GoWapper 5 Godam's Appeal and Evaluation: Reevaluating the Nostalgic Special Effects Hero

GoWapper 5 Godam's Appeal and Evaluation: Reevaluating the Nostalgic Special Effects Hero

Gowapper 5 Godam - The charm and full picture of the nostalgic robot anime

Introduction

"Go-Wapper 5 Godam," which aired in 1976, is a robot anime produced by Tatsunoko Productions and is still loved by many fans today. The story depicts boys and girls using the giant robot "Godam" to fight against underground demons, and is characterized by its unique mecha design and heated battle scenes. In this article, we will introduce the appeal and detailed information of "Go-Wapper 5 Godam," and explore why this work continues to be loved to this day.

Overview

■ Public Media
TV anime series
■ Original Media
Anime Original
■ Broadcast period
April 4, 1976 - December 29, 1976
■Broadcasting station
(Episodes 1-23) / Asahi Broadcasting Corporation, (Episodes 24-36) / NET (TV Asahi)
■Frequencies
half an hour
■ Number of Episodes
Episode 36
■Original Story
Original work: Tatsunoko Productions Planning Department
■ Director
・General Director: Toriumi Nagayuki
■ Production
Production: Tatsunoko Productions, Asahi Broadcasting [episodes 1-23], NET, Tatsunoko Productions [episodes 24-36]
■Works
©Tatsunoko Productions

story

■ Story

The adventure team "Gowapper 5" is formed by five friends from an apartment complex, including Yoko Misaki. They set out to explore an uninhabited island off the coast, where they find a giant robot called "Godam" sleeping, built by Dr. Oarai, who sensed the presence of a dangerous underground demon. The five inherit Godam from the doctor, who transferred his personality to a computer. Just as the doctor predicted, the underground demons have finally begun their invasion of the surface world, and Gowapper 5 uses Godam and the five machines to fight them.

Commentary

■Explanation

This is a sci-fi mecha action story about five boys and girls who board the giant robot Godam to fight against an invading army from the Underground Demons. The story is characterized by unique and individual mecha designs, such as the super-heavy robot Godam, which also serves as a mobile fortress, and the small marine life-shaped machines that each member rides. The battle between ordinary children who accidentally obtain great powers and the invaders, with the fate of the world at stake, is sometimes depicted in a brutal manner.

cast

■Cast

・Yoko Misaki/Terumi Niki ・Go Tsunami/Yoshito Yasuhara ・Daikichi Kameyama/Kaneta Kimotsuki ・Goemon Koishikawa/Kiyoshi Komiya ・Norisuke Kawaguchi/Sachiko Chijimatsu ・Sentaro Shima/Kazuyuki Sogabe ・Emperor Jigokuda/Takeshi Watanabe ・Magda/Mikio Terashima ・Dr. Oarai, narrator/Iemasa Iegumi

Main Staff

■ Main staff

・Producer: Tatsuo Yoshida ・Planning: Jinzo Toriumi, Akiyoshi Sakai ・Original work: Tatsunoko Productions Planning Department ・Music: Bob Sakuma ・Character design: Yoshitaka Amano ・Mechanical design: Kunio Okawara ・Sound director: Kan Mizumoto, Zack Promotion ・Producers: Takehiko Goto [episodes 24-36], Masashi Nagai ・General director: Nagayuki Toriumi ・Production: Tatsunoko Productions, Asahi Broadcasting [episodes 1-23], NET, Tatsunoko Productions [episodes 24-36]

Main Characters

■ Main Characters

・Yoko Misaki Leader of Gowapper 5. She is a big sister type who is good at looking after others, and is loved by all the members.
・Go Tsunami Sub-leader of Gowapper 5. He's a bit of a joker, but he's also a hot-blooded guy who gets things done when it matters.
Daikichi Kameyama: A member of Gowapper 5. He is the biggest and strongest man on the team.
Koishikawa Goemon: A member of the Gowapper 5. He is a very intelligent man with a wealth of knowledge, but his timidity is his only flaw.
・Norisuke Kawaguchi One of the 5 members of Gowapper. Although he is the youngest, he has more courage than anyone else. He is a mischievous mood maker.
Sentaro Shima: Research engineer at the International Crustal Research Center. He met Gowapper 5 by chance and became their collaborator.
・Dr. Oarai The developer of Godam. He currently has his personality transferred to Godam's computer and is at the heart of it.

Main Robot Items

■ Main robot items

・Godam A gigantic robot constructed by Dr. Oarai to fight against the Underground Demons. The doctor's personality data is input into the main computer. The five Go-Whopper mechas (A-plane, Geso Machine, Helimarine, Turtle Tank, and Hermit Crab Jeep) are stored inside. After being destroyed once, it powers up and refines the combined parts, allowing Godam itself to combine and transform into four forms (Godam Dragon, Godam Sky High, Godam Moler, and Godam Tiger).

subtitle

■Subtitle

・#1/GoWappa 5 is on the move!
・#2/Here it comes! Nendoroid ・#3/Find it! Underground Demon ・#4/Beat it! Dokamper ・#5/Destroy it! Yusa Branker ・#6/Crush it! Ant Jumbo ・#7/Sea Demon Hizabun ・#8/Formidable Enemy! Mosunder ・#9/Challenge! Otoguard ・#10/Where's it?! Secret Underground Base ・#11/Fire Duel! Jimgurira ・#12/Charge! Mogulak ・#13/Fire Demon! Ooryuuda ・#14/Big Attack! Sandfoon ・#15/Big Pursuit! Patombo ・#16/Attack! Mysterious Giant Fish ・#17/Anger! Turtle Tank ・#18/Counterattack! Godam Radar ・#19/Super Weapon! Haneponder ・#20/Combined Beast! Shachihokora ・#21/Gale! Chitei Rider ・#22/Three-stage transformation! Dokungar ・#23/The end of Magdar ・#24/Death demon! Sfinger ・#25/Hell flower! Kyukonder ・#26/Big appearance! Jumbo Kinokko ・#27/Giant robot! Beardsley ・#28/Phantom monster! Mienger ・#29/Rampage! Konger King ・#30/Rock giant! Jariant ・#31/Big attack! Mabuddha ・#32/Roar! Godam Tiger ・#33/Burst! Pachinger X
・No. 34 / Big Operation! Godam Jack ・No. 35 / Fierce! Giant Kabutozer ・No. 36 / Decisive Battle! Jigokuda

Theme songs and music

■ Theme songs and music

・OP
・"Let's go! Godam"
Lyrics: Ichiro Wakabayashi; Composition: Asei Kobayashi; Arrangement: Nozomi Aoki; Singer: Ichiro Mizuki, Young Fresh; Ending Theme
・"Gowapper 5 Song"
Lyrics: Ichiro Wakabayashi; Composition: Asei Kobayashi; Arrangement: Nozomi Aoki; Singer: Ichiro Mizuki, Young Fresh

Appeal of the work

The appeal of "GoWapper 5 Godam" lies in its unique mecha design and heated battle scenes. In particular, Godam's combined transformations and the small marine creature-shaped machines operated by each member stimulated children's imaginations and attracted many fans. In addition, the story of ordinary children who obtain great powers and take on a battle that will determine the fate of the world gave courage and hope to viewers.

The appeal of mechanical design

The mechanical design of "GoWapper 5 Godam" was created by Kunio Okawara, and its originality and individuality are outstanding. Godam is an ultra-heavy robot that also functions as a mobile fortress, and its size and strength are impressive. In addition, the small marine creature-shaped machines operated by each member, such as the Ayplane, Gesomachine, Helimarine, Turtle Tank, and Hermit Crab Jeep, combine interesting design with functionality, giving viewers a fresh surprise.

Character Appeal

Each member of GoWapper 5 has a unique character that makes them easy to relate to. The leader, Misaki Yoko, is a big sister type who is very caring and loved by all the members. Sub-leader Tsunami Gou is a joker but passionate, and livens up the mood of the team. Kameyama Daikichi is a strong man who symbolizes the strength of the team, while Koishikawa Goemon is a knowledgeable and intelligent but timid character, full of humanity. Kawaguchi Norisuke, the youngest member, is a courageous mood maker who brings energy to the team. The drama woven by these characters deeply moved viewers.

The appeal of the story

The story of "Go-Wapper 5 Godam" depicts universal themes such as friendship, courage, and justice through the battle against the Underground Demons. The members of Go-Wapper 5 use the powerful powers they accidentally obtain to fight a battle that will determine the fate of the world, giving courage and hope to viewers. In addition, the unique designs of the Underground Demons that appear in each episode and the battle scenes featuring Godam's transformation and combination functioned as elements that drew viewers in.

The appeal of music

The theme song of "GoWapper 5 Godam", "Let's Go! Godam", and the ending theme "GoWapper 5 no Uta" are characterized by powerful singing by Mizuki Ichiro and Young Fresh. The teamwork of lyrics by Wakabayashi Ichiro, composition by Kobayashi Asei, and arrangement by Aoki Nozomu created music that enhances the worldview of the work. These songs are important elements that remind viewers of the hot battle scenes and moving scenes of the work.

Reaction at the time of broadcast

"Go-Wapper 5 Godam" was very popular among children when it was broadcast in 1976. In particular, Godam's transformation and the design of the small machines operated by each member became a hot topic among children and created many fans. The development of the story and the growth of the characters were also well received by viewers, and it became a show that viewers looked forward to every week.

Modern Recognition

"GoWapper 5 Godam" continues to be loved by many fans even now, more than 40 years after it was first broadcast. In particular, the charm of its retro design and storyline still gives modern viewers a fresh surprise. In addition, with the release of DVDs and Blu-rays, as well as distribution on the Internet, there are more opportunities to reevaluate the work, and it has become widely known among the younger generation.

Related Items

Many related products have been released for "GoWapper 5 Godam" from the time of its broadcast to the present. In particular, figures and models of Godam and each member's small machine are must-have items for fans. In addition, the release of DVDs and Blu-rays has made it possible to easily watch the work, which has led to a reevaluation of the series among fans.

Fan Event

Fan events for "GoWapper 5 Godam" are popular with many fans as an opportunity to reaffirm the appeal of the work. In particular, events hosted by Tatsunoko Productions provide valuable information for fans, such as behind-the-scenes stories about the work's production and explanations of its mecha design. They also function as a place for fans to interact with each other, providing an opportunity to share their love for the work.

Influence of the work

"Go-Wapper 5 Godam" had a huge influence on later robot anime with its unique mecha design and story development. In particular, Godam's transformation and the design of the small machines operated by each member were often adopted in later works, contributing to the development of the genre. In addition, the story of ordinary children who obtain great powers and take on a battle that will determine the fate of the world has influenced many works as a universal theme that gives courage and hope to viewers.

summary

"Go-Wapper 5 Godam" is a robot anime produced by Tatsunoko Productions that was broadcast in 1976 and is still loved by many fans today. Its unique mecha design, exciting battle scenes, and story of ordinary children who obtain great powers and take on a battle that will determine the fate of the world gave courage and hope to viewers. Even now, more than 40 years after its broadcast, the appeal of the work has not faded and it continues to be supported by many fans. With its retro design and appealing story, "Go-Wapper 5 Godam" will continue to be loved forever as a work that provides fresh surprises to modern viewers.

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