History WesternAnimation / CaptainNTheGamemaster

* ArtEvolution: For the worse. The character designs became vastly simplified and the animation became poorer in season three. Compare: [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/mother_brain_from_captain_n.jpg Season 1 & 2 Mother Brain]] to [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/mother_brain_season_3.jpg Season 3 Mother Brain.]]

** In the third and final season, everyone other than Kevin was used less often. In the case of Mother Brain, it had become too expensive to have Levi Stubbs continue regularly voicing her, and in the cases of Simon and Mega Man, it was due to Creator/{{Konami}} and Creator/{{Capcom}} owning the rights to those respective characters and being entitled to royalties should they appear on the show. It should be noted that Mother Brain, Eggplant Wizard and King Hippo only appeared ''once'' in Season 3, in "Battle of the Baseball Know-It-Alls".

* ClipShow: "When Mother Brain Rules". A clip show in the purest sense of the term, this episode has no new footage whatsoever, and no framing story to justify the clips. Even stranger, all the voices were missing in the clips, so it was half an hour of voiceless recycled animation with background music (and very occasional out-of-nowhere narration from Simon). Needless to say, little kids watching it in 1991 were pretty damn confused, and it wasn't included at all when the show was released to DVD.

** In the third and final season, everyone other than Kevin was used less often. In the case of Mother Brain, it had become too expensive to have Levi Stubbs continue regularly voicing her, and in the cases of Simon and Mega Man, it was due to Creator/{{Konami}} and Creator/{{Capcom}} owning the rights to those respective characters and being entitled to royalties should they appear on the show.

-->-- '''Princess Lana in the opening Season 2'''

''Captain N: The Game Master'' is an 1989 action-comedy AnimatedSeries that aired on Creator/{{NBC}}. It was based on the popular UsefulNotes/NintendoEntertainmentSystem games that weren't ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros''. It is about the story of Kevin Keene, a teenager who loves playing video games so much that one day he and his dog, Duke, are [[TrappedInTVLand sucked into the TV]] and they enter a strange dimension called Videoland.

** In the comics Samus Aran ''almost'' goes ahead with some pretty questionable stuff to win Captain N's affections. In one issue where she and Princess Lana are in jail, she almost leaves Lana there when escaping. In another she ends up in the BadFuture and rejoices that Lana is gone and she can have Kevin all to herself, despite the fact that, you know, the bad guys have taken over every world except the garbage planet where Kevin now lives, and by not going back in time and [[InSpiteOfANail changing one thing]] she's screwing over everyone in Videoland. She does go back in the end.

** In the comics Samus Aran ''almost'' goes ahead with some pretty questionable stuff to win Captain N's affections. In one issue where she and Princess Lana are in jail, she almost leaves Lana there when escaping. In another she ends up in the BadFuture and rejoices that Lana is gone and she can have Kevin all to herself, despite the fact that, you know, the bad guys have taken over every world except the garbage planet where Kevin now lives, and by not going back in time and [[ForWantOfANail changing one thing]] she's screwing over everyone in Videoland. She does go back in the end.

''Captain N: The Game Master'' is an AnimatedSeries on Creator/{{NBC}} based on the popular UsefulNotes/{{NES}} games that weren't ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' It is about the story of Kevin Keene, a teenager who loves playing video games so much that one day he and his dog, Duke, are [[TrappedInTVLand sucked into the TV]] and they enter a strange dimension called Videoland.

Once there, Kevin learns that he is to fulfill a prophecy as "Captain N", a savior sent to save Videoland from the evil Forces of Chaos, led by the [[Film/LittleShopOfHorrors Audrey II]]-esque Mother Brain (the main villain from ''VideoGame/{{Metroid|1}}'' voiced by Four Tops singer Levi Stubbs, [[ParodyAssistance who'd played Audrey II in the movie of]] ''[[ParodyAssistance Little Shop]]''). Joining him are Videoland's sovereign Princess Lana, VideoGame/{{Mega Man|Classic}}, VideoGame/KidIcarus, Simon Belmont from ''Franchise/{{Castlevania}}'', and later UsefulNotes/GameBoy. Kevin/Captain N and the gang would defend Videoland from Mother Brain and her henchmen, who included King Hippo from ''VideoGame/PunchOut'' and the Eggplant Wizard from ''Kid Icarus''. Other frequently recurring villains include Dr. Wiley of ''VideoGame/{{Mega Man|Classic}}'', the Count from ''Castlevania'', and a Film/KingKong-like VideoGame/DonkeyKong.

Many of the characters were [[YouDontLookLikeYou nothing like their original counterparts]]. It was also notable for adding Link and Zelda from the ''[[WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfZelda1989 The Legend of Zelda]]'' cartoon series as recurring cast members following the cancellation of the ''Series/TheSuperMarioBrosSuperShow''. It lasted for three seasons and was ScrewedByTheNetwork due to NBC's departure from the SaturdayMorningCartoon genre, and its time slot was replaced by local news after the Saturday morning block was shut down.

%% * GettingCrapPastThe Radar: Due to overwhelming and persistent misuse, GCPTR is on-page examples only until 01 June 2021. If you are reading this in the future, please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.

* MassiveMultiplayerCrossover: What other show exists where you can expect characters from ''Franchise/{{Castlevania}}'', ''Franchise/MegaMan'', ''VideoGame/PunchOut'', ''VideoGame/KidIcarus'', ''Franchise/{{Metroid}}'', ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'', ''Franchise/DonkeyKong'', ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'', ''VideoGame/TheAdventuresOfBayouBilly'', ''VideoGame/{{Faxanadu}}'', ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyI'', and ''VideoGame/WizardsAndWarriors'' to show up at one point or another? It's just too bad most of them are InNameOnly.

** In an earlier episode they travel to the world of ''[[VideoGame/DragonQuest Dragon Warrior]]''.

* CostumeTestMontage: In the episode "The Trouble with Tetris," Lana's brother Lyle wants to prove he has what it takes to be a prince. This kicks off a TrainingMontage, part of which is dedicated to a costume test montage. An additional hurdle that is unique to this scenario, since they are on the world of Tetris, all the clothing is designed o fit people who are literally made of blocks. Kid Icarus is able to remedy this with [[TrickArrow an arrow with a sewing needle]] for the tip.

* FingerFraming: When the N Team visits a studio world, a director, who happens to be an octopus creature, does this while watching the N Team and debating if they were camera worthy, though as an octopus he uses tentacles instead of fingers.

** "Wishful Thinking" has the N-Team coming across a magic lamp with a Genie that can grant any wish. And while Lana briefly considers it, no one uses any wishes to defeat Mother Brain or wish for King Charles to return. In that same episode, Kevin wishes that he could be unbeatable with his gear, but after realizing that he'd have no competition, he immediately declares it [[VictoryIsBoring boring]] without the thought that he could use these newfound skills to take down Mother Brain.

* OffModel: Not that the series' overall animation quality was good per se, but there are plenty of notable examples. Including the missing background scenes in "How's Bayou", entirety of "In Search of the King", and the aforementioned change in art style in season three. One could even make a DrinkingGame out of how many times Kevin's jacket and Lana's pauldrons were miscolored.

* ''VideoGame/DonkeyKong''[[note]]Elements featured from ''Donkey Kong Junior''[[/note]]

** [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZelda Ganon]]: "Ahhh, you brought your friends for my coming out party!"

* ElvesVersusDwarves: This is the plot of "The Feud Of Faxanadu". Both sides blame the other for the loss of a magical crystal. [[spoiler: A dwarf-elf hybrid stole it.]]

* OurElvesAreDifferent: In "The Feud Of Faxanadu", there are several varieties of elves. The first we see are blue-skinned with whiskers and elf ears. The second is their king, who an Elvis impersonator who only his face is blue while the rest of his body has normal skin tones. The third variety looks like an emaciated human.

* ElvesVersusDwarves: This is the plot of "The Feud Of Faxanadu". Both sides blame the other for the loss of a magical crystal. [[spoiler: A dwarf-elf hybrid stole.]]

* DemotedToExtra: All the Robot Masters from ''VideoGame/MegaMan1'' - Cut Man is the only one to have dialogue or extended screen time (for some reason). Ice Man is also mentioned briefly in "Nightmare on Mother Brain's Street."