The appeal and evaluation of Super Beast Machine God Dancouga: A monumental achievement in robot anime

Dancouga: The Ultimate Robot Anime of the 80s

"Dancouga: Super Beast Machine God," broadcast in 1985, is one of the most memorable robot anime of the 1980s. This anime tells the story of four young people who fight to protect the Earth and the giant robot "Dancouga" they pilot. Here, we will take a closer look at the appeal and background of "Dancouga: Super Beast Machine God," as well as subsequent related works.

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

Anime Original

■ Broadcast period

April 5, 1985 - December 27, 1985

■Broadcasting station

TBS Broadcasting

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 38

■Original Story

Production Lead

■ Director

・General Director: Seiji Okuda

■ Production

Produced by Asahi Tsushinsha and Ashi Productions

■Works

©PRODUCTION REED 1985

■ Story

In order to protect the Earth from the invaders, Mugezorvados, who suddenly came from space, four people, Shinobu Fujiwara, Sara Yuki, Ryo Shiba, and Masato Shikibu, form the Beast Fighter Corps. The battle with the Muge Empire is fierce, and through various loves and hatreds swirling on the battlefield, such as the betrayal of their superior officer Shapiro and the death of a friend, the Beast Fighter Corps evolves from beasts to humans and even to the super beast machine god Dancouga, which surpasses even gods. Between life and death, the roar of Dancouga echoes across the battlefield where the fate of the Earth is at stake.

■Cast

・Fujiwara Shinobu/Yao Kazuki/Yuki Sara/Yamamoto Yuriko/Shiba Ryo/Shiozawa Kaneto/Shikibu Masato/Nakahara Shigeru/Ross Igor/Ikeda Masaru/Hazuki Kotaro/Ishimaru Hiroya/Laura Sullivan/Fujiwara Rie/Shapiro Keats/Wakamoto Noriaki/Emperor Muge/Nakamura Hideo/Desgaia General/Yurasaku Yara/Helmatt General/Nimata Kazunari/Guildrom General/Sato Masaharu/Narration/Nakamura Hideo

■ Main staff

・Planning / Toshihiko Sato, Azuma Kasuga・Structure / Keisuke Fujikawa・General Director / Seiji Okuda・Character Design / Indorigoya・Mechanic Design / Hisashi Hirai (Nakamura Productions), Masami Obari・Art Director / Torao Arai・Color Setting / Noriko Akamatsu, Kumiko Nakayama・Sound Director / Noriyoshi Matsuura・Director of Photography / Takeshi Fukuda・Editing / Toshio Henmi, Naoyuki Masaki, Kazuhiko Seki・Music / Takeshi Ike, Osamu Totsuka・Producer / Yoshiro Kataoka (Asahi Tsushinsha), Hiroshi Kato, Masaru Umehara・Production / Asahi Tsushinsha, Ashi Productions

■ Main Characters

・Shinobu Fujiwara/
A trainee at the Earth Military Space Officers Academy in Australia. His grades were above average, but his extraordinary eyesight and technique made him exceptional in flying. When the Earth Military Space Officers Academy was destroyed by an attack from the Zorbados Army, he was assigned to the Japanese special armored unit, the Beast Fighter Squadron, and became its first member. He is a little quick-tempered and has difficulty thinking deeply about things. He dislikes being bound by authority, and has many conflicts with General Igor, the commander of the Beast Fighter Squadron. Through his encounter with Laura, the guidance of the Black Knight, and the death of General Igor, he eventually showed signs of growing as a person.
・Yuki Sara／
She was one of the trainees who was in the same class as Shinobu at the Earth Military Space Officer Academy. She was in love with her instructor Shapiro, and was planning to join him when he put his ambitions into action. However, due to Shinobu's interference, she was unable to follow Shapiro, and was forced to give up. She was then assigned to the Beast Fighter Squadron and became a Land Cougar pilot. Although she appears to have a straightforward, tomboyish personality, she also has a strong feminine sensibility, and her fighting spirit, born from her love and hate, is fierce. When Sara becomes aware of Shapiro's presence as an enemy during the battle, she chooses to defeat the man she loves with her own hands in order to settle her feelings.
・Masato Shikibu／
He is a sixth-year student at the Earth Military Space Military Academy, one year younger than Shinobu. He applied to the military academy to rebel against his father, who made a living in the military industry, and to take a path to the front lines himself. As you would imagine from his appearance, he has a friendly personality, and gets along well with children and animals. He is easily influenced and careless at times, but he hates to lose and has more fighting spirit inside than most. Perhaps because he is often treated as a junior, he sometimes tries too hard to be accepted by those around him. His bright and gentle personality can be said to be a kind of lubricant among the members of the Beast Fighter Squad, who tend to clash over various things.
・Ryo Shiba／
He is one year older than Shinobu and Sara. Even after graduating from the Earth Military Space Officer Academy, he was not commissioned, instead wandering around the country on a journey of training. He doesn't say much, and has a cynical attitude towards everything, so he doesn't get along well with the impulsive Shinobu. He is well versed in Chinese martial arts, and his fighting skills are the best in the Jusenki Squadron. He is always calm and collected, but his fighting instinct is by no means inferior to the other members. Through his martial arts training, he has learned how to control it. His ability to assess the battle situation from a broad perspective is recognized by his comrades, and he plays an active role as the commander of the Jusenki Squadron.
・Ross Igor/
A German-born soldier, he was the first commander of the Beast Fighter Squadron. He personally selected the four pilots. He had a true military temperament, and his authoritarian attitude, which did not tolerate any disobedience or questioning of orders, sometimes drew resentment from the ninjas. However, his strictness was also almost fatherly, and there is no doubt that he guided the ninjas who fought with their beastly nature. When the Beast Fighter Squadron base was attacked by the enemy, he took up his gun to protect Lola, who was a symbol of the future generation, and died a heroic death in battle.
・Kotaro Hazuki/
He is the vice commander of the Beast Fighter Corps and a doctor who is said to be an authority on Japanese bio-high technology. All of the development and design of the Beast Fighter Corps came from his mind. As a scientist, he takes it upon himself to gather as much data as possible and draw solid conclusions, but this often confuses him in an organization like the military, where quick decisions are required. At first, he did not have a good impression of the ninja and other members of the Corps, who often behave in a chaotic manner, but he gradually begins to trust them as he comes into contact with the humanity within them.
・Laura Sullivan /
A girl whom Shinobu met in a small town near Sacramento in North America. She lost her father at a young age and her mother in an attack by the Zorvados army, leaving her all alone. She travels to Japan to visit Shinobu, where she is reunited with the Jusenki Squad. With Dr. Hazuki acting as her sponsor, she is allowed to live at the base. For some reason, she knows the song given to Sara by Shapiro, and often hums it. At first, she is quiet, perhaps due to the sadness of losing her mother, but as she connects with the members of the Jusenki Squad, including Masato, she begins to show a cheerful attitude.
・Shapiro Keats/
An instructor at the Earth Military Space Officer Academy. He has a genius talent for strategy and tactics, but at the same time, he is an ambitious man with a strong desire to rise to the top. He was the first to detect an attack from the Zorbados Empire from disturbances in the space sounds that reached the "Cave of God". He proposed a countermeasure, but was ignored, so he joined the Zorbados army and chose to become the conqueror of Earth. Knowing military information and the psychology of Earthlings, he contributed to the expansion of the occupied territory and was highly valued by Emperor Muge as a commander. He had an ambition to eventually surpass even Emperor Muge and become the ruler of the universe, but after the destruction of the lunar frontline base and Luna's betrayal, he met a cruel end.
・Emperor Mugen／
The Emperor of the Muge Zorvados Empire continues to expand its territory, conquering numerous star systems. As part of his plan to conquer the frontier, he ordered Desgaier and his three generals to conquer Earth. It seems that he was on the front lines himself during the early days of the empire, but now he waits for reports from his subordinates on Zorvados' home planet. Like an absolute monarch, he does not allow questions or objections to his orders, but at the same time, he also shows his generosity by being tolerant of those with long-standing achievements, even if they have failed once.
・ General Deathgayer /
One of the three generals of the Zorbados army. As the vanguard of the invading army, he launched a preemptive attack on the Earth army, destroying most of it. A warrior who specializes in brute force tactics and prefers to be on the front lines against strong enemies. However, on Earth, he was unable to expand his occupied territory as he had hoped due to the resistance of the citizens and the efforts of the Beast Fighter Unit, and was forced to reluctantly return to his home planet after his defeat at the hands of Dancouga. As someone who built the foundation of the empire with his numerous military achievements, he was highly trusted by the emperor and was ordered to continue to defend the home planet.
・General Helmut
The third general who took over from Guildrom and was assigned to attack Earth. He began by destroying the Beast Fighter Squadron base and taking the life of Director Igor. His army concentrates its forces in a large fleet, and uses tactics that bring total destruction from the sky. He is the most ruthless of the three generals, and Luna described him as a "frightening man." He intercepted the Earth forces on the moon, but his flagship exploded when the Black Knight's Black Wing crashed into him. He met a tragic end.
・General Guildrom /
He leads the Guildrome Corps, nicknamed the "Mysterious Corps," and is skilled in illusion and psychological manipulation. He took over control of the Earth in place of Death Gaier, and expanded his influence mainly on the European front. He tracked down the location of the Beast Fighter Corps base, but was forced to resign when it was discovered that he had activated new weapons without Shapiro's permission to do so. When it became apparent that the Zorbados forces were on the brink of defeat, he reappeared on the front lines and led the retreat, sacrificing Shapiro. He stood in the way of the Beast Fighter Corps as the last enemy in the solar system.

■Subtitle

・Episode 1: Empire's Desire
・Episode 2: Get your! JYUSENKI
・Episode 3: Shapiro! Reborn! Shapirou!!
Episode 4: Targeted Jamming System
Episode 5: The man who came last
・Episode 6: Maiden in the battlefield
・Episode 7: A Kind of Hero
Episode 8: Fierce Battle! Trapped memories
Episode 9: Hell beast in Amazon
・Episode 10: Legend of the Knight
Episode 11: Covering fire from the enemy
Episode 12: Don't wake up megalosaurs
・Episode 13: Betray Town
Episode 14: Street fight in New York City
・Episode 15: Beyond beasts, beyond humans, come forth, God's warrior (Part 1) God bless the machine Act.1
・Episode 16: Beyond beasts, beyond humans, come forth, God's warrior (part 2) God bless the machine Act.2
Episode 17: Death Gaier's Defeat GENERAL retire
Episode 18: Temptation
Episode 19: Mysterious!! The Unit Wiped Out by the Devil: Night Terror
・Episode 20: Southern Wind Heartbreak
Episode 21: The Grim Reaper Comes Down The First Contact
・Episode 22: Time goes around still
Episode 23: Revenge for murderer
・Episode 24/La Marseille
Episode 25: TRAP! on the European Front
・Episode 26: The Secret of Velieves
Episode 27: Gildorome's decline and fall
Episode 28: General Attack I
Episode 29: General Attack II
Episode 30: Battlefield! Meeting and parting
Episode 31: The Departed Chief: After His Death
・Episode 32: A Strong Enemy from the Sky
Episode 33: Fly to Tomorrow! The Shogun's Children: Capture the Intelligence
Episode 34: A farewell song to my hometown: Long goodbye
・Episode 35: Moon is hell
・Episode 36: The Collapse of Ambition Harmony Love
Episode 37: The End of Darkness Tell Laura I love her!
・Episode 38: The Final Roar: Darkness and Ruins

■ Related works

TV series "Dancouga Nova" <30 minutes, 12 episodes>
OVA
"Dancouga: Requiem for the Lost" <80 minutes>
"God Bless Dancouga" <80 minutes>
"Super Beast Machine God Dancouga: The Incandescent Final Chapter" <30 minutes, Vol.4>
Music clip "Super Beast Machine God Dancouga SONG SPECIAL Beast Fighter Corps SONGS" <30 minutes>

The appeal and background of "Dancouga: The Super Beast Machine God"

"Dancouga: Super Beast Machine God" is a robot anime that was broadcast on TBS in 1985, and is an original anime work by Production Reed. The general director was Seiji Okuda, and the production was handled by Asahi Tsushinsha and Ashi Productions. This work is a relatively long series of 38 episodes, and each episode has a different subtitle.

The story is set on Earth, where the Earth is fighting against the Mugezorvados Empire, an invader from outer space. The four main characters, Shinobu Fujiwara, Sara Yuki, Ryo Shiba, and Masato Shikibu, form the "Beast Fighter Corps" and pilot the giant robot "Dancouga" to protect the Earth. The story depicts fierce battles on the battlefield, bonds with comrades, betrayal, and growth, and is a human drama that has captivated viewers.

The appeal of "Dancouga" lies in its epic storyline and the growth of its characters. In particular, the protagonist, Shinobu Fujiwara, is a somewhat short-tempered and shallow-minded character at first, but as the story progresses, he grows through his bonds with his comrades and his experiences on the battlefield. The individuality of each character, such as Sara Yuki's love and hate for Shapiro, Ryo Shiba's calm judgment, and Masato Shikibu's cheerful personality, enrich the story.

The mechanical design is also not to be missed. The designs by Hisashi Hirai and Masami Ohbari were among the most sophisticated robot anime of the time. Dancouga's transformation and battle scenes had a visual impact that captivated many fans.

Related works and their reviews

Many related works were produced after "Dancouga: Super Beast Machine God". Some of them are introduced below.

TV series "Dancouga Nova"

"Dancouga Nova" is a remake of the original series that aired in 2007. It consists of 12 episodes and follows the original storyline while adding new characters and settings. The graphics and storytelling have been updated to make the series more palatable to modern audiences. It was especially praised for the intensity of the battle scenes and the portrayal of the characters' psychological state.

OVA "Super Beast Machine God Dancouga: Requiem for the Lost"

This OVA was released in 1986 and is a feature-length work of 80 minutes. It was made as a sequel to the original series, and depicts the new battles and growth of the Jusenki Corps. It was especially praised for its story development that focuses on the inner thoughts of the characters. The quality of the battle scenes was also improved, and it gained support from fans.

OVA "God Bless Dancouga"

This OVA, released in 1987, is a feature-length work of 80 minutes. It was produced as a sequel to the original series, and depicts the battle of the Beast Force against a new enemy. In particular, Dancouga's new form and battle scenes became a hot topic and were highly praised by fans. Another highlight is the growth of the characters and the deepening of their relationships.

OVA "Super Beast Machine God Dancouga: The Incandescent Final Chapter"

This OVA, released in 1988, consists of four volumes. Each volume is a 30-minute episode, and was produced as the final installment of the original series. It was particularly well-received by fans, as it depicted the final battle scene and the conclusion of the characters' relationships. The music and direction were also highlights, and were loved by many fans.

Music clip "Super Beast Machine God Dancouga SONG SPECIAL Beast Fighter Corps SONGS"

This music video was released in 1985 and is 30 minutes long. It is a collection of theme songs and insert songs from the original series, and has gained support from fans. In particular, the theme song "Get your! JYUSENKI" is loved by many fans and has become an iconic song for the series. The insert songs also play an important role in enhancing the atmosphere of the story.

Evaluation and recommendation of "Super Beast Machine God Dancouga"

"Dancouga: Super Beast Machine God" is one of the most highly acclaimed robot animes from the 1980s. Here are some reasons why:

Depth of story

"Dancouga: Super Beast Machine God" is not just a robot anime, but a work that depicts character growth and human drama. In particular, the individuality of each character, such as the growth of the main character Fujiwara Shinobu, the love and hate of Yuki Sara, Shiba Ryo's calm judgment, and Shikibu Masato's cheerful personality, enrich the story. In addition, elements such as the fierce battles on the battlefield, the bonds with comrades, betrayal, and growth have attracted viewers.

Mechanical design quality

The mechanical designs by Hisashi Hirai and Masami Ohbari were particularly sophisticated among the robot anime of the time. Dancouga's transformation and battle scenes had a visual impact that captivated many fans. In addition, there was a wide variety of battle scenes in each episode, so viewers never got bored.

The appeal of music

Don't miss the music of "Dancouga: Super Beast Machine God". The theme song "Get your! JYUSENKI" is loved by many fans and has become an iconic song of the series. The inserted songs also play an important role in enhancing the atmosphere of the story. In particular, the music during the battle scenes had the effect of increasing the excitement of the viewers.

Enrichment of related works

"Super Beast Machine God Dancouga" has since spawned many related works. It continues to be loved by fans in various forms, including the TV series "Jusou Kikou Dancouga Nova," the OVAs "Super Beast Machine God Dancouga: Requiem for the Lost," "Super Beast Machine God Dancouga: God Blessing Dancouga," and "Super Beast Machine God Dancouga: Incandescent Final Chapter," and the music video "Super Beast Machine God Dancouga SONG SPECIAL: Jusen Kishin Songs." These related works have further deepened the appeal of the original series and gained support from fans.

Recommendation

"Dancouga: Super Beast Machine God" is a work that can be recommended not only to fans of robot anime from the 80s, but also to modern viewers. In particular, it is packed with many elements, such as the depth of the story, the growth of the characters, the quality of the mechanical design, and the appeal of the music. There are also many related works, so you can enjoy the entire series. Please give it a watch.