The Space Sentinels + Freedom Force – The Complete
Series
(Filmation/BCI Eclipse)
Picture: C+ Sound: C+ Extras: B Episodes: B
Though it
is not seen enough or known generally, when Filmation picked up the DC Comics
license and created some terrific series with those characters, they produced
the first Teen Titans animated TV
series based on the classic comics in the 1960s. The new series is very different, but it is a
hit like X-Men or Justice League and shows the appeal of
groups of heroes. As Filmation went on
to create it own original shows in live action and animation, even they
understood the appeal of such shows. In
1977, they created two of them in The
Space Sentinels and Freedom Force.
The Space Sentinels brought together Hercules (who
was in both shows), the shape-changing Astraea, a young Mercury and a new
partner, a little robot named M.O. was added as part of the team. The creators had heard about a new film
coming up and had to decide if they should try to have any elements from
it. Of course, it was the original Star Wars, but the creators based this
robot on the three featured in Douglas Trumbull’s 1973 Sci-Fi classic Silent Running, reviewed elsewhere on
this site. It was a good move then, but
since it was done to death afterwards in shows like Buck Rogers with Twiki, the Disney cult classic the Black Hole and (most infamously
with) Herbie The Robot replacing an unacknowledged Human Torch in a Fantastic Four animated series revival,
it is interesting to compare. The show
does not overdo it. There are a lucky 13
shows in all.
Freedom Force combined Hercules with no less
than Merlin, Sinbad, the ever-popular Super Samurai (who has become a new
favorite for all kinds of reasons) and became the second hit show with
Isis. Originally played perfectly by the
beautiful Joanna Cameron in the hit live-action series, she became a heroine
ahead of her time and up there with Wonder
Woman and The Bionic Woman as
favorites that crossed all gender, age and even race barriers. Less seen and remembered was her inclusion in
the team here, which sadly only ran five shows.
Today, this show holds up even a tad better than Sentinels and Isis has such a cult following that her lone 8” Mego
action figure is a hot collectible in just about any condition.
Outside
of fan consideration, these are well-produced shows and leave it to Filmation
to get both shows right. Their animation
was getting better and in ways they never get credit for, they were still on
the cutting edge of animation in themes, ideas, use of color and interesting
character design. If you love Teen Titans and want two American
classics in one set, The Space Sentinels
+ Freedom Force – The Complete Series is one of the best animated DVD sets
of the year. If you are still not convinced,
read on.
The 1.33
X 1 image for both shows are colorful with prints that are in good shape. This looks just that much better than it ever
has before. The Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
is also just fine for its age and the combination is fun. Extras include interviews with the creators
of both shows, the ever-watchable Magic
Of Filmation documentary, DVD-ROM accessible teleplays for all the episodes
of both shows, live-action tests with actors for when the show was going to be
called Young Sentinels, the original
animated test film when it was under that title, art for when it was under that
title, foldout episode guide inside the DVD case, trivia for both series and
extensive model galleries for both. For
a double disc set, WOW is this loaded!
- Nicholas Sheffo
