History WesternAnimation / Centurions

* PlotTailoredToTheParty: Max is the team leader, but since he's the sea operations specialist his weapon systems are all aquatic. Since most population centers are near water, it doesn't come up much, but on occasion he needs to use one of Jake or Ace's systems. He's taken aback when Jake borrows his heaviest weapon system for underwater use.

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: In the first episode, no less, when the heroes are unable to summon their armor for a fight against Terror and Hacker:
-->'''Ace:''' This is where it hits the fan!
-->'''Doc Terror:''' Crude, but apt.

** ThreateningShark: ...and the other Cybervore is a [[https://centurions.fandom.com/wiki/Cybervore_Shark_(Unproduced) shark]]. And [[Film/AustinPowers yes]], it has FrickinLaserBeams.

* UnderwaterBase[=/=]UnderwaterCity: Sealab. No, [[NamesTheSame not]] ''[[WesternAnimation/{{Sealab 2020}} that]]'' [[WesternAnimation/{{Sealab 2021}} one]].

* MilkmanConspiracy: The janitor spies in "Max Ray... Traitor".

* HardboiledDetective: Gabe Knight, one of the main guest stars in "Zone Dancer", is a futuristic version. He evem supplies a PrivateEyeMonologue throughout the episode.

->''"In the near future, Doc Terror and his cyborg companion Hacker unleash their forces to conquer Earth! Only one force can stop this evil: a handful of brave men. In specially created Exo-Frames, they can be transported anywhere to fuse with incredible assault weapon systems beamed down from the space station Skyvault, becoming man and machine, Power Xtreme! Max Ray, brilliant Sea Operations commander! Jake Rockwell, rugged Land Operations specialist! Ace [=McCloud=], daring Air Operations expert! Whatever the challenge, they are ready--the Centurions!"''

* {{Cyborg}}: Doc Terror and Hacker, along with several guest star characters--and eventually the entire human race, if they get their way.

** A sequence in "Man or Machine" in which Max introduces Jake and Ace to their new Assault Weapon Systems--and also tells them that Rex and John are joining the team.

** CatsAreMean: One of the Cybervores is a [[http://web.archive.org/web/20030606235720/http://www.dukenostalgia.com/Centurions/Cent_CVP.html panther]]...
** ThreateningShark: ...and the other Cybervore is a [[http://web.archive.org/web/20031005083824/dukenostalgia.com/Centurions/Cent_CVS.html shark]]. And [[Film/AustinPowers yes]], it has FrickinLaserBeams.

* TheLostLenore: "You Only Love Twice" [[PlayingWithATrope plays with this trope]]. When Crystal learns that her dead fiance might be alive after all, she throws her usual caution to the winds to find him -- just as Terror planned.

** In "You Only Love Twice", Doc creates a [[HardLight solid light hologram]] of Colonel Chuck Bates, Crystal's missing and presumed dead former fiance, as part of a scheme to capture her and turn her into his cyborg slave. Bates' hologram ends up BecomingTheMask and helps her to escape. He's slowly losing power throughout the episode and convinces Crystal not to waste effort trying to save him, telling her that he's "not real". He uses the last of his power to send a signal to the Centurions before fading away.

* ImpossiblyCoolClothes
* IncredibleShrinkingMan[=/=]InsideAComputerSystem: "The Incredible Shrinking Centurions" uses both tropes.
* InstantArmor

* MerchandiseDriven

* SpectacularSpinning: John's Thunder Knife weapon system is essentially a gigantic circular saw, complete with spinning action, attached to a tank-like body.

* EverythingsBetterWithSpinning: John's Thunder Knife weapon system is essentially a gigantic circular saw, complete with spinning action, attached to a tank-like body.

''Centurions'' is a heavily MerchandiseDriven SixtyFiveEpisodeCartoon series, produced by Creator/RubySpears[[note]]and animated by an uncredited Creator/{{Sunrise}}, who established their Studio 7 branch (of ''Anime/SCryEd'' and the ''Franchise/BraveSeries'' meta series) with this show[[/note]] in 1986 and based on a Creator/{{Kenner}} action figure line. It follows the adventures of three (later five) technological {{Superhero}}es who fight against evil using Assault Weapon Systems.

''Centurions'' is a heavily MerchandiseDriven SixtyFiveEpisodeCartoon series, produced by Creator/RubySpears[[note]]and animated by an uncredited Creator/{{Sunrise}}[[/note]] in 1986 and based on a Creator/{{Kenner}} action figure line. It follows the adventures of three (later five) technological {{Superhero}}es who fight against evil using Assault Weapon Systems.

* '''''Jake Rockwell''''', ''rugged land operations specialist.'' Wears yellow, works on land. Probably Texan[[note]]The [[UniverseBible writers' guide]] [[AllThereInTheManual gives his birthplace]] as Austin[[/note]]. A futuristic cowboy who prefers straightforward attacks to stealth or guile. Cooks his special chili surprise.

** CatsAreMean: One of the Cybervores is a [[http://www.virtualtoychest.com/c/centurions/cybervorepanther1.jpg panther]]...

** ThreateningShark: ...and the other Cybervore is a [[http://archive.li/cWUrr shark]]. And [[Film/AustinPowers yes]], it has FrickinLaserBeams.

* TransformationSequence: Most weapons systems had StockFootage [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlgkZUS7t-A of the Assault Weapon System of choice attaching to the Exo-Frame]], although it was averted as much as enforced, though. Frequently the pieces would appear and attach with little fanfare (and no stock footage). And other than Jake's Swing Shot and Rex's Gatling Guard (which have noticeably worse animation than the original sets), the later weapon systems never got a stock footage version of the sequence in the first place.

* EpisodeTitleCard: As usual with Ruby-Spears series of this era. There are two different designs: the first one, used on the first five episodes, is a group shot of the original three Centurions with Crystal and Lucy.[[note]]This image was also used on the closing credit throughout the series.[[/note]] The secod design is ust the series logo on a computer grid background.

* EpisodeTitleCard: As usual with Ruby-Spears series of this era.

* SpiritualSuccessor: Japanese [[MoeAnthropomorphism Mecha Musume]] toy franchises such as ''Toys/BusouShinki'', ''Toys/FrameArmsGirls'' and ''Toys/MegamiDevice'' have a similar [[TheGimmick gimmick]] to ''Centurions'': interchangeable sci-fi weapons that attach to the figures in a variety of combinations. However, the heroes of these franchises are BadassAdorable {{Robot Girl}}s instead of human adult male soldiers, which gives most of the lines a very different feel. ''Toys/ThirtyMinutesMissions'' also uses the interchangeable armor idea.

** In "You Only Love Twice", Doc creates a [[HardLight solid light hologram]] of Crystal's missing and presumed dead former fiance as part of a scheme to capture her. Said hologram ends up BecomingTheMask and helps her to escape. He's slowly losing power throughout the episode and convinces Crystal not to waste effort trying to save him, telling her that he's "not real". He uses the last of his power to send a signal to the Centurions before fading away.

* ToylessToylineCharacter: Crystal and the {{Team Pet}}s.

* SpiritualSuccessor: Japanese [[MoeAnthropomorphism Mecha Musume]] toy franchises such as ''Toys/BusouShinki'', ''Toys/FrameArmsGirls'' and ''Toys/MegamiDevice'' have a similar [[TheGimmick gimmick]] to ''Centurions''--interchangeable sci-fi weapons that attach to the figures in a variety of combinations--although the heroes being BadassAdorable {{Robot Girl}}s instead of human adult male soldiers gives the lines a very different feel.