NAVARRE CORPORATION’S BCI REACHES INTO THE FILMATION SCI-FI ANIMATION VAULT AND ANNOUNCES THE RELEASE OF “SPACE SENTINELS & THE FREEDOM FORCE — The Complete Series”
Two Complete Classic ‘70s Animation Series Available on August 22nd in a Two-Disc Set for $19.98
Los Angeles, CA – Continuing its ongoing commitment to releasing classic Filmation animation series, BCI, a wholly owned subsidiary of Navarre Corporation, along with leading media company and underlying rights owner, Entertainment Rights Plc (“ER”), head into space and beyond with the classic ‘70s sci-fi animation series “Space Sentinels” and “The Freedom Force.” All episodes of both series will be available from BCI’s Ink & Paint brand in a special two-disc collection this August 22nd at a suggested retail price of $19.98.
“While Filmation made a name for itself with the iconic series’ ‘He-Man®’ and ‘She-Ra®,’ there is a tremendous fan base that also remembers these classic sci-fi and super-hero programs,” said Jeff Hayne, Director of Acquisitions, BCI. “We’re looking forward to sharing these titles not only with those fans looking to reminisce about shows from their younger days, but also with a new, younger audience that will surely appreciate the creativity and nostalgia of these shows.”
“Space Sentinels” stars super-strong Hercules, shape-changing beauty Astrea, and lightning-fast Mercury, three young Earthlings who were transported to an otherworldly domain centuries ago. There, the cosmic computer entity known as Sentinel One granted them astounding powers and eternal youth. Now, they protect the human race from super-villains, marauding aliens, tampering time-travelers, and vengeful deities. The trio of heroes has become legend, guarding mankind as… the Space Sentinels!
The series—which aired in the 1977-78 television season—was ahead of its time with its racially diverse cast of a Nordic male (Hercules); an African-American woman (Astrea) and an Asian male (Mercury). During the 1978-79 television season, an equally diverse set of heroes was created as “The Freedom Force.” That show included an animated version of ultra-popular live-action super-heroine Isis, star of “The Secrets of Isis.”
“The Freedom Force” features five legendary heroes. Joining the returning strongman Hercules are the magician Merlin, super-adventurer Sinbad, armored giant of the East, Super Samurai, and the beauteous Egyptian heroine known as Isis! Headquartered in the sandswept Valley of Time, this powerful quintet defends humanity, using their awesome powers to defeat magical menaces, rampaging robots, and mythological threats. Together, they are The Freedom Force!
The two-disc collection features all 13 episodes of “Space Sentinels” as well as all five episodes of “The Freedom Force.” Special features include:
·Interviews with creators Lou Scheimer, Buzz Dixon, Darrell McNeil, Michael Reaves, Robert Kline and David Wise.
·"The Magic of Filmation” documentary tracing the history of Filmation, and its quarter century legacy of popular animated and live-action series
·“Young Sentinels” audition tapes
·Original “Young Sentinels” presentation – storyboard with narration
·Model Sheet Gallery—featuring original images from Space Sentinels and Freedom Force
·Young Sentinels gallery – early presentation images for the cartoon that would become Space Sentinels
·Spanish language tracks for all 13 Space Sentinels episodes
·DVD-ROM features – scripts for all 13 episodes of Space Sentinels and 3 episodes for The Freedom Force
·Trivia for both series
·Digital remastering of sound and video
As with the best-selling He-Man® and She-Ra® releases, consulting with BCI on the project and producing the special features, documentaries and most of the extra content is entertainment writer Andy Mangels, http://www.andymangels.com, a best-selling novelist, and author of Animation on DVD—The Ultimate Guide.