Exosquad

Exosquad was a science fiction cartoon that ran on the USA network from September 1993 to May 1994. It was created as a response to anime. Although it was advertised and marketed as a Saturday morning cartnoon for children, but found most acclaim among teenagers and young adults. Because of this misunderstanding, the ratings never lived up to their potential, and the show was cancelled after only two seasons.

The Premise of the Series

The series takes place around AD. 2120 (approx 2118-2120). Humans have colonized Earth, Venus, and Mars ("the homeworlds"). A group of rebel humans (the Pirate clans) also occupy parts of the outer solar system. After one attack too many against unarmed freighers, the Earth Congress decides to dispatch the entire Exofleet, humanity's space-based military, against them.

While all this is happening, a group of genetically engineered former slaves, the Neosapians, are secretely planning a rebellion. Neosapians, who were once used as slave miners in the harsh conditions of Mars, are physically very strong and very smart. They rebelled 50 years before, but that rebellion was crushed. The new insurrection is planned by the Governor of Mars, Phaeton.

Once the Exofleet is dispatched, the launch the rebellion and capture the homeworlds in short order.

The two seasons that the show was on the air followed the progress of the war, as seen through the eyes of Able Squad. Able squad is a group of elite soldiers - J.T. Marsh, Nara Burns, Maggie Weston, Kaz Takagi, Alec Deleon, Rita Torres, Wolf Bronski, and Marsala (a Neosapian).

The second season ends with the defeat of the Neosapians and the liberation of the homeworlds. However, the second season ended with a cliff-hanger, and the show was cancelled soon-after. Many speculate that the third season and afterward would have been about a war against extra-solar aliens, and that the humans and neosapians would be forced to ally with each other.