History WesternAnimation / ThePiratesOfDarkWater

Short-lived but fantastic 1991-1993 Creator/HannaBarbera cartoon series which switched off between syndication and [[Creator/AmericanBroadcastingCompany ABC]]}. It began as a five-part miniseries which aired on Creator/FoxKids as simply ''Dark Water''. It's well known as one of the first animated television shows for children to have legitimate high-stake adventures and an epic storyline.

Short-lived but fantastic 1991-1993 Creator/HannaBarbera cartoon series which switched off between syndication and Creator/{{ABC}}. It began as a five-part miniseries which aired on Creator/FoxKids as simply ''Dark Water''. It's well known as one of the first animated television shows for children to have legitimate high-stake adventures and an epic storyline.

* FantasticRacism: Monkeybirds were used as slaves, and the first mini-arc even went so far as to show the slave markets. While it was swept under the rug later, Niddler does mention on occasion that he can't enter certain pubs because monkeybirds aren't allowed there, and characters in general seem to consider Niddler a lesser being even before he has a chance to prove himself as the SidekickCreaturenuisance.

* CruelAndUnusualDeath: There are a few nasty ones, but [[spoiler: Cray getting devoured from the inside-out and having her body turned into Dark Water by that same substance (which she'd used for her youth potion)]] easily takes the cake.

* FountainOfYouth: The alchemist Cray was able to restore her youth using a potion she created, [[spoiler:Unfortunately, the dark water she used in it causes her body to eventually break down into Dark water itself.]]

** Ren and Tula had a few moments, but the series came to an end before anything could really go anywhere.

* TooDumbToLive: In "The Living Treasure", when the female warriors captured the ''Wraith'' crew, they plead that they're on a quest to save the world from the Dark Water. Only for the captain to tell them their "quest has ended for good".

* OffModel: The fact that two companies on opposite sides of the spectrum worked on this (Creator/{{Madhouse}} and Creator/KennedyCartoons)[[note]] Fellow studios Creator/TamaProductions, Creator/WangFilmProductions, Creator/FilCartoons and Creator/BigStar also had a hand in this[[/note]] makes it it more jarring than it should have been.

%% * GettingCrapPastThe Radar: Due to overwhelming and persistent misuse, GCPTR is on-page examples only until 01 June 2021. If you are reading this in the future, please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.

* BareYourMidriff: Tula's outfit. Rather, the slightly different outfit she gets after the first story arc.

However, Ren learns that his quest is far more urgent than simply personal career advancement; [[SealedEvilInACan the menacing substance called dark water]] that consumes everything it touches is spreading and it threatens to destroy the world. Only the thirteen treasures can stop it and Ren must find them before it is too late.

Ren is the prince of a fallen kingdom, and he has to find the [[CosmicKeystone Thirteen Treasures of Rule]] to restore it to its once pristine glory. Rounding out his "[[RagtagBunchOfMisfits unlikely but loyal crew of misfits]]" are [[{{Whatevermancy}} ecomancer]] Tula, roguish Ioz, and the monkeybird Niddler.

* DarkSkinnedBlond: Ren. Heck, most of the characters are pretty dark-skinned yet hair colors tend to run the gamut.

* EverythingsBetterWithMonkeys: Niddler, a monkey-bird.