Line #43 WesternAnimation/MortalKombatDefendersOfTheRealm


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11	->''"Much has changed since the last Mortal Kombat tournament. Dark forces of Outworld have begun invading the Earthrealm. These attacks are seriously weakening Earth's dimensional fabric, enabling not only Outworlders to enter the Earthrealm, but warriors from other domains as well. Only the most extraordinary warriors can possibly meet this challenge: Liu Kang, Princess Kitana, Sub-Zero, Jax, Sonya Blade, Nightwolf, Kiva, Kurtis Stryker. Driven by purpose and bound by honor, these are the Defenders of the Realm."''
12	-->-- '''Raiden's OpeningNarration'''
13
14	''Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm'', also known as ''Mortal Kombat: The Animated Series'', is an AnimatedAdaptation of the ''Franchise/MortalKombat'' games. It aired on the Creator/USANetwork's ''USA Action Extreme Team'' animation block from September to December 1996.
15
16	''Defenders of the Realm'' follows the events of [[Film/MortalKombatTheMovie the first live-action movie]]. Raiden once again gathers a group of warriors to stand against the forces of the Outworld and various other invading dimensions. The series also introduced a handful of characters, one of whom, Quan Chi, was later [[CanonImmigrant a mainstay]] in the {{Fighting Game}}s.
17
18	----
19	!Tropes of the Realm:
20	* TenMinuteRetirement: Jax briefly quits the team in the twelfth episode (“Abandoned”).
21	* AccidentalPun: After Sub-Zero makes his appearance, Liu Kang delivers this line:
22	-->'''Liu Kang:''' Hey, Sub-Zero's cool! Er...sorry. He's a warrior of honor.
23	* AdaptationPersonalityChange:
24	** Sonya is generally depicted as a serious, no-nonsense character in the games. Here, she's very prone to making quips and poking at people and also shows a somewhat hidden desire [[IJustWantToBeNormal to just be a normal woman who doesn't need to be so tough all the time]].
25	** Jax in the games is depicted as being a strong and reliable leader who's [[NotSoAboveItAll not afraid to crack wise here and there]]. In this series, however, the sass and snark is heavily played up to the point of him being a DeadpanSnarker. He's also additionally shown to have a complex concerning the bionic augments to his arms, seeing himself as weak and helpless without them, much like the movies. The games, of course, never implied any such thing and in fact featured him fighting without them several times.
26	** Raiden is neither the wise sagely leader from the games or the cheerful trickster mentor from the films. Instead, he's portrayed as a MentorInSourArmor with barely a word to say at any given time that isn't dripping sarcasm.
27	** In addition to now being [[AdaptationalSkill a tech whiz and mission control]] — which he is definitely not in the games — Nightwolf is depicted as also being somewhat overreliant on technology, only tapping into the spiritual side of his powers when he needs to fight or when said technology fails him, something completely at odds with every other depiction of him where he's quite possibly the single most spiritually attuned member of the Forces of Light.
28	* AdaptationalVillainy: Scorpion. True, he's no saint in the games but is more neutral if anything. Here? His very first line makes it clear what team he's playing on:
29	-->'''Scorpion:''' By all the powers of '''[[CardCarryingVillain evil]]''', I will not rest until I have my revenge!
30	* AdaptedOut: Johnny Cage, Kung Lao, Mileena, Sindel, Jade, Goro, and Kintaro. Also Baraka and Reptile, [[ReplacementScrappy to a lesser extent]].
31	* AmazonBrigade: Zara and her female warriors.
32	* AmbiguouslyBi: [[ScaryBlackMan Jax]], of all people. He calls Raiden ''girlfriend'' on at least one occasion, his first response to defending Sub-Zero is [[SuspiciouslySpecificDenial "Hey I don't want to]] ''[[SuspiciouslySpecificDenial marry]]'' [[SuspiciouslySpecificDenial the guy!"]], and [[BerserkButton flips his lid]] when you call him "blubberbutt". At the same time, he had a [[HoneyTrap (sort of)]] romantic relationship with Ruby, isn't sure if being surrounded by women pointing spears at him is a dream or a nightmare, and has some subtext with Sonya.
33	* AnimatedAdaptation: As the title indicates, this is based on the ''Mortal Kombat'' series.
34	* AnimationBump: The final episode has different animation than the rest of the series.
35	* {{Animesque}}: The series was animated by Creator/AnimalYa, credited here as Animal House, in Japan. The series exhibits shades of this at times, particularly with the effects animation and especially in the series finale.
36	* TheAtoner: The younger Sub-Zero is on the heroes' side in order to atone for his older brother's actions.
37	* BackportedDevelopment:
38	** When Liu Kang has a flashback about his victory over Shang Tsung, the latter has the beard and facepaint he uses on this series, from ''VideoGame/MortalKombat3'', even though he didn't have them in the live-action movie, which the flashback represents.
39	** Zigzagged with Kano. When he's shown in a flashback of Sonya's partner's death, he has his ''Mortal Kombat 3'' design, yet in ''another'' flashback scene, their fight and designs therein are lifted straight from the film.
40	** During the flashback to Liu Kang's battle with the elder Sub-Zero, Kitana appears in her look from this series rather than the halter top-and-tights combination from the film.
41	* {{Badbutt}}: Sub-Zero, most of the time. However, on a couple occasions, he uses his ice powers to kill enemies.
42	* BattleCouple: Kitana and Liu Kang. They are a couple who fight for the side of good.
43	* BattleCry: Sonya: "Kombat time!" for the whole team, and "Kiss off!" for herself.
44	* BattleInTheRain: The opening scene of the episode "Abandoned".
45	* BeardOfEvil: Kano, Shang Tsung, and Oniro.
46	* BerserkButton: Jax ''hates'' being called "Blubberbutt", since he was called that as a fat kid.
47	* BigBad: Shao Kahn.
48	* BigNo: Poor [[spoiler:Smoke]] delivers one right before his [[spoiler:UnwillingRoboticization]].
49	* BackFromTheDead: [[spoiler:Shang Tsung, as he was killed off in the climax of the 1995 film.]]
50	* BreachingTheWall: During the heroes' attempt to rescue Jax in Outworld, Sub-Zero constructs an ice wall to keep Ermac and his forces at bay while allowing his teammates to infiltrate Kahn's fortress. Ermac melts through it in a matter of seconds.
51	* BroadStrokes: From time to time, in regards to the 1995 film:
52	** When Sub-Zero introduces himself, he reveals to be the younger brother of the old one, [[spoiler:killed by Liu Kang]]. In the games, the elder Sub-Zero [[spoiler:was killed by Scorpion]].
53	** In the Liu Kang vs. Sub-Zero scene in this series, Kitana sported her outfit from the series, and Sub-Zero (the elder) was finished by Liu Kang throwing a water bucket to him, [[HoistByHisOwnPetard freezing him]]. In the first movie, Kitana wears a different outfit while Liu Kang finishes Sub-Zero [[spoiler:after the water from the bucket becomes a frozen stalactite that [[ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice pins Sub-Zero]] to a pillar before fully enveloping him in ice]].
54	** Another sanitized Liu Kang kill was that of [[spoiler:Shang Tsung]]. Sure, he's still reduced to a skeleton upon defeat, but one: he just turns into bones, instead of actually emaciating, and two: [[spoiler:the bed of spikes where Shang Tsung landed in the movie is absent]].
55	** The cartoon was made to take place after a second film, which of course was ''Mortal Kombat Annihilation''. However, the sequel was filmed and released a year after the series.
56	* BroughtDownToNormal: Jax when his bionic arms are damaged in "Acid Tongue".
57	* CanonForeigner: Asgarth (an Edenian humanoid bird), Oniro (grandmaster of the Lin Kuei), Ruby (red female ninja and possible {{Expy}} of Jade), Kiva (Nightwolf's pet wolf), and Zara (Kitana's mortal enemy).
58	* CanonImmigrant
59	** Quan Chi makes his first appearance in all ''Mortal Kombat'' media in this series, prior to his appearance in ''VideoGame/MortalKombatMythologiesSubZero''.
60	** Kiva (spelled as "Kiba") appeared with Nightwolf for his DLC appearance in ''VideoGame/MortalKombat11''.
61	** Asgarth receives a mention in one of the fight intros for ''VideoGame/MortalKombat1''.
62	* CardCarryingVillain: [[AdaptationalVillainy Scorpion]]. His ''very first line'' has him swearing by "all the powers of evil".
63	* {{Catchphrase}}: Because no actual tournament is featured in the series, the characters use the phrase "Mortal Kombat" as a catch-all term to describe their fights and conflicts with Outworld.
64	* CleavageWindow: Kitana's outfit has a diamond-shaped one, although it doesn't show any cleavage.
65	* CompositeCharacter: Kano's visual designs are from the first game (adapted in the 1995 film) and ''Mortal Kombat 3'', in which he was depicted as a [[ButNotTooForeign Japanese-born American]]. However, he speaks with an accent based on Trevor Goddard's [[LandDownUnder Australian version]] from the movie.
66	* ContinuitySnarl: ''Defenders'' was supposed to take place after ''Film/MortalKombatAnnihilation'', but the film opened a year after the cartoon and didn't always line up appropriately.
67	* CrossThrough: "Resurrection" is the third part of a four-part storyline aired on November 16, 1996 about a "Warrior King" chasing down a powerful MacGuffin through four (otherwise unrelated) USA Network Saturday morning cartoons (alongside ''Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm'', the other three cartoons had included ''WesternAnimation/StreetFighter'', ''ComicBook/SavageDragon'', and ''WesternAnimation/WingCommanderAcademy''). Two notes regarding this: unlike the other three parts, this episode features ''only'' the MacGuffin, with the Warrior King himself only appearing as an unexplained shadow for all of five seconds and because ''Street Fighter'' itself was one of the four cartoons that was featured and included as a part of this storyline, this is the closest scenario that the two DuelingGames have ever come to interacting.
68	* CruelMercy: In "Resurrection", rather than finishing Shang Tsung, Raiden chooses to spare him so that he can face Shao Kahn's wrath.
69	* DeadpanSnarker: Raiden.
70	--> "Before you make an even bigger mortal ''butt'' out of yourself..."
71	--> ''(groans)'' "This day is ''really'' heading for the toilet."
72	* DisneyVillainDeath: Scorpion is frozen by Sub-Zero and then dropped into some kind of pitch-black abyss inside a temple.
73	* DownerEnding: Due to the series' cancellation after one season. [[spoiler:Outworld is in chaos with Shao Kahn gone, Kitana's rebellion to restore Edenia fails, and there is no indication whatsoever that Earthrealm's invasions will stop.]]
74	* EmbarrassingNickname: When Jax was a kid, he had the nickname "Blubberbutt" due to being the fattest kid in school.
75	* EverybodyWasKungFuFighting: Well, otherwise this series — heck, ''Mortal Kombat'' as a whole, even — wouldn't exist.
76	* ExcusePlot: The forces from Outworld often just invade random, unpopulated wastelands without any strategic or military reason, likely for budgetary reasons and so the show can get to fight scenes quicker.
77	* ExposedToTheElements: As they are in their in-game costumes for the entire series, the characters consequently never dress appropriately for colder environments.
78	%%* FiveTokenBand: The heroes of the series.
79	* FacelessGoons:
80	** The hordes of robot soldiers that attack Our Heroes throughout the series.
81	** Kano's Black Dragon thugs in one episode. All are bald — both men ''and'' women — and sport the same awful facial tattoo.
82	* FormerlyFat: Jax says he was the fattest kid in school while growing up.
83	* FusionDance: The few times Nightwolf enters battle himself, he will magically merge with his pet wolf Kiva and open a can of whoop-ass on the enemies. However, this happens only a handful of times in the series, as he's otherwise confined to his computer.
84	* GirlinessUpgrade: In most incarnations, Sonya is portrayed as a tough-as-nails career soldier for whom the mission always comes first. In this series, she is portrayed as more stereotypically feminine, at one point making a facial mask (for which she is mocked by Jax) and complaining that she has to hang out with men all the time.
85	* TheGodsMustBeLazy: Shao Kahn and Outworld regularly attempt to illegally invade Earthrealm despite losing the previous tournament. This ''should'' mean that the Elder Gods can intervene while enabling Raiden to destroy any of Kahn's forces, but nope. Instead, Raiden tells the Defenders that it's their job to protect their realm with his (sporadic) assistance.
86	* GoshDarnItToHeck: It's pretty obvious what the "Realm of No Return" is [[{{Hell}} supposed to be]], which adds a level of horror whenever Raiden banishes anyone there.
87	* HatePlague: In "The Secret of Quan Chi", the eponymous antagonist utilizes a magic gem that causes most of the heroes to turn against each another until the spell is broken.
88	* HeelFaceTurn:
89	** Though Sub-Zero helps the good guys from the beginning, he mentions he was a Lin Kuei who fought for the forces of darkness. A later episode, "Old Friends Never Die", shows how he defected from the faction.
90	** Ruby, in the episode "Abandoned". After she aids Kahn's forces in abducting Jax, she later has a change of heart (thanks to Kitana) and helps him escape Kahn's fortress.
91	* HiddenArmyReveal: Shao Kahn does this after the Earthrealmers free Jax from captivity in his fortress, but the heroes are saved by Ruby's timely intervention.
92	* {{Hypocrite}}: In "Acid Tongue", Sonya criticizes Jax for valuing brawn over brains, even though her favorite fighting tactic is [[LeeroyJenkins rushing blindly into battle]] while hollering "Kombat Time!"
93	* HypocriteHasAPoint: During her suspension, Sonya calls out Stryker on his GoodIsNotNice attitude, even though she herself is just as [[JerkAss abrasive]] to everyone else, most of the time.
94	* HumblePie: Sonya apologizes to Sub-Zero after spending the entire episode being [[ReformedButRejected very distrustful towards him]]. She even admits that this was really hard for her to do.
95	* IGaveMyWord: Sub-Zero and Smoke once swore an oath to never fight one another. Smoke can't remember this at first due to his automation but he eventually recalls it, though he also informs Sub-Zero that they cannot be friends due to their respective allegiances.
96	* IKnowYoureInThereSomewhereFight: Sub-Zero's fight with [[spoiler:Smoke. It does not work, but he agrees not to kill him, nonetheless.]]
97	* ImprobablePilotingSkills: The lowly Nomads[[note]](Baraka's race, later renamed Tarkatans)[[/note]] and Scorpion's army of ''undead skeletons'' are somehow skilled pilots, strictly to allow our heroes to engage in [[OldSchoolDogfight dogfights]]. Even better, the skeletons' aircraft are actually [[CoolPlane shaped like scorpions]].
98	* {{Jerkass}}: Raiden. Sonya qualifies as well due to her abrasiveness, but she has her reasons.
99	* KnockoutGas: Jax gets a blast from Ruby and [[InstantSedation promptly drops like a rock]], right before it's revealed she's working for Shao Kahn.
100	* KungShui: Ermac gets kicked through not one but ''two'' tables while brawling with Jax inside the latter's mountain cabin.
101	* LeaderWannabe: Stryker regularly acts as if he's the team commanding officer. The team's chain of command, if any, is never established in the show and the others repeatedly tell Stryker he has no authority over them.
102	* LeeroyJenkins: Sonya's favorite strategy is rushing into battle yelling "Kombat Time!", even when her teammates try to convince her that it's a bad idea.
103	* LickedByTheDog: In the episode "Resurrection", Jax notices Raiden inexplicably losing his powers.[[note]]Thanks to Shang Tsung possessing an orb enabling him to control Earthrealm's elements.[[/note]] Raiden is initially flippant at Jax's growing concern and pressure for answers, but ultimately lets down his guard. They confess their feelings to each other about why they've each chosen to protect their realm, and work together in saving their friends from Shang Tsung's chicanery. But when Sonya then questions this unexpected friendship:
104	---> '''Jax:''' You kiddin'? Me and Thunderlips? Hah, no chance.
105	---> '''Raiden:''' A sea slug would've been wittier company.
106	---> '''Sonya''': ''That's'' more like it!
107	* LighterAndSofter: Naturally, given this is a kids' show based off of the ultraviolent video game series, this cartoon tones down the violence considerably.
108	* LikeAnOldMarriedCouple: Raiden and Jax bicker a lot between each other. Sonya and Jax too, sometimes.
109	* MechaMooks: The robotic Lin Kuei and Shao Kahn's endless supply of robotic foot soldiers.
110	* MildlyMilitary: Sonya and Jax, both former Special Forces agents, regularly act like mavericks, particularly Sonya, while Stryker, a former riot cop, acts like a military commander.
111	* MissionControl: Nightwolf, though he does join his comrades on the battlefield on occasion.
112	* NakedOnRevival: [[spoiler:Shang Tsung is nude after he's resurrected by Shao Kahn and the Shadow Priests]], made obvious by the BetweenMyLegs view from the rear until he is robed up.
113	* NoodleIncident: Sub-Zero seeks revenge against Scorpion for doing something to his clan that's never elaborated on.
114	* NotQuiteDead: [[spoiler:Kano who was seemingly killed off by Sonya in the first movie.]]
115	* PungeonMaster: Jax, from time to time. For example, after Sub-Zero's first appearance:
116	---> '''Sonya:''' What's that sleazoid doing here?
117	---> '''Jax:''' Seems like he's putting a ''chill'' on the invasion.
118	* ScienceWizard: This show's version of Nightwolf is this. Like in the games he is a MagicalNativeAmerican but the show also makes him the heroes' computer expert and MissionControl.
119	* SmokeOut: Rain throws a smoke bomb at the Earthrealmers to briefly incapacitate them before he abducts Kitana.
120	* SupervillainLair: Shao Kahn's fortress.
121	* SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute:
122	** Oniro, the grandmaster of the Lin Kuei, is a blatant Shang Tsung stand-in, right down to possessing the latter's trademark VoluntaryShapeshifting abilities.
123	** Komodai and Karbrac for Reptile and Baraka, respectively, to the point where "Karbrac" is almost a total anagram for "Baraka".
124	* TakingTheBullet: In "Fall From Grace", Stryker takes a hit from Sheeva as Sonya rushes in to try to help. [[NeverMyFault He blames Sonya for it and decides to suspend her from active duty]].
125	* TeamPet: Kiva, Nightwolf's wolf. He serves this role for the heroes whenever he doesn't merge into Nightwolf.
126	* TheWallsAreClosingIn: Shang Tsung traps the Earthrealmers inside an underground crevice, then attempts to crush them by magically sealing the crack before [[JustInTime the timely intervention]] of Raiden and Jax.
127	* TitleDrop: By Nightwolf, in the first episode, "Kombat Begins Again", after communicating with Liu Kang.
128	* TomboyAndGirlyGirl: Sonya Blade and Princess Kitana. Ironically, during their inevitable GirlsNightOutEpisode, it's Sonya who asks Kitana if she ever misses just being a woman, what with all the fighting. Earlier in the episode, Sonya attempted to give herself a makeover, only to receive a sexist remark from Jax.
129	* TotallyRadical: While the series isn't as bad with it as some others, you know you've seen everything when you see, of all people, ''[[PhysicalGod Raiden]]'' saying "Now kick your jets and jam!"
130	* TrapDoor: The heroes conveniently stand on one while trapped inside Shao Kahn's dungeon. Ruby activates it — complete with ConspicuouslyLightPatch — to send them [[NoEscapeButDown plummeting]] to their escape.
131	* UnreliableIllustrator: This is a given as the series is a cheaply made '90s [[AnimatedAdaptation video game tie-in]], and the Creator/BruceTimm-inspired designs don't do the artwork any favors.
132	* UnresolvedSexualTension: Implied between Sonya and Jax. She appears to get jealous at Jax having a girlfriend in "Abandoned" (who turns out to [[spoiler:be a spy sent by Shao Kahn]]).
133	* VoluntaryShapeshifting: Oniro and Shang Tsung have the power to change their appearances.
134	* WalkingShirtlessScene: Liu Kang, Jax, and Sub-Zero.
135	* WeUsedToBeFriends: In "Old Friends Never Die", Sub-Zero reveals the backstory of his friendship with Smoke prior to the events of the episode.
136	* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: Despite this being a follow-up to the 1995 film, Johnny Cage is neither seen nor mentioned. According to the series bible, this is because he was planned to [[KilledOffForReal die in the movie's sequel]] (as he actually does beforehand in ''Mortal Kombat 3'', from which ''Defenders'' borrows many elements), but the sequel was released a year after the cartoon and [[ContinuitySnarl doesn't really line up with it]].
137	* YouAreBetterThanYouThinkYouAre: In "Acid Tongue", Jax loses his cybernetic arms and repeatedly acts like he's weak and useless without them. This is despite the fact that he's still the strongest member of the team and was capable of scaling a mountainside with his bare hands.

Context WesternAnimation / MortalKombatDefendersOfTheRealm