15. Gargoyles
Series Run: 1994-1997 (78 episodes)
Network: Disney Channel (1994-96) and ABC (1996-97)
Theme Song Rating: Appropriately epic and dark, theme song gets 4.5/5, gets your rocks off. A band of nocturnal heroes fighting off mythological and literary villains while striving for understanding in a prejudiced world, Gargoyles is like a cross between Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Led by Goliath (voiced by all-time great Keith David), the Manhattan Clan of gargoyles dole out vigilante justice with the help of NYPD detective Elisa Maza. The show's style harkens back to Gothic architecture and seems to be influenced by the Tim Burton Batman films, as the New York in Gargoyles is a sort of steam-punk futuristic landscape with large buildings and columns. Drawing from Scottish and Japanese history, diversity is a key issue in the series. Known for having longer storylines with multiple arcs being carried out over a number of episodes, the central theme of the show seemed to be acceptance. With the diverse cast of characters, racial politics was an inevitable but surprising underlying issue for a cartoon. The show's Disney cancellation after the 52 episode second season led to a third season without show creator Greg Weisman, and the third season (subtitled The Goliath Chronicles) is not considered to be canon by the show's more ardent fans. But with a stellar voice cast including David, Ed Asner, Jim Cummings, and Richard Greico?! Gargoyles was a fascinating TV show that with a high literary pedigree.