Saber Rider & The Star Explored - This Obscure Late 80's Action Mecha Cartoon Is A Diamond In Rough

Sei Juushi Bismark, also known by the name Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs, was the earliest not-so-just-for-kids series to air on television outside of Japan. It was the first mecha series to feature true character interaction. The heroes did not waste the whole episode waiting for another onslaught inside their base. They enjoyed going on vacations, talking about their futures, and liking and loathing others. Yes, previous shows such as Battleship Yamato and the first Gundam series accomplished the same thing, but they were only available on VHS. Bismark also was the first series to use story twists. This was the very first time we saw traitors from the "good side", who weren't motivated by materialism, but rather by jealousy. It was the very first time we saw the protagonists lose due to their internal politics! The mood altered dramatically in the later part of the show, resulting in the first significant scenario change we'd ever seen. And it's much more fantastic because of it! Bismark's strong points are common in today's mecha and action series. But that doesn't alter the fact that it was the very first on television to present those standard features and prepare us for what was to come in the series after it.