SilverHawks

Recently, I just made bulk purchase on iTunes on the SilverHawks series. I will admit I barely remember watching this show and, for matters of disclosure, was I not really into the ThunderCats as I was more into Transformers and GI Joe (still am). But after watching several episodes I want to take down some of my thoughts.

My opinion of the series is not bad but not as good as Exo Squad, Batman the Animated Series or Animaniacs. But unlike a lot of shows of the 1980s it is very watchable. It is difficult more me to admit but the opening and closing themes of the show are very epic and quite catchy than Transformers or GI Joe due to my own bias but its a hell of lot better Captain Planet's.

Unlike most shows of that period, such as Inspector Gadget, Transformers, GI Joe, Masters of the Universe or even ThunderCats, SilverHawks didn't end the show on a pretentious PSA or safety tip; instead it gave very basic lessons Astronomy and Cosmology in the form of Bluegrass teaching the Copper Kidd. Which to me is a little more refreshing.

The animation is rather top-notch, which I will give Rankin-Bass that, given the high quality of their other animated production. Both SilverHawks and ThunderCats were done by AIC productions which also animated:

Bubblegum Crisis (Original OAVs)

Godannar

Megazone 23 (which made several in-jokes to both SilverHawks and ThunderCats)

Riding Bean

Tenchi Muyo

Now, I haven't gone through all the episodes, but there is one problem I have with the series and this was a common problem with most '80s animated shows was the use of the Deus Ex Machina device. In the episode 'Magnetic Attraction,' I would into full details but in short Commander Stargazer gives Steelwill a device to go help out Steelheart with the quip of "I've on the job for 300 years I've seen Hardware use that magnetic attractor bit before" but so far it doesn't seem as pervasive as one would see in Masters of the Universe which was notorious for it constant use of Deus Ex Machina.

Maybe it's just me but I've noticed a few nods to Gatchaman in the show; even the visor designs seem somewhat reminiscent of Tekkaman as well. Hell I've been watching the original Casshan the Robot Hunter series and unable to stop noticing parallels between that show and both Mega Man and Mega Man X.  

Anyway, my next entries I might talk about the Tatsunoko Super Hero series, my thoughts on early Tolkien adaptations and the Simpsons and its steady decline.