Retro Thursday: Saturday Morning Madness

The old school goodness continues, this week going with a Saturday Morning focus. Young bucks take notice. This is how we used to do this thing back in the day.

Once again we go back to the time before basic cable was a standard that gave you many, many options for animated goodness. For this particular show, I'm just going to break down and quote Wikipedia directly:

The 23rd Century, the future is a time of robots and aliens. The people of Earth have banded together along with several other peaceful alien races to promote peace throughout the galaxy, forming the United Planets. As part of the United Planets, the Galactic Patrol — a body of law-enforcers — works to maintain order, under the leadership of Commander Rondu.

However, a powerful criminal organization called SHADOW is out to destroy both the Galactic Patrol and the U.P.. Led by Umbra, a massive cyborg-computer, SHADOW employs sinister agents and incredible schemes to attack and someday rule over all corners of the known-galaxy.

There is one thing that helps to fight against SHADOW; ingenious inventor Rob Simmons — secretly a member of the Galactic Patrol — creates six special robots who can use their unique powers to battle against the forces of Umbra. Together, these robots can unite to form a giant robot called Mighty Orbots, to fight for truth, justice and peace for all.

Strongman Tor, shapeshifting Bort, elemental Bo, illusionist Boo, and munchmaster Crunch. And don't forget little Ohno (every team needs a pet/sidekick). Mighty Orbots!


You have to understand that while many people loved this particular program, it was a personal favorite of mine when I was a kid. What's not to love? Giant robots coming together and laying the smackdown. And speaking of coming together... Orbots, unite!



And for round two, here's a little gem that I used to watch religiously for no reason whatsoever: Pole Position. I think maybe I thought that it was somehow based on the video game (even though I never really liked the video game). Tess and Dan Garrett were part of a secret spy organzation and a vehicle stunt show (which was, of course, their cover). Their cars, Wheels and Roadie, weren't exactly KITT, but they did have a few gadgets including a hydrofoil and hovercraft mode. I spent the better part of a season trying to figure out why you needed a hydrofoil mode when you had a perfectly good hovercraft right there, but that's just my sick kid mind.

Anyways, here's the intro.


Note: The animal is a raccoon/monkey hybrid named Kuma (every team needs a pet/sidekick)
Note the Second: The younger girl is the little sister Daisy (this team apparently needs two pets/sidekicks).
Note the Third: This one will appeal to almost half of my reader base. Tess' car Wheels was voiced by Melvin Franklin. Yes, the man who was part of the Temptations. I learned something new today.

I could do this all day, but since I'm pretty sure that no one will read past the second show I subject them to... er, share with them, I'm going to call it a day.