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Mighty Max was an animated television series that aired from 93-95. The show followed the adventures of a young boy named Max who, with the help of his magical cap, traveled to different dimensions to stop the villainous Skull Master from obtaining the powerful Doom Zones. Although Mighty Max only aired for two seasons, it left a lasting impact on many (grown up) 90s kids who still hold fond memories of the show in 2023.
I don’t know how much more 90s an entity can get. An entity that was originally a toy line to rival Polly Pockets, then later translated as a game for Super Nintendo and Sega.
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Bootlegged Copies are False Hope
March 2023 update- there is a 2 disc blu ray set by “Monsterlandmedia” that combines 40 episodes on 3 blu ray discs, but at quick glance it doesn’t appear to be an official release by the show’s creators/ representatives.
Your Best Bet? A Quality Mighty Max VHS
Yes, the next best thing. I currently am the owner of two of them. If you’re interested in them, send me a PM or leave a comment below.
Here’s What you’ll find on Amazon.com (not my preference)
There’s one current offer for the Let Sleeping Dragon’s Lie VHS.
“Proof is in the Youtube”
Most of the episodes have found their home on youtube where their cult following can relinquish.
My question would be, if these videos are getting hundreds of thousands of hits, why isn’t Mattel, Film Roman, Vivendi, or whoever has the final say in releasing this thing- why don’t they pounce on this opportunity? A 40-episode dvd set could easily sell for $40, $50.
SERIOUSLY, get yourself a cheap VHS player and consider one of the Mighty Max movies I have listed above.
Not Quite Fit for Nickelodeon
Max had that gritty, unpolished feel that those older-fashioned cartoons thrived on, especially pre-’96. High definition wasn’t even given a passing thought.
The minds of these early 90s cartoonists brought out an unadulterated variety from the cartoonists own niche perspective, rather than altering it for the widest audience appeal- when story lines were more the focal point.
The list is long, e.g. Darkwing Duck, Rocko’s Modern Life, Ren & Stimpy Show, Aaah!! Real Monsters…, all of course more popular than Mighty Max, but, following the same uninhibited trend. Eccentric characters. Misadventures.
In the case of Mighty Max, they stayed true to a horroresque-sci fi thing. The farther from ’95 you go the less distinctive the cartoons are, in my opinion.
No way would an animated series today get away with drawing in combat scenes and associated weaponry to the age range Mighty Max intended- TV-Y7. Sign of the times, perhaps.
The creators, by the way, must have been inspired after seeing the success Terminator 2: Judgment Day got, which so happened to come out a year earlier before Mighty Max did. Norman and Max could fool anybody for a John Conner and Arnold.
Perhaps from my developing memory as a 3 year old, I only really remember the 1 minute opening sequence with the guitar-wailing style intro song.
My impression so far after rewatching the show- Surprised.
Max will make cultural references from what was relevant then, like the grunge movement scene in Seattle that was emerging. A lot of villain-type characters that cross over into the horror.
Above all else, the texture of the animation drips with vintage qualities that only 20 years of time can do.
Maybe you’ve never heard of this cartoon, but to have it in it’s untouched state with no compression would be a treasure for the fans of the show as well as to document this 90s flashback forever.
Why people are nostalgic for Mighty Max cartoon
Firstly, Mighty Max was unique and creative in its storytelling. Each episode ’90s kids were taken to a different world with its own set of characters and challenges. The show’s creative team pulled from a variety of sources, including mythology, science fiction, and horror, to create these worlds.
Secondly, Mighty Max appealed to a wide range of audiences. The show had elements of humor, action, and suspense, making it a show that could be enjoyed by both children and adults. The character of Max was relatable for young viewers, as he struggled to balance his regular life with his responsibility as the “chosen one” who must save the world from evil. Adults, on the other hand, could appreciate the show’s nods to different genres and the references to classic movies.
The show had a unique and memorable art style. The character designs were visually striking, with exaggerated features and bold colors. The show’s animation was also noteworthy, with fast-paced action scenes and dynamic camera angles that added to the excitement.
Mighty Max is invariably one ‘Mighty One‘ of a flick.
Teaser photo and “sticker” photo by V&A Steamworks of Flickr