Starcom: The U.S. Space Force

Starcom: The U.S. Space Force

StarCom: The U.S. Space Force title card
Directed by Marek Buchwald
Voices of Philip Akin
Yank Azman
Robert Cait
Rob Cowan
Don Francks
Susan Roman
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of episodes 13
Production
Executive producer(s) Andy Heyward
Producer(s) Richard Raynis
Running time 25 minutes
Production company(s) DIC Entertainment
Distributor Coca-Cola Telecommunications
Release
Original network syndication
Original release 20 September – 13 December 1987

Starcom: The U.S. Space Force is a 1987 animated syndicated U.S. television series inspired by a motorized toy franchise manufactured by Coleco. It was produced by DiC Enterprises and distributed by Coca-Cola Telecommunications. The plot detailed the adventures of an American astronaut brigade as they fought off attempted invasions by Shadow Force, a nasty collection of aliens and robots led by the nefarious Emperor Dark. The toy line was popular in Europe and Asia, but was unsuccessful in the North American domestic market.

The show was developed with the help of the Young Astronauts’ Council, with the original intention of sparking young viewers’ interest in the NASA Space Program.[1] Starcom did not get much of a chance to reach the intended audience before it was cancelled after one brief season. The series was broadcast in reruns in the early 1990s, but no new episodes were produced.

Toys

Like many 1980s toys, the development of the Starcom toy line preceded the development of the cartoon series.

Starcom: The U.S. Space Force debuted on television screens in 1987, and the toy line hit stores around the same time. There was plenty of variety for the pint-sized empire builder to choose from: the complete series of Starcom toys offered 23 figures, 6 playsets, and 13 vehicles on the Starcom side, while the Shadow Force was represented by 15 action figures and 11 vehicles. The action figures were two inches tall and came packaged with a backpack, a weapon, and identification cards that explained who they were and what their equipment could do. Like the figures, the vehicles and playsets benefited from a sleek, attractive design.

The most unusual aspect of the Starcom toy line was its use of Magna Lock technology. The action figures had tiny magnets implanted in their feet. Not only did this allow them to stand on the vehicles and playsets without falling off, but it also activated devices in the playsets. For instance, if one placed a figure in the elevator of the Starbase Station playset, its Magna Lock magnets would cause the elevator to rise to the top by itself. On the same playset, if one put a figure within a cannon, the Magna Lock magnets would activate a mechanism that made it turn and fire its rockets.

The vehicles and playsets also delivered Power Deploy features, which uses automatic wind up mechanisms that allows them to perform multiple actions all in a touch of a button, without the use of batteries. For example, with the touch of a button, the Starcom StarWolf unfolds its front, and both its wings. All in all, they offered plenty of moving parts (hidden compartments, cannons, folding wings, etc.). Starcom toys never caught on in the U.S. due to poor promotion and the fact that its parent show only lasted a year in syndication. They were discontinued after two years but ended up doing very well in Europe, where both the show and the toys continued to be popular long after the American toys. The toys were successful and hugely popular in Europe and Southeast Asia only after coming under the production and promotion of Mattel. That company removed the US flag and NASA details from the Coleco originals and launched the toys with a second line of promotions in the early 1990s.

Cast

Colonels: John "Slim" Griffin (Starbase Command), Paul “Crowbar” Corbin (Astro Marines), James "Dash" Derringer (Star Wing)

Starcom

Shadow Force

Episode list

Episode Aired Title
1 20 Sep 87 Nantucket Sleighride
2 27 Sep 87 Trojan Crowbar
3 4 Oct 87 The Long Fall
4 11 Oct 87 Caverns of Mars
5 18 Oct 87 Fire and Ice
6 25 Oct 87 Galactic Heartbeat
7 1 Nov 87 The Boys Who Cried Dark
8 8 Nov 87 Dark Harvest
9 15 Nov 87 A Few Bugs in the System
10 22 Nov 87 Turnabout
11 29 Nov 87 Hot Enough for You?
12 6 Dec 87 Flash Moskowitz, Space Cadet
13 13 Dec 87 The Last Star Ranger

DVD release

On February 17, 2015, Mill Creek Entertainment released Starcom: The U.S. Space Force- The Complete Series on DVD in Region 1 for the very first time.[2]

Defenders

Defenders in StarCom are divided into three categories:

Astro Marines

Starbase Command

Star Wing

Vehicles

Playsets

Invaders

The Shadow Force is divided into two groups:

Starmada/Invasion

Robot Drones

Vehicles

References

  1. ↑ John J. Kao (2010-08-17). "The entrepreneurial organization". Books.google.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-03-31.
  2. ↑ "Starcom: The U.S. Space Force DVD news: Announcement for The Complete Series". TVShowsOnDVD.com. Retrieved 2016-03-31.
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