BraveStarr
BraveStarr is an American space western animated series. The original episodes aired from September 1987 to February 1988 in syndication. 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.
Bravo!, a spin-off series 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.
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. 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 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, 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.
Setting
The setting in most episodes is New Texas: a planetary system orbiting three suns, 600 parsecs 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.
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, 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 - Coyote-like humanoids, who often appear as minor antagonists, amenable to a peaceful lifestyle.
- Equestroids - Cyborg equines capable of assuming human attributes 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 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
- Marshal BraveStarr - 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 - BraveStarr's Equestroid and chief deputy, capable of assuming a bipedal form at will. BraveStarr affectionately calls him "big partner". 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 - Fort Kerium's principal judge and lawyer, BraveStarr's ally, consultant, and occasional paramour. In battle, she uses an electronic gavel given to her by the Prairie People.
- Shaman - 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 - The father of Judge J. B. McBride. He is a former Kerium prospector who now operates Fort Kerium's newspaper.
- Billy-Bob : A human Kerium prospector.
- Commander Karen Kane : 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 - 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 - A Reptillianoid Kerium prospector, who owns the Kerium deposit underneath Starr Peak along with his human colleague Billy-Bob.
- Doc Clayton - The town's doctor who is frequently an ally of BraveStarr's.
- Handlebar - 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 - 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 - The town leader of Fort Kerium who occasionally aides BraveStarr; Although he rarely uses it, he carries a stun pistol for protection.
- Wild Child - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - A stuttering robot with a directed-energy cannon built into his arm.
- * Vipra - 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 - A cyborg human who is the leader of the Dune Buggy Gang.
- * Slither - A Reptilianoid.
- * "Two Faced" Dingo Dan - 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 - A little Dingo.
- * Howler - Another coyote. He can assume human form.
- Hawgtie - 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
- PC = Production code number
| No. | English Title | Spanish Title | Air date | PC |
| 1 | "The Disappearance of Thirty-Thirty" | La Desaparición De Treinta Treinta | 053 | |
| 2 | "Fallen Idol" | El Ídolo Caído | 037 | |
| 3 | "The Taking of Thistledown 123" | El Secuestro De Thistledown 123 | 007 | |
| 4 | "Skuzz and Fuzz" | Skuzz Y Fuzz | 021 | |
| 5 | "A Day in the Life of a New Texas Judge" | Un Día En La Vida De Un Juez De Nuevo Tejas | 048 | |
| 6 | "Rampage" | El Alboroto | 041 | |
| 7 | "To Walk a Mile" | Caminar Una Milla | 020 | |
| 8 | "Big Thirty and Little Wimble" | El Gran Treinta Treinta Y El Pequeño Wimble | 038 | |
| 9 | "BraveStarr and the Law" | Bravestarr Y La Ley | 010 | |
| 10 | "Kerium Fever" | Fiebre De Kerium | 006 | |
| 11 | "Memories" | Recuerdos | 039 | |
| 12 | "Eyewitness" | El Testigo | 014 | |
| 13 | "The Vigilantes" | Los Vigilantes | 023 | |
| 14 | "Wild Child" | El Pequeño Salvaje | 027 | |
| 15 | "Hail, Hail, the Gang's All Here" | Toda La Pandilla Esta Aquí | 018 | |
| 16 | "Eye of the Beholder" | La Bondad De Los Malos | 011 | |
| 17 | "The Wrong Hands" | Las Manos Equivocadas | 025 | |
| 18 | "An Older Hand" | El Mago | 030 | |
| 19 | "Showdown at Sawtooth" | La Liberación De Diente De Sierra | 009 | |
| 20 | "Unsung Hero" | El Héroe | 029 | |
| 21 | "Lost Mountain" | La Montaña Perdida | 034 | |
| 22 | "Trouble Wears a Badge" | El Problema Usa Una Placa | 043 | |
| 23 | "Who Am I?" | Quien Soy? | 022 | |
| 24 | "BraveStarr and the Treaty" | Bravestarr Y El Pacto | 033 | |
| 25 | "Thoren the Slavemaster" | El Poseedor De Esclavos | 019 | |
| 26 | "The Price" | El Precio | 049 | |
| 27 | "Revolt of the Prairie People" | La Rebelión De La Gente De La Pradera | 047 | |
| 28 | "Hostage" | El Rehén | 031 | |
| 29 | "Tunnel of Terror" | El Túnel Del Horror | 042 | |
| 30 | "The Good, the Bad, and the Clumsy" | El Bueno, El Malo Y El Tonto | 026 | |
| 31 | "Balance of Power" | La Balanza Del Poder | 052 | |
| 32 | "Call to Arms" | Llamada A Filas | 051 | |
| 33 | "BraveStarr and the Three Suns" | Bravestarr Y Los Tres Soles | 044 | |
| 34 | "The Witnesses" | Los Testigos | 024 | |
| 35 | "Handlebar and Rampage" | El Cantinero Y Furia | 035 | |
| 36 | "Runaway Planet" | Un Planeta Fuera De Órbita | 032 | |
| 37 | "The Bounty Hunter" | El Cazador Generoso | 060 | |
| 38 | "Buddy" | Buddy | 040 | |
| 39 | "The Day the Town Was Taken" | El Día En Que Se Apoderaron Del Pueblo | 059 | |
| 40 | "BraveStarr and the Medallion" | Bravestarr Y El Medallón | 015 | |
| 41 | "Legend of a Pretty Lady" | Leyenda De Una Linda Mujer | 062 | |
| 42 | "Sunrise, Sunset" | Amanece Y Atardece | 061 | |
| 43 | "Call of the Wild" | Llamado Salvaje | 057 | |
| 44 | "Tex But No Hex" | Tex Sin El Ex | 050 | |
| 45 | "Space Zoo" | Zoológico En El Espacio | 004 | |
| 46 | "Tex's Terrible Night" | El Sueño Infernal De Tex | 046 | |
| 47 | "Running Wild" | Volviéndose Salvaje | 045 | |
| 48 | "Thirty-Thirty Goes Camping" | Treinta-Treinta Va De Campamento | 058 | |
| 49 | "The Haunted Shield" | El Escudo Embrujado | 036 | |
| 50 | "Ship of No Return" | La Nave Embrujada | 056 | |
| 51 | "Little Lie That Grew" | La Pequeña Mentira Que Creció | 065 | |
| 52 | "Brothers in Crime" | Hermanos En El Crimen | 054 | |
| 53 | "Sherlock Holmes in the 23rd Century: Episode 1" | Sherlock Holmes En El Siglo 23, Parte 1 | 016 | |
| 54 | "Sherlock Holmes in the 23rd Century: Episode 2" | Sherlock Holmes En El Siglo 23, Parte 2 | 017 | |
| 55 | "New Texas Blues" | El Blues De Nuevo Texas | 001 | |
| 56 | "Jeremiah and the Prairie People" | Jeremías Y La Gente De La Pradera | 028 | |
| 57 | "The Ballad of Sara Jane" | La Balada De Sara Juana | 013 | |
| 58 | "Brother's Keeper" | Guardián De Su Hermano | 005 | |
| 59 | "BraveStarr and the Empress" | Bravestarr Y La Emperatriz | 063 | |
| 60 | "Night of the Bronco-Tank" | La Noche Del Bronco-Tanque | 002 | |
| 61 | "Nomad Is an Island" | La Isla Nomad | 012 | |
| 62 | "The Blockade" | El Bloqueo | 064 | |
| 63 | "No Drums, No Trumpets" | Sin Trompetas Ni Tambores | 008 | |
| 64 | "Shake Hands with Long Arm John" | Estrecha Las Manos Con John Brazo Largo | 055 | |
| 65 | "Strength of the Bear" | Fuerza De Oso | 003 |
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. 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 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. , these releases have been discontinued and are out of print as BCI Eclipse ceased operations.
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. They subsequently released a complete series set as well as two single volume releases on May 10, 2011.
, there were still a number of episodes available as free VOD on the verified YouTube account .
| 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 |