Line #33 Series/StarFleet


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/starfleetxbomber.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:Left to right: Lamia, John Lee, Shiro Hagen, Barry Hercules and Dr. Benn with the Dai-X standing above them and the Imperial Alliance battlecruiser top left.]]
3	''Star Fleet'' is an early '80s Japanese ScienceFiction show with character and mecha designs from Creator/GoNagai. Known in Japan as ''X-Bomber'', the show is notable for using miniatures and marionettes rather than cel animation, giving it a very unique look. Also distributed in France and Spain under the title ''Bomber X''.
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5	The year is 2999, and Earth is at peace after a long stellar war. This peace is shattered by the arrival of Commander Makara and her giant Imperial Alliance battlecruiser. After making light work of the Earth Defence Force, they approach Earth and threaten to destroy it unless the Earthlings hand over F-01. The people of Earth have no idea what this even is, and the Alliance isn't buying any pleas of ignorance.
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7	In order to counter the attack the EDF launch the experimental X-Project, consisting of the prototype battlecruiser ''X-Bomber'' and three fighter craft that can [[CombiningMecha combine]] to form the robot Dai-X.
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9	With the attack repelled, the crew of the ''X-Bomber'' set out to discover the secret of F-01, a secret they must discover before the Imperial Alliance do, or the universe is doomed.
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11	Not hugely successful in its native Japan, [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff the show was very popular in the UK]]. The combination of being superficially similar to the much loved ''Series/{{Thunderbirds}}'', and the fact that the show didn't shy away from many tropes that were mostly unknown in kids programming in Britain at the time made it a GatewaySeries for British kids of a certain age. It even inspired the album ''Music/StarFleetProject'', where Music/BrianMay and Music/VanHalen performed together.
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13	Lots more information about the series can be found [[http://www.sfxb.co.uk at the SFXB homepage]].
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15	[[JustForFun/IThoughtThatWas Oh, and this has nothing to do with]] [[Franchise/StarTrek that Starfleet]]. [[WesternAnimation/{{TUGS}} Or that other Star Fleet.]]
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17	----
18	!!''Star Fleet'' provides examples of:
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20	* AcePilot: The crew were chosen because they came top at the academy.
21	* AlasPoorVillain:
22	** [[spoiler:Orion, who spent much of the series as the most cowardly and reluctant of the villains, shows considerable bravery and determination in his suicide mission. His demise was certainly a lot more dignified than the panicky deaths of Makara and Caliban (And he almost managed to bring down the X Bomber, to boot.) It's hard not to feel sorry for him.]]
23	** [[spoiler: Caliban shows some NobleDemon qualities when Makara tries to shoot Orion down, figuring he's deserting. Caliban talks her out of it, saying that Orion's suffered permanent injuries by then and all he wants is the chance to have a soldier's death.]]
24	* AlternativeForeignThemeSong: ''X-Bomber's'' opening and ending themes, originally performed by Japanese hard rock group Bow Wow, were replaced in most other countries. Among the most notable examples are:
25	** The English dub (''Star Fleet'') has an ExpositoryThemeTune by Paul Bliss, which later inspired Brian May's ''Music/StarFleetProject''.
26	** The French dub (''Bomber X'') had a theme composed and sung by Shuki Levy and Haim Saban of Creator/SabanEntertainment fame.
27	** The Italian dub (which retained the title ''X-Bomber'') had a theme composed by Fratelli Balestra, and performed by the Balestra Brothers under the pseudonym "The Condors".
28	* AnyoneCanDie: Very unusual in kids shows shown in the UK at the time, less so in Japan.
29	* ArtisticLicenseMilitary: ''Captain'' Orion being subordinate to ''Commander'' Makara is odd considering "Captain" is a higher naval rank than "Commander". He could be an army Captain, but that raises the question of why he's put in command of an Imperial vessel at several points. Or the Imperial Alliance just has a different ranking order than Earth.
30	* TheBattlestar: Makara's ship is both armed to the teeth with guns and loaded with transport ships that carry fighters to battle. X-Bomber is a lesser version, since it has an arsenal of weapons and also houses the three Dai-X fighters inside itself.
31	* BigBad: The Imperial Master. Emphasis on the ''big''.
32	* BigThinShortTrio: Shiro, Hercules and Lee. Shiro is the thin, Hercules is the big, and Lee is the short.
33	* BittersweetEnding: By the end of the series:[[spoiler:The good guy wins, the BigBad is defeated, but Lamia, one of the main characters, has to sacrifice a life on Earth with her friends and her budding romance with Shiro in order to restore the peace in the universe.]]
34	* BugWar: The Termoids are a race of InsectoidAliens the Imperial Alliance uses as soldiers, crewmen and pilots for their {{Mook Mobile}}s.
35	* {{Bowdlerise}}: The English version of episode 8, "An Attack Beyond Tears", cuts some rather graphic scenes of the alien Mon-Mons being shot or blown up on screen.
36	* ButtMonkey: P.P.A., at least to Hercules, who makes him his verbal punching bag. Sometimes justified.
37	* CombiningMecha: Dai-X. It is composed of three fighters: Braincom, Mainbody and Legtrax. No points for guessing which part of Dai-X each of those forms. Somewhat strangely it's mainly used to fight enemy fighter ships and tanks by smacking them out of the air or stepping on them, instead of fighting enemy giant mecha. The only time Dai-X fights a comparably giant enemy is Caliban's Death Ball near the end.
38	* CompilationMovie: Two Compilation movies were edited (poorly) for VHS release in the UK in 1983.
39	** ''The Thalian Space Wars''
40	** ''Space Quest for F-01''
41	* CoolStarship: The X-Bomber, a SuperPrototype starship capable of transforming into a HumongousMecha.
42	* DerelictGraveyard: X-Bomber is trapped in one during Episode 7.
43	* DisappearedDad: Shiro's father, Professor Hagen [[spoiler: Until he comes back near the end of the series.]]
44	* DubNameChange: A majority of the names were changed for the English dub. The only ones retaining their original names in the main cast were Dr. Benn and Lamia, the former probably due to his name being seen written in English [[spoiler: on his tombstone]], or that his name is the most English sounding.
45	* DyingAsYourself: [[spoiler:Captain Carter is freed of his brainwashing after being shot by Shiro, allowing him to die with his own mind.]]
46	* TheEmpire: The Imperial Alliance. It's unknown who they're an alliance between, but they're a conquering alien force out to rule the universe.
47	* EyepatchOfPower: Makara and Orion's eyepatch-like symbiotes, which designate them as high-ranking Imperial officers.
48	* FaceHeelTurn: [[spoiler:Captain Carter, after being captured by the Imperial Alliance and brainwashed into serving them.]]
49	* FamilyUnfriendlyDeath: While there's no gore in the series, [[spoiler:Makara's death at the hands of giant robot Dai-X, literally, is pretty grim for a kids show.]] Of course, compared with the other works of Creator/GoNagai...
50	* FighterLaunchingSequence: Launch Imperial fighters!
51	* ForeignReScore:
52	** In addition to the AlternativeForeignThemeSong as mentioned above, the English dub was given a completely new music score.
53	** To a lesser extent, the French dub also has certain scenes re-scored, but otherwise retains most of the original Japanese soundtrack.
54	* {{Foreshadowing}}: In a flashback from Episode 5, showing Shiro at the academy being unable to hit the target. Carter, reprimanding Shiro's poor marksmanship, tells him to shoot him in the heart of his bulletproof jacket. Shiro is reluctant, but is roused to by Carter calling him a coward unworthy of being in the academy. Shiro shoots Carter, who comes up to him and congratulates him on proving he can aim and shoot at the same time. [[spoiler: This sequence foreshadows Episode 12, when Shiro is forced by Carter to kill him after being freed from Alliance control. As Shiro holds the dying Carter, he repeats what he said to Shiro at the academy; "Shiro, Good Shooting."]]
55	* AGoodWayToDie: Orion's death was on his own terms proving to himself and his superiors that he wasn't a coward in the end.
56	* HarpOfFemininity: Lamia's shown playing one in the flashbacks to her upbringing.
57	* TheHeavy: Commander Makara is the one helming the hunt for the F-01 and the X-Bomber for most of the series.
58	* {{Irony}}: Throughout the series, Makara and Caliban dismiss Orion as a weakling and a coward... [[spoiler:And yet Orion spends his final moments making a suicide run on X-Bomber and dying a warrior's death, while Makara and Caliban panic and run like cowards before meeting their end when Dai X storms their flagship.]]
59	* LastStand: The Final encounters with Orion, Makara, Caliban and the Imperial Master at the series end.
60	* MagicalGirl: [[spoiler:Lamia essentially becomes one after completing her transformation into F-01, complete with tiara, wand and frilly dress.]]
61	* MatteShot: Makara and Orion when they are in the same shots with the Imperial Master puppet.
62	* MightyRoar: The ''Star Fleet'' version of Big X will often emit an eerie, machine-like roar during battle. It seems fitting though, what with some of the Imperial Alliance members referring to it as "monster machine".
63	* MorallyAmbiguousDoctorate: Caliban, the top scientist of the Imperial Alliance and the one who designs most of their war machines.
64	* NeverTrustATitle: The show is in fact about the exploits of a single ship and its crew. Inverted in the Japanese version, however, where the "X-Bomber" is the ship that that title refers to.
65	* OnTheNextEpisodeOfCatchPhrase: "Don't miss the next episode of ''Star Fleet''!" The last previous switches out "next" with "final."
66	* PeopleInRubberSuits: The giant robots and the BigBad are both depicted through an actor in a suit, as opposed to puppets like the rest of the characters.
67	* PlanetSpaceship: The Imperial Planet in the last episodes. Despite not resembling a planet at all, it gets referred to as such in the show. Planet is a pretty good description, given the size it has to be to accommodate the gigantic Imperial Master.
68	* PosterGirlPOVBoy: Shiro is the main protagonist and acts as the audience's POV, while Lamia is the LivingMacguffin who the show's plot ultimately revolves around.
69	* RammingAlwaysWorks: When Orion attacks the X-Bomber his laser fire only causes superficial damage, but his suicide ramming of the X-Bomber cripples it and forces it to stop for repairs.
70	* RecapEpisode: There were 3 recap episodes - in a series that spanned only 25 episodes!
71	** Episode 9, "Target: The Captain" - Commander Makara faces trial and execution for her past failures, and persuades the Imperial Master to review some of her past battles in detail.
72	** Episode 13, "Battle to the Death: X-Bomber vs. the Imperial Alliance" - Shiro, Hercules and Lee reflect on their ongoing war with the Imperial Alliance, and the events leading up to [[spoiler:the death of Captain Carter]].
73	** Episode 18, "Commander Makara's Promotion" - Following [[spoiler:the capture and imprisonment of Lamia]], the X-Bomber crew reflect on their situation, while Makara and Orion celebrate their victory. [[NoExportForYou This episode was never officially released outside of Japan]].
74	* RedemptionEqualsDeath: An unusual version of this where [[spoiler:it's a villain trying to redeem themselves in the eyes of their superior]].
75	* RememberTheNewGuy: Caliban appears seemingly out of nowhere toward the end of the series as Makara's tech-guy.
76	* ScheduleSlip: The reason there's ''three'' recap episodes in a 25 episode show? The production staff started with little marionette experience and struggled to complete episodes on time.
77	* SciFiWritersHaveNoSenseOfScale: X-Bomber is lost in deep space toward the middle of the series, but are roughly able to make it home from deep uncharted space in a rough one month. They get around at [[FasterThanLightTravel Hyper Speed]] most of the time anyway. During the return to Earth they're even specifically using a dangerous ''double'' Hyper Speed to make up for the head start the Imperial Master has on them.
78	* ShoutOut: The show is referred to as being a filmed in "Supermariorama", a clear shout-out to Gerry Anderson's "{{UsefulNotes/Supermarionation}}" series.
79	* SkeletonGovernment: The closest the Imperial Alliance has to a legislative-like body is the Imperial Council, which from what we see is comprised of two YesMen to the Imperial Master who parrot all his orders.
80	%%* SpaceIsAnOcean
81	* SpaceSailing: The Skull is a spaceship that looks like a regular sailing ship.
82	* StockFootage: Most every battle scene and launch scene contained stock footage from earlier episodes.
83	* StoryArc: Almost every episode contributes to the arc.
84	* SuicideByCop: After getting free from alien control, [[spoiler: Captain Carter]] can't accept living after all the terrible things they have done and requests Shiro to kill them. When he refuses, they attack him to force his hand.
85	* SuicideMission: Orion's final attack on the X-Bomber. He's completely outmatched and knows it but is determined to give it his best shot.
86	* SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute: Professor Hagen[[spoiler:, who appears after the death of Dr. Benn in Episode 19.]]
87	* TakingYouWithMe: When his ship is crippled during the battle with the X-Bomber, Orion deliberately rams the X-Bomber, destroying his ship and himself. The X-Bomber survives but suffers heavy damage.
88	* TerribleTrio: One gets formed on the Imperial Alliance side after Commander Makara and Captain Orion are joined by [[spoiler:a brainwashed Captain Carter]]. Later on, Caliban gets summoned to Makara's flagship and forms another one with Makara and Orion.
89	* TheSymbiote: Makara has some sort of [[BuffySpeak living eyepatch... thing]] where her left eye would normally be.
90	* TitleThemeTune: The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiScuDJPR2g French version]].
91	* TransformationSequence: Dai-X. Surprisingly for the time, all of Dai-X's transformation sequences during the series are made without StockFootage.
92	* TwoOfYourEarthMinutes: Makara makes it abundantly clear that it's THEIR time measurements she's counting. Yet the deadline for the aliens to capture F-01 is the turn of the millennium by Earth's calendar.
93	* UnfinishedUntestedUsedAnyway: The X-Bomber.
94	* UnitConfusion: The show sometimes uses "parsec" as a nebulous measurement of time, seemingly derived from the misconception of the term resulting from its usage in the first ''[[Film/ANewHope Star Wars]]'' film.
95	* UnreliableNarrator: The second recap episode has the crew remember things differently from how they happened.
96	%%* WaveMotionGun: X-Impulse
97	* WeOnlyHaveOneChance: Used in many episodes.
98	* WhenThePlanetsAlign: Happens at the climax of the final episode.

Context Series / StarFleet