Arabian Knights

For other uses, see Arabian Nights (disambiguation).
Arabian Knights

title screen
Genre Animation, Fantasy
Directed by Joseph Barbera
William Hanna
Voices of Paul Frees
Frank Gerstle
Shari Lewis
Jay North
John Stephenson
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
French
No. of seasons 1
No. of episodes 18
Production company(s) Hanna-Barbera Productions
Release
Original network NBC
Original release 7 September 1968 –
11 January 1969

Arabian Knights is an animated segment of The Banana Splits Adventure Hour, created by Hanna-Barbera Productions. The series is based on Arabian Nights, a classic work of Middle Eastern literature.

Plot: Secret origins

Once a peaceful country, Persia was run over by the powerful forces of the evil conqueror Bakaar, the Black Sultan. When all the states of Persia were over thrown, Bakaar invaded the capital city of Baghdad. Bakaar and his forces breached the royal palace and forcibly claimed the throne from Prince Turhan and ordered to kill the Prince. Prince flees away from palace to be pursued by the guards of Bakaar. In his run, Prince is helped by a magician Fariek, who with his magic slipped away from guards. On their way to the state of El-Rabaal to his Caliph uncle to seek aid, Turhan and Fariek meet Raseem while being chased by the guards in the Caves of Doom. Raseem tells them that Bakaar's forces have already usurp the throne of El-Rabaal and imprisoned the Caliph and his daughter princess Nida. The trio then heads to El-Rabaal on Zazuum, Raseem's mule. In the El-Rabaal, they rescue the Princess Nida who is about to be sold into slavery. Their Princess Nida demonstrated her mastery of disguise and voice mimicry by tricking the guards, but soon find themselves cornered by Bakaar's men. There Bez jumps into the scene, shape-shifts into an elephant, charges through the guards and carries everyone to safety. In the caves of Doom, they decide to form a heroic band and sworn to protect their land from the tyranny of Bakaar and thus formed an alliance called the Arabian Knights.

Series direction

The Arabian Knights series was one of several animated mini-series, used as filler segments for Hanna-Barbera's Banana Adventure Hour show. Each episode ran between 9 and 10 minutes in length. For the most part, it competed with the other series, The Three Musketeers, Micro Ventures and the live-action Danger Island segments.

Often, the general thrust of the Arabian Knights adventures deals with the Knights trying to effect some action against Bakaar’s soldiers, finding a means to further complete their goal of turning the tables on the evil dictator, or dealing with another villain set within the Knights' universe.

For the most part, these adventures were done with a semi-serious slant, with a goodly portion of action and comedy mixed in. Hardly anyone was injured or harmed — save for Baakar's minions (in a usually comic effect), and the episodes usually had an upbeat, happy ending for the Knights.

Arabian Knights

The prince of Baghdad and a rightful heir to the throne of the Sultan, Turhan is a young and handsome teenage boy. Apart from being brave and bold, he is agile acrobat, athlete and a master swordsman. Turhan gathers a small group of friends to lead a revolt against the tyranny of Bakaar and reclaim his throne to restore the peace and prosperity in his state. Turhan is the de facto leader of the Knights and the driving force behind fighting Bakaar and ending the usurper’s reign. He owns a magic Scimitar that he can be thrown and returns like a boomerang, in unique ways.

Daughter of the Caliph of El-Rabaal, Princess Nida is a lovely teenage girl, cousin & love-interest of Prince Turhan. She is the master of disguise and an expert of Voice mimicry.

A short, tubby jolly little man, Fariek is an skilled practitioner and Spell-Master of the mystical arts who used to lend a magical hand when needed. He is the first to have offered aid to Turhan after the Prince is deposed by Bakaar. Sometimes, magic is getting very difficult, it can take a lot of energy out of him.

Fariek can animate the carpets, rugs, pillows for the air-borne transport of the team. He can render himself and others invisible for stealth or camouflage purpose. At times, he can dissolve himself and others into the smoke to make an escape from narrow places. He can levitate objects. He can alter the size of things and persons. He can create things from the thin-air. He can alter the form of one thing into another.

A tall muscular man with brief costume and fez, Raseem is the power-house of the team with an incredible physical strength, endurance and stamina. He first met Turhan when he and Fariek hid in the Caves of Doom that he occupies. He mistakes them for Bakaar's men and attacks them. However upon learning they are against Bakaar he befriends them, and together he goes with them to find the Caliph (to get his aid against Bakaar). He often boasts of his strength saying he is as strong as 30 men. At one time he said he was as strong as seven elephants. Strong enough to shatter stone walls, lift and catch boulders, catch and throw back cannonballs and fight off scores of Bakaar’s soldiers at a time. Raseem’s power makes for a good equalizer in the Knight’s battles. He also has a companion in Zazuum; a small donkey.

A dark-skinned man with a turban and green clothing. Bez can shape-shift into an animal or bird, from a mighty Elephant to a tiny Mouse to a Bee. Often, he triggers this ability by speaking the phrase “Size of a-!” and speaking the name of the animal or bird he wished to turn into, followed by a loud boom that proclaims his transformation. Sometimes the magical phrase is followed by clapping his hands together.

If the creature is small enough he can turn into multiple versions of them such as turning into a million Bees. Bez is known to turn into some larger animals, like Elephant which often serve as alternate modes of transportation for the knights. He can also transform into mythical creatures like Winged Stallion of Zeus and Rocs for air-borne transport. His shape-shifting makes him a handy spy for the knights.

Raseem's faithful little Donkey with long ears, Zazuum was first used by Turhan, Fariek and Raseem to get to El-Rabaal. Zazuum is quite intelligent Donkey, as he give aid to his fellow team members.

Zazuum can spin himself so fast like a destructive miniature-tornado that can defeat any enemy or destroy anything coming his way. He does not like his tail to be pulled as it enrages him to be a loose-cannon and berserk that can shatter the rocks into pebbles. In addition, he can smell the Gold very precisely.

Enemies

The corrupt conqueror and an arch-nemesis of the Arabian Knights, Bakaar usurps the throne of Turhan’s father and takes control of Baghdad. Clearly wishing to command all of the kingdom that bows to Baghdad, he sets all of his forces to the goal of capturing Turhan (and later all of the Knights) to secure his place on the throne. While cruel, Bakaar does not usually involve himself directly in the fight against the Knights; preferring to let his soldiers and minions to do the job. His distinctive manner of dress—a single spiked, fur-lined helmet in place of a crown—hints at ancestry from Mongolian invaders.

Bakaar's enforcer and captain of his guards. Often hatches plots to capture the Knights. Apparently, Vangore's father was a camel driver. He have red hair shaved to a topknot; an indication of Galatian ancestry and of being enslaved.

An elderly wizard-master approached by the Baqaar to kill the Arabian Knights against a heavy reward.

Bakaar's court magician.

Episodes

# Title Summary
1 Joining of the Knights It tells the secret origins of the Bakaar and the reasons the Arabian Knights came into being.
2 The Ransom After saving Prince Raji from the minions of Bakaar, the Arabian Knights go to help his father, the Caliph of Bilareesh, who is held captive for ransom. Vangore takes the Caliph to Baghdad just as Arabian Knights attacked his camp.
3 A Trap for Turhan Vangore tricked-capture Raseem to set a trap to lure Prince Turhan and his friends to rescue Raseem and fall into Bakaar's evil scheme, a public execution of the Arabian Knights as the enemy of the state.
4 The Great Gold Robbery Bakaar frames Arabian Knights of the Gold Robbery from the local treasury to lure them into a deadly trap awaiting them.
5 The Wizard Ramnizar Bakaar hires an evil wizard Ramnizar to wipe out the Arabian Knights from the face of the Earth.
6 Sky Raiders of the Desert Nida is kidnapped by raiders on flying horses. The Arabian Knights are attacked by giant bats, but they fight them back and manage to infiltrate the Sky Raiders' fortress. Finally they capture the Sky Raiders along with their stolen treasure.
7 The Challenge When Bez brings news of Bakaar holding a contest for the strongest man, Raseem cannot help but take that bait getting him and Turhan captured. The Arabian Knights stealthily infiltrate the camp and deliver to Bakaar a humiliating loss.
8 Isle of Treachery Vangore captures Queen Sahira and her son Ahmed to lure the Arabian Knights into a trap. Raseem and Bez quietly dispose of the guards to free the others and banish Vangore and his forces from the palace.
9 The Sultan's Plot Avadon the Sultan of Darkness takes away the city of Kilivad from its Caliph. Avadon has the Arabian Knights trapped in his kingdom, but using a donkey trick, the Arabian Knights cast light on Avadon's amulet, rendering his power useless.
10 The Reluctant Empress The ruler Chiroz has means to take Nida to become his empress by force. The Arabian Knights follow to the city of Abadon and battle Chiroz and his men until he gives up.
11 The Coronation of Bakaar Vangore steals the crown of Erabee for Bakaar. The Arabian Knights reclaim the crown before the coronation ceremony takes place. They thwart Vangore's every efforts to retake the crown and give to him a fake crown.
12 The Great Brass Beast Vangore is intent on destroying Jiwara with a brass siege elephant. The war machine seems to be unstoppable for the Arabian Knights. Turhan, Bez and Raseem penetrate the elephant and control to move off a cliff.
13 The Fabulous Fair The Arabian Knights go undercover to Bakaar's town fair. Each event the Arabian Knights win brings more rebellion against Bakaar, especially the horse race. Their cover is blown, but the Arabian Knights fight Bakaar's forces and distribute the gold.
14 The Desert Pirates Vangore overwhelms and captures Nida and Raseem with his land pirate ship. The remaining Arabian Knights mislead Vangore to Nazir where they ambush him and burn his ship down to explode, leaving him with only an ice diamond.
15 The Jewels of Joowar Vangore has ransacked Joowar and stolen its magical jewels. Turhan and Raseem are caught trying to retrieve the jewels, but the Arabian Knights release them and proceed to fight off Vangore.
16 The Spy The Arabian Knights foil Vangore's plunder but not without losing Zazuum to him. Sundar impersonates Zazuum to find the Arabian Knights' hideout. Sundar's disguise doesn't go unnoticed and the Arabian Knights repel Bakaar's attack while Zazuum returns.
17 The Prisoner With Vangore out to kidnap Princess Tasmin, Nida takes her place, getting herself and Zazuum captured. They both escape and with the rest of the Arabian Knights fight off Bakaar's guards and take Bakaar prisoner.
18 The Royal Visitor Prince Camil visits Baghdad unaware it is under Bakaar's rule and gets trapped in a pyramid. Fahriek provides the access to enter the pyramid. After going through the labyrinth and rescuing the prince, everyone escapes the place.

External links

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