Farhat
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Farhat is a 2004 Italian animated television series. The first season is subtitled The Prince of the Desert and the second is subtitled The Black Scorpion. Although the second is still considered to continue where the first left off, there are some differences between the two. Both seasons of the series were co-produced by Mondo TV, Rai Fiction, and The Animation Band.
Plot
The first season finds the protagonist, Farhat, an Arab prince, tasked with having to travel to five continents to recover seven pieces of a special crystal called the Shariman, which was shattered by a demon known as Egokhan. The Shariman is responsible for keeping the world balanced and in order. The survival of the world depends on collecting the pieces and have the planet restored. Egokhan wants to destroy the world and Farhat's other goal is to stop him. Accompanying him on his adventures include Tilda Swanson, a brainy Oxford student; Ali, a talking, orange, centuries old scorpion who is aged but still energetic and specializes in alchemy to help out Farhat; and Ben, Farhat's friend, and butler.
The second season introduces a new character, a Siberian girl named Laila. Laila starts out being a friend of Tilda's, but later becomes her rival for Farhat's affection. Later in the same season, she falls under the influence of a malevolent force called the Naimarash, which has the ability to possess people and turn them evil. The Naimarash must be destroyed to put a stop to this threat of affecting and overcoming the world. It's another case of good versus evil. Along the way, Farhat and his friends also face off live skeletons, ordinary folks who become superheroes, and more.
Why It Rocks
- While the animation moves well enough throughout most of the series, the art style underwent a shift between seasons and the art in the second season is more anime-esque. Although both art styles are good in their own right, some may or may not care for this change.
- The writing of the story has plenty of originality going for it and is well-written enough and while the continuation remains as a serialized series, there are some other things besides that that make it different from the first. It has plenty of complexity as well.
- Most of the characters remain true to themselves and likable throughout the series's run, others gain some character development.
- Some well-replaced references to Arabic culture, such as the story of Aladdin.
- The Middle Eastern-styled, theme songs mixed with rock of both seasons (although sung in Italian) is well-composed and performed by the Cartoon Family.
- A lot of good, witty dialogue.
- The voice acting by the casts of both seasons of the English dub sound fine.
- Several moments of action, comedy, drama, and conflict.
- Well-told backstories of some of the characters.
- Nice backgrounds and other sceneries to look at, especially in the first season's episodes.
- Ali/Wings's catchphrase, "Hot sands!".
- Many action sequences to keep one entertained.
- The burgeoning relationship between Farhat and Tilda is sweet to see.
- Some bizarre but good things occur.
Bad Qualities
- Depending on one's point of view, some may not care for the changes made in the second season nor be as receptive to them and their inconsistencies. Aside from the art style change:
- A couple of the characters, Ali and another villain/former villain named Snarchkoff, are now referred to as Wings and Rashid, although the former is called Ali Wings by Tilda in one episode.
- Several of the characters in the second season have different voices from those in the first, so it isn't the voice cast had changed (at least, probably just in the English dub) and the originals were replaced with new voice actors imitating the originals' roles. For example, in the English dub, Ali/Wings not only spoke with a different voice, but initially had a Jersey accent.
- Farhat's living, talking Shadow went from being female to male (even if the latter gender makes more sense, so that it matches Farhat's) between seasons. But it's unknown why all these sudden changes were made and some may be surprised and/or disappointed by that, and they might take time to grow on some viewers.
- At least one episode of the second season (the twenty second) has the audio and video out-of-sync for some reason.
- The second season may be more bizarre than the first and some may not care for that. This is another tricky one because, again, depending on one's view.
- Some may be disappointed by Laila changing for the worst, however, she goes back to her old self almost completely near the end of the series.
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