Combattler V
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| Chōdenji Robo Combattler V | |
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| 超電磁ロボ コン・バトラーV (Super Electromagnetic Robot Combattler V) |
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| Genre | Mecha |
| TV anime | |
| Directed by | Tadao Nagahama |
| Studio | Sunrise/Toei Animation |
| Network |  TV Asahi Local Networks |
| Original run | 17 April 1976 – -28 May 1977 |
| No. of episodes | 54 |
Chōdenji Robo Combattler V is the first part of Tadao Nagahama's Romantic Trilogy of Super Robot series. The robot's name is a portmanteau of Combine, Combat and Battle, and the V is intended both as an abbreviation for "victory" and in reference to the five component machines that form the robot, as well as its five pilots. The V is proununced as the letter V, whereas in the follow-up series, Voltes V, it is prounounced "five". It is also known as "Combattra".
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[edit] Story
Thousands of years ago, the people of the planet Campbell decided to leave their planet and seek out new worlds to inhabit. One group, lead by the scientist Oreana, landed on Earth, but was delayed from their mission. In the early 21st century, Oreana's group reawakens and begins their plan to conquer the Earth. The only effective defense against the Campbellians' giant biomechanical slave beasts is the super-electromagnetic robot, Combattler V and its pilots.
[edit] Characters
[edit] Battle Team
- Hyouma Aoi (葵豹馬 Aoi Hyōma) (Glen Yoma in the Phil. dub version) The hot-blooded leader of the team, Hyouma is an avid motorcyclist and speed freak. He pilots the Battle Jet, which forms the head of Combattler V. Voiced by Yuji Mitsuya, who debuted with this role. After Garuda destroys his arms, he gets cybernetic replacements.
- Juzo Naniwa (浪花十三 Naniwa Jūzō) (Jason in the Phil. dub version) The second member of the team, Juzo is a cool, level-headed Olympic-class marksman. He pilots the Battle Crusher, which forms the chest and arms of Combattler. Voiced by Keaton Yamada, who was well-known in the 70s and 80s for playing a variety of similar roles.
- Daisaku Nishikawa (西川大作 Nishikawa Daisaku) (Bob in the Phil. dub version) The third member, Daisaku is a judo master who also enjoys sketching. He pilots the Battle Tank, which forms the torso of Combattler, and is also the only Battle Machine that cannot fly under its own power. Voiced by Kazuya Tatekabe.
- Chizuru Nanbara (南原ちずる Nanbara Chizuru) (Stephanie Nambara in the Phil. dub version) The fourth member, and only female on the team, Chizuru is also the granddaughter of Dr. Nanbara. She pilots the Battle Marine, which forms the legs of Combattler. Upon learning that she has a potentially-fatal heart condition, she tries to hide it until it disables her in the middle of a battle. Afterwards, she undergoes surgery to correct the condition and returns to continue the fight against the Campbellians. Eventually, she falls in love with Hyouma. Voiced by Miyuki Ueda, who also voiced the female leads in the other two Romantic series, and is the only cast member to appear in all three.
- Kosuke Kita (北小介 Kita Kosuke) (Kevin in the Phil. dub version) The fifth member, Kosuke is a child genius and inventor. He pilots the Battle Craft, which forms Combattler's feet. Voiced by Sachiko Chijimatsu.
- Professor Nanbara(南原博士 Nanbara-hakase) The founder and director of the Nanbara Connection, the Battle Team's base of operations, and creator of Combattler V. He dies shortly into the series, after naming Prof. Yotsuya his successor. Voiced by Gorou Naiya.
- Professor Yotsuya(四ッ谷博士 Yotsuya-hakase) After the death of Prof. Nanbara, Yotsuya takes over the operation of the Nanbara Connection. A drunkard and misanthrope, he nevertheless vows to defend the earth from the alien invaders. Voiced by Kousei Tomita.
- Ropet(ロペット Ropetto) A red robot that monitors the emotional state of the Battle Team, and authorizes combination by shouting "Combine, okay!" Voiced by Masako Nozawa.
- Kinta & Chie Ichinoki (一木金太 & 一木知恵) The children of Nanbara Connection's cook, who show up after the midpoint of the series. They played the role of comic relief, giving the latter half of the series a much more comedic tone than the serious first half. Along with their pet frog, Keroppe, they sometimes pilot the sidekick machine Kerott into battle. Voiced by Masako Nozawa and Noriko Tsukase, respectively.
[edit] Campbellians
- Oreana(オレアナ) Garuda's "Mother," Oreana orders him to attack the earth. The Campbellians' greatest scientist, she built a giant statue to house her mind in before coming to earth in search of a new home for her people. After her dismissal of Garuda and his discovery of the truth behind his existence, she reveals a mechanical body housed within the statue and attempts to attack Combattler, but is first destroyed by Garuda. Voiced by Masako Nozawa.
- Great General Garuda(大将軍ガルーダ) The ostensible leader of the Campbellian's attacks on earthling cities, Garuda oversees the deployment of the monster of the week. He is able to change his appearance at will from a blue-skinned, blonde-haired human to a humanoid eagle. After numerous failures to destroy Combattler V and the Nanbara Connection, he is stripped of his rank by Oreana. Soon after, he learns the truth of his origin: That he is actually the last in a line of androids created by Oreana to be her perfect son and the leader of the invasion force. Consumed by revenge, he finishes building the incomplete slave beast Big Garuda and uses it to destroy Oreana. Voiced by Osamu Ichikawa
- Miia(ミーア) One of Garuda's android assistants. She is secretly in love with Garuda, but he is oblivious to her feelings. In a gambit to save Garuda after he is dismissed, she sacrifices her life piloting the slave beast Demon against Combattler V. Voiced by Sachiko Chizimatsu
- Narua Another of Garuda's subordinates, he is in charge of training and activating the slave beasts that fight Combattler V. Voiced by Kazuya Tatekabe
- Girua Garuda's strategic advisor. After Garuda's dismissal, he is given command of Oreana's forces, only to be killed by Combattler V during the latter's confrontation with Oreana. Voiced by Ken'ichi Ogata
- Empress Janera(女帝ジャネラ) The final enemy of Combattler V and a very powerful sorceress. Can transform from a beautiful woman into a snakelike creature. In the penultimate episode, she attempts to destroy the Nanbara Connection and Combattler V with a bomb attached to Combattler's foot. Professor Yotsuya discovers the bomb in time to separate the foot from the rest of Combattler and raise the Choudenji Barrier, sacrificing the Connection and saving Combattler. Upon hearing of the revolt on Campbell, she makes a final attack on the forces of the Earth, but is defeated by Combattler. As her final revenge, she attempts to destroy the earth by sending a thermonuclear explosive into the planet's core. As she attempts to escape earth, Warchimedes confronts her and destroys himself to kill her. Voiced by Noriko Tsukase
- Warchimedes(ワルキメデス) Janera's scientific and strategic advisor, and Dangel's older brother. He coordinates the building and selection of the Magma Beasts that are sent to fight Combattler V. After the death of Dangel, he pilots a Magma Beast into battle, attacking Combattler V and giving Janera the opportunity to destroy the Nanbara Connection. When he is defeated, his brain is transferred into a robot body, which he then self-destructs to kill Janera. Voiced by Osamu Ichikawa.
- General Dangel(ダンゲル将軍) Janera's other subordinate, and Warchimedes's younger brother. He pilots the Magma Beasts against Combattler V and the Nanbara Connection. One of his hands is an oversized lobster-like pincer. After numerous defeats at the hands of Combattler, Janera kills him by detonating a bomb inside his helmet. Voiced by Ken'ichi Ogata.
- Deus The true leader of the Campbellians. After the coup d'etat which overthrew Janera's supporters on Campbell, he came to Earth to help rebuild the cities damaged by Janera's attacks.
[edit] Mechas
[edit] Battle Team
- Battle Jet(バトルジェット)- Armed with the Battle Laser, Battle Cutters, Battle Pressure Daggers
- Battle Crasher(バトルクラッシャー)- Armed with Crusher Attack, Bomber Attack
- Battle Tank(バトルタンク)- Armed with Anchor Knuckle, Bazooka
- Battle Marin(バトルマリン)- Armed with Marine Missiles, lifts Battle Tank
- Battle Craft(バトルクラフト)- Armed with Craft Drill and Craft Missiles
- Combattler V (コン・バトラーV)
Weapons:
- Electromagnetic Spin
- Electromagnetic Tatsumaki
- Land Dasher
- Twin Lancer
- V-Laser
- Gattling Missiles
- Big Blast
- Battle Chainsaw
- Battle Guregger
- Battle Kick
- Electromagnetic Yo-Yo
[edit] Others
- Gargantua (ガルガンチュワ) A robot created by Great Britain's Professor Lawrence Picadilly, it was pushed into battle despite its lack of weaponry and sacrificed itself to help Combattler V defeat three slave beasts. Named after one of the title characters of François Rabelias's Gargantua and Pantagruel series of books.
- Kerott (ケロット) A frog-shaped robot built and designed by Kosuke, Kinta and Chie, and piloted by the latter two to aid Combattler V in battle. Like Boss Borot of Mazinger Z fame, Kerott serves more as comic relief than as an effective fighter, with its ineffectual weapons, flimsy construction and comical design. However, it has proved important to defeating the monster of the week on a few occasions.
[edit] Trivia
- The only time you can see all three Super Robot Romance Trilogy mechas, featured in one package, namely Combattler V, Voltes V and Daimos, is in the following games: Super Robot Taisen Alpha 2 and Super Robot Taisen Alpha 3 for the PlayStation 2 under the company Banpresto. The latter features a special combination attack of the trio, exclusive so far for the said game.
| Tadao Nagahama's Robot Romance Trilogy | |
| Choudenji Robo Combattler V - Choudenji Machine Voltes V - Tosshou Daimos | |
