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Space Stars

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TV

Composer(s)
  
Hoyt Curtin

First episode date
  
12 September 1981

Network
  
NBC

Narrated by
  
Keene Curtis

7.2/10
IMDb

Theme music composer
  
Hoyt Curtin

Country of origin
  
United States

Final episode date
  
11 September 1982

Number of episodes
  
11 (66 segments)

Space Stars img00deviantartnetb8b1i200808841hbkids6

Genre
  
Animation Adventure Fantasy Science fiction

Directed by
  
Ray Patterson George Gordon Rudy Zamora

Voices of
  
Michael Bell Virginia Gregg Darryl Hickman Allan Lurie Sparky Marcus Don Messick Gary Owens David Hubbard Mike Road Steve J. Spears Alexandra Stoddart B.J. Ward Lennie Weinrib Frank Welker Michael Winslow

Cast
  
Don Messick, Frank Welker, Gary Owens, Mike Road, Michael Bell

Similar
  
Galtar and the Golden Lance, Valley of the Dinosaurs, The Kid Super Power Ho, The First Easter Rabbit, The Stingiest Man in To

Space Stars is a 60-minute Saturday morning animated program block produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions and broadcast on NBC from September 12, 1981 to September 11, 1982.

Contents

Format

Space Stars was narrated by Keene Curtis and featured five cartoon segments each week:

  • Space Ghost (2 segments, 6 minutes each)
  • The Herculoids (1 segment, 10 minutes)
  • Teen Force (1 segment, 7 minutes)
  • Astro and the Space Mutts (1 segment, 7 minutes)
  • Space Stars Finale (1 segment, 7 minutes)
  • The cartoons would occasionally crossover into one another. Space Ghost and The Herculoids both had their own respective series in the 1960s. Teen Force and Astro and the Space Mutts are both new segments, although the Astro character was the family dog from The Jetsons.

    Opening title narration

    The opening title narration was provided by Michael Rye and consisted of the following:

    Space Stars! A galaxy of heroes teamed together in an interstellar battle against evil! Blast off on adventures as big as the cosmos itself! Race, poised on the edge of time, with Space Ghost and his young friends! Streak through the universe with Space Ace, Astro and the Space Mutts as they spring into action! And somewhere deep in space, super-danger threatens the Teen Force! Join the famed Herculoids in their new battles to preserve peace on the planet Quasar! Now...get set for 60 laser-blasting minutes of action, adventure, fun...on Space Stars!

    Space Ghost

    A total of 22 episodes were produced for Space Ghost (two segments aired each week), featuring a new assortment of villains including an evil version of Space Ghost called Space Spectre (who came from an alternate universe). The Phantom Cruiser and its Scout Ship were also given sleeker and more modernized looks. Space Ghost often came to the aid of the Herculoids and vice versa (as in the original Space Ghost series' "Council of Doom" storyline, where they met once). They also frequently crossed paths with the Teen Force, and it appeared that Jan and Teen Force member Kid Comet were dating as well. Elektra made several appearances as well. Gary Owens reprised his role as Space Ghost, but Tim Matheson was replaced by Steve Spears as the voice of Jace, Ginny Tyler was replaced by Alexandra Stoddart as the voice of Jan, and Don Messick was replaced by Frank Welker as the vocal effects for Blip.

    The Herculoids

    As a departure from the original series, this incarnation of The Herculoids had its roots in science fiction and had story direction and content similar to Jonny Quest and Space Ghost. This series takes place on a far-away planet named Quasar in the land of Amzot (the planet was only named as such in this series, though Amzot was first mentioned in the "Time Creatures" episode of the original series). Eleven episodes were produced. Mike Road and Virginia Gregg reprised their roles as Zandor and Tara. Ted Eccles was replaced by Sparky Marcus as Dorno. Mike Road and Don Messick also reprised their roles as the voices of the Herculoids.

    Teen Force

    Teen Force focused on three superhumanly gifted young students who hail from an unknown alternate universe which is located beyond the confines of the mysterious Black Hole X, which serves as a gateway into the universe in which the other main characters from Space Stars exist.

    The Teen Force consists of Kid Comet, who possesses tremendous levels of superhuman speed, enabling him move at speeds exceeding the speed of light, and can even move quickly enough to travel through time; Moleculad, who can control his molecular structure for various effects; and Elektra, who possesses the psionic disciplines of telepathy, telekenesis, and teleportation. Accompanying them are a pair of diminutive blue-skinned aliens named Plutem and Glax, also known as the Astromites. Their principal enemy in the series is Uglor, a mutant native and tyrannical ruler of the planet Uris (whose inhabitants are a race of evolved simians) in Galaxy Q-2. Uglor's mutancy granted him bird-like wings and the ability to generate destructive energy blasts from his bionic eyes, which allowed him to see through Space Ghost's Inviso Power and Elektra's telepathic illusions.

    Astro and the Space Mutts

    Astro and the Space Mutts features Astro, the family dog from The Jetsons. He teams up with two other dogs named Cosmo and Dipper, led by their human leader Space Ace. Together, the trio act as galactic police officers and travel through outer space. Don Messick reprised his role as Astro.

    Space Stars Finale

    Space Stars Finale was the last segment where Space Ghost, the Herculoids, Astro and the Space Mutts, and Teen Force team up to battle the scourges of the universe.

    Syndication

    In syndication as a 30-minute series, USA Network had one segment each of Space Ghost, Teen Force and The Herculoids, but Astro and the Space Mutts segments were never shown, while on Nickelodeon, Teen Force segments were substituted with Astro and the Space Mutts segments.

    Space Ghost, The Herculoids and Astro and the Space Mutts segments have been seen on Cartoon Network and Boomerang, but not the Teen Force segments. Furthermore, the series has never been shown in its entirety on Cartoon Network or Boomerang. Currently, these shorts are only broadcast on occasion as an interstitial segment between shows on Boomerang.

    Home Media releases

    On October 8, 2013, Warner Archive released Space Stars: The Complete Series on DVD in region 1 as part of their Hanna–Barbera Classics Collection. This is a Manufacture-on-Demand (MOD) release, available exclusively through Warner's online store and Amazon.com.

    Voice cast

  • Michael Bell – Space Ace, Mario Magnetti ("Menace of the Magnet Menace"), Scavenger ("Wonder Dog")
  • Keene Curtis – Narrator
  • Richard Erdman –
  • Virginia Gregg – Tara
  • Darryl Hickman – Kid Comet
  • Casey Kasem – Announcer
  • Allan Lurie – Uglor
  • Sparky Marcus – Dorno
  • Chuck McCann –
  • Don Messick – Astro, Gloop, Gleep, Director ("The Education of Puglor"), Reverso ("Reverso")
  • Gary Owens – Space Ghost
  • David Hubbard – Moleculad
  • Mike Road – Zandor, Tundro, Zok, Igoo
  • Stanley Ralph Ross – Buccaneer ("The Buccaneer")
  • Steve J. Spears – Jace
  • John Stephenson – Space Spectre ("Space Spectre"), Elder ("City in Space"), Jev ("City in Space")
  • Alexandra Stoddart – Jan
  • B.J. Ward – Elektra
  • Lennie Weinrib – Dipper, Brucie ("Wonder Dog"), Puglor ("The Education of Puglor")
  • Frank Welker – Cosmo, Blip, Wizard ("Web of the Wizard," "Devilship"), Computer ("City in Space"), Crab ("The Night of the Crab"), Cubus ("Spacecube of Doom"), Destroyer ("Nomads"), Feron ("The Big Freeze"), Galactic Vac ("Galactic Vac is Back"), Lord Raider ("Wonder Dog"), Noxie ("Nomads"), Repto ("The Space Dragons"), Rock Punk ("Rock Punk"), Shadow Creature ("The Shadow People"), Starfly ("The Starfly"), Starbeast ("The Starfly")
  • Michael Winslow – Glax, Plutem
  • Production credits

  • Executive Producers: Joseph Barbera and William Hanna
  • Producers: Gerard Baldwin, Oscar Dufau
  • Directors: Ray Patterson, George Gordon, Rudy Zamora
  • Story Supervision: Ray Parker
  • Story Editors: Len Janson, Chuck Menville, Kathleen Barnes & David Wise
  • Story: Kathleen Barnes, Ray Colcord, Dianne Dixon, Diane Duane, Scott Edelman, Donald Glut, Orville Hampton, Andy Heyward, Len Janson, Earl Kress, Chuck Menville, Frances Novier, J. Michael Reaves, Reed Robbins, Jim Ryan, David Villaire, David Wise, Marc Scott Zicree
  • Story Direction: Tom Bird, Barrington Bunce, Ron Campbell, Robert Dranko, Jan Green, Gary Goldstein, Cullen Houghtaling, Chris Jenkyns, Emilie Kong, Larry Latham, Ron Maidenberg, Mario Piluso, Mike Sekowsky, Al Wilson, Tom Yakutis, Alan Zaslove
  • Recording Director: Gordon Hunt
  • Assistant to the Recording Director: Ginny McSwain
  • Voices: Michael Bell, Keene Curtis, Richard Erdman, Virginia Gregg, Darryl Hickman, David Hubbard, Allan Lurie, Sparky Marcus, Chuck McCann, Don Messick, Gary Owens, Mike Road, Stanley Ralph Ross, Steve Spears, John Stephenson, Alexandra Stoddart, B.J. Ward, Lennie Weinrib, Frank Welker, Mike Winslow
  • Graphics: Iraj Paran, Tom Wogatzke
  • Title Design: Bill Perez
  • Musical Director: Hoyt Curtin
  • Musical Supervisor: Paul DeKorte
  • Design Supervisor: Bob Singer
  • Character Design: Judie Clarke, Jean Gilmore, Jack Kirby, Jesse Santos
  • Layout Supervisor: Don Morgan
  • Key Layout: John Tucker
  • Layout: Kurt Anderson, Owen Fitzgerald, Drew Gentle, George Goode, Mike Hodgson, Mike Kawaguchi, Mark Kirkland, Ken Landau, Hal Mason, Darrell McNeil, Mike O'Mara, Maurice Pooley, Darrell Rooney, Linda Rowley, Mike Sekowsky, Dean Thompson, David Thwaytes
  • Animation Supervision: Jay Sarbry, Don Patterson
  • Animation: Frank Andrina, Warren Batchelder, Carol Beers, Becky Bristow, Oliver Callahan, Lars Calonius, Rudy Cataldi, Zeon Davush, Joan Drake, Lillian Evans, Hugh Fraser, Lennie Graves, Jeff Hall, Terry Harrison, Fred Hellmich, Bob Kirk, T.C. Lennon, Rick Leon, Hicks Lokey, Mircea Mantta, Bob Matz, Lori McLaughlin, Costi Mustatea, Ron Myrick, Karen Peterson, Barney Posner, Morey Reden, Kunio Shimamura, Ken Southworth, Dave Tendlar, Dick Thompson, Bob Tyler, James T. Walker
  • Assistant Animation Supervisor: John Boersema
  • Background Supervisor: Al Gmuer
  • Backgrounds: Lorraine Andrina, Fernando Arce, Susan Broadhurst, Dario Campanile, Flamarion Ferreira, Martin Forte, Andrea Freeman, Bob Gentle, James Hegedus, Eric Heschong, Jim Hickey, Paro Hozumi, Mike Humphries, Brian Karwan, Phil Lewis, Jeffrey Long, Michele Moen, Michael Morgan, Bill Proctor, Andy Phillipson, Phil Phillipson, Jeff Richards, Jeff Riche, Ron Roesch, Dennis Venizelos
  • Checking and Scene Planning: Jackie Banks, Debra Smith
  • Xerography: Star Wirth, Dan Forster
  • Ink and Paint Supervision: Alison Victory, Margaret Hale
  • Sound Direction: Richard Olson, Joe Citarella
  • Technical Supervisor: Jerry Mills
  • Camera: Allen Childs, Candace Edwards, Curt Hall, Raymond Lee, Ralph Migliori, Joe Ponticelle, Sherry Popovich, Terry Smith, Neil Viker, Roy Wade
  • Supervising Film Editor: Larry C. Cowan
  • Dubbing Supervisor: Pat Foley
  • Music Editors: Joe Sandusky, Terry Moore, Daniels McLean, Robert Talboy
  • Effects Editors: Michael Bradley, Cecil Broughton, Sue Brown, Katherine MacKenzie, Joe Reitano, Kerry Williams
  • Show Editor: Gil Iverson
  • Negative Consultant: William E. DeBoer
  • Production Manager: Jeffrey Kahan
  • Post Production Supervisor: Joed Eaton
  • Executives in Charge of Production: Margaret Loesch, Jayne Barbera
  • A HANNA-BARBERA PRODUCTION
  • This Picture Made Under the Jurisdiction of IATSE-IA Affiliated with A.F.L.-C.I.O.
  • (c) 1980 HANNA-BARBERA PRODUCTIONS, INC.
  • References

    Space Stars Wikipedia