Dark Oracle

Dark Oracle
Format	Sci-Fi/ Animation
Starring	Paula Brancati Alex House Jonathan Malen Danielle Miller Mark Ellis
Country of origin	Canada
No. of episodes	26
Production
Running time	30 min (including commercials)
Broadcast
Original channel	YTV (TV channel)
Original run	October 2, 2004 – June 1, 2006

Dark Oracle is a Canadian produced TV series that premiered in 2004 on the popular Canadian channel YTV. It was created by Jana Sinyor (former writer for Degrassi: the Next Generation and creator of Being Erica), and co-developed by Heather Conkie. In 2005, Dark Oracle won the International Emmy for Best Children's and youth program.

Overview

Main article: List of Dark Oracle episodes

Dark Oracle follows the adventures of 15-year-old twins Cally and Lance Stone who discovered a comic book that gave them clues about the future of their lives. As they were suddenly thrust into a comic book world of danger, fear and uncertainty, the twins learn that Dark Oracle has a hidden agenda that threatens their very existence. In a unique blend of live action and comic book style animation, the two confront their alter egos, Violet and Blaze, who possess the uncanny ability to manipulate their future. With events in the comic book world influencing ones in their own world, Cally and Lance struggle to stay one step ahead of their dark counterparts, or face a very unpleasant fate. The stakes become higher still, with Violet and Blaze trying to escape into the real world to wreak further havoc.

Dark Oracle starred Paula Brancati and Alex House as Cally and Lance Stone, along with Jonathan Malen as Dizzy, Lance and Cally's long-time friend and Danielle Miller as Sage, employee at Gamerz Cave and Lance's girlfriend.

"One of the things that drew us to Dark Oracle, is that it applies a strong high concept, of a comic book coming to life, to the lives of ordinary high school kids. Visually it's going to look amazing, and it's a terrific arena for great dramatic stories as Lance and Cally have to figure out how to deal with the predictions of the comic," explained Suzanne French, producer at Shaftesbury Films.

Dark Oracle's second season took a different turn from the first season, with the comic book characters intervening directly with the main cast. Dizzy and Sage learn about the comic and have their own experiences with it.

Characters

Lance Stone - Alex House

Main article: Lance Stone

Lance, Cally's twin brother, prefers video games and comics to real people. Unlike his sister, he is very shy and tends to keep to himself. When he finds himself drawn into the comic world and meets Sage, this self-proclaimed oddball starts to come out of his shell.

Cally Stone - Paula Brancati

Cally Stone, twin sister of Lance, pretty and prides herself on being level-headed. She’s also the last person who would believe in a comic book that could warp you into new worlds. When she finds herself surrounded by the supernatural, she’s faced with believing that anything can happen.

Dizzy - Jonathan Malen

Dizzy is Lance's best friend, and like Lance he shares a passion for gaming and comics. It’s no question that high school poses challenges for Dizzy, especially with his crush on Cally. But with a little time he is able to shake his geek persona and become not-quite-cool…..but almost. After a while Lance and Cally decide to tell him about the comic book.

Sage - Danielle Miller

Sage works at Gamers Cave Comic Book Store and becomes Lance's girlfriend. She doesn't notice the supernatural events around her, although at one point she and Dizzy are told by Lance and Cally all about the comic book. She and Lance break up in many episodes due to the comic's influence. Vern has often tried to get her from Lance, but never succeeds.

Doyle - Mark Ellis

Doyle is the owner of Gamers Cave Comic Book Store. He spends a great deal of time in the back of his store, which also doubles as a meeting place for the secretive club of Necromancers. Lance and Cally have a suspicion that he is somehow connected to the strange comic book.

Omen - Kristopher Turner

Omen was turned into a frog by Doyle so he could keep his magic under control. In episode one of the series, Omen sees Lance and overhears his comment on "how you can learn a lot from a comic." Omen then uses the remainder of his magic to transform a previous comic into Dark Oracle.

When Lance Stone was invited to Doyle's gaming group, Omen escapes from his cage, hiding in Cally Stone's backpack. Omen is unknowingly taken to the Stone house hold. Cally names him Nemo, getting the name from the comic. He does not regain his human form until Lance gives Nemo a kiss (taken from the story of the frog prince) and Omen's curse is lifted.

Cally later meets Omen at school, asking to borrow a pencil, and is instantly smitten. The two befriend one another and work together on a school project. This was all part of Omen's plan to take Cally Hostage and lure Doyle into the school. Omen is thwarted once Lance kisses him on the cheek, thus turning him into a frog.

Omen returns in the last episode, when Cally and Lance lift his curse once more, in order to get rid of Violet and Blaze. He makes an attempt, but fails. He tries to get revenge on Doyle once more at a Masquerade ball, but is confronted by the Stone siblings. They chase him throughout the ball until Omen is alone in a room with nothing but a mirror. He hears the voices of Blaze and Violet and is pulled into the mirror. At the end of the season finale, Violet and Blaze sneer at Omen saying, "Welcome back, Omen".

But Omen makes another appearance in the premiere of season 2. He is being chased by Violet and Blaze in the Comic book. They ask him how he entered the other world, proving that Omen himself may have come from the comic. Eventually, Omen makes a deal with Violet and Blaze. Vern summons Omen and releases him from the binds of the Comic Book. When Vern plays a trick on Lance, Omen uses a spell to switch Lance and Blaze into the real world. Omen then decides to help Cally. However, Blaze reveals that Omen made a deal with him, and Cally leaves Omen.

After a plan to rescue Lance fails, Omen reveals his true feelings to Cally. Doyle, Vern and Omen work on a Power of Three spell to summon and kill the Puppet Master (the opposite of Doyle). Once Lance is freed, the Puppet Master attempts to use an erasure spell on Cally. Omen sacrifices his own life for Cally and disappears. Whether he returns to the comic or dies is unknown.

Annie - Barbara Mamabolo

Annie is Cally's best friend. She and Cally fight very often since the appearance of the comic. When they fight, Annie hangs out with Kathleen until they make up again. Annie will support Cally in almost everything. She has yet to learn about the comic book.

Vern - David Rendall

Vern is a fellow goth classmate of Lance and Cally. He is neither a friend, nor a true enemy. He always hangs around Simone who might have feelings for him and tries to learn of the powers Omen and Doyle possess. Sometimes he causes trouble for the twins and other times he comes to their aid. Vern saved Lance's life when he was pushed into the mirror by Vern who meant it to be a harmless prank. The outcome was Lance's evil alter-ego taking over Lance's body, but Vern helped Cally and her friends dispel him from Lance's body.

Emmett - Nathan Stephenson

Emmett starts liking Cally, But because of the comic (and Omen) their relationship ends.

DVD release

Mill Creek Entertainment released the complete series on DVD in Region 1 on August 17, 2010.^[1]

References

1. ^ http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Dark-Oracle-The-Complete-Series/14083

External links

• Dark Oracle at Cookie Jar Entertainment
• [1], TV.com listing for Dark Oracle
• [2], Dark Oracle clip
• [3] Official YTV Information on Show
• Dark Oracle at the Internet Movie Database