From 1982-1983 there was a 26-episode French animated series titled Il Était Une Fois… l'Espace (Once Upon a Time... Space) that featured the educational adventures of Pierrot, Psi, and their robot, Metro. They traveled to different planets and explored the native inhabitants, flora, fauna, etc. The simple animation and preschool-esque educational format can be a bit misleading. Because this show is funny, smart, and the sexual tension between Pierrot and Psi is palpable - the are a lot of hands on thighs and fireside naps. I'm a big fan. The show was dubbed in lots of languages and aired on lots of networks over the years. I've personally only ever seen episodes on YouTube, but I know it was aired in the US on the History Channel (which only launched in 1995). Psi (who also goes by Mercedes and Psyche) is a young Brazilian woman with psychic powers (usually sensing danger as they approach a new planet). This 1982 figure from Popy has been a grail of mine for years. Let's check her out below!
I picked up this figure loose on eBay in fair condition. I couldn't resist photoshopping away the wear and tear of 42 years of play. For instance, the black line across her chest had two gaps where the paint was gone. And her white thighpads were rubbed thin in many places exposing the orange underneath. I've been slowly editing away the imperfections in these photos for months. Please forgive the deception. But I wanted to present her in the best light possible.
Popy also had a second line of action figures for this show. These are more fully articulated, cast in metal, and have accessories (like Psi's stun gun). I would love to get this, but she costs a fortune.
From my eBay searches over the past 20 years, I have noticed that these figures have been bootlegged and recast several times (often unarticulated). Psi has a pretty clear trademark on her butt, so make sure you're getting a real one if you're paying for it.
Time for a Comparison Pic!
Cheers!
There was also a compilation film released as Revenge of the Humanoids, and the English version was shown on Nickelodeon when I was a kid
ReplyDeleteVery cool! I just googled and will try to watch it. What years were you seeing it on Nickelodeon? I'm trying to figure out when it was first dubbed into English.
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