'Jem and the Holograms' Debuts a Very Different 'Synergy'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWENiXRJ7ps

It's showtime for Synergy.

The robot that put the "Holograms" in "Jem and the Holograms" has made its debut Tuesday in the new trailer for the live-action adaption of the popular 1980s animated series.

In this iteration helmed by Jon M. Chu, Synergy is a mini-robot that projects what appears to be the title character Jem's childhood home movies.

"I thought you said your dad's inventions didn't work," a friend remarks to Jem when the mobile-beeping piece of technology (think Wall-E) reveals itself and flashes a film on the ceiling.

It's not clear what the extent of Synergy's abilities will be, but it's a far cry from its origins.

Fans of the animated series, which ran 1985-1988, will remember the coolness of Synergy -- an animated amazon beauty with lilac-colored skin, blue feathered tresses tamed by a purple headband, striking red lips and aerobics gear that had shoulder pads.

Synergy was beautiful. Synergy was fabulous. Synergy was not a mini-Redbox on wheels.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iFm06aB_zE

Synergy mostly resided in Jem's computer system, but she could also project herself into the real world. She was a genie-like partner to Jem, who would summon her by touching a star-shaped earring while uttering: "It's showtime, Synergy!" At Jem's command, Synergy would create lifelike holograms that would thwart her enemies, the rival band The Misfits.

"Jem and the Holograms," starring Aubrey Peeples, Stefanie Scott, Hayley Kiyoko, Aurora Perrineau and Juliette Lewis, hits theaters Oct. 23.