Lee Cronin’s The Mummy has arrived in theaters, offering a visceral and unsettling horror experience that breathes fresh life into the genre (though it bears no relation to the Brendan Fraser films). While that is certainly a win for horror fans, those seeking a less intense, more nostalgic excursion into the supernatural might appreciate a look back at an overlooked gem from the late nineties: Mummies Alive!
Premiering in 1997, Mummies Alive! followed the exploits of Presley, a young boy living in San Francisco who is revealed to be the reincarnation of Prince Rapses, an ancient Egyptian pharaoh. His peaceful life is disrupted by Scarab, a malevolent sorcerer and former advisor to Rapses who attained immortality by siphoning the Prince’s life force. Seeking to complete his immortality, Scarab targets the boy, forcing the return of Rapses’ four dedicated supernatural guardians.
These protectors—the stoic leader Ja-Kal, the wise sorcerer Rath, the physically imposing Armon, and the agile, acrobatic Nefer-Tina—must safeguard the boy against ancient threats in a modern setting. Produced by DIC, the studio behind iconic series like The Real Ghostbusters and Care Bears, the show featured heavy hitters behind the scenes, including executive producer Ivan Reitman and a writing room stacked with industry veterans like Eric and Julia Lewald (X-Men: The Animated Series) and Mark Edens (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles).
Image: DIC/Northern Lights EntertainmentWhile audiences at the time were quick to draw parallels to Gargoyles or The Real Ghostbusters, Mummies Alive! possessed a distinct identity. Its visual language, heavily inspired by Universal-style horror, set it apart from its contemporaries. Unlike many toy-centric cartoons of the era that relied on generic character templates, this series crafted a diverse quartet of heroes with distinct personalities and fighting styles. This attention to character design helped the show transcend the tropes that often plagued eighties and nineties action animation.
Image: DIC/Northern Lights EntertainmentFurthermore, the show’s creative team wove Egyptian mythology into the narrative, incorporating entities like Geb and Apep to add flavor to the conflict. While historians might roll their eyes at the creative liberties taken, for a younger audience, it served as a gateway to curiosity about ancient history. Though the series was cut short after 42 episodes due to underwhelming ratings, it remains a cult classic that stands as a unique experimental footnote in 90s television.
The subsequent struggles of other mummy-themed projects suggest that perhaps the concept was always a difficult sell for mainstream animation. Regardless, Mummies Alive! offered a colorful, adventurous alternative to the darker, more gruesome depictions of the mythos we see today.
Mummies Alive! is currently available to stream via Cineverse.
Source: Polygon
