BraveStarr

BraveStarr is an American space western animated series.[1] The original episodes aired from September 1987 to February 1988 in syndication.[2] It was created simultaneously with a collection of action figures. BraveStarr was the last animated series produced by Filmation and Group W Productions to be broadcast before Filmation shut down in 1989.[3]

BraveStarr
Title card
GenreSpace Western
Action/Adventure/Science fiction
Voices ofPat Fraley
Charlie Adler
Erika Scheimer
Lou Scheimer
Alan Oppenheimer
Susan Blu
Ed Gilbert
Country of originUnited States
Original language(s)English
No. of episodes65
Production
Executive producer(s)Lou Scheimer
Running time25 minutes
Production company(s)Filmation
DistributorGroup W Productions
Release
Original networkfirst-run syndication
Original releaseSeptember 14, 1987 –
February 24, 1988

Bravo!, a spin-off series (originally called Quest of the Prairie People) was in production along with Bugzburg when the studio closed down. Reruns of the show aired on Qubo Night Owl from 2010 to 2013, and on the Retro Television Network from 2010 to 2015.[4]

Background

The idea for BraveStarr began with Tex Hex, his chief adversary. Tex Hex was created by Filmation's staff artists in 1984, during the development of Filmation's Ghostbusters.[5] Lou Scheimer found the character fascinating and pulled Tex Hex from the Ghostbusters cast. He asked Arthur Nadel, Filmation's Vice President for Creative Affairs, and art director John Grusd to develop a science fiction Western around the character. As the concepts took shape, staff writer Bob Forward fleshed out the writer's guide and eventually co-wrote the feature film script for BraveStarr: The Legend with writer Steve Hayes.

Plot

The episodes combine elements of science fiction and western genres. It is set in the 23rd century on a multi-cultural desert planet called New Texas.

As on other Filmation series (He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, She-Ra: Princess of Power, Shazam!, The Secret of Isis, and the animated Ghostbusters), a moral lesson is told at the end of each episode. One notable episode is "The Price", in which a boy buys a drug called "Spin", becomes addicted to it, and dies of an overdose.[6]

Setting

The setting in most episodes is New Texas: a planetary system orbiting three suns, 600 parsecs (1957 light-years) from Earth. Much of the food and water supply is imported. The majority of land is desert; but there is one wetland area, which is the home of "apecats". Water is also found in cactus-like 'Aqua-Pod' plants. The chief export is Kerium: a red mineral used as a fuel source, and often therefore the prize of conflicts among characters. Implications exist that New Texas was colonized for Kerium, but will remain inhabited even after the mines are exhausted. The native civilization of New Texas are the Prairie People, who operate most of the Kerium mines.

Points of interest

The following locations are on New Texas:

  • Fort Kerium - A mechanized town capable of armoring itself; BraveStarr's base of operation.
  • Starr Peak - A mountain where Shaman lives, concealing the spacecraft in which he arrived on New Texas, atop a Kerium deposit.
  • Stone Canyon - A large mining canyon. Also the location of some crime.
  • Peaceful Valley - A large agrarian land.
  • The Hexagon - Fortress for most of the villains.
  • The Badlands - The inhospitable land surrounding the Hexagon.

Two episodes are set on Earth, where the city of London resembles a modernized Victorian England, including a time-traveling Sherlock Holmes.

Alien and human species
  • Apecats - Gigantic non-humanoid felines who live near the only wetlands on New Texas.
  • Avianoid - The two-headed criminal Two Face comes from an avianoid species, and had half of his body augmented with cybernetic replacements (for reasons unknown), making him a cyborg. Another avianoid is the 'Cygnian Ambassador', who resembles an ostrich.
  • Broncosaurs - A Dinosaur-like civilization of which Stampede is the last living representative.
  • Dingos (a.k.a. Coyotoids) - Coyote-like humanoids, who often appear as minor antagonists, amenable to a peaceful lifestyle.
  • Equestroids - Cyborg equines capable of assuming human attributes (bipedal stance and prehensile forelimbs especially) at will. Thirty/Thirty is the only survivor of this colony.
  • Fuufta - Pacifist sheep-like creatures, often targeted by enemy civilizations.
  • Humans - A variety of ethnic groups including Native Americans BraveStarr and Shaman, and the British Sherlock Holmes.
  • Krang - Cat-like humanoids; warlike and therefore opposed to BraveStarr and his ideals.
  • Porcinoid - Hawgtie comes from a porcine (pig-like) humanoid species.
  • Prairie People - Anthropoid prairie dog-like creatures and native to New Texas who take pleasure in mining and in the operation of machines.
  • Reptillianoid - Antagonists Vipra and Diamond Back are both reptilian and humanoid, and display behaviors of both.
  • Rigellian - Drink-seller Handlebar is a member of this race of green-skinned humanoids with bright orange hair and superhuman strength. Dr. Wt'sn is also of this species.
  • Sand Walrus - Antagonist Sand Storm comes from this red-skinned humanoid species and has a number of special powers.
  • Solacows - A non-sentient cattle-like species, the raising of which is one of the few major non-mining-related industries on New Texas; disputes between Solacow ranchers and Kerium miners are not uncommon and have on occasion resulted in physical altercations.

Characters

Heroes
BraveStarr and his sidekick/mount Thirty/Thirty.
  • Marshal BraveStarr (voiced by Pat Fraley) - The title character; a Native American who can call upon the power of "spirit animals", enabling him briefly to perform superhuman feats. The Eyes of the Hawk enhances his vision and can also grant him an aerial view of the adjacent area. The Ears of the Wolf gives him super-human hearing. The Strength of the Bear gives him super-human strength. The Speed of the Puma gives him super-human speed. The Strength of the Bear grants BraveStarr strength sufficient to destroy stone or support steel bridges, whereas the Speed of the Puma allows him speeds akin to comic-book characters Quicksilver and the Flash. In addition to his animal powers, he has electronic equipment such as a computerized visor and a two-way radio. BraveStarr also carries a "Neutra-laser" pistol, a high-tech hatchet, a beam lasso and a "Trans-freezer" rifle, and the badge on his shirt can shield him at need. Although called "Protector of Peace" and "Champion of Justice", he usually acts in the former role, preferring to serve as a mediator in any conflict. He often seeks peaceful resolution to every problem, unless confronted by the series' periodic villains.
  • Thirty/Thirty (voiced by Ed Gilbert) - BraveStarr's Equestroid and chief deputy, capable of assuming a bipedal form at will. His principal weapon is the "Sarah Jane": a large blunderbuss from which he projects directed energy. He is more belligerent than BraveStarr, and will often prefer fights to resolutions. His appearance later inspired an alternative design for the character of Sylvia in the Wander Over Yonder episode "The Cartoon."
  • Judge J.B. McBride (voiced by Susan Blu) - Fort Kerium's principal (and perhaps only) judge and lawyer, BraveStarr's ally, consultant, and occasional paramour. In battle, she uses an electronic gavel (called a "hammer of justice" in the series) given to her by the Prairie People.
  • Shaman (voiced by Ed Gilbert) - An otherwise-unnamed mystic, capable of teleportation, time travel, psychokinesis, and near-omniscient clairvoyance. He is BraveStarr's mentor and foster-father. BraveStarr would often telepathically contact Shaman for advice on how to handle certain situations.

Supporting characters
  • Angus McBride (voiced by Ed Gilbert) - The father of Judge J. B. McBride. He is a former Kerium prospector who now operates Fort Kerium's newspaper.
  • Billy-Bob (voiced by Ed Gilbert): A human Kerium prospector.
  • Commander Karen Kane (voiced by Susan Blu): A former Star Marine who retired after marrying Angus McBride. She is the stepmother of J. B. Like Angus, she has a Scottish accent.
  • Deputy Fuzz (voiced by Charlie Adler) - A member of the Prairie People. BraveStarr affectionately calls him "li'l partner". Fuzz is typically a figure of comic relief, but also plays more-serious roles at need. The first of the Prairie People to befriend humans.
  • Diamondback (voiced by Alan Oppenheimer) - A Reptillianoid Kerium prospector, who owns the Kerium deposit underneath Starr Peak along with his human colleague Billy-Bob.
  • Doc Clayton (voiced by Lou Scheimer) - The town's doctor who is frequently an ally of BraveStarr's.
  • Handlebar (voiced by Alan Oppenheimer) - A Rigellian bartender and former space pirate from the Rigel star system, with a bright orange handlebar mustache and a Brooklyn accent. He mostly serves BraveStarr and Thirty/Thirty a drink called "sweetwater". Other times he acts as a reserve law enforcement officer. He has a pet cyborg steer named Rampage.
  • Long Arm John - A law enforcement officer with a sophisticated prosthetic arm.
  • Molly (voiced by Susan Blu) - Courier aboard a "Strato-Stage," a mechanized stagecoach traveling above ground. Occasionally, Molly has a security guard to blast away enemies. Molly is also capable of piloting space vehicles.
  • Mayor Derringer (voiced by Pat Fraley) - The town leader of Fort Kerium who occasionally aides BraveStarr; Although he rarely uses it, he carries a stun pistol for protection.
  • Wild Child (voiced by Erika Scheimer) - A baby who wandered into the desert and got adopted by Dingoes. He grew up among them until he met BraveStarr and Judge J.B. McBride.
  • Zarko (voiced by Charlie Adler in "Wild Child," Ed Gilbert in "Call of the Wild") - The last living member of the Old Ones who hunted anyone that trespassed into the Lost City. After he helped save Wild Child, Zarko gives up hunting an adopts Wild Child.

Villains
  • Stampede (voiced by Alan Oppenheimer) - Chief antagonist and ringleader of the outlaws based at the Hexagon. A monstrous, partly skeletal Broncosaur, and apparently the last of his kind. He seldom appears in battle directly, but is usually the source of his subordinates' evil plans, and is the archenemy of BraveStarr's mentor, Shaman.
  • Carrion Bunch - An outlaw gang that reside in the Badlands at the Hexagon.
    • Tex Hex (voiced by Charlie Adler) - BraveStarr's rival, opponent, and counterpart, distinguished by a withered appearance and lavender skin. He is Stampede's junior partner. Tex Hex originally Tex, a greedy Kerium prospector who briefly co-owned a Kerium mine with Angus. He crashed a Kerium-overloaded ship while heading home from New Texas and was revived and given a host of magical powers by Stampede. Credited, in the feature-film, with the discovery of Kerium on New Texas.
    • Outlaw Skuzz (voiced by Alan Oppenheimer) - Tex's cigar-smoking henchman. A cousin of Deputy Fuzz; apparently the only Prairie Person to practice crime. The moral lesson at the end of one episode had him saying he liked being an outlaw, but the one bad thing he disliked doing was smoking and warning viewers not to follow his example.
    • Cactus Head (voiced by Pat Fraley) - A short robot with a cactus-shaped headpiece equipped with two energy cannons. Often seen as the comic relief and used as a spy.
    • Sand Storm (voiced by Ed Gilbert) - A red Sand snake like creature who can exhale giant clouds of sand. His kind are sometimes called "sand walruses" and are native to New Texas. He can also use his sand to put people to sleep or create sand creatures.
    • Thunder Stick (voiced by Pat Fraley) - A stuttering robot with a directed-energy cannon built into his arm.
    • Vipra (voiced by Susan Blu) - A Reptillianoid female villain who has the power to hypnotize people. She is the assistant to Tex Hex, but envious of his high rank among the villains.
  • Billy the Droid - A purple robot with the power to shoot energy bolts from his hands and a gripping arm from his chest.
  • Dealer - A Dingo drug dealer who was selling a drug called Spin that later killed a boy named Jay Olman. After his plot was foiled, the Dealer was arrested by BraveStarr.
  • Dune Buggy Gang - A gang residing in the Badlands that causes trouble for travelers.
    • Ryder (voiced by Alan Oppenheimer) - A cyborg human who is the leader of the Dune Buggy Gang.
    • Slither (voiced by Charlie Adler) - A Reptilianoid.
    • "Two Faced" Dingo Dan (Ed Gilbert) - One of Tex's Dingoes with a notionally Aussie accent. Dan has the ability to take on a human appearance, but would often forget to change his distinctive "fancy hat".
  • Jingles Morgan - A former teacher of BraveStarr who went rogue.
  • Krang - Humanoid felines with green armor and German accents; a periodic enemy.
  • Leaper Riders - A group of Dingoes that ride Leapers.
    • Goldtooth - An overweight coyote that usually leads other Dingoes in the battle.
    • Barker (voiced by Lou Scheimer) - A little Dingo.
    • Howler (voiced by Lou Scheimer) - Another coyote. He can assume human form.
  • Hawgtie (voiced by Lou Scheimer) - A humanoid pig dressed in a Union Army uniform. He seemed to be strong, and used bolas to capture or bind his victims.
  • Queen Singlish - A woman that commandeered an entire island, which floats through space. She constantly wants slaves to assist her; but is defeated by the Prairie People.
  • Two-Face - A cyborg Avianoid with a normal head and a cyborg head.

Episode list
No. English Title Spanish Title Air date PC
1"The Disappearance of Thirty-Thirty" La Desaparición De Treinta TreintaSeptember 14, 1987053
2"Fallen Idol" El Ídolo Caído September 15, 1987037
3"The Taking of Thistledown 123" El Secuestro De Thistledown 123 September 16, 1987007
4"Skuzz and Fuzz" Skuzz Y Fuzz September 17, 1987021
5"A Day in the Life of a New Texas Judge" Un Día En La Vida De Un Juez De Nuevo Tejas September 18, 1987048
6"Rampage" El Alboroto September 21, 1987041
7"To Walk a Mile" Caminar Una Milla September 22, 1987020
8"Big Thirty and Little Wimble" El Gran Treinta Treinta Y El Pequeño Wimble September 23, 1987038
9"BraveStarr and the Law" Bravestarr Y La Ley September 24, 1987010
10"Kerium Fever" Fiebre De Kerium September 25, 1987006
11"Memories" Recuerdos September 28, 1987039
12"Eyewitness" El Testigo September 29, 1987014
13"The Vigilantes" Los Vigilantes September 30, 1987023
14"Wild Child" El Pequeño Salvaje October 1, 1987027
15"Hail, Hail, the Gang's All Here" Toda La Pandilla Esta Aquí October 2, 1987018
16"Eye of the Beholder" La Bondad De Los Malos October 5, 1987011
17"The Wrong Hands" Las Manos Equivocadas October 6, 1987025
18"An Older Hand" El Mago October 7, 1987030
19"Showdown at Sawtooth" La Liberación De Diente De Sierra October 8, 1987009
20"Unsung Hero" El Héroe October 12, 1987029
21"Lost Mountain" La Montaña Perdida October 13, 1987034
22"Trouble Wears a Badge" El Problema Usa Una Placa October 15, 1987043
23"Who Am I?" Quien Soy? October 16, 1987022
24"BraveStarr and the Treaty" Bravestarr Y El Pacto October 20, 1987033
25"Thoren the Slavemaster" El Poseedor De Esclavos October 21, 1987019
26"The Price" El Precio October 22, 1987049
27"Revolt of the Prairie People" La Rebelión De La Gente De La Pradera October 23, 1987047
28"Hostage" El Rehén October 26, 1987031
29"Tunnel of Terror" El Túnel Del Horror October 27, 1987042
30"The Good, the Bad, and the Clumsy" El Bueno, El Malo Y El Tonto October 28, 1987026
31"Balance of Power" La Balanza Del Poder October 29, 1987052
32"Call to Arms" Llamada A Filas October 30, 1987051
33"BraveStarr and the Three Suns" Bravestarr Y Los Tres Soles November 2, 1987044
34"The Witnesses" Los Testigos November 3, 1987024
35"Handlebar and Rampage" El Cantinero Y Furia November 4, 1987035
36"Runaway Planet" Un Planeta Fuera De Órbita November 5, 1987032
37"The Bounty Hunter" El Cazador Generoso November 6, 1987060
38"Buddy" Buddy November 9, 1987040
39"The Day the Town Was Taken" El Día En Que Se Apoderaron Del Pueblo November 10, 1987059
40"BraveStarr and the Medallion" Bravestarr Y El Medallón November 11, 1987015
41"Legend of a Pretty Lady" Leyenda De Una Linda Mujer November 12, 1987062
42"Sunrise, Sunset" Amanece Y Atardece November 13, 1987061
43"Call of the Wild" Llamado Salvaje November 16, 1987057
44"Tex But No Hex" Tex Sin El Ex November 17, 1987050
45"Space Zoo" Zoológico En El Espacio November 18, 1987004
46"Tex's Terrible Night" El Sueño Infernal De Tex December 14, 1987046
47"Running Wild" Volviéndose Salvaje January 29, 1988045
48"Thirty-Thirty Goes Camping" Treinta-Treinta Va De Campamento February 1, 1988058
49"The Haunted Shield" El Escudo Embrujado February 2, 1988036
50"Ship of No Return" La Nave Embrujada February 3, 1988056
51"Little Lie That Grew" La Pequeña Mentira Que Creció February 4, 1988065
52"Brothers in Crime" Hermanos En El Crimen February 5, 1988054
53"Sherlock Holmes in the 23rd Century: Episode 1" Sherlock Holmes En El Siglo 23, Parte 1 February 8, 1988016
54"Sherlock Holmes in the 23rd Century: Episode 2" Sherlock Holmes En El Siglo 23, Parte 2 February 9, 1988017
55"New Texas Blues" El Blues De Nuevo Texas February 10, 1988001
56"Jeremiah and the Prairie People" Jeremías Y La Gente De La Pradera February 11, 1988028
57"The Ballad of Sara Jane" La Balada De Sara Juana February 12, 1988013
58"Brother's Keeper" Guardián De Su Hermano February 15, 1988005
59"BraveStarr and the Empress" Bravestarr Y La Emperatriz February 16, 1988063
60"Night of the Bronco-Tank" La Noche Del Bronco-Tanque February 17, 1988002
61"Nomad Is an Island" La Isla Nomad February 18, 1988012
62"The Blockade" El Bloqueo February 19, 1988064
63"No Drums, No Trumpets" Sin Trompetas Ni Tambores February 22, 1988008
64"Shake Hands with Long Arm John" Estrecha Las Manos Con John Brazo Largo February 23, 1988055
65"Strength of the Bear" Fuerza De Oso February 24, 1988003

Action figures and other merchandise

In 1986, a year before the TV series premiered, Mattel released an action figure line based on the Filmation cartoon series.[7] These figures were large for the time at nearly 8" tall and came in a windowed box with artwork similar to that of their Masters of the Universe contemporaries. Each figure had a unique action feature and was packaged with one or more Kerium nuggets. Marshal BraveStarr and Tex Hex were also packaged with a Laser Fire Backpack which shot infrared beams and had "space-age" sound effects. Such backpacks were individually available – blue for heroes and black for villains. Other figures available were Handlebar, Sandstorm, Thirty/Thirty, Skuzz, Fuzz, Col. Borobot and Thunderstick. The Neutra-Laser weapon, which worked with the infrared technology, and Fort Kerium playset also made their way to toy shelves. A second series of figures was designed but never produced. This included Dingo Dan, Judge J. B., Long Arm John, Rampage, and the Starr Hawk vehicle.

Various other forms of BraveStarr merchandise made their way to the market including a Colorforms Adventure Set, View-Master reels, Ladybird storybook, pillow case, sticker album, and water gun, among others. A comic book series, BraveStarr in 3-D, also began under Blackthorne Publishing in January 1987.

Video game

A BraveStarr video game was released for Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, and ZX Spectrum in 1987. It is a side-scrolling shooter game.

Home video

BraveStarr made its way to VHS in compilations such as Filmation All-Star Theatre and Sampler Collection. Individual episodes of the series found their way to shelves as late as 1989.

BCI Eclipse Entertainment (under its Ink & Paint classic animation entertainment label) (under license from Entertainment Rights) released the entire series on DVD in Region 1 for the very first time in 2007/2008. Each episode on BCI Ink & Paint's DVD releases of BraveStarr was uncut, digitally remastered and fully restored for optimum audio and video quality and presented in its original broadcast presentation and story continuity order. The series was released in 2 volume sets, with the first volume featuring several bonus features.[8][9] As of 2009, these releases have been discontinued and are out of print as BCI Eclipse ceased operations.[10]

On December 10, 2010, Mill Creek Entertainment announced that it had acquired the rights from Classic Media to re-release the series on DVD in North America.[11] They subsequently released a complete series set as well as two single volume releases on May 10, 2011.[12]

As of April 2017, there were still a number of episodes available as free VOD on the verified YouTube account Bravestarr Official.

DVD Name Ep # Release date
BraveStarr – Volume One 20 May 10, 2011
BraveStarr – Volume Two 20 May 10, 2011
BraveStarr – Volume Three 25 Unreleased
BraveStarr – Complete Series 65 May 10, 2011

See also

References
  1. "The Best of Bravestarr". Pop Matters. Retrieved 2010-03-02.
  2. Perlmutter, David (2018). The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 94. ISBN 978-1538103739.
  3. Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. pp. 158–159. ISBN 978-1476665993.
  4. "TV Listings: KAZTDT2 (KAZT-DT2), October 2, 2010". Zap2it. Retrieved September 20, 2010.
  5. Wagner, Diane (December 21, 1986). "The $20 0 -Million Man". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-08-22.
  6. "The Best of Bravestarr". The Trades. Archived from the original on 2011-02-19. Retrieved 2010-03-02.
  7. "Mattel Attempts to Streamline as Profit Sinks". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-10-04.
  8. "Bravestarr: Volume 1 DVD @ DVD Empire". Dvdempire.com. 2007-11-13. Retrieved 2012-08-01.
  9. "Bravestarr: Volume 2 DVD @ DVD Empire". Dvdempire.com. 2008-01-07. Retrieved 2012-08-01.
  10. "Site News – PRESS RELEASE: Navarre Shuts Down BCI, Makers of He-Man, Day Break, Price is Right and other DVDs". TVShowsOnDVD.com. Archived from the original on 2010-05-31. Retrieved 2010-05-31.
  11. "EXCLUSIVE: Mill Creek Returns He-Man, Bravestarr to DVD!". TVShowsOnDVD.com. Archived from the original on 2010-12-13. Retrieved 2010-12-11.
  12. "BraveStarr DVD news: Release Date for BraveStarr – The Complete Series". TVShowsOnDVD.com. Archived from the original on 2012-07-30. Retrieved 2012-08-01.
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