I just want to start this review off by saying I did NOT expect or want this cartoon to be as terrible as it ended up being. I'm aware that I'm particularly critical of cartoons that fail harder than a lazy freshman in high school, but Legend Quest is one of the rare cartoons that was so mind-numbingly atrocious that I refuse to watch any more than the first episode. Allow me to explain.
Created by Jose Alejandro Gracia Munoz, Legend Quest is about a guy who travels the world to foil the plans of an evil overlord with the help of his ghostly companions. While that sounds like an interesting premise for a cartoon, I couldn't bring myself to see this premise in action because the first episode does an absolutely terrible job introducing this world. Wanna know how Leo sees and talks to ghosts? Or get to know them personality-wise? Or why he was chose to be the one to talk to ghosts and no one else? Well that's too bloody bad! This show does a great disservice to writers everywhere by not showing the origin of this premise nor exploring it. Rather it skips over it to get to the "oh woe is me! My life's become so frustrating ever since this special thing happen to me" malarkey! The first episode also never explains why the friar knows so much, why no one else can speak to ghosts or why the flop Leo has feeling for Marcella in the first place! As if the writing couldn't get worst, it's attempts at humor come off as forced and unnatural with constant pop culture references, weak puns and unengaging slapstick. This is the kind of writing that would make a 2 year old cringe with how bad it is!
The characters are about as frustrating as the writing in this stupid show. Starting with our protagonist, Leo is an unlikable, selfish twit that throws his ghostly friends under the bus to try an impress his non-friends and his crush. He's just a pathetic oaf who never learns anything and as such it's impossible to relate to him. His ghostly friends aren't much better, though, as Don Andres is an annoying worry wort, Teodora is a lazy, apathetic snob and Alebrije is a stupid and unfunny comic relief. Don't bother expected anyone else to be a good character, because they're not. Friar Godofredo is the walking encyclopedia, Marcella is eye candy, and the Horrorosos are just a bunch of mindless goblin like creatures with no personality of their own.
The voice acting is pretty bad, too be very honest. I know the actors are trying, but none of them sounded remotely convincing. Johnny Rose sounded really flat as Leo, not once evoking any sense of urgency or personality. Oscar Cheda didn't really sound like an old conquistador, but rather a nervous British man. Annemarie Blanco was rather empty in her performance as Teodora as she sounded like she was bored even during the action scenes. Paul Tei didn't sound good as Alebrije or Friar Godofredo as he wasn't funny or quotable as the former and he didn't sound enough like a wise old man in the latter. There's just no way I could get behind these characters because they're so badly executed.
Visually, it looks fine more the most part. The character designs are well crafted with differing body types, unique hair styles and appropriate attire. I also like how Don Andres and Teodora have a turquoise aura around their bodies. The character animation is fluid and feels very natural, however there are a number of times when it feels too smooth and that kinda makes it look uncanny. The backgrounds are also well crafted witn the town looking like an old Mexican village and the 3D version of the town blends seamlessly witn the 2D characters in the action scenes.
See, THIS is the kind of quality that makes me angry! Legend Quest is an abomination of a cartoon with atrocious writing, hatable characters, bad voice acting and painfully unfunny humor. As decent as the animation is, it's still doesn't spare it from the worst fate to bestow on a piece of entertainment this bad: to be ignored and forgotten. Do NOT watch Legend Quest! Not even out of morbid curiosity. Watch something like Danny Phantom or even the Casper cartoons to get your fix on animated ghosts.
