Armored Troopers: Legend of the Shining Emperor - A thorough review of the new challenge of the legendary warriors

Armored samurai troopers: legend of the brilliant emperor - Armored samurai troopers: legend of the brilliant emperor -

■ Public Media

OVA

■ Original Media

Anime Original

■ Release date

October 8, 1989

■Release and sales

CBS Sony

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 4

■Original Story

Original author: Hajime Yatate

■ Director

Director: Mamoru Hamazu

■ Production

Sunrise, Bandai CBS Sony Group

■Works

©Sunrise

■ Story

Suddenly, the Black Shining Emperor attacks Shinjuku, and Ryo and Seiji are sent to Tanzania, where they learn of the existence of the Black Shining Emperor, which is the counterpart of the White Shining Emperor. Controlled by the will of the Black Shining Emperor's armor, which seeks to fight the White Shining Emperor, the wearer Mukara attacks the group, and Naria, his lover, desperately tries to save him. This is the story of the fateful battle between the armor of light and shadow.

■Explanation

The concept is different from the TV series, and the armor, which was the embodiment of protection, is made to seek battle, creating a Black Shining Emperor as a counterpart to the Shining Emperor, who was the "manifestation of absolute good." It is an alternate story that focuses on the boys' escape from battle and their conflict with the armor, and introduces a new idea of ​​armored warriors from different cultures in Africa.

■Cast

・Ryo of the Blazing Flame/Tsuyoshi Kusao・Shin of the Water Margin/Nozomu Sasaki・Touma of the Sky/Taku Takemura・Shu of Kongo/Tomohiro Nishimura・Seiji of the Halo/Daiki Nakamura・Jun Yamano/Kumiko Watanabe・Nasty Yagyu/Kaori Kusakabe・Mukara of the Sun/Keiji Fukushi・Naria/Yoshino Takamori

■ Main staff

Planning: Sunrise Original story: Hajime Yatate Character design: Norio Shioyama, Shukou Murase Armor design: Hideo Okamoto Art: Junichi Azuma (Studio Easter)
・Color setting: Nishi Kayoko ・Cinematography: Okuda Kazunori ・Editing: Tsurubuchi Tomoaki ・Sound: Chiba Koichi ・Music: Totsuka Osamu ・Director: Hamazu Mamoru ・Producers: Nakagawa Hironori (Sunrise), Kazama Yasuhisa (CBS, Sony Group)

■Subtitle

・Episode 1: "The Sun's Mukara"
・Episode 2/“Black Shining Emperor”
・Episode 3: "The Armor Begins to Run"
Episode 4: "In Search of Something Beyond Sadness"

Armored Troopers: Legend of the Shining Emperor - Detailed Review and Recommendation

■ Background and creative intent of the work

"Samurai Troopers: Legend of the Shining Emperor" was released as an OVA in 1989 and was produced as a spin-off of the TV series "Samurai Troopers: Legend of the Shining Emperor". Director Mamoru Hamazu made bold changes to the setting of the TV series, aiming to tell the story from a new perspective. In particular, it is notable that the armor is depicted not as a mere symbol of protection, but as something that seeks battle. This concept pursues a deeper theme by depicting the boys breaking away from fighting and their conflict with the armor.

■Story development and appeal

The story begins when Ryo and Seiji are sent to Tanzania by the Black Shining Emperor who attacked Shinjuku, and they learn of the existence of the Black Shining Emperor, which is the counterpart of the White Shining Emperor. As Mukara, controlled by the will of the Black Shining Emperor's armor, attacks the group, his lover Naria is depicted desperately trying to save Mukara. Through the contrast of light and shadow, this story depicts the complex relationship between war and peace, and good and evil.

The relationship between Mukara and Naria is particularly impressive. The story of Mukara being controlled by the Black Shining Emperor's armor but being saved by Naria's love leaves a strong impression on viewers. Also, by setting the story in Africa, the introduction of armored warriors from a different culture adds a new appeal. This allows viewers to enjoy the story from a new perspective.

■Charm and acting of the characters

The film features five characters from the TV series, Ryo of the Blazing Flame, Shin of the Suikoden, Touma of the Sky, Shu of the Kongo, and Seiji of the Halo, as well as new characters Mukara of the Sun and Naria. The performances of Fukushi Keiji as Mukara and Takamori Yoshino as Naria are particularly important in adding depth to the story. Fukushi Keiji portrays Mukara's conflict and suffering realistically, eliciting sympathy from viewers. Meanwhile, Takamori Yoshino portrays Naria's strong will and love with great emotion, adding a touching touch to the story.

Additionally, the characters who continue to appear in the TV series are depicted growing and taking on new challenges, giving viewers a fresh impression. In particular, the relationship between Ryo and Seiji deepens as the story progresses, becoming an important element that moves viewers.

■Visuals and Music

The visuals for this work were created by character designers Norio Shioyama and Shukou Murase, and armor designer Hideo Okamoto. The armor design in particular adds a new charm that is different from the TV series, leaving a strong impression on viewers. In addition, the work of Junichi Azuma, the art of depicting African landscapes, is also stunning, drawing viewers into a world full of exotic atmosphere.

The music was composed by Osamu Totsuka, and the emotional background music that matches the development of the story enhances the emotions of the viewer. In particular, the moving melodies in the scenes with Mukara and Naria play an important role in adding depth to the story.

■ Work evaluation and recommendation

"Samurai Troopers: Legend of the Radiant Emperor" depicts the story from a new perspective different from the TV series, providing viewers with a fresh and moving experience. In particular, the relationship between Mukara and Naria, and the theme of the contrast between light and shadow will deeply move viewers. In addition, by setting the story in Africa, it adds the charm of a different culture and provides viewers with a new perspective.

This work is highly recommended not only for fans of the TV series, but also for viewers who want to enjoy the story from a new perspective. In particular, it is a must-watch for those who enjoy stories that depict the complex relationship between war and peace, and good and evil. In addition, the beauty of the visuals and music is also a point not to be missed, and will surely leave a strong impression on viewers.

■ Related works and recommendations

For viewers who enjoyed "Armored Troopers: Legend of the Brilliant Emperor," we also recommend the following related works:

• Yoroiden Samurai Troopers - The TV series that is the origin of this work. It is a moving story about the battles and growth of boys.
• Armored Troopers: Legend of the Bright Emperor Final Chapter - This OVA is the sequel to this work. It is a touching conclusion that deepens the story of Mukara and Naria.
• Mobile Suit Gundam - Another robot anime produced by Sunrise. A masterpiece that depicts the themes of war and peace.
• Saint Seiya - A story of warriors in armor. A moving story of friendship and battle.

■ Summary

"Samurai Troopers: Legend of the Radiant Emperor" depicts the story from a new perspective different from the TV series, giving viewers a fresh and moving experience. In particular, the relationship between Mukara and Naria, and the theme through the contrast of light and shadow, deeply move viewers. In addition, the setting of the story in Africa adds the charm of a different culture and provides viewers with a new perspective. This work is highly recommended not only for fans of the TV series, but also for viewers who want to enjoy the story from a new perspective. Please watch it and experience the excitement for yourself.