'Centurions' came around just as I was reaching the end (temporarily) of my 'toons and toys heyday. Had it come out in 1984, there's little doubt that I would've been there daily to witness Jake, Ace and... the other guy.
In my 30s I began collecting 70s and 80s toys, and it's there that I first became aware of 'Centurions'. You see, the cartoon is based on a toy line. I know! Knock me over with a feather. I thought the figures were pretty neat, but with no official DVD release I wasn't able to check out the 'toon. Flash forward to this afternoon and with the show now available on DVD I watched the first episode "The Sky is on Fire".
A Ruby Spears production, it brings with it all that implies. The basic concept is your standard handsome, well groomed all-everything good guys vs. vile, disfigured and none too bright baddies. The heroes have suits that can merge with various equipment that's beamed down to them from a space station (I don't know either). The villains are cyborgs of some sort, with human heads offset on a squarish body. It's a hideous design.
The plot here is your typical absurd 80s cartoon scenario where the villain threatens to destroy earth unless the nations of the world agree to surrender to them. Thankfully, our heroes are having none of that. Action and multiple uses of annoying catchphrase "Power Xtreme!" ensue.
Really there's nothing here that isn't in a standard episode of 'G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero', but what makes the difference is execution. 'Centurions' is a rather dull and wonky looking affair with cardboard characters and flat voice acting. Even the theme song, in the halcyon days of cartoon themes, is dull.
I was a bit surprised to see that 'Centurions' got a full two season run. Maybe it gets better as it goes. Sadly I won't be sticking around to find out.
In my 30s I began collecting 70s and 80s toys, and it's there that I first became aware of 'Centurions'. You see, the cartoon is based on a toy line. I know! Knock me over with a feather. I thought the figures were pretty neat, but with no official DVD release I wasn't able to check out the 'toon. Flash forward to this afternoon and with the show now available on DVD I watched the first episode "The Sky is on Fire".
A Ruby Spears production, it brings with it all that implies. The basic concept is your standard handsome, well groomed all-everything good guys vs. vile, disfigured and none too bright baddies. The heroes have suits that can merge with various equipment that's beamed down to them from a space station (I don't know either). The villains are cyborgs of some sort, with human heads offset on a squarish body. It's a hideous design.
The plot here is your typical absurd 80s cartoon scenario where the villain threatens to destroy earth unless the nations of the world agree to surrender to them. Thankfully, our heroes are having none of that. Action and multiple uses of annoying catchphrase "Power Xtreme!" ensue.
Really there's nothing here that isn't in a standard episode of 'G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero', but what makes the difference is execution. 'Centurions' is a rather dull and wonky looking affair with cardboard characters and flat voice acting. Even the theme song, in the halcyon days of cartoon themes, is dull.
I was a bit surprised to see that 'Centurions' got a full two season run. Maybe it gets better as it goes. Sadly I won't be sticking around to find out.
