Lazer Tag Academy
Encyclopedia
Lazer Tag Academy was an animated television series inspired by Worlds of Wonder
's Lazer Tag
(their branded version of the pursuit game referred to generically as "laser tag
") that was created by Ruby-Spears Productions
.
from the year 3010 to the 1980s to help her ancestors, teenagers Tom and Beth and toddler Nicky. The kids needed protection from Draxon Drear, a master criminal from the year 2935 who was unwittingly revived from suspended animation
by Jamie's teacher Professor Olanga after he ended up in that state following a spaceship hijacking accident that caused the spaceship to crash into the Atlantic and was kept in suspended animation due to the gas that was accidentally set off. During Draxon's resurrection, Jamie learned from Professor Olanga about the info the computers stated which identifed that Draxon was related to Jamie.
Draxon led a group of genetically engineered humanoids called Skugs who were also in suspended animation from the same accident when one of the Skugs ended up setting off the suspended animation gas. The Skugs were genetically engineered to serve man back in 2935, but didn't work out well and eventually came into the services of Draxon Drear.
Draxon has traveled back in time to destroy Beth because she would eventually create the Starlyte gun and Starsensor (two real-life Lazer Tag products) worn by Jamie. These machines enabled Jamie to compete in the Lazer Tag tournaments of her time period, but in the hands of certain individuals, a Starlyte is capable of producing effects that enable the wielder to manipulate matter and energy on a molecular scale and with the aid of the Starsensor, travel through time.
Beth and Tom's parents, Andrew and Genna Jaren, were mostly ignorant to the battles with Draxon Drear and the Skugs and believed Jamie was a foreign exchange student.
from 1986-1987. At the same time, another laser tag related series, DiC
's live-action Photon series aired the same year in syndication.
. Laser Tag Academy: The Movie was released in 1989, followed by a March 21, 1989 release of a purported 'sequel', Lazer Tag Academy: Champion's Biggest Challenge, both presumably with episodes edited together into 95 and 110 minute 'movies'. The third tape was released on June 19, 1991 with a single episode, The Battle Hymn of the Jarens.
Worlds of Wonder (toy company)
Worlds of Wonder or WoW was a 1980s American toy company, founded by former Atari employees, including Don Kingsborough and Mark Robert Goldberg.Their products included:* Teddy Ruxpin, a story telling bear, in 1985...
's Lazer Tag
Lazer Tag
Lazer Tag is a brand name for the infrared pursuit game generically known as "laser tag," "lasertag," or "lazertag."The brand name was created by the toy company Worlds Of Wonder in 1986, appearing at approximately the same time as the home version of the Photon brand.The Lazer Tag brand name was...
(their branded version of the pursuit game referred to generically as "laser tag
Laser tag
Laser tag is a team or individual sport or recreational activity where players attempt to score points by tagging targets, typically with a hand-held infrared-emitting targeting device. Infrared-sensitive targets are commonly worn by each player and are sometimes integrated within the arena in...
") that was created by Ruby-Spears Productions
Ruby-Spears Productions
Ruby-Spears Productions is a Burbank, California-based entertainment production company that specializes in animation...
.
Synposis
The premise of the show is Jamie Jaren, the Lazer Tag Champion of that era traveled back in timeTime travel
Time travel is the concept of moving between different points in time in a manner analogous to moving between different points in space. Time travel could hypothetically involve moving backward in time to a moment earlier than the starting point, or forward to the future of that point without the...
from the year 3010 to the 1980s to help her ancestors, teenagers Tom and Beth and toddler Nicky. The kids needed protection from Draxon Drear, a master criminal from the year 2935 who was unwittingly revived from suspended animation
Suspended animation
Suspended animation is the slowing of life processes by external means without termination. Breathing, heartbeat, and other involuntary functions may still occur, but they can only be detected by artificial means. Extreme cold can be used to precipitate the slowing of an individual's functions; use...
by Jamie's teacher Professor Olanga after he ended up in that state following a spaceship hijacking accident that caused the spaceship to crash into the Atlantic and was kept in suspended animation due to the gas that was accidentally set off. During Draxon's resurrection, Jamie learned from Professor Olanga about the info the computers stated which identifed that Draxon was related to Jamie.
Draxon led a group of genetically engineered humanoids called Skugs who were also in suspended animation from the same accident when one of the Skugs ended up setting off the suspended animation gas. The Skugs were genetically engineered to serve man back in 2935, but didn't work out well and eventually came into the services of Draxon Drear.
Draxon has traveled back in time to destroy Beth because she would eventually create the Starlyte gun and Starsensor (two real-life Lazer Tag products) worn by Jamie. These machines enabled Jamie to compete in the Lazer Tag tournaments of her time period, but in the hands of certain individuals, a Starlyte is capable of producing effects that enable the wielder to manipulate matter and energy on a molecular scale and with the aid of the Starsensor, travel through time.
Beth and Tom's parents, Andrew and Genna Jaren, were mostly ignorant to the battles with Draxon Drear and the Skugs and believed Jamie was a foreign exchange student.
Production
The series aired on NBCNBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
from 1986-1987. At the same time, another laser tag related series, DiC
DIC
- Science :* Differential interference contrast microscopy, an illumination technique in optical microscopy* Diisopropylcarbodiimide, a reagent in organic chemistry* Digital Integrating Computer, a digital implementation of a Differential Analyzer...
's live-action Photon series aired the same year in syndication.
Cast
- Booker BradshawBooker BradshawBooker Bradshaw was an American record producer, film and TV actor, and Motown executive.The multi-talented Harvard graduate is best remembered for his role as Dr. M'Benga on Star Trek. This character had two memorable appearances during the original series in the 1960s...
- Draxon Drear - Pat FraleyPat FraleyPatrick "Pat" Fraley is an American voice actor, who is best known as the voice of Krang, Casey Jones and numerous other characters from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles...
- Charlie Ferguson, Skugs - Noelle Harling - Jamie Jaren
- Billy JayneBilly JayneBilly Jayne is an American actor, musician, and director. He has been in many films, and has sometimes been credited as Billy Jacoby. His siblings, Scott Jacoby, Robert Jayne, Susan Jayne and Laura Jacoby, are also actors.-Name:...
- Tom Jaren - Don LaFontaineDon LaFontaineDonald Leroy "Don" LaFontaine was an American voiceover artist famous for recording more than 5,000 film trailers and hundreds of thousands of television advertisements, network promotions, and video game trailers. His nicknames included "Thunder Throat" and "The Voice of God"...
- Opening Narration - Christina MacGregor - Beth Jaren
- Tress MacNeilleTress MacNeilleTress MacNeille is an American voice actress best known for providing various voices on the animated series The Simpsons, Futurama, Tiny Toon Adventures, Animaniacs, Disney's House of Mouse, Courage the Cowardly Dog, Rugrats, All Grown Up!, Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers, and Dave the...
- Genna Jaren - Sid McCoy - Professor Olanga
- Frank WelkerFrank WelkerFranklin Wendell "Frank" Welker is an American actor who specializes in voice acting and has contributed character voices and other vocal effects to American television and motion pictures.-Acting career:...
- Andrew Jaren, Skugs, Ralphie - R.J. WilliamsR. J. WilliamsR. J. Williams or Robert Jackson Williams is an actor, television host, and producer but is best known as the Founder and CEO of Young Hollywood LLC-Acting:...
- Nicky Jaren
Additional Voices
- Susan BluSusan BluSusan Maria Blu , sometimes credited as Sue Blu, is an American voice actress, voice director, and casting director in American and Canadian cinema and television...
- - Philip L. ClarkePhilip L. ClarkePhilip Lewis Clarke is an American voice actor. He has provided voices in various TV series, films, and video games, but is most notable for his leading role as Malcolm Betruger in Doom 3. He also voiced the villain Doctor Go in Challenge of the GoBots....
- - Michael HortonMichael Horton (actor)Michael "Mike" Horton is an American character actor and voice over artist most remembered for his long-running role as Jessica Fletcher's nephew, Grady Fletcher, on the television series Murder, She Wrote...
- - Harvey JasonHarvey JasonHarvey Albert Jason is an English actor and the co-owner of Mystery Pier Books, an independent book store that sells first editions.Jason was born in London, the son of Marie Goldblatt and actor Alec Jason...
- - Rodney KageyamaRodney KageyamaRodney Kageyama is an American stage, film and TV actor. He is a Nisei Japanese American .In 2007, Kageyama was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. He underwent chemotherapy and as of spring 2008 was declared cancer-free.-Theatre:...
- - Maurice LaMarcheMaurice LaMarcheMaurice LaMarche is an Emmy Award winning Canadian-American voice actor and former stand up comedian. He is best known for his voicework in Futurama as Kif Kroker, as Egon Spengler in The Real Ghostbusters, Verminous Skumm and Duke Nukem in Captain Planet and the Planeteers, Big Bob Pataki in Hey...
- - Mel Wells -
Home Video
Three VHS tapes were released by Celebrity Home EntertainmentCelebrity Home Entertainment
Celebrity Home Entertainment , founded by Noel C. Bloom , was a home video distributor specializing in mostly obscure material from around the world, as well as B-grade action films and soft-core adult fare, although they also released some material that...
. Laser Tag Academy: The Movie was released in 1989, followed by a March 21, 1989 release of a purported 'sequel', Lazer Tag Academy: Champion's Biggest Challenge, both presumably with episodes edited together into 95 and 110 minute 'movies'. The third tape was released on June 19, 1991 with a single episode, The Battle Hymn of the Jarens.