[[quoteright:324:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Blackstar_4458.jpg]]

->''"John Blackstar, astronaut -- is swept through a black hole -- into an ancient alien universe. Trapped on the planet Sagar, Blackstar is rescued by the tiny Trobbit people. In turn he joins their fight for freedom against the cruel Overlord -- who rules by the might of the [=PowerStar=]. The [=PowerStar=] is split into the [=PowerSword=] -- and the [=StarSword=]. And so, with [=StarSword=] in hand, Blackstar, together with his allies, sets out to save the planet Sagar. This is his destiny."''\\
''"I am John Blackstar."''
-->--'''OpeningNarration'''

''Blackstar'' is a 1981 fantasy-adventure cartoon from Creator/{{Filmation}}. A precursor to the far more successful ''WesternAnimation/HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse1983'' (only 13 episodes were produced), ''Blackstar'' followed the adventures of an [[FishOutOfWater Earthly astronaut]], the eponymous John Blackstar, and his "allies": Klone, the [[OurElvesAreDifferent elf-like]] [[VoluntaryShapeshifting ShapeShifter]]; Mara, the [[GreenSkinnedSpaceBabe lavender-skinned]] MagicalGirl; Warlock, his [[OurDragonsAreDifferent dragon-like]] [[CoolHorse Cool Steed]]; and the [[CaptainErsatz Trobbits]], seven magenta-skinned little men who tended the Sagar tree on which the planet's environment depended -- Balkar, their magical leader; the [[TheVoiceless speechless]] Poulo; Carpo; Gossamer, [[EarWings who flew by means of his huge ears]]; Burbil; Rif, who talked like Walter Brennan and whose hat was permanently afire; and Terra. All these were in rebellion against the [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Overlord]] and his allies, such as the sorcerous [[EvilChancellor Vizier]], a horde of dinosaur-shaped stone robots, the [[MechaMooks Lavaloks]], and a series of one-shot villains such as Kadray, the ''Time-Lord'' (no, not [[Series/DoctorWho that one]]).

Interestingly, the eponymous hero was designed as an African-American (this was in keeping with Filmation's predilection for [[AndKnowingIsHalfTHeBattle socially positive messages]] in its shows), but was subsequently changed to a deeply tanned Caucasian. It has been asserted that this was done [[ExecutiveMeddling at the behest of the network]], but Filmation producer Lou Scheimer has disclaimed all memory of any such directive.

Should not be confused AT ALL with the ''Manga/SoulEater'' character, or the ''Literature/WarriorCats'' character. Nor should he be confused with [=BlackStar=], the hip-hop group consisting of Talib Kweli and Yasiin Bey (known at the time as Mos Def), or the instrument amp manufacturer, or [[Literature/{{Blackstar}} the book]], or Music/DavidBowie's [[Music/BlackstarAlbum final album]]. Also not to be confused with Dark Star, the final level in ''VideoGame/Kirby64TheCrystalShards'', or the movie ''Film/DarkStar''. Also not to be confused with the adventure game ''Blackstar: Agent of Justice.''
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!!''Blackstar'' provide examples of:

* AlchemyIsMagic: The FunctionalMagic favored by Balkar, whose spells take the form of potions and elixirs. Makes sense given that the tree he lives in is a natural source of highly potent magical ingredients.
* AmbiguouslyBrown: As mentioned above, Blackstar was originally going to be African-American, but ended up just sort of brownish with straight hair.
* AndKnowingIsHalfTheBattle: Averted, amazingly enough for a Filmation series from the Eighties. Any moral lessons are left implicit in the stories themselves.
* AppliedPhlebotinum: The Sagar tree is the source of magical fruits and nuts that somehow support the entire population of the planet. Many episodes involved the Overlord making some kind of attack on the tree.
* ArtImitatesLife: For the last day of winter, Poulo builds a life-size, very realistic ice sculpture of Blackstar and Warlock. When Kryos attacks and the real Blackstar is unavailable, Mara uses her magic to bring the sculpture to life and fight for them. Icy-Warlock is actually able to breathe an ice-based fire similar to the real Warlock.
* BaldOfEvil: King Kryos has a nice and shiny blue dome and is most definitely a bad guy. Justified in that he may actually be made of ice since he melts away once spring is released.
* BeautyEqualsGoodness: Subverted in "Crown of the Sorceress". Blackstar saves a beautiful woman from a big ugly guy who was attacking her. Turns out the big ugly dude was the good guy.
* BifurcatedWeapon: The [=StarSword=], wielded by Blackstar, and the Overlord's [=PowerSword=], are the split-off sections of the [=PowerStar=].
* BigBad: The Overlord. Most of the villains the heroes have to face (with the notable exceptions of Kadray and The Tree of Evil) ultimately report directly to him.
* BigGood: Balkar, who is the primary caretaker and guardian of the Sagar Tree the entire planet depends on. Sadly, as is typical of this trope, he's no match for the BigBad in combat and must rely on Blackstar to be his champion.
* CaptainErsatz: The "Trobbits" were simultaneously expies of Peyo's [[ComicBook/TheSmurfs Smurfs]], Creator/JRRTolkien's hobbits, and {{Creator/Disney}}'s [[WesternAnimation/SnowWhiteAndTheSevenDwarfs Seven Dwarfs]].
* CoolAirship: Carpo made one to help the Trobbits get around that could be towed by Gossamer. The air-whalers have a fleet of these, supposedly made buoyant by using dead air whales.
* CoolHorse: Blackstar has his dragon-like mount Warlock, but Kadray the Time Lord showed up with a winged bull who fired freeze rays from his eyes. Resulted in some fun aerial combat shots.
* CoolShip: The Golden Galleon which delivered the nuts and fruits of Sagar to the Mermanites before it was sunk by pirates. The aforementioned pirates also had one, equipped with an animated prow done in the shape of a dragon head that held a tractor beam.
* CuteMute: Love him or hate him, Poulo looked adorable.
* DeadpanSnarker: What Blackstar is supposed to be.
** The Overlord got in a few good ones, too, occasionally.
* DisneyVillainDeath: Subverted in the sense that it happens in the very first episode. When the Overlord falls into a volcano, at the end, they are celebrating gaining a new ally (Amber the sorceress) against the Overlord. When Klone is confused about what they all saw, Blackstar responds "Oh, I think it will take more than a volcano to stop...the Overlord."
* EarWings: Gossamer the Trobbit.
* EnemyMine: In "The Overlord's Big Spell" (see EvilIsNotAToy, below).
* EpisodeTitleCard: As usual with Filmation series.
* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep: The Overlord.
* EvilIsNotAToy: As the Overlord finds in "The Overlord's Big Spell", when he summons the demonic appearing Brelarand to destroy the rebels -- ''which of course fails spectacularly'' and leads to an EnemyMine with Blackstar.
* EvilIsPetty: While a case can be made that any BigBad would want such an ArtifactOfPower just to keep it from the heroes, the Overlord only seemed to become interested in the Healing Stone when Blackstar needed it to save a trobbit's life.
* EvilKnockoff: In the episode "Tree of Evil", an [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin evil tree]] makes evil copies of the Trobbits, [[StealthPun Klone]], and Blackstar himself.
* EvilOverlord: He was even ''named'' "The Overlord".
* EvilSoundsDeep: The Overlord has a ''basso profundo'' voice.
* {{Expy}}: Since this is Filmation, Blackstar's premise shows a lot of influence from their earlier adaptation of ''WesternAnimation/{{Flash Gordon|1979}}''. It also presages their later ''WesternAnimation/HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse1983'' in many ways.
** Taleena is a green-skinned witch with fire powers who enslaved a kingdom in the West and controls fire and winged minions, much like [[Film/TheWizardOfOz The Wicked Witch of the West.]] For bonus points, [[Literature/LandOfOz she gets her powers from a golden crown, much like the Wicked Witch's golden cap in the original book.]]
* {{Fanservice}}: Like many of Filmation's series, ''Blackstar'' was replete with muscular heroes and busty, [[LeotardOfPower leotard-clad]] heroines.
* FrothyMugsOfWater: On one episode, Mara toasts Blackstar; Klone is quick to point out that the toast in question is made in "[[LampshadeHanging clear, cool spring water]]." Festive.
* TheFuture: Blackstar comes from a future Earth which has developed interplanetary flight. In "Spacewrecked," we learn that Earth has an entire fleet of spacecraft, and has developed a time-traveling space-ship as well.
* GeniusSerum: The Knowledge Nuts of the Tree of Sagar have this temporary effect on anyone who eats one, one of the reasons the [[BigBad Overlord]] wants the tree.
* GiantFlyer: The Air Whales of Anchar, in their eponymous episode
* GivingThemTheStrip: Done by Balkar and Rif when Typhot tries to feed them to his sea monsters.
* TheGoodKing: Balkar is officially titled King of the Trobbits, and is even referenced as "King Balkar" by a few characters in the show. Arguably before Blackstar showed up he was also the leader of the Resistance.
* HeelFaceTurn: The Emerald Knight in ''The Quest''; Lilah in ''The Air Whales of Anchar''
* HoistByHisOwnPetard: What happens to Kadray. Hit by his own time scepter, he's reverted to an infant. The Heroes opt to leave him with the Sand People so they can RaiseHimRightThisTime.
* HurricaneOfPuns: Many of Blackstar's combats seemed to be accompanied by these.
* AnIcePerson: Kryos, the Ice King, and arguably his whole winter themed army who actually melt away when their plans are foiled and the spring thaw comes. On the side of good, Ice-Blackstar and Ice-Warlock count.
* IChooseToStay: In one episode, a rescue ship from Earth (piloted by Blackstar's beautiful girlfriend, no less) navigates the black hole, finds John Blackstar on Sagar, and offers to take him home. He very nearly takes her up on it, but he finally decides that he's too important to the natives' rebellion against the Overlord, and he chooses to stay. The last scene is her returning to Earth, and sending a message ahead that she wants to come back with proper military forces to help John defeat the Overlord. Sadly [[StatusQuoIsGod if predictably]], it was never followed up on.
* ImpossiblyCoolWeapon: The [=StarSword=]/[=PowerSword=].
* LastNameBasis: (John) Blackstar, to the point that his friends on Sagar don't even know he has a first name. Indeed, Lt. Katana (from "Spacewrecked") is the only person to actually call him "John" in the show.
* LoinCloth: Blackstar
* LukeNounverber: John Blackstar. Luke Adjective Noun to be precise.
* MacGuffin: The [=PowerStar=]; the Sagar Tree
* MagicalGirl: Mara; Amber in "City of the Ancient Ones"
* MechaMooks: The Lavaloks
* MerchandiseDriven: Blackstar's toy line actually didn't appear until several years after the show was off the air, only hitting the shelves after ''WesternAnimation/HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse1983'' had become a hit. Despite this, they sold well, and the toy line lasted for a couple of years.
* NemesisWeapon: John Blackstar wields the Star Sword in the cause of liberty, while the Overlord wields the Power Sword, bent on conquest and tyranny. The two swords were once one whole weapon called the Power-Star, which was split in two during a revolt against the Overlord's iron rule.
* NoodleIncident: We never do find out why exactly the Overlord's ultimate weapon split in half, which would seem to be a really big deal. This is exacerbated with the way the graphic of the Power Star splitting is used to indicate scene changes in the episodes.
* OnlyOneName: When Blackstar's girlfriend from Earth arrives in the last episode, his Sagarian friends are startled to hear her calling him John, since they just know him by his last name.
* OrcusOnHisThrone: The Overlord is absent for a few consecutive episodes. Blackstar and friends battle a few other villains before the Overlord appears again. This is in keeping with the Overlord falling into a volcano in the first episode. However, Blackstar (and the audience by proxy) is GenreSavvy to know that "It's gonna take more than a volcano to stop the Overlord." Some of these lesser villains are clearly said to be working for the Overlord, which would not make as much sense if he were truly dead. So he is assumed to be staying behind the scenes for now.
* OurFairiesAreDifferent: Delilah the Dryad, in "Tree of Evil".
* OurGryphonsAreDifferent: Klone becomes one in "Tree of Evil".
* OurVampiresAreDifferent: The Vampire-Men in "The Air Whales of Anchar".
* {{Panacea}}: The Healing Stone, which can cure any malady by placing it on the afflicted's body. It's the only thing Balkar knows that can save Poulo from the Poison of the Pond.
* PinPullingTeeth: Carpo the Trobbit does this to the stems of Fire Fruit to make them explode, like grenades, before throwing them. In one episode, he does this before feeding them to some Fire People who were helping Blackstar.
* PlotCoupons: Blackstar's Star Sword and the Overlord's Power Sword, originally two halves of an almighty weapon, and somewhat mirroring the two halves of the Sword of Power wielded by the hero and villain in early versions of the ''He-Man'' mythology.
* PureMagicBeing: Mara -- when the Overlord uses a spell to leach all the magic out of Sagar, Mara's life-force grows weaker and weaker as it is drained away.
* ReallySevenHundredYearsOld: The Emerald Knight in ''The Quest''; Amber the Sorceress in ''City Of The Ancient Ones''.
* RedRightHand: The sorceress Amber from "City of the Ancient Ones" has a monstrous red left hand for some reason.
* LaResistance: Blackstar and his allies.
* {{Rotoscoping}}
* SamusIsAGirl: The Emerald Knight
* SceneryPorn: Used for the infamous "Filmation pan", one of Filmation's favorite methods of avoiding new animation.
* SoulPower: In "The Zombie Masters", Shaldemar uses this in conjunction with a SoulJar to turn people into zombies.
* SoundtrackDissonance: The beginning of "Kingdom of Neptul" shows a huge storm at the Sagar tree. The cutesy "peaceful" music that usually plays over scenes there starts, but is drowned out after a few seconds of the oppressive darkness and more appropriate music of Blackstar and his friends desperately trying to find the thing they need for a spell to fix things.
* SpikesOfVillainy: The Overlord has a nice set on his helmet.
* StockFootage: Naturally for a Filmation series. The most notable probably being Blackstar and Warlock's "Heroic Swoop" sequence.
* {{Stripperific}}: Most of the women's outfits -- Mara's is typical. Then again, Blackstar himself isn't wearing much.
* SuperStrength: Blackstar possesses this, though not to the extent of other Filmation heroes of the time, such as [[WesternAnimation/HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse1983 He-Man]], [[WesternAnimation/SheRaPrincessOfPower She-Ra]], [[WesternAnimation/BraveStarr BraveStarr]] and [[{{ComicBook/Shazam}} Captain Marvel]], nor does he use it as often as said heroes. Still, there are several points where he displays greater than human strength by lifting large stone monsters over his head, throws large boulders around, and similar feats. His strength seems more akin to a hero that likely partially inspired his creation, [[Literature/JohnCarterOfMars John Carter of Mars]].
* SwordBeam: Both the Star Sword and the Power Sword are capable of shooting energy bolts.
* TimeMaster: This is the power of Kadray the Time Lord, via his time scepter which lets him advance or regress targets through time. His most notable uses were to turn the ancient Sagar Tree back into an acorn, cause vines to sprout and entangle his pursuers, and even turn an entire desert back into a wild jungle.
* TheVoiceless: Poulo.
* VoluntaryShapeshifting: Klone's power.
* WalkingShirtlessScene: Blackstar.
* WholePlotReference: According to commentary on the DVD collection, "The Air Whales of Ancar" is supposed to be one for ''Literature/MobyDick'', complete with the episode's villain's being a stand-in for Captain Ahab.
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