Dragon Flyz

Dragon Flyz
Genre	Adventure-adventure Drama Fantasy Science fiction
Created by	John Gentile Anthony Gentile Savin Yeatman-Eiffel
Developed by	Savin Yeatman-Eiffel
Directed by	Guillaume Ivernel (art) Xavier Giacometti
Voices of	T. J. Benjamin Saul Bernstein Thomas Cannizzaro Donna Daley Johnathan Davis Don Mayo James Michael K. C. Noel Jimmy Uncle
Theme music composer	John Carney
Composer	David Friedman
Country of origin	France United States
Original language	English
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	26
Production
Executive producers	Marc du Pontavice Marty Abrams John Gentile Anthony Gentile
Producer	Marc du Pontavice
Editors	Xavier Franchomme Rodolphe Ploquin
Running time	25 minutes
Production companies	Gaumont Multimédia Abrams/Gentile Entertainment Active Entertainment Columbia TriStar Television
Original release
Network	France 3 (France) Syndication (United States)
Release	September 14, 1996 (1996-09-14) – March 8, 1997 (1997-03-08)

Dragon Flyz is an animated television series created by Savin Yeatman-Eiffel and produced by Gaumont Multimédia in association with Abrams/Gentile Entertainment. The show, based on a toy line by Galoob, ran for two seasons, in syndication in the United States and Europe, from 1996 to 1997. 26 episodes were produced.

The series, set in a world following an event called the Cataclysm follows the Dragonators, who ride on dragons in search and rescue operations.

David Perlmutter's Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows calls Dragon Flyz "a very transparent ad for a toy line, much like some of the other productions the Abrams/Gentile Studio was involved in at this time (see Happy Ness: The Secret of the Loch and Van-Pires for other examples)."

Plot and setting

Set in the 41st century after an event called the Cataclysm, which is implied to have been caused by nuclear warfare, the series follows the adventures of dragon-riders, who are either human or of a race resembling reptiles, gargoyles, and demons, as they fight for control of the Earth. The Cataclysm caused the extinction of most of Earth's inhabitants, ecosystems, and species and its surface to become barren and volcanic, with rivers of lava running across the surface, making it uninhabitable except for animals adapted to the environment. The surviving human population lives in the airborne city of Airlandis, from which Dragonators regularly travel to the surface to retrieve Amber, which is used as a source of fuel and usually obtained from lava pools or directly from the ground. It is also shown that some humans escaped the Cataclysm aboard a space station, on which the protagonists' mother now resides. They are often threatened by lightning storms, air currents, and acidic clouds called Warp Winds, through which the only safe passages are hollow mountains called Wind Pits. Despite the Cataclysm, some life survived due to being sheltered in an Oasis: a pocket of life where the planet's former species live in safety.

Airlandis is an airborne city with five biospheres at its center, each simulating a different natural habitat and preserving the species rescued from the Cataclysm. The city's most important region is its power core, which is operated by the engineer Orac. Airlandis also has a runway for the Dragonators, an aviary where the dragons reside when not being used for flight, a chamber where matters of government are negotiated, Skywatch, where a team maintains the city's systems and monitors the skies, and a prison.

Characters

The main characters ride dragons for travel and combat, but also have the ability to fly short distances. The Dragonators use dragonfly-like wings known as exo-wings that sprout from the backplate of their armor, while Dreadwing and his minions, the Dramen, sprout membranous wings from their shoulders. Both types of wings disappear when not in use. The Dragonators' primary weapon is the Wind Jammer, a wrist-mounted weapon, while Dreadwing and the Dramen wield glove-like cannons.

Humans

Z'neth

• Callsign: Dragonator One
• Armor Color: Cerulean
• Dragon Steed: Riptor

The leader of the Dragonators and the eldest of the four siblings, who values honor and integrity.

Summit

• Callsign: Dragonator Two
• Armor Color: Forest green
• Dragon Steed: Sky-Fury

The second-eldest sibling. He is known for his witty remarks, short temper, and preference for physical strength.

Apex

• Callsign: Dragonator Three
• Armor Color: Silver
• Dragon Steed: Blazewind

The third-oldest sibling. She prefers negotiation to conflict, and has telepathic abilities that allow her to communicate with dragons and partially manipulate half-dragons, such as Dramen. When using her powers, her eyes and those of her subject, glow silver.

Peak

• Callsign: Dragonator Four
• Armor Color: Orange/purple
• Dragon Steed: Wingstorm

The youngest and most reckless of the siblings. He enjoys stunt-flying on dragons, which often gets him in trouble, and is egotistical and mischievous.

Amod

• Callsign: Dragonator Five
• Armor Color: Brown
• Dragon Steed: Titan

A member of the Dragon Flyz and Peak's friend. He is skilled in battle, but initially disrespectful to dragons.

Zarkan

• Callsign: Dragonator Six
• Armor Color: Black
• Dragon Steed: Thunder

A soldier of the Dragon Flyz who aids the Dragonators.

Nora

• Callsign: Dragonator Nine
• Armor Color: Light blue
• Dragon Steed: Unnamed

The second female Dragonator in Airlandis, who Peak has a crush on, and who fights alongside the other Dragonators.

Aaron

• Armor Colour: Red

The father of the four siblings, who often acts as their advisor. He has no use of his legs and is therefore unable to walk, instead hovering above the ground. This is implied to be controlled by his staff, which has an Amber crystal. He is the strongest advocate on Airlandis's ruling council for finding a new place to live.

Orac

An engineer who maintains Airlandis' power generator.

Councillor Joshua

A ranking member of Airlandis' governing parliament, who often takes opposition to Aaron's position. Though his intentions are for the good of the populace, his impatience ultimately leads him to place Summit in prison, allowing Dreadwing control of Airlandis.

Mutants

Dreadwing

• Dragon Steed: Blackheart

The main antagonist of the series, who lives in a mechanized cave complex known as Warnado and commands the Dramen.

Nocturna

• Dragon Steed: Unnamed

Dreadwing's second-in-command, who serves him in exchange for a domain of her own. When Dreadwing offers her the Oasis in exchange for her continued loyalty, she accepts, but is angered when he destroys it. It is implied that she has a crush on Z'neth, as she is willing to ally herself with the Dragonators and help them.

Fryte

• Dragon Steed: Skunk

A servant of Dreadwing, who is unquestioningly loyal to him. Like Nocturna, his dragon steed resembles him.

Gangryn

A mutant scientist who serves Dreadwing, but has his own ambitions and is willing to change allegiances for his own sake.

The Gremwings

Gremwings are bipedal, insect-like creatures who serve Dreadwing; they have great strength and come in hordes. Other species include a monocular, batlike species which serves to gather information and a similar species that feeds on blood.

The Dramen

• Dragon Steed: Unnamed

The Dramen are large, gargoyle-like humanoids that can sprout wings from their bodies. Dreadwing's Dramen are sometimes seen supporting him and his lieutenants and riding dragons.

Dram

• Callsign: None
• Armor Color: Dark brown
• Dragon Steed: Titan

A Dramen who Aaron raised after his village was mysteriously destroyed, and his loyalty to them has caused other Dramen to call him a traitor, much to his resentment. Although he has a dragon steed, Dram prefers to fly himself.

Vydak

The tribal leader of a clan of Dark Dramen who destroyed Dram's village and killed his family, and later enslaved another clan. In his first appearance, Dreadwing attempts to form an alliance with him, but this fails when Dram attempts to rescue the enslaved villagers. In his second appearance, his warriors meet with Dreadwing's army in a canyon before attacking Airlandis, but are unaware that their leaders are plotting to betray each other.

Dragons

There are three type of dragons that appear in the series. The most common are the Airlandian dragons, which have smooth-skinned, serpentine bodies, long, slender necks and tails, needle-like teeth, and pterosaur-like wings on which they can walk. The second type is a large-bodied, four-legged breed with short necks that Fryte, Kreigo and Nocturna ride. The third type, of which Blackheart is the only example in the series, has characteristics of both types, but is larger and has the ability to consume lava and breathe fire. All dragons are intelligent and seem to understand human speech, and are loyal to their riders. When not on duty, Airlandian dragons live in a vast, hangarlike station consisting of nesting areas and a terraformed environment, including a lake.

Riptor

Z'Neth's dragon, a blue dragon with a nasal horn and two large crests. An Arlandian dragon, he is considered the leader of the dragons, as evidenced by his larger nest, collar, and crest armor. Riptor has a personal rivalry with Blackheart and is one of only two dragons and the only Airlandian dragon that can match his power.

Sky Fury

Summit's dragon, a green dragon with two brown horns. She is the only female among the protagonists' steeds and will not hesitate to take action, even without being given a command.

Fury's Cub

A small green dragon born early in the series. While still an egg, Nocturna, sent by Dreadwing to capture dragon eggs for Gangryn's genetic experiments, steals him from Fury to use in those experiments. As a result, he has the ability to project a paralyzing blast when he hatches. Dreadwing attempts to use this ability as a weapon, but fails when Sky Fury convinces him to join her.

Wing Storm

Peak's dragon, a young, steel-gray dragon with a spiky head and a long mouth. Both Wing Storm and Peak are reckless, though Wing Storm is the more cautious of the two.

Blazewind

Apex's dragon, a white dragon with a black mane. Blazewind is closer to his rider than others because of Apex's ability to communicate telepathically.

Blackheart

Dreadwing's dragon. A massive four-legged, long-necked, dragon with red scales and the ability to consume lava and breathe fire. Riptor is his rival and is his equal in power, but he was once defeated by the leader of a pack of wild dragons who could also breathe fire.

Episode guide

The first three episodes were released as a stand-alone movie titled Dragon Flyz: The Legend Begins on December 3, 1996.

Episode	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date
1–3	"The Legend Begins"	Xavier Giacometti	John Gentile (ep.1) Anthony Gentile (ep.1) David Toney (eps 2-3) Savin Yeatman (eps 1-3)	September 14, 1996 (1996-09-14) September 21, 1996 (1996-09-21) September 28, 1996 (1996-09-28)
Part 1: Dragon Dawn: Peak is captured by Gremwings, held prisoner by Dreadwing, and ultimately rescued by his siblings in battle. Part 2: The Day of The Dragon: After a rough flight, Summit learns that Sky Fury is a mother. In an attack on Airlandis, her egg is stolen and taken to Warnado, where the hatchling is modified by Gangryn, but later rescued by Fury and the Dragonators. Part 3: Darkness Bound: Investigation of a wreckage brings the Dragonators, Dreadwing, and a faction of surface-dwelling Dark Dramen into a stand-off. After the Dragonators escape, Dreadwing negotiaties a treaty with the Dark Dramen leader, Kreigo, with whom he attacks Airlandis. When Nocturna betrays Kreigo, the Dragonators return him to his followers, in exchange for a record of the wreck's arrival.
4	"Son of Dread"	Xavier Giacometti	David Toney Savin Yeatman	October 5, 1996 (1996-10-05)
Z'neth is captured whilst on the surface and drugged by Dreadwing into turning against his cohorts.
5	"Amber King"	Xavier Giacometti	Peter Stone Savin Yeatman	October 12, 1996 (1996-10-12)
The Dragonators encounter a flight of wild dragons, including one able to convert rock into Amber crystals. Apex negotiates with them by telepathy, but her efforts are foiled when Dreadwing attacks.
6	"Crystal Fire"	Xavier Giacometti	David Toney Savin Yeatman	October 19, 1996 (1996-10-19)
Gangryn discovers a crystal compound which physically resembles Amber, but expands uncontrollably when exposed to sunlight, which Dreadwing leaves to the Dragonators. When exposed on Airlandis, the compound covers the city and immobilizes its people, until destroyed by electricity.
7	"The Defector"	Xavier Giacometti	Doug Booth Savin Yeatman	October 26, 1996 (1996-10-26)
During the dragonators' patrol, Gangryn is seen fleeing from Dreadwing's minions. The Dragonators rescue him and take him to Airlandis, where the Council offers him safe haven; but Gangryn later betrays to Dreadwing the presence of a portable "crystal reactor", prompting Orac and Z'Neth to arrange the theft of a powerless substitute.
8	"Warnado Rising"	Xavier Giacometti	David Toney Savin Yeatman	November 2, 1996 (1996-11-02)
Modified with lava-powered nuclear engines, Warnado lifts off the surface to challenge Airlandis; but Summit infiltrates it, and destabilizes the engines, which forces Warnado to the ground.
9	"Bugz"	Xavier Giacometti	James Adner David Toney Savin Yeatman	November 9, 1996 (1996-11-09)
Blackheart is bitten by a mysterious insect and is overcome with a debilitating illness. Dreadwing capitalises on the discovery, breeding vast numbers of the bugs, before unleashing them into the airspace around Airlandis. Apex invades Warnado to force an antidote from Gangryn.
10	"Lost Eden"	Xavier Giacometti	Peter Stone Savin Yeatman	November 16, 1996 (1996-11-16)
Shot down by Dreadwing in a dogfight, Z'neth plummets into a lava-fall to evade his attackers. Eventually found by Apex, the two venture into a nearby tunnel to take cover, where they discover an Oasis. This is later destroyed by Blackheart, when Z'neth challenges Dreadwing for its control.
11	"The Mount Alayas"	Xavier Giacometti	Savin Yeatman Lisa Morton	November 23, 1996 (1996-11-23)
Airlandis happens upon a set of mesas, known as "Mount Alayas", and attempt to colonize it; but are attacked again by Dreadwing. It is also discovered that the native plants are hallucinogenic, and the plateaux therefore uninhabitable.
12	"Scavenger"	Xavier Giacometti	James Adner Peter Stone Savin Yeatman	November 30, 1996 (1996-11-30)
The Dragon Flyz are joined by the recruit Amod, but the latter's distrust of dragons foils their mission. Tensions reach a climax when Orac's prototype amber-retrieval aircraft, "The Scavenger", is taken for a test flight, offending Airlandis' dragons; but are resolved when the Scavenger itself is destroyed in battle.
13	"Dark Dramen"	Xavier Giacometti	Savin Yeatman Peter Stone	December 7, 1996 (1996-12-07)
Plumes of smoke in the distance lead Dram to village burned to the ground. Recalling his own past, Dram leaves to find his fellow Dramen, but the Dragonators follow him. Thereafter the local Dramen assist the Dragonators in their own defense.
14	"The Eclipse"	Xavier Giacometti	James Adner David Toney Savin Yeatman	December 14, 1996 (1996-12-14)
A solar eclipse provokes the appearance of a hitherto-concealed "Amber" store, exploited by Apex in danger of Dreadwing. Here, the Amber is guarded by robots, who obey Apex but defy her brothers.
15	"There Can Be Only One"	Xavier Giacometti	Peter Stone Savin Yeatman	December 21, 1996 (1996-12-21)
For her repeated failures to halt the Dragonators' Amber runs, Dreadwing banishes Nocturna from Warnado. Nocturna approaches Airlandis with an offer of alliance, but later returns to Dreadwing.
16	"Cifex"	Xavier Giacometti	David Toney Savin Yeatman	December 28, 1996 (1996-12-28)
The Dragonators discover a bunker on the surface, in which they find a single human survivor who identifies himself as Cifex. They take him back to Airlandis, where Apex becomes his guide; but both are seized by Dreadwing, who exposes Cifex as an android. In the following struggle, Cifex is separated from Apex, and presumed dead, but survives in secret.
17	"Into Hell’s Gate"	Xavier Giacometti	Peter Stone Savin Yeatman	January 4, 1997 (1997-01-04)
The colossal volcano, Hell's Gate, is erupting, its power so destructive that the last shockwave damaged Airlandis' amber reactor. The Dragonators therefore enter the volcano to prevent a recurrence.
18	"Ground Zero"	Xavier Giacometti	Peter Stone Savin Yeatman	January 11, 1997 (1997-01-11)
Separated from the others during a surface flight, Peak stumbles upon a Pre-Cataclysm cache of long-range ballistic missiles. These are later acquired by Dreadwing; but when the latter carelessly launches all the missiles simultaneously, the Dragonators redirect them to the launching-site, which they destroy.
19	"Betrayed"	Xavier Giacometti	Peter Stone Savin Yeatman	January 18, 1997 (1997-01-18)
Gangryn has developed a machine which simulates powerful telepathic abilities. Dreadwing claims it as his own, which he subsequently uses to unleash havoc upon the Dragonators' operations.
20	"The Portal"	Xavier Giacometti	Savin Yeatman Jeffrey Paul Kearney Lisa Morton	January 25, 1997 (1997-01-25)
When the Dragon Flyz spot an unnatural star-shaped ridge on the surface, but are denied permission to investigate, Aaron reveals that their mother, Miranda, was teleported by a machine there, to a space station far away. He and the Flyz re-activate the machine, and Peak confirms Miranda's survival aboard the station; but Peak is forced to return alone, and the machine itself is destroyed by Dread Wing's followers.
21	"Dread Rules, Part 1"	Xavier Giacometti	Savin Yeatman Jeffrey Paul Kearney Lisa Morton	February 1, 1997 (1997-02-01)
Confrontations between Councillor Joshua and Summit escalate after a failed amber run, with the latter grounded and eventually imprisoned on Joshua's orders.
22	"Dread Rules, Part 2"	Xavier Giacometti	Savin Yeatman Jeffrey Paul Kearney Lisa Morton	February 8, 1997 (1997-02-08)
With Summit imprisoned and the Dragonators buried under an avalanche, Dreadwing is in control of Airlandis, but Aaron and Orac begin sabotaging Dreadwing's control.
23	"The Children’s Crusade"	Xavier Giacometti	Peter Stone Savin Yeatman	February 15, 1997 (1997-02-15)
Apex is hit by a new mutagen-based weapon employed by Dreadwing's army and collapses into a coma. Two headstrong children, Lucy and Tommy, with their dragon Clawfire (a child of Blazewind's), set out to find her a cure.
24	"The Chameleon"	Xavier Giacometti	Peter Stone Savin Yeatman	February 22, 1997 (1997-02-22)
Having discovered fertile ground on Old Earth, Airlandis dispatches settlement units and amber generators to establish a colony. Their joy at finding a new home is short-lived when an invisible entity abducts the settlers' children; this is identified as a population of three-headed "Tri-Dragons". Because the amber reactors disrupt the Tri-Dragons' reproductive process, the colony is abandoned.
25	"The Accused"	Xavier Giacometti	David Toney Savin Yeatman	March 1, 1997 (1997-03-01)
Councillor Joshua and Z'neth are captured by Dreadwing and put on trial to justify humanity's actions against the mutants, with Dreadwing himself as judge; but they are rescued by Z'neth's siblings. The episode serves to re-capitulate events of previous episodes.
26	"The F.I.S.T. Fighters"	Xavier Giacometti	Peter Stone Savin Yeatman	March 8, 1997 (1997-03-08)
Shot down by Dramen into a cave, Nora and Peak discover a giant column of amber, only to be confronted by a group of underground-dwelling humanoids who call themselves the 'Fight, Infiltrate, Strike, and Terminate Fighters'.

Toy line

There were two sets of Dragon Flyz toys released by Galoob. One set consists of the main characters in various costumes, equipped with rotating wings that enable them to fly, a launching device shaped as a dragon, and a DVD. The second set does not have the DVD, and the launcher does not look like a dragon. Variations include lone riders; lone dragons that fly by flapping their own wings; and figures that illuminate when launched. Most of the rider figures carry firearm-like weapons. Galoob released a similar toyline aimed at girls, Sky Dancers.

Home Video

Dragon Flyz had five VHS releases released by Columbia TriStar Home Video, four numbered volumes with a single episode each and "Dragon Flyz: The Legend Begins", a compilation of the first three episodes. There have been two region 2 DVDs, each with three episodes, in addition to those sold alongside the toys. The series has been officially released for viewing on YouTube by Mondo World.

External links

• Dragon Flyz at IMDb