Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers: Difference between revisions

This critically acclaimed 1986 series was the first of three animated [[Space Western|Space Westerns]]s to air in America during the late [[The Eighties|1980s]].

To elaborate on the [[Opening Narration]]: The peaceful aliens represent several planets who are endangered by [[The Empire|The Crown Empire]], an interplanetary dictatorship headed by the tyrannical Queen of the Crown. Thanks to the hyperdrive, Earth begins to interact with alien worlds and colonize distant planets, which leads to a culture that resembles a futuristic version of [[The Wild West]]. Unfortunately, it also leads to danger from spacegoing outlaws, as well as The Crown Empire, which wants to enslave every race it encounters--especiallyencounters—especially the human race. The crimefighting organization BETA (the [[Fun with Acronyms|Bureau of Extra-Terrestrial Affairs]]) is formed to protect Earth from these threats. BETA's best-known agents are the Galaxy Rangers, four fearless "space cowboys" (well, [[The Smurfette Principle|one]] of them's a cow''girl'') who each have different powers provided by [[Applied Phlebotinum|Series Five brain implants]]. The Rangers are [[Cyborg]] team leader '''Zachary Foxx''', shapeshifting [[Cowboy Cop]] '''Shane Gooseman''', [[Psychic Powers|psychic]] [[Action Girl]] '''Niko''', and [[Deadpan Snarker|wisecracking]] [[Techno Wizard]] '''Walter "Doc" Hartford'''. More information about the Rangers, and their friends and enemies, is available at the [[Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers/Characters|character sheet]].

For a kid-oriented [[Animated Series]] from [[The Eighties]] that had a breakdancing robot in it, ''[['''Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers|Galaxy Rangers]]''''' has earned a surprising amount of respect from adult fans. The show was sophisticated for an American [[Animated Series]] of its time, and between the involvement of [[TMS Entertainment]] and the epic storylines, it had an [[Animesque]] feel that few of its competitors could match. Even now, it still has a solid fanbase. Series creator Robert Mandell also went on to do ''[[Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders]]'' in the 90's.

* [[Animation Bump]]: Mandell [[Exploited Trope|cleverly exploited this Trope]]. He had access to three [[T MsTMS]] animation teams: the expensive and high-quality "A" team (Telecom Animation Film, which spent most of their time with [[Disney]] and on ''[[Little Nemo]]'' during this period), the "B" team that balanced price and quality ([[AIC]] of ''[[Tenchi Muyo!]]'' fame, under TMS's contract), and the "C" team that was cheapest at the expense of quality (Mizo Planning in Korea, as this and the ''[[DuckTales (1987)]]'' episode "Catch As Cash Can Part 3" were some of the first things that TMS shipped off to Korea under their contract). Mandell handed out the [[Drama Bomb|Drama Bombs]]s and [[Myth Arc]]-critical episodes to the "A" team, the moderate quality episodes to the the "B" team, and the episodes of questionable merit to the "C" team.

* [[BLAMNon Sequitur Episode]]: Some people dislike "Mothmoose", and any episode featuring Buzzwang, because their comedic tone clashes with the straight adventure episodes favored by fans. Also, "Mothmoose" doesn't feature ''any'' of the Rangers--theRangers—the heroes are Zach's children and the Kiwi Kids.

* [[Days of Future Past]]: As with most other [[Space Western|Space Westerns]]s, clothing and architecture reminiscent of [[The Wild West]] co-exists with futuristic technology.

* [[Dueling Shows]]: ''[[Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers|Galaxy Rangers]]'' beat its [[Space Western]] competitors, ''[[Bravestarr]]'' and ''[[Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs]]'', to the American airwaves by a year--notyear—not that it made any difference in the ratings.

* [[Expository Theme Tune]]: Preceded by the [[Opening Narration]]. This can be heard [https://web.archive.org/web/20100813153317/http://www.coucoucircus.org/da/generique.php?id=1280 here.]

* [[Hunting the Most Dangerous Game]]: The plot of "The Power Within"--Zach—Zach even uses the phrase "Most Dangerous Game" as a [[Shout-Out]] to [[The Most Dangerous Game|the original short story]].

* [[Loads and Loads of Characters]]: On the DVD extras, Robert Mandell estimates that the series had ''390'' different characters designed for it. At least a dozen were [[Recurring Character|Recurring Characters]]s.

* [[Merchandise-Driven]]: Subverted. While the producers were always aware how toyetic the project was, ''[[Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers|Galaxy Rangers]]'' didn't get a toy deal until it had already gone into production, and the action figures were released only overseas for reasons detailed in [[Germans Love David Hasselhoff]] and [[Periphery Demographic]] on [[Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers/YMMV|the YMMV page]].

* [[Rogues Gallery]]: Unlike most [[Animated Shows]] from [[The Eighties]], ''[[Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers|Galaxy Rangers]]'' has a wide variety of villains.

* [[Space Amish]]: The planet Tarkon bans all technology as evil-- thoughevil—though for [[Rule of Cool|some reason]] they do have [[Cool Airship|Cool Airships]]s.

* [[A World Half Full]]: The Crown Empire may be crumbling, but it's still powerful. The [[God Save Us From the Queen|Queen]] herself is a bloodthirsty, genocidal megalomaniac. The jail system is about as good as [[Batman|Arkham Asylum]]. Tortuna is a [[Wretched Hive]], and some other planets aren't much better. Earth's politicians are often [[Obstructive Bureaucrat|questionable]] or [[Corrupt Bureaucrat|worse]], as are the [[Corrupt Corporate Executive|business-beings]]. One of the Rangers is ''essentially a slave.'' A quarter of the episodes are [[Bittersweet Ending|Bittersweet Endings]]s. A few are arguable [[Downer Ending|Downer Endings]]s. Oh, and Eliza is never rescued. Still, there are just as many [[Honest Corporate Executive|GOOD Corporate executives]], [[For Science!|benevolent scientists]], [[Reasonable Authority Figure|competent military personnel]], and [[I Come in Peace|friendly alien factions]] as evil ones, and sometimes the "villains" are merely misguided.

[[Category:AdventuresThe ofFull theName Galaxy RangersAdventures]]