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Look, I can be honest when I say that the only reason I really like the intro to this show is that I’m a total 80’s nut (to a point) and I happen to like some Europop now and then. Still, for its time Ulysses 31 was a darn good show, even if the acting could be a bit bland at times. At concept and character/vehicle design, the show really stood out. Taking the Greek Gods and putting a science-fiction spin on Homer’s The Odyssey, or any myth for that matter, was rare in not unique. (Ulysses was the Latin name for Odysseus, the hero of Homer’s story.)
But what makes a good intro is that it makes you curious to see the full show and gets you in the mindset for what’s to come, and on this the show delivered!
Here’s the full version of the song, if anyone’s interested. The series was a joint production of France’s wing of DIC and Japan’s famed TMS studio, which has been brought up plenty of times here at the Spotlight. They have earned their reputation and you’d be surprised how much of your childhood viewing has them to thank for it.
There is one thing that I can’t figure out is why the robot Nono (not to be confused with “Ohno” from our last Favorite Intro, Mighty Orbots) gets a focus at the end. He was supporting cast at best, and was just there to be scared and eat nuts and bolts and stuff. Occasionally he was helpful, but I don’t recall him being that major a character compared to the other three. Otherwise, the show does its job, set-up the premise and make it look cool rather than tell you how cool it is (see the “Not-So Favorite Intros” section for examples of those).
Also, if you like this, take some time and find the international versions of the intro. I think they all look the same, and it was the same song at least in beat and tempo and other musical terms. (Not speaking other languages, I can’t say if the lyrics were changed or not.) However, they’re still pretty interesting.
You may be able to find some episodes on DVD or on DIC’s Jaroo site.
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