{"id":1991953,"date":"2025-09-01T23:26:06","date_gmt":"2025-09-01T23:26:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=1991953"},"modified":"2025-09-01T23:26:06","modified_gmt":"2025-09-01T23:26:06","slug":"the-80s-robot-sci-fi-saved-from-obscurity-by-dwayne-johnson-with-a-new-series-streaming-free","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/the-80s-robot-sci-fi-saved-from-obscurity-by-dwayne-johnson-with-a-new-series-streaming-free\/","title":{"rendered":"The 80s Robot Sci-Fi Saved From Obscurity By Dwayne Johnson, With A New Series Streaming Free"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">When you think of 80\u2019s sci-fi cartoons featuring teams of robots, you think of Transformers, and then the Go-Bots. Or, if you\u2019re like me, you\u2019re incapable of forgetting the Rock Lords (they turn into rocks). What you don\u2019t think of is Roboforce, the robots with suction cup bases and gimmick arms, which were very briefly in 1984, the hot new thing, and even had an animated one-shot called\u00a0<em>Robo Force: The Revenge of Nazgar<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">41 years later, Roboforce is back with a real animated series that looks and sounds like it fell out of a time machine from 1984. It\u2019s exclusively streaming on Tubi.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Roboforce toys in the 80s.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><em>Roboforce: The Animated Series <\/em>is an amazing throwback to when cartoons were extended toy commercials, and I mean that as a compliment. The very first episode starts with the team leader, Maxx 89, showcasing his talent for delivering exposition (yes, he says that in the show), as he goes over the history of the original suction cup robots to the new, upgraded models they are 25 years later. Forced back into action when the hot new UA 101 robots that replaced Roboforce fall under the control of a mysterious evil force, it\u2019s up to the old dogs to learn some new tricks.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Before I watched a single minute of <em>Roboforce: The Animated Series, <\/em>I saw the trailer play over and over on Pluto TV while binging <em>Bar Rescue<\/em>, and as a child of the 80s, I was legally obligated to see what this show was all about. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that, through the very clunky dialogue, this was an earnest effort to make a slightly darker, slightly more mature take on the 80s <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/www.giantfreakinrobot.com\/category\/ent\/scifi\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:sci-fi;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\">sci-fi<\/a> Saturday Morning Cartoons. It\u2019s still a show for kids, but it\u2019s closer to the <em><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.giantfreakinrobot.com\/?s=Exosquad\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Exosquad;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Exosquad<\/a><\/em> end of the spectrum than <em><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.giantfreakinrobot.com\/?s=King+Arthur\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:King Arthur and the Knights of Justice;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">King Arthur and the Knights of Justice<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Maxx 89 in &lt;em&gt;Roboforce: The Animated Series&lt;\/em&gt;.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"900\" height=\"506\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/W9Unbl13f8J7lWPXmivkFQ--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/giant_freakin_robot_articles_628\/79cb3b864cf160475b23af1e22ab7e36\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Maxx 89 in <em>Roboforce: The Animated Series<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">It\u2019s also the opening show in a brand new cartoon universe put together by Brian Volk-Weiss, the mad genius behind Netflix\u2019s <em>The Toys That Made Us, <\/em>in conjunction with Dwayne \u201cThe Rock\u201d Johnson\u2019s production company, Seven Bucks. The Nacelleverse, named for Volk-Weiss\u2019 company, is comprised of multiple forgotten cartoons of the 80s and 90s, including one that cameos in <em>Roboforce: The Animated Series<\/em>, <em>The Biker Mice from Mars<\/em>. It also includes <em><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.giantfreakinrobot.com\/?s=Moo+MEsa\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:The C.O.W. Boys of Moo Mesa;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">The C.O.W. Boys of Moo Mesa<\/a><\/em> which means that maybe, just maybe, we can get a revival series of the greatest cartoon about anthropomorphic cows as defenders of the wild west on top of a giant mesa struck by a meteor from space.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">A lot of these cartoons got weird, and thankfully, <em>Roboforce: The Animated Series<\/em> steers right into the skid and lets its freak flag fly as the six-episode first season progresses. Not only are each of the members of the team given a chance to shine, and yes, each member perfectly aligns with the classic 80s team composition of the brains (S.O.T.A., the blue robot), brawn (Wrecker, black and yellow), attitude (Hun-Dred, black and red), and the stick in the mud, Sentinel (yellow and white). Unlike the cartoons of yesteryear, here there\u2019s this new thing developed starting in the 90s, called character development.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"A scene from &lt;em&gt;Roboforce: The Animated Series&lt;\/em&gt; on Tubi.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"900\" height=\"507\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/oIjsEisFDYZwgXVA5SP.og--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MTtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/giant_freakin_robot_articles_628\/4338ac828dce4e7c9dea120d7b73e3a4\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>A scene from <em>Roboforce: The Animated Series<\/em> on Tubi.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><span>That\u2019s harsh, of course, but there\u2019s a world of difference between the characters of\u00a0<em>Beast Wars<\/em>\u00a0and the Gen 1\u00a0<em>Transformers<\/em>, and despite its throwback appearance,\u00a0<em>Roboforce: The Animated Series\u00a0<\/em>ends up embracing modern storytelling.<\/span> It\u2019s a great decision, and the short series is a fantastic way to launch a new universe that will, hopefully, be continuing soon with <em>Biker Mice from Mars<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">I\u2019m holding out hope that someone will snap up the rights to <em><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.giantfreakinrobot.com\/?s=Pirates+of+DArk+Water\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Pirates of Dark Water;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Pirates of Dark Water<\/a> <\/em>and finally finish the story of Ren, but it\u2019s still very cool that Volk-Weiss has revived Robo Force and given them the show they should have had in the first place. It\u2019s not perfect, but it rises above being an ad for toys, and this should be required viewing for kids today so they understand what we old folks mean when we talk about Saturday Morning Cartoons.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><em>Roboforce: The Animated Series<\/em> is <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/www.giantfreakinrobot.com\/topic\/streaming\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:streaming;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\">streaming<\/a> now on Tubi.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yahoo.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When you think of 80\u2019s sci-fi cartoons featuring teams of robots, you think of Transformers, and then the Go-Bots. Or, if you\u2019re like me, you\u2019re incapable of forgetting the Rock Lords (they turn into rocks). What you don\u2019t think of is Roboforce, the robots with suction cup bases and gimmick arms, which were very briefly [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1991954,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25172],"tags":[352082,360110,360109],"class_list":["post-1991953","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment","tag-animated-series","tag-cartoons-of-the-80s","tag-roboforce"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/The-80s-Robot-Sci-Fi-Saved-From-Obscurity-By-Dwayne-Johnson.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1991953","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1991953"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1991953\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1991954"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1991953"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1991953"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1991953"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}