Ring Raiders facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ring Raiders |
|
|---|---|
Title screen
|
|
| Created by | Those Characters from Cleveland |
| Developed by | Phil Harnage |
| Directed by | Will Meuginot Kevin Altieri |
| Voices of | Dan Gilvezan Efrain Figueroa Stuart Goetz Ike Eisenmann Gregory Martin Jack Angel Chris Anthony Roscoe Lee Browne Rodger Bumpass Townsend Coleman Chuck McCann Susan Silo |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of episodes | 5 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Robby London |
| Producer(s) | Andy Heyward |
| Production company(s) | DIC Enterprises |
| Distributor | Bohbot Entertainment |
| Release | |
| Original network | Syndication |
| Original release | September 16 – October 14, 1989 |
Ring Raiders is a cartoon TV show from 1989. It was based on a toy line made by Matchbox in the 1980s. The series started with a two-hour special, then had five half-hour episodes over one week.
Contents
Story of the Show
The story takes place in 1998. The world is almost at war! A group called the "Skull Squadron" wants to take over the world using their powerful airplanes. These pilots have planes that can travel through time. They love this power and decide to use it to control everything. More and more pilots join the Skull Squadron, making them stronger and more dangerous.
Just in time, the world's big nations realize what the Skull Squadron is planning. They team up to create a special aircraft called the Justice-class air carrier. This huge carrier can also travel through time! The Justice carrier has a small crew. They go back in time to find the best planes and pilots from history's greatest air battles. They train these pilots to fight against the Skull Squadron.
A few pilots are chosen as "Ring Commanders." They train and lead the other hundreds of pilots. Ring Commanders have special signal rings. With these rings, they can call for help or be called by another Ring Raider when needed.
Five episodes were made, but the show was never picked up for a full season. These episodes were "Ring of Fire," "Scorch's Revenge," "All the Right Stuff," "The Best Man for the Job is a Woman," and "A Pilot's Faith."
The show's art style was created by Peter Chung. It was based on designs by Mark Spangler and Jim Groman.
When characters wanted to make their planes more powerful, they would use their rings and say, "The command is in my hand!" Their planes would transform, but only for a short time. If they used the power for too long, it could hurt the pilot.
Pilots and Their Planes
Justice Crew
- Victor Vector (voiced by Dan Gilvezan) – Victor used to lead a stealth fighter team. He was chosen to command the first Justice air carrier and the Ring Raiders. He is calm and always ready to risk his life for others. He flies the Victory 1, a special F-19 stealth fighter.
- Yuri Kirkov – Yuri was a strong and disciplined major in the Soviet Air Force. Now, he is one of the top Ring Raider leaders. He joined the US side during the Vietnam War. Kirkov is tough and serious, but he can also be very kind. He is often surprised by how relaxed the other Ring Raiders are. He flies Kirkov's Comet, a special F-4 Phantom II fighter-bomber. His plane has a unique beam-cannon on its nose that can cut planes or blind enemy sensors.
- Yinsu Yakamura (voiced by Townsend Coleman) – Yinsu was a space-fighter pilot from the year 2235. He was picked up by a Justice carrier. He is super smart and knows a lot about many things, especially 20th-century technology. Yinsu is very brave and honorable. He flies the Samurai Flyer, a special Grumman X-29 with advanced computers and radar. It also has a "Deceptor" that can make 1 to 50 fake images on radar, making it look like Yinsu has a whole squadron with him.
- Joe Thundercloud (voiced by Efrain Figueroa) – Joe is a Sioux Native American. He was flying for the USAF in Korea when he was brought aboard a Justice carrier. Joe is a quiet and thoughtful person. When he speaks, everyone listens because he has a sharp mind and great strategies. He is always brave and can spot enemies before they even show up on radar. He flies the Arrowhead, a special F-86 Sabre fighter/bomber. His plane has special Sidewinder missiles and can fly very fast for short bursts.
- "Cub" Jones (voiced by Ike Eisenmann) – "Cub" Jones joined a Justice carrier in 1943. He lied about his age to join the USN when he was only 16. He is a very talented pilot, but he can be hot-headed and cocky. He has a lot to learn but is a likable young pilot. He flies the Sky Tiger, a special Northrop F-5 interceptor. His plane has a "Tigerclaw" missile system with 25 small missiles that can be controlled by the plane's computer.
- Max Miles (voiced by Roscoe Lee Browne) – Max is the head of Ring Raider intelligence. He flies dangerous missions into Skull Squadron areas to gather information and photos. He plans carefully to keep his team safe, but he takes many risks himself. He loves jokes and has a sarcastic sense of humor. Max is great at night missions. He pilots the Knight Fighter, a special SR-71 Blackbird spy jet.
- Baron Von Claudeitz (voiced by Chuck McCann) – Baron Von Claudeitz is a grumpy World War I German fighter pilot. He thinks other pilots rely too much on technology. He flies his original, modified Fokker Dr.I plane. He is a tribute to the famous German pilot, the Red Baron. The Baron only appeared in the cartoon and a UK comic book.
- Jenny Gail (voiced by Chris Anthony) – Jenny Gail is the highest-ranking female Ring Raider. She is a trained doctor and flew helicopters in the Vietnam War. She has to deal with Baron Von Claudeitz, who thinks women shouldn't be fighter pilots. She flies a futuristic, jet-powered medevac helicopter called Nightingale. She is so skilled that she often makes the Skull Squadron look like amateurs. Jenny only appeared in the cartoon.
Skull Squadron
- Scorch (voiced by Rodger Bumpass) – Scorch, whose real name is Stanley Smith, is the founder and leader of the Skull Squadron. He is a master of air combat tricks. He is a fierce fighter who has never been beaten. Scorch is very bitter and wants revenge on Victor Vector, who he blames for the burns on his left arm and face. That's why he wears a skull-like mask. He flies Scorch's Torch, a special Saab Viggen fighter-interceptor with many fire weapons and electronic defenses.
- Hubbub (voiced by Stuart Goetz) – Hubbub is a punk rocker who loves to cause trouble. He uses his plane's high-tech devices to confuse the Ring Raiders. He is also good at imitating voices and can trick Ring Raiders by giving false orders. Hubbub is a tough but unusual fighter. He loves a good air battle. He flies the Zapmaster, a special Dassault Mirage III that can electrify a whole cloud.
- Siren (voiced by Susan Silo) – Siren is the only female Skull Squadron leader. Her MiG-25 plane has many powerful sound weapons. Siren only appeared in the cartoon.
- Chiller – Chiller is one of the most feared Skull Squadron pilots. He is known for being cold and ruthless. He is also a loner and prefers to attack Ring Raiders by surprise. He flies the Ice Machine, a special Lockheed F-104 Starfighter with unusual "ice" weapons. His deadliest weapon can freeze things up to a mile away.
- Mako (voiced by Jack Angel) – Mako is the last person you want to mess with in air-sea battles. He is usually calm, but when he is about to attack, he gets very excited, making it almost impossible to escape him. Mako holds grudges and will hunt down anyone who has crossed him, especially his former teammate, Yuri Kirkov. He flies the Sea Hunter, a special Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29 designed for sea duty. It has a special sonar device and can even operate underwater!
- Wraith – Wraith has been seen flying with the Skull Squadron since World War II. Some say he's just a flight suit passed down, but those who have fought him and his ghostly P-51 Mustang, the Galloping Ghoul, believe they are not from this world. When his helmet visor is lifted, there is no face underneath. The Galloping Ghoul can disappear and reappear, giving it a spooky advantage.
- Blackjack – Blackjack is the most daring Skull Squadron member and specializes in night attacks. He takes risks that most people wouldn't. He flies the Battle Bird, a special Hawker Siddeley Harrier "jump jet" with night-combat gear. It has an invisible infrared beam that shows objects in the dark on a 3-D screen in his cockpit.
Episodes
- "Ring of Fire" (aired September 16, 1989): Cub Jones, a new US Navy pilot from World War II, joins the Ring Raiders when the Skull Squadron appears in his time. The episode shows Cub being rescued and joining the team. Then, they must stop the Skulls' weapon from setting off volcanoes around the world.
- "The Best Man for the Job is a Woman" (aired September 23, 1989): Jenny Gail must rescue other Ring Raiders when they are in trouble. She proves that she is a very skilled pilot.
- "Scorch's Revenge" (aired September 30, 1989): We learn that Scorch's real name is Stanley Smith. He and Victor Vector were rivals in flight school. Victor scarred Scorch's face after a challenge. Scorch kidnaps Jenny Gail and challenges Victor to a fight, planning to send Jenny to the Jurassic Period.
- "All the Right Stuff" (aired October 7, 1989): In 2038, Yinsu Yakamura rescued astronauts from a meteor shower. The Justice air carrier saved him from a crash landing, and a starflyer became his alien pet parrot. Scorch travels to 2020 to steal a satellite. The Ring Raiders escape to Kansas in 1860 to avoid the Skull Squadron. Yinsu suggests they go to Edwards Air Force Base in 2023 to get a Gamma 2 Space Fighter to defeat Scorch.
- "A Pilot's Faith" (aired October 14, 1989): A mysterious sickness is spreading, and the Ring Raiders must deliver a cure. "Cub" Jones learns to trust his pilot instincts instead of technology when the Justice air carrier's autopilot breaks down.
Toyline
The Ring Raiders toy line had small plastic toy planes, about 3–4 centimeters long. They came on plastic rings with stands that let the planes move a little. Not many different plane shapes were made; most planes were just painted in different colors.
The toy line didn't last very long, only about six months.
Wing Packs
Most of the toys were sold in packs of four planes. Each group of planes had its own special color scheme. No two packs had the exact same planes, but some shared three planes.
There were twelve packs released: six for the Ring Raiders and six for the Skull Squadron.
Battle Packs
These packs had two planes: one Skull Squadron plane and one Ring Raider plane. These planes were just ones that had already been sold in the Wing packs.
Later, these packs were sold with other items from the toy line.
Bases
Four bases were released: three for the Ring Raiders and one for the Skull Squadron.
The Air Carrier Justice was the biggest toy. It looked like a giant flying wing.
The Skybase Freedom and Skybase Courage were two smaller bases. Both could connect to the Justice. They looked similar and shared many parts, just with different colors.
The Skull Squadron Mobile Base was a heavily armed flying fortress. This toy was based on the same design as the Freedom/Courage bases and shared about half of its parts.
Battle Blasters
These were two accessories that looked like flight sticks worn on the wrist. They made three sounds: jet engine, cannon, and missile launch. Each sound had its own button.
Two versions were made, one for Ring Raiders and one for Skull Squadron. They looked almost the same, except for their colors. The Skull Squadron version made a "revving" sound when it started, but otherwise, it was the same.
Action Packs
These packs were released at the end of the toy line and are quite rare. They had eight planes, four from each side. The planes were a mix of old and new designs, all with new colors.
Featured Aircraft
The Ring Raiders toy line included many real-life aircraft, from World War II planes to more modern and even "futuristic" designs. Except for the fictional Nightingale helicopter, the air carriers, and some model kits, all the planes were based on real aircraft. Most of them were Western, especially American, planes.
Real-life Aircraft in the toy line include:
- P-51 Mustang
- F4U Corsair
- F-86 Sabre
- F-104 Starfighter
- F-4 Phantom II
- F-5 Tiger II
- F-16 Falcon
- A-10 Thunderbolt II
- SR-71 Blackbird
- X-29
- Harrier
- Mirage III
- Saab Viggen
- MiG-29 Fulcrum
The cartoon also showed many other planes that were not in the toy line. These included the F6F Hellcat, B-58 Hustler, BAE Hawk, Fokker Dr.I, MiG-21, MiG-25, Tu-22, and A6M Zero.
In Europe, a second set of Ring Raiders toys was released. These new planes had similar colors to the first series. New aircraft included the F6F Hellcat, F7U Cutlass, BAE Hawk, Me 262, and MiG-21.
Comic Book
A Ring Raiders comic book was published in 1989. It came out every two weeks and had six issues. Instead of telling one full story per issue, each issue had 5–6 ongoing stories. One story usually told how a character first became a Ring Raider or Skull Squadron pilot.
Like the TV show and toys, the comic book didn't last long. It was suddenly canceled after the 6th issue, leaving most stories unfinished.
Later, a special edition was released that finished all the stories that had been left hanging. It also included another origin story and some "mini posters" which were covers planned for future issues.
The comic book's story was different from the cartoon series. The characters looked different, and some had very different origin stories. Their looks and stories were more like the original toy line.
Fun Facts
The music in Ring Raiders was composed by Shuki Levy. This music was later used in the English versions of the first two seasons of the Digimon cartoon.
