The New Captain N

The New Captain N is an American–Japanese animated television series which is a reboot and/or reimagining of "Captain N: The Game Master" that airs on TV from 2016 to 2018 as part of the Saturday morning cartoon lineup on Cartoon Network. The show is produced by Warner Bros. Animation and incorporated elements from many of the most popular video games of the time from the Japanese company Nintendo. 
== Origin of the Original Captain N ==
The character Captain N first appeared in Nintendo Power magazine, created by a Nintendo staff member and magazine editor named Randy Studdard (who presented Nintendo with a formal proposal that included the character as a company spokes-character, the origin and premise, and the Saturday morning cartoon as part of the entire marketing campaign). The original concept involved Captain N (originally known as "Captain Nintendo") as a Nintendo employee and the Mother Brain as piece of programming from a Nintendo game pak (that was infused in an explosion with experimental "organic" ROMs) that went rogue. Captain N had the power to temporarily give life to characters and items from Nintendo games. The story left a door open for a sequel (Mother Brain is temporarily defeated but her return was said to be inevitable, and Captain N vows to stop her when the time comes). Nintendo of America, Inc.later decided to follow Studdard's ideas and create a cartoon series, opting neither to credit nor to compensate its creator. DIC Entertainment was shopped as the animation studio, and changed various aspects of the original idea while keeping the main premise of the Captain opposing Mother Brain as he interacted with a number of video game characters.[1]
== Plot ==
At the outset of the first episode the hero of the series, Navin Harmendez, a Mexican-American teenager from Northridge, Los Angeles, California, and his cat Landon are taken to another universe known as Videoland when they are sucked into a vortex called the Ultimate Warp Zone that formed in his television. In order to fulfill an ancient prophecy, Navin is destined to become the hero "Captain N: The Game Master" and save Videoland from evil forces led by Master Hand from the floating world/fortress called Subspace. By the time Navin arrives on the scene, Master Hand has almost succeeded in capturing the Palace of Power and conquering all Videoland. Navin (who in Videoland is armed with a "Perfect Shot" Zapper and a belt buckle shaped like an Wii controller) and Landon appear suddenly on the other side of the Ultimate Warp Zone before the N Team, which consists of Princess Macey (the acting ruler of Videoland as a later episode explains the absence of her father the King), Earthworm Jim, Bomberman, and Ness, none of whom show any confidence in Navin's ability in the beginning. After Macey is kidnapped by the enemy shortly after Navin's arrival, the reluctant group puts their differences aside to go on a rescue mission where Navin eventually gains the others' confidence.
In most episodes, the N Team's enemy is a group of video game villains, usually led by the boisterous and loud Master Hand who is accompanied by his minions, Kamek the Magikoopa, the thuggish Evil Bomber, and the scheming Psycrow. A "villain of the week" is featured in some episodes when a particular video game becomes the setting (such as Malkil of Wizards & Warriors). Ridley also makes an appearance as a territorial, belligerent, Godzilla-sized dragon in some episodes, but usually, serves as a dangerous neutral character posing a hazard to friend and foe alike.
== Characters ==
* Navin Harmendez (voiced by Yuri Lowenthal): The leader, protagonist and main character of the series. Initially, he is a reluctant hero and is often found at odds with the rest of the N-Team. When he comes to Videoland, he is armed with a belt and holster that has a W.I.I. [Wireless Influence Interface] Power Pad (an Wii controller-shaped device which can stop time, allow him to leap over objects or give him super speed over short distances) and an Wii Zapper-like gun called the "Perfect Shot" which dispatches or "dematerializes" enemies (possibly a nod to Nintendo's content policies at the time which forbid the use of the word "kill"). The "Perfect Shot" Zapper can also shoot ice shaped like Tetris blocks. His expert use of these tools combined with his overall friendly, if competitive, demeanor eventually earns the trust of the others. In many episodes, he tries to foster a big-brotherly role to characters suffering from a particular plight. He is most often called Captain N by the other cast members, except Princess Macey who regularly addresses him by his first name. His last name is only ever mentioned in two episodes. He wears light denim jeans, a yellow jacket with blue sleeves & a black shirt with a red "N" on it. The Varsity letter "N" on his shirt is for swimming.[2]
* Princess Macey (voiced by Tara Strong): The current regent of Videoland after her father, King Carlos, was banished to the Mirror by Master Hand. She rules over all the lands in Videoland from the Palace of Power. Though she reflects a kind character typified by a princess role, she is able to keep up with the rest of the N-team through their adventures and is not afraid of conflict, having been trained to defend herself from a young age. Though she is good friends with the members of the N-Team, Macey shows a longing for her own family. She often acts as a mediator between the members of the N-team when their competitive natures lead them to infighting. Her appearance and dress consists of boots, a two-piece dress and top, a tiara, and a necklace with seven pearls.
* Landon (voiced by Frank Welker): Navin's cat who jumped into the Ultimate Warp Zone immediately after Navin was sucked in and ended up in Videoland as well. Although he acts intelligently, he shows occasional uncontrollable typical cat behavior, like the hissing reflex. Landon is usually with Navin through all the action in a given episode and sometimes sees his own action.
* Earthworm Jim from Earthworm Jim (voiced by Dan Castellaneta): Until Captain N's arrival Jim was Princess Macey's highest ranking servant. He comes from his home, New Junk City. When there isn't any danger around, Jim is care-free and relaxed but when there is danger, he becomes very tense and serious. He has his Supersuit, which occasionally has a mind of its own and his Ray-Gun. Like Captain N's "Perfect Shot" zapper, Jim's Ray-Gun can also dematerialize foes. He was given a redesign with his Supersuit's arms, legs & torso looking more metallic & his belt buckle has the letters "EWJ" on it.
* Ness from EarthBound (voiced by Tara Strong): The diminutive kid psychic Ness is very loyal to, and protective of, Princess Macey and while he shows childish behavior, he's not short on courage. He isn't very physically effective in action situations and often bemoans his small stature, but is the only N Team member who is psychic & has powerful psychic powers, such as; PK Fire, PK Thunder, PK Freeze, PSI and even PK Starstorm. He wears a blue shirt with yellow stripes, wears red sneakers & has a brown bookbag. He comes from the world of Onett.
* Bomberman from Bomberman (voiced by Greg Cipes): Almost as diminutive as Ness, Bomberman is a half human/half robot who used to make bombs in an underground factory of the Bungeling Empire before escaping to the surface. He too is protective of Princess Macey. Despite his size, he is incredibly strong, physically durable, and extremely agile. His head, arms & legs are white, his gloves, boots and the ball part of his antenna on his are pink, and his torso is purple. His look is taken from Atomic Bomberman but with his scarf(?) and his normal colors. As for attitude, Bomberman is a total badass that takes himself and his world WAY too seriously. His home world, along with the rest of the Bombers, is Bomberland (the "Captain N" version of Planet Bomber).
* 3.D.S./3-Digital Supersystem (voiced by Hynden Walch): Debuting in the first episode of the second season ("3.D.S", aired September 8, 2017), 3.D.S. is a human-sized supercomputer designed like the Nintendo product of the same name, a 3D handheld video game device developed and manufactured by Nintendo. When the portal to Mirror World opened, King Carlos sent her in his place to help Captain N. She announces herself as being "programmed to play games" but, when action arises, she is usually capable of meeting the challenge. Her body exhibits elasticity when she stretches out her arms and hands from her casing. 3.D.S. also uses his display to materialize many things, including objects and monsters, mainly for the team's target practice. She also has an onboard computer which can analyze substances and track enemies She has 2 forms. The one she's normally looking like is her compacted form. When she's in her true form, she looks a lot more humanoid. 
== Main Villains ==
* Master Hand from Super Smash Bros. (voiced by Steve Blum):  The primary villain of the series. Master Hand is a trash-talking, abusive, power-hungry giant pearl-white sentient glove. In the pilot episode, his troops are marching at the door of the Palace of Power, and he had already captured and banished King Carlos (the King of Videoland) to the Mirror World on Exaclibur. Though proud of his form, presence & strength, he is not above any subterfuge if it gets his goal accomplished. He also displays great vanity. He spends most of his time stationary in a control room on his floating world, Subspace, where he uses a special "mirror" to spy on the members of the N Team as he looks for weaknesses to exploit. He also has all the powers he has in Super Smash Bros. for the Wii U & 3DS. 
* Evil Bomber from Bomberman GB 3 (also voiced by Greg Cipes): A blue & dark purple half-human/half-robot, similar to Bomberman, who is short on height & brains while being big on firing blasts. He is cruel, indulgent, and sharp tongued, but most of his ire is usually directed to his counterpart Kamek.
* Kamek the Magikoopa from Super Mario World (voiced by Michael Donovan): A glasses-wearing Magikoopa. Kamek mostly serves as a target of abuse for Master Hand due to his incompetence. He is also the chief foil for Evil Bomber as the two usually appear at the same time. Kamek also has the ability to conjure various wizard/medieval-themed gadgets to aid in mischief. Unlike Evil Bomber, Kamek has shown some signs of taking the initiative to come up with his own schemes and is not above turning against Master Hand on rare occasions.[9]
* Psycrow from Earthworm Jim (voiced by Ian James Corlett in a Russian accent): The least shown of the main villains. Psycrow is a tall, beady-eyed, anthropomorphic crow loyal to Master Hand and arguably the most competent of his main henchmen. He is a stereotypical mad scientist who uses his genius to build wild gadgets or develop complicated schemes to defeat the N-Team. One notable episode had him using a mind-reading device to find out the greatest fears of the team members, then constructing a robot in the likeness of a school bully (Navin's greatest fear). He is constantly making "caws" in his speech.
== Minor Villans ==
* Ridley from Metroid: A gigantic dragon that resides on the Pyrosphere. Mostly a solitary character, Ridley is quick to anger and not happy to see visitors in what he considers his home. Ridley must be appeased with food from the inhabitants or else he will wreak havoc on them. Ridley has no loyalties and is equally dangerous to all the characters with the exception of the Videolympics episode where he joins Master Hand's team.
* Ganon from The Legend of Zelda (voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson): A pig-like wizard, who serves as Link and Zelda's greatest enemy. He is a powerful warlock who wields strong magic, but Link has always previously overcome him. After Link had defeated him recently, he lost most of his power, before drinking the potion of power provided to him by King Hippo and Eggplant Wizard, regaining all his strength and power.
== Other Characters ==
* King Carlos (voiced by Jim Cummings): The original monarch of Videoland, and father of both Macey and Michael, was captured by Mother Brain and banished to the Mirror World before the start of the show and has remained trapped there since. He is a kind and compassionate ruler who places his judgment of others above his own well-being. He has an impressive white beard and mustache, and wears ornate multicolor clothing.
* Princess Zelda from The Legend of Zelda (voiced by Grey DeLisle): A beautiful young woman, she rules Hyrule and protects the Triforce from evil as well as providing help to the N Team. She is a close friend to Princess Macey since before Master Hand waged war on Videoland, and the two regard each other highly. She wields a bow occasionally to deal with foes.
* Link from The Legend of Zelda (voiced by Johnny Knoxville): A young warrior who serves Zelda, Link is a heroic figure who is brave, friendly (if somewhat competitive), and resourceful. He also fights to defend the Triforce and Hyrule from enemies and wields a double-edged sword. He is Navin's idol and favorite video game character. There was minor friction between them when Zelda complimented Kevin on his skills and intelligence, causing some jealously and mild resentment on Link's part. However this was later defused when he and Navin worked together to defeat Ganon and they became close friends.
* Prince Micheal: Brother to Princess Macey, Micheal left home at an undisclosed time after feeling out of place. Despite his lineage, he displays few leadership skills or heroism, and generally regards himself as clumsy in spite of his good intentions. Thinking it for the best, he left home and took up residence on the world of Tetris where he guards the Sacred Square. Macey and the other team members convince him that nobody will have any confidence in him as a leader until after he believes in himself.
* Zubatman: A Pokémon television hero parody of Batman, Zubatman is a squat and cynical actor who portrays his character of the same name. Ness idolizes him and identifies with the various gadgets he uses, as he comes up with similar gadget arrows in his quiver.
== Pictures & Stories (can only be seen on DeviantArt) ==
https://3dmarioworld.deviantart.com/gallery/60064522/The-New-Captain-N
https://3dmarioworld.deviantart.com/journal/The-New-Captain-N-Episode-1-629567377
https://joethegreatfox.deviantart.com/art/The-New-N-Team-629921872
https://www.deviantart.com/journals/newest/?q=captain+n+by%3A3dmarioworld