The Quest

"The Quest" is the first episode of the Dark Water miniseries, which later became the first episode of The Pirates of Dark Water season one. It aired on February 25, 1991 on Fox Kids, and then reaired on September 7, 1991 on ABC. It was written by Lane Raichert, Mark Young, and Kelly Ward, and directed by Don Lusk and voice directed by Gordon Hunt.

A dying old man who claims to be Ren's father sets him on a quest to restore the kingdom of Octopon to its former glory by searching for thirteen hidden treasures scattered across Mer.

Memorable quotes
Tula: For adventure. Ioz: For treasure. Ren: For Octopon. Niddler: For crying out loud, when are we going to eat?

Characters

 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Primus
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Unavailable
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Ren
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| George Newbern
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Jenna
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Linda Gary
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Bloth
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Brock Peters
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Brigmaster
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Unavailable
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Niddler
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Roddy McDowell
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Konk
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Tim Curry
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Constrictus
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Unavaliable
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Priest
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Unavailable
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Alomar
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Unavailable
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Tula
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Jodie Benson
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Ioz
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Hector Elizondo
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Joat
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Andre Stojka
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Unavailable
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Alomar
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Unavailable
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Tula
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Jodie Benson
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Ioz
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Hector Elizondo
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Joat
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Andre Stojka
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Hector Elizondo
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Joat
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Andre Stojka
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Andre Stojka

Locations

 * Mer
 * Octopon
 * Jenna's residence
 * Abbey of Galdebar
 * Inn

Objects

 * Ren's compass
 * 1st treasure of Rule

Vehicles

 * Primus's boat
 * Maelstrom
 * Wraith

Development
Additional dialogue was credited to Jim Woodring.

Filming
Roddy McDowell was replaced with Frank Welker for the series proper, who then recorded McDowell's lines for this episode, too.

The episode was copyrighted in 1991.

Music
The music was composed by Tom Chase and Steve Rucker.

Release
Dates are in order of release:


 * United States: February 25, 1991 on Fox Kids; September 7, 1991 at 9:30 am on ABC

Marketing and promotion
Around the time of its second airing, Marvel Comics adapted this into the first issue of their limited series.

Home availability

 * In the United States:
 * December 19, 1991: Turner Home Entertainment releases The Pirates of Dark Water: The Saga Begins on VHS.
 * March 12, 1992: Image Entertainment releases The Pirates of Dark Water: The Saga Begins on Laserdisc.
 * August 31, 2010: Warner Archive Collection releases The Pirates of Dark Water: The Complete Series on DVD.
 * In the United Kingdom & Ireland:
 * 1991: First Independent releases The Pirates of Dark Water: The Saga Begins on VHS.