Video Warrior Laserion
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| Video Warrior Laserion | |
|---|---|
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| ビデオ戦士レザリオン (Bideo Senshi Lezarion) |
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| Genre | Mecha |
| TV anime | |
| Director | Kozo Morishita |
| Studio | Toei Animation |
| Network | Japan: TBS TV Hong Kong: TVB Puerto Rico: WKAQ-TV |
| Original run | March 4, 1984 – February 3, 1985 |
| Episodes | 45 |
Video Warrior Laserion (ビデオ戦士レザリオン Bideo Senshi Lezarion?) was an anime series aired in 1984 to 1985 in Japan and Hong Kong. There were 45 episodes aired at 30 minutes each. It was the first Japanese anime series to conceive the idea of virtual reality. It is also referred to as "Rezarion", "Laserion"", "Video Senshi Laserion". It was broadcasted in Spanish as "El Super Laser".
Contents |
[edit] Original story
The story is about Takashi Katori and his best friend Sarah, who began as mere online game fans and created a small virtual world to develop their games. They would play by sending data using satellite technology. One day while they were playing, a scientific experiment involving teleporting a plane from Japan to New York using the same satellite was being conducted. In a freak accident, the plane that was converted into digital information was sent to Sarah's computer while Takashi Katori's robot information was rematerialized into a real robot.
Takashi is caught and captured, but later the Earth Government discovers that Dr. Godiem, an evil scientist from the Moon (now a sort of abandoned colony with restricted access) is hacking into virtual worlds and security. The government forces Takashi to pilot the virtual robot Laserion and protect the Earth with Sarah's help. In the end, the whereabouts of Takashi's love, Olivia, becomes a matter of concern.
[edit] Concept
Takashi sits down behind a computer which has a program written in advanced BASIC. He then merges with virtual reality to become a pilot, controlling a hexagon-shaped chrome plane. The plane is the Laserion robot's head detached. In the virtual reality, the plane combines with the robot body to form the video warrior Laserion, which carries a bazooka beam, energy laser sword, laser gun and missiles.
[edit] Staff
Original creator: Saburo Yatsude
Character Design: Hideyuki Motohashi
Mechanical design: Akira Hio, Koichi Ohata
Theme Song Writer: Chuumei Watanabe
Theme Song Performance Opening: Takayuki Miyauchi
Theme Song Performance Ending: Kumiko Kaori
[edit] Characters
| Japanese Name | Japanese Full Name | English Name | Voices by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Satoshi Katori | Satoshi Katori | Takashi Katori | Tōru Furuya |
| Oribia | Olivia | Keiko Han | |
| Yoko Sahara | Yoko Sahara Katori | Sarah | Eiko Hisamura |
| Sylvester | General Sylvester | Keiichi Noda | |
| Bluheim | Blue home | Masaya Taki | |
| God Hydro | Dr. Hydro Godiem | Professor Godheim | Eiji Kanie |
| Kensuke Katori | Kensuke Katori | Eiji Kanie | |
| Gear Rio | Inspire | Mori Isao | |
| Monroe | River Youko | ||
| Charles | Charles | Norio Wakamoto | |
| Debitsuto | Debit | Yoku Shioya | |
| Erehuan Sitsudo | Eric Sid |
[edit] Episodes
| Names |
|---|
| 1. My Dream Robot Game |
| 2. Fleeing David |
| 3. Do Not Cry, Mother |
| 4. Do Not Let The Death Flower Blossom |
| 5. Letter From The Moon |
| 6. Foe? Friend? UFO?? |
| 7. Friendship Melody |
| 8. Powerful Enemy! Eric Sid! |
| 9. Input To Victory |
| 10. The Fragrance whose Peace is Sweet |
| 11. Devil's Birthday |
| 12. So Long, Friend of Thermal Sand |
| 13. Holiday War |
| 14. Running Olivia |
| 15. Fleeing Victory |
| 16. The Nervous Reunion |
| 17. Mystery of Sid's Disappearance |
| 18. Hello, Transfer Student |
| 19. Harapeko War |
| 20. Black Cloud Of Stealth |
| 21. Special Training For Cover!! |
| 22. Laserion Seizure Plan |
| 23. When Mars Is Bitten |
| 24. At That Time, Father's Voice... |
| 25. Rebels On The Spacecraft |
| 26. The Approaching Jack Empire |
| 27. Death Match Of 12 Hours |
| 28. Song Of Love For Victory |
| 29. The Twin Brothers Of Illusion |
| 30. Day Of Hawaii Battle |
| 31. A Solitary Attack |
| 32. Desperate Defense |
| 33. Great Empire Appears |
| 34. Father Who Returns From The Moon |
| 35. Dream Of The Illusive Monk |
| 36. Fortress In Savanna |
| 37. The Friendship Which Burns In The Desert |
| 38. Golden Pyramid |
| 39. Emperor Jack, Move!! |
| 40. Olivia Rescue Mission |
| 41. The Desperate 380,000 Kilometres |
| 42. Life Or Death Escape |
| 43. The Emperor, Arrival At The Moon |
| 44. Rebellion |
| 45. Final Countdown |
[edit] Reaction
Despite the excellent timing of releasing the Laserion toy at the height of super robot popularity in the 80s, even under the premier Godaikin label, the toy was not a top seller in Japan or Hong Kong. The toy did not transform nor do anything more besides having the detachable airplane as a head piece. The fun factor was considered limited, and the show carried the popularity of the toy.
The show was the first Japanese anime show or series to feature a plot taking place in virtual reality as a setting. Future anime like Serial Experiments Lain expanded on the idea, though it can be said that Tron explored the idea in western media first.
[edit] Trivia
- The Laserion robot is 35 meters tall.
- Laserion would mark the only time that a Super Robot would fight alongside Real Robots.
