Last week we looked at the first CG Zorro cartoon. Tonight we’re going back to 2D in this second Zorro show. Sure there are plenty of others–I just found one more and I’m curious about seeing it in the future, maybe even next week–but how many long themes can I do for this feature? Let me introduce you, and myself actually, to Zorro: Generation Z, a show that I think is best described as either Batman Beyond or Phantom: 2040 depending on whether or not you get the latter reference. I think that would be the most accurate though, as the descendant of the original takes up his ancestor’s mantle in the future, complete with futuristic takes on the old gear, to fight an oppressive group. There just haven’t been 20+ other Zorros by this point, at least in this continuity as far as I know. Descendant and protege Zorros are nothing new.
Developed by Rick Ungar for BKN and now owned by Media DHX through the chain of acquisitions, Diego de la Vega takes up the name of Zorro to protect Pueblo Grande from a corrupt government. He even gets his own Bernardo and Garcia in their usual roles, as well as a rival crimefighter who has her own beef with the evil mayor, Horace Martinez. The first two episodes are a two-parter, “A New Generation”, so thanks to an official YouTube posting I can bring you a taste of the future incarnation. I hear an episode has him time-travel to meet the original Zorro, so maybe I’ll take a look at that one someday. Tonight however we’re just going to see how this all begins. Enjoy, amigos!
