Automan is a short-lived TV series that tried to be Tron without the budget for it. Glen A. Larson’s superhero show ran for 12 episodes on ABC between 1983 and 1984, and it is still remembered for its strange premise and its low-budget trick.
Walter Nebicher and Automan
Desi Arnaz Jr. plays Walter Nebicher, a police officer and computer programmer who creates an artificial intelligence that can leave the computer world at night and fight crime as a hologram. Chuck Wagner plays the titular hero, who poses as Walter’s friend Otto J. Mann in the real world.
Budget Tricks
No computer-generated effects were used on the series due to budget constraints. Instead, Automan and his companion Cursor were brought to life through traditional animation and practical effects. That choice gives the show a distinct look that still holds up as a curiosity.
Roxanne Caldwell and the Cast
Heather McNair plays Roxanne Caldwell, Walter’s close associate who knows about Automan. Robert Lansing and Gerald S. O’Loughlin round out the cast as Lieutenant Jack Curtis and Captain E. G. Boyd, Walter’s superiors who mistake Automan for a friend from the FBI.
Cursor and the Vehicles
Cursor is a floating, shifting polyhedron that can draw and generate physical objects as needed. The most common forms taken are an automobile (the Autocar), an airplane, and a helicopter (the Autochopper), all of which can defy the laws of physics.
The Tron Connection
The show consciously emulates the visual style of the Walt Disney Pictures live-action film Tron, even though no computer-generated effects were used. That contrast between intent and means is part of what makes the series notable today.
Where It Falls Short
The series only ran for 12 episodes, and its low budget shows in every episode. The animation and practical effects are clever, but they are not convincing enough to sustain a full season of weekly installments.
| Character | Role |
|---|---|
| Walter Nebicher | Police officer and computer programmer |
| Automan | Holographic crime fighter |
| Roxanne Caldwell | Walter’s close associate |
| Lieutenant Jack Curtis | Walter’s superior |
| Captain E. G. Boyd | Walter’s superior |
| Episode | Date |
|---|---|
| First episode | 1983-12-15 |
| Last episode | 1984-04-09 |
Automan is a minor entry in Glen A. Larson’s catalog, and it is worth watching for its ambition rather than its execution. The idea is stronger than the finished product, but the finished product has its own charm as a period piece.
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