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1[[quoteright:345:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Saber_Rider_and_the_Star_Sheriffs.jpg]]
2[[caption-width-right:345:Clockwise from upper left: Saber Rider, Fireball, Colt and April. In the center: Ramrod.]]
3
4->''"Together we've made a commitment to the spirit of the frontier freedom fighters. Wherever danger leads us, wherever the people need us, that's where you'll find . . . the Star Sheriffs!"''
5-->--'''Saber Rider''', "Star Sheriff Round-Up"
6
7''Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs'' is a 1987 Americanization of the anime series ''Anime/SeiJuushiBismarck''.
8
9In the future, humanity has spread out across the galaxy, settling various planets which are known as "frontier outposts." Spaceship travel and high technology are common, but many people live simple lives akin to those of settlers in TheWildWest. All is peaceful until the human dimension is invaded by Outriders, the soldiers of a race of aliens known as Vapor Beings who are bent on conquering our dimension. They are driven back, but fifteen years later they return, led by their GalacticConqueror, Nemesis. They attack using HumongousMecha called Renegade Units and the only ones who can stop them are Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs, a RagtagBunchOfMisfits consisting of:
10
11* '''Saber Rider''': (Creator/BinShimada, Creator/RobPaulsen) A charismatic and [[TheSmartGuy intelligent]] [[ImplausibleFencingPowers fencer]] with a [[MechanicalHorse cybernetic horse]]
12* '''Colt''': (Creator/KazuhikoInoue, Creator/TownsendColeman) A [[ChivalrousPervert womanizing]], [[ImprobableAimingSkills sharp-shooting]], pilot BountyHunter and TheGunslinger
13* '''Fireball''': (Creator/YokuShioya, Creator/PatFraley) A HotBlooded [[CoolCar race-car]] driver
14* '''April Eagle''': (Chie Koujirou, Pat Musick) The intelligent [[TeenGenius daughter]] of one of the top Cavalry Command Commanders who incidentally [[GadgeteerGenius designed]] the sheriff-shaped [[TransformingMecha transforming]] [[HumongousMecha mecha]] they pilot.
15* '''Ramrod''': (Creator/PeterCullen) The transforming spaceship/mecha shaped like a giant sheriff
16
17''Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs'' is the second attempt made by Creator/WorldEventsProductions at dubbing an anime series, done in the same style as their previous (and much more famous) attempt, ''Anime/{{Voltron}}''. While the general storylines were kept intact, several episodes were removed due to content and American-produced episodes were substituted in (they are notable for their differing character designs and minimal usage of the TransformingMecha) as well as introducing expanded backstory for one of the main villains, Jesse Blue. The transformation sequences, which differed from episode to episode in the original series, ''Anime/SeiJuushiBismarck'' (''Space Musketeer Bismarck''), were replaced with StockFootage. The Japanese main character was turned into a secondary character and the British fencer became the titular character in the American version. A love triangle was also introduced with Jesse Blue falling in love with April (and trying to pull both an AttemptedRape ''and'' a MurderTheHypotenuse), who was in love with Saber Rider (who was oblivious and embarrassed when she tried to kiss him once) and later with Fireball (who reciprocated her feelings).
18
19Interestingly, the original series was a commercial failure in Japan, but the American version proved [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff VERY popular around the world]], especially in Germany, Latin America and Russia where it developed cult status.
20
21This show is also highly notable as one of the first shows a newborn Creator/StudioPierrot did in the early to mid 80s, and ''Saber Rider'' was their first major overseas success and the money from that (along with ''Manga/UruseiYatsura'') fueled their later projects. [[Manga/{{Bleach}} You]] [[Manga/YuYuHakusho may]] [[Manga/CLAMPSchoolDetectives have]] [[Manga/KimagureOrangeRoad heard]] [[Manga/FushigiYugi of]] [[Manga/GreatTeacherOnizuka just]] [[Manga/TokyoMewMew a]] [[Manga/{{Saiyuki}} few]] [[Manga/HikaruNoGo of]] ''[[Manga/{{Naruto}} these]]''.
22
23The series is once again legally available [[https://www.youtube.com/show/saberridersandthestarsheriffs to view]] on Website/YouTube (why it wasn't for a while, no one knows, though this time around there's only a few episodes to view instead of the whole series) and a [[ScheduleSlip long-delayed]] video game is scheduled for release in 2016. Said game had [[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/saberridergame/saber-rider-and-the-star-sheriffs-the-video-game/description a successful Kickstarter]] campaign will be a oldschool style 16-bit shoot-'em-up released on the Platform/Nintendo3DS, Platform/{{Steam}} (for [[Platform/MicrosoftWindows Windows]], [[Platform/AppleMacintosh Mac]], & [[Platform/{{UNIX}} Linux]]), the Platform/SegaDreamcast, and [[Platform/TurboGrafx16 PC Engine/TurboGrafix-16]]. Originally, the game was intended to be a 3D title released by Firehazard Studio for all [[MediaNotes/TheEighthGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames eighth-gen consoles]] along with [=iOS=] and Android, but Firehazard disbanded and their original publisher pulled out, with the current Team Saber Rider eventually ditching the 3D format for the originally intended 2D game. A demo is currently available...[[http://www.saberridergame.com/post/129923708119/have-you-already-checked-out-our-promotional-demo for the Dreamcast version.]]
24
25In 2016, Lion Forge Comics, publisher of titles based on popular 80-90s franchises such as ''Series/KnightRider'', ''Series/MiamiVice'', ''Series/PunkyBrewster'', ''Series/{{Airwolf}}'', and ''Series/SavedByTheBell'', [[http://comicsalliance.com/lion-forge-saber-rider-and-the-star-sheriffs/ announced]] a new ''Saber Rider'' limited comic series written by Mairghread Scott (''ComicBook/TheTransformersWindblade'') with art by Sendol Arts (artists on Lion Force's original comics ''Roboy'' and ''Trimaxx''.)
26
27In January 2023, Creator/DiscotekMedia [[https://mobile.twitter.com/discotekmedia/status/1620251170613923842 announced]] that they would release the series on UsefulNotes/BluRay later in the year.
28----
29!!"Your destiny will lead you to where the tropers need you":
30* TheAce: Saber Rider is the team's leader and captain of the Ramrod Equalizer Unit. He is occasionally referred to by the nickname "Top Sword" and is an expert on both horses and swords.
31* AcePilot: Fireball, an ex-top professional racer. Colt is also shown to be very good at piloting his personal craft, the Bronco Buster.
32* AmericansAreCowboys: Colt, one of the four principle characters is a hotshot pilot, and an American. You can tell he's American by his cowboy hat.
33* AmnesiaDanger: Fireball develops amnesia, which puts him in danger against the Outriders he'd normally easily manhandle. His friends remind him of the past, and the whole episode is humorously used as a recap episode with Fireball's amnesia as a framing device.
34* {{Animesque}}: The American-produced episodes[[labelnote:list]]"Cavalry Command", "Jessie's Revenge", "The Highlanders", "The Saber and the Tomahawk", "All That Glitters", "Stampede"[[/labelnote]] made to fill in the gaps left by the episodes not brought over from ''Bismarck'' look much more like a late 80s anime thanks to the production gap between both sets of episodes. This also doubles as an ArtShift, thanks to the characters' redesigns making them more squared off and realistically proportioned.
35* ArtisticLicenseBiology: Saber Rider unanimously declares he's found a new species of bug after a few minutes' examination with a magnifying glass.
36* AssKickingPose: The opening sequence is full of these but so does the rest of the show, since the Star Sheriffs do have a flair and panache for poses.
37* AttemptedRape: Jesse tries to force himself on April in "Cavalry Command", but she uses her martial arts skills to fend him off. The scene is a relatively mild example of the trope, but it's still a surprising thing to see in a family-friendly cartoon from TheEighties.
38* AwesomenessByAnalysis: Saber Rider's analytical approach to combat enables him to make short work of their Outrider enemies every time.
39* BadassCrew: The Star Sheriffs, of course. Even without Ramrod and their vehicles, they're skilled enough at hand-to-hand combat to fight the Outriders on equal terms.
40* BeginnersLuck: Fireball and Colt do pretty well the first time they pilot Ramrod.
41* BeachEpisode: More like a Beach ''Scene''. [[spoiler: Interestingly enough, this is rather subverted when the male character goes in for a kiss and is rewarded with a face full of sand.]]
42* BigBad: The appropriately-named Nemesis. Everything bad that happens in the show is because of some plot he's concocted, and every villain of the week ultimately answers to him.
43* BlackCloak: Their enemies the Outriders, such as Gattler the Rattler, are known for their signature cloaked look.
44* BoisterousBruiser: Colt and Fireball are two loudmouths themselves who deal with situations head-first compared to the cooler head of Saber Rider.
45* BountyHunter: Colt's job before joining the Star Sheriffs was being a Bounty Hunter. His past bounty-hunting skills then came in handy as he became a Star Sheriff.
46* {{Bowdlerise}}: The site movie-censorship.com has [[https://www.movie-censorship.com/list.php?o=2036 detailed comparisons]] of 19 ''Saber Rider'' episodes with the Japanese originals. These articles show how ''Saber Rider'' was systematically edited and rewritten to eliminate character deaths and otherwise soften the violence (among other reasons).
47* BrainInAJar: [[spoiler: In later episodes, we learn that this has been Nemesis' true form all along.]]
48* BrokenBird: Trista, [[spoiler: Jesse's girlfriend]]. In one episode she and April meet, become friends and then have their buddying bond ''trashed'' by [[spoiler: Jesse]].
49* BunnyEarsLawyer: Each Sheriff has his or her quirk - Colt is a bit of a pervert and flirt, April was a pro tennis player before becoming a scientist, Fireball's temper, etc.
50* CallingYourAttacks: Somewhat [[JustifiedTrope justified]]. They're calling their attacks as instructions and to keep the others aware of what Ramrod is doing, since it's a four-person piloting job.
51%%* CallToAdventure
52%%* CaptainObvious
53* CarFu: Saber Rider weaponizes his car to force an Outrider mole into a deadly--or rather, vaporizing--crash.
54* CatchPhrase: Take a shot any time Saber Rider talks about the Star Sheriff spirit.
55%%* CattlePunk
56* CelibateHero: Saber is a mix of this and ChasteHero. He ''did'' have three [[GirlOfTheWeek Girls Of The Week]], but OTOH he was [[ObliviousToLove oblivious to April's crush on him]] -- and when he once saved her and she tried to kiss him, he was totally ''baffled''.
57%%* CharacterNameAndTheNounPhrase
58* ChestBlaster: Ramrod's most powerful weapon. Also includes kneeblasters. And hip blasters.
59* ChivalrousPervert: Colt. [[spoiler:Though he *does* become more loyal when he's paired up with the [[{{Tsundere}} strongwilled]] HotTeacher [[PluckyGirl Robin]].]]
60* CircusBrat: One of Saber's [[GirlOfTheWeek girls of the week]] was a young woman who worked as an acrobat in a circus.
61* CleanCut: Saber, Fireball, and Colt are all whisker-free.
62* CloserToEarth: April was often portrayed as being more mature than Colt and Fireball, though she's frequently backed up by Saber.
63* CoolCar: Fireball's WeaponizedCar, the Red Fury Racer. It's a futuristic race car that's armed with missile launchers and a [[GatlingGood gatling gun]].
64* CoolHorse[=/=]MechanicalHorse: Saber's is called Steed. In the American version, April also has a pink one called Nova.
65* CoolOldGuy: April's father, Commander Eagle.
66* CulturalTranslation: The team leader was switched from the Japanese guy to the British guy, and the SpaceWestern elements were really played up by dubbing the team "Star Sheriffs" and expanding the setting from the solar system to the galaxy in general.
67* DaddysGirl: April and her dad.
68* DaysOfFuturePast: As with the other SpaceWestern cartoons, clothing and architecture reminiscent of TheWildWest co-exists with futuristic technology.
69* DeceptiveDisciple: Jesse Blue was originally in the Star Sheriff training academy. It didn't take him long to start working for the Outriders instead.
70* {{Determinator}}: Everyone, but specially Colt.
71%%* DiagonalCut
72* DisappearedDad: April's dad, again. [[spoiler:Fireball's dad fits in as well.]]
73%%* DodgeTheBullet
74%%* EarthShatteringKaboom
75* EasyAmnesia: In the two-part episode "The Challenge", Fireball loses his memory after an encounter with the Outriders. His friends try to tell him of his past and he is completely baffled by all the adventures they had together.
76* EveryCarIsAPinto: Every single car that crashes blows up.
77* EvilCounterpart: Jesse, to the Sheriffs.
78* EvilDetectingDog: In "The Highlanders", Saber Rider's parents have a pet Scottish terrier that can distinguish them from two Vapor Beings that kidnap and replace them. The puppy's odd behavior tips Saber and April into revealing the trap.
79* EvilIsPetty: Nemesis and the Outriders are trying to conquer the human dimension because the concept of fun doesn't exist in their own. Seriously.
80%%* FaceHeelTurn: Jesse Blue.
81* FacelessGoons: Most Outrider minions are akin to ''Franchise/StarWars'' Storm Troopers.
82* FallingIntoTheCockpit: Fireball and Colt.
83* FatalAttractor: Saber might be a Celibate MarriedToTheJob, but to be fair his [[GirlOfTheWeek girls of the week]] end up in danger more often than not. [[spoiler: Including the girl who was a HoneyTrap sent by the Out-Riders. Saber was smart enough to unmask her, though.]]
84* FramingDevice: Saber Rider begins and ends some episodes in the context of reciting a story about the Star Sheriffs' adventures. When [[spoiler: Fireball develops amnesia at one point in the storyline, this is used to frame a RecapEpisode.]]
85%%* GadgeteerGenius: April.
86* GagDub: When you have villains of the week spout off self-improvement cliches like "visualizing success"....
87* GalacticConqueror: Nemesis, leader of the Outriders, is obsessed with taking over the human dimension.
88%%* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: Please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.
89%%* GoshdangItToHeck
90* GracefulLoser: Subverted when [[spoiler:Vanquo is shot by Saber Rider in his own dimension turning him from an Outrider into a Human Being and magically [[HeelFaceTurn making him good]].]]
91%%* TheGunslinger: Colt.
92* HandCannon: Ramrod has a size-appropriate pair of pistols.
93%%* HollywoodCyborg ([[spoiler: The BigBad]])
94%%* HotBlooded: Fireball.
95%%* HumongousMecha: Ramrod and the Renegade Units.
96%%* ImplausibleFencingPowers: Saber.
97%%* ImprobableAimingSkills: Colt.
98%%* ImpressivePyrotechnics
99%%* {{Invocation}}
100%%* ItsGoingDown
101%%* JamesBondage: Poor Commander Eagle...
102%%* JumpedAtTheCall: Colt and Fireball.
103* JustAKid: Fireball's younger age is constantly mentioned by the others.
104%%* LaserGuidedAmnesia: [[spoiler:Fireball, as the result of head injuries from a crash.]]
105%%* LastMinuteHookup: [[spoiler: Fireball and April.]]
106%%* LeitMotif
107* LighterAndSofter: Than ''Sei Juushi Bismarck'', for reasons explained in {{Bowdlerize}} above.
108%%* LikeFatherLikeSon: [[spoiler: Fireball and his dad.]]
109* LockAndLoadMontage
110* LoveMakesYouEvil: [[spoiler: Jesse's FaceHeelTurn is motivated by April's reluctance to get in a relationship with him. His AttemptedRape of her didn't help his case.]]
111* LoveTriangle: More than a LoveTriangle, less than a LoveDodecahedron. Interestingly enough, it came about because of the {{Macekre}}d plot.
112* MonsterOfTheWeek[=/=]{{Robeast}}: Renegade Units.
113* MrExposition: Saber Rider.
114* MultinationalTeam: Saber Rider is really British and Colt is really American. April and Fireball's nationalities are ignored, but you can still spot the French tricolor and Japanese sun on their respective uniform sleeves and helmets, and April's cousin gets a French accent.
115* MyNameIsInigoMontoya
116* MysteriousParent: [[spoiler: Fireball's father.]]
117* NeverSayDie: Part of the Bowdlerization noted above.
118** In the show the Outriders never die; as Vapor Beings, they vaporize and are "sent back to their own dimension". If they are vaporized ''in'' their own dimension they [[spoiler:turn human instead]].
119** It's taken to ridiculous extremes with human characters as well. In one episode, a blatantly dead man is given ''dialogue''. Except his mouth isn't moving. [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment Because he's supposed to be dead]].
120** The episode with Trista was edited down from the original, where [[spoiler: she was shot to death by Jesse and didn't get any chance to "run"]].
121** In fact, ''nobody'' died in this version of the show. Another example: you know the human settlements the Outriders are constantly attacking? In ''Saber Rider'', the dialogue always assures us that everyone has been safely evacuated. In ''Bismarck''... not so much.
122** Subverted somewhat in "Bad Day at Dry Gulch" in that while the dialogue was altered as usual, the animation for the death of Kiri (who was unnamed in the dub) was mostly unaltered from the Japanese version where she dissipates in a glow of green energy. Making this a more easily justifiable example than most.
123* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: Creator/JackNicholson for Jesse Blue; and, of course, [[strike:Optimus Prime]] Creator/JohnWayne for Ramrod.
124* NoFourthWall: Happens once when Saber Rider addresses the audience during two {{Eyecatch}} sequences.
125%%* NuclearWeaponsTaboo
126* OddFriendship: Fireball the hotheaded racecar driver and Colt the former Bounty Hunter make strange bedfellows.
127%%* OutOfTheInferno
128%%* OutrunTheFireball
129* ParentsInDistress: Commander Eagle, and Saber's parents in "The Highlanders". [[spoiler: Fireball's father, who is lost in the Vapor Dimension.]]
130%%* PluckyGirl: April and Robin.
131%%* RagtagBunchOfMisfits: The Star Sheriffs.
132* RecapEpisode: "The Challenge, Part II" is a bunch of flashbacks as the team tries to [[spoiler:kickstart Fireball's memory]].
133%%* RuleOfCool
134* SdrawkcabAlias: In "Castle of the Mountain Haze", Baron Vong says that a man named Relttag was trying to buy his castle. Saber Rider immediately realizes that "Relttag" is actually Gattler, one of the Outriders' generals.
135* SecondLove: [[spoiler: April had a crush on Saber Rider but he was oblivious to it. She later falls for Fireball.]]
136%%* SecretLegacy
137* ShoutOut: Ramrod's transformation sequence begins with him intoning "[[Series/{{Rawhide}} Head 'em up, move 'em out!]]"
138* TheSmurfettePrinciple: Poor April is the only girl in the group.
139* SpaceWestern: Not only Colt was a ''literal'' Space Cowboy before he joined the Sheriffs, some episodes are set on WildWest-like planets.
140* StalkerWithACrush: Jesse Blue. Like Prince Lotor to Princess Allura, Jesse has more than a little obsession with April Eagle,
141* StevenUlyssesPerhero: Whether it's a CodeName or his real name, Saber Rider is about as blatant a hero moniker as Anime/SpeedRacer.
142* StockFootage: The Ramrod transformation sequence, for one, but there are some other instances.
143* StuffBlowingUp: If a ''Saber Rider'' movie were to come to fruition, Creator/MichaelBay would be the perfect director for this work full of exploding Outriders, Outrider ships, and Outrider mechs.
144* SuaveSabre: The titular Saber Rider, as AnOfficerAndAGentleman who rides a robotic horse named Steed into battle, is primarily armed with a sabre. He does switch to using his sidearm when necessary, and also has a rifle he uses for long range sniping.
145* TallDarkAndSnarky: Jesse Blue embodies the trope, especially with his Creator/JackNicholson impersonation.
146* TeenGenius: April Eagle built Ramrod when she was around 16. She also was a very talented tennis player; according to Saber, she's pro-level and would've been a tennis star if she had not entered the group.
147* ThemeNaming: The planets are all named after Western towns and the characters tend to be named after a distinguishing feature. April's cousin is named June.
148%%* TotallyRadical
149* TransformingMecha: Ramrod is a ship that transforms into a giant Space Sheriff robot when all vehicles of the Star Sheriffs are present inside his body to activate "Ramrod Challenge Phase".
150* {{Tsundere}}: Robin, a HotTeacher whom Colt flirts with. [[spoiler: They get hitched in the end.]]
151* UpperClassEquestrian: Saber Rider is British, and comes from a wealthy family. He also rides a robotic horse into battle.
152* WaveMotionGun: Ramrod's Chest Blaster serves as the robot's ultimate weapon. It then becomes extra powerful when Ramrod activates all its weapons at the same time along with those twin cannons.
153* WearingAFlagOnYourHead: Each of the heroes has their nation's flag on their armor: Saber has the Union Jack on his helmet and sleeves, Colt has a (miscolored) American flag on his helmet and his Bronco Buster is red, white and blue, Fireball has the Japanese Rising Sun on his helmet, and April (who was explicitly French in the Japanese version) has the French tricolor on her sleeves.
154%%* WeWillMeetAgain
155%%* YouCanBarelyStand
156* [[YouKilledMyFather You Guys Killed My Parents]]: [[spoiler: Colt tells Robin that the Vapor Beings murdered both of his parents ''in front of him'', by blowing up the shuttle they had just boarded after visiting their son. Soon, he jumped at the call to avenge them.]]
157* YoungGun: Colt with regard to Dooley, who was his mentor.

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