Bravestarr
By Emily Ashby,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
'80s cartoon is dated, but messages ring true with kids.
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Based on 1 parent review
this is the worst SHOW EVER
What's the Story?
In the 23rd century, a distant planet called New Texas is found to be rich in a valuable mineral called Kerium, causing and influx of intergalactic hoodlums bent on mining and stealing the supply. Enter Bravestarr (voiced by Pat Fraley), an intergalactic marshall taxed with keeping the peace and bringing the bad guys to justice. With daily onslaughts from outsiders and a constant barrage from a local gang, led by the mutant Tex Hex (Charlie Adler), Bravestarr relies on his informal supporting cast -- including his anthropomorphic horse Thirty Thirty (Ed Gilbert), the lovely J.B. (Susan Blu), and a local named Deputy Fuzz (Adler again) -- to help him wrangle the villains.
Is It Any Good?
For an action cartoon, BRAVESTARR offers kids a surprising dose of positive content. What's more, the show doesn't make you dig for its messages; it weaves the stories around them and then reviews how the characters' actions exemplified responsible behavior. In addition, Bravestarr's Native American heritage plays a big role in his characterization, and the fact that he turns to a Shaman for spiritual guidance and taps into inner strengths rather than using weapons to do his job has good messages for kids.
Despite Bravestarr's aversion to violence, the rest of the characters do wield weapons, so the show is a good choice for older kids who can separate reality from fantasy. That said, this cartoon has a decidedly ‘80s appearance to it that might make it a hard sell for kids who have grown up in the modern era of CGI and anime. If they're willing to overlook the cheesiness of some of the characters and simplicity of the animation style, kids will find enjoyable stories with messages that may just make an impact on them.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the lessons the characters learn in this show. What was today's theme? How does this message relate to being a responsible person? Can you think of times in your life when you've struggled with this issue? How did you resolve it? What did you learn?
Kids: Do you like this show's style? Why or why not? How does it differ from the cartoons you're used to watching? Did the fact that it is an older cartoon affect your enjoyment of the story?
How does the media influence our perceptions of other cultures? Are stereotypes always bad? Do you think this show uses stereotypes? If so, where? Do you think Bravestarr is a good representative of the Native American culture?
TV Details
- Premiere date: September 14, 1987
- Cast: Charles Adler , Ed Gilbert , Pat Fraley
- Network: Syndicated
- Genre: Kids' Animation
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy , Adventures , Space and Aliens
- TV rating: TV-Y7
- Last updated: February 25, 2022
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