Bravestarr
- Thread starter wulfio
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BraveStarr actually started with a full-length animated feature, though it had limited release. That's why a lot of the animation sequences in the show are more fluid and complex than those in a typical Filmation show -- because they were recycled animation or footage from the movie. If you like the show, the movie (which is on DVD) is definitely worth tracking down.
And "mindless?" BraveStarr was one of the smarter animated shows of its day, I thought -- well, except sometimes, like that dumb episode they did where the planet's three suns were stolen and hidden in a cave on the planet because suns are really tiny, apparently. It was certainly unuusally progressive for its day (the number of Native American action leads can still probably be counted on one hand), and unusually mature compared to its peers, with several episodes actually dealing with death, generally a taboo subject in kids' cartoons.
And "mindless?" BraveStarr was one of the smarter animated shows of its day, I thought -- well, except sometimes, like that dumb episode they did where the planet's three suns were stolen and hidden in a cave on the planet because suns are really tiny, apparently. It was certainly unuusally progressive for its day (the number of Native American action leads can still probably be counted on one hand), and unusually mature compared to its peers, with several episodes actually dealing with death, generally a taboo subject in kids' cartoons.
Well, sure, but just being a popcorn flick doesn't make a movie as dumb as a Michael Bay Transformers film. I mean, there are plenty of popcorn flicks that actually have plots and characters and coherent sequences of events.
For what it's worth, DreamWorks Animation now owns the Filmation library, so if they did something with BraveStarr, it'd probably be a 3D animated feature in the How to Train Your Dragon vein -- which could be seriously awesome.
For what it's worth, DreamWorks Animation now owns the Filmation library, so if they did something with BraveStarr, it'd probably be a 3D animated feature in the How to Train Your Dragon vein -- which could be seriously awesome.
Always thought The Rock would be a good live-action Bravestarr.
According to the wikipedia article, the movie was released after the series, but serves as a prequel to the series.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BraveStarr:_The_Movie
The movie may have been released after, but it was made first, as evidenced by how much of the movie footage (with more fluid animation than Filmation's usual TV stuff) was recycled into the series. Filmation's plan was to release the movie before the toy line came out (of course, the toy concept came first), in order to create demand for the toys, which would then support the series. But Mattel jumped the gun and released the toys before the movie was even made, so there was no synergy and the toy line fizzled. The reason the movie's release was then delayed until after the series is unclear.
This is history repeating itself, though, because something similar happened with Filmation's Flash Gordon. In 1979 they made an animated feature with gorgeously lush animation, then recut it into the first several episodes and the finale of the animated series' first season and recycled a lot of its animation and its music throughout the season (although they replaced most of the voice cast). But there was some kind of conflict over rights issues or something with the Dino DeLaurentiis Flash Gordon movie that was coming out the following year, and thus the Filmation movie was quashed, not getting its TV debut until 1982, and then never being rerun or released on home video. Which is a crime, because it's far and away the finest Flash Gordon movie ever made, and far and away the most faithful screen adaptation of the comics ever made.
This is history repeating itself, though, because something similar happened with Filmation's Flash Gordon. In 1979 they made an animated feature with gorgeously lush animation, then recut it into the first several episodes and the finale of the animated series' first season and recycled a lot of its animation and its music throughout the season (although they replaced most of the voice cast). But there was some kind of conflict over rights issues or something with the Dino DeLaurentiis Flash Gordon movie that was coming out the following year, and thus the Filmation movie was quashed, not getting its TV debut until 1982, and then never being rerun or released on home video. Which is a crime, because it's far and away the finest Flash Gordon movie ever made, and far and away the most faithful screen adaptation of the comics ever made.
Wow this is something I remember in name only. Gonna have to see if there's anything on YouTube. I love reminiscing about shit like this. Found Starchaser the Legend of Orin the other day too.
New Zealand isnt allowed Hulu. Or Netflix.
Or anything developed in the 21st century.
^Yeah, but you get to have the hobbits and ents.
A BraveStarr movie would need to weave the messages in a less sledgehammered way...and above all else, dump the most annoying "comic relief" / go-to "minority" analogy character in filmed media history--Deputy Fuzz. Only Jar-Jar Binks (go figure) challenges the top seat in that category.
Any information about the toy line that was to go into that? I know about the inflatable rocketship, but I seem to remember a blue metal craft--although that might have been from the live action movie--I seem to remember that one looking like the Ajax...
Someone did do the drone ship http://www.therpf.com/f11/filmations-flash-gordon-mings-drone-ship-134235/
I wonder who built the physical models that were the basis for the drawings used in the animation...
I didn't mean the toy comment to refer to Flash Gordon, just BraveStarr. I don't know if there were any toy plans for FG.
Now, this I can answer, thanks to Lou Scheimer and Andy Mangels's book Lou Scheimer: Creating the Filmation Generation. From p. 166:
Grusd and Huston, IMDb reveals, were also the creators of the miniature effects for Filmation's Space Academy and Jason of Star Command from around the same time, so that comes as no surprise. IMDb also states that the photography for the miniatures in Flash Gordon was done by Michael J. McAlister and Pat Sweeney -- both of whom would go on to long careers with ILM and other companies and are major names in the effects industry to this day.
On Paul
http://starwarsinterviews1.blogspot.com/2010/03/paul-huston-interview-ilm-star-wars.html
I would really have liked to see those models in the flesh, as it were.
The other works
http://www.tvacres.com/spacecraft_starfire.htm
http://starwarsinterviews1.blogspot.com/2010/03/paul-huston-interview-ilm-star-wars.html
I would really have liked to see those models in the flesh, as it were.
The other works
http://www.tvacres.com/spacecraft_starfire.htm
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