Dragon Flyz

Dragon Flyz is an animated television series created by Savin Yeatman-Eiffel and produced by Gaumont Multimédia in association with Abrams/Gentile Entertainment. The show, based on a toy line by Galoob, ran for two seasons, in syndication in the United States and Europe, from 1996 to 1997. 26 episodes were produced.

The series, set in a world following an event called the Cataclysm follows the Dragonators, who ride on dragons in search and rescue operations.

David Perlmutter's Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows calls Dragon Flyz "a very transparent ad for a toy line, much like some of the other productions the Abrams/Gentile Studio was involved in at this time (see Happy Ness: The Secret of the Loch and Van-Pires for other examples)."

Plot and setting
Set in the 41st century after an event called the Cataclysm, which is implied to have been caused by nuclear warfare, the series follows the adventures of dragon-riders, who are either human or of a race resembling reptiles, gargoyles, and demons, as they fight for control of the Earth. The Cataclysm caused the extinction of most of Earth's inhabitants, ecosystems, and species and its surface to become barren and volcanic, with rivers of lava running across the surface, making it uninhabitable except for animals adapted to the environment. The surviving human population lives in the airborne city of Airlandis, from which Dragonators regularly travel to the surface to retrieve Amber, which is used as a source of fuel and usually obtained from lava pools or directly from the ground. It is also shown that some humans escaped the Cataclysm aboard a space station, on which the protagonists' mother now resides. They are often threatened by lightning storms, air currents, and acidic clouds called Warp Winds, through which the only safe passages are hollow mountains called Wind Pits. Despite the Cataclysm, some life survived due to being sheltered in an Oasis: a pocket of life where the planet's former species live in safety.

Airlandis is an airborne city with five biospheres at its center, each simulating a different natural habitat and preserving the species rescued from the Cataclysm. The city's most important region is its power core, which is operated by the engineer Orac. Airlandis also has a runway for the Dragonators, an aviary where the dragons reside when not being used for flight, a chamber where matters of government are negotiated, Skywatch, where a team maintains the city's systems and monitors the skies, and a prison.

Characters
The main characters ride dragons for travel and combat, but also have the ability to fly short distances. The Dragonators use dragonfly-like wings known as exo-wings that sprout from the backplate of their armor, while Dreadwing and his minions, the Dramen, sprout membranous wings from their shoulders. Both types of wings disappear when not in use. The Dragonators' primary weapon is the Wind Jammer, a wrist-mounted weapon, while Dreadwing and the Dramen wield glove-like cannons.

Z'neth

 * Callsign: Dragonator One
 * Armor Color: Cerulean
 * Dragon Steed: Riptor

The leader of the Dragonators and the eldest of the four siblings, who values honor and integrity.

Summit

 * Callsign: Dragonator Two
 * Armor Color: Forest green
 * Dragon Steed: Sky-Fury

The second-eldest sibling. He is known for his witty remarks, short temper, and preference for physical strength.

Apex

 * Callsign: Dragonator Three
 * Armor Color: Silver
 * Dragon Steed: Blazewind

The third-oldest sibling. She prefers negotiation to conflict, and has telepathic abilities that allow her to communicate with dragons and partially manipulate half-dragons, such as Dramen. When using her powers, her eyes and those of her subject, glow silver.

Peak

 * Callsign: Dragonator Four
 * Armor Color: Orange/purple
 * Dragon Steed: Wingstorm

The youngest and most reckless of the siblings. He enjoys stunt-flying on dragons, which often gets him in trouble, and is egotistical and mischievous.

Amod

 * Callsign: Dragonator Five
 * Armor Color: Brown
 * Dragon Steed: Titan

A member of the Dragon Flyz and Peak's friend. He is skilled in battle, but initially disrespectful to dragons.

Zarkan

 * Callsign: Dragonator Six
 * Armor Color: Black
 * Dragon Steed: Thunder

A soldier of the Dragon Flyz who aids the Dragonators.

Nora

 * Callsign: Dragonator Nine
 * Armor Color: Light blue
 * Dragon Steed: Unnamed

The second female Dragonator in Airlandis, who Peak has a crush on, and who fights alongside the other Dragonators.

Aaron

 * Armor Color: Red

The father of the four siblings, who often acts as their advisor. He has no use of his legs and is therefore unable to walk, instead hovering above the ground. This is implied to be controlled by his staff, which has an Amber crystal. He is the strongest advocate on Airlandis's ruling council for finding a new place to live.

Orac
An engineer who maintains Airlandis' power generator.

Councillor Joshua
A ranking member of Airlandis' governing parliament, who often takes opposition to Aaron's position. Though his intentions are for the good of the populace, his impatience ultimately leads him to place Summit in prison, allowing Dreadwing control of Airlandis.

Dreadwing

 * Dragon Steed: Blackheart

The main antagonist of the series, who lives in a crashed ship known as Warnado and commands a faction of Dramen.

Nocturna

 * Dragon Steed: Unnamed

Dreadwing's second-in-command, who serves him in exchange for a domain of her own. When Dreadwing offers her the Oasis in exchange for her continued loyalty, she accepts, but is angered when he destroys it. It is implied that she has a crush on Z'neth, as she is willing to ally herself with the Dragonators and help them at times.

Fryte

 * Dragon Steed: Skunk

A servant of Dreadwing, who is unquestioningly loyal to him. Like Nocturna, his dragon steed resembles him.

Gangryn
A mutant scientist who serves Dreadwing, but has his own ambitions and is willing to change allegiances for his own sake.

The Gremwings
Gremwings are bipedal, insect-like creatures who serve Dreadwing; they have great strength and come in hordes. Other species include a monocular, batlike species which serves to gather information and a similar species that feeds on blood.

The Dramen

 * Dragon Steed: Unnamed

The Dramen are large, gargoyle-like humanoids that can sprout wings from their bodies. Dreadwing's Dramen are sometimes seen supporting him and his lieutenants and riding dragons.

Dram

 * Callsign: None
 * Armor Color: Dark brown
 * Dragon Steed: Titan

A Dramen who Aaron raised after his village was mysteriously destroyed, and his loyalty to them has caused other Dramen to call him a traitor, much to his resentment. Although he has a dragon steed, Dram prefers to fly himself.

Vydak
The tribal leader of a clan of Dark Dramen who destroyed Dram's village and killed his family, and later enslaved another clan. In his first appearance, Dreadwing attempts to form an alliance with him, but this fails when Dram attempts to rescue the enslaved villagers. In his second appearance, his warriors meet with Dreadwing's army in a canyon before attacking Airlandis, but are unaware that their leaders are plotting to betray each other.

Dragons
There are three type of dragons that appear in the series. The most common are the Airlandian dragons, which have smooth-skinned, serpentine bodies, long, slender necks and tails, needle-like teeth, and pterosaur-like wings on which they can walk. The second type is a large-bodied, four-legged breed with short necks that Fryte, Kreigo and Nocturna ride. The third type, of which Blackheart is the only example in the series, has characteristics of both types, but is larger and has the ability to consume lava and breathe fire. All dragons are intelligent and seem to understand human speech, and are loyal to their riders. When not on duty, Airlandian dragons live in a vast, hangarlike station consisting of nesting areas and a terraformed environment, including a lake.

Riptor
Z'Neth's dragon, a blue dragon with a nasal horn and two large crests. An Arlandian dragon, he is considered the leader of the dragons, as evidenced by his larger nest, collar, and crest armor. Riptor has a personal rivalry with Blackheart and is one of only two dragons and the only Airlandian dragon that can match his power.

Sky Fury
Summit's dragon, a green dragon with two brown horns. She is the only female among the protagonists' steeds and will not hesitate to take action, even without being given a command.

Fury's Cub
A small green dragon born early in the series. While still an egg, Nocturna, sent by Dreadwing to capture dragon eggs for Gangryn's genetic experiments, steals him from Fury to use in those experiments. As a result, he has the ability to project a paralyzing blast when he hatches. Dreadwing attempts to use this ability as a weapon, but fails when Sky Fury convinces him to join her.

Wing Storm
Peak's dragon, a young, steel-gray dragon with a spiky head and a long mouth. Both Wing Storm and Peak are reckless, though Wing Storm is the more cautious of the two.

Blazewind
Apex's dragon, a white dragon with a black mane. Blazewind is closer to his rider than others because of Apex's ability to communicate telepathically.

Blackheart
Dreadwing's dragon. A massive four-legged, long-necked, dragon with red scales and the ability to consume lava and breathe fire. Riptor is his rival and is his equal in power, but he was once defeated by the leader of a pack of wild dragons who could also breathe fire.

Episodes
The first three episodes were released as a stand-alone movie titled Dragon Flyz: The Legend Begins on December 3, 1996.

Toy line
There were two sets of Dragon Flyz toys released by Galoob. One set consists of the main characters in various costumes, equipped with rotating wings that enable them to fly, a launching device shaped as a dragon, and a DVD. The second set does not have the DVD, and the launcher does not look like a dragon. Variations include lone riders; lone dragons that fly by flapping their own wings; and figures that illuminate when launched. Most of the rider figures carry firearm-like weapons. Galoob released a similar toyline aimed at girls, Sky Dancers.

Home media
Dragon Flyz had five VHS releases released by Columbia TriStar Home Video, four numbered volumes with a single episode each and "Dragon Flyz: The Legend Begins", a compilation of the first three episodes. There have been two region 2 DVDs, each with three episodes, in addition to those sold alongside the toys. The series has been officially released for viewing on YouTube by Mondo World.