The Mysterious Cities Of Gold: Complete Series
Toei Animation (1982)
TV Series  /  Action, Adventure, Animation, Children, Fantasy
In Collection
#200
0*
Seen ItYes
9318500068743
IMDB   8.9
1014 mins USA / English
DVD  Region 4
Shiraz Adam Estaban
Janice Chaikelson Zia
Vlasta Vrana
Howard Ryshpan
Matt Berman
Anick Faris
Terrence Labrosse Sancho
Walter Massey
Adrian Knight
Kelly Ricard
A.J. Henderson Captain Gaspard
Maurice Podbrey Governor Pizzaro
Richard Dumont Menator
Dean Hagopian Kalmec
Tomoko Ai Lana
Director
Bernard Deyriès
Edouard David
Producer Kanae Mayuzumi
Max Saldinger
Writer Jean Chalopin
Scott O'Dell

The Mysterious Cities Of Gold - with its distinctive earworm theme song - was a must-watch staple of kids afternoon television on the ABC in 1980s Australia. Set in the 16th Century, the classic animated series follows the adventures of Esteban, a young Spanish boy who voyages to the New World to find his father, who has gone in search of the fabled golden city of El Dorado and its promise of riches. This new collector's set featuring remastered episodes contains all 39 episodes of this much-loved retro series.
Episodes
Volume 1
    Seen it: Yes   20 mins    1/05/1982  1.  Esteban, Child of the Sun
Father Rodriguez, who has looked after Esteban since he was a baby, tells him a great secret on his deathbed: somewhere his father may still be alive. So Esteban decides to begin his search in the New World. With the help of Mendoza, a mysterious man who claims to have rescued him as a baby, Esteban hides as a stowaway, aboard the Esperanza. As they are about to set sail, he meets a young Inca girl: Zia.
Director:  Bernard Deyriès  Writer:  Jean Chalopin 
Guest starring:  Père Rodriguez
    Seen it: Yes   20 mins    8/05/1982  2.  Crossing the Atlantic
The two children, Esteban and Zia, find out that they both wear the same strange medallion. The Esperanza crosses the Atlantic and nears the entrance of the Straits of Magellan, where wild seas and strong winds create terrible storms. Mendoza, the navigator, prepares to spend four days and nights at the wheel.
Director:  Bernard Deyriès  Writer:  Jean Chalopin 
    Seen it: Yes   20 mins    15/05/1982  3.  Heroes Again
Buffeted by a fierce wind and a wild sea, the Esperanza manages to sail through the Straits of Magellan, under Mendoza's guidance. But now, the ship faces another trial of strength: it is in the grip of a hurricane.
Director:  Bernard Deyriès  Writer:  Jean Chalopin 
    Seen it: Yes   20 mins    22/05/1982  4.  Adrift on the Endless Sea
Esteban and his friends barely cross through the terrible Straits of Magellan before their ship, the Esperanza, sinks in a storm. Tossed around on a small raft and attacked by sharks, they're left in the middle of the ocean, with no provisions. But a seagull overhead guides them towards the closest shores, and they finally reach a small island.
Director:  Bernard Deyriès  Writer:  Jean Chalopin 
    Seen it: Yes   20 mins    29/05/1982  5.  The Abduction of Zia
After a dangerous journey, Esteban and his friends are washed up on a mysterious island. That night, a shadowy figure comes creeping towards them. Silently, the figure steals a chart and a pistol, then snatches up Zia. Esteban gives chase. He discovers a curious house in a tree, where Zia is a prisoner. To Esteban's surprise, the mysterious shadow turns out to be a friendly boy of his own age, called Tao.
Director:  Bernard Deyriès  Writer:  Jean Chalopin 
    Seen it: Yes   20 mins    1/06/1982  6.  The Ship Solaris
On a small island among the Galapagos, Esteban and Zia find a young boy living all alone: Tao. His ancestors left a magnificent ship, the Solaris, which contains their ancient secret knowledge, hidden in a temple on the island. Esteban and Zia want to use the ship to reach the mainland.
Director:  Bernard Deyriès  Writer:  Jean Chalopin 
    Seen it: Yes   20 mins    12/06/1982  7.  Secret of the Solaris
Gomez' Spanish galleon overtakes and attacks the Solaris, the sun-powered ship on which the children are travelling. They manage to outrun the Spanish ship when Tao discovers a wonderful secret solar power boost, just in time. At last, they reach the new continent.
Director:  Bernard Deyriès  Writer:  Jean Chalopin 
Volume 2
    Seen it: Yes   20 mins    19/06/1982  8.  The New Continent
After many adventures, Esteban and his friends finally set foot on the new continent. But there, they meet the soldiers of Governor Pizarro, men who think only of gold. They capture Zia and try to make her tell them the way to the Cities of Gold, but Tao and Esteban help her to escape.
Director:  Bernard Deyriès  Writer:  Jean Chalopin 
    Seen it: Yes   20 mins    26/06/1982  9.  The End of the Solaris
Esteban and his companions escape from Pizarro, but their fabulous ship, the Solaris, is taken by Gaspard and Gomez. They offer to exchange the ship for Zia, and her secret. Trying to save Zia, and the friendly Inca people in the village, Tao blows up Gomez's ship, but sadly the Solaris is also destroyed.
Director:  Bernard Deyriès  Writer:  Jean Chalopin 
    Seen it: Yes   20 mins    3/07/1982  10.  Secret of the Temple
Esteban and his friends are on their way to Zia's village, when they are surrounded by Spanish soldiers. The children manage to escape, and take refuge in an underground temple, where they meet the old priest, Pasha. To help them escape, the priest melts the pillar of ice that supports the temple roof, and it crashes down on top of him. The others just manage to get away.
Director:  Bernard Deyriès  Writer:  Jean Chalopin 
    Seen it: Yes   20 mins    10/07/1982  11.  Messengers of the Region
Gomez captures the children and forces Zia to reveal the secret of the Golden Quipu. It is an Inca message which reveals that the Cities of Gold lie beyond the High Mountain Peak. In the night, Esteban and the children escape. They find a secret underground passage and set off for the High Peak.
Director:  Bernard Deyriès  Writer:  Jean Chalopin 
    Seen it: Yes   20 mins    17/07/1982  12.  Secret of the Medallions
The Spanish army follow Esteban and his friends to the Fort of the Black Eagle. Under cover of darkness, the Spaniards attack the fort, but Tao devises a rocket flare that repels the attackers, saving the fort. The three children leave the fort and at last reach the City of the High Peak, whose chief, Kraka, tells them that the medallions Esteban and Zia wear can open the doors of Sela, one of the Cities of Gold.
Director:  Bernard Deyriès  Writer:  Jean Chalopin 
    Seen it: Yes   20 mins    24/07/1982  13.  Mystery of the Parents
When Esteban arrives at the place called the High Peak, he meets an old man, Mayuka, who seems to know something about his parents.
Director:  Bernard Deyriès  Writer:  Jean Chalopin 
    Seen it: Yes   20 mins    31/07/1982  14.  Esteban's Medallions
Mendoza steals the Spanish army's cannon in order to win the trust of the Indians, but his plan fails. As the three Spaniards are about to be executed, Esteban comes to save them. But he demands that Mendoza give him back the sun section of his gold medallion.
Director:  Bernard Deyriès  Writer:  Jean Chalopin 
Volume 3
    Seen it: Yes   20 mins    7/08/1982  15.  The Subterranean Secret
Gomez and his soldiers attack the Fort of the Black Eagle to try to recapture the cannon Mendoza had stolen. Mendoza uses the cannon to fight back, but cannot stop the Spanish army who storm the fort and drive the Incas out. Esteban, Tao and Zia run away towards the High Peak, following secret underground passages constructed by the Incas.
Director:  Bernard Deyriès  Writer:  Jean Chalopin 
    Seen it: Yes   20 mins    14/08/1982  16.  The Urubus
Searching for the Cities of Gold, Esteban and his friends cross a high plateau up in the Andes. Near Lake Titicaca, they are attacked by the Urubus, a tribe of giants. Tao invents a submarine, and they capture Karuga, chief of the tribe, and hold him prisoner. Karuga tells them that there's a City of Gold on a mountain, guarded by the earth goddess, Pachamama.
Director:  Bernard Deyriès  Writer:  Jean Chalopin 
    Seen it: Yes   20 mins    21/08/1982  17.  The Great Condor
The setting sunlight leads Esteban and his friends to the statue of the earth goddess, Pachamama. The legend goes that when Pachamama takes the sun in her arms, the Gates to the Cities of Gold will open. Estaban and Zia place their medallions in the statue and the mountain opens up to reveal the first City of Gold. Inside they discover a great bird, made of solid gold.
Director:  Bernard Deyriès  Writer:  Jean Chalopin 
    Seen it: Yes   20 mins    28/08/1982  18.  Maiden Flight of the Condor
Inside the first City of Gold, Esteban finds a great Golden Condor. When the volcano on which the Cities are built begins to erupt, the Cities are destroyed. Sheltering inside the body of the Condor, they try to make its mechanism work, using the Medallion of the Sun. Suddenly, the giant bird spreads its wings and takes flight.
Director:  Bernard Deyriès  Writer:  Jean Chalopin 
    Seen it: Yes   20 mins    4/09/1982  19.  The Nasca Plateau
The great Golden Condor, carrying Esteban and his friends away from Pachamama and the erupting volcano, lands in the desert at Nazca. But when Pizarro and his soldiers arrive, Esteban makes sure everyone escapes.
Director:  Bernard Deyriès  Writer:  Jean Chalopin 
    Seen it: Yes   20 mins    11/09/1982  20.  The Spaniards' Cannon
The Golden Condor carries Esteban and his companions to the High Peak, where they encounter the Spanish forces, armed with their cannon. With the help of the Golden Condor, they stop Gomez and Gaspard. And when they had saved their friends, they leave the High Peak, in search of the land of the Mayas.
Director:  Bernard Deyriès  Writer:  Jean Chalopin 
    Seen it: Yes   20 mins    18/09/1982  21.  The Amazons
The group head for the land of the Mayas, on board the Golden Condor, when they are forced to land in the jungle. They are captured by Amazon warriors and taken to their temple, to be sacrificed to the Rain God. But Esteban uses his special powers, and the sun comes out. The Queen is so impressed by his power to command the sun, that she orders their release.
Director:  Bernard Deyriès  Writer:  Jean Chalopin 
Volume 4
    Seen it: Yes   20 mins    6/11/1982  22.  The Forest of Statues
After much travelling and many adventures, Esteban and his friends finally discover the third temple built deep inside an enormous cave. A golden statue is holding a third manuscript which mentions a mountain known as "The Burning Shield".
Director:  Bernard Deyriès  Writer:  Jean Chalopin 
    Seen it: Yes   20 mins    25/09/1982  23.  The Mirror of the Moon
Esteban and his friends on board the Golden Condor have to make a forced landing in the jungle, where they're captured by Amazon warriors who want to sacrifice them to their Rain God. After some difficulties, they manage to escape from this dangerous situation. And in the end, the Queen of the Amazons allows them to leave for the land of the Mayas.
Director:  Bernard Deyriès  Writer:  Jean Chalopin 
    Seen it: Yes   20 mins    2/10/1982  24.  The Jade Mask
In the jungle, Esteban and his friends discover some ruins, deserted temples and pyramids. In one of the temples, Pedro and Sancho try to remove a jade mask from the wall when the mask begins to glow. Suddenly the stone beams shoot out of the walls, ceiling and floor and trip them up.
Director:  Bernard Deyriès  Writer:  Jean Chalopin 
    Seen it: Yes   20 mins    9/10/1982  25.  The Manuscript
After solving the secret of the green jade mask, Esteban and his friends find a manuscript which seems to hold the key to the whereabouts of the Cities of Gold. But almost immediately, they are captured by Doctor Fernando Laguerra and his friend, Marinche, who are also searching for the Cities of Gold. However, Kokapetl manages to rescue them all.
Director:  Bernard Deyriès  Writer:  Jean Chalopin 
    Seen it: Yes   20 mins    16/10/1982  26.  The Lake of Gold
Esteban and his friends are captured by Indians who wanted to sacrifice them to purify their sacred lake of gold. Marinche and Doctor Laguerra try to poison the lake so they could get at all the treasure on the bottom. Mendoza foils their plan by breaking through the dam, flooding the village and allowing the children to escape.
Director:  Bernard Deyriès  Writer:  Jean Chalopin 
    Seen it: Yes   20 mins    23/10/1982  27.  The Swamps
The Serpent God of the Mayas was said to have crossed the mountains to build a new city in the east, among the swamps of the Rain God. Setting out to find this second city, Esteban and his friends are tricked by Marinche, and find themselves fighting the alligators in the marshes. After a savage battle, they escape to the other side of the swamp.
Director:  Bernard Deyriès  Writer:  Jean Chalopin 
    Seen it: Yes   20 mins    30/10/1982  28.  The Doors of Night
Esteban and his friends find the second City of Gold, but they are captured by Marinche and the Doctor. The Doctor finds a new manuscript, but is caught in a trap set into the floor of the temple. The children get the manuscript which tells of a third city, to be found near a forest of statues.
Director:  Bernard Deyriès  Writer:  Jean Chalopin 
Volume 5
    Seen it: Yes   20 mins    13/11/1982  29.  The Burning Shield
Having found the Burning Shield, Esteban and his friends fall into the hands of the mysterious Olmecs, who possess very advanced technology. They escape from them, but are captured again. So what will happen to them now?
Director:  Bernard Deyriès  Writer:  Jean Chalopin 
    Seen it: Yes   20 mins    20/11/1982  30.  The Escape
Using their advanced technology, the Olmecs are able to collect energy from the heat of the sun, and from deep inside the Earth. They capture Esteban, Tao and Zia, intent on transplanting their cells to regenerate their elders, so they can become young again. With Mendoza's help, the children manage to escape.
Director:  Bernard Deyriès  Writer:  Jean Chalopin 
    Seen it: Yes   20 mins    27/11/1982  31.  The Village of the New Sun
Esteban and his friends are guests at the Village of the New Sun. But the Olmecs have found the Golden Condor, and prepare to attack the village, with the help of the Doctor and Marinche, who mean to steal the great golden bird for themselves. Meanwhile, Myena discovers that Papacamayo, the old chief, is really Zia's father.
Director:  Bernard Deyriès  Writer:  Jean Chalopin 
    Seen it: Yes   20 mins    4/12/1982  32.  Attack of the Olmecs
With the help of Gomez and Gaspard, Esteban and his friends succeed in getting the Golden Condor to fly. But the Olmecs find the Indian Village of the New Sun, and mount a fierce attack. With the help of the Golden Condor, they are defeated. But Zia's father, Papacamayo, has been seriously wounded.
Director:  Bernard Deyriès  Writer:  Jean Chalopin 
    Seen it: Yes   20 mins    11/12/1982  33.  The Reunion
In the Indian Village of the New Sun, Zia at last finds her father, Papacamayo. But her happiness is short-lived, when he dies from his wounds, after defending the village against an attack by the Olmecs. All the Mayan tribes unite to fight against the Olmecs.
Director:  Bernard Deyriès  Writer:  Jean Chalopin 
    Seen it: Yes   20 mins    18/12/1982  34.  Revolt of the Mayas
The Mayan people arm themselves and attack the Olmecs, who have been tyrannising them for years. A fierce battle takes place near the entrance to the Olmec base. From the Golden Condor, Esteban and the other children bombard the Olmecs with stones, turning the tide of the battle in favour of the Mayas.
Director:  Bernard Deyriès  Writer:  Jean Chalopin 
    Seen it: Yes   20 mins    8/01/1983  35.  The Olmec Machine
Esteban and his friends manage to find their way into the Olmec base. But Kalmec discovers them, and takes Zia prisoner. Suddenly, a gigantic war machine rushes up from deep inside the Olmec underground temple.
Director:  Bernard Deyriès  Writer:  Jean Chalopin 
Volume 6
    Seen it: Yes   20 mins    15/01/1983  36.  Aerial Pursuit
Esteban flies the Golden Condor against the terrible Olmec war machine, to try to rescue Zia. Tao and Esteban manage to leap onto the machine in mid-air, and Zia is saved. But Tao is left behind, a prisoner.
Director:  Bernard Deyriès  Writer:  Jean Chalopin 
    Seen it: Yes   20 mins    15/01/1983  37.  The City of Gold
With Tao as a hostage, the Olmecs force Esteban and Zia to use their medallions to open the doors to the City of Gold.
Director:  Bernard Deyriès  Writer:  Jean Chalopin 
    Seen it: Yes   20 mins    22/01/1983  38.  The Great Legacy
After wounding the High Priest of the Cities of Gold, Kalmec steals the Great Treasure, a concentrated source of the sun's power also called the Sun Power Unit. However, the security systems of the City are activated and destroy the Olmecs' flying machine. Kalmec and Menator make their way back to their base, taking the Great Treasure with them.
Director:  Bernard Deyriès  Writer:  Jean Chalopin 
    Seen it: Yes   20 mins    5/02/1983  39.  End of the City of Gold
The Olmecs place the Sun Power Unit at the bottom of their sunlight collecting crystal and activate it. However, the unit does not behave as expected and the Sun Power Unit begins to overheat. The High Priest of the Cities of Gold, who turns out to be Esteban's father, tries to shut it down using Tao's jar which is actually a control unit. But he could be too late.
Director:  Bernard Deyriès  Writer:  Jean Chalopin 
Edition Details
Screen Ratio 1.33 (4:3)
Audio Tracks ENGLISH: Dolby Digital Stereo
No. of Discs/Tapes 6