Golden Warrior Gold Lightan: A thorough review of the hero's brilliance and the course of his battles

Golden Warrior Gold Lightan: A thorough review of the hero's brilliance and the course of his battles

Gold Lightan - The brilliance of 80's robot anime

"Golden Warrior Gold Lightan," which aired from 1981 to 1982, is a robot anime series produced by Tatsunoko Productions. The story follows Gold Lightan, a warrior from another world known as the "Mecha Dimension," and Hiro, a boy from Earth, as they fight together. It was hugely popular among children when it aired, and its appeal has not faded even today. In this article, we will introduce detailed information and the appeal of "Golden Warrior Gold Lightan," and explore why the series continues to be loved today.

Overview

■ Public Media
TV anime series
■ Original Media
Anime Original
■ Broadcast period
March 1, 1981 - February 18, 1982 Episodes 1-5 Every Sunday 7:30-8:00
Episode 6 to Episode 52 Every Thursday 18:00 to 18:30
■Broadcasting station
TV Tokyo affiliates
■Frequencies
half an hour
■ Number of Episodes
Episode 52
■Original Story
Tatsunoko Productions Planning Office
■ Director
Koichi Mashimo
■ Production
Tatsunoko Productions
■Works
©Tatsunoko Productions

story

■ Story

The evil King Ivalda, born from a distortion in the other world "Mecha Dimension," has begun his invasion of the third dimension. Gold Lightan, a warrior from the Mecha Dimension, comes to thwart Ivalda's ambitions and meets a human boy named Hiro, who becomes his ally in protecting the world together. Normally shaped like a small lighter, Gold Lightan transforms into a gigantic, shining golden robot. Together with his trusty comrades, the Lightan Corps, and Hiro's friends, the Naughty Rangers, he challenges King Ivalda to a fight.

Commentary

■Explanation

This robot action story follows a group of boys and their righteous robots, united by friendship, as they fight to protect the world from an evil mechanical organization that has invaded from another world. The unique premise of a lighter, an item coveted by adults, transforming into a giant robot and fighting became a hit with children.

cast

■Cast

・Hiro/Inoue Yo・Sam/Mitsuya Yuji・Emmy/Shimazu Saeko・Monkey/Suzuki Reiko・Tombo/Mashima Satomi・Big, Narrator/Inaba Minoru・Ohina/Mita Yuko・Yuda Hachihei/Murayama Akira・Gold Lightan/Fumata Kazunari・King Ivalda/Tatekabe Kazuya・Uyokker/Iizuka Shozo・Sayoker/Nagahori Yoshio・Mannacker/Koda Naoko

Main Staff

■ Main staff

・Producer: Yoshida Kenji ・Planning: Kuri Ippei, Yanagawa Shigeru ・Original work: Tatsunoko Productions Planning Office ・Series composition, literary director: Sakai Akiyoshi ・Character design: Kuri Ippei ・Animation supervision: Miyamoto Sadao ・Art director: Nakamura Mitsuki, Okada Kazuo ・Opening animation: Suda Masami ・Music: Jinbo Masaaki, Yamamoto Masayuki ・Producer: Miyata Tomoyuki ・General director: Mashimo Koichi ・Production: Tatsunoko Productions

Main Characters

■ Main Characters

Hiro's real name is Hiroshi Ohmi. A boy who meets and befriends Gold Lightan.
Gold Lightan: A warrior from the Mecha Dimension. A sentient robot that can transform into a lighter-like form. Normally small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, he grows gigantic during battle.

subtitle

■Subtitle

Episode 1: The Devil in the Mecha Dimension Episode 2: Mystery! The Catfish Eats the Dam Episode 3: Goodbye, Yukigon Episode 4: Hell's Leisure Land Episode 5: Heat-Lighting Christaman Episode 6: Who is the Informer?
Episode 7: The Evil Runaway Robot Episode 8: Subway Centipede Strategy Episode 9: The City of Mecha Cosmos Episode 10: Dragonfly UFO
・Episode 11/Bomb Mecha Swan・Episode 12/The Monster of the Forgotten Village・Episode 13/Ohina's Close Call・Episode 14/Mecha Rebel Hell・Episode 15/The Mecha Dragon of the Sky・Episode 16/The Devil's Mini-Spy・Episode 17/Goodbye Dolphin Day・Episode 18/Operation Gulliver・Episode 19/Ohina is a Circus Star・Episode 20/Newtonda of Love・Episode 21/Mecha Ninja Shadow Clone・Episode 22/Living Doll・Episode 23/The Art Thief is Mechaso・Episode 24/All Six Lightans Gather・Episode 25/Nessie's Rampaging Journey・Episode 26/The Great Storm・Episode 27/Dracula Panic・Episode 28/The Mysterious Jungle Gym・Episode 29/The Scary Beauty Contest・Episode 30/The Secret of Ivalda's Palace・Episode 31/Surprise Nezumole・Episode 32 / Yuki-onna Koranka・Episode 33 / Love's Trouble・Episode 34 / The Mermaid Princess of Demon Cape・Episode 35 / Professor Puzzle's Trap・Episode 36 / The Naughty Detective Arrives・Episode 37 / The Weakness of the Lightan Army・Episode 38 / Animals of the Great Plains・Episode 39 / Straight to the Mecha Dimension・Episode 40 / The Mysterious Undersea Palace・Episode 41 / The Great Demon's Tears・Episode 42 / The Demon Army Episode 43: The Fear of the Gang; Episode 44: Castaways on the Volcanic Island; Episode 45: The Phantom Kingdom of Yamaterasu; Episode 46: Duel of the Magma Giants; Episode 47: Abrada's Great Victory in Love; Episode 48: Target Mannacker; Episode 49: Rebellion in the Mecha Palace; Episode 50: Mr. Mecha X's Challenge; Episode 51: The Last Day of the Mecha Palace; Episode 52: Farewell to the Lightan Corps

Appeal and evaluation of the work

"Gold Lightan: The Golden Warrior" has a unique setting and storyline, even among the robot anime of the 80s. The idea of ​​Gold Lightan transforming from a lighter into a giant robot really sparked the imagination of children. Also, the friendship between Hiro and Gold Lightan, and the bond with the Wanpaku Rangers, left a deep impression on viewers.

The appeal of this work can be summed up in the following points:

  • Unique transformation idea : The transformation from lighter to robot was fresh and fascinating to children at the time. This idea set it apart from other robot anime.
  • Friendship and Bonds : The friendship between Hiro, Gold Lightan, and the Wanpaku Rangers was deeply portrayed and touched the hearts of viewers. These relationships are the core of the story.
  • Diverse enemy characters : The enemy characters, including King Ivalda, were all unique, making each battle fresh. In particular, the design of the mecha that appeared in each episode was also attractive.
  • Music : The music by Masaaki Jinbo and Masayuki Yamamoto was a key element in setting the atmosphere of the series, with the opening theme in particular still beloved by many fans to this day.

Background and influences

"Golden Warrior Gold Lightan" is a work filled with Tatsunoko Productions' ingenuity. At the time of production, Tatsunoko Productions was known for the "Time Bokan Series" and "Science Ninja Team Gatchaman," but "Gold Lightan" was a new challenge for them. In particular, the idea of ​​transforming a lighter into a robot made a strong impact on viewers.

This work had a major impact on later robot anime. In particular, the concept of transforming robots is said to have influenced the "Transformers" series. In addition, the storytelling of friendship and bonds has been passed down to many other works.

Character Introduction

Here we will introduce the details of the main characters.

Hiro

His real name is Hiroshi Ohmi. He is a boy who meets Gold Lightan and fights alongside him. He is a brave character with a strong sense of justice and a heart that cares for his friends. The story revolves around Hiro's growth and his friendship with Gold Lightan.

Gold Lightan

A warrior from the mechanical dimension, he is a sentient robot. He usually appears as a small lighter, but when he fights he transforms into a gigantic, golden robot. Gold Lightan fights alongside Hiro and strives to protect the Earth.

Naughty Rangers

They are Hiro's friends and the team that will stand up against King Ivalda together. The members are Sam, Amy, Monkey, Tombo, Ohina, and Big, and each has their own unique character. Their actions are also an important factor in adding excitement to the story.

Ivalda the Great

He is an evil ruler from the Mecha Dimension who plans to invade Earth. He leads a powerful army of mechas to battle Gold Lightan. The story revolves around King Ivalda's ambitions and his battle with Gold Lightan.

The appeal of the episode

"Golden Warrior Gold Lightan" is a long series with 52 episodes, but each episode is unique and full of charm. Below are some episodes.

Episode 1: "The Devil in the Mecha Dimension"

This is the episode where Gold Lightan first appears on Earth and meets Hiro. King Ivalda's ambitions are revealed, setting the stage for the story. This episode also shows Gold Lightan's transformation and the beginning of his friendship with Hiro.

Episode 24: The Six Lightans Assemble

This is the first episode to feature the entire Lightan Army, who fight alongside Gold Lightan. Each Lightan's personality and abilities are introduced, and their unity as a team is emphasized. This episode is important in conveying the appeal of the Lightan Army to viewers.

Episode 52 "Farewell to the Lightan Corps"

The final episode depicts the final battle with King Ivalda. This is the episode where the bond between Gold Lightan, Hiro, and the Wanpaku Rangers is put to the test. This episode is the climax of the story and contains many moving scenes.

Music and Soundtrack

The music for "Golden Warrior Gold Lightan" was composed by Masaaki Jinbo and Masayuki Yamamoto. The opening theme "Golden Warrior Gold Lightan" in particular resonated deeply with viewers. The song is still loved by many fans today as a symbol of courage and hope.

Additionally, the background music for each episode was also an important element in enhancing the atmosphere of the work. Music that conveys tension during battle scenes and warmth during scenes of friendship is used effectively.

Response from viewers

"Golden Warrior Gold Lightan" was loved by many viewers from the time it was broadcast. Children in particular were moved by Gold Lightan's transformations and his friendship with Hiro, and looked forward to the weekly broadcasts. The exploits of the Naughty Rangers and the unique enemy characters also gained popularity.

Even today, this work is supported by many fans. Many reviews and impressions by fans are posted on the Internet, and there are communities where people share their memories of the time. In addition, DVDs and Blu-rays have been released, so that its appeal can be shared with new generations.

Recommendations and ratings

"Golden Warrior Gold Lightan" is one of the most highly acclaimed robot animes of the 80s. Its unique setting and moving storyline are still loved by many viewers today. In particular, Gold Lightan's transformation and friendship with Hiro left a strong impression on viewers.

Here are some reasons why I recommend this work:

  • Unique setting : The transformation from lighter to robot is a unique feature that no other work has. This idea has greatly stimulated the imagination of viewers.
  • A moving story : The friendship between Hiro and Gold Lightan, and the bond with the Wanpaku Rangers were deeply depicted, touching the hearts of viewers. These human relationships are the core of the story.
  • Unique Characters : The enemy characters, including Gold Lightan, the Naughty Rangers, and King Ivalda, were all unique and made a strong impression on viewers.
  • Music : The music by Masaaki Jinbo and Masayuki Yamamoto was a key element in setting the atmosphere of the series, with the opening theme in particular still beloved by many fans to this day.

"Golden Warrior Gold Lightan" is a work that conveys the brilliance of 80's robot anime to the present day. I hope that a new generation will also be able to experience its charm. Please watch this work and enjoy the adventures of Gold Lightan and Hiro.

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