- The series is a French and Japanese coproduction. Although the opening and ending animations have clearly been designed for the Japanese songs, these animations were edited to fit the song used in the French version and it is this version that has been used for international distribution (like the American version). Also, the background music composed for the French version is the one used in foreign versions.
- A new Japanese version was made in 1998 with a different voice cast for a re-issue broadcast on NHK satellite #2 as part of the Satellite Anime Playhouse series.
- Episode 11 in the US version contains a slight time cut, missing a close up scene of a soldier in the temple doorway as it is collapsing. Episode 1 in the British version starts immediately at the narration "It is the year 1532" rather than showing a god shot of Barcelona. Episode 32 in the British, Polish, and German versions all contain a scene cut. After Papa Camayo gets shot by the Olmec, Pedro and Sancho hit him with a log. However, this scene continues with them saying "Here's your reward" and then using his back as a pivot for a see saw. It was probably removed for violence. Episode 36 in the British version is missing the opening sequence that shows the Olmec flying machine using the secret weapon to kill a bunch of Mayans.
- Some scenes were cut from the US airing on Nickelodeon, including:
- an extended shot of the Esperanza going into the butterflies in Episode 2.
- The water waking up Pedro and Sancho in Episode 4
- The building of the raft and creation of the oars also in Episode 4
- The line "Then why did he take Zia away with him" in episode 6
- A scene when Tao Trips and falls and can hear something on the ground in Episode 27
- The line by Tao "All hell has let loose, the Olmecs are all scared to death" has been shortened to "The Olmecs are all scared to death" in Episode 32
- Kalmec saying "Go on up Damn you fly higher" has the "damn you" silenced in Episode 38
- Episode 8, 9, and 10 contain a different order of background music than the French Episodes. The rest of the english episodes seem to match the french episodes.
- Episodes 20 and 26 contain slight time cuts, one of a side shot of the golden condor, the other of the Eagle flying over the mountain.
- The 3 minute live action documentaries that were to follow the show were not aired. These were aired in Australia, South Africa and New Zealand.
- The Japanese version has been released on DVD, and some differences to be found in this release compared to the English/French version are:
- Opening credits are much longer with scenes of the children running through the ruins, and a live shot of the Pelican (from Documentary number 5)
- Entirely different music and sometimes different sound effects
- Episode 1: Starts off with a live action ship in a storm, fading into a map of the area of spain, and then on to the God Shot. Esteban's run in the city to the tavern is shorter, but an additional overhead shot is shown. The scene in which Pedro and Sancho are telling the story about the city of gold is shortened (they don't talk about how the patrons of the bar should invest in their adventure.) There is an additional scene of Esteban looking shocked when the official says "find him and you'll receive a whole piece of gold." There is a scene difference in when Mendoza is waiting for Esteban at the dock, he waits longer, but Esteban's run to meet him is shorter. The ending of Episode 1 is omitted in that Esteban discovers Zia only. The scene in which Mendoza smiles at the discovery that Esteban makes of Zia, and the both looking to see the clouds turn into the winged serpent forshadowing things to come is not there.
- Episode 2: The daydreaming scene in which the golden butterflies turns into the city of gold is omitted, as well as the daydreaming scene in which Esteban is seasick and floating above the mayan ruins.
- Episode 3: The daydreaming scene of the seamonster eating the ship is omitted.
- Episode 4: Has the longest runtime of all the episodes of the series contains many additions, cuts, and an alternate ending. Additions include Extended footage of Mendoza rescuing the children with Esteban grabbing onto him through the bars so he doesn't get sucked out, followed by Dialogue of Gomez on the deck of the ship saying something about Gaspard. Gomez then slides down the deck of the ship and gets into the boat. There is a scene added in which Pedro and Sancho wake up in each others arms on the deck of the Esperanza when Esteban calls to Mendoza about the St. Elmos fire. There is also an extended scene after the shark attack where Pedro and Sancho say something off camera, and goes into an on camera dialogue with Esteban and Zia's dialogue about Esteban's father.
- Omitted scene: There is a small scene of the raft sitting still in the sunlight.
- Alternate Ending: Once the Island is discovered our heroes merely paddle their way toward the island, seeing shots of the lizards, and shots of the island. The Episode ends right here, and the entire footage in the English/French versions of Mendoza swimming from the sharks is gone.
- Some of the scenes from Episode 4 alternate ending and the rescue can be seen in the English/French version Previous and To Follow segments
- Episode 5: This starts where the English/French Episode 4 ends at the raft on the island. There is a scene omission of Zia lifting her dress to sit down. This Episode ends right where Tao points the crossbow at Esteban.
- Episode 6: Starts in the tree house right where Episode 5 left off, and has a small scene of Mendoza Pedro and Sancho arriving on the raft. From this point forward all Episodes are in Synch with the English/French versions, with very few differences.
- Episode 9: Starts with an additional second of footage zoomed in on the Solaris's sail
- Episode 27: Has a second of footage containing a lightning bolt omitted at the start of the Episode
- Episode 29: In the Japanese version when Esteban Tao and Zia are struck by the Olmec ray, Esteban spins around much slower and the background isn't changed as much.
- Closing Credits: There is an additional bit of animation used of the sun and then transitioning to Esteban's face
- None of the previous, to follows, or live action documentaries are on the Japanese DVD's
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content
Top Gap
By what name was The Mysterious Cities of Gold (1982) officially released in India in English?
Answer