History WesternAnimation / Blackstar

* MerchandiseDriven: Blackstar's toy line actually didn't appear until several years after the show was off the air, only hitting the shelves after ''WesternAnimation/MastersOfTheUniverse'' had become a hit. Despite this, they sold well, and the toy line lasted for a couple of years.

** According to ''The Toys That Made Us'', ''He-Man'' was basically a re-skinned ''Blackstar'', because Mattel basically promised a cartoon based on ''He-Man'' to get them to carry the toys. Filmation used the ''Blackstar'' template directly for ''He-Man''.

&& According to ''The Toys That Made Us'', ''He-Man'' was basically a re-skinned ''Blackstar'', because Mattel basically promised a cartoon based on ''He-Man'' to get them to carry the toys. Filmation used the ''Blackstar'' template directly for ''He-Man''.

* DisneyDeath: In "The Overlord's Big Spell," he drains all the magic from Sagar to summon a huge demon, causing Blackstar's sorceress friend Mara to disappear. When the demon's destroyed and the magic comes back, so does Mara.

* {{Fanservice}}: Like many of Filmation's series, ''Blackstar'' was replete with muscular heroes and busty heroines.

''Blackstar'' is a 1981 fantasy-adventure cartoon from Creator/{{Filmation}}. A precursor to the far more successful ''WesternAnimation/HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse1983'' (only 12 episodes were produced), ''Blackstar'' followed the adventures of an [[FishOutOfWater Earthly astronaut]], the eponymous John Blackstar, and his "allies": Klone, the [[OurElvesAreBetter elf-like]] [[VoluntaryShapeshifting ShapeShifter]]; Mara, the [[GreenSkinnedSpaceBabe lavender-skinned]] MagicalGirl; Warlock, his [[OurDragonsAreDifferent dragon-like]] [[CoolHorse Cool Steed]]; and the [[CaptainErsatz Trobbits]], seven magenta-skinned little men who tended the Sagar tree on which the planet's environment depended -- Balkar, their magical leader; the [[TheVoiceless speechless]] Poulo; Carpo; Gossamer, [[EarWings who flew by means of his huge ears]]; Burbil; Rif, who talked like Walter Brennan and whose hat was permanently afire; and Terra. All these were in rebellion against the [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Overlord]] and his allies, such as the sorcerous [[EvilChancellor Vizier]], a horde of dinosaur-shaped stone robots, the [[MechaMooks Lavaloks]], and a series of one-shot villains such as Kadray, the ''Time-Lord'' (no, not [[Series/DoctorWho that one]]).

* MagicalGirl: Mara; Amber in ''City of the Ancient Ones''

* OurGryphonsAreDifferent: Klone becomes one in ''Tree of Evil''.
* OurVampiresAreDifferent: The Vampire-Men in ''The Air Whales of Anchar''.

* EnemyMine: In ''The Overlord's Big Spell'' (see EvilIsNotAToy, below).

* EvilIsNotAToy: As the Overlord finds in ''The Overlord's Big Spell'', when he summons the demonic appearing Brelarand to destroy the rebels -- ''which of course fails spectacularly'' and leads to an EnemyMine with Blackstar.

* {{Expy}}: Since this is Filmation, Blackstar's premise shows a lot of influence from their earlier adaptation of ''WesternAnimation/FlashGordon''. It also presages their later ''WesternAnimation/HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse1983'' in many ways.

* SpiritualSuccessor: Filmation's previous series ''WesternAnimation/FlashGordon'' was clearly an influence on ''Blackstar'' (a FishOutOfWater PlanetaryRomance about an Earthman leading a rebellion against a tyrant), and ''Blackstar'' in turn was clearly an influence on ''WesternAnimation/HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse1983'' (a WalkingShirtlessScene hero with a magic sword on a planet where [[FantasyKitchenSink magic and technology co-exist).]]

* {{Stripperific}}: Most of the women's outfits -- Mara's is typical.

Should not be confused AT ALL with the ''Manga/SoulEater'' character, or the ''Literature/WarriorCats'' character. Nor should he be confused with [=BlackStar=], the hip-hop group consisting of TalibKwali and YasiinBey, or the instrument amp manufacturer, or [[Literature/{{Blackstar}} the book]], or Music/DavidBowie's [[Music/BlackStar final album]].

Should not be confused AT ALL with the ''Manga/SoulEater'' character. Nor should he be confused with [=BlackStar=], the hip-hop group consisting of TalibKwali and YasiinBey, or the instrument amp manufacturer, or [[Literature/{{Blackstar}} the book]], or Music/DavidBowie's [[Music/BlackStar final album]].

Should not be confused AT ALL with the ''Manga/SoulEater'' character. Nor should he be confused with [=BlackStar=], the hip-hop group consisting of TalibKwali and YasiinBey, or the instrument amp manufacturer.

Should not be confused AT ALL with the ''Manga/SoulEater'' character. Nor should he be confused with [=BlackStar=], the hip-hop group consisting of TalibKwali and YasiinBey, the Music/DavidBowie album or the instrument amp manufacturer.

Should not be confused AT ALL with the ''Manga/SoulEater'' character. Nor should he be confused with [=BlackStar=], the hip-hop group consisting of TalibKwali and YasiinBey, or the instrument amp manufacturer.

Should not be confused AT ALL with the ''SoulEater'' character. Nor should he be confused with [=BlackStar=], the hip-hop group consisting of TalibKwali and YasiinBey, or the instrument amp manufacturer.

* CaptainErsatz: The "Trobbits" were at one and the same time expies of Peyo's [[ComicBook/TheSmurfs Smurfs]], Creator/JRRTolkien's hobbits, and {{Disney}}'s [[Disney/SnowWhite Seven Dwarfs]].

-->-- OpeningNarration

* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep: The Overlord

* ExpositoryThemeSong: At least, expository opening narration.

* TheVoiceless: Poulo
* VoluntaryShapeshifting: Klone
* WalkingShirtlessScene: Blackstar

Should not be confused AT ALL with the ''SoulEater'' character. Nor should he be confused with [=BlackStar=], the hip-hop group consisting of TalibKwali and YasiinBey.

[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Blackstar_4458.jpg]]

'''''Blackstar''''' is a 1981 fantasy-adventure cartoon from Creator/{{Filmation}}. A precursor to the far more successful ''WesternAnimation/HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse1983'' (only 12 episodes were produced), ''Blackstar'' followed the adventures of an [[FishOutOfWater Earthly astronaut]], the eponymous John Blackstar, and his "allies": Klone, the [[OurElvesAreBetter elf-like]] [[VoluntaryShapeshifting ShapeShifter]]; Mara, the [[GreenSkinnedSpaceBabe lavender-skinned]] MagicalGirl; Warlock, his [[OurDragonsAreDifferent dragon-like]] [[CoolHorse Cool Steed]]; and the [[CaptainErsatz Trobbits]], seven magenta-skinned little men who tended the Sagar tree on which the planet's environment depended -- Balkar, their magical leader; the [[TheVoiceless speechless]] Poulo; Carpo; Gossamer, [[EarWings who flew by means of his huge ears]]; Burbil; Rif, who talked like Walter Brennan and whose hat was permanently afire; and Terra. All these were in rebellion against the [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Overlord]] and his allies, such as the sorcerous [[EvilChancellor Vizier]], a horde of dinosaur-shaped stone robots, the [[MechaMooks Lavaloks]], and a series of one-shot villains such as Kadray, the ''Time-Lord'' (no, not [[Series/DoctorWho that one]]).

* IChooseToStay: In the last episode, a rescue ship from Earth (piloted by Blackstar's beautiful girlfriend, no less) navigates the black hole, finds John Blackstar on Sagar, and offers to take him home. He very nearly takes her up on it, but he finally decides that he's too important to the natives' rebellion against the Overlord, and he chooses to stay. The last scene is her returning to Earth, and sending a message ahead that she wants to come back with proper military forces to help John defeat the Overlord.

* HeyItsThatVoice: Allan Oppenheimer is Overlord, who is pretty much Skeletor's precursor, also voiced by Oppenheimer.
** Blackstar himself is voiced by George DiCenzo, who would go on to voice Bow and Hordak in She-ra: Princess of Power

* NamesTheSame: Gossamer is ''not'' a [[WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes giant red-furred tooth in tennis shoes]]. And it's Balkar, not [[Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick Belkar]].

* SerialNumbersFiledOff: Katana's ship may not have drawn a second look back when Blackstar first aired. But now, those same viewers may notice that her ship is almost identical to the Core Fighter from ''MobileSuitGundam''. Albeit with a different paint job.

'''''Blackstar''''' is a 1981 fantasy-adventure cartoon from Creator/{{Filmation}}. A precursor to the far more successful ''WesternAnimation/HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse1983'' (only 12 episodes were produced), ''Blackstar'' followed the adventures of an [[FishOutOfWater Earthly astronaut]], the eponymous John Blackstar, and his "allies": Klone, the [[OurElvesAreDifferent elf-like]] [[VoluntaryShapeshifting ShapeShifter]]; Mara, the [[GreenSkinnedSpaceBabe lavender-skinned]] MagicalGirl; Warlock, his [[OurDragonsAreDifferent dragon-like]] [[CoolHorse Cool Steed]]; and the [[CaptainErsatz Trobbits]], seven magenta-skinned little men who tended the Sagar tree on which the planet's environment depended -- Balkar, their magical leader; the [[TheVoiceless speechless]] Poulo; Carpo; Gossamer, [[EarWings who flew by means of his huge ears]]; Burbil; Rif, who talked like Walter Brennan and whose hat was permanently afire; and Terra. All these were in rebellion against the [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Overlord]] and his allies, such as the sorcerous [[EvilChancellor Vizier]], a horde of dinosaur-shaped stone robots, the [[MechaMooks Lavaloks]], and a series of one-shot villains such as Kadray, the ''Time-Lord'' (no, not [[Series/DoctorWho that one]]).