G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero (1983 TV series)
A syndicated cartoon based on the Hasbro toyline.
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero is a half-hour American military science fiction animated television series created by Ron Friedman, based on the Hasbro toyline. It aired in syndication from 1983 to 1986, with 95 episodes produced.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Action-adventure; Military science fiction
- Creator
- Hasbro
- Developer
- Ron Friedman (miniseries 1–2)
- Steve Gerber (season 1)
- Buzz Dixon (season 2)
- Director
- Dan Thompson (miniseries 1–2)
- John Gibbs (season 1)
- Terry Lennon (season 1)
- Ray Lee (season 2)
- Based on
- G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, Hasbro
- Runtime
- 30 minutes
- Narrator
- Jackson Beck
- Language
- English
Facts from the source article.
History
Hasbro launched the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline in 1982 alongside a Marvel Comics series. To promote the comic, Marvel Productions produced fully animated 30-second television commercials that began airing in spring 1982, taking advantage of looser advertising regulations for literary works. The commercials' popularity led to a five-part mini-series in 1983, later titled "The M.A.S.S. Device," which centered on a matter-transporter and a global race for its catalytic elements. A second five-part mini-series, G.I. Joe: The Revenge of Cobra (later "The Weather Dominator"), aired in 1984, involving recovery of a weather-controlling weapon's fragments. Both were written by Ron Friedman. The series was promoted to a full series in 1985 with an initial order of 55 episodes to reach the 65 needed for syndication. The first season began with a third five-part adventure, "The Pyramid of Darkness," written by Friedman, where new 1985 toy characters helped thwart Cobra's electricity-negating device. A second season of 30 episodes followed in 1986, starting with "Arise, Serpentor, Arise!" in which Cobra scientist Doctor Mindbender genetically engineered Serpentor from the DNA of historical conquerors to usurp Cobra Commander's leadership.
Summary
G.I. Joe opposes the terrorist organization Cobra's attempts to undermine world governments and take over. In the second season, Dr. Mindbender, Destro, Tomax, and Xamot create Serpentor from the DNA of past dictators to replace Cobra Commander, who remains as field commander and builds his own faction to depose the usurper.
Production
G.I. Joe was a co-production between Marvel Productions and Sunbow Productions. Sunbow staff wrote scripts based on Hasbro's character and vehicle designs, while Marvel Productions artists drew storyboards and recorded voiceovers. Animation was outsourced to Toei in Japan, which worked on all 95 episodes and the movie. The comics and animated series shared some plot elements not from the toyline, such as the town of Springfield, the Oktober Guard, and the Baroness (introduced to the toyline in 1984), but did not share continuity, differing in character writing and story direction, especially regarding Cobra Commander's true identity. Unlike the comics, where non-toyline characters were killed off, the TV series adhered to children's programming regulations: no actual firearms were used, characters employed color-coded laser guns (red for Joes, blue for Cobra), and no one was killed on-screen; vehicle pilots were shown escaping before destruction. Off-screen casualties could be referenced, as the term could mean injuries or deaths. The episode "Worlds Without End" showed skeletal remains of alternate-universe Joes. Each episode typically ended with a public safety lesson featuring G.I. Joe characters, giving rise to the catchphrase "Now we know!" and response "And knowing is half the battle." The opening title sequence included Jackson Beck stating, "G.I. Joe is the code name for America's daring, highly-trained, Special Mission force."
Home media
Family Home Entertainment released 12 numbered VHS and Betamax volumes in North America from 1984 to 1986. Volumes 1 and 2 presented the first two mini-series as feature-length movies; volumes 3 through 11 each contained one first-season episode; volume 12 had three episodes with live-action introductions by Sgt. Slaughter. All volumes featured comic book-style packaging. The "Arise Serpentor, Arise" mini-series was released as an edited feature-length movie on VHS and LaserDisc in 1991. Rhino Home Video later released nine VHS volumes under Kid Rhino from 1999 to 2000, each with two episodes, and a tenth volume in 2001 for Blockbuster Video's Kidmongous series with four episodes. In the United Kingdom, the Action Force version received 27 VHS releases.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which network aired G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero (1983 TV series)?
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero aired on First-run syndication.
When did G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero (1983 TV series) first air?
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero first aired on 12 September 1983.
When did G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero (1983 TV series) end?
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero last aired on 20 November 1986.
More in 1980s American Animated Television Series
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