1994 ANIMATED SERIES
Created by Saban enterteainment and first aired on Fox from Sep.10th 1994 - Dec. 10th 1994. A total of 13 episodes plus a summary episode were produced.The series was noteworthy for its blending of animation techniques, with computer animation used to depict most battle sequences and traditional animation used for most other scenes.
EPISODES
1.The Gathering Storm (Sept. 10, 1994)
2. Well Bargained and Done
3. Warriors of Light and Steel
4. Retribution
5. Trade Secrets
5a. No Guts, No Galaxy (clip show)
6. Protect and Survive
7. In the Belly of the Beast
8. Bound by Honor
9. Road to Camelot
10. Enemy of My Enemy
11. Shadow Heir
12. Homecoming
13. Trial of Possession (Dec.10th 1994)
This is the Inner Sphere—thousands of planet colonized by humankind. Once it was united under the Star League, but for the last three hundred years it has been consumed by savage wars... until a new enemy appeared—mysterious invaders known as the Clans. Powerful and ruthless, they struck like lightning, attacking every sector at once. But they made one big mistake: they attacked my home planet! Now, in the spirit of the Star League, ancient enemies have reunited... and we're gonna take back our galaxy!
Openening narrative by Adam Steiner
PLOT
The story follows Major Adam Steiner and his newly formed Somerset Strikers during the Clan Invasion of 3050. The goal of Adam Steiner and his unit is to free Somerset, which now lies deep within Jade Falcon occupied territoy.
Adam Steiner has not only to fight the clans but also the tensions within his unit because it consits of two major successor states, the Federated Commonwealth and the Draconis Combine. Additionally Adam Steiner has to prove himself because the Somerset Strikers are his first frontline command and the enemy is the deadliest and fearsome inner sphere forces have ever enountered. A lot of the Battletech lore along with its complicated, yet realistic approach to politics was toned down for the children audience. Every thing was made smaller and more easily understandable. The white and black view of the animated series differentiated greatly from original Battletech storytelling and so lost its appeal to the more adult fanbase.
1st SOMERSET STRIKERS
ADAM STEINER
Born on Somerset main character Major Adam Steiner is a distant cousin of Archon Melissa Steiner-Davion. As an instructor at the Federated Commonwealth's prestigious Nagelring Military Academy he is a tactical expert and excellent mechpilot. Well known for his credo "information is ammunition" and a heavy believer in cross training for the members of his unit. After his Somerset Strikers command Adam continued to play a very important part in the Lyran alliance miltary beeing promoted to General of the armies and crowned Archon of the Lyran Alliance. In the series Adam first pilots an AXM-2N Axman and later a AWS-9M Awesome.
FRANKLIN SAKAMOTO
The illegimate son of Theodore Kurita is forced to help the Somerset Strikers on their journey. The experiences with the unit start to change his view on the former enemies and he becomes a valuable member of the Strikers. He pilots a Banshee fighter and a Sloth battle Armor.
VALTEN RYDER
After serving a local crime boss as a mercenary the lovable scoundrel now serves as a captain in the Strikers team. He first pilots his family mech a CN9-D Centurion and later a prototype BSW-X1 Bushwacker.
RACHEL SPECTER
Lieutenant Specter is the Strikers communications officer and Major Adam Steiner`s right hand. Also born on Somerset she shares Adams strong feelings for their home planet.
ZACK HAWKINS
The FedCom veteran is first very uncomfortable with his new commanding officer which he considers as too "green" to command, but he eventually comes to respect Adam's piloting and leadership abilities. Pilots a captured draconian MAL-1R Mauler.
CIRO RAMIREZ
The son of a minor noble was a classmate of Victor Davion. Believing in beeing superior to his peers he is captured by Clan Jade Falcon and is persuaded in joining them. Pilots a WLF-2 Wolfhund and later Adams Axman and a Mad Cat.
KATIARA KYLIE
Also born on Somerset, Katiara first fails in the training program but she manages to get back into the unit when she hears of the plan to retake Somerset. Pilots a Banshee aerospace fighter and an Infiltrator Battle armor.
CLAN JADE FALCON
NICOLAI MALTHUS
Major Adam Steiner`s arch enemy is a Clan Jade Falcon Star Colonel. Ruthless and arrogant to his enemies and even to his fellow clansmen. Seen to be one of Galaxy Commander Chistu's most reliable soldiers early on in the series, but as Malthus's obsession with destroying Adam Steiner grows throughout the series, he begins taking increasingly rogue actions. Pilots a Thor / Summoner M.
KRISTEN REDMOND
A brilliant tactican and skilled mechwarrior, Star Colonel Redmond is the commander of the 94th Striker Cluster "Black Vision", (Perigrine Galaxy). She pilots a Vulture / Mad Dog Prime.
PYTHOR
The 37 year old Star Commander is an old man by clan standards. Considered now useless by his fellow clanners he is starting to question his purpose in clan society. Pilots a Hunchback II-C.
CANONICITY TO THE BATTLETECH UNIVERSE
The animated series as such is not considered Canon for the Battletech universe. Instead, the show canonically exists in-universe as a work of fiction: It has been referred to in-universe as a popular but poorly reviewed holovid series by Tharkad Broadcasting Company, said to be loosely based on the exploits of the 1. Somerset Strikers unit.
In an attempt to reconcile as much content as possible from the show with the established canon of the BattleTech universe, FASA produced a fully canonical sourcebook that established the events and characters as real within the BattleTech universe. It introduced new technology and rules to account for items and events featured the show, and adresses aspects of the show which appear to contradict established canon (including answering the question why Rhonda Snord was later attributed with having found camelot Command first). Other conflicting information such as wrong uniforms, overly spacious vehicles and space ships, and the odd selection of Battle Mechs shown can be explained as inaccuracies of the show and artistic license.
SUMMARY
First of all, it is a matter of taste. Either you kinda like or you hate it. I think you know by now that I myself belong to the first category and I know that I am not alone. I can live with all the flaws an inaccuracies of the series because you have to realize it was made for children. After watching japanese mecha series like Dougram I often wished Battletech would have been like that, more gritty, complex, violent and realistic. Read the animated series sourcebook and you find out that a lot of mistakes in the series resulted as a compromise to adapt the really complex Battletech Universe for a children viewerbase. There are lot of things in the series which I dont like but keeping the aforementioned in mind I personally can enjoy watching the show.
MORE INFO?
Please check out the official animated series sourcebook for more detailed information:
- 1st Somerset Strikers, FASA Corporation ISBN 1-55560-258-4
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