Model Forum / General / Rockets / February 2004

I don't know what our age distribution is here, but this website talks
about an old animated space cartoon that has all but vanished.  They
use a old Polaris style rocket and I am SURE nobody has seen this
unless they are between 45-55 years old.  It changed my way of
thinking about rockets forever.

http://www.thespaceexplorers.com

Produced by: William Cayton
Written, directed and edited by: Fred Ladd (the animator who also
brought Kimba, Gigantor, Astro Boy et, al. to America)

Impossible to find! A true retro (vintage) animation of a young boy
"Jimmy" traveling through space in search of his father "Commander
Perry" who has reportedly crash landed on Mars.  Jimmy stows away in a
crate on a rescueship named the Polaris-II under the control of
"Professor Nordheim".  After the ship blasts off, the Professor and
his faithful assistant navigator 'Smitty' discover Jimmy onboard.  The
scene is set and the trio travel through space in their huge space
ship.  The three sit at the controls in the front of the ship and gaze
out into space through a huge front window.  From there they travel
through asteroid belts and over planet terrains in hope of determining
the fate of Jimmy's father Commander Perry.  The blinking light on the
top of the ship, the occasional "bleep" that seems to echo through
space, and the views of outer space are very memorable!

There is a real possibility that both series of 'The Space Explorers'
and 'The New Adventures of the Space Explorers" will be re-released if
enough people want to relive it again.  Yes, this is the same producer
who also released 'The Underseas Explorers'.  Stay tuned.

Note: This series should NOT be confused with the VOLTRON "Space
Explorers" series.