Cyborg 009 Super Galaxy Legend: Its Appeal and Evaluation: A Deeper Look at Episode 5

The appeal and evaluation of "Cyborg 009 Super Galaxy Legend"

"Cyborg 009 Super Galaxy Legend" is a theatrical animation released in 1980, and is a grand space adventure story based on the original work by Shotaro Ishinomori. This work was produced after the TV anime version and was produced by Toei Animation (now Toei Animation). Below, we will introduce the appeal and evaluation of this work, as well as related information in detail.

story

The story begins with the ambition of Zoa, the emperor of Planet Dagas, to get his hands on "Vortex," a super energy source with enough power to control the universe. Saba, a boy from Planet Commander whose father was kidnapped by Zoa after discovering the theory for controlling Vortex, arrives on Earth and asks Cyborg 009 and the others for help. Learning that Zoa's next target for attack is Earth, the cyborgs fly off into space with Saba. Damaged by enemy attack, they are washed ashore on Planet Fantalion, where they meet Queen Tamara, but after a sad farewell they board the enemy fortress. 004 destroys the fortress with his own suicide bombing, but Zoa is closing in on Vortex... and so the story unfolds.

Background and Evaluation

This work was produced following the TV anime version that aired from 1979 to 1980. While Nippon Sunrise participated in the TV anime version as a production partner, the movie version was produced solely by Toei Animation. In addition, Jeff Segal, known as a staff member of "Star Wars", was brought in to help with the script, and the film aimed to have a grand scale as a space work at the time. It is notable for being produced as a space animation, on par with "Galaxy Express 999" released in 1979 and "Yamato Forever" released in August 1980.

At the time of its release, Nippon Broadcasting System held a poll among its viewers to select the most popular anime works that were broadcast or screened in 1980, and the poll was shown alongside "'80 Animation The Best Ten," a show broadcast on the TBS network in the same format as "The Best Ten." This also shows how popular and highly anticipated the film was at the time.

Cast and crew

The cast includes many voice actors who have continued to appear in the TV anime version, such as Kazuhiko Inoue as 009, Fuyumi Shiraishi as 001, Keiichi Noda as 002, and Kazuko Sugiyama as 003. In addition, new characters Noriko Obara will play Saba, Hiroko Suzuki as Tamara, and Toru Ohira as Zoa.

The staff is a splendid lineup, including director Masayuki Akehi, scriptwriter Ryuzo Nakanishi, script collaborator Jeff Segal, animation director and animation character designer Yasuhiro Yamaguchi, mechanical animation director and mechanical designer Koichi Kakuta, and music composer Koichi Sugiyama. Together, these staff members have created a magnificent space adventure story.

Main Characters

There are many unique characters in "Cyborg 009 Super Galaxy Legend." The main characters are introduced below.

• 009 (Joe Shimamura) : A half-Japanese youth who was born alone in the world and escaped from a juvenile detention center, where he was abducted by the Black Ghost Gang and modified. He is a cutting-edge cyborg that combines the advantages of all the cyborgs up to 008. When he presses a switch installed in his molar, an acceleration device is activated, allowing him to move at high speeds.
• 001 (Ivan Whiskey) : A Russian baby who, due to brain modification, has intelligence and supernatural powers ten times that of an ordinary person.
• 002 (Jet Link) : A former New York street gangster, he has jet boosters in both his legs and can fly at Mach 5.
• 003 (Françoise Arnoul) : A French schoolgirl aspiring to become a prima ballerina, she has radar sensor capabilities and boasts excellent hearing and eyesight.
• 004 (Albert Heinrich) : From Germany, he is equipped with weapons ranging from machine guns to micromissiles and even atomic bombs.
• 005 (Geronimo Jr.) : A huge Native American with tough skin that can withstand cannonballs and superhuman strength.
• 006 (Zhang Zhanhu) : A poor Chinese farmer, he was turned into a cyborg by Black Ghost when he tried to commit suicide and can spit high-temperature flames from his mouth. He is the mood maker among the Zero Zero Number Cyborgs.
• 007 (Great Britain) : A former British stage actor who can alter the molecular arrangement of cells, transforming into not only living but also inorganic matter.
• 008 (Pyunma) : Native to Africa, it has artificial gills and nozzles on the soles of its feet for underwater activity, as well as skin and internal organs that can withstand water pressure.
• Dr. Isaac Gilmore : He created the Zero Zero Number cyborgs under the Black Ghost Squad, but after modifying 009, he escaped with them. He is like a father to the cyborgs.
• Dr. Cosmo : A space scientist who discovered vortexes and developed a theory for controlling them, he is an old friend of Dr. Gilmore.
• Tamara : The queen of the planet Fantalion, who was trapped in an earring by Zoa. After being rescued by the cyborgs, she develops feelings for 009.
• Saba : A boy from the planet Komadar who escapes to Earth aboard the Ishmael and asks the cyborgs to rescue his father who has been abducted by Zoa.
• Zoa : The emperor of the planet Dagas, who plots to conquer the universe based on his own desires, and tries to use Brain Tap to seize the Vortex's control theory.

Related Titles

"Cyborg 009 Super Galaxy Legend" is one of the series based on the original work by Shotaro Ishinomori, and includes the following related works:

• movie
  • Cyborg 009
  • "Cyborg 009: War of the Monsters"
  • "009 RE:CYBORG" (scheduled for release in 2012. Full 3DCG animation)
• TV anime
  • Cyborg 009 (2nd film, 1979-1980)

Appeal and recommendation points of the work

"Cyborg 009 Super Galaxy Legend" is a grand space adventure story, but it also depicts the drama and human relationships of each character. In particular, the relationship between 009 and Tamara and the story of Saba's rescue of her father deeply touch the audience. In addition, the addition of Jeff Segal as a scriptwriter has increased the scale and impact of the space film at the time.

In addition, don't miss the high-quality visuals and music by a stellar cast and crew. Koichi Sugiyama's music enhances the tension and excitement of the story, stirring the emotions of the viewer. Yasuhiro Yamaguchi's character design and Koichi Tsunoda's mechanical design also greatly enhance the visual appeal.

This work is recommended not only for fans of the Cyborg 009 series, but also for those who like space adventures and action anime. It is especially a must-see for those who want to experience the golden age of Japanese animation in the 1980s. There are also many related works, so you can enjoy the entire series.

summary

"Cyborg 009 Super Galaxy Legend" is a grand space adventure story based on the original work by Shotaro Ishinomori, and is a high-quality animation work with unique characters and a luxurious staff. This work, which allows you to fully experience the charm of Japanese animation in the 1980s, is a work that can be recommended not only to fans of the Cyborg 009 series but also to a wide range of viewers. There are many related works, so you can experience even deeper emotions and excitement by enjoying the entire series.