The Centurions (TV series)

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The Centurions (1985-1987) was a syndicated 30 minute science fiction American animated television series produced by Ruby-Spears and animated in Japan by Sunrise. The series began in 1985 as a five-part miniseries and was followed in 1986/87 with a 60 episode series. There was also a line of tie-in toys made by Kenner and a comic produced by DC Comics.

Contents

[edit] Premise

In the near future, an evil genius, the cyborg Doc Terror, seeks to conquer the earth; he is assisted by Hacker, the cyborg sidekick and an army of Doom Drones. There were two types of drones: Traumatizers, the most commonly seen drones, were walking robots with several guns, while the Strafer was a flying robot with a phallic main gun, and multiple other guns. Dr Terror and Hacker were able to fly by swapping their purely robot half for a strafer missing one set of wings. They were joined on many occasions, starting with the first episode, by Doc Terror's daughter Amber.

At each turn their evil plans are thwarted by the heroic Centurions. The Centurions are a team of men dressed in specially created exo-frames that allow them (upon shouting "Power Extreme") to fuse with 'incredible' assault weapon systems, becoming what the show calls man and machine, Power Xtreme! The end result is a weapons platform somewhere between a hard-suit and a mecha. Originally there were three Centurions:

  • Max Ray - 'Brilliant' Sea Operations Commander
  • Jake Rockwell - 'Rugged' Land Operations Specialist
  • Ace McCloud - 'Daring' Air Operations Expert

The Centurions are based on an orbiting space station called Sky Vault where the token (but very smart) female, Crystal Kane, uses a transporter (similar to the transporters in Star Trek) to send the Centurions, and the requested weapon systems, to where they are needed. To stop Crystal from getting lonely, she is kept company by Shadow the dog and Lucy the orangutan. Crystal plays a similar part in the Centurions' adventures to the operators of the Matrix, suggesting tactics and sending equipment as required.

Later in the series, two more Centurions were added to break the monotony and perhaps add some racial diversity. These were: Rex Charger, the energy expert, and John Thunder, the Apache infiltration expert.

[edit] Assault weapon systems

Each of the Centurions was specialised for a particular domain, originally land, sea or air/space. They all had multiple weapon systems that could be 'charged' to their exoframes. As evidenced in the five-part Man or Machine series of episodes, the exoframes also serve as strength-amplifying exoskeletons. This explains how the Centurions can carry the full weight of their weapon systems without any apparent discomfort.

  • Ace McCloud (Aerospace)
    • Sky Knight – the basic air system; small, lightly armed jet pack like air assault system with arm missiles, a chest mounted bomb and lasers
    • Orbital Interceptor – non-atmospheric craft and featured several missiles and guns; usually used for space missions, but was used underwater on at least one episode.
    • Sky Bolt – a heavily armed fighter-jet, and carried missiles, bombs and guns.
    • Strato Strike
    • Air Assault
  • Max Ray (Sea)
    • Cruiser – the basic sea system; a SCUBA system with a gun and missile.
    • Tidal Blast – a larger undersea system with two large torpedoes and shoulder mounted grappling line
    • Depth Charger – a self contained submersible with torpedoes, periscope and depth-charge/mine
    • Sea Bat – a surface system with guns and missiles, similar to a manta ray in appearance.
    • Aqua-Blazer
    • Fathom Fan
  • Jake Rockwell (Land)
    • Fireforce – the basic system; a gattling gun and shoulder-mounted bazooka
    • Detonator – a larger walker, with freeze-rays and missiles
    • Wild Weasel – a gun equipped human-motorcycle that could move in a prone or standing position
    • Hornet – a helicopter with guns and missiles
    • Swingshot – a tracked gun platform.
    • Awesome Auger- a drill like weapons system, rarely used.
    • Land Laser
  • Rex Charger (Energy)
    • Electro-Charger
    • Gatling Guard
  • John Thunder (Infiltration)
    • Silent Arrow
    • Thunder Knife

On rare occasions, one of the Centurions might use another's weapon system. The results were usually comical as they were unfamiliar with controlling the weapon system.

The three main Centurions and all their weapon systems, along with Dr Terror, Hacker, Strafer and Traumatizer were available as toys. There was also a wind-up power pack meant to add "power to all centurions heroes and hero assault weapons systems."

[edit] Themes

As well as the adventure side of the show, the series considered various science-fiction themes. In particular, the fusion or relationship between humans and technology was a focus throughout the show's run. A number of episodes also revolved around ecological themes, mainly involving Dr Terror's attempts to extort money from the governments of the world by threatening to destroy some aspect of the environment. Many of the plots were also genre parodies, including "Zone-Dancer's" take on film noir/Blade Runner, and "An Alien Affair's" take on Alien. Even the subject of magic was explored when Ace became involved with a woman named Cassandra Cross, who was a practitioner of white magic. Her evil twin sister, Lilith joined forces with Doc Terror in "Return of Cassandra". Both characters were voiced by B.J. Ward.

[edit] The cartoon

[edit] Opening titles voice-over

In the near future, Doc Terror, and his cyborg companion Hacker, unleash their forces to conquer earth.

Only one force can stop this evil: a handful of brave men; in specially created exoframes they can be transported anywhere to fuse with incredible assault weapon systems, beamed down from the space station Sky Vault, becoming man and machine,
Power Xtreme!

Max Ray: Brilliant Sea Operations Commander.
Jake Rockwell: Rugged Land Operations Specialist.
Ace McCloud: Daring Air Operations Expert.

Whatever the challenge, they are ready:

The Centurions

[edit] Voice acting credits

[edit] Episode guide

5-Part mini-series (Apr 1986)

  • #01 The Sky Is on Fire
  • #02 Battle Beneath the Sea
  • #03 An Alien Affair
  • #04 Found, One Lost World
  • #05 Sand Doom

1st season (fall 1986-fall 1987)

  • #06 Whalesong
  • #07 Tornado of Terror
  • #08 Denver Is Down
  • #09 Micro Menace
  • #10 Attack of the Plant-borgs
  • #11 Battle Beneath the Ice
  • #12 Operation Starfall
  • #13 Let the Games Begin
  • #14 Firebird
  • #15 Cold Calculations
  • #16 Return of Captain Steele
  • #17 Three Strikes and You're Dead
  • #18 Double Agent
  • #19 Child's Play
  • #20 Terror On Ice
  • #21 That Old Black Magic
  • #22 Max Ray: Traitor
  • #23 Crack the World
  • #24 Incredible Shrinking Centurions
  • #25 Live At Five
  • #26 The Mummy's Curse
  • #27 Counterclock Crisis
  • #28 Zombie Master
  • #29 Malfunction
  • #30 Broken Beams
  • #31 The Chameleon's Sting
  • #32 Film At Eleven
  • #33 Hacker Must Be Destroyed
  • #34 Showdown At Skystalk
  • #35 The Warrior
  • #36 Return of Cassandra
  • #37 Night On Terror Mountain
  • #38 Merlin
  • #39 The Monsters From Below
  • #40 The Road Devils
  • #41 Zone Dancer
  • #42 Firecracker
  • #43 Traitors Three
  • #44 You Only Love Twice
  • #45 Sungrazer
  • #46 Novice
  • #47 Breakout
  • #48 Atlantis Adventure Part 1
  • #49 Atlantis Adventure Part 2
  • #50 Ghost Warrior
  • #51 Let the Lightning Fall
  • #52 Cyborg Centurion
  • #53 Day of the Animals
  • #54 To Dare Dominion Part 1
  • #55 To Dare Dominion Part 2
  • #56 Hole In the Ocean Part 1
  • #57 Hole In the Ocean Part 2
  • #58 The Better Half Part 1
  • #59 The Better Half Part 2
  • #60 Revenge
  • #61 Man Or Machine Part 1
  • #62 Man Or Machine Part 2
  • #63 Man Or Machine Part 3
  • #64 Man Or Machine Part 4
  • #65 Man Or Machine Part 5

[edit] External links

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