Tōshō Daimos

Tōshō Daimos
闘将ダイモス
(Brave Leader Daimos)
Genre Mecha
TV anime
Directed by Tadao Nagahama
Studio Sunrise
Toei Animation
Network TV Asahi
Original run 1 April 197827 January 1979
Episodes 44
Anime and Manga Portal

Tōshō Daimos (闘将ダイモス Tōshō Daimosu?, Brave Leader (or Fighting King or Battle Commander) Daimos) is a Japanese anime television series produced by Nihon Sunrise. Daimos is the third installment of the "Romantic Trilogy", following Chōdenji Robo Combattler V and Chōdenji Machine Voltes V. It ran from 1 April 1978 to 27 January 1979 and consisted of 44 episodes. A movie with the pivotal episodes strung together titled Starbirds was released in the US by the same company that released Tranzor Z. The name Daimos is derived from Deimos, one of the two moons of Mars. Outside of Japan, the show also aired in the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Italy. In the early 1980s there was a VHS release in France, but only the first seven episodes were available. In the 1990s, the entire series was shown in Poland (although with Polish voiceover, the Italian dubbing could be heard in background).

Tadao Nagahama, who directed the series, is often miscredited as the "creator" of the trilogy. It was actually created by "Saburo Yatsude," best known to American fans as the creator of Voltron (Golion in its original Japanese).

"Saburo Yatsude" is not a real person. Similar to "Hajime Yatate", the name is a pseudonym which refers to the collective staff of Toei Co. Ltd (specifically, the main Toei division, as opposed to the animation division). The series was animated by Sunrise on Toei's behalf.

The first appearance of Daimos in the United States was in the late 1970s as a part of Mattel's Shogun Warriors line of imported Super Robot toys.

Contents

Story

After the destruction of their home world, the survivors of the planet Baam ("Brahmin" in the Philippine dub, and "Valerians" in the US dub Starbirds) head towards Earth with the goal of negotiating the purchase of land for emigration. Unfortunately, during the negotiations, the Baam-seijin (literally, 'Baam Star People') leader, Leon, is assassinated by his second in command, Georiya, and the delegation from Earth is framed for the murder. In the ensuing chaos, Doctor Isamu Ryūzaki of the Earth delegation is shot and killed.

Shortly after the disastrous end of the talks, the Baam-seijin begin a campaign of terror against Earth, led by Leon’s son, Admiral Richter, who deploys a variety of “Mecha Soldiers” against the planet’s defenses. The only thing standing between the Earthlings and annihilation is the transforming, karate-using super robot, Daimos and its pilot, Kazuya Ryūzaki (Richard Hartford in the Filipino English dubbed version). But that changes when he meets and falls in love with a mysterious girl named Erika, who turns out to be Richter’s sister. Over the course of their struggles to reunite, Kazuya and Erika each learn that the other’s people are not all evil... and that their own people are not all good.

Characters

Earthlings

Baam People

The Baam People are Winged Humanoids in the Daimos Storyline. Their Wings Gives them the ability to fly, and they can retract their wings in order to conceal their true identities. Aside from their Wings, they also wear Headbands fastened around their heads and are shaped like a snake's head

Earthlings Mecha

Space Daimobic

A giant space fortress used to defend against the Baam invaders. It is equipped with missiles, laser cannons, force field generators and a launch pad for Daimos and Galva FX II. Founder by Doctor Isamu Ryusaki (called "Space Dynamo" in the Filipino dub).

Daimos

Kazuya's machine, which transforms from tranzor mode, a giant truck, to robot mode. It utilizes a system that mimics the pilot's movements, which especially helps Kazuya in combat due to his training in Karate. Before battle, Daimos in tranzor mode is launched from inside a cave while Kazuya drives his Tryper 75S car (called "Rover 75S" in the Filipino dub) toward it. The car is launched into the tranzor through its rear doors before the cockpit detaches and is placed forward into the cab. After running off a cliff at top speed, the Tranzor begins its transformation into Daimos (called “Dynamo” in Starbirds).

Galva FX II

A small combat plane piloted by Kyoshiro and Nana. Though it is not as powerful as Daimos, it has many times contributed in Daimos' victories. It is equipped with beam lasers and missiles (called Viper in the Filipino dub).

Baams Mecha

Baam Asteroid City

Appears in throughout the series a space city that located near Jupiter. It the home for the Baam race (called Brahmin Asteroid Base in the Filipino dub).

Baam Underwater Base

Appears in throughout the series although its true form is revealed in episode 40. Its powers include swimming, stinger missiles, laser turrets, energy howitzers, giant torpedoes strong enough to destroy naval fleets, sonic energy cannons, twin tube flamethrowers that act like the Fire Blizzard, and flight. Although it is not a mecha warrior, it acts as the monster of the week of its main appearance. It was destroyed by Daimos.

Guranrol

It appeared in episode 1 to 25. Baam battleship used to carried various Battle Robots. It is equipped with giant missile that fire from the mouth, multiple missiles and 4 giant blades can became the giant spinning cutters. In episode 25, it was destroyed by Daimos. It is one of the battleship to appear in various Super Robot Wars titles.

Cobrard

It appeared in episode 25 to 39. Baam's new battleship to replace Guranrol after being destroyed by Daimos and used to carried various Mecha Warriors. It is equipped with 4 headed Cobras that fire green laser and small missiles from the turret. It is one of the battleship to appear in various Super Robot Wars titles. (Pyramidal in Filipino dub.)

Battle Robots

Serve as the monsters of the week from episode 1 to 25 and are carried by the Baam battleship Guranrol.

Mecha Warriors

They serve as the monsters of the week from episode 26 to 44 and are carried by the Baam flying fortress Cobrard (except Gadorus and Goddoamon). This mecha warriors are highly resilient material called Mega Lithium which acts very similar to rubber and the first three are made of two other battle robots using fusing technology with one for the upper half and the other for the lower half (except in 40 and 42 episodes).

Cast

Other Appearances in Video Games

Daimos appears throughout the Super Robot Wars series as well as the Galva FX II.

Toys

Popy released a diecast toy of Daimos during the series' run in 1978. Like its anime counterpart, the toy could transform from robot to Tranzer mode. Aside from its array of weapons, the toy came with two mini replicas of Kazuya's Tryper 75S car. The toy was imported into North America by Bandai as part of the Godaikin line in the 1980s.[1]

Popy also released a Jumbo Machinder version of Daimos, which was imported into the U.S. by Mattel as part of their Shogun Warriors line.[2]

In 2008, Bandai released a newer, smaller Daimos toy as part of their Soul of Chogokin line. This toy is more anime-accurate and more poseable than its Popy diecast predecessor. Unlike the original Popy toy, this toy has a more complex transformation in order to remain faithful to its anime design. In addition to its weapons and two miniature Tryper 75S cars, the toy comes with a larger-sized Tryper car that features an opening cockpit, movable wings and a Kazuya driver figure. A miniature replica of the Galva FX II plane is also included in the package.[3] [4]

References

External links