details. The entire cartoon story could have been done with characters unconnected to the Highlander series. ( It almost was.) Kids will like the action as it is typical, but may be disappointed if they expect the story line to be based on the principles established by the Highlander stories. Why do people buy the rights to film a cartoon based on a certain established patterns, then re-write the entire story-line

Excellent show, quality animation.:
I find this to be a very high quality video. The world created in this animated version of the Highlander is unique, with many character rivalries between both sides. Not just black and white (good vs. bad guys) this series offers many things to think about. Also I find the extensive use of steam/water power, in everything from tanks (uniqie concepts there too) to cities to be absolutely facinating. I very highly recomend it, not just for children, but for adults as well.

Better left for kids, not hard-core Highlander fans:
My mom bought me the tape because she knew that I loved all things Highlander...well until I saw the tape that is. The basic idea is interesting, but I find five main problems with this story. 1. THEY KILLED OFF CONNER McCLEOD!!! How could they do that?! 2. If Quentin is the last of the McCleod's, where did Duncan from the series go? Did they kill him too without mentioning it? 3. What are the odds of there being two immortals named Ramirez that are about the same age. Well, in all fairness I guess Conner and Duncan come to mind. But Conner and Duncan don't act or sound alike, but this Ramirez is almost an exact carbon copy of the original. 4. This problem is not found in the tape but in later episodes: what exactly was "The Great Catastrophe"? In an episode about nuclear power, it is implied that it was a nuclear war. But a later episode says that it was a meteorite impact. Which one guys? 5. I do like how the immortals, or Jetadors, can give up their immortality and just give Quentin their knowledge. But how did they learn that? Did Conner teach them? If so, where did he learn it? Being a fan of both the movies and the series, I've learned to deal with certain inconsistencies between the two. But this series stretches it just a little bit too much for me. Hard-core fans should stay clear and not consider it part of the "official Highlander universe", but it makes for a good gift for younger viewers.

Better Than You'd Expect!:
When you consider that over the course of the 4 Highlander films and 2 live-action series, the Highlander continuity has been thrown into complete disarry, can it hurt to add another storyline? Not when its as well crafted as this! Although abandoning all connections to previous Highlander incarnations, this beautifully designed show, with its wonderfully developed characters, is as appealing to adults as to kids, (I used to watch it with my Nan!). Of course, the film's notion of beheading is removed from this family show, (its a cartoon, after all!), and replaced with the clever idea of passing on each Immortals' power through the taking of a special oath. Perfect for kids (and adults who are too laid-back to nit-pick).The 3-D effect used in certain episodes is amazing, as is the emotive music. The characters have depth and look great, and so long as you enjoy the show for what it is and don't try to compare it to (or connect it with) the films or other shows, this makes for great viewing. Highly recommended!