Cadillacs And Dinosaurs

Author: Steven E. De Souza, And Mark Schultz

TV series don't deal with political issues, right? Neither do cartoons. Nor comic books. Nor science fiction. None of those are the kinds of places where you might try and give a strong environmental message along with a rocking good story. Never. Well, unless you're Cadillacs & Dinosaurs, a brilliant CBS cartoon from 1993. The story deals with an ecological freedom fighter group and their interactions with everything from poachers to ambassadors, as well as the restoration of old cars. Oh yeah, there are a bunch of dinosaurs which get called 'Slithers' that are gorgeously realized. They're beautiful, and our hero, Jack, has one he hand-raised as a pet. The big idea here is that Jack and company are fighting to protect their way of life, and the creatures and resources from exploitation, but you'll also walk away moved by the gorgeous animation, and probably the desire to go out and by a 1950s Caddy. Why it's on the list: Little-seen, but incredibly well-done, Cadillac & Dinosaurs is one of the best comic-to-tv adaptation.