Lance Dur, or The Last Adventure of Count Lance Dur is a 2023 French cartoon miniseries produced by Ankama studios, the story of which takes place some 20 to 30 years after the events of “Wakfu” Season 4. It follows a band of ageing heroes who embark on one last quest. Animation work was made by Andarta Pictures. It counts 7 episodes, each around 15 minutes long.
Count Lance Dur was not one of the greatest warriors in the land – he was the best. With his faithful companions Chaille, Biste and Mouche, they went on all kinds of adventures and came back covered in riches and glory. But time has not been kind to them : now they are old men and women, and Count Lance Dur lives one day after the other, ill, bored and hurting in his castle. But on the day of his 70th Birthday, his former lover, the witch Belladone kidnaps children, including his own granddaughter Ozie ! Now Lance has to embark on one last adventure with his lifelong friends and his disappointing son Agard, to save the children and prove everyone (including himself) that he's not dead and buried yet.
La Dernière Aventure du Comte Lance Dur features examples of :
- All for Nothing: Double subverted. When the party arrives at Belladone's castle, it turns out she took good care of the children and never meant to hurt them. The Whole quest was a way to give Lance and his buddies a chance to die as warriors, and settle all unfinished business with Cire Momore.
- Back in the Saddle: Ageing retired heroes have to embark on another Quest.
- Comic-Book Adaptation: Inverted. There is a webtoon existing but his setting before the event.
- Dwindling Party: In more than one sense of "Party". Chaille, Biste, Mouche and finally Lance die one after the other. The purpose of the quest was in fact to give each of them a chance to die as a hero.
- Feeling Their Age: A central theme. Lance, Biste, Mouche and Chaille are all old people and illness and weariness are catching up with them.
- Last Stand: Chaille, then Biste each do one.
- One Last Job: They have to embark on a quest despite really feeling their age, because in spite of this they are still the most capable heroes around.
- Putting the Band Back Together: Lance, Mouche, Biste and Chaille kept in touche but mostly went their separate ways when they retired, only seeing each other again on special occasions.
- Retired Badass Roundup: The main cast consists of 4 old heroes and a younger, ordinary human. Even the evil witch Belladone, although supposedly immortal, shows signs of having aged.
- The Reveal: Belladone never meant any harm to the kids. Agard just organised one last adventure that would give Lance and his friends a satisfying end, and everyone except Lance was in on it.
- Vitriolic Best Buds: All four of the old heroes keep sending each other volleys of friendly insults.