"Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future" (1987) TV series 1987-

Creators:

Tony Christopher
Gary Goddard
(more)

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

1 September 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Sci-Fi

Plot:

A group of guerilla fighters battle the evil machine forces that dominate a future Earth.

Plot Keywords:

Resistance | 22nd Century | Robot | Full Motion Video | Computer Animation

Awards:

3 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Tim Dunigan	...	Captain Jonathan Power (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
Peter MacNeill	...	Major Matthew 'Hawk' Masterson (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
Sven-Ole Thorsen	...	Lieutenant Michael 'Tank' Ellis (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
Maurice Dean Wint	...	Sergeant Robert 'Scout' Baker (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
Jessica Steen	...	Corporal Jennifer 'Pilot' Chase (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
David Hemblen	...	Lord Dread / ... (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
Brad Crandall	...	Opening narration (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
Deryck Hazel	...	Soaron (16 episodes, 1987-1988)
Tedd Dillon	...	Overmind (15 episodes, 1987-1988)
John S. Davies	...	Blastarr (12 episodes, 1987-1988)
Bruce Gray	...	Mentor / ... (11 episodes, 1987-1988)
Don Francks	...	Lacchi (8 episodes, 1987-1988)

Series Directed by
Otta Hanus		(8 episodes, 1987-1988)
Jorge Montesi		(6 episodes, 1987-1988)
Douglas Williams		(3 episodes, 1987)
Mario Azzopardi		(2 episodes, 1987)

Series Writing credits
Gary Goddard		(22 episodes, 1987-1988)
J. Michael Straczynski		(14 episodes, 1987-1988)
Lawrence G. DiTillio		(6 episodes, 1987-1988)
Marc Scott Zicree		(3 episodes, 1987)
Michael Reaves		(2 episodes, 1987)
Christy Marx		(2 episodes, 1988)
Tony Christopher		(unknown episodes)
Gerry Davis		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
John Copeland	....	associate producer (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
Gary Goddard	....	executive producer (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
Ian McDougall	....	producer (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
John Danylkiw	....	associate producer (unknown episodes)
Douglas Netter	....	producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Gary Guttman		(22 episodes, 1987-1988)

Series Cinematography by
Peter Benison		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Paul Kirsch		(4 episodes, 1987)
Ion Webster		(3 episodes, 1987)

Series Production Design by
John Iacovelli		(unknown episodes)

Series Art Direction by
Susan Longmire		(unknown episodes)

Series Makeup Department
Donald Mowat	....	makeup department head (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Forbes Candlish	....	production executive: Landmark Entertainment Group (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
John Danylkiw	....	production supervisor (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
Leslie Levine	....	production executive (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
Joe Morrison	....	production executive (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
John Weems	....	production executive (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
Lisa Atkinson	....	post-production supervisor (12 episodes, 1987-1988)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jeff J.J. Authors	....	first assistant director (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
Brenda J. Bradley	....	second assistant director (unknown episodes)
Carlos Caneca	....	trainee assistant director (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Eric Chu	....	storyboard artist (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
Edward Eyth	....	designer (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
John Flagg	....	storyboard artist (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
Emil Glassbourg	....	assistant property master (8 episodes, 1987)

Series Sound Department
Frank Morrone	....	sound re-recording mixer (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
Clark Graff	....	sound designer (unknown episodes)
Phil Rodrigues	....	foley artist (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
John Palmer	....	special effects coordinator (unknown episodes)

Series Visual Effects by
Lisa Atkinson	....	visual effects and post production supervisor (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
Rob Coleman	....	animation/live action coordinator: Arcca Animation (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
Joshua Cushner	....	technical director: miniatures (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
Joseph D'Cruz	....	production computing: Arcca Animation (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
Paula Duborg	....	video operations: Arcca Animation (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
Jefferson Eliot	....	director of visual effects / visual effects supervisor (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
Dale Fay	....	supervisor of stage miniatures / chief model maker (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
Julia Gibson	....	unit manager: miniatures (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
Paul Griffin	....	animation director: Arcca Animation (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
Toby Heindel	....	supervisor of miniature photography / camera: miniatures (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
Earl Huddleston	....	creative director: Arcca Animation (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
Mike Huffman	....	animator: Arcca Animation (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
Hall Hutchison	....	supervisor: motion control photography, Hollywood Tokyo Film Group (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
David Jones	....	miniatures construction supervisor / miniatures supervisor (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
Jenniffer Julich	....	storyboards director/coordinator: Arcca Animation (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
Tex Kadonaga	....	modelling: Arcca Animation (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
Jerry M.C. Kopan	....	programming/systems director: Arcca Animation (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
Vance Loen	....	video consultant: Arcca Animation (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
Gene Miller	....	technical director: Arcca Animation (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
Brick Price	....	supervisor: miniature construction, Wonderworks (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
Stephen Price	....	associate producer: Arcca Animation (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
Robert E. Robbins	....	producer: Arcca Animation (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
John Scheele	....	supervisor: motion control photography, Hollywood Tokyo Film Group (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
Robert D.M. Smith	....	animator: Arcca Animation (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
Robert Stromberg	....	matte paintings (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
Ken Swenson	....	supervisor: miniature construction, Wonderworks (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
Ron Thornton	....	miniatures construction supervisor / chief model maker (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
Andrew Varty	....	senior animator: Arcca Animation (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
Bob Wiggins	....	unit manager: miniatures (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
Sylvia Wong	....	senior animator: Arcca Animation (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
David Altman	....	first assistant camera: miniatures (12 episodes, 1987-1988)
Pierre Champoux	....	miniatures assistant (12 episodes, 1987-1988)
Brian Howald	....	visual effects artist (12 episodes, 1987-1988)
John Jackson	....	lead model maker (12 episodes, 1987-1988)
Alan Kennedy	....	visual effects artist (12 episodes, 1987-1988)
Paul Kirsch	....	visual effects editor (12 episodes, 1987-1988)
Mike McDonald	....	gaffer: miniatures (12 episodes, 1987-1988)
Ernest Mordak	....	visual effects editor (12 episodes, 1987-1988)
Mary Ann Simmons	....	miniatures assistant (12 episodes, 1987-1988)
Doug Mielke	....	visual effects editor (11 episodes, 1988)
Dennis Pike	....	camera: miniatures (10 episodes, 1987)

Series Stunts
Steve Lucescu	....	stunt rigger / utility stunts (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
Dennis Lundin	....	stunts (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
John Stoneham Jr.	....	stunt double (13 episodes, 1987-1988)
Dan Redford	....	stunt performer (11 episodes, 1987)
Roy T. Anderson	....	stunt double (unknown episodes)
Matt Birman	....	stunt performer (unknown episodes)
Shelley Cook	....	stunt performer / utility stunts (unknown episodes)
Branko Racki	....	stunts (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Bruce Macaulay	....	still photographer (7 episodes, 1987)
Michael Auger	....	electrician (unknown episodes)
Christophe Bonnière	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
Richard Gaal	....	best boy electric: second unit (unknown episodes)
Attila Szalay	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)

Series Animation Department
Les Major	....	senior animator: Arcca Animation (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
Mark Mayerson	....	senior animator: Arcca Animation (22 episodes, 1987-1988)

Series Casting Department
Ramsay King	....	casting: USA (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sara Schilt	....	wardrobe assistant (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
Lisa Atkinson	....	post-production coordinator (10 episodes, 1987)
Paul Kirsch	....	post-production: Motion Picture Video Corp. (10 episodes, 1987)
Doug Mielke	....	post-production: Motion Picture Video Corp. (10 episodes, 1987)
Ernest Mordak	....	post-production: Motion Picture Video Corp. (10 episodes, 1987)

Series Music Department
John Debney	....	conductor (unknown episodes)
Yuri Gorbachow	....	music editor (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Evelyn Baker	....	production coordinator: Arcca Animation (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
Gary Goddard	....	creative consultant (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
J. Michael Straczynski	....	executive story consultant (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
David Thornton	....	director of post production (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
Sheldon S. Wiseman	....	business consultant / executive consultant (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
Tony Christopher	....	creative consultant (11 episodes, 1987)
Douglas Netter	....	creative consultant (11 episodes, 1987)
Susan Haller	....	script supervisor (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Landmark Entertainment Group
• Mattel
• Ventura Pictures Inc.

Distributors

• Quality Video (1988) (Greece) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Robert Short Productions Inc. (Power Suits constructed by)
• Wonderworks (miniature construction)

Other Companies

• MacGillivray Freeman Films  aerial photography
• Urban Archipelago Filmed Entertainment  DVD production services
• Ventura Pictures Inc.  production services

Also Known As:

Runtime:

30 min (22 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Landmark Entertainment Group

Trivia:

Each episode cost an estimated US$1 million.

Quotes:

Capt. Jonathan Power:[first line spoken in every episode] Power on!

Movie Connections:

Edited into Captain Power: The Beginning (1989) (TV)

Power on!

This is truly one of my most favorite shows of all time. Sure it might have been a little cheesy, but it was great. You learn what's happening in the opening monologue:

"Earth 2147. The legacy of the Metal Wars, when man fought machine and machines won. Bio-Dreads. Monstrous creations that hunt down human survivors... and digitize them. Volcania. Center of the Bio-Dread empire, stronghold and fortress of Lord Dread, feared ruler of this new order. But from the fires of the Metal Wars arose a new breed or warrior-born and trained to bring down Lord Dread and his Bio-Dread empire. They were soldiers of the future, mankind's last hope. Their leader, Captain Jonathan Power; master of the incredible powersuits, which transform each soldier into a one-man attack force.

Major Matthew "Hawk" Masterson, fighter in the sky. Lt. Michael "Tank" Ellis, ground assault unit. Sgt. Robert "Scout" Baker, espionage and communications. And Corporal Jennifer "Pilot" Chase, tactical systems expert. Together, they form the most powerful fighting force in Earth's history. Their creed: to protect all life. Their promise: to end Lord Dread's rule. Their name? Captain Power and the Soliders of the Future!"

I loved this show. Sure it was a little intense but when it was on, I was hooked. Jonathan Power was just a great 80's sci-fi hero. Soaron Sky Sentry used to scare the hell out of me when he'd show up and digitize people into pixels. Lord Dread was also very creepy. When I was kid, I had all the toys from Captain Power's fighter jet to Interlocker, and the videos which you could use with the ships. You had to try to see how many enemies you could kill by shooting the flashing 3D-ish flashing areas of enemies. You could also take damage too if enemies were shooting at you on the screen. If you took too much damage, the figure in the cockpit would be ejected! You could also use the ship to shoot at bad guys during the actual show, too.

It's too bad they only got one season out of it. More could have been done with it but I read that since the toys didn't sell that well during Christmas, they pulled the series. It was obviously aimed at kids as it was on Saturday Mornings, but kids may not have liked it because it was too serious or intense for them. I'd like to see it come back. They could probably do some great things and fix it up from the areas is lacked in the first time.