Skysurfer Strike Force

Skysurfer Strike Force is a 1995-1996 American science-fiction superhero animated series that was featured on the Amazin' Adventures cartoon block and was produced by Ruby-Spears Productions with animation by Ashi Productions.[1] The show lasted two seasons (13 episodes for each season) in the mid-1990s. The first episode (first episode of the first season) aired on September 10, 1995, and the last episode (final episode of the second season) was on October 26, 1996. The show then airs in reruns on the Sci Fi Channel in 1999 through 2000.

Skysurfer Strike Force
GenreAction
Science fiction
Superhero
Developed byTed Pedersen
Mark Jones
Directed byWalt Kubiak
StarringVenus Terzo
David Kaye
Michael Donovan
Richard Newman
Paul Dobson
Janyse Jaud
Alvin Sanders
Terry Klassen
Ward Perry
Country of originUnited States
No. of episodes26 (13 for each season)
Production
Running time30 minutes
Production companiesRuby-Spears-Ashi Productions
Bohbot Entertainment
DistributorBohbot Entertainment
Release
Original networkSyndication (Amazin' Adventures)
Picture format4:3
Original releaseSeptember 10, 1995 (1995-09-10) –
October 26, 1996 (1996-10-26)

The titular five-piece superhero team are Earth's guardians against the vile Cybron and his bio-borgs who use the powers of flight and the sky for their crusades against evil.[2] The Skysurfers used technologically advanced watches that transformed them from their casual clothing to their battle attire and weapons, similar to the Choujin Sentai Jetman. During the transformations, their cars transform into rocket-powered aerial surfboards.

Series information

A mysterious explosion causes the destruction of an artificial intelligence lab that kills scientist Adam Hollister; in the aftermath, he is framed for the incident - his son, Jack, sets out to prove his father's innocence with a belief that someone else was responsible for the explosion and stole an experimental computer brain from the lab; this man who stole the computer brain merges it with his own and transforms into the master criminal known as Cybron, additionally founding a team of wrong-doing bio-borgs to aid him in his schemes. To fight Cybron and his forces, Jack and his four friends become a sky-themed superhero team known as the Skysurfer Strike Force.

Characters

The Skysurfers

The title protagonists of the series, the Skysurfers are a team of five ordinary civilians who use their wrist-worn Digitrans to transform into their Skysurfer identities:

  1. Jack Hollister aka Skysurfer 1: Born on July 9, 1975, Skysurfer One uses a beam saber as his signature weapon. He has amazing reasoning skills, and when confronted with a situation, he replies "What if it is?".
  2. Micky Flannigan aka Skysurfer 2 - Crazy Stunts: Born on June 18, 1979, Crazy Stunts uses a blaster pistol for each hand as his signature weapon. The pistols can also shoot out whip-like wires and are powered by small diamonds. Crazy Stunts is a "happenin' young dude" and often uses phrases like "Hey, dudes" and other current jargon.
  3. Kimberley "Kim" Sakai aka Skysurfer 3 - Sliced Ice: Born on December 24, 1978, Sliced Ice uses a sword that can freeze things in its path as her signature weapon. She is also a scientist.
  4. Nathan "Nate" James aka Skysurfer 4 - Air Enforcer: Born on March 31, 1974, Air Enforcer uses many rocket launchers, missiles and a wrist blaster as his signature weapons.
  5. Brad Wright aka Skysurfer 5 - Soar Loser: Born on June 26, 1978, Soar Loser (a play on "Sore Loser") uses many small yellow boomerangs and one gigantic red boomerang as his signature weapons. (Note: This Skysurfer's name is a pun on the phrase "sore loser")

Cybron & the Bio-Borgs

In the universe of Skysurfer Strike Force, these villains are the series' leading antagonists:

  • Cybron - The man responsible for framing Adam Hollister and the creation of the Bio-Borgs. He's mean, conniving, and, with the computer brain he stole, super intelligent. He plans on ruling the world and plots his defeat of the Skysurfers. He cares for no one but his daughter, Cerina.
  • Cerina - Cybron's daughter, who shows signs that she is more than likely human. She has no powers and usually stays away from missions or battles. She seems to have a crush on Skysurfer One.
  • Replicon - A blue-skinned shapeshifter who turns parts of his body into automatic weapons.
  • Grenader - Basically a giant, walking grenade. He blows up when his pin is pulled and reassembles moments later. His usual function is demolition.
  • Lazerette - Cybron's only (clearly) female bio-borg, she can shoot laser beams from her eyes and mouth.
  • Noxious - Shoots toxic gasses from his arms.
  • Chronozoid - Controls time for short periods.
  • Dr. Five Eyes - Has eyes all over his body, one on his forehead can hypnotize his victims.
  • Zachariah Easel - A talented artist who can bring any artwork to life.

Episodes

Season 1

1. City of Terror: written by Kyle Christopher and Mark Jones

2. Death Paint: written by Steve Hayes and Ted Pedersen

3. Voodoo Master: written by Ted Pedersen and Francis Moss

4. Alien Attack: written by Mark Jones

5. Titan of Terror: written by Michael Maurer

6. Cyber-Magic: written by Michael Maurer

7. The Ancient City: written by Mark Jones

8. Time Storm: written by Francis Moss and Ted Pedersen

9. Killer Ants: written by Michael Maurer

10. The Dogs of Doom: written by Michael Maurer

11. Mountain of Fear

12. Terror Toons: written by Ted Pedersen

13. Life Force: written by Steve Hayes and Ted Pedersen

Season 2

14. The Black Box: written by Michael Maurer

15. Terror in the Jungle

16. The Crawling Horror

17. Crime City

18 & 19. Attack of the Slitha Monsters: A two-part story. Written by Michael Maurer

20. Sword of Power

21. Danger in Space

22. The Water Beast

23. The Price of Freedom

24. Two Minute Warning

25. Island of Fear

26. Diamonds of Death

Media availability

VHS

Family Home Entertainment released three VHS tapes of the series in 1995 which contained two episodes from the first season:

  • City of Terror (Episodes 1 and 2):
    • City of Terror,
    • Death Paint
  • Voodoo Master (Episodes 3 and 4):
    • Voodoo Master,
    • Alien Attack
  • Titan of Terror (Episodes 5 and 7):
    • Titan of Terror,
    • The Ancient City

DVD

From 2006 through 2007, Digiview Entertainment released the first 20 episodes (the entire first season and the first seven episodes of the second season) on DVD. Digiview Entertainment's DVDs are stripped-down releases, carrying only the episodes and a basic interactive menu. They are found in thin-cases in discount stores (such as Walmart) and have been found for as low as a dollar a DVD in video bargain bins.

  • Alien Attack (Episodes 1-4):
    • City of Terror,
    • Death Paint,
    • Voodoo Master,
    • Alien Attack
  • Time Storm (Episodes 5-8):
    • Titan of Terror,
    • Cyber-magic,
    • The Ancient City,
    • Time Storm
  • Mountain of Fear (Episodes 9-12):
    • Killer Ants,
    • Dogs of Doom,
    • Mountain of Fear,
    • Terror Toons
  • Life Force (Episodes 13-16):
    • Life Force,
    • The Black Box,
    • Terror in the Jungle,
    • The Crawling Horror
  • Crime City (Episodes 17-20):
    • Crime City,
    • Attack of the Slitha Monsters, Parts 1 and 2,
    • Sword of Power

Notes

For the second season the show's reedited opening featured music by Japanese all-girl rock group Super Junky Monkey. For the new opening, a hard-hitting heavy metal song titled "Skysurfers!!" was played while a more jazz-themed selection entitled "I Call Myself Sliced Ice" plays during the end credits (Note: the title of this jazz-themed song mentions one of the series' title protagonists' Skysurfer identities - that mentioning is Kimberly Sakai's identity, Sliced Ice) in place of the series' trademark theme music.

References
  1. Perlmutter, David (2018). The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 559. ISBN 978-1538103739.
  2. Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. pp. 751–752. ISBN 978-1476665993.
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