Treatment

"The Jadecats" is a high-concept television cartoon series designed for the preadolescent market. The protagonists consist of five feline-humanoid superheroes that are versed in dazzling Kung Fu skills, dashing acrobatics, intimidating weaponry, and a pinch of elemental magic. They defend the land from the evil Ratlord (a sinister rat-like humanoid), and his depraved mutant minions. The whole premise is based largely on actual legends of the Chinese Zodiac and children's tales of magic and Kung Fu heroism. Accordingly, each of the Jadecats is founded on one of the Five Elements of Chinese mythology: Fire, Water, Wood, Earth, and Metal. This will correspond to their uniforms, weapon of choice, personalities, and special powers. Together, they undergo a variety of entertaining and enlightening adventures for the whole family to enjoy.

The Legend

The Legend of the Jadecats begins a long time ago, in the lost land known as Jalí. Most say that it was rooted in ancient China, or an island nearby. Others say Indonesia or Malaysia. The truth is, no experts have ever found evidence that such a land ever existed, but stories and tales of adventure have been passed down through the ages with passion, awe, and curiosity. Although you can be assured that curiosity couldn't kill these cats.

Actual Chinese mythology holds that the legendary Jade Emperor invited the twelve greatest animals of the land to his coronation and told them that, through a great race, they would be honored in the ceremony. RAT was not invited. Upon discovering this, RAT became jealous and incensed. He intercepted and stole the invitation intended for CAT. On the day of the race, shrewd RAT rode lazily on the nose of the OX and leapt from his perch to be the first one to greet the Jade Emperor and win the race. CAT was left sleeping, oblivious to the momentous occasion. The twelve animals (RAT, OX, TIGER, RABBIT, DRAGON, SNAKE, HORSE, GOAT, MONKEY, ROOSTER, DOG, and PIG) were honored according to their finishing place in the race by becoming immortalized in the Chinese Lunar Calendar. This explains RAT as the first in the Zodiac cycle and CAT's exclusion altogether (and the resulting animosity between CAT and RAT).

So far, this is documented Chinese Mythology. Here is where the line blurs between Chinese folklore and the imaginative fiction of the Jadecat tale...

Later, CAT found out about the ceremony and ventured to the Emperor's palace, not to claim her place but to save the Emperor from the infamous treachery of the RAT. She crept into the Jade Palace and caught the RAT stealing the Emperor's gold and delicacies. She returned the valuables to their proper place and left RAT unconscious by the foot of the Emperor's bed. As CAT was about to humbly sneak out, without credit for the apprehension, the Jade Emperor awoke and witnessed the valor of CAT. Although it was too late to include CAT in the honor of the Lunar Calendar, he instead made CAT his loyal sentinel and mystic guardian. RAT was banished into exile.

RAT was distraught and enraged and stormed from the palace into the wilderness. He happened upon a haunted well (ghost legends are elaborate and exciting in Chinese culture). A voice from the well told frightened RAT to jump in. The voice in the well made strange promises and wove visions of grandeur. With nothing to lose, RAT jumped in. The next day, he emerged from the well as the Ratlord, an enlarged, half-human/half-rat, possessed by the "Great Moguai", an ancient demon of Chinese legend. He vowed to take revenge upon CAT, destroy the Jade Emperor, conquer the realm, and pervade the land with his minions of malice.

When the Moon Princess (also the Matron of Cats) learned of the ancient demon's awakening and incarnation into the realm, she magically manifested herself in CAT, just as the Great Moguai did with RAT. She vowed to protect the humans from this demonic force that swindled its way from banishment into the mortal realm. She appeared to the Jade Emperor as a giant, winged tiger with jade green eyes. Moon Princess explained the situation to him. They became a team, battling the Ratlord. What she did not count on was falling in love with the wise, strong, gentle-hearted Emperor. He too fell in love with her.

Once it appeared that they had defeated the Ratlord, the Emperor convinced her to become human. Without the blessing of her mother, the Moon Goddess, nor the elder gods, she relinquished her immortality and married the Jade Emperor. When the elder gods discovered this, her curse for becoming mortal and marrying a human was that her offspring would not be human. Instead, she had the litter of... Jadecats. However, they were special creatures able to manifest the best of both worlds - the world of the gods and the world of humans.

Without warning, however, Ratlord resurfaced with his demonic horde and slayed the Jade Emperor and Empress. He then rose for a short time as a bestial tyrant of the land. When the other honored animals of the Lunar Calendar learned of this, they petitioned to the gods. The gods decided to grant each of them Lord status over their animal brethren, making them humanoid in appearance, and powerful enough to keep the Ratlord from unbalancing the power of the land. Thus, the Beastlords were born. However, the gods were still annoyed with the decision of the Moon Princess and Jade Emperor. The gods decided it would be their legacy that was responsible saving the human race. That legacy was the Jadecats.

During the attack of the Ratlord, a loyal manservant to the Jade Emperor managed to flee with the young Jadecats and hid them in a secluded mountain monastery. Warrior monks who recognized them as the legendary Jadecats of prophecy raised them, knowing they would save the realm from the demonic Ratlord. So the monks trained the Jadecats in Kung Fu and helped them to manifest their mystic powers, a power over one of the five Chinese universal elements. They also realized that the Jadecats were demigods and thus partly immortal. They each had nine lives.

So the show tells the tale of the Jadecats, the Beastlords, and the Land of Jalí. The adventures are filled with exotic culture, mystic legends, sizzling action and mysterious intrigue. It is a story that cannot go unheard.

Setting

The world in which the Jadecats reside is known as Jalí, a dated setting that is vaguely reminiscent of ancient China. However, there might be scenes that look like medieval Europe, colonial Hong Kong, or even India or Malaysia. Occasionally, Japanese, Tibetan, and other Asian folklore will also sneak their way into episodes rounding out the whole exotic experience.

There are no signs of modern technology or references to modern day life. The town where most of the activity centers is called Vinchi. The leader of the community, Baron Lee, is also the father of Tai Ni, a recurring secondary character. The human villagers revere the Jadecats as their heroes and there is a natural acceptance, albeit a fearful one, of magic. Unfortunately, the authorities consider the Jadecats to be mutant vigilantes. Mystical creatures such as dragons and ghosts are common in Chinese folklore. Along with the Beastlords and the Immortals, they will often be guest characters on the show.

The Jadecats themselves have nine lives. They have forgotten how many lives each has left, so they are constantly vigilant. Their lives are expended by "near-death experiences". This will allow for brave sacrifices without the need for deus ex machina, but at the same time tension will be created as they count down the last of their lives.

The Jadecats dwell in a secret fort known as the Kune. It is actually built into a large tree, like a pagoda and a tree meshed together. The Ratlord and his minions live in an elaborate and nefarious underground tunnel system known as the "Rats Nest".

Show Format

The Jadecats show is a high-concept cartoon series. The Kung Fu fighting is one of the highlights of the show. The "camera angles" and the highly-stylized movements are indicative of Hong Kong action cinema, right down to the variation in fighting style and nuance from character to character. Visually speaking, I see it perhaps as its own crossbreed between Anime and Disney-style animation. There is a fast pace to the rhythm, with a light techno soundtrack in the background, sped up and intensified during the fighting scenes.

Each episode begins and ends with a brief prologue and epilogue from the Bearded Ghost. He narrates a foreshadowing in the beginning of the episode and delivers a principle or teaching at the end like a Zen koan. The importance of this highlights Paul Giada's interest in children and his passion for enlightening adolescents, cultivating world interests, and facilitating moral positivity in the youth of today.

It is also important to mention that, as a cultural enthusiast and master of Kung Fu, Paul Giada could also serve as a technical advisor, style authenticator, and research consultant for episodes that he does not happen to write.

Also, viewers make note that the illustrations and trailer animation are not the actual visual renditions and animation for the show. They merely serve as a visual key through the door of imagination. They are simply something to give interested parties an idea of the characters and setting of the show and to show the seriousness of our intent to make this vision a reality.