[[File:Scorpiondotr.jpg|thumb|Scorpion in Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm]][[File:Unmasked-sektor.jpg|thumb|Sektor unmasked in Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm]][[File:Rainunmasked.jpg|thumb|Rain unmasked in Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm]][[File:Mortal_Kombat_Defenders_of_the_realm.png|thumb|right|214px]]
'''''Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm''''' (also known as '''''Mortal Kombat: The Animated Series''''') is an animated series based on the popular ''[[Mortal Kombat series|Mortal Kombat]]'' fighting game series. It aired on the USA Network's "USA Cartoon Express" animation block for one season of 13 episodes from September to December of 1996.
'''''Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm''''' (also known as '''''Mortal Kombat: The Animated Series''''') is an animated series based on the popular ''[[Mortal Kombat series|Mortal Kombat]]'' fighting game series. It aired on the USA Network's "USA Cartoon Express" animation block for one season of 13 episodes from September to December of 1996.
Revision as of 12:09, 29 March 2013
Scorpion in Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm
Sektor unmasked in Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm
Rain unmasked in Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm
Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm (also known as Mortal Kombat: The Animated Series) is an animated series based on the popular Mortal Kombat fighting game series. It aired on the USA Network's "USA Cartoon Express" animation block for one season of 13 episodes from September to December of 1996.
The characters and their back stories are mostly continuous with the movies Mortal Kombat and Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, although there are some minor differences. This includes what the characters looked like in Mortal Kombat 3 the Arcade game. The series takes place in Earthrealm, Outworld, and various other realms after the events of the first movie and the plot has very little to do with the plot of any of the games. Perhaps the most notable aspect of the show was that it provided the debut appearance of Quan Chi, a key character in the MK series who was the villain of Mortal Kombat 4 and part of the Deadly Alliance.
The show was focused on a group of warriors assembled by Raiden to defend Earthrealm from invaders of various other dimensions that entered through portals. The assembled warriors included Liu Kang, Kurtis Stryker, Sonya Blade, Jax Briggs, Kitana, and the younger Sub-Zero, with Nightwolf functioning mostly as tech support. The warriors operated out of a hidden base from where Nightwolf and Raiden monitored portal openings; the warriors would fly dragon-shaped jets to deal with disturbances. Shao Kahn was something of an arch-villain throughout the series, being responsible for allowing other realms to invade Earthrealm. The finale involved Kitana leading a rebellion from Outworld against her step-father, Shao Kahn.
Trivia
Defenders was produced by Threshold Entertainment, who also worked on the first two movies. Therefore, elements of the first Mortal Kombat movie were used in flashback scenes, such as Sub-Zero's defeat at the hands of Liu Kang (seen in Kombat Begins Again), Liu Kang's victory over Shang Tsung (seen in Skin Deep), and Sonya defeating Kano (seen in Familiar Red), though all of them appear toned down in comparison to the movie.
USA Network aired episodes of Defenders back-to-back with those of the Street Fighter animated series. Twice the amount of episodes (26) were produced for Street Fighter.
Jax actually removes his metal implants in one episode ("Acid Tongue"), thus dispelling the notion for many fans that they were permanently attached.
Cyrax, Sektor, Smoke, Rain, Kabal and Ermac all appear unmasked in different episodes, but their human descriptions therein, except for Kabal, are not canon.
The series also featured the debut of the newly retconned Kano. His nationality was changed from American-Japanese to Australian following actor Trevor Goddard's performance in the first movie.
Although many of the games are rated M for "mature," this series was aimed at a younger audience and thus contained toned-down violence. For example, the elder Sub-Zero is immediately frozen by the water thrown by Liu Kang during a recreated flashback of the fight scene from the movie, in which he was actually impaled by a water-turned-to-ice stake. Another example is the flashback from the movie's final battle between Liu Kang and Shang Tsung where instead of Shang falling into spikes, he falls into flat ground. However, it should be noted that that a good deal of the game's fanbase does compose of younger players.
Although Baraka makes no appearance throughout the series, several Tarkatan warriors (called in the show Nomads) appear in the first episode led by someone Jax refers to as Karbrac. This was probably intended to sound like a phonetic anagram of Baraka's name.
In the episode Acid Tongue, none of the reptilian warriors is explicitly referred to as Reptile, though all of them share the same looks (moreover the green ninja uniforms). It is however known that their apparent leader is called Komodai.
Smoke appeared in the episode "Old Friends Never Die", serving Shao Kahn and seeking Sub-Zero. He is briefly seen in human form in a flashback scene before becoming automated. In the end, Smoke's human soul was able to overpower his programming and he stood to the vow of friendship between him and Sub-Zero. Many fans consider it to be the best episode in the short-lived series.
Being made for a younger audience, there are no fatalities in the series.
However, in the final episode, Sub-Zero freezes a Tarkatan, then breaks the ice, killing the Tarkatan.
He did the same to a Kahn Guard in the second episode.
In the 2nd episode, Jax lifts a Guard up his head, then smashes them in pieces on the ground. The Guard is not seen being smashed in pieces, but Jax afterwards says: "Rest in Peace. Or should I say, Pieces!"
