Mechander Robo
Encyclopedia
was an anime
series aired in 1977 in Japan
. There were 35 episodes aired at 25 minutes each. It is also known as "Gasshin Sentai Mechander Robo", "Mekander", "Mechander", "Gasshin Sentai Mechander Robo", "Combiner Battle Team Mekander Robot", "Combining Squadron Mechander Robo", "Mekander Robot" and "Mekanda".
Three command jets - Mechander-1, Mechander-2 and Mechander-3 - combine to form one larger jet known as Mechander Max, which would then would dock at the back of Mechander Robo. Some of the trademark weapons include spiked shields, missile pod forearms, chest flame throwers and missiles shaped like sharks. Halfway through the series, Mechander Robo is severely damaged, but is rebuilt as four component ships combining to form the robot before docking with Mechnder Max.
Despite the show targeting young audiences at the time, and that the opposing forces were robots, the attack techniques and damages in battle are quite violent by today's standards.
Korea in 1986 as "메칸더V" MechanderV and was dubbed in Korean, and was one of the most popular robot animations.
series as part of Super Robot Wars Compact 3 for the Wonderswan Color. True to the anime, if Mechander is deployed and a certain amount of turns pass, the devastating Omega Missile will appear and attempt to destroy the robot (as well as the other robots on the player's force).
.
In 2009, CM's Corporation released an 18 cm. action figure of Mechander Robo as part of the Mecha Action Series line. The figure features a Mechander Max jet that docks in the back, as well as cargo bays on the feet to store either the Triger-3 ship, the New Triger or two Jaws shark missiles. The forearm shields can combine into the Mechander UFO weapon. Other accessories include the Mechander Fencer sword, additional hands and an Omega Missile. A second edition in a metallic finish was also released.
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
series aired in 1977 in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. There were 35 episodes aired at 25 minutes each. It is also known as "Gasshin Sentai Mechander Robo", "Mekander", "Mechander", "Gasshin Sentai Mechander Robo", "Combiner Battle Team Mekander Robot", "Combining Squadron Mechander Robo", "Mekander Robot" and "Mekanda".
Original story
The Doron Empire, hailing from the Ganymede system came to Earth in order to conquer it. General Doron already overthrew the queen Medusa of Ganymede in the Magellan star cluster. Earth's defenses were no match; in a matter of days, 95% of the Earth fell under Doron's occupation. Doctor Shikishima, a brilliant scientist, places his last hopes for Earth in a robot (Mechander Robo) that he has created. The mother of Jimi would be reborn into a cyborg who is now the leader of the opposing forces and her memory could not recall the past. An interesting twist to the usual giant robot formula was that the Doron empire, after having devastated Earth in their successful first strike, ringed it with energy-detecting satellites programmed to lob hugely destructive payloads (similar to H-bombs) on Earth's surface wherever they picked up energy signatures suggesting human technological activity. Having no mean to tackle the alien satellites the Mechander's crew had less than three minutes to successfully engage and beat the invaders' mecha on Earth's surface, before being atomized by the incoming alien bombardment.Production note
The production company was plagued with bankruptcy issues, so the main sponsors forced the studios to reuse footage from old episodes to patch newer episodes without redrawing new animation. The final episode was merely a complete recap of the series.Concept
Despite the show targeting young audiences at the time, and that the opposing forces were robots, the attack techniques and damages in battle are quite violent by today's standards.
Staff
- Additional Director
Takashi Anno
Yasuo Hasegawa
Masayuki Hayashi - Producer
Sumio Takahashi - Screenwriter
Jaruhiko Kaido - Designer
Nobuhiro Okasako
Tsuneo Ninomiya - Mechanical Designer
Kunio OkawaraKunio Okawarais a mechanical designer in the Japanese anime industry. A mechanical designer is similar to a character designer, but the design is for robots, ships, and other mechanical items found in a particular show. Okawara was the first in the industry to be specifically credited as a mechanical designer... - Animator
Satoshi Touzan
Tsuneo Ninomiya
Masayuki Hayashi
Satoshi Tozan
Takeshi Honda - Music
Michiaki Watanabe - Opening theme
"Tri-Attack! Mechander Robo" by Ichiro Mizuki and the Columbia Cradle Club
Characters
| Name | Vehicle | Voices by |
|---|---|---|
| Narrator | Kouji Nakata | |
| Jimmy Orion | Mechander-1 | Akira Kamiya Akira Kamiya is a Japanese voice actor. He has been represented by Theater Echo, Aoni Production, and others. He is currently represented by Saeba Shoji.-Career:Kamiya made his debut on Mahou no Mako-chan in 1970 while working for Theater Echo... |
| Kojiro Hachijima (Marcus Vance) | Mechander-2 | Kazuyuki Sogabe Kazuyuki Sogabe Kazuyuki Sogabe was a Japanese voice actor born in Chiba Prefecture. Sogabe retired from voice acting on December 31, 2000 when he felt a weakness in his own voice. After his retirement, many of his current roles went to voice actors Tetsu Inada and Ryotaro Okiayu. Kazuyuki, however, was active in... |
| Ryosuke Shikishima (David Humbolt) | Toraika B-3 | Akio Nojima Akio Nojima is a Japanese voice actor. He is the father of voice actors Hirofumi Nojima and Kenji Nojima and is employed by talent firm agency Sigma Seven. He is most known for the roles of Saga in Saint Seiya and the Japanese voice of KITT in Knight Rider-TV Series:... |
| Mika Shikishima (Jenny Humbolt) | Keiko Yokozawa Keiko Yokozawa , born September 2, 1952 in Niigata, Japan, is a Japanese seiyū.She is most known for the roles of Dorami , Mami Sakura , Benio Hanamura , and Sheeta -External links:... |
|
| General Ozmel (Gen. Goznel) | Masane Tsukayama Masane Tsukayama is a Japanese actor, voice actor, and narrator from Naha, Okinawa.-Television animation:*Akagi *Bakumatsu Kikansetsu Irohanihoheto *Blocker Gundan 4 Machine Blaster... |
|
| Professor Shikishima (Prof. Humbolt) | Masaya Taki | |
| Medusa | Natsuko Fuji | |
International broadcasts
Mechander Robo was dubbed in English for broadcast in the Philippines in the late-1970s. It also aired by MBC TVMunhwa Broadcasting Corporation
Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC (Hangul : 문화방송주식회사, Munhwa Bangsong Jushikoesa) is one of four major national South Korean television and radio networks. Munhwa is the Korean word for "culture". Its flagship terrestrial television...
Korea in 1986 as "메칸더V" MechanderV and was dubbed in Korean, and was one of the most popular robot animations.
Video game appearance
Mechander Robo debuted in the Super Robot WarsSuper Robot Wars
is a series of tactical role-playing video games produced by Banpresto, which is now a Japanese division of Namco Bandai. The main feature of the franchise is having a story that crosses over several popular mecha anime, manga and video games, allowing characters and mecha from different titles to...
series as part of Super Robot Wars Compact 3 for the Wonderswan Color. True to the anime, if Mechander is deployed and a certain amount of turns pass, the devastating Omega Missile will appear and attempt to destroy the robot (as well as the other robots on the player's force).
Toys
During the series' release, a toy of Mechander Robo was released by BullmarkBullmark
Bullmark is a defunct Japanese toy company that is most famous for selling PVC vinyl kaiju character toys in the 1960s and 1970s. Founded in 1969 after the bankruptcy of pioneering toy manufacturer Marusan, the company was also known simply as Bull by many people as their logo of a bull was stamped...
.
In 2009, CM's Corporation released an 18 cm. action figure of Mechander Robo as part of the Mecha Action Series line. The figure features a Mechander Max jet that docks in the back, as well as cargo bays on the feet to store either the Triger-3 ship, the New Triger or two Jaws shark missiles. The forearm shields can combine into the Mechander UFO weapon. Other accessories include the Mechander Fencer sword, additional hands and an Omega Missile. A second edition in a metallic finish was also released.