Where to watch Hercules and Xena – The Animated Movie: The Battle for Mount Olympus
2 Stars
Mighty Zeus brings Hercules’ mother, Alcmene, to Mount Olympus, and Hercules, believing she has been kidnapped, leads a rescue mission to save her. Zeus’ jealous wife, Hera, decides that it should now be her time to rule the universe. Hera steals the Chronos Stone, source of the God’s power, and unleashes the four Titans from their eons of imprisonment. With these angry behemoths on the loose, only the combined forces of Hercules and Xena, together with their trusty sidekicks Iolaus and Gabrielle, can save Mount Olympus.
Hercules and Xena: The Animated Movie has the voice participation of the cast from the two popular syndicated television shows. This attention to authenticity signaled to fans of the series that this cartoon would be a worthy addition to the live-action franchises. Sadly, that turns out to be false. Hercules and Xena: The Animated Movie is drawn and written at the level of an after-school program, the type that airs on Nickelodeon or Disney daily. The story tells of the epic struggle between Herc, Xena, the gods, and the Titans, and while this lends itself to animation, live-action would be far too costly, and the narrative quickly becomes receptive and boring. The musical numbers are a mixed bag, with only the opening song being memorable.
Directed by: Lynne Naylor
Written by: John Loy (screenplay)
Starring: Kevin Sorbo, Lucy Lawless, Michael Hurst, Renée O’Connor