BraveStarr is an American space Western animated television series that aired 65 episodes from September 1987 to February 1988 in syndication. The show was broadcast a year after Mattel had released a line of Bravestarr action figures. BraveStarr was the last animated series produced by Filmation and Group W Productions before Filmation shut down in 1989. The show was not a success when it first aired, but has since gained a small cult following due to its mix of Western and science fiction elements.
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.
Scheimer also believed Native Americans had been either ignored or unfairly stereotyped by American children's television shows, so he wished to create a show with a Native American hero. Scheimer was an admirer of the science fiction novel The Beast Master by Andre Norton, about a Navajo warrior on an alien planet. The Filmation staff thus created the character of Marshal Bravestarr, a futuristic "Western lawman" from a Native American culture, as the show's protagonist. Animation historian Hal Erickson has noted that "Bravestarr" was one of the few American animated series to have a Native American protagonist.
Filmation approached Mattel to create a line of toys based on "Bravestarr", in exchange for creating a TV series to promote the toys. Mattel agreed to this arrangement. 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. The series cost $20 million.
Plot 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 Secrets 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. Another episode, "Sunrise, Sunset", depicts a character's wife giving birth and his elderly father passing away - events that most other 1980s Saturday-morning cartoons did not depict.
Setting
The setting in most episodes is New Texas: a planetary system orbiting three suns, from Earth. Much of the food and water supply is imported. The majority of land is desert or prairie 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. Reptilianoid – Vipra and Diamondback 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 (voiced by Pat Fraley) – The title character and galactic marshal of New Texas; 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 superhuman hearing. The Strength of the Bear gives him superhuman strength. The Speed of the Puma gives him superhuman 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 tomahawk, 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. BraveStarr affectionately calls him "big partner". His principal weapon is "Sara Jane": a large blunderbuss from which he projects directed energy. He is more belligerent than BraveStarr, and will often prefer fights to resolutions. Deputy Fuzz (voiced by Charlie Adler) – A member of the Prairie People and BraveStarr's other trusted deputy. 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, and the only Prairie Person to take up a job in law enforcement. 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. He is the source/teacher of Bravestarr's four animal-related powers.
Supporting characters Altran (voiced by Alan Oppenheimer) – A human boy from a mining village on the other side of the Iron Mountains. 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. Borka (voiced by Alan Oppenheimer) – A settler who briefly became a vigilante to defeat Tex Hex once and for all. 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. Diamondback (voiced by Alan Oppenheimer) – A Reptilianoid 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. Iron Arm (voiced by Pat Fraley and Lou Scheimer) – The owner of the town's repair station. He is of an unknown alien species. Long Arm John (voiced by Ed Gilbert) – A law enforcement officer with a sophisticated prosthetic arm. 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. 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. Togg Salter (voiced by Pat Fraley in "Tunnel of Terror", Lou Scheimer in "Tex But No Hex") – A prospector and former scientist from the planet Ammitus. He received a Meritus Ecological award for saving green forest and had no criminal record. He is married and has one child, a son. Wild Child (voiced by Erika Scheimer) – A baby who wandered into the desert and was 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 and adopts Wild Child. Orville (voiced by Susan Blu) – A new arrival to New Texas and Fort Kerium singled out for his stutter. He was kidnapped by thieves Craver and Grumble, during which he befriended Grumble and convinced him to turn on Craver. Brad (voiced by Susan Blu) – One of Fort Kerium local school kids who was a close friend to Jay Olman and who turned in Dealer after Jay died. Sherlock Holmes (voiced by Pat Fraley) – The famous detective who was brought to the 23rd century through a rift in the space-time continuum. The continuum also gave him the power to blast lightning bolts, much like Tex Hex. Dr. Wt'sn (voiced by Peter Cullen) – A Rigellian detective in New London and future counterpart to Dr. Watson. Mycroft Holmes (voiced by Mary McDonald-Lewis) – A female agent of Scotland Yard and descendant of Sherlock Holmes, named after his brother. Kitty Lestrade (voiced by Mary McDonald-Lewis) – Chief Inspector of Scotland Yard, based on Inspector Lestrade.