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A Brief History Of âSuper Robots,â Part Three: A Fine Robot Romance
From Wikipedia âŚ
âPlanetary Romance is a subgenre of science fiction or science fantasy in which the bulk of the action consists of adventures on one or more exotic alien planets, characterized by distinctive physical and cultural backgrounds.â
Director Tadao Nagahamaâs âRobot Romance Trilogyâ doesnât follow that definition precisely, though in at least one instance there is romance.
And Interplanetary Intrigue.
But before we get to that, letâs discuss the other two series âŚ
[ Continued in comments below. ]
NOTE: Each installment of the âRobot Romance Trilogyâ was created by âSaburo Yatsudeâ [ A pseudonym for the staff at Toei Animation ] with animation production by Sunrise.
The kick-ass theme song to end all kick-ass theme songs.
In those early days, Super Robot âFight Songsâ were a straightforward affair, where the singer runs down the list of available weapons and techniques. When your finishing move involves wrestling lightning from the air, hurling it through your enemy to paralyze them, then turning yourself into an enormous, nigh-indestructible drill to blast directly âTHROUGHâ your opponent, this can be a âgoodâ thing.
âCombattler Vâ is a killing machine of the highest order, packed with more weapons than could ever possibly hope to fit inside its frame. And, on top of everything else, it is Five â Count âem â Five Toys In One âŚ
Battle Jet [ 01 ]: Forms the head.
Battle Crusher [ 02 ] Forms the arms and upper torso.
Battle Tank [ 03 ] Forms the bulk of the torso. Only component which cannot fly under its own power.
Battle Marine [ 04 ] Forms the legs.
Battle Craft [ 05 ] Forms the feet. [ Oddly, by splitting in half first. ]
The first episode is an insane exercise in high-speed exposition, introducing the entire cast on the fly â including the robot â by the halfway mark.
Character designs by Yoshikazu Yasuhiko â Of âGundamâ and âDirty Pairâ fame â About whom youâll hear a bit more in part four of this overview.
Some of you might recognize Combattler â Or âCombatra,â as its name was Westernized â as one of the robots featured in Marvelâs âSHOGUN WARRIORSâ comics of the 1970âs, along with âRAYDEENâ and âDANGUARD ACE,â neither of which was a part of the âRobot Romanceâ cycle, so theyâll have to wait their turn.
A five-component mecha similar in structure to Comgattler V, âVoltes 5â has its cult following, particularly in the Philippines, where it was dubbed into both Tagalog and English.
From wikipedia âŚ
âIn April 1979, shortly before the series finale, the authoritarian President Ferdinand Marcos issued a directive banning Voltes V and other similarly-themed anime series, ostensibly due to concerns about "excessive violence.â The ban, however, led to speculations that the series was actually pulled from broadcast due to its underlying themes of rebellion and revolution.â
âAfter Marcosâs regime fell in the 1986 People Power Revolution, the series returned on Philippine television and was aired on multiple broadcasters.â
Wikipedia goes on to say that, In 1999 ] the hitherto-unaired-in-the-Philippenes final five episodes of Voltes V were edited together and released theatrically by GMA Films as âVoltes V: The Liberationâ.
Perhaps even more remarkably, on March 27, 2017, in celebration of the seriesâ 40th anniversary, a new Tagalog dub of Voltes V made a triumphant return to Philippine television on its original network, GMA
The seriesâ influence upon Philippine popular culture is nothing short of profound, extending to both music âŚ
Hereâs where we finally get that legitimate âRobot Romanceâ âŚ
Some of you might be familiar with its U.S. dub â âSTARBIRDSâ â which ran on cable television in the 1980âs. Like many dubs of the period, it was edited on video, and as a consequence had the original music track âRepealed and Replaced.â
The literally star-crossed romance between the human protagonist, pilot Kazuya Ryuuzaki and winged Baam Princess Erika forms the driving emotional force of the series, lending a Shakespearian subtext to the proceedings.
Part of the original story concept was that Daimos lacked weaponry, and had been designed to utilize his pilotâs expertise at martial arts. This, however, did not contribute much to the âFun Factorâ of the toys, so weapons were later added.
[ Daimos was a late addition to Mattelâs large-scale âSHOGUN WARRIORSâ toy line as well. ]
Upon deployment from its base, Daimos â eventually â transforms from a truck into a robot, in one of the most convoluted, ridiculous, and lengthy transformation sequences imaginable.
Seriously.
Must be seen to be believed âŚ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FRhSDN52zk
[ The stock transformation footage would be recycled every week, so thatâs nearly two minutes per episode that neednât be freshly animated. ]
Years ago, I watched the entire series, dubbed into English in the Philippines by â I believe â Two entirely dissimilar sets of voice actors, on highly compressed VCD disks.
The Crimestoppers tip says to watch out for pickpockets blending in at large gatherings. Thatâs a follow-up to last weekâs warning about costumed gatherings. A pickpocket or other type of thief could blend in at CosUCon very easily.
This is a great and efficient Sunday installment, down to the inclusion of Svengoolieâs ârubber chickenâ in the âneeds-to-be-disposable-for formatting-purposesâ upper right panel.
Back in the 1990âs, before Disney purchased ABC (⌠and prior to synergized cross-promotion) the ABC Soaps would make up their own off-brand variations of trending topics.
Characters would watch âPower Strangersâ âŚ
⌠while playing on their âPretendoâ consoles.
[ That one always made me shudder somehow. ]
Of course, post-Disney, General Hospital character Spinelli could be seen standing in line for a certain 2012 blockbuster film, wrestling with moral dilemmas while asking himself the musical question âŚ
Honeymoon using her powers â the risks of that â in public â seem tremendous. One, we now know she has powers. Two, I seem to remember at least one origin story about a boy bitten by a spiderâŚ
I like the âinsiderâ backstage perspective. Honeymoon is a tremendous character, bringing a youthful vigor and fresh energy to the cast. From the day she hid in the back of BB-Eyesâ van weâve been treated to a smart, courageous young crime fighter. Her Onee-San, Pop Pop, father, Junior, and step-mother, Sparkle, have her back. She stepped up in notable fashion at Ace Tower during the action-packed conclusion of âThe Fall of the Blackhearts.â Today, she wows the crowd at cosUcon with her take on Chimetra. She shares many qualities with her good friend and mentor, the Chimera, another great character.
What a delight to see a rubber chicken (it could even be Kerwyn)! And Svengoolie himself (though, as a note of minor criticism, I think he would not stoop to using the old âladies and germsâ intro). And Berwyn! (For those not in the know, Berwyn is a suburb of Chicago and has become a stock joke on Svenâs show.) Connie most definitely looks more mature today than in the dailies, while Honeymoon should do well for herself.
Meanwhile, Big Margie looks on maliciously, waiting for her Gangster MomentâŚ.
Pequod almost 8 years ago
Svengoolie now commands the stage. The crowd enjoys his chatter
Rubber chicken around his neck has heard this MC patter.
Connie Wong breaks into song, a Cavalier sharp-dressed
As backstage, at tender age, Honeymoon is lightly stressed.
Imoto-Chan steps out on the stage. Channels the Chimetra
A hush falls over the large crowd. Transfixed? Yes, you betcha.
Light beam, strike! Now levitate the mini pyramid
She is focused like a champ, anxiety well hid.
Good times abound at cosUcon, yet not all things are right
Larceny by Big Margie, a plan hidden out of sight.
Who might be so foolish as to steal with Tracy near?
The arrogance of criminals who are too dim to fear
The skills of the detective whose reputation does precede
His presence at the cosUcon. Whose brains are dulled by greed?
The Margies did not reckon on such a worthy foe
Nor the mighty Buster Bot who may strike a massive blow
For what is right by skill and might, for honor of the show
Stop a crook. Her world be shook. Criminality laid low.
AnyFace almost 8 years ago
Connie looks much more like her real-life counterpart on Sundays than on weekdays.
AnyFace almost 8 years ago
Berrrrrrr-wynnnnn âŚ
Vista Bill Raley and Comet⢠almost 8 years ago
Good morning guys!
Don Bagert Premium Member almost 8 years ago
So Honeymoon is using her powersâŚ
AnyFace almost 8 years ago
A Brief History Of âSuper Robots,â Part Three: A Fine Robot Romance
From Wikipedia âŚ
âPlanetary Romance is a subgenre of science fiction or science fantasy in which the bulk of the action consists of adventures on one or more exotic alien planets, characterized by distinctive physical and cultural backgrounds.â
Director Tadao Nagahamaâs âRobot Romance Trilogyâ doesnât follow that definition precisely, though in at least one instance there is romance.
And Interplanetary Intrigue.
But before we get to that, letâs discuss the other two series âŚ
[ Continued in comments below. ]
NOTE: Each installment of the âRobot Romance Trilogyâ was created by âSaburo Yatsudeâ [ A pseudonym for the staff at Toei Animation ] with animation production by Sunrise.
AnyFace almost 8 years ago
âSuper Electromagnetic Robot Combattler Vâ [ 1976 ]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjSlEQbEcUo
The kick-ass theme song to end all kick-ass theme songs.
In those early days, Super Robot âFight Songsâ were a straightforward affair, where the singer runs down the list of available weapons and techniques. When your finishing move involves wrestling lightning from the air, hurling it through your enemy to paralyze them, then turning yourself into an enormous, nigh-indestructible drill to blast directly âTHROUGHâ your opponent, this can be a âgoodâ thing.
âCombattler Vâ is a killing machine of the highest order, packed with more weapons than could ever possibly hope to fit inside its frame. And, on top of everything else, it is Five â Count âem â Five Toys In One âŚ
Battle Jet [ 01 ]: Forms the head.
Battle Crusher [ 02 ] Forms the arms and upper torso.
Battle Tank [ 03 ] Forms the bulk of the torso. Only component which cannot fly under its own power.
Battle Marine [ 04 ] Forms the legs.
Battle Craft [ 05 ] Forms the feet. [ Oddly, by splitting in half first. ]
The first episode is an insane exercise in high-speed exposition, introducing the entire cast on the fly â including the robot â by the halfway mark.
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/2906863/combattler_v_episode_1_the_attack_of_campbellians/
Character designs by Yoshikazu Yasuhiko â Of âGundamâ and âDirty Pairâ fame â About whom youâll hear a bit more in part four of this overview.
Some of you might recognize Combattler â Or âCombatra,â as its name was Westernized â as one of the robots featured in Marvelâs âSHOGUN WARRIORSâ comics of the 1970âs, along with âRAYDEENâ and âDANGUARD ACE,â neither of which was a part of the âRobot Romanceâ cycle, so theyâll have to wait their turn.
AnyFace almost 8 years ago
In the meantime, enjoy this update of the opening credits, created for the 2012 âPachinkoâ game âŚ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuYF9rrUtig
AnyFace almost 8 years ago
âSuper Electromagnetic Machine Voltes 5â [ 1977 ]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wpipSyYsTE
A five-component mecha similar in structure to Comgattler V, âVoltes 5â has its cult following, particularly in the Philippines, where it was dubbed into both Tagalog and English.
From wikipedia âŚ
âIn April 1979, shortly before the series finale, the authoritarian President Ferdinand Marcos issued a directive banning Voltes V and other similarly-themed anime series, ostensibly due to concerns about "excessive violence.â The ban, however, led to speculations that the series was actually pulled from broadcast due to its underlying themes of rebellion and revolution.â
âAfter Marcosâs regime fell in the 1986 People Power Revolution, the series returned on Philippine television and was aired on multiple broadcasters.â
Wikipedia goes on to say that, In 1999 ] the hitherto-unaired-in-the-Philippenes final five episodes of Voltes V were edited together and released theatrically by GMA Films as âVoltes V: The Liberationâ.
Perhaps even more remarkably, on March 27, 2017, in celebration of the seriesâ 40th anniversary, a new Tagalog dub of Voltes V made a triumphant return to Philippine television on its original network, GMA
The seriesâ influence upon Philippine popular culture is nothing short of profound, extending to both music âŚ
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultraelectromagneticpop!
⌠and art:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Robot_-_Suffer_Reboot
AnyFace almost 8 years ago
âFighting General Daimosâ [ 1978 ]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQgVxUCO4RA
Hereâs where we finally get that legitimate âRobot Romanceâ âŚ
Some of you might be familiar with its U.S. dub â âSTARBIRDSâ â which ran on cable television in the 1980âs. Like many dubs of the period, it was edited on video, and as a consequence had the original music track âRepealed and Replaced.â
The literally star-crossed romance between the human protagonist, pilot Kazuya Ryuuzaki and winged Baam Princess Erika forms the driving emotional force of the series, lending a Shakespearian subtext to the proceedings.
Part of the original story concept was that Daimos lacked weaponry, and had been designed to utilize his pilotâs expertise at martial arts. This, however, did not contribute much to the âFun Factorâ of the toys, so weapons were later added.
[ Daimos was a late addition to Mattelâs large-scale âSHOGUN WARRIORSâ toy line as well. ]
Upon deployment from its base, Daimos â eventually â transforms from a truck into a robot, in one of the most convoluted, ridiculous, and lengthy transformation sequences imaginable.
Seriously.
Must be seen to be believed âŚ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FRhSDN52zk
[ The stock transformation footage would be recycled every week, so thatâs nearly two minutes per episode that neednât be freshly animated. ]
Years ago, I watched the entire series, dubbed into English in the Philippines by â I believe â Two entirely dissimilar sets of voice actors, on highly compressed VCD disks.
Blew through the entire run in two days.
I enjoyed it that much.
NEXT TIME: SHOGUN WARRIORS
AnyFace almost 8 years ago
Darn, Iâd meant to thread those.
Oh well.
Neil Wick almost 8 years ago
Big Margie is getting a little impatient. I wonder if Svenâs ad-libbing is messing up the timing of her heist.
Neil Wick almost 8 years ago
The Crimestoppers tip says to watch out for pickpockets blending in at large gatherings. Thatâs a follow-up to last weekâs warning about costumed gatherings. A pickpocket or other type of thief could blend in at CosUCon very easily.
AnyFace almost 8 years ago
âOversightâ is, of course, a pun on the âOverwatchâ games.
AnyFace almost 8 years ago
So we have this odd phenomenon where a comic strip created in 1931 is actively dealing with pop cultural elements from 2017.
âEither change with the times or get left behind.â
AnyFace almost 8 years ago
This is a great and efficient Sunday installment, down to the inclusion of Svengoolieâs ârubber chickenâ in the âneeds-to-be-disposable-for formatting-purposesâ upper right panel.
AnyFace almost 8 years ago
About âOversightâ/âOverwatchâ âŚ
Back in the 1990âs, before Disney purchased ABC (⌠and prior to synergized cross-promotion) the ABC Soaps would make up their own off-brand variations of trending topics.
Characters would watch âPower Strangersâ âŚ
⌠while playing on their âPretendoâ consoles.
[ That one always made me shudder somehow. ]
Of course, post-Disney, General Hospital character Spinelli could be seen standing in line for a certain 2012 blockbuster film, wrestling with moral dilemmas while asking himself the musical question âŚ
âWhat would âThe Avengersâ do âŚ?â
Night-Gaunt49[Bozo is Boffo] almost 8 years ago
And that particular âchickenâ looks like a half dinosaur to me even to the teeth.
therese_callahan2002 almost 8 years ago
Yes, I saw his ad-libbing last night when I watched âMunster Go Home.â
Cheapskate0 almost 8 years ago
Honeymoon using her powers â the risks of that â in public â seem tremendous. One, we now know she has powers. Two, I seem to remember at least one origin story about a boy bitten by a spiderâŚ
A R V reader almost 8 years ago
Obviously, Big Margie doesnât watch Svengoolie to know well enough that he ad-libs.
Pequod almost 8 years ago
I like the âinsiderâ backstage perspective. Honeymoon is a tremendous character, bringing a youthful vigor and fresh energy to the cast. From the day she hid in the back of BB-Eyesâ van weâve been treated to a smart, courageous young crime fighter. Her Onee-San, Pop Pop, father, Junior, and step-mother, Sparkle, have her back. She stepped up in notable fashion at Ace Tower during the action-packed conclusion of âThe Fall of the Blackhearts.â Today, she wows the crowd at cosUcon with her take on Chimetra. She shares many qualities with her good friend and mentor, the Chimera, another great character.
http://i933.photobucket.com/albums/ad175/mwithrow3/d2d5fb99-a7c2-4a48-835b-0449ba45c1b2_zpscw33rx8q.png
Thanks to Vista Bill, Neil Wick, 22ph, Night-Gaunt49, JPuzzleWhiz, Ray Toler and Chris Sherlock for the kind words. Very much appreciated!
AnyFace almost 8 years ago
Dang GoComics advertising scripts are making FireFox run so slowly today, it makes me want to do this âŚ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axSnW-ygU5g
BreathlessMahoney77 almost 8 years ago
cricket ⌠cricketâŚ.
Don Bagert Premium Member almost 8 years ago
I donât know. The Connie Mail Wong panel just turns me off. The look would be good for a young-adult Liza Minnelli, thoughâŚ
Sisyphos almost 8 years ago
What a delight to see a rubber chicken (it could even be Kerwyn)! And Svengoolie himself (though, as a note of minor criticism, I think he would not stoop to using the old âladies and germsâ intro). And Berwyn! (For those not in the know, Berwyn is a suburb of Chicago and has become a stock joke on Svenâs show.) Connie most definitely looks more mature today than in the dailies, while Honeymoon should do well for herself.
Meanwhile, Big Margie looks on maliciously, waiting for her Gangster MomentâŚ.
Morrow Cummings almost 8 years ago
Without Anyface and Neil, the comment count would be pretty low.
kantuck-nadie almost 8 years ago
Give the award to Honeymoon! Just think what $10k could do for college?