Gargoyles
Series, 1994, The Disney Afternoon, Set in Manhattan
Gargoyles is #5 of 17 in release order and #5 of 17 in chronological order in the Disney Channel Cartoons.
The story
In Scotland, 994 A.D. Goliath and his clan of gargoyles defend a medieval castle. In present day, David Xanatos buys the castle and moves it to New York City. When the castle is attacked the gargoyles are awakened from a 1000 year curse.
Gargoyles recap
In 994, a clan of gargoyles who guard a Scottish castle by night and turn to stone by day is betrayed, and their leader Goliath and a few survivors are cursed to sleep in stone. In 1994, billionaire David Xanatos moves the castle to the top of his Manhattan skyscraper, which breaks the spell. Goliath, his mentor Hudson, the young trio Brooklyn, Lexington and Broadway, and the beast Bronx learn to live in modern New York, helped by police detective Elisa Maza. Their enemies include Xanatos and Goliath's former love Demona, who now hates humanity. Season 2 widens the world: Macbeth, the Third Race of Oberon's children, and a long World Tour in which Goliath, Elisa, Bronx and Goliath's daughter Angela sail from Avalon to gargoyle clans around the globe. Xanatos slowly turns from villain to uneasy ally, and Goliath and Elisa fall for each other.
Gargoyles ending explained
The creator's story ends with the three-part "Hunter's Moon": the Canmore siblings, a family of gargoyle hunters, destroy the clan's clock tower home and expose them to the public, while Demona's plan to wipe out humanity with a virus is stopped. A third season, The Goliath Chronicles (1996 to 1997), is not considered canon and ends with the anti-gargoyle Quarrymen discredited. Comics have continued the original story since 2006, and Disney was reported in 2026 to be developing a new animated series.
Where to watch Gargoyles
Gargoyles is streaming on Disney+ in the US. You can rent or buy it on Apple TV, Google Play, and Fandango At Home.
Ratings
IMDb 8.0/10
Where it fits
- Release order: after Darkwing Duck, before Recess.
- Chronological order: after Darkwing Duck, before Recess.
Cast
- Keith David as Goliath (voice)
- Salli Richardson-Whitfield as Elisa Maza (voice)
- Ed Asner as Hudson (voice)
- Jeff Bennett as Brooklyn (voice)
- Thom Adcox-Hernandez as Lexington (voice)
- Bill Fagerbakke as Broadway (voice)
- Frank Welker as Bronx (voice)
- Jonathan Frakes as David Xanatos (voice)
- Marina Sirtis as Demona (voice)
- Brigitte Bako as Angela (voice)
- Thomas F. Wilson as Matt Bluestone (voice)
- Kath Soucie as Weird Sisters (voice)