The Mysterious Cities of Gold (2012 TV series)
Sequel to the 1982 anime series about the Cities of Gold.
The Mysterious Cities of Gold (French: *Les Mystérieuses Cités d'Or*) is an animated series that continues the story of the original 1982 anime of the same name. It first aired on La Trois in Belgium on November 17, 2012.
The main characters are Esteban, Zia, and Tao. Esteban, voiced by Audrey Pic, is an orphan rescued at sea as a baby twelve years earlier by the Spanish navigator Mendoza. He wears one of two sun medallions, is impulsive and adventure-seeking, but has a fear of heights—a problem since people in Barcelona believe he is the "Child of the Sun" and lift him high to call out the sun for departing ships. He joins the Spaniards searching for one of the Seven Cities of Gold in the New World, hoping to find his father. Zia, voiced by Adeline Chetail, is the daughter of an Inca high priest. She was kidnapped from Peru at age seven by Spanish invaders and given to the Queen of Spain for her daughter, Princess Margarita. She later meets Esteban after being kidnapped by Mendoza for Governor Pizarro, who wants her to read a golden quipu. Zia wears a sun medallion like Esteban's, featuring an interlocking sun and moon disc. Tao, voiced by Caroline Mozzone, is the last descendant of the sunken empire of Mu. He lived alone on the Galápagos Islands after his father died. Initially wary of the others when they arrive on his island, he joins their journey after the ship Solaris is revealed. Juan Carlos Mendoza, voiced by Bruno Magne, is a Spanish navigator who rescued Esteban from a shipwreck. An experienced sailor, navigator, and swordsman, he acts as a leader, though his loyalties are often unclear, causing conflict with others. He is accompanied by two mercenaries, Sancho and Pedro. Mendoza has long searched for information about the Mysterious Cities of Gold, which led him to the sun medallions; he took one from Esteban for safekeeping when rescuing him.
The first season's episodes 1 and 2 aired as a double bill on November 9, 2013, on Pop Max, with repeats on November 11 and 12 at 6pm, then continuing daily weekdays. The English version premiered on Pop Max on November 9, 2013. Fabulous Films released it on DVD and Blu-ray in the UK on February 17, 2014. The second season was produced and released in France in 2016, then in English in Australia in 2018. Season three aired in French on RTS Un but has not yet received an English dub.
The show was generall
- premiere_date
- November 17, 2012 (Belgium)
- country_of_origin
- France
- language
- French
- genre
- Animated series
- based_on
- Original 1982 anime series
- seasons
- 3 (as of source article)
Lore & Background
The main cast includes Esteban, an orphan rescued at sea as a baby twelve years ago by the Spanish navigator Mendoza. Esteban wears one of two sun medallions and dreams of adventure, though he has a fear of heights. He joins the Spaniards in their search for one of The Seven Cities of Gold in the New World, hoping to find his father. Zia, the daughter of an Inca high priest, was kidnapped from Peru at age seven and given to the Queen of Spain; the story begins approximately seven years after her abduction. She wears a sun medallion like Esteban's, with an interlocking sun and moon disc. Tao is the last living descendant of the sunken empire of Mu, living alone on the Galápagos Islands after his father's death. He joins the others when the ship Solaris is revealed. Juan Carlos Mendoza, a Spaniard and navigator, rescued Esteban from a shipwreck. He is an experienced sailor and master swordsman.
Reader's Guide
The series premiered in English on Pop Max on November 9, 2013, with episodes 1 and 2 shown as a premiere double bill. Fabulous Films released it on DVD and Blu-ray on February 17, 2014, in the UK. The second season was made and released in France in 2016, and subsequently released in English in Australia in 2018. Season three was broadcast in French on RTS Un but has yet to receive an English dub. The show was generally badly received by critics such as Starburst and HuffPost, who perceived it as losing its identity and being untrue to the original. A video game called The Mysterious Cities of Gold: Secret Paths for Windows (available on Steam), Wii U, Nintendo 3DS, and iOS was published by Ynnis Interactive. The series continues the story of the original 1982 anime, following the same characters on their quest for the legendary cities.
Did You Know?
- The series premiered on La Trois in Belgium on November 17, 2012.
- Esteban was rescued at sea as a baby twelve years ago by the Spanish navigator Mendoza.
- Zia was kidnapped from Peru five years ago when she was seven and given to the Queen of Spain.
- Tao is the last living descendant of the sunken empire of Mu.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Mysterious Cities of Gold (2012 TV series)?
It is a French-language animated series that functions as a direct sequel to the 1982 anime of the same name. The show ran for three seasons and was produced in France.
Who are the main characters in The Mysterious Cities of Gold (2012 TV series)?
The story centers on three young protagonists: Esteban, Zia, and Tao. Esteban, voiced by Audrey Pic, is an orphan who was pulled from the sea as a baby and raised by the Spanish navigator Mendoza.
What is Esteban's special role in The Mysterious Cities of Gold (2012 TV series)?
Esteban bears one of two sun medallions and is believed by the people of Barcelona to be the 'Child of the Sun,' the figure they hoist aloft to call forth the legendary cities. His impulsive, adventure-driven personality clashes with a persistent fear of heights that makes that very role especially difficult for him.
When and where did The Mysterious Cities of Gold (2012 TV series) first air?
The series premiered on November 17, 2012, on the Belgian channel La Trois. It was produced in France and presented entirely in French.
How does The Mysterious Cities of Gold (2012 TV series) relate to the original 1982 anime?
The 2012 production is a narrative continuation that picks up the quest for the Cities of Gold where the 1982 anime left off. It reinterprets the characters and mythology through a French production lens while preserving the core legend of the original.
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