BattleTech: The Animated Series

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BattleTech: The Animated Series
FASA Corporation
Animation servicesPhilippine Animation Studio Inc.
Original release
NetworkFirst-run syndication
ReleaseSeptember 10 (1994-09-10) –
December 10, 1994 (1994-12-10)

BattleTech is an

Saban Entertainment in 1994.[1]
Written by Robert N. Skir and Marty Isenberg, the series ran for 13 episodes and focused on the character of Adam Steiner, a military officer in the distant future who struggles to liberate his home planet from an attacking faction.

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.[2]

Ownership of the series passed to

Saban Entertainment.[3][4][5]

Story

The series takes place in the year 3050 as the Inner Sphere, the central region of settled interstellar space, is suddenly invaded by a powerful human faction identifying itself as

Federated Commonwealth
called Somerset.

Far away on the planet Tharkad, Major Adam Steiner, a teacher at the Nagelring Military Academy and native of Somerset, receives word of the attack on his homeworld and the loss of all communication with the forces there, including his brother Andrew. Using his relationship to one of the Federated Commonwealth's ruling family, he gains permission to assemble a force to gather intelligence on the Clans and, if possible, liberate Somerset.

Unfortunately for Steiner, the only available

Draconis Combine
spacecraft recently seized for smuggling. The early episodes focus on Steiner recruiting and developing his team and reconciling differences between them, particularly between the Draconis JumpShip crew and the Federated Commonwealth soldiers, while gathering information about the Clans and their technology.

After several successes, Steiner's unit is given BattleMechs enhanced with stolen Clan technology and begin offensive missions against the Clans, culminating in a Trial of Possession for the planet Somerset. Steiner wins the duel, but the Clan commander, honouring the letter of the deal, gives Steiner the planet but keeps the planet's population as prisoners. The series ends with Steiner vowing to rescue the people of Somerset.

Characters

1st Somerset Strikers

Clan Jade Falcon

  • Nicolai Malthus - A Star Colonel and commander of the Falcon's Claws, an elite unit of Jade Falcon warriors. He's extremely ruthless in battle and arrogant in his dealings with others, even fellow Clan warriors. 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 Summoner M Omnimech.
  • Kristen Redmond - Star Colonel, commander of the Black Vision cluster and Malthus's main rival. Pilots a Mad Dog Prime Omnimech.
  • Pytor - Star Commander. At the age of 37 and lacking a Bloodname, he is considered old and useless by many of the younger breed of Clan Jade Falcon warriors, including his commander, Star Colonel Nicolai Malthus. Often relegated to humiliating garrison-type duties because of this disdain. Pilots a Hunchback IIC battlemech.
  • Vandervahn Chistu - Galaxy Commander. Nicolai Malthus's commander and one of the few people capable of keeping him in check, though even that's not always a sure thing. Is seen to grow increasingly frustrated with Malthus's cavalier attitude late in the series. Unlike virtually every other Clan warrior in the series, he does not have Enhanced Imaging tattoos. He is never seen piloting a battlemech or Omnimech.
  • Natalya - Holds the rank of Star Commander in the Falcons Claws. She is an Elemental, one of the Clans' genetically-bred infantry. Very little is revealed about her in the series, though in the book 1st Somerset Strikers, it is revealed that she is fiercely loyal to her commander, Nicolai Malthus, because she sees his exploits as her best shot for glory and a Bloodname. Pilots an Elemental battle armor suit.

Clan Wolf

Clan Wolf only appear in the "Road to Camelot" episode, where they act as a rival to Clan Jade Falcon's claims to the Camelot base. They do not appear in any other episode.

Episodes

  1. The Gathering Storm (September 10, 1994)
  2. Well Bargained and Done
  3. Warriors of Light and Steel
  4. Retribution
  5. Trade Secrets
  6. No Guts, No Galaxy (note: clip show)
  7. Protect and Survive
  8. In the Belly of the Beast
  9. Bound by Honor
  10. Road to Camelot
  11. Enemy of My Enemy
  12. Shadow Heir
  13. Homecoming
  14. Trial of Possession

Intro

Every episode begins with a voice over and intro sequence narrated by Adam Steiner:

"This is the Inner Sphere - thousands of planets 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!"

Sourcebook

In 1995, FASA published 1st Somerset Strikers, a

wargaming products, including BattleTech, MechWarrior, AeroTech and BattleSpace. The book also provided synopses for all 13 episodes and attempted to address the contradictions of the series with the established BattleTech canon
.

Comics

A 5 issue limited comicbook series called BattleTech: Fallout (based on the hit animated series) was created by Malibu Comics and released in 1994. It took place at the same time as the Clan Jade Falcon invasion, with 1st Somerset Striker's Rachel Spectors sister, heavily evolved within the storyline.

References

  1. ISBN 978-1538103739
    .
  2. ISBN 978-1476665993
    .
  3. ^ "U.S. Copyright Public Records System".
  4. ^ "Disney+ and Missing Saban Entertainment & Fox Kids-Jetix Worldwide Library - StreamClues". 14 September 2022. Archived from the original on 26 December 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  5. ^ "Liste - BVS Entertainment | Séries".

External links
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