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wanderersrest · 1 year ago

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An Abbreviated History of Mecha Part 3.1: Do You Remember Love? (1980-1985)

Welcome back to An Abbreviated History of Mecha! Last time, we covered a small smattering of shows from the 70's. I tried to cover the big names, with a focus on the Holy Trinity (Mazinger Z, Getter Robo, and Mobile Suit Gundam). While the latter of the three will be showing up throughout this series, the other two will largely fade into the background. Do not mistake this for them no longer being relevant though, as there is a very good reason why they are part of the Trinity. Besides, they'll show up again in some capacity towards the end. This also ignores the fact that both Mazinger Z and Getter Robo would constantly get updates throughout the years, so to say that the other two were somehow lesser than Gundam is foolish.

What we DO see in the 80's though are mecha shows popping up left, right, and center. A lot of this is helped by the fact that the 80's are also a time in Japanese history where the economy was booming. OVAs also become a major thing in this time period, as do a lot of surprisingly influential series. As such, I will be covering 80's (and later the 90's) in multiple parts due to how many series come up in this time period:

Part one (this part) will cover the time period from 1980-1985

Part two will cover 1986-1990

Part three will cover pretty much everything directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino from 1981 to 1993 and will serve as a bridge between the 80's and the 90's

Oh, and let me reiterate something about Mobile Suit Gundam from the last point: Gundam wouldn't become successful until the 80's with the release of the compilation movies.

With that out of the way, let's transform and ROLL OUT!

Space Runaway Ideon (1980)

Coming off the heels of Mobile Suit Gundam, Yoshiyuki Tomino would follow it up with Space Runaway Ideon. Think of it as a classic giant robot series mixed with the style of war stories that would be more in line with Space Battleship Yamato or Mobile Suit Gundam. Do not let the brightly-colored giant robot fool you. Ideon is, to my understanding, one of the darkest entries in the canon of mecha. Ideon is also where the Itano Circus came from, so that's another reason to be aware of this series. More importantly, Space Runaway Ideon specifically would be the inspiration for one Hideaki Anno when he made a certain series that I will talk about in the future. Something about a young man needing to get into a robot something, I don't know.

Diaclone (1980) & Transformers (1985)

Remember when I brought up Microman (the toy, not the wrestler)? This is why.

In 1980, Takara would release the Diaclone line of toys as a spinoff to Microman. This series would be noteworthy due to its inclusion of transforming machines designed by one Shoji Kawamori (more on him soon). One of these machines would be the eighteen-wheeler known as Convoy.

In 1985, Hasbro would license out the Diaclone line among other Takara licenses for the surprisingly ambitious series known today as Transformers. The story would follow the Autobots, led by Optimus Prime (who Diaclone fans would recognize as Convoy), as they fight against Megatron and the Decepticons. Chances are very likely that if you're not thinking of the RX-78-2 Gundam when you hear the word "mecha," chances are likely you're imagining Optimus Prime.

Transformers' success in America and beyond would be so great that, in the 90's, Takara would end the Diaclone line and create a new line of toys, complete with accompanying TV series. That's another story for when we get to the 90's though, so stay tuned for that.

Beast King GoLion (1981) & Voltron (1984)

In 1981, the anime Beast King GoLion would air in Japan. GoLion itself would be pretty run-of-the-mill as far as mecha shows in the early 80's would be concerned. However, GoLion is worth mentioning as it would be one of the first anime properties that US showrunners would splice with other shows like it in order to make something for syndication.

In 1984, World Event Productions would splice Beast King GoLion with another mecha series, Armored Fleet Dairugger XV (1982), to create Voltron. And when it comes to combining robots, chances are very likely that one would think of Lion Voltron (or GoLion for those more familiar with the original) over something like Getter Robo or Voltes V. Voltron is an icon of the 80's, so much so that Voltron (specifically the lion version) would get multiple adaptations over the years, including but not limited to Voltron Force in the 2000's and Voltron: Legendary Defender in the 2010's, the latter of which I am told is a big part of Tumblr history. At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if people considered GoLion/Voltron to be more of a US creation than a Japanese one.

Fang of the Sun Dougram (1981)

Starting in 1981, Ryousuke Takahashi and company would create Fang of the Sun Dougram. Building off the themes of Mobile Suit Gundam, Takahashi would begin to push the envelope in terms of what one could present with a military mecha series. Whereas Gundam's relative realism comes from how the One Year War affects the soldiers, Dougram would go further and show us just how the parties involved plan out their attacks and political machinations.

If you want to learn more about Dougram, I'd highly recommend Pyramid Inu's video on Dougram, as they're a big Takahashi nut.

Also, Dougram is of vital importance to a certain tabletop RPG coming up.

Super Dimension Fortress Macross (1982) & Robotech (1984)

In 1982, Shoji Kawamori and the people at Studio Nue would release Super Dimension Fortress Macross, a series that would explode in terms of popularity. Like Gundam and Dougram before it, Macross would give us a war story featuring giant robots. But unlike Gundam and how war has its tolls on soldiers, or Dougram with its focus on political machinations and realistic strategy, Macross would focus more on how love and culture can overcome conflict. Macross is notable not just for popularizing transforming robots, it would also bring idol singers into vogue.

In 1984, Carl Macek would be tasked by Harmony Gold to make Macross eligible for syndication. Doing the best he could, Macek would fuse Macross with two other series, Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross and Genesis Climber Mospeada, to create the controversial Robotech.

Why is Robotech controversial? To put it very shortly: Robotech would be the reason why the original Macross has never been brought over to the west, for reasons that we will see later. It's a shame too, since Macross is one of the biggest mecha franchises after Gundam. But, it should also be worth noting that Robotech, while controversial, is still important due to it being a major introduction point into mecha stories and anime as a whole for a whole generation of people.

Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu/Legend of the Galactic Heroes (1982)

In 1982, Yoshiki Tanaka's Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu, or Legend of the Galactic Heroes for us westerners, would be published. Over the course of ten volumes, the series would follow the exploits of the so-called Galactic Heroes, Reinhardt von Lohengramm and Yang Wen-Li, as the factions the two belonged to fought for control of the galaxy, with all of the politics and strategizing that ensues. Galactic Heroes is such a large and sprawling story that, when it came time to adapt it into an animated original video animation (OVA) series in 1988, it ended up becoming the longest-running OVA series of all time, clocking in at about a whopping 108 episodes in total. The series would also get another animated adaptation in 2018, Die Neue Theiss.

Armored Trooper VOTOMs (1983)

Following up on the success of Dougram, Ryousuke Takahashi would release the extremely iconic Armored Trooper VOTOMs in 1983. While Dougram was already a pretty grounded military robot in its own right, VOTOMs would take that concept to its logical conclusion. Here, VOTOMs were 4-meter tall machines that acted more like humanoid jeeps, and not only were they expendable, they were easily replaced. When mecha heads talk about realistic mecha series, VOTOMs is oftentimes brought up as the gold standard for this.

Panzer World Galient (1984)

Galient gif courtesy of Sakugabooru

Following up from VOTOMs, Takahashi would then follow that up with Panzer World Galient, a series that would trade out the military robots in favor for fantasy-flavored mecha. What's interesting to note here is that this would come out a year after a series called Aura Battler Dunbine, and I'd argue that both series would be the bases for later fantasy-inspired mecha series such as Magic Knight Rayearth and Break Blade.

Battletech (1984)

1984 would also see FASA Corporation release the first edition of its BattleTech ruleset. Rumored to have taken inspiration from series like Fang of the Sun Dougram, Macross, and Crusher Joe, BattleTech would become the poster child of the western giant robot aesthetic, that of the walking tank.

Also due to a messy copyright situation, BattleTech would also get tied up with Harmony Gold due to stolen designs. This legal back and forth would eventually be the reason why Macross would be unavailable outside of Robotech to this very day, though at one point the legal nonsense got so out of hand that, if I remember correctly, they tried to also bar FASA and their successors from using mechanical designs from Dougram and Crusher Joe (even though they did not have the rights to either series).

Blue Comet SPT Layzner (1985)

Blue Comet SPT Layzner is a 1985 series created by Ryousuke Takahashi. The series, from my superficial glancing of the series, would be the first major Gundam-like series to come out. It should be noted that, prior to this, the only major Gundam series to exist prior to 1985 was the original Gundam. Unfortunately for Layzner, 1985 would be the year that Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam would air, which is generally considered to be the most popular Gundam series in the franchise.

Conclusion

As we get further into the 80's, we will begin to see more and more stories show up that would be a part of the mecha canon. The latter half of the 80's is where we see the rise of the OVA which, as I mentioned briefly with Legend of the Galactic Heroes, will be where we see a lot of OVA series pop up. We'll also see couple more western productions, along with an appearance by a certain Blue Bomber.

This is a work of fiction, but in ten years? Who knows?

#anime and manga #mecha #fang of the sun dougram #super dimension fortress macross #armored trooper votoms #panzer world galient #space runaway ideon #battletech #legend of the galactic heroes #ginga eiyuu densetsu #an abbreviated history of mecha #blue comet spt layzner #transformers #diaclone #beast king golion #voltron

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laurarolla · 3 months ago

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SRW Y Wishlist Part 3

Oops I posted parts one and two on the same day. All well, same as before, nothing that was in the VXT and 30 games (with one exception sort of), last seven picks, here we go:

Outlaw Star (TV Series): So back with V, the SRW games started introducing space operas centered around fleet and fighter style combat, with shows like Space Battleship Yamato, Arcadia of my Youth, and Cowboy Bebop. As such, there are two obvious series to me that would fit as such an inclusion: Irresponsible Captain Tyler and Outlaw Star. I'm picking Outlaw Star because one, it deserves more attention, and two, the grappler ships actually do sort of emulate some aspects of giant mech combat. It's a good choice and would be very fun to see here.

Brain Powerd (TV Series): Brain Powerd is a rather interesting series in regards to how the mecha are treated by the narrative. See, the Antibody mecha in this series are treated more like horses than tanks, with each having specific personalities and quirks, along with having positive reactions to grooming and bonding experiences with the pilots. Even the cockpit element of the series hints toward the idea of riding with a bridle and saddle or riding bareback. The show has an otherworldly quality that almost seems Lovecraftian in relation to the existence of a creature like Orphan, and yet it doesn't feel as inspired by prejudice like Lovecraft's monsters, but instead by a desire for understanding and, eventually, empathy. I just wish I could point more people to the series, but an appearance in SRW could bring more eyes to this underrated and thought-provoking show.

Gundam Seed (TV Series): The original Gundam Seed is still the best Gundam Seed. A show that rewards deeper thought and tells a solid dramatic story heavily inspired by but honestly quite different from the original Mobile Suit Gundam. Seed is a show that, much like Brain Powerd, promotes empathy and rejecting the primal "fear of the other," but in a more grounded sci-fi narrative connected to the dangers of eugenics and systemic prejudice. As the delightful video essayist José points out in his awesome video about the series, it is a show about the varying elements that foster hatred in people. I mean, it's more than that, but that is a strong central theme. I seriously recommend giving the show a second look if you haven't seen it in many years.

Blue Comet SPT Layzner (TV Series + OVA): You might have noticed a fair number of shows that hold some pro-empathy or possibly anti-fascist elements, but Layzner is the big one. Layzner is a story that takes place over four years, beginning with an invasion and leading into an occupation by a supremacist alien society. Layzner examines some of the aspects of how nationalistic and racist ideologies can persist in the face of the overwhelming truth of humanity's shared realities, our similarities that should outweigh the differences that are accentuated by prejudice, as well as the reasons for the perpetuation of systemic hatred. The ending is not some triumphant defeat of an evil foe, but a sundering of the military force used to perpetuate that hierarchy, leaving both sides in a state where healing and connection becomes the only way forward. It's not conclusive, but it doesn't end with either cataclysm or a return to status quo, leaving the possibility of a better future open for the characters. This possibility has been physically represented from the very beginning of the series by the mere existence of the protagonist, a child born of a love between members of these two peoples. And it's awesome 80's grounded sci-fi mecha action from director Ryosuke Takahashi, the guy whose works are the most overt inspiration for the amazing Armored Core franchise. It deserves more attention and SRW can provide that.

Armored Core: Great Destruction timeline (Video Games): Speaking of Armored Core, if there was one game I would want to see included narratively, it would be Armored Core 2, but the entire Great Destruction storyline would be great to see a version of. The original, Project Phantasma, and Master of Arena build up to the story of Leos Klein and his attempt to bring the Earth and its corporate overlords under his control. Armored Core connects strongly to the desire for freedom and the fear of the consequences of freedom dangerously exercised. In the end, it's a story of hope for a brighter future in spite of the pain of the past, but acknowledging the need to learn those lessons and not get sucked back into the status quo.

Another Century's Episode 3: The Final (Video Game): Another From Software mecha game, but this one is special. First off, the original character and mechanical designs are pretty awesome, taking design work from Windfall (known for MGS4 and Gundam 00) and mixing with character designs from Shigenori Soejima (of Persona 5 and Catherine fame). Then, we add a multidimensional narrative between a pair of characters with a strong antagonistic connection to each other, and combine that with the fact that these original characters are literally from an SRW-style crossover narrative already, so they would fit right in. Actually, that last thing could be a limiting factor, since they don't have a whole separate story to weave into a crossover, but the essential elements are there already, even if they aren't the center of the story. I mean, at this point, I'd settle for a modern remaster of these games, but I miss the ACE series and unfortunately I don't see From Soft ever going back to this specific well in the future. It's not impossible, but I think a neat little SRW inclusion might spark renewed interest in the franchise for a possible modern entry or remaster. Not ACE R, though. That one would need a full remake to fix how stilted and stiff it feels, as well as to expand the rather anemic story.

Evangelion 3.0+1.01 Thrice Upon a Time (Movie): It's finally out. One last bye-bye to all of Evangelion. I'm very interested in seeing what the SRW team does with this movie series now that they have the whole thing to work with. I do really have to go watch these movies sometime, huh.

And there we go, a bunch of series I'd love to see in SRW Y or any future game released in the US based on my own interests and experiences. Maybe I'll slap together a short list of things I want to see an encore of from the VXT and 30 games, but I don't know for sure.

#super robot wars #super robot wars y #gundam seed #rebuild of evangelion #brain powerd #outlaw star #armored core #another century's episode #ace 3 the final #blue comet spt layzner #layzner

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