Zorro: Generation Z

*Zorro: Generation Z*
Zorro: Generation Z
	Titlecard
Created by	Rick Ungar (G7 Animation and Pangea)
Written by	Len Uhley; Steven Darancette; Randy Littlejohn; Christy Marx; Lee Cohen; Sean Catherine Derek
Directed by	Chris Evans
Voices of	Ben Small; Jules de Jonon; Janet Brown; Morgan Deare; Luis Soto
Composer	Mark Blackledge
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	26
Production
Executive producer	Rick Ungar
Production company	BKN
Original release
Network	Telemundo (U.S.); YTV (Canada)
Release	March 16 –; September 07, 2006

Zorro: Generation Z is an animated series that began in 2006. Former Marvel Studios development executive, Rick Ungar, developed the original series in association with BKN, G7 Animation and Pangea Corporation. The programming deal and concept for the new series was developed by Ungar, G7 and Pangea and underwritten partially by a master toy license with Brazilian toy company, Gulliver Toys. What made the show unique were the plethora of Pangea-designed high tech gadgets and the conceit of having the young Zorro ride his motorcycle named after his horse, Tornado. The show has been aired in the United Kingdom on Pop TV on 7 April 2008 and was shown on Kix! on 19 May 2008. This version of the Zorro story features a descendent of the original Zorro, named Diego de la Vega, as the original Zorro, fighting crime and the corrupt government of Pueblo Grande in a near-future setting. Zorro: Generation Z has yet to air in the United States. The series has already been shown in the Philippines via Hero TV^[when?].

The second season of 26 episodes of the series was announced in 2009, entitled Zorro Generation Z: HD but were not fully completed or released for broadcast. Despite a press statement from Nicola Andrews, Managing Director of BKN New Media Ltd in London, who noted: 'We have already commissioned and produced Season II for 2009," BKN shortly thereafter filed for insolvency in the middle of 2009 and was acquired by Cookie Jar Entertainment in 2010. Some of the assets of BKN are under the control of Emba Media Management International.

Plot

In 2015, teenager Diego de la Vega, the five times great-grandson of the first Zorro, in turn wears the mask, with a black suit, weapons, and signs the "Z" to establish justice in the metropolis of Pueblo Grande, California.

Characters

Diego de la Vega / Zorro

As a teenager, Diego returns to Pueblo Grande when his father is kidnapped by Mayor Martínez, to prevent him from standing in the election. Diego grows up listening to his grandfather's stories about Zorro, and is quick to take over the family role. He rides a motorcycle called the Tornado–Z (after the original Zorro's horse) and wields the Z–Weapon, a multi–purpose laser weapon which can act as a gun, sword or whip. He is based on Don Diego de la Vega from the original novel.

Bernardo

Diego's best friend and a technological genius — the mute Bernardo maintains Zorro's equipment, does online detective work and occasionally wears the costume when Diego and Zorro need to appear together. He is based on Don Diego's mute manservant Bernardo from the original novel.

Alejandro de la Vega

Diego's father, and the owner of Dela Vega Industries. He is unaware of the family secret and until recently assumed Zorro was a myth. He is still unsure that a masked crusader is what the city needs. He worries a lot about Diego's lack of responsibility assuming his son is out all night partying. Based on Don Alejandro de la Vega in previous versions.

Gustavo de la Vega / Zorro

Diego's grandfather was the Zorro before him, now he often appears in dream sequences and flashbacks giving Diego advice about how to be Zorro.

Alejandro's grandmother

Alejandro's grandmother is a Native American and, like Diego's grandfather, has died before the series begins but appears in dream sequences as a young girl who offers cryptic advice. She is probably based on the character White Owl from some recent re–telling of the Zorro story. She only appears in The Perfect Fox Hunt.

Mrs. McAlistair

The de la Vegas' housekeeper. She knows Diego's secret and approves of what he's doing.

Mayor Martinez

The corrupt mayor of Pueblo Grande. Martinez is Zorro's greatest enemy. In addition to imposing high taxes and secretly running Pueblo Grande's organised crime he is a business rival of the Dela Vega family and often targets Alejandro's company with his criminal schemes. He is based on the corrupt alcaldes in earlier versions of Zorro and bears a strong resemblance to Alcalde Quintero in the 1974 film The Mark of Zorro.

Maria Martinez / Scarlet Whip

The daughter of Mayor Martinez. Maria adopts a costumed identity to fight against him using two laser–whips. She and Diego are at college together and have a friendly rivalry. Neither knows the other's secret identity until near the end of the final episode in Season 1 "Poll Axed". She is somewhat similar to Lolita Quintero in the 1940 version of The Mark of Zorro or Theresa in the 1974 version —both of whom are Zorro's love interest and the Alcalde's niece. —. Her masked identity may be based on the title character of the 1944 film Zorro's Black Whip. According to series' bible, her costumed identity was originally going to be the Black Whip rather than the Scarlet Whip.

Sergeant Garcia

The mayor's aide. Sergeant Garcia is corrupt enough to turn a blind eye to his boss' actions most of the time but not enough to actually get involved. His role is usually to tell the police not to investigate. He is clumsy and always eating and usually spilling it. He is based on Sergeant Garcia in the 1950s TV series Zorro.

Alfredo Catalano

A scientist who invented an earthquake machine. After his invention was discovered by Maria and Diego he was hired by Mayor Martínez for city demolition jobs. However his first job under the mayor was foiled by Zorro and Scarlet Whip and he is subsequently arrested.

Fearsome Four

Are criminals hired by Mayor Martínez to destroy Zorro but they end up unleashing mayhem in Pueblo Grande and try to take over the city themselves. They are eventually defeated by Zorro.

Augusto Catalano

Alfredo's twin brother specializing in nanites research. When Augusto offered his service to Mayor Martínez, in exchange for releasing his brother, Martínez demands Augusto destroys Zorro first. When Augusto's plan was initially successful in stopping Zorro the mayor changed his terms to demand he destroys Scarlet Whip as well. With Zorro's equipment infected by nanites Zorro turns to an old barn for a horse and antique weapons to fight Alfredo. Zorro breaks into Alfredo's lab and captures Alfredo.

Gloria Sheffield

Founder and CEO of Sheffield Industries. After Alejandro DeLa Vega had dropped out of mayor elections Gloria Sheffield planned a series of city-wide sabotages to destroy Horace Martínez's reputation in order to overtake the mayoral position in the election. Gloria ended up being the new mayor of Pueblo Grande despite Zorro's attempt to help Horace.

Jack Sheffield

Gloria Sheffield's son is disguised as a dumb jock at Pueblo Grande College. However he was the technical genius behind the city-wide sabotages and the retina recognition program to uncover the true identities of Zorro and Scarlet Whip. Later Zorro is able to work out Jack's role in the city-wide sabotage and discovers the potential identity leak. Bernardo was eventually able to intercept Jack's retina recognition program by replacing the final image with the Sheffields.

The Dons

Are a group of criminal hoodlums hired by Mayor Martínez to take charge of various criminal businesses in Pueblo Grande. When Gloria Sheffield runs for Pueblo Grande mayor they ended up being hired by her.

Episode list

To see here : https://www.youtube.com/user/ZorroGenerationZTV

01 - A New Generation Part I - 3/16/06
02 - A New Generation Part II - 3/23/06
03 - The Fearsome Four - 3/30/06
04 - Sins Of The Father - 4/6/06
05 - Mayor For A Day - 4/13/06
06 - Wanted: Part Time Hero - 4/20/06
07 - The Perfect Fox Hunt - 4/27/06
08 - Hostile Takeover - 5/4/06
09 - The Underground - 5/11/06
10 - Masquerade - 5/18/06
11 - Double Date - 5/25/06
12 - That Old School Spirit - 6/1/06
13 - "Don Payaso" - 6/8/06
14 - The Earthquake Machine - 6/15/06
15 - A 'Z' In Time - 6/22/06
16 - Crush or Be Crushed - 6/29/06
17 - The Wounded Fox - 7/6/06
18 - Persona Non Grata - 7/13/06
19 - Diego's Cousin - 7/20/06
20 - Crime Wave - 7/27/06
21 - Z-Virus - 8/3/06
22 - Mad About You - 8/10/06
23 - The Rival - 8/17/06
24 - The Golden Dragon - 8/24/06
25 - The New Arrivals - 8/31/06
26 - Poll Axed (the finale episode) - 9/7/06

Movies

Zorro: Return to the Future is a feature that includes the first 3 episodes of the series. It can also be found on iTunes.
Zorro and Scarlet Whip Revealed! is a feature that includes The Earthquake Machine, Z-Virus, and Poll Axed.

Cast

Ben Small as Diego de la Vega / Zorro
Jules de Jongh as Maria Martinez / Scarlet Whip
Janet Brown as Mrs. McAlistair
Morgan Deare as Mayor Martinez
Luis Soto as Sergeant Garcia
Sarah Douglas as Gloria Sheffield

External links