Bravestarr, the 1987 western and sci-fi animated series
BraveStarr is an American space western animated series. The original episodes aired from September 1987 to February 1988 in syndication. It was created a year after a collection of action figures released in 1986 by Mattel. BraveStarr was the last animated series produced by Filmation and Group W Productions to air before Filmation closed in 1989.
In Italy the series was broadcast on March 2, 1988 on Italia 1
Good boy!, a spin-off series (originally called Quest of the Prairie People) was in production alongside Bugzburg when the studio closed. Reruns of the show aired on Qubo Night Owl from 2010 to 2013 and on Retro Television Network from 2010 to 2015
History
The BraveStarr idea began with Tex Hex, its main opponent. Tex Hex was made by Filmation staff artists in 1984, during the development of Filmation's Ghostbusters. Lou Scheimer found the character fascinating and pulled Tex Hex out of the Ghostbusters cast. He asked Arthur Nadel, Filmation's vice president of creative affairs and art director John Grusd to develop a sci-fi western around the character. As the ideas took shape, staff writer Bob Forward enriched the writer's guide and ultimately wrote the script for the film for BraveStarr: The Legend with writer Steve Hayes.
The episodes combine elements of science fiction and Western genres. It is set in the 23rd century on a multicultural desert planet called New Texas.
As in other Filmation series (He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, She-Ra, Shazam! And Ghostbusters), a moral lesson is told at the end of each episode. A noteworthy episode is "The Price", in which a boy buys a drug called "Spin", becomes addicted and dies of an overdose.
The setting in most of the 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. Most of the land is deserted; but there is a wetland, which is the home of the "apecat". Water is also found in cactus-like “Aqua-Pod” plants. The main export is Kerium: a red mineral used as a source of fuel, and therefore often prey to conflicts between characters. There are implications that New Texas was colonized for Kerium, but it will remain inhabited even after the mines are depleted. The native civilization of New Texas is the Prairie People, who manage most of the mines in Kerium.
Characters
Eroi
Marshal Brave Starr (voiced by Pat Fraley) - The title character and galactic marshal of New Texas; a Native American who can invoke the power of "spirit animals," allowing him to briefly perform superhuman feats. The hawk's eyes improve his eyesight and can also grant him an aerial view of the adjacent area. The wolf's ears give him superhuman hearing. The Strength of the Bear gives him superhuman strength. The Puma's speed gives it superhuman speed. The Strength of the Bear grants BraveStarr enough strength to smash stones or support steel bridges, while the Puma's Speed allows it speeds similar to characters from the Quicksilver and Flash comics. In addition to his animal powers of himself, he has electronic devices such as a computerized viewer and a two-way radio. BraveStarr also carries a “Neutra-laser” pistol, a high-tech hatchet, a ray lasso and a “Trans-freezer” rifle, and the badge on his shirt can protect him in case of need. Although called "Protector of Peace" and "Champion of Justice", he usually acts in the first role, preferring to mediate in any conflict. He often seeks a peaceful solution to every problem, unless he is dealt with by the bad periodicals of the series.
Thirty / Thirty (voiced by Ed Gilbert) - Equestroid and deputy head of BraveStarr, capable of assuming a bipedal form at will. BraveStarr affectionately calls him a "great partner". His main weapon is "Sara Jane": a great arquebus from which he projects direct energy. He is more belligerent than BraveStarr and will often prefer fights to resolutions. His appearance later inspired an alternate design for Sylvia's character in the Wander Over Yonder episode “The Cartoon”.
Deputy Fuzz (voiced by Charlie Adler) - A member of the Prairie People and the other trusted deputy of BraveStarr. BraveStarr affectionately calls him "li'l partner". Fuzz is typically a prominent comic figure, but he also plays more serious roles as needed. The first prairie people to befriend humans.
Judge JB McBride (voiced by Susan Blu) - Fort Kerium's chief (and possibly only) judge and attorney, BraveStarr's ally, advisor, and occasional lover. In battle, he uses an electronic gavel (called the "hammer of justice" in the series) that was given to her by the prairie people.
Shaman (voiced by Ed Gilbert) - An unnamed mystic, capable of teleportation, time travel, psychokinesis and near-omniscient clairvoyance. He is BraveStarr's mentor and adoptive father. BraveStarr often telepathically contacted Shaman for advice on how to handle certain situations.
Support characters
Angus McBride (voiced by Ed Gilbert) - Judge JB McBride's father. He is a former Kerium prospector who now runs the Fort Kerium newspaper.
Billy-Bob (voiced by Ed Gilbert): A human Kerium seeker.
Commander Karen Kane (voiced by Susan Blu): A former Star Marine who retired after marrying Angus McBride. She is JB's stepmother. Like Angus, she has a Scottish accent.
Diamondback (voiced by Alan Oppenheimer) - A reptilian Kerium seeker who owns the Kerium Depot under Starr Peak along with his human colleague Billy-Bob.
Doc Clayton (voiced by Lou Scheimer) - The town doctor who is often an ally of BraveStarr.
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 mainly serves BraveStarr and Thirty / Thirty a drink called "sweetwater". He other times he acts as a reserve law enforcement officer. He has a domestic cyborg beef 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 that travels on the surface. Occasionally, Molly has a security guard to wipe out the enemies. Molly is also capable of piloting spacecraft.
Mayor Derringer (voiced by Pat Fraley) - Fort Kerium town chief who occasionally helps BraveStarr; Although he rarely uses it, he carries a stun gun for protection.
Wild Child (voiced by Erika Scheimer) - A child who wandered the desert and was adopted by Dingoes. He grew up between them until he met BraveStarr and Judge JB McBride.
zarko (voiced by Charlie Adler in "Wild Child", Ed Gilbert in "Call of the Wild") - The last living member of the Ancients who hunted anyone who entered the Lost City. After helping save Wild Child, Zarko gives up hunting and adopts Wild Child.
Bad
Stampede (voiced by Alan Oppenheimer) - Antagonist leader and gang leader of the outlaws based at the Hexagon. A monstrous Bronchosaurus, partly skeletal, and apparently the last of his kind. He rarely appears directly in battle, but is usually the source of his subordinates' evil plans and is the archenemy of BraveStarr's mentor, Shaman.
Carrion Bunch - A band of outlaws residing in the Badlands at Hexagon.
Tex Hex (voiced by Charlie Adler) - BraveStarr's rival, opponent and counterpart, characterized by a shriveled appearance and lavender skin. He is the younger partner of Stampede. Tex Hex originally Tex, an avid Kerium seeker who briefly co-owned a Kerium mine with Angus. He crashed into a supercharged Kerium ship on its way home from New Texas and was revived and Stampede received a host of magical powers. Credited, in the feature film, with the discovery of Kerium in 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 an episode made him say he liked being an outlaw, but the only negative thing he didn't like to do was smoke and warn viewers not to follow his example.
Cacti Head (voiced by Pat Fraley) - A short robot in a cactus-shaped headdress equipped with two energy cannons. Often seen as comic relief and used as a spy.
Sand Storm (voiced by Ed Gilbert) - A red sand snake-like creature that can exhale gigantic clouds of sand. His likes 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.
Thunderstick (voiced by Pat Fraley) - A stuttering robot with a direct energy cannon built into its arm.
Vipra (voiced by Susan Blu) - A reptilian evil woman who has the power to hypnotize people. She is Tex Hex's assistant, but envious of her high rank among the villains.
Billy the Droid - A purple robot with the power to fire darts of energy from his hands and an arm that grabs his chest.
Dealer - A Dingo drug dealer who sold a drug called Spin who later killed a boy named Jay Olman. After his plot was foiled, the trader was arrested by BraveStarr.
Dune Buggy Gang - A band residing in the Badlands that causes trouble for travelers.
Ryder (voiced by Alan Oppenheimer) - A human cyborg 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 seemingly Australian accent. Dan has the ability to take on a human aspect, but often forgets to change his distinctive "elegant hat".
Jingles Morgan - A former BraveStarr teacher who went rogue.
krang - Humanoid felines with green armor and German accents; a periodic enemy.
Leaper Riders - A group of dingoes riding Leapers.
Goldtooth - An overweight coyote who usually leads other Dingoes into battle.
Barker (voiced by Lou Scheimer) - A little Dingo.
howler (voiced by Lou Scheimer) - Another coyote. He can take on human form.
Hawgtie (voiced by Lou Scheimer) - A humanoid pig dressed in a Union Army uniform. He appeared to be strong and used bolas to capture or bind his victims.
Queen Singlelish - A woman who has requisitioned an entire island, floating in space. She constantly wants slaves to assist her; but he is defeated by the prairie people.
Two-Face - An Avianoid cyborg with a normal head and a cyborg head.
Technical data
Original title BraveStarr
Original language English
Country United States
Author Donald Kushner, Peter Locke
Regia Bob Arkwright, Marsh Lamore
Subject Steven J. Fisher, Tom Tataranowicz
Char. design Diane A. Kenner, Herbert A. Hazelton
Artistic Dir John Grusd
Music Frank Becker
Studio filming
Network syndication
1st TV September 14, 1987 - February 24, 1988
Episodes 65 (complete)
Italian network Italy 1, Italy 7, Cultoon
1st Italian TV 2 March 1988
Italian episodes 58/65 89% complete
Italian episode length 24'
Gender western, adventure
