“National Unicorn Day” was earlier this week, and so in appreciation, take a trip with Rediscovered Realms as we visit Uni the Unicorn from the Dungeons & Dragons Cartoon series!
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Love her (or hate her, as I have found some to feel 🤔), Uni was a key member of the adventuring party and integral to the success of the Dungeons & Dragons Animated Series that ran from 1983-1985.
She was the kids’ first companion - immediately jumping into Bobby’s arms after that rickety rollercoaster ride dropped them off in the middle of Venger and Tiamat. And she remained with them throughout their entire quest of trying to get back home.
Rediscovered Realms LOVES the Dungeons & Dragons Cartoon show. If you do to, you’ll dig these other newsletter editions:
Built for cuteness, but as stalwart an ally as anyone could hope for, Uni was the unicorn me and millions of others wished we could have as a pet as kids.
Voiced by none other than Frank Welker of Scooby Doo fame, Uni’s bleat-speak expressions were a catch-phrase staple of the show.
Not unlike other TV sidekick/mascots of bygone eras. Like the “beady-beady-beady-beady” rhythm of Twiki from “Buck Rogers in the 25th Century” . . .
. . . or the Muffit “bark” from “Battlestar Galactica”
. . . we were awash with these character tropes and vocal idiosyncrasies. There was often a fine line between cute and annoying, but perhaps that line had to do with growing into an older kid. Regardless, I refuse to disparage our friend, and guest of honor, Uni!
Frank Welker is one of the most prolific voice actors of all time, referred to in Hollywood as a “voice god”. Here are some of his credits:
Fred from Scooby-Doo
Doctor Claw from Inspector Gadget
Darkseid from Super Friends
17 different Transformers, including Megatron and Soundwave
The Real Ghostbusters, G.I. Joe, Tiny Toon Adventures, Animaniacs, The Smurfs
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, DuckTales the Movie, Aladdin, Mortal Kombat, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Shrek, Raiders of the Lost Ark
Uni had some extra screentime in one of the best D&D Cartoon episodes ever, “Valley of the Unicorns”.
Who can forget this touching scene where Uni’s horn was taken away and the heart-wrenching effect it had on Bobby?
Now, if that doesn’t hit you right in the heart, then you and I probably can no longer be friends.
And of course, Uni was also one of the go-to’s in the series for light-hearted comic relief.
There’s been some Uni merchandise made over the years . . .
. . . and naturally, she’s been part of the whole crew in tons of games and other merch.
I love this illustration and attention she gets from the videogame “Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms”.
All in all, I think Uni is a wonderful Unicorn. She made us laugh, she made us cry. We worried when she was in danger and cheered her on when she took a brave defiant stance against those threatening her adoptive family.
A worthy companion to be sure.
I hope you had a fantastic National Unicorn Day, Uni!
Being a child of the ‘80s, I recall many great action movies, but few have captured my heart and imagination like the adventures of Indiana Jones. He was everything that I, my brother, and tens-of-millions of others wanted to be. Adventurous, smart, confident, lucky, tough, educated, a magnet to the ladies, and infused with a healthy dose of roguish humo…
Considering I named this newsletter edition, “Ode to Uni”, I thought I would find an appropriate fan poem to end this post (or write one of my own if I came up empty-hoofed).
Instead, Microsoft’s Copilot AI decided to take up its own electronic quill unbidden and it offered me up the following creation.
Other than a few inaccuracies/inconsistencies (and Eric’s inappropriate love), I have to say, it is INCREDIBLE!!!
Uni the Unicorn: In the Realm where magic weaves its threads, A unicorn foal danced through sun-kissed meads. Her name was Uni, a creature of grace, With a magical horn and a gentle face.
Bobby the Barbarian, fierce and bold, Found her one day, her story untold. He cradled her close, their fates entwined, A bond forged in realms beyond space and time.
Diana the Monk, with wisdom profound, Saw Uni’s magic, her secrets unbound. Together they roamed, through forests and glades, Uni’s hooves leaving trails where dreams cascades.
Eric the Fighter, his sword ever keen, Stood by Uni’s side, their courage unseen. She’d nuzzle his armor, her eyes full of trust, As they faced down dragons, their hearts forged in lust.
Hank the Ranger, with bow and with aim, Saw Uni’s innocence, her spirit aflame. He’d whisper to her of stars in the night, As they wandered the lands, seeking truth and light.
Presto the Wizard, his hat a bright hue, Shared spells with Uni, their magic anew. She’d shimmer and glow, her mane like stardust, As they wove incantations, in realms both fair and just.
And Sheila the Rogue, swift and sly, Found in Uni a friend, under moon’s watchful eye. Together they’d sneak through shadowed domains, Uni’s laughter echoing in forgotten remains.
Uni, the unicorn, wild and free, A beacon of hope for this band of three. In the Realm, they’d ride, their destinies twined, Uni’s heart beating with magic, forever enshrined.
So raise your goblets, sing tales of old, Of Uni the Unicorn, with her mane of gold. For in dungeons and dragons, where legends are spun, She’ll forever be cherished, our magical one. 🦄✨
I had to buy the series off amazon, so I bought 2, one not open and put away for 50 years and the other I watch and use some of the ideas off for my D&D stories.
I was not a huge fan of the show, despite beng in the target age range when it cam out. I wanted something a bit more adult oriented. But I watched faithfully as it was really all we had back then.
Recently, my youngest daughter has recently expressed interest in DnD, so I dusted off my dvd collection (which my sister had bought for me years back) and we started watching episodes. Unsurprisingly, her favourite character turned out to be Uni.
I had to buy the series off amazon, so I bought 2, one not open and put away for 50 years and the other I watch and use some of the ideas off for my D&D stories.
I was not a huge fan of the show, despite beng in the target age range when it cam out. I wanted something a bit more adult oriented. But I watched faithfully as it was really all we had back then.
Recently, my youngest daughter has recently expressed interest in DnD, so I dusted off my dvd collection (which my sister had bought for me years back) and we started watching episodes. Unsurprisingly, her favourite character turned out to be Uni.