History WesternAnimation / SkeletonWarriors

Video games for Sony Platform/PlayStation and Platform/SegaSaturn were released, as was [[TheMerch a toyline]] and a Marvel comic book miniseries. The cast also appeared in the 1994 UsefulNotes/MacysThanksgivingDayParade, and a Website/{{Kickstarter}} [[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/georgegaspar/skeleton-warriors-glyos-compatible-action-figures?ref=card campaign]] for a revival of the toyline was successful.

* WeWillUseManualLaborInTheFuture: Baron Dark make use of uncorrupted humans as slaves. Justified, as while they are imprisoned they can not rebel. And the shattering of the Lightstar crystal has left the city without power.

Video games for Sony Platform/PlayStation and Platform/SegaSaturn were released, as was [[TheMerch a toyline]]. The cast also appeared in the 1994 UsefulNotes/MacysThanksgivingDayParade, and a Website/{{Kickstarter}} [[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/georgegaspar/skeleton-warriors-glyos-compatible-action-figures?ref=card campaign]] for a revival of the toyline was successful.

* CrazyPrepared: Ursak seems like this at first, but then it is {{subverted}}. In one episode, it showed that he helped build a machine that let him see the future. After seeing the rise of the Skeleton Warriors, he starting preparing and waiting for the day that he knew would come, just not when exactly.

* UndyingLoyalty: While a feature becoming a Skeleton Warrior is becoming loyal to Baron Dark, special note should be given to Dagger who was very devoted ''long before'' the events of the series.

* EleventhHourSuperpower: [[spoiler: Prince Justin's sword is revealed to be made from a ''third'' piece of the Lightstar Crystal, and LikeCannotCutLike. This quickly evens the playing field between him and the Lightstar-empowered Baron Dark during the final battle.]]

* AntiHero: Grimskull, who caused the whole mess courtesy of his jealousy and anger at his perceived inferiority to his brother, but repents his mistake and seeks to make amends. All whilst looking like a zombie and having the power to teleport through shadows.

* CatchPhrase: Baron Dark develops one, for when he skeletonizes somebody:

* DarkestHour: Episode 13. [[spoiler: Baron Dark joins both halves of the Lightstar Crystal, which grants him a slew of godlike powers and the ability to transform people into Skeleton Warriors regardless of their morality. He then leads a massive assault on Luminicity to convert all the remaining humans into skeletons, whether they're part of the Legion of Light or not.]]

** Averted with Grimskull. Dark clothing and a shadow walker, but he's loyal to his family.

* DisneyVillainDeath: In the series finale, [[spoiler: Baron Dark is finally killed for good when Lightstar throws him (and the Crystal) off a cliff into a pit of lava]].

* DumbassHasAPoint: Lightstar and Talyn, who are imprisoned with Shriek and Dagger, [[EnemyMine suggest that they work together to escape.]] Dagger immediately agrees and Shriek calls him out because he just want to save himself. Dagger ask her what her point is. [[{{Beat}} Shriek think about it for a second]] and agrees to help.

* EvilIsHammy: Baron Dark takes the cake in the hamminess department.
* EvilLaugh: All skeleton warriors laugh at their own evil deeds, Baron Dark most of all.

* HeroWithBadPublicity: Grimskull get hit hard with this. He betrayed the royal family, but had a change of heart at the last moment. With his half-dead appearance, people around him don't trust him. It gets worse when the truth about his betrayal goes public. Even after he redeemed himself, they're are still a lot of uneasiness around him.

%%* InvincibleHero: Grimskull.

* WeaksauceWeakness: Initially, the Skeleton Warriors seem nearly unstoppable - While they can be shattered easily, they reform themselves within seconds, and their leader can create new Skeleton Warriors simply by touching people. Everything changes after Episode 3, however, when the Skeleton Warriors are revealed to have [[GemHeart 'heart stones']] inside their ribcages. If these stones are ever destroyed or removed, the Skeleton Warrior instantly transforms back into a human being, which also breaks Baron Dark's control over their mind if they weren't a willing recruit.

* WhamEpisode: Episode 12 ends with [[spoiler: Grimskull seemingly killed and Baron Dark finally in possession of the Lightstar Crystal's other half]].

Video games for Sony UsefulNotes/PlayStation and UsefulNotes/SegaSaturn were released, as was [[TheMerch a toyline]]. The cast also appeared in the 1994 UsefulNotes/MacysThanksgivingDayParade, and a Website/{{Kickstarter}} [[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/georgegaspar/skeleton-warriors-glyos-compatible-action-figures?ref=card campaign]] for a revival of the toyline was successful.

-->--'''Golden Skull''' (voiced by Creator/TonyJay)

!! These are the tropes of the Skeleton Warriors:

* AbsentAnimalCompanion: In "...Long Live the King", Dark claims a skeletonized horse as his personal steed, which is never seen again.

--> ''Lightstar! [[LightEmUp He has the power!]]''
--> ''[[ActionGirl Talyn]]'s a fighter [[{{Flight}} in the sky!]]''
--> ''Grimskull [[ShadowWalker moves within the shadows!]]''
--> ''Guardian shouts the battle cry!''
--> '''''FOR THE LEGION OF LIGHT!'''''

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: At the end of the series, [[spoiler: Baron Dark and the Lightstar Crystal are destroyed, but Dark's huge Skeleton Warrior army - including his lieutenants and the several dozen innocent people he managed to skeletonize during the final battle - remains unaccounted for]].
** [[spoiler: Dagger, Cyborn, Shriek, Aracula and several other skeletons are last seen being swept away by a wave of lava and Claw isn't seen again after Dark reforms the Lightstar crystal. While it's possible the skeletons hit by the lava were destroyed, Talyn says there are other skeletons still out there]].

* ZombifyTheLiving: Baron Dark can convert people directly from human to Skeleton Warrior skipping the whole "having to die and rot" bit, he then adds them to his army. Some people go willingly and seem to retain some of their former selves, but your average unwilling convertee just seems to become overwhelmed by Baron Dark's psychic link.

[[caption-width-right:326:''[[Creator/TonyJay "These are the tales of]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3ZlpTp_dJA the Skeleton Warriors..."]]'']]

!!"These Are the Tropes of the Skeleton Warriors..."

* AboveGoodAndEvil: Though apparently a skeleton, the Narrator seems to be more interested in the story he's telling than propping up either side.

* DrunkOnTheDarkSide: There are subtle hints that the skeletonization process has euphoric effects on the transformed; Baron Dark goes from being horrified at his transformation to openly embracing it in the time it takes him to return to his core followers. Those he transforms immediately revel in their new status, ranting about how good they feel. When one is accidentally changed back into a human (revealing their weakness) he runs back to Baron Dark and begs to be reskeletonized.

* OpeningNarration: Each episode start with a narration voiced by [[Creator/TonyJay Tony Jay]].

* RewardedAsATraitorDeserves: Played with - Baron Dark turns humans that defect to him into skeleton warriors, even if they would be more useful staying TheMole. It is perfectly in character for him, though: He's not only [[MonsterProgenitor the sole infector]] of TheVirus (making everyone "joined in the darkness"), and subtly implied to be compelled to spread his state, but the conversion is shown to make the victim far more loyal to him. A rabid dog becomes obedient, traitors and mercenaries who were OnlyInItForTheMoney instantly settle for doing his bidding only ForTheEvulz. Magically-enforced loyalty is probably the safest way to deal with someone who has a track record of betrayal.
* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: All members of the royal family take an active role in the Legion of Light, with Justin serving as its leader.

* TheSoCalledCoward: A Legion of Light warrior thinks himself a DirtyCoward because he ran from the skeleton warriors. However the flashback shows he only fled when his weapon ran out of power and he had no way of fighting them.

* ZombifyTheLiving: Baron Dark can convert people directly from human to zombie skipping the whole "having to die and rot" bit, he then adds them to his army. Some people go willingly and seem to retain some of their former selves, but your average unwilling convertee just seems to become overwhelmed by Baron Dark's psychic link.