History WesternAnimation / RamboTheForceOfFreedom

''Rambo: The Force of Freedom'' was a [[FirstzrunSyndication syndicated]] SixtyFiveEpisodeCartoon produced by Creator/RubySpears in 1986. The cartoon was [[RecycledTheSeries based on the character of]] [[Franchise/{{Rambo}} John Rambo]], from David Morrell's book ''Literature/FirstBlood'', and the subsequent films ''Film/FirstBlood'' and ''Film/RamboFirstBloodPartII''.

''Rambo: The Force of Freedom'' was a SixtyFiveEpisodeCartoon produced by Creator/RubySpears. The cartoon was [[RecycledTheSeries based on the character of]] [[Franchise/{{Rambo}} John Rambo]], from David Morrell's book ''Literature/FirstBlood'', and the subsequent films ''Film/FirstBlood'' and ''Film/RamboFirstBloodPartII''.

* CanonForeigner: Introduces The Force of Freedom organization and its members Chief, Kat, T.D. Jackson, and White Dragon, and the S.A.V.A.G.E. organization and its members Black Dragon, Gripper, Dr. Hyde, Mad Dog, Nomad, Snake Bite, General Warhawk, and X-Ray.

* UnexpectedlyDarkEpisode: Episode 3. Rambo is captured in a condemned building by sadistic gangbangers, who have chained him in place and use rats to torture him, like the famous Room 101 in ''1984''. Also, [[KickTheDog they're filming it to record it for posterity.]]

* RatedMForManly: One of the manliest cartoon series ever.

In the cartoon, John Rambo was the leader of a Franchise/GIJoe-like team called The Force of Freedom. They went on missions around the world battling against a paramilitary terrorist organization named S.A.V.A.G.E.[[note]]short for Specialist-Administrators of Vengeance, Anarchy and Global Extortion -- although in a toy advertisement included on a VHS tape of episodes from the series, it's said to mean the Secret Army of Vengeance And Global Evil[[/note]]), which was led by a maniacal military man named General Warhawk. Fictional countries and back-stories would frequently be featured, some of them echoing historical or current events.

* DemolitionsExpert: When SAVAGE plot to blow Rambo up, Sergeant Havoc assures General Warhawk that the bomb cannot possibly fail -- because he built it himself.

* TheSquad: The Force of Freedom.

* NeverSayDie: One reason this series is LighterAndSofter than its source material.

The cartoon was filled with hand-to-hand combat and gunfire, with accurately-illustrated guns; yet unlike the original R-rated films, there was never any sensational violence, blood or gore, since this series was intended for family viewing. Moreover, no one ever died or got (seriously) hurt. The only real injury on the show happened when Rambo broke his arm in a survival episode. Rambo (who was seldom called by his first name, even by Trautman) used violence as a last resort and relied on his resources and guile to outwit his opponents — a trait less than characteristic of the later films (although Rambo avoids deliberately killing anyone in the first movie). Additionally, there were no references to UsefulNotes/TheVietnamWar, [=POWs=], or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.[[note]]Rambo was originally a [[ShellShockedVeteran shell shocked]] Vietnam veteran who suffered from PTSD after being tortured in a POW camp by the Viet Cong.[[/note]]

In the cartoon, John Rambo was the leader of a Franchise/GIJoe-like team called The Force of Freedom. They went on missions around the world battling against a paramilitary terrorist organization named S.A.V.A.G.E.[[note]]short for Specialist-Administrators of Vengeance, Anarchy and Global Extortion - although in a toy advertisement included on a VHS tape of episodes from the series, it's said to mean the Secret Army of Vengeance And Global Evil[[/note]]), which was led by a maniacal military man named General Warhawk. Fictional countries and back-stories would frequently be featured, some of them echoing historical or current events.

The cartoon was filled with hand-to-hand combat and gunfire, with accurately-illustrated guns; yet unlike the original R-rated films, there was never any sensational violence, blood or gore, since this series was intended for family viewing. Moreover, no one ever died or got (seriously) hurt. The only real injury on the show happened when Rambo broke his arm in a survival episode. Rambo (who was seldom called by his first name, even by Trautman) used violence as a last resort and relied on his resources and guile to outwit his opponents — a character trait not consistent with the later films (Rambo avoids deliberately killing anyone in the first movie). Additionally, there were no references to UsefulNotes/TheVietnamWar, [=POWs=], or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.[[note]]Rambo was originally a [[ShellShockedVeteran shell shocked]] Vietnam veteran who suffered from PTSD after being tortured in a POW camp by the Viet Cong.[[/note]]

* DatedHistory: The crux of General Warhawk's plan for naval superiority in the pilot miniseries is to raise the WWII era battleship ''Yamato'' and retrofit it for battle. This was before modern sea mapping technology confirmed the ''Yamato'' was severely damaged when it sank and split in two pieces. To be fair, ''Rambo'' wasn't the only show that [[Anime/SpaceBattleshipYamato made the mistake]].

* DatedHistory: The crux of General Warhawk's plan for naval superiority in the pilot miniseries is to raise the WWII era battleship ''Yamato'' and retrofit it for battle. This was before modern sea mapping technology confirmed the ''Yamato'' was severely damaged when it sank and split in two pieces. To be fair, Rambo wasn't the only show that [[Anime/SpaceBattleshipYamato made the mistake]].