Rokushin Gattai Godmars: Reassessing the legendary robot anime

Rokushin Gattai Godmars - A monumental work of 80's robot anime

"Godmars: The Combination of Six Gods," which aired from 1981 to 1982, was a TV anime series based on the original work by Mitsuteru Yokoyama, and was one of the works that led the robot anime boom at the time. This work tells the story of Takeru Myojin, who fights against Emperor Zuul of Planet Gishin, who is plotting to invade Earth, and the exploits of Godmars, a combination of six robots with psychic powers, captivated viewers.

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

comics

■ Broadcast period

October 2, 1981 - December 24, 1982

■Broadcasting station

Nippon Television

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 64

■Original Story

Mitsuteru Yokoyama

■ Production

Produced by Tokyo Movie Shinsha

■Works

©Hikari Production・TMS

■ Story

Humanity, which was pushing ahead with the development of the solar sphere, was being hindered by Emperor Zuul of the planet Gishin, who was plotting to invade Earth. Takeru Myojin, who was working as a member of the Cosmo Crusher Corps defending the Earth, learns during the battle that he is Mars, a Gishin alien who was sent to Earth 17 years ago. Takeru challenges the assassin with "God Mars," a combination of psychic powers and six robots that combine into the Six Gods. But a sad fate awaits him and his twin brother, Marg.

■Cast

Takeru Myojin (Mars): Yu Mizushima / Rose: Rumiko Ukai / Chief Otsuka: Kousei Tomita / Kenji Asuka: Hiroya Ishimaru / Mika Hinata: Yoko Kawanami / Naoto Ijuin: Hirotaka Suzuoki / Akira Kiso: Tsubasa Shioya / Namida Akashi: Eiko Yamada / Gash: Akio Nojima, Kazuyuki Sogabe (only #44) / Flore: Yoshiko Sakakibara / Emperor Zulu: Goro Naya / Marg: Yuji Mitsuya

■ Main staff

Animation Director: Motohashi Hideyuki / Mechanic Designer: Kamegaki Hajime / Art Director: Ishigaki Tsutomu / Director of Photography: Arai Takafumi / Sound Director: Date Wataru / Music Selection: Tojo Befusei / Music: Wakakusa Megumi / Literary Director: Onoda Hiroyuki / Production Manager: Matsumoto Masato / Chief Director: Imazawa Tetsuo / Screenplay: Fujikawa Keisuke, Shiroyama Noboru, Taguchi Narumitsu / Director: Yamayoshi Yasuo, Dezaki Satoshi, Nishimura Junji and others / Producers: Horikoshi Toru (until #25), Takahashi Seiji (from #26), Akagawa Shigeru / Planning: Yoshikawa Bin

■ Theme songs and music

[OP] Song: King of the Universe! Godmars / Singer: Kazuho Hiura / Lyrics: Tomoko Miura / Composer: Yuichiro Oda / Arrangement: Megumi Wakakusa [ED1] Song: Tower of Love (#1-63) / Singer: Kazuho Hiura / Lyrics: Yuichiro Oda, Tomoko Miura / Composer: Yuichiro Oda / Arrangement: Megumi Wakakusa [ED2] Song: Legend of the 17-Year-Old (#64) / Singer: Yuji Mitsuya / Lyrics: Keisuke Fujikawa / Composer: Megumi Wakakusa / Arrangement: Megumi Wakakusa

Appeal and evaluation of the work

"Godmars: Six Gods Combined" was one of the most highly acclaimed robot animes of the 1980s. Its appeal can be summed up in the following points:

1. Depth of story

The story of this work is not just about robot battles, but also depicts human drama such as the protagonist Takeru's search for his own identity and the conflict and reconciliation with his twin brother Marg. In particular, the scene where Takeru finds out he is a Gishin alien and the final battle with Marg deeply touched the hearts of viewers. Furthermore, against the backdrop of the larger theme of Earth invasion, the growth and conflicts of each character are carefully depicted, deeply moving viewers.

2. The appeal of the characters

The main character, Myojin Takeru, is a Gishin alien with psychic powers, yet he is depicted fighting to protect the Earth. His growth and struggles have resonated with viewers, and he has been particularly popular with the younger generation. The members of the Cosmo Crusher Squad who support Takeru are also very unique, and their individual backstories and relationships enrich the story. In particular, Takeru's relationship with his twin brother Marg is an important element that forms the core of the story, and left a strong impression on viewers.

3. Quality of mechanic design

The mechanical design of this work was done by Kamegaki Hajime, and the design of Godmars, which is made up of six robots that combine, made a strong impact on viewers at the time. From the individual design of each robot to the majestic appearance of Godmars after combination, attention to detail is apparent. The enemy mechanical design is also unique, and its visual appeal enhances the entire work.

4. The Wonder of Music

The music by Megumi Wakakusa is an important element in enhancing the atmosphere of the work. The opening theme "Godmars, King of the Universe!" in particular has a powerful melody and lyrics that capture the hearts of viewers and can be said to be a symbol of the work. The ending themes "Pagoda of Love" and "Legend of the 17-Year-Old" also play a role in enhancing the moving story. The background music was also carefully created to match each scene, and had a great effect in drawing out the emotions of the viewer.

Background and influences of the work

"Godmars" is based on the original work by Mitsuteru Yokoyama, and appealed to an even wider audience by adapting the epic scale and human drama of the original work into an anime. In particular, during the robot anime boom of the 1980s, the storytelling and character portrayal that set it apart from other works were highly praised, and it gained many fans.

This work also had a major influence on subsequent robot anime. In particular, the setting in which the main character is from the enemy side, the design of the combined robot, and the depiction of deep human drama had a huge impact on later works. For example, it is said that many robot anime, such as the "Mobile Suit Gundam" series and the "Mazinger Z" series, were influenced by this work.

Response from viewers

"Godmars: Six Gods Combined" has been highly praised by many viewers since it was first broadcast. In particular, the story of Takeru's growth and his conflict and reconciliation with Marg deeply touched the hearts of viewers and moved many of them. In addition, the Godmars' combination and battle scenes have a strong visual impact and have been supported by a wide range of people, from children to adults.

Even after the series ended, it has been rebroadcast and released on DVD and Blu-ray, and many fans are reevaluating the series. In particular, with the spread of the Internet, opinions and reviews of the series can now be shared on social media and blogs, allowing even more viewers to rediscover the appeal of the series.

Recommendations and related works

"Godmars: Six Gods Combined" is a representative robot anime of the 1980s, and has been highly praised for many elements, including the depth of the story, the charm of the characters, the quality of the mechanical design, and the wonderful music. This is a work that anyone who likes robot anime or science fiction anime should definitely watch.

If you enjoyed this work, we also recommend the following related works:

1. Mobile Suit Gundam

"Mobile Suit Gundam" is a robot anime that aired from 1979 to 1980, and is a work that depicts war and human drama. In particular, it depicts the growth of the main character Amuro Ray and the complex human relationships between allies and enemies, and has themes in common with "Godmars: Six Gods Combined."

2. Mazinger Z

"Mazinger Z" is a robot anime that was broadcast from 1972 to 1974, and can be said to be a pioneer of combined robots. In particular, the hero Koji Kabuto's brave fight and the battle scenes with the enemy have a common charm with "Godmars: Six Gods Combined."

3. Brave Series

The "Brave Series" is a robot anime series that aired in the 1990s, featuring combined robots and characters with supernatural powers. In particular, "Brave Exkaiser" and "Brave Express Might Gaine" have many elements in common with "Godmars: Six Gods Combined" and are loved by fans.

Conclusion

"Godmars: Six Gods Combined" was one of the most highly acclaimed robot anime of the 1980s, and many elements of it captivated viewers, including the depth of its story, the appeal of its characters, the quality of its mechanical designs, and the splendor of its music. In particular, the story of the protagonist Takeru's growth and his conflict and reconciliation with Marg deeply touched the hearts of viewers, inspiring many to watch. Furthermore, the Godmars' combination and battle scenes had a strong visual impact, and were supported by a wide range of viewers, from children to adults.

This work had a huge impact on subsequent robot anime and continues to be loved by many fans. Please watch it once and experience its charm. Also, for those who enjoyed this work, we recommend related works. If you like robot anime or science fiction anime, this is a work that you should definitely watch at least once.