BraveStarr: The Legend

I got this tape sometime in the early 90s after the video vendor himself recommended it and it turned out to be fantastic. This was certainly Filmation's best cartoon and the movie itself is better than the Bravestarr series. The whole effort and theme was perhaps the most creative I've ever seen in any single cartoon and they were also pretty bold when it came to dark themes and violence. The opening sequence for the movie where the tribe is destroyed is amazing. With great characters, some fantastic villains and a nail biting story from start to finish, this movie is something that I personally feel that should not be missed by any fan of cartoons in general. Its too bad that it was so easily forgotten even though not many would have seen it in the first place.

Who Didn't like Bravestarr when they were younger. This was from the same people who gave us He-Man and the Masters Of The Universe. Bravestarr the legend is a feature length movie which introduces our sheriff of new texas. The film involves bravestarr coming to terms with his new found powers to fight the evil Spirit Stampede and his 'Minions' led by Tex Hex. The show's animation may appear dated but dont let that fool you. so if you get a chance to see this fine piece of nostalgia do not hesitate

Also i would like to point out that this was only released in cinemas in america to my knowledge the is no DVD or VHS

A VHS was released in the uk so if you live there you're in luck

BraveStarr: The Legend is an underrated movie, released when the series it was based on was concluding, and would be the final movie released before the company that made the series, FIlmation (the company responsible for legendary cartoons like He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe and Fat Albert), would close down (with one movie they completed before the closure, Happily Ever After, not seeing release until the 1990's).

Basically, the plot of the film is basically an origin story for New Texas' super-powered marshal, as we see the origins of Tex Hex and his gang, as well as BraveStarr's arrival and realization of his powers. Like most of Filmation's works, some of the animation is recycled from the show (mostly footage from the show's intro, as well as parts of an episode). The movie has some good action, the voice actors are all taken from the show, and it has many memorable moments. It's a movie I recommend watching.

My review was written in September 1988 after a Times Square screening.

"Bravestarr" is a disappointing animated feature applying the Western format directly to an Outer Space saga. Pretty backgrounds and explosions do not adequately cover for lackluster characters, given limited animation movements.

Title character (on screen it reads Bravestarr the Legend", but "Bravestarr the Movie" in ads) is an indistinctive-looking American Indian-styled cowboy destined to save the planet of New Texas from variou monster meanies, led by Stampede (a huge dragon-like steer) and Ted Hex (a reanimated, skeletal cowboy). The ancient Shaman gives Bravestarr his orders and magical power, largely calling upon the strength of the Bear constellation (a repetitious device).

Though its occasional attempts at comic relief fall flat, film plays off foolishly with its one-joke premise of a planet with modern technology but styled after all the corny cliches of a Western movie. Critters are robots, except for the Prairie People, cutesy little burrowing humanoids forced to work as slaves in mining operations.

Opposite the bland Bravestarr, heroine J. B., who's the local judge, is nondescript, as is her mustachioed dad McBride, given a Scottish brogue right out of James Doohan in "Star Trek".

Much running time is given to introducing each of Tex Hex' henchmen, but they have nothing to do or say in the film, wasting at least one unusual creation, the exotic Vipra, villainess riding a vast serpent.

Characters mainly pose, with very mechanical movement of the limited sort familiar from tv. Toddlers may overlook this thanks to okay action scenes involving flying vehicles and well-executed battle explosions.

Frank Becker's tinny musical score is a big letdown when it attempts to ape Western motifs on synthesized keyboards.

About 20 years ago, I was a kid when my father came one day with the tape of Bravestarr: the legend. After watching this animation, I was very happy. I used to watch it often because this was the only tape I had. And I loved it. This became the greatest childhood memory of mine. I think the last time was 2 years ago, when I again watched it. Friendship is one of the lessons I might have learned a lot from this movie. When I could have children, I would certainly ask them to watch this. I never new that there is a TV series about this characters, but I know now. However, I am not young enough to watch them, and I don't have time. I wish I could watch and enjoy the series when I was a kid.