Running for only 13 episodes in 1987, Visionaries – Knights of the Magical Light took place on the planet Prysmos where a once advanced society our forced to rely on old magic following a global phenomenon where all electronics stopped working.
The show followed two groups of Knights, the Spectral Knights (led by Leoric) and the Darkling Lords (led by Darkstorm). Everyone who wishes to gain magic is invited to a competition by the wizard, Merklynn. After surviving traps, dangerous creatures, and each other, survivors on both sides are rewarded. The front plate of their armor is embedded with unique animal totems, which they can turn into. The animals were selected by Merklynn based on their personalities or abilities they exhibited during the competition.
Knights that had staffs were told to dip them into an energy well, enchanting them with various magic; its power activated by the holder reciting a special verse. Any staff-wielding knight can activate any staff, as long as he casts the spell properly. In one episode, Darkstorm made use of Leoric’s staff, while in another, Cryotek used three different power staffs; his own, and those of Witterquick and Cindarr. In the comics, the staffs could be used as many times as needed, without any need to recharge them, but in the cartoon, only one use was permitted before they needed to return to Iron Mountain to recharge them – which caused a lot of tension, particularly on the part of Darkstorm.
The knights without staffs, on the other hand, could not use staffs but can infuse vehicles with magical powers, such as the magical dungeon of the Darkling Lords’ Dagger Assault. There is no limit on vehicle usage, unlike the power staffs. Also, the spells given for the vehicles on the boxes of the toys were never used in either the comics or the series. In the comics, the female knights had shields which worked the same way as the staffs, but in the TV series they did not, and in “The Power Of The Wise”, Virulina was seen piloting the Sky Claw. Galadria was also seen in “Horn Of Unicorn, Claw Of Dragon” doing some repair/maintenance work on the Capture Chariot. Any vehicle-driving knight can drive any vehicle, and both Feryl and Ectar have been seen operating the Dagger Assault.
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