Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs (TV Series 1987–1988) Poster

(1987–1988)

User Reviews

Review this title
11 Reviews
Sort by:
Filter by Rating:
Man, how I used to love this series!!!
Dark_Trooper29 November 2004
A few hours ago me and some friends of mine had a talk about the cartoons we were watching when we were kids... And Saber Rider was one of those everyone agreed was really AWESOME!! Here in Greece, this series used to be EXTREMELY popular when I was a kid back in the late 80's - early 90's (like most things back then, it took a couple of years for it to make it here).

One of the things I remember most distinctly is the theme.. Man, especially when the narrator tells the summary of the episode and there is that guitar solo on the background... Fantastic! One of our friends even remembered certain plots, such as the one with Jessy Blue and the covalt cannon (those who remember, know exactly how much that trouble that guy brought to our heroes)!

Anyway, to all anime fans out there I recommend this with all my heart. Surely, those giant-robot elements aren't very original (but served quite well for the times of giant-robot comparisons back in the age of innocence :p) however you're really going to enjoy it a lot. Pick a few episodes up, especially if you can from the later seasons and take a journey to the worlds of the New Frontier...
26 out of 27 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
10/10
Voltron vs Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs
havoc-272 June 2008
I do not agree with you man ! I think that this animated series were super fun for me when I saw it for the first time. I saw it even before Voltron. Yes it was always the same but at least was fun to watch and not that annoying as Voltron.

In Voltron we had the same thing every episode, but here at least there's more action and every attack is not concentrated on the planet Earth.

The mixed characters were great and the English accent of Saber Rider was great idea.

The cartoon was made for kids but even now I very much enjoy it, but it's hard to find. I think that Saber Rider is better in every way then Voltron!
12 out of 13 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
10/10
Forgot About This, Glad I Stumbled On To It
dfgremnants15 December 2011
This show was aired by STN or some other Pakistani network way in the past, I should to adore this, I mean I really, really loved it. It was just amazing. The ship, the characters, everything was perfect. I would sing the theme song and I can easily recall few key episode scenes.

I think this was one of the best cartoons I ever saw when I was kid. The action was amazing, the robots and the whole cowboy look was grand. Not to mention the story.

I am on a quest to find this series again. I will re-watch all the episodes, it's part of my childhood that I want to relive. I have been watching some recent anime and cartoons but nothing comes close to this. I can still feel the excitement that I had when I was a kit, just be listening to the theme song.

Highly recommended! www.totseans.com
7 out of 9 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
10/10
Colonizing space, the Wild West way
liviu-design-al12 December 2013
Warning: Spoilers
CONTAINS SPOILERS!

Adapted from the original Star Musketeer Bismark created by Pierrot in 1984, Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs got a new identity in the U.S. The invading (and mortal) Deathcula aliens turned into Outriders (beings from another dimension, that were vaporizing and returning back to their dimension once deadly wounded).

Even with severe censorship over any death, drinking or sex scene, the show still managed to keep its Wild West feeling. While in the original show people colonized Jupiter's satellite Ganymede and everything happens there (that is why we keep seeing a Jupiter-like planet in the background), the US version turned the Solar System into the New Frontier, populated with exotic planets, with names like Pecos, New Wichita or Alamo. World Events Production did some extra episodes to cement the American script, but exactly those are the ones that really turn the story into a child fantasy (indians, buffaloes and space highlanders), instead of the more realistic Japanese episodes. The leader of the team is the Scott, Saber Rider, unlike the Japanese version leader - Shinji Hikari (turned into Fireball in the US).

Even the grand finale has something unexpected that comes out of the final battle between the humans and the outriders (I'll let you discover it yourselves). While the US version shows the battle is for planet Alamo and its moon, in the Japanese version, the outriders are destroying our Moon and challenge for Earth!

So no, this is not your typical big robot Japanese show. Worth watching.
1 out of 2 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
10/10
Great Voice talents
meren7 July 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Peter Cullen!!! this show is on Par with other 80s cartoons and with most of the shows taken from Japan and Americanized Instead of saying people died they say Robots were destroyed or something to that effect. on the TOKU channel it is currently airing on. Well it is listed at TV-14. The Violence is no worse then Voltron, GI joe, The Transformers. Not sure what Discovery Family Channel has Gi Joe Listed as but I think it is Y-7. Has some of the same concepts as Volton Transforming Robots, The enemy has some kind of giant Mechanized warriors. The thing I don't get okay a Horse is Cybernetic how can it get a Bruise!!!!!!!. I think it was produced by the same people that did Volton also. I thought this show wnen I saw the Title was the other one Bravestarr. It is currently airing 2 or 3 times a day. sometimes more on TOKU. Which its logo looks more like TO sideways V and the U.
0 out of 1 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
Totally awesome!
pateimann1 October 2002
this is one of the series that i loved the most as a kid. and i'm really surprised that there is only one comment on it so far even though this on par with classics like Captain Future and Bravestar. if u get the chance to see this on tv or anywhere else then TAKE IT! it's action-packed and the story never lets you down! a definite fav!

the theme song is pretty cool and memorable as well. ;)
28 out of 30 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
Amazing Show
stationtoashes30 August 2005
Saber Rider was an amazing, albeit obscure television cartoon show when I was a kid - I remember watching it when I was 9 years old or so, and I wish I could find it to this day just for the nostalgia alone.

It was unlike any other action cartoon show of the day, and they actually managed to throw in "real" violence via a twist to the story line, and get away with it.

I don't know much of the show's production history, but judging from the art and animation it looks as if it was anime inspired, perhaps an embryo in the slow but steady culture shift, the infusion of anime and western culture's fascination with it.

But I prattle on.

If you can find it, get it, watch it.
9 out of 10 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
Different and amazing, if you take the time to scratch the surface.
santa808621 March 2006
I was one of the lucky people who became interested in this show while it was still on the air. At first glance, it may look like just another giant robot show, and a silly one at that with cowboys and the like, but if you look closely, there is more to this show. Great Action, amazing soundtrack, character depth, and a solid series plot.

World Event Productions (http://www.wep.com/) have finally released some episodes of the show on DVD (I just ordered my copy) and I wanted to share that with others. Its worth checking out if you've never seen the show, and those of you who are already fans, this is a great chance to relive the memories, and maybe even convince WEP to release the complete series on DVD.
8 out of 9 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
One of the few anime dubs I love.
Brackynews17 April 2000
Yes, there were some severe "alterations" during the English adaptation of this short anime series, but nothing so serious to detract from the action sequences and the good/evil rivalry. The story itself became quite intriguing as the series progressed, and the action sequences became more varied and extravagant as the budget increased after its first season (1984) in Japan. I especially enjoyed the music and themes, however I will be the first to admit it's no Macross. Mind you, I'd choose Saber over watching Robotech any day. ;-)

Only 3 video tapes were ever released to market (by Fries Home Video), with 2 episodes each, and all from early in the first season. Sadly, if you didn't develop a fondness for it during the late 1980's syndication, you may never know the real adventures that took place out in the New Frontier.
5 out of 6 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
"Voltron Meets the Wild West" Good but Repetitive just like Voltron.
Nic_hse22 May 2003
This cartoon/anime was a weird one. It had futuristic robots, weapons, and vehicles in a wild west setting. The Star Sheriffs was also a strange blend of characters types. Saber was the leader spoke with a british accent and carried a sword instead of a gun. Colt was the typical cowboy type complete with accent and layed back attitude (and his own theme song). April was the female member who was skilled with computers, and Fire-Ball was the race car driver who had a quick temper. The Sheriffs main enemies were called Vipers and they came from another dimension. When the Vipers got shot they didn't die, they were transported back to their dimension. That was something I didn't like about this cartoon/anime. The Vipers should die when they get shot and to allow them to keep coming back again is pretty lame especially for an anime cartoon.

At the climax of each episode the Star Sheriffs would pilot a Giant robot named Ram-Rod and would do battle with a giant enemy of some sort. This cartoon is very similar to Voltron and is almost as repetitive. If you liked Voltron, you'll like this one. If you can find it that is, I've never seen this cartoon repeated on TV since it came off in the late eighties.

Lets get one thing straight, Saber Rider is NOT in Robotech's League, not even close. Robotech raised the bar for cartoons when it came out in 1985. I have yet to see a cartoon/anime series that EXCEEDS it terms of character and plot depth and development.
9 out of 20 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
A childhood favorite
Rectangular_businessman29 May 2022
Warning: Spoilers
This was one of my favorite shows when I was a little kid.

Amazing how the blatant censorship went over my head: I never questioned the whole thing about the villains "being sent back to their dimension" back then, merely assuming it was part of the science-fiction setting.

I personally think this series had the potential for a reboot, similar to the one Voltron received on Netflix.
0 out of 0 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

See also

Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews


Clear your history

Recently Viewed