Lazer Tag Academy

Lazer Tag Academy is 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. Original episodes aired on NBC from September 13 to December 6, 1986 with reruns lasting until August 22, 1987.

It was later shown in reruns under the new title Lazer Patrol on the Sci Fi Channel as part of Sci Fi Cartoon Quest.

Another laser tag related series, DIC Entertainment's live-action Photon series aired the same year in syndication.

The show contains numerous pop culture references, from The Man In The Iron Mask to E.T. The Extraterrestrial.

Synopsis
Jamie Jaren, the Lazer Tag Champion of 3010, travels back in time to the year 1987 to help her ancestors, teenagers Tom and Beth and toddler Nicky. Jamie protects the kids from Draxon Drear, a master criminal from the year 2061 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. Draxon's spaceship crashed into the Atlantic Ocean and was kept in suspended animation until he was revived. Professor Olanga's analysis reveals that Draxon is a relative of Jamie.

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. 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.

Draxon leads a group of genetically-enhanced humanoids called Skuggs who were originally created to serve humanity before they ended up in Draxon's thrall. One of the Skuggs accidentally sets off the suspended animation gas on Draxon's spaceship, which reawakens Draxon and the Skuggs several centuries in the future.

Beth and Tom's parents Andrew and Genna Jaren were mostly ignorant to the battles with Draxon Drear and the Skuggs and believed Jamie was a foreign exchange student. In addition, Tom and Beth's schoolmate Charles Ferguson is suspicious of Jamie, and repeatedly tries to learn her secret.

Cast

 * Booker Bradshaw - Draxon Drear
 * Pat Fraley - Charlie Ferguson, Skuggs
 * Noelle Harling - Jamie Jaren
 * Billy Jayne - Tom Jaren
 * Don LaFontaine - Opening Narration
 * Christina MacGregor - Beth Jaren
 * Tress MacNeille - Genna Jaren
 * Sid McCoy - Professor Olanga
 * Frank Welker - Andrew Jaren, Skuggs, Ralphie
 * R.J. Williams - Nicky Jaren

Additional voices

 * Susan Blu
 * Phillip Clark
 * Michael Horton
 * Harvey Jason
 * Rodney Kageyama
 * Maurice LaMarche
 * Mel Wells

Crew

 * Michael Hack - Voice Director
 * Dan DiStefano - Story Editor
 * Ted Field - Assistant Story Editor
 * John Kimball and Rudy Larriva - Series Directors

Home video and syndication
Three VHS tapes were released by Celebrity Home Entertainment:


 * 1) Laser Tag Academy: The Movie was released in 1989 (95 minutes)
 * 2) Lazer Tag Academy: Champion's Biggest Challenge was released March 21, 1989 (110 minutes)
 * 3) The third tape was released on June 19, 1991, with a single episode, The Battle Hymn of the Jarens.

Lazer Tag Academy was later rerun in syndication under the name Laser Patrol. This version was also shown briefly on the Sci-Fi Channel.