Pirates of Dark Water, The

1 9 9 1 – 1 9 9 3 (USA)
21 x 30 minute episodes

This ABC cartoon series from Hanna-Barbera was set on Mer – a distant water planet that was threatened with extinction by Dark Water, a carnivorous form of all-consuming black water that devours everything it crosses.

17-year-old Ren (voiced by George Newbern) has been raised by a lighthouse keeper, but one day, after rescuing a man from the sea, he learns from the man (who once served with Ren’s true father) that he is actually the son of the king of Octopon, King Primus.

Ren must find the Thirteen Treasures of Rule to claim his rightful heritage. The treasures will also save the planet by stopping the Dark Water.

Ren receives a magic compass from the man, and with his three assistants – a pirate named Ioz (Hector Elizondo initially and then Jim Cummings), a headstrong young girl called Tula (Jodi Benson) who can control the elements and biological life, and Niddler the Monkey Bird (Roddy McDowall and Frank Welker) – sets off on a quest in a vessel named the Wraith to save his planet.

Stories relate Ren’s journey – made more dangerous by Bloth (Brock Peters), an evil pirate commanding a warship called the Maelstrom (constructed from the bleached carcasses of leviathans), who has learned of the treasure and now seeks it for himself.

The series originally aired as a five-part miniseries called simply Dark Water.

Roddy McDowall requested a higher salary for his role of Niddler after the miniseries, but the studio denied his request, and he left the production with Frank Welker taking over the voice role.

Ren
George Newbern
Niddler
Roddy McDowall (1)
Frank Welker (2)
Tula
Jodi Benson
Ioz
Hector Elizondo (1)
Jim Cummings (2)
Bloth
Brock Peters
Additional Voices
Julie McWhirter
Linda Gary
Stacy Keach, Sr.
Paul Williams
John Rhys-Davies
Dan O’Herlihy
Nan Martin
Kenneth Mars
Michael Bell
Rene Auberjonois
Tim Curry
Keene Curtis
Darleen Carr