Action Man (1995 TV series)
Encyclopedia
Action Man is a 1995 British children's animated television show, created by DiC Entertainment
. The cartoon
is based on the 1990 Hasbro
toy of the same name
. It stars Action Man as a member of an elite multinational task force who is trying to unlock the mystery of his past.
hit sports show, American Gladiators
. Devon Sawa
, before his career took off, was one of the voice-over
actors for various characters in the show.
which where then made into toys. The action figures of Natalie Poole and Knuck have become very rare collectors items. At Joecon 2010, a convention exclusive Q-Force action figure of Natalie Poole was released.
in the UK due to rules on advertising to children (a toy could follow a program but not the other way around). It has also been released on DVD but the episodes on the DVDs are in a random order and many episodes have been released numerous times while several have not been released at all. This has caused confusion amongst many fans.
DiC Entertainment
DIC Entertainment was an international film and television production company. In addition to animated television shows such as Ulysses 31 , Inspector Gadget , The Littles , The Real Ghostbusters , Captain Planet and the Planeteers , and the first two seasons of the English adaptation of...
. The cartoon
Cartoon
A cartoon is a form of two-dimensional illustrated visual art. While the specific definition has changed over time, modern usage refers to a typically non-realistic or semi-realistic drawing or painting intended for satire, caricature, or humor, or to the artistic style of such works...
is based on the 1990 Hasbro
Hasbro
Hasbro is a multinational toy and boardgame company from the United States of America. It is one of the largest toy makers in the world. The corporate headquarters is located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States...
toy of the same name
Action Man
Action Man is an action figure boys' toy launched in Britain in 1966 by Palitoy as a licensed copy of Hasbro's American "moveable fighting man": G.I...
. It stars Action Man as a member of an elite multinational task force who is trying to unlock the mystery of his past.
Cast
Action Man was played by Mark Griffin, best known as "Trojan," from Gladiators, the British version of the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
hit sports show, American Gladiators
American Gladiators
American Gladiators is an American competition television program that aired in syndication from September 1989 to May 1996. The series matched a cast of amateur athletes against each other, as well as against the show's own gladiators, in contests of strength and agility.The concept was created by...
. Devon Sawa
Devon Sawa
Devon Edward Sawa is a Canadian actor. Although he appears in independent films, he is best known for portraying the part of Alex Browning in the 1999 movie Final Destination...
, before his career took off, was one of the voice-over
Voice-over
Voice-over is a production technique where a voice which is not part of the narrative is used in a radio, television production, filmmaking, theatre, or other presentations...
actors for various characters in the show.
Toys
The show introduced several new team mates for Action ManAction Man
Action Man is an action figure boys' toy launched in Britain in 1966 by Palitoy as a licensed copy of Hasbro's American "moveable fighting man": G.I...
which where then made into toys. The action figures of Natalie Poole and Knuck have become very rare collectors items. At Joecon 2010, a convention exclusive Q-Force action figure of Natalie Poole was released.
Home releases
The series was only available on VHSVHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
in the UK due to rules on advertising to children (a toy could follow a program but not the other way around). It has also been released on DVD but the episodes on the DVDs are in a random order and many episodes have been released numerous times while several have not been released at all. This has caused confusion amongst many fans.
| DVD Name | Episodes | Release Date | Running Time | Additional information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Explosive Situation | Explosive Situation, Fountain of Youth, Cyber Soilder | 2002 | 63:00 minutes | |
| The Outside Edge | The Outside Edge, Skynap, Crack of Doom | 2004 | 63:00 minutes | |
| Past Performance | Soul of Evil, We Came in Peace, Past Perfomance | 2004 | 63:00 minutes | |
| A Time for Action | A Time For Action - Part One, A Time For Action - Part Two, The Most Dangerous Prey | 2005 | 63:00 minutes | |
| Peril At Perigee | Peril At Perigee, You Can't Go Home Again | 2005 | 42:00 minutes | |
| Rogue Moons | Rogue Moons, Points of Danger, Deja Vu | 2006 | 63:00 minutes | |
| Space Wars | We Came in Peace, Satellite Down, Skynap, Space Wars | 2007 | 68:00 minutes |