Television series

Defenders of the Earth

Name: Defenders of the Earth
Genre: Action, Fantasy, Science Fiction
Released: 1986
Cast: Sarah Partridge, Peter Mark Richman, Loren Lester, Lou Richards, Buster Jones

Superhero

A 1986 animated series that takes classic King Features comic-strip heroes—Flash Gordon, The Phantom, Mandrake—and ages them into a futuristic ensemble, fighting Ming the Merciless in 2015 with their kids. It's pure Saturday-morning adventure: zippy, colourful, unashamed about its pulpy roots. For anyone who loved the *He-Man* era and wants something that leans harder into retro-futurism.

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you grew up on Saturday-morning serials and still get a kick from a cape, a ray gun and a cartoon villain who makes a grand entrance every time.

Skip it if you need modern animation polish or sharp character work, because this is a cheerful, modestly animated 1980s kids' adventure with broad heroes.

What it asks of you: Each episode runs half an hour and the single season is a long, easygoing commitment, with light, brisk storytelling you can dip into without much attention.

Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.

If you liked this

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe1983

The gold standard of 1980s syndicated action cartoons. Colourful, endlessly inventive, and genuinely fun. If you love *Defenders*, this is where the template was perfected.

But Relies heavily on toy-selling and repetitive villains. Some episodes feel like they're just running out the clock.

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe poster

Thundarr the Barbarian1980

Post-apocalyptic adventure with a lighter touch than it should have. Muscular hero, magical sidekick, and weekly battles against ridiculous threats. The DNA is all there.

But Only two seasons. The animation is cheaper than you'd want, and some premises are genuinely odd in ways that don't quite land.

Centurions1986

Came out the same year with the same syndicated energy. Futuristic soldiers with snap-together gear fighting doomsday scenarios. Clever design, absurd stakes, genuine charm.

But Toy-commercial DNA is very visible. Plots are thin and episodes can blur together when you're marathoning.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Defenders of the Earth

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Akira1988

Both were landmark animated works released within two years of each other, representing wildly different visions of what animation in the '80s could be. Where *Defenders* embraced pulp fun, *Akira* proved animation could be visually and intellectually uncompromising. Watching both shows you the full spectrum.

A watershed moment for animation. Cyberpunk Tokyo, stunning hand-drawn detail, and storytelling that treats the medium as genuinely cinematic. The opposite of *Defenders*' brightness, but same era, same ambition.

But Deliberately bleak and violent. Narrative is fractured and difficult. Absolutely not for Saturday-morning sensibilities.

Swamp Thing1990

Live-action adaptation that respects its source while embracing camp. Creature effects are genuinely impressive for 1990. Episodes balance horror with adventure without winking.

But Budget constraints show in fight scenes. Some episodes lean too hard into the soapy human-drama side.

Batman: The Animated Series1992

Takes superhero action seriously while keeping the fun intact. Animation is smooth, writing is sharp, and it proves cartoons for kids could be genuinely excellent.

But Tonal whiplash between lighter episodes and genuinely dark ones. Some villains work better than others.

Mighty Orbots1984

Obscure gem about a space commander and his transforming robot team. Visual design is wild, stories are inventive, and it doesn't talk down to its audience.

But Only 13 episodes before cancellation. The animation is inconsistent and some plots are impenetrably strange.

The Fantastic Four1994

90s animated series that understands ensemble dynamics and gives each character room to breathe. Designs are faithful to the comics but film itself has weight.

But Limited animation in places. Some episodes drag and the central family drama doesn't always land.

Superman: The Animated Series1996

The animation is rotoscoped, the stories are tight, and it proves the Man of Steel can carry a series without being boring. Dent Pearson's voice is perfect.

But Some early episodes are oddly paced. Later seasons lose focus a bit and chase crossover opportunities.

Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends1981

Older and simpler than *Defenders*, but the warmth is real. Spider-Man with Iceman and Firestar against ridiculous 1980s threats. Pure nostalgia fuel if you're in the mood.

But Animation is very limited and stiff. Writing assumes a younger audience and doesn't reward close attention.

Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends poster

Flash Gordon1980

The 1980 *Flash Gordon* film is the immediate grandparent of *Defenders*. Both adapt the same character and take the retro-futurism seriously—but the film does it with genuine strangeness and style. *Defenders* is what happens when you dial that down to Saturday-morning budget and tone.

Mike Hodges' camp masterpiece. Brian Blessed chewing scenery, a synth soundtrack by Queen, and full commitment to its own absurdity. Colourful, kinetic, ridiculous, utterly joyful.

But Deliberately campy in a way that requires audience buy-in. If you think it's trying too hard, you'll hate every second. Pacing is odd.

Dragon's Lair

Like *Defenders*, it's a 1980s animated adventure that loves retro-futurism and fantasy kitsch. Unlike *Defenders*, it was trying to bridge animation and videogames—a formal experiment *Defenders* never attempted. If you want to see what else the animation studios were attempting in the same moment, this is it.

An early animated feature directed by Richard Claudio. It's basically a laserdisc game rendered as a film: you're watching interactive storytelling compressed into linear narrative. Stunningly rotoscoped animation and pure pulp fantasy.

But Plot is thin and dialogue is clunky. It's genuinely difficult to watch as a film because it's designed as a game. Some people find rotoscope animation creepy.