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Shadow of the Elves / Mittelland - Die Legende der Elfen
2004, Germany
Synopsis
This little show takes place in a microscopic world of warring Fair Folk. Elves live in harmony in the Meadowlands, while the Elf lord Kann constantly plots to take them over. Captain Daiman of the Elves is regularly picked to lead the latest mission against the Fairies, though his sympathies for them, and his growing affection for the Fairy Thalia challenge his loyalties. Among the Fairies is Phaedon, a conniving traitor who secretly helps Kann's schemes in order to eventually claim the Meadowlands for himself. In the middle of it all are Vincent and the Rock Trolls, a gang of dimwitted knuckleheads whose involvement with the other two factions is usually completely accidental due to whatever silly hijinks they're getting up to. The Elves are actually from another world, and at some point in the distant past they were spirited away to this world, and if they can't find a way home, they'll settle for taking over the place by any means necessary, no matter how destructive.
Overview
It's a cute and inoffensive little show, one that really has that Saturday Morning Cartoon™ feel to it. It's not a technical marvel, nor is it a waste of the cels it's animated on. The characters are simple with just enough depth to avoid being completely one-note, and the plots are easy to digest. The world-building tends to take a back seat, but in a way that doesn't feel like it harms the overall storytelling with constant contradictions.
Characters are decently written, with solid performances all around, especially with some recognizable talent like Rachael Lillis (Misty) as Thalia, and Madeleine Blaustein (Meowth) as Phaedon. Thalia is the all-loving heroine with a taste for adventure who frequently crosses paths with captain Daiman during whatever new mission he's on for Lord Kann. Their enemies-to-lovers path is clear from the moment you see the title thumbnail, but it's not completely shallow and saccharine. Daiman cares for her, but his loyalty to his people causes plenty of friction and the two often work together to find a way to avoid harming the Fairies while not sacrificing Daiman's standing among the Elves. Lord Kann is almost single-minded in his mission to defeat the Fairies, but displays some measure of cunning sometimes. Daiman's cohorts, Balabust and Shil, add some more spice to the dish, with Balabust being a lovable boisterous braggart, and Shil being a nearly robotic Elf warrior who seems to have traded her femininity for soldiery. Vincent and the Rock Trolls are basically a microscopic fantasy version of the Jackass crew, where any trouble they cause the others is just them being rowdy goofs messing with the human trash in their junkyard territory.
Animation quality is adequate. It doesn't do that terrible wannabe anime style that some poorly-made shows from the mid 2000s did (there's one Chinese production that I watched recently that I'll probably make a thread on for this very reason), it has a clear visual identity that is simple, but not completely generic. It has that feel that it was made by actual artists with passion, albeit on a modest budget, instead of a lazy trend-chasing cash grab. Music is serviceable, and sound design is solid (no Wakfu ENG dub season 1 & 2 problems here).
All in all, it's a decent cartoon that offers a fair bit of entertainment if you're in the mood for some light-hearted fantasy fare. A nice little "comfort food" kind of show.
You can find it on YouTube, Tubi, and Plex.
2004, Germany
Synopsis
This little show takes place in a microscopic world of warring Fair Folk. Elves live in harmony in the Meadowlands, while the Elf lord Kann constantly plots to take them over. Captain Daiman of the Elves is regularly picked to lead the latest mission against the Fairies, though his sympathies for them, and his growing affection for the Fairy Thalia challenge his loyalties. Among the Fairies is Phaedon, a conniving traitor who secretly helps Kann's schemes in order to eventually claim the Meadowlands for himself. In the middle of it all are Vincent and the Rock Trolls, a gang of dimwitted knuckleheads whose involvement with the other two factions is usually completely accidental due to whatever silly hijinks they're getting up to. The Elves are actually from another world, and at some point in the distant past they were spirited away to this world, and if they can't find a way home, they'll settle for taking over the place by any means necessary, no matter how destructive.
Overview
It's a cute and inoffensive little show, one that really has that Saturday Morning Cartoon™ feel to it. It's not a technical marvel, nor is it a waste of the cels it's animated on. The characters are simple with just enough depth to avoid being completely one-note, and the plots are easy to digest. The world-building tends to take a back seat, but in a way that doesn't feel like it harms the overall storytelling with constant contradictions.
Characters are decently written, with solid performances all around, especially with some recognizable talent like Rachael Lillis (Misty) as Thalia, and Madeleine Blaustein (Meowth) as Phaedon. Thalia is the all-loving heroine with a taste for adventure who frequently crosses paths with captain Daiman during whatever new mission he's on for Lord Kann. Their enemies-to-lovers path is clear from the moment you see the title thumbnail, but it's not completely shallow and saccharine. Daiman cares for her, but his loyalty to his people causes plenty of friction and the two often work together to find a way to avoid harming the Fairies while not sacrificing Daiman's standing among the Elves. Lord Kann is almost single-minded in his mission to defeat the Fairies, but displays some measure of cunning sometimes. Daiman's cohorts, Balabust and Shil, add some more spice to the dish, with Balabust being a lovable boisterous braggart, and Shil being a nearly robotic Elf warrior who seems to have traded her femininity for soldiery. Vincent and the Rock Trolls are basically a microscopic fantasy version of the Jackass crew, where any trouble they cause the others is just them being rowdy goofs messing with the human trash in their junkyard territory.
Animation quality is adequate. It doesn't do that terrible wannabe anime style that some poorly-made shows from the mid 2000s did (there's one Chinese production that I watched recently that I'll probably make a thread on for this very reason), it has a clear visual identity that is simple, but not completely generic. It has that feel that it was made by actual artists with passion, albeit on a modest budget, instead of a lazy trend-chasing cash grab. Music is serviceable, and sound design is solid (no Wakfu ENG dub season 1 & 2 problems here).
All in all, it's a decent cartoon that offers a fair bit of entertainment if you're in the mood for some light-hearted fantasy fare. A nice little "comfort food" kind of show.
You can find it on YouTube, Tubi, and Plex.
