Rambo and the Forces of Freedom

Infobox Television
show_name = Rambo and the Force of Freedom


caption = The cover of the first volume of the DVD release of the CockBalls animated series.
genre = Animated Series
Action
Adventure
creator = David Morrell
developer =
presenter = Ruby-Spears Enterprises
Carolco Entertainment
starring =
voices = Neil Ross
Michael Ansara
James Avery
Michael Bell
Peter Cullen
Ed Gilbert
Dale Ishimoto
Robert Ito
Mona Marshall
Alan Oppenheimer
Russi Taylor
Lennie Weinrib
Frank Welker
narrated =
theme_music_composer = Shuki Levy
Haim Saban
opentheme =
endtheme =
country = USA
language = English
num_seasons = 1
num_episodes = 65
list_episodes = Rambo_and_the_Forces_of_Freedom#Episode_list
producer = Walt Kubiak
executive_producer = Shuki Levy
Joe Ruby
Haim Saban
Ken Spears
writer = Jack Bornoff
Michael Chain
David Morrell
director = John Kimball
Charles A. Nichols
location =
camera =
runtime = 30 minutes (including commercials)
network = First-run syndication
picture_format =
audio_format =
first_run =
first_aired = September 15, 1986
last_aired = December 26, 1986
preceded_by = ""
followed_by = "Rambo III"
related =
website = http://www.bknkids.com/rambo.shtml
imdb_id = 0222619
tv_com_id = 3844

"Rambo and the Force of Freedom" was a syndicated children's television cartoon, based on the character of John Rambo, from David Morrell's book "First Blood", and the subsequent films "First Blood" and "". The cartoon ran for 65 episodes, and was produced by Ruby-Spears Enterprises. The series debuted on April 14, 1986 as a five part mini series, and was renewed in September as a daily cartoon. However, the series only lasted one season, and was cancelled in December of the same year. The series also spawned a line of toys.

Plot

In the cartoon, Rambo was part of a G.I. Joe-like team called "The Force of Freedom", which went on missions around the world battling against an evil terrorist organization called S.A.V.A.G.E., led by one General Warhawk. Other members of Rambo's group included Edward "Turbo" Hayes, an African American mechanical expert, and Katherine Anne "Kat" Taylor, an Asian woman, who was a master of disguises. Fictional countries and backstories would frequently be featured, some of them parodies of historical events or literary successes. Although the cartoon was filled with much fighting and gun fire with accurately illustrated guns, there was never any sensational violence, blood or gore, and rarely did anyone ever die. Rambo (who was never called by his first name, even by Trautman) used violence as a last resort and relied on quick thinking and fast moves to outwit his opponents — a character trait not consistent with the later films (Rambo avoids deliberately killing anyone in the first movie).

Controversy

The cartoon generated a mild controversy at the production studio, with writers wondering how they could present a child-friendly main character who was created as a troubled Vietnam war veteran suffering from PTSD.

The show's child psychology advisors believed that the target audience, young children and preteens, would not grasp that aspect of David Morrell's character. They recommended that the cartoon not make any references to Vietnam, POWs, or Rambo's experiences in "First Blood" and "". Fact|date=April 2007

As a result, "Rambo and the Forces of Freedom" was derided by fans of the movies and David Morrell's original novel.

Episode list

*1. First Strike
*2. The Angel of Destruction
*3. Battlefield Bronx
*4. Raise the Yamato
*5. The Taking of Tierra Libre
*6. Subterranean Holdup
*7. Trouble in Tibet
*8. S.A.V.A.G.E. Island
*9. General Warhawk's Curse
*10. Deadly Keep
*11. Beneath the Streets
*12. Cult of the Cobra
*13. Raid on Las Vegas
*14. The Lost City of Acra
*15. Guns Over Suez
*16. Exercise in Terror
*17. The Doomsday Machine
*18. Disaster in Delgado
*19. Fire in the Sky
*20. Enter the Black Dragon
*21. Reign of the Boy King
*22. Rambo and the White Rhino
*23. Pirate Peril
*24. Mephisto's Magic
*25. The Halley Microbe
*26. Death Merchant
*27. Return of the Count
*28. Night of the Voodoo Moon
*29. Lagoon of Death
*30. Snow Kill
*31. Terror Beneath the Sea
*32. Swamp Monster

*33. Freedom Dance
*34. Texas Inferno
*35. The Iron Mask
*36. Children for Peace
*37. S.A.V.A.G.E. Rustlers
*38. Mind Control
*39. Vote of Terror
*40. Target, Supertanker
*41. Enter the White Dragon
*42. Skyjacked Gold
*43. Attack on El Dorado
*44. The Ninja Dog
*45. When S.A.V.A.G.E. Stole Santa
*46. Blockbuster
*47. Supertrooper
*48. Warhawk's Fortress
*49. The Konichi
*50. Robot Raid
*51. Alphas, Arms, and Ambush (1)
*52. Alphas, Arms, and Ambush (2)
*53. Crash
*54. Mirage
*55. Blind Luck
*56. Turbo's Dilemma
*57. Masquerade
*58. Just Say No
*59. Monster Island
*60. Quarterback Sneak
*61. Sepulcher of Power
*62. The Twin Within
*63. S.A.V.A.G.E. Space
*64. Change of Face
*65. Horror of the Highlands

Cast

*Neil Ross .... John Rambo (voice)
*Michael Ansara .... General Warhawk (voice)
*James Avery .... Turbo (voice)
*Michael Bell .... Additional Voices (voice)
*Peter Cullen .... Sergeant Havoc (voice)
*Ed Gilbert .... Nomad (voice)
*Dale Ishimoto .... Additional Voices (voice)
*Robert Ito .... Black Dragon, White Dragon (voice)
*Mona Marshall .... Kat (voice)
*Alan Oppenheimer .... Colonel Trautman (voice)
*Russi Taylor .... Additional Voices (voice)
*Lennie Weinrib .... Gripper (voice)
*Frank Welker .... Mad Dog (voice)

DVD release

Lions Gate Entertainment (which also owns the DVD rights to the "Rambo" films) has released the entire series on DVD in Region 1 in 6 volume sets.

External links

* [http://www.bknkids.com/rambo.shtml Official Site from BKN]
* [http://www.bcdb.com/cartoons/Other_Studios/R/Ruby-Spears_Productions/Rambo/index.html Big Cartoon Database]
* [http://www.infantv.com.br/rambo.htm InfanTv - info, pictures, songs (Portuguese)]
* [http://www.pazsaz.com/rambo.html Rambo - Pazsaz Entertainment Network]
* [http://www.slocartoon.net/?main=cartoons/cartoons&aid=1327 Slo Cartoon info]
* [http://metalmisfit.wordpress.com/2007/07/10/rambo-the-force-of-freedom Rambo: The Force of Freedom! (article)]
* [http://www.toyarchive.com/Rambo.html Toy Archive]
* [http://www.virtualtoychest.com/rambo/rambo.html Virtual Toy Chest]
* [http://www.x-entertainment.com/downloads/commercials/rambo.html X-Entertainment - 1980s Ads]
* [http://www.firstbloodforum.tk Rambo: The First Blood Forum]