The Pirates of Dark Water is an American fantasy animated television series created by David Kirschner and produced by Hanna-Barbera. The series premiered in 1991 on Fox Kids as a five-part miniseries titled Dark Water. The first season, consisting of 13 episodes including the original five-part miniseries, aired on ABC from September to December 1991. A second season, consisting of eight episodes, aired in syndication in the United States from 1992 to 1993.
Octopon was once the greatest city on Mer and referred to by the character Ioz as "the jewel in the crown of Mer" in episode 14. The city lies in ruins at the start of the series but is partially restored after Ren collects the first seven treasures. Production materials present Octopon as centuries ahead of Mer's current technological state, depicting a civilization in continual decline due to the Dark Water oozing from the planet's core.) – A rogue and pirate who joins up with Ren initially for the promise of treasure. Throughout the seasons, his character matures and he becomes fond of Ren and his idealism, evolving into a protective brotherly figure to him and often risking his life for Ren and the quest for the Treasures.
Recurring characters
- Zoolie (voiced by Dick Gautier) – A jolly, redheaded rogue who runs a gamehouse in Janda-Town.
- Teron (voiced by Dan O'Herlihy) – An ecomancer who sprouts roots from his body to replenish himself while away from his homeland, Andorus. Bloth uses his power for evil, in turn exhausting the local environment and its positive life energy. Tula has great respect for him as an ecomancer and brings him back to Andorus to heal the island of the Dark Water. Teron also helps Tula adjust to her new powers as an ecomancer when they first manifest.
Villains
- Bloth (voiced by Brock Peters) – The pirate captain of the feared pirate ship Maelstrom and one of the primary antagonists of the series. Bloth is after the Thirteen Treasures of Rule to gain control of the Dark Water. He destroyed Primus's fleet seventeen years prior to the timeline of the show and captured Primus and his aide Avagon, though the seven captains accompanying Primus were able to escape with the Treasures. Bloth has since been hunting them obsessively and destroying every remnant of the House of Primus just as obsessively.
- Constrictus - A worm-like creature who lives in the bowels of the Maelstrom. Anyone who displeases Bloth gets thrown to the Constrictus.
- Mantus (voiced by Peter Cullen) – Bloth's second-in-command with long limbs, hands, and feet and insectoid-like traits. He offers his cool and calculating personality as a battle strategist for Bloth's fleet.
- Konk (voiced by Tim Curry) – A pirate who works for Bloth. He lost his right leg thanks to a close encounter with the Constrictus. For a long time, Konk was the only one to ever survive being thrown to the monster. Although not particularly smart, Konk possesses more bluster than most of Bloth's crew and is always trying to win Bloth's praise.
- The Lugg Brothers (voiced by Earl Boen and Frank Welker) – Two huge, dimwitted super-strong siblings who are members of Bloth's crew.
- The Dark Dweller (voiced by Frank Welker) – One of the primary antagonists of the series. The Dark Dweller is a powerful, evil creature that created the Dark Water. He had the Treasures originally scattered because their power is the only thing capable of opposing him and his evil master plan to swallow Mer in Dark Water.
- Morpho (voiced by Neil Ross) – A servant of the Dark Dweller and the leader of his worshippers, the Dark Disciples. He joins forces with Bloth and serves as the above-water liaison for the Dark Dweller, so that they can aid each other in their mutual goal of killing Ren and his friends, though they have two very different goals for the Compass and Treasures. Morpho was once an alchemist until he was captured by the Dark Dweller and transformed into a chimeric form resembling a variety of sea creatures.
- Joat (voiced by Andre Stojka) – A pirate and the previous owner of the Wraith, which was stolen by Ioz. He uses his metal claw in place of his left hand mercilessly in battle.