Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers: Tortuna

Earl Hammond and Jerry Orbach are among the actors providing voices for the animated Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers (1986), a nutty but moderately pleasing attempt to reinvent the Western in space from director Robert Mandell (F/X). In the year 2086, the Galaxy Rangers (much like the old Texas Rangers, pseudo-official keepers of law and order) use hyperdrive technology (a present to Earth from two friendly aliens) to travel around the new interplanetary frontier. Riding (sometimes robotic) horses and toting sidearms reminiscent of blazing six-shooters, the Rangers have their hands full in the initial four-episode DVD compilation Tortuna. The title piece finds the heroes (three men, one woman) chasing down a "memory bird" stolen from a queen, while "One Million Emotions" concerns the theft of a dangerous "sensation doll" that can cause madness, and the nightmarish "Scarecrow" revolves around hideous, underground monsters stirred to the surface by the pounding of new farm machines (the fourth episode is entitled "Heart of Tarkon"). Not Japanese anime, but similarly-themed, this opening volume from the short-lived series has developed a bit of a cult following, and should be considered a strong optional purchase. [Note: Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers: Supertroopers is also newly available.] Aud: P. (T. Keogh)