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{{quote|''"John Blackstar, astronaut -- is swept through a black hole -- into an ancient alien universe. Trapped on the planet Sagar, Blackstar is rescued by the tiny Trobbit people. In turn he joins their fight for freedom against the cruel Overlord -- who rules by the might of the PowerStar. The PowerStar is split into the PowerSword -- and the StarSword. And so, with StarSword in hand, Blackstar, together with his allies, sets out to save the planet Sagar. This is his destiny."''<br />
{{quote|''"John Blackstar, astronaut -- is swept through a black hole -- into an ancient alien universe. Trapped on the planet Sagar, Blackstar is rescued by the tiny Trobbit people. In turn he joins their fight for freedom against the cruel Overlord -- who rules by the might of the PowerStar. The PowerStar is split into the PowerSword -- and the StarSword. And so, with StarSword in hand, Blackstar, together with his allies, sets out to save the planet Sagar. This is his destiny."''
''"I am John Blackstar."''|[[Opening Narration]]}}
''"I am John Blackstar."''|[[Opening Narration]]}}


'''''Blackstar''''' is a 1981 fantasy-adventure cartoon from [[Filmation]]. A precursor to the far more successful ''[[He Man and The Masters of The Universe|He-Man]] ''(only 12 episodes were produced), ''Blackstar'' followed the adventures of an [[Fish Out of Water|Earthly astronaut]], the eponymous John Blackstar, and his "allies": Klone, the [[Our Elves Are Different|elf-like]] [[Voluntary Shapeshifting|ShapeShifter]]; Mara, the [[Green-Skinned Space Babe|lavender-skinned]] [[Magical Girl]]; Warlock, his [[Our Dragons Are Different|dragon-like]] [[Cool Horse|Cool Steed]]; and the [[Captain Ersatz|Trobbits]], seven magenta-skinned little men who tended the Sagar tree on which the planet's environment depended -- Balkar, their magical leader; the [[The Voiceless|speechless]] Poulo; Carpo; Gossamer, [[Ear Wings|who flew by means of his huge ears]]; Burbil; Rif, who talked like Walter Brennan and whose hat was permanently afire; and Terra. All these were in rebellion against the [[Exactly What It Says On the Tin|Overlord]] and his allies, such as the sorcerous [[Evil Chancellor|Vizier]], a horde of dinosaur-shaped stone robots, the [[Mecha Mooks|Lavaloks]], and a series of one-shot villains such as Kadray, the "Time-Lord" (no, not [[Doctor Who|that one]]).
'''''Blackstar''''' is a 1981 fantasy-adventure cartoon from [[Filmation]]. A precursor to the far more successful ''[[He-Man and the Masters of the Universe|He-Man]] ''(only 12 episodes were produced), ''Blackstar'' followed the adventures of an [[Fish Out of Water|Earthly astronaut]], the eponymous John Blackstar, and his "allies": Klone, the [[Our Elves Are Different|elf-like]] [[Voluntary Shapeshifting|ShapeShifter]]; Mara, the [[Green-Skinned Space Babe|lavender-skinned]] [[Magical Girl]]; Warlock, his [[Our Dragons Are Different|dragon-like]] [[Cool Horse|Cool Steed]]; and the [[Captain Ersatz|Trobbits]], seven magenta-skinned little men who tended the Sagar tree on which the planet's environment depended -- Balkar, their magical leader; the [[The Voiceless|speechless]] Poulo; Carpo; Gossamer, [[Ear Wings|who flew by means of his huge ears]]; Burbil; Rif, who talked like Walter Brennan and whose hat was permanently afire; and Terra. All these were in rebellion against the [[Exactly What It Says on the Tin|Overlord]] and his allies, such as the sorcerous [[Evil Chancellor|Vizier]], a horde of dinosaur-shaped stone robots, the [[Mecha-Mooks|Lavaloks]], and a series of one-shot villains such as Kadray, the "Time-Lord" (no, not [[Doctor Who|that one]]).


Interestingly, the eponymous hero was designed as an African-American (this was in keeping with Filmation's predilection for [[And Knowing Is Half the Battle|socially positive messages]] in its shows), but was subsequently changed to a deeply tanned Caucasian. It has been asserted that this was done [[Executive Meddling|at the behest of the network]], but Filmation producer Lou Scheimer has disclaimed all memory of any such directive. Many fans assume that Blackstar is a Native American, but there is no mention of this in the original series, and he differs somewhat in appearance from Filmation's later Native American hero, [[Bravestarr (Animation)|Bravestarr]].
Interestingly, the eponymous hero was designed as an African-American (this was in keeping with Filmation's predilection for [[And Knowing Is Half the Battle|socially positive messages]] in its shows), but was subsequently changed to a deeply tanned Caucasian. It has been asserted that this was done [[Executive Meddling|at the behest of the network]], but Filmation producer Lou Scheimer has disclaimed all memory of any such directive. Many fans assume that Blackstar is a Native American, but there is no mention of this in the original series, and he differs somewhat in appearance from Filmation's later Native American hero, [[Bravestarr]].


Should not be confused AT ALL with the ''[[Soul Eater]]'' character. Nor should he be confused with BlackStar, the hip-hop group consisting of [[Talib Kwali]] and [[Yasiin Bey]].
Should not be confused AT ALL with the ''[[Soul Eater]]'' character. Nor should he be confused with BlackStar, the hip-hop group consisting of [[Talib Kwali]] and [[Yasiin Bey]]. Or [[David Bowie]]'s final album.
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{{tropelist}}
=== ''Blackstar'' provide examples of: ===


* [[Ambiguously Brown]]: As mentioned above, Blackstar was originally going to be African-American, but ended up just sort of brownish with straight hair. [[Fanon]] holds that he's Native American.
* [[Ambiguously Brown]]: As mentioned above, Blackstar was originally going to be African-American, but ended up just sort of brownish with straight hair. [[Fanon]] holds that he's Native American.
* [[And Knowing Is Half the Battle]]: Averted, amazingly enough for a Filmation series from the Eighties. Any moral lessons are left implicit in the stories themselves.
* [[And Knowing Is Half the Battle]]: Averted, amazingly enough for a Filmation series from the Eighties. Any moral lessons are left implicit in the stories themselves.
* [[Applied Phlebotinum]]: The Sagar tree is the source of magical fruits and nuts that somehow support the entire population of the planet. Many episodes involved the Overlord making some kind of attack on the tree.
* [[Applied Phlebotinum]]: The Sagar tree is the source of magical fruits and nuts that somehow support the entire population of the planet. Many episodes involved the Overlord making some kind of attack on the tree.
* [[Bifurcated Weapon]]: The StarSword, wielded by Blackstar, and the Overlord's PowerSword, are the split-off sections of the PowerStar.
* [[Bifurcated Weapon]]: The StarSword, wielded by Blackstar, and the Overlord's PowerSword, are the split-off sections of the PowerStar.
* [[Captain Ersatz]]: The "Trobbits" were at one and the same time expies of Peyo's [[The Smurfs|Smurfs]], [[JRR Tolkien (Creator)|JRR Tolkien]]'s hobbits, and [[Disney]]'s [[Snow White (Disney)|Seven Dwarfs]].
* [[Captain Ersatz]]: The "Trobbits" were at one and the same time expies of Peyo's [[The Smurfs|Smurfs]], [[J. R. R. Tolkien|JRR Tolkien]]'s hobbits, and [[Disney]]'s [[Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Disney film)|Seven Dwarfs]].
* [[Deadpan Snarker]]: What Blackstar is supposed to be.
* [[Deadpan Snarker]]: What Blackstar is supposed to be.
* [[Ear Wings]]: Gossamer
* [[Ear Wings]]: Gossamer
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* [[Evil Is Not a Toy]]: As the Overlord finds in "The Overlord's Big Spell", when he summons the demonic appearing Brelarand to destroy the rebels -- ''which of course fails spectacularly'' and leads to an [[Enemy Mine]] with Blackstar.
* [[Evil Is Not a Toy]]: As the Overlord finds in "The Overlord's Big Spell", when he summons the demonic appearing Brelarand to destroy the rebels -- ''which of course fails spectacularly'' and leads to an [[Enemy Mine]] with Blackstar.
* [[Evil Overlord]]: He was even ''named'' "The Overlord".
* [[Evil Overlord]]: He was even ''named'' "The Overlord".
* [[Evil Knockoff]]: In the episode "Tree of Evil", an [[Exactly What It Says On the Tin|evil tree]] makes evil copies of the Trobbits, [[Stealth Pun|Klone]], and Blackstar himself.
* [[Evil Knockoff]]: In the episode "Tree of Evil", an [[Exactly What It Says on the Tin|evil tree]] makes evil copies of the Trobbits, [[Stealth Pun|Klone]], and Blackstar himself.
* [[Expository Theme Song]]: At least, expository opening narration.
* [[Expository Theme Song]]: At least, expository opening narration.
* [[Expy]]: Blackstar ''may'' be an expy of Edgar Rice Burrough's ''[[John Carter of Mars]]'', who is also a [[Fish Out of Water]] on an alien world and is also said to have superstrength as a result of his terrestrial origin.
* [[Expy]]: Blackstar ''may'' be an expy of Edgar Rice Burrough's ''[[John Carter of Mars]]'', who is also a [[Fish Out of Water]] on an alien world and is also said to have superstrength as a result of his terrestrial origin.
** Another (probably) completely unintentional one: as he explains in his [[Opening Narration]], an astronaut named John is swept through a hole in space into a distant part of the universe filled with strange alien beings, some of whom become his allies. Almost from the moment he arrives, he's pursued by a cruel commander<ref>the first of several</ref> who wants him and/or his [[MacGuffin]]. [[Farscape (TV)|Sound familiar?]]
** Another (probably) completely unintentional one: as he explains in his [[Opening Narration]], an astronaut named John is swept through a hole in space into a distant part of the universe filled with strange alien beings, some of whom become his allies. Almost from the moment he arrives, he's pursued by a cruel commander<ref>the first of several</ref> who wants him and/or his [[MacGuffin]]. [[Farscape|Sound familiar?]]
** Since this is Filmation, Blackstar's premise shows a lot of influence from their earlier adaptation of ''[[Flash Gordon (Animation)|Flash Gordon]]''. It also presages their later ''[[He Man and The Masters of The Universe]]'' in many ways.
** Since this is Filmation, Blackstar's premise shows a lot of influence from their earlier adaptation of ''[[Flash Gordon (animation)|Flash Gordon]]''. It also presages their later ''[[He-Man and the Masters of the Universe]]'' in many ways.
* [[Fan Service]]: Like many of Filmation's series, ''Blackstar'' was replete with muscular heroes and busty heroines.
* [[Fan Service]]: Like many of Filmation's series, ''Blackstar'' was replete with muscular heroes and busty heroines.
* [[Frothy Mugs of Water]]: On one episode, Mara toasts Blackstar; Klone is quick to point out that the toast in question is made in "clear, cool spring water." Festive.
* [[Frothy Mugs of Water]]: On one episode, Mara toasts Blackstar; Klone is quick to point out that the toast in question is made in "clear, cool spring water." Festive.
* [[The Future]]: Blackstar comes from a future Earth which has developed interplanetary flight. In "Space Wrecked," we learn that Earth has an entire fleet of spacecraft, and has developed a time-traveling space-ship as well.
* [[The Future]]: Blackstar comes from a future Earth which has developed interplanetary flight. In "Space Wrecked," we learn that Earth has an entire fleet of spacecraft, and has developed a time-traveling space-ship as well.
* [[Giant Flyer]]: The Air Whales of Anchar, in their eponymous episode
* [[Giant Flyer]]: The Air Whales of Anchar, in their eponymous episode.
* [[Hobbits]]: The Trobbits...Kinda.
* [[Hot Amazon]]: Storm in "The Lord of Time"
* [[Hot Amazon]]: Storm in "The Lord of Time"
* [[Heel Face Turn]]: The Emerald Knight in "The Quest"; Lilah in "The Air Whales of Anchar"
* [[Heel Face Turn]]: The Emerald Knight in "The Quest"; Lilah in "The Air Whales of Anchar"
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* [[MacGuffin]]: The PowerStar; the Sagar Tree
* [[MacGuffin]]: The PowerStar; the Sagar Tree
* [[Magical Girl]]: Mara; Amber in "City of the Ancient Ones"
* [[Magical Girl]]: Mara; Amber in "City of the Ancient Ones"
* [[Mecha Mooks]]: The Lavaloks
* [[Mecha-Mooks]]: The Lavaloks
* [[Name's the Same]]: Gossamer is ''not'' a [[Looney Tunes|giant red-furred tooth in tennis shoes]]. And it's Balkar, not [[Order of the Stick (Webcomic)|Belkar]].
* [[Name's the Same]]: Gossamer is ''not'' a [[Looney Tunes|giant red-furred tooth in tennis shoes]]. And it's Balkar, not [[The Order of the Stick|Belkar]].
* [[Off-Model]]: In "The Zombie Masters," Blackstar, Balkar, Rif, and and guest-star [[Our Elves Are Different|Prince Dal]] disguise themselves as [[Our Zombies Are Different|zombies]] by [[Deliberately Monochrome|covering themselves with mud]]. Somehow the mud covers ''even the flame on Rif's hat.''
* [[Off-Model]]: In "The Zombie Masters," Blackstar, Balkar, Rif, and and guest-star [[Our Elves Are Different|Prince Dal]] disguise themselves as [[Our Zombies Are Different|zombies]] by [[Deliberately Monochrome|covering themselves with mud]]. Somehow the mud covers ''even the flame on Rif's hat.''
* [[Our Fairies Are Different]]: Delilah the Dryad, in "Tree of Evil".
* [[Our Fairies Are Different]]: Delilah the Dryad, in "Tree of Evil".
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[[Category:Western Animation]]
[[Category:Western Animation]]
[[Category:Blackstar]]
[[Category:Blackstar]]
[[Category:Western Animation of the 1980s]]

Latest revision as of 14:05, 13 July 2021

"John Blackstar, astronaut -- is swept through a black hole -- into an ancient alien universe. Trapped on the planet Sagar, Blackstar is rescued by the tiny Trobbit people. In turn he joins their fight for freedom against the cruel Overlord -- who rules by the might of the PowerStar. The PowerStar is split into the PowerSword -- and the StarSword. And so, with StarSword in hand, Blackstar, together with his allies, sets out to save the planet Sagar. This is his destiny."

"I am John Blackstar."
—Opening Narration

Blackstar is a 1981 fantasy-adventure cartoon from Filmation. A precursor to the far more successful He-Man (only 12 episodes were produced), Blackstar followed the adventures of an Earthly astronaut, the eponymous John Blackstar, and his "allies": Klone, the elf-like ShapeShifter; Mara, the lavender-skinned Magical Girl; Warlock, his dragon-like Cool Steed; and the Trobbits, seven magenta-skinned little men who tended the Sagar tree on which the planet's environment depended -- Balkar, their magical leader; the speechless Poulo; Carpo; Gossamer, who flew by means of his huge ears; Burbil; Rif, who talked like Walter Brennan and whose hat was permanently afire; and Terra. All these were in rebellion against the Overlord and his allies, such as the sorcerous Vizier, a horde of dinosaur-shaped stone robots, the Lavaloks, and a series of one-shot villains such as Kadray, the "Time-Lord" (no, not that one).

Interestingly, the eponymous hero was designed as an African-American (this was in keeping with Filmation's predilection for socially positive messages in its shows), but was subsequently changed to a deeply tanned Caucasian. It has been asserted that this was done at the behest of the network, but Filmation producer Lou Scheimer has disclaimed all memory of any such directive. Many fans assume that Blackstar is a Native American, but there is no mention of this in the original series, and he differs somewhat in appearance from Filmation's later Native American hero, Bravestarr.

Should not be confused AT ALL with the Soul Eater character. Nor should he be confused with BlackStar, the hip-hop group consisting of Talib Kwali and Yasiin Bey. Or David Bowie's final album.

Tropes used in Blackstar include:


  1. ↑ the first of several
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