Chōdenji Machine Voltes V

Chōdenji Machine Voltes V
超電磁マシーン ボルテスＶ (Super Electromagnetic Machine Voltes V)
Genre	Mecha, Drama, Super Robot
TV anime
Directed by	Tadao Nagahama
Studio	Toei Nihon Sunrise
Network	TV Asahi
Original run	4 June 1977 – 25 March 1978
Episodes	40
Anime and Manga Portal

Chōdenji Machine Voltes V (超電磁マシーン ボルテスＶ, Chōdenji Mashīn Borutesu Faibu^?, Super Electromagnetic Machine Voltes Five) is a Japanese anime television series that was first aired on TV Asahi starting June 4, 1977. It was created by Saburo Yatsude (a pseudonym referring to a committee within Toei) and directed by Tadao Nagahama. Voltes V is the second part of the Robot Romance Trilogy of the Super Robot genre which includes Chōdenji Robo Combattler V and Tōshō Daimos. Like Combattler V, the series was animated by Sunrise and produced by Toei Company. This super robot along with the other two aforementioned super robots first appeared the USA as a part of Mattel's Shogun Warriors line of import toys, released in the late 1970s.

Description

Voltes V narrates the heroic exploits of the young robot pilots known as The Voltes Team and their trials against alien invaders from the planet Boazan. Armed with the Super Electromagnetic Machine Voltes V, the five pilots drive back the invaders one Beast Fighter at a time. The series is different from typical super robot anime of the time in that it illustrates human sentimentality and common values, with underlying themes such as the love of family, equality, selfless sacrifice, team work, and patriotism.

Voltes V is a work that has a heavy revolutionary undertone. The series ends with Voltes V's spectacular counterattack on planet Boazan to liberate the slaves from the oppression of a tyrannical ruler, Emperor Zu Zambojil. After Voltes V, Tadao Nagahama directed the TV anime version of Rose of Versailles, which leaves speculation that perhaps Voltes V was influenced by Nagahama's research on the French Revolution for his future project.^{[original research?]} The theme of enslaved population rising up to overthrow an aristocracy lend support to theory.

Voltes V's arsenal consists of variety of missiles, a bazooka, beams, and weapons such as Ultramagnetic Top (Similar to the Choudenji Yo-Yo of Combattler V) and Tenkūken (天空剣 Sky Sword, "Laser Sword" in the English dub, "Excalibur" in the Italian dub). With Tenkūken, Voltes V marked the enemy's final moments with a signature "V" slash. This established it as one of the first super robots to use a sword in its finishing attack.

Voltes V deviates from the robotic design of the Combattler V. Voltes V's plot has a more serious tone than the comedic storyline of Combattler V. Voltes V also follows a formula similar to that of Daimos.

Plot

An armada of horned humanoid aliens known as Boazanians invade earth and launch their "beast fighters" all over the world, defeating most of the world's armed forces including the US military. Their first humiliating defeat by Super Electromagnetic Machine, Voltes V brings the invaders to focus their attacks on Japan. Voltes V was designed by Professor Kentaro Gō (Doctor Ned Armstrong), his wife Professor Mitsuyo Gō (Doctor Mary Ann Armstrong) and their trusted colleague, Professor Hamaguchi (Doctor Richard Smith) and built by large scale construction effort backed by United Nations Earth Defense Force and General Oka (Commander Robinson). Voltes V is piloted by five "Volt Machines" that comprise the robot, and are themselves piloted by Ken'ichi(Steve), Daijiro(Big Bert), and Hiyoshi(Little John): the three sons of Kentaro and Mitsuyo Gō, along with the only daughter of General Oka; Megumi(Jaime Robinson), and Ippei Mine(Mark Gordon), an orphan cowboy.

Voltes V's home base is Camp Big Falcon, a fortress situated on a bird-shaped island along the coast of Japan. Voltes V's enemies are the Boazanians; namely Prince Heinell, Katharine, Jangal, and Zuhl. The series focuses on the struggle against the Boazanian invaders, and the Gō brothers' search for their long-lost father, Kentarō Gō. As the series progresses, four major characters—Professor Mitsuyo Gō, Zuhl, General Oka and Professor Hamaguchi—die. Zuhl and Hamaguchi are replaced by Belgan and Professor Sakunji (Doctor Hook), respectively. Later in the series, the brothers learn of their unique heritage of being half Boazanian. The characters deal with their identity's impact on their own lives and that on both their close friends and bitter enemies.

Characters

The Voltes Team and Allies

After the disappearance of Professor Gō, the Earth International Defense Force trained five young people to be highly skilled Earth Defense Agents. Resolute and dedicated fighters, these agents act as both special commando units and pilots of the Super Electromagnetic Machine Voltes V, against the invading Boazanians.

(Note: Bold items in parentheses indicate character names in the Philippines' English, Filipino and Visayan-dubbed versions.)

• Ken'ichi Gō (剛健一, Gō Ken'ichi^?, Steve Armstrong) is the Voltes V team leader. He is a marksman, a Motocross champion, an ace pilot, and the eldest of the three Gō brothers. He was a very adventurous child, but the disappearance of his father changed him. He became more responsible, caring for his younger brothers as well as for the people who depended on him. His uniform was red. Voiced by Yukinaga Shiraishi in the original version of Voltes V. He pilots the Volt Cruiser (Head).

• Ippei Mine (峰一平, Mine Ippei^?, Mark Gordon), a rodeo champion, was orphaned while still a young boy. His mother died trying to save him from a pack of wolves. After his mother's death, he grew bitter, aloof, but cool under crisis. He learned how to live in the streets and perform odd jobs. This kind of life strengthened his personality. Upon joining the rodeo, he learned to ride horses and how to use a whip. He found his greatest friend in a white stallion known as Aiful ("Alpha"). The two, man and beast, became inseparable. He won two rodeo championship contests with Aiful as his horse. Then one day, The Earth International Defense Force asked Ippei to join the team. When he refused, he was taken forcibly, so for the first time, Ippei and Aiful were separated. Dr. Hamaguchi has Aiful brought to Big Falcon early in the series. His uniform was blue. Voiced by Kazuyuki Sogabe in the original Voltes V series. He pilots the Volt Bomber (Arms) and has a Maverick and Iceman-like rivalry with Ken'ichi.

• Daijirō Gō (剛大次郎, Gō Daijirō^?, Robert "Big Bert" Armstrong), the defense tactician, was once a playful child. But Daijirō's outlook in life suddenly changed when his father disappeared. Alarmed by this change in his personality, Mrs. Gō sent him to live in the country where a martial arts master taught him different fighting styles and forms of meditation. Upon rejoining his brothers, Daijirō was already a master of different hand-to-hand fighting styles. The naginata (fighting staff) became his favorite weapon. Together with Ken'ichi and Hiyoshi, Daijirō started training as a member of the Voltes V Team. Unlike in the group portrait above his uniform was dark green, not brown. Voiced by Tesshō Genda in the original Voltes V. He pilots the Volt Panzer (Body Chest).

• Hiyoshi Gō (剛日吉, Gō Hiyoshi^?, "Little" John Armstrong) is a genius in inventing automatons. He has been interested in learning mechanics, robotics, and electromagnetism since a very young age. He was considered a genius by many university professors. He even created a funny little octopus-robot called Tako-chan ("Octo-One" in the dubbed version). But to his big brothers, Ken'ichi and Daijirō, Hiyoshi will always be a little brother, a child who never felt the warmth and love of a real father. He also excels in swimming and diving. Because of his exceptional talents, Hiyoshi was asked to join the Voltes V Team as a technical handyman, specifically for repairs during field operations. His uniform was light green. Voiced by Noriko Ohara in the original Voltes V series. Volt Frigate (Legs) is Hiyoshi's vehicle.

• Megumi Oka (岡めぐみ, Ōka Megumi^?, Jamie Robinson) is a kunoichi (female ninja) and the 18th heir of the Kōga-ryū ninja. Young, slim, and beautiful, Megumi received special training during her childhood. By the age of 13, she already possessed extraordinary skills and lightning reflexes. She also learned the gentle arts from her mother. Through her mother's guidance, Megumi became a person with a calm yet alert disposition. Joining the Voltes V Team, she was the voice of reason among the male members, especially whenever Ken'ichi and Ippei were about to clash during personal conflicts. Her cool demeanor and uncanny skills qualified Megumi as the fifth (and only female) member of the Voltes V team. Her uniform was yellow with pink accents. Voiced by Miyuki Ueda, who also played as the voice of Chizuru Nanbara in Combattler V, as Erika in the Daimos series, and as Marie Antoinette in Rose of Versailles; the latter was another series on which Nagahama, the creator of Voltes V, was one of the contributing directors. She pilots the Volt Lander (Feet).

• Professor Kentarō Gō/Prince La Gour (Doctor Ned Armstrong/Baron Hrothgar) is the father of the three Gō brothers and also of the Boazanian attack force leader, Prince Heinel; making Prince Heinel a half-brother of the three Gō brothers. He is a royal-blooded Boazanian born without horns and was next in line to the throne of Boazania. Due to this abnormality, based on Boazanian physical characteristics, he had to wear fake horns in order to avoid stigma and scandal. When his secret was revealed by his jealous and ambitious cousin, Zu Zambajil, he was branded a traitor, stripped of his title and imprisoned, until he was able to escape, leading him to planet Earth. After the birth of his youngest son, Hiyoshi, he left earth with the intention of returning to Boazania and putting an end to the tyrannical rule of, now Emperor, Zambajil. Voiced by Yū Mizushima in the original Voltes V series.

• Professor Mitsuyo Gō (Doctor Mary Ann Armstrong) is the human wife of Doctor Kentarō Gō and the mother of the three Gō children. She met La Gour when he escaped Boazania and crash-landed on Earth. She later married Lagour and, as a scientist herself, assisted him in creating Voltes V. She raised her children on her own when her husband left, and continued to care for them until her death. She sacrificed herself to help Voltes V when it was under the mercy of a beast fighter.

• Professor Hamaguchi (Doctor Richard Smith) is the commander of Camp Big Falcon fortress at the beginning of the Voltes V series. He helped design and build the Voltes V robot and is a good friend of Professor Gō. He is somewhat a father figure to the Voltes team, especially to the Gō brothers due to his relationship with their father. He managed Big Falcon on Professor Gō's behalf until he was killed saving Voltes V. He is voiced in the original Voltes V by Seizō Katō.

• General Oka (Commander Robinson) is Megumi Oka's father. He is the 17th heir of the Kōga-ryū ninja, a co-designer of Voltes V, and commander of the Earth International Defense Force. On the verge of retirement due to ill health; he dies late in the series saving his daughter from a Boazanian beast fighter that had the power to control people's minds. Voiced in the original by Hiroshi Masuoka.

• Professor Sakunji (Doctor Hook) is another commander of Big Falcon. After Hamaguchi's death, Sakunji, a former student of Hamaguchi, is called upon to take over command of Big Falcon. He is a hard-nosed commander who continually pushes the Voltes V Team to their limits during training, sometimes to the point of risking their lives. Voiced in the original by Tamio Ouki, who also played General Miwa in Daimos and Captain Tashiro in Gunbuster. Although he first appeared cruel, he has also shown his soft side as the series went through, especially that he was concerned about the people of the Earth more than anything else.

• General Dange (General Watson) is a Boazanian colleague and ally of Doctor Kentarō Gō. He was a member of Boazanian nobility, and military general until he deliberately broke his horns, because he "..believed in equality and decided to fight for it" and joined the rebellion against Emperor Zambajil. When Dr. Gō returned to Boazania, he broke him from capture and escaped with him to earth, along with a handful of rebels. He assisted Voltes V by piloting the "Mechanical Eagle" and installing new weapons upgrade components during Mid-battle. En route to Camp Big Falcon, he was attacked by a beast fighter and was mortally injured. However, just before he died he managed to tell Ken'ichi, Daijirō, and Hiyoshi of their father and their Boazanian origins.

• General Doir (Commander Garth) is another Boazanian colleague and ally of Doctor Kentarō Gō who escaped with him to earth. He is the leader of the Boazanian refugees/rebels on earth and helped Gō construct the Solar Bird, a giant spaceship that is designed to be the partner for space travel for Camp Big Falcon. After Gō was re-captured by General Gururu, he led the Voltes team and Camp Big Falcon to Boazania to launch the final attack on Emperor Zambojil and his regime.

The Boazanian Nobility

This is the dictatorial regime under Emperor Zu Zambajil, the most despotic emperor in history. During the reign of Emperor Zambajil, the main headquarters was called the Celestial Tower, the symbol of Zambajil's might.

• Emperor Zu Zambajil
  The emperor of Boazania. He was extremely racist, cruel, and selfish, but ultimately a coward, typical characteristics of super robot villains of the time. The bastard son of the previous emperor and his mistress, he overtook the throne when he revealed the "hornlessness" of his cousin, La Gour. Driven by greed and the desire for conquests, he ordered his people to create beast fighters as a tool to expand his empire further. His ambition knew no bounds: Under his rule, horned and hornless alike who dared oppose him were imprisoned, enslaved, and executed. He sent Prince Heinel, the son of Lagour, to Earth, as a means of removing a perceived threat to his rule. As time wore on, he sent others to pretend to aid Heinel while spying on him. When Voltes V and the Big Falcon reached Boazan, the people rebelled against him and the few still loyal to him turned against him and fled. He met his end when, while trying to escape with a wagonload of riches, he was found by Prince Heinel, who killed him in repayment for betraying his planet and people.

• Prince Heinel (Prince Zardoz)
  The half-brother to the Gō brothers at their father's side. He was born the son of a traitor, bitter and more of the noble villain. As a child, he had a rough time being called a traitor's son, with no memory of his parents and only loved by his grandparents. He wanted to clean the stain, but being a possible heir makes his second-degree uncle Zambajil hate him secretly and was hesitant to appoint him. Though first shown as a villain and using dirty tactics, he is later seen to be having noble qualities like playing fair at times in contrast to most of his comrades who prefer to use cheating methods like most super robot princes that would eventually succeed him. Graduating as best student at the Institute of Military Science and Warfare, He has a high sense of honor, like most warriors and regards himself more of a soldier than a prince. Due to his repeated failure, his second degree uncle Zambajil removed him from duty. Prince Heinel sought to restore Boazania to glory; after all, he was only a scapegoat. He would rather die in battle than die a loser. He later realized that he was fighting against his own father and his own half-siblings. His mother was Lozaria, the Boazanian wife of La Gour/Kentaro Gō who died after giving birth to him. When he saw Zambajil try to escape, he threw a dagger (which came from his mother) to kill the despotic Emperor to redeem himself. In the end, he died a redeemed man, peaceful, enjoying a few moments of peace having saved his younger half-brother Kenichi's life.

• Katherine Rii (Zandra)
  Prince Heinel's aide and would-be lover. Motivated by love, she remained loyal to her prince until the end, when she took a sniper's bullet, saving his life. As she died, she confessed her love to him, and he realized that he loved her, too.

• Jangal Rui (Draco)
  The three-horned General sent to Earth with Prince Heinel and Katharine. Fiercely loyal to Heinel while also a wise strategist, he is the one who convinced Heinel, and himself, that the Gō Brothers are actually part Boazanian. He later chose death over surrender to the Voltes team.

• Zuhl
  The one-horned, aged, hunchback, toothless scientist, one of Prince Heinel's original aides. His invention of the Anti-Super Electromagnetic Device nearly destroyed Voltes V. Cunning and contemptuous, he discreetly captured Prof Go just before he returned to Earth and attempt to use him for his plans to kill Heinel and Voltes V. Eventually, his attempt to betray Heinel failed and he was executed.

• Bergan (General Oslack)
  The second general sent by the Emperor, sent by Emperor Zambojil to keep an eye on Prince Heinel and kill him if necessary. He kept his identity concealed most of the time with a blank mask. Upon arrival, he created a combat beast with a special alloy called Maxingal, the same alloy used for his armor, which was supposedly impervious to Voltes V's weapons and sword. Using this alloy, he intended to defeat Voltes V and take over Heinel's position, but lost and became Zuhl's replacement under Heinel. Since his arrival, all beast fighters constructed has Maxingal as standard armor but they're still no match when Voltes V upgraded its sword with the Chōdenji/Superelectromagnetic Ball. Along with Gururu, he betrayed Heinel and attempted to blew up Earth with a Magmite Bomb. During the battle to liberate Boazan, he died when the starship he and Gururu were on was destroyed by Voltes V.

• Gururu (Baron Zander)
  The head of the Boazanian Military and the last commander sent to Earth. He re-captured Lagour/Prof Gō and betrayed Heinel with Bergan. Overconfident, he was killed during the liberation of Boazan.

• Duke Zaki
  The chief inspector of Emperor Zambajil, and one of few who knew about Zamabajil's betrayal to Lagour and the Boazanian throne. He is well known to deliver bad news to the emperor from his scouting, thus many executions ordered by the Emperor was a result of his reports. Zambajil sent him to Earth to report on Heinel's progress, but discreetly wanted him to ensure Heinel's death at the hands of Voltes V. He plotted with Zuhl to have Heinel pilot a beast fighter, while at the same time leaked information to Big Falcon about the beast fighter's weak points. His plan backfired when Katharine overheard the plot. Heinel ordered Zuhl to reinforce the weak points, and in mid battle the beast fighter destroyed Zaki's nearby ship with him inside.

Voltes V

• Height
  58 meters

• Weight
  600 tons

• Flight Speed
  Mach 20

• Components
  Volt Cruiser (head), Volt Bomber (arms), Volt Panzer (torso), Volt Frigate (legs), Volt Lander (feet)

• Weapons:
  • Chain Knuckle
    A chain attached mace from within each arm.
  • Gatling Missiles
    Missiles from the fingers.
  • Grand Fire
    A flamethrower from the belt buckle.
  • Voltes Bazooka
    A bazooka in each wrist, right one is used much more often.
  • Voltes Beam
    A purple beam from the chest. It can also fire a smaller green version.
  • Ultra magnetic Whip (Chōdenji String)
    Both metal belts, used to launch super electromagnetic tops although they can also be used as whips.
  • Ultra magnetic Tops (Chōdenji Goma)
    A pair of bladed tops stored in the chest that can home in on targets.
  • Sword of Heaven/Laser Sword (Tenkūken)
    A sword stored on the chest, summons lightning to make itself more powerful. Starting in episode 25 it can also throw super electromagnetic balls to hold targets in place.

Boazan

Boazan is the eighth planet of a star cluster which is said to be the seat of the Boazanian Star Empire (Empire of the Horn). In this planet lies the great imperial court that houses all the executive functions of the Empire. Due to the liberal reign of Makron XII, a deceased Baozanian emperor, the planet was able to avoid becoming a mechanized city. During Makron XII's time, Boazan remained a natural world and retained much of its natural life support systems. The planet was divided into feudal zones and sectors. Each member of the nobility had his own administrative function. They also appear in the imperial court from time to time. Boazan has an estimated population of fifteen trillion. The populace is divided into two classes namely the horned and the non-horned.

The characteristic of having horns signifies a higher-class status. Such a horned individual enjoys the rights and privileges enjoyed by the nobility. While the non-horned are treated as slaves and should be subservient. The individuals without horns are not free. They are not allowed to have property or other possessions. They cannot marry unless their masters give them permission. These slaves perform 97.3 percent of all manual labor. Most work comprise of agricultural duties but others also work as servants, messengers, and clerks. Boazan is self sufficient but very few industries related to machineries and technology are developed. Thus, Boazania had to rely on imports. However, Boazanina primarily offers many resorts and other entertainment facilities. Its a vacation spot with a rating of 83%, an ideal tourist planet.

The emergence of Boazan as a stellar invader came during the reign of Hakkor IV. The development of rocket propulsions enabled the Boazanians to reach many other worlds. But plans for the explorations of space were shelved due to impracticality.

The so-called intra-stellar drive was perfected during the later years of Hakkornian rule. Although still slow and crude, the utilization of Generation ships were affected due to the growing Boazanian population. And it would take decades to reach the next stellar systems. Old Boazanians would have to die while others will give birth to new Boazanians during the journey. But upon the invention of the interstellar drive, a drive powered by light converted into electromagnetic propulsion, everything in Boazan changed.

However, there was a setback. The chrono-spatio development was not applicable to arms and weaponry. So, the Boazanians developed more conventional weapons, progressing along the lines of atomics and nucleic weaponry. Eons ahead of Earth in terms of technology, Boazan's military forces were more sophisticated and prevailing.

The Beast Fighters was the apex of the Boazanians' war efforts. These massive machines are cybernaut warriors that could come to life upon the transplantation of Boazanian minds into the robotic computers. The Beast Fighters made Boazan a great threat to any civilization in the galaxy. A destructive military force in Boazan supported the imperial explorations.

The Galactic Center was finally brought under Boazan's imperial rule. Boazan reached the periphery of the Galactic Center where Earth was the first of the outer worlds assaulted. The Imperial war officials assumed that the planet Earth would be easy to subjugate. Their efforts, however, were met with opposition, in the form of Earth's Voltes V.

List of Boazan Forces

The list of all the antagonistic forces from the super robot anime Voltes V.

Beast Fighters

• Dokugaga
  This robotic monster appears in episode 1. Its powers include flight, claws, pink cement from the mouth, a 2-tube missile launcher on the chest, pink eye beams, and mouth missiles. Highly resembles a butterfly.
• Baizanga
  This robotic monster appears in episode 2. Its powers include a double chained mace, flight, yellow eye beams, fire balls from the mouth, launchable hair needles, buffalo horns, chest missiles from each pectoral, a 4-way grapple chain in the chest, and a belt buckle extendable pincer. Highly resembles a Minotaur.
• Bonzarus
  This robotic monster appears in episode 3. Its powers include extremely fast flight, a stinger tail that can detach and be used as a sword, propeller missiles from the lower arms, mouth flamethrower, shoulder missile launchers, an orange mouth ray, and detachable wings to form flying double swords. Highly resembles a giant wasp.
• Gardo
  This robotic monster appears in episode 4. Its powers include a Gelama alloy sword, Gelama armor that is extremely resistant to electricity and explosives, and flight.
• Gladiator
  This robotic monster appears in episode 4. Gladiator is only used to show off Gardo's might and is equipped with a chained mace and sai.
• Neegu
  This robotic monster appears in episode 5. Its powers include swimming, levitation, orange energy bolts from the mouth, extendable neck spikes, spiked mines from the neck holes, and can combine with Daiga. Highly resembles a giant serpent.
• Daiga
  This robotic monster appears in episode 5. Its powers include flight, finger rockets, green eye beams, mouth flamethrower, and can combine with Neegu.
• Daineegu
  This robotic monster appears in episode 5. It is the combined form of Neegu and Daiga and powers include shoulder machine guns, shields from the leg armor, a Combine Beam from the energy bolts and green eye beams, extendable spikes from hips and shoulders, finger rockets, launchable pincers from the belly, and a roller mode where it forms a giant spiked tires.
• Bad Hair
  This robotic monster appears in episode 6. Its powers include flight, back spikes, sword arms, bat bombs from the shoulders and abdomen, bladed shurikens from the pelvis, mouth flamethrower, regeneration, and detachable trapping wings.
• Karakaras
  This robotic monster appears in episode 7. Its powers include flight, green eye beams, talons, mouth missiles, wing missiles, hurricane winds from the wings, mouth flamethrower that is very strong, razor feathers, and a gas propelled ram.
• Gargo
  This robotic monster appears in episode 8. This was piloted by Prince Heinel himself and powers include an energy absorbing bite, swimmer, flight, reinforced armor in the sides after being upgraded, and mouth missiles. It highly resembles the Bengal Tiger.
• Gondum
  This robotic monster appears in episode 9. Its powers include flight, wing bombs that contain throwing stars, a pink heat beam from the mouth that is rather weak, slicer missiles from the chest, a chained ax on the head, and razor feathers.
• Bombos
  This robotic monster appears in episode 10. Its powers include flight at mach 1, pink energy bolts from the mouth, slicing dragonfly wings that can cause hurricane force winds, a propeller spinable tail used for projectile deflection, and X-Ray vision.
• Namazungo
  This robotic monster appears in episode 10. Its powers include flight, purple energy bolts from the head, swimming, 3-tube missile launcher in the mouth, hooked catfish whiskers, and can change into its super form.
  • Super Namazungo
    This robotic monster appears in episodes 10 and 11. Its powers include flight, explosive mouth flamethrower, spiked tank treads, 3-tube missile launcher in the mouth, green lightning spawned from its whiskers touching each other, and an Anti Super Electromagnetic Ray from the head that can prevent Voltes V from forming.
• Gamenza
  This robotic monster appears in episode 11. Its powers include shell missiles, swimming, flight, and shell spinning. Highly resembles Gamera.
• Kanigan
  This robotic monster appears in episode 12. Its powers include swimming, crab claw arms, flight, an Anti Super Electromagnetic Ray like Super Namazungo's, spike missiles from the arms, green adhesive foam from the sides of the head that can break down to electrify, forehead horn missiles, and pink energy bolts from the sides of the head.
• Gonguru
  This robotic monster appears in episode 13. Its powers include swimming, pectoral missiles, and a hidden drill in the head. It highly resembles a gorilla.
• Kuragenyara
  This robotic monster appears in episode 13. Its powers include flight, extendable tentacles, and produces electric shocks. It hiighly resembles Dogora.
• Garuman
  This robotic monster appears in episode 14. Its powers include flight, talons, three extendable tongues, a roller ball mode, projectile deflecting feet, burrowing, a mace tail, and a mouth flamethrower
• Jaguard
  This robotic monster appears in episode 15. Its powers include flight, swimming, speed, sharp claws, throwing stars from two slots on each shoulder, red mouth flames, mace bombs from the mouth, extendable fanged sabers, metal chained claws from the shoulders, and can increase body temperature to set itself and the area ablaze.
• Suneizaa
  This robotic monster appears in episode 16. Its powers include swimming, coiling homing missiles from the mouth that emit electricity, fire balls from the mouth, a spiked tail, and a nasal horn for each of its four heads.
• Zaizarus
  This robotic monster appears in episode 17. Its powers include flight at Mach 17, a 4-tube missile launcher hidden in the back, swimming, and two machine guns on each wing.
• Gokiiru
  This robotic monster appears in episode 18. Its powers include space flight, chest missile launchers, mouth cluster missiles, and a bolt reflective breast plate.
• Tobiurago
  This robotic monster appears in episode 19. Its powers include flight, hurricane force winds from the wings, mouth missiles, nose horn, triangular bombs from the chest, and a sword hidden in the back.
• Zoru
  This robotic monster appears in episode 20. Its powers include double sided lances that can absorb projectiles and reform if destroyed, regeneration, roe missiles, and can combine with Geru. Highly resembles a Medieval knight.
• Geru
  This robotic monster appears in episode 20. Its powers include flight, regeneration, launchable horseshoes, hoof drills, and can combine with Zoru.
• Zoru Geru Fusion
  This robotic monster appears in episode 20. Its powers include flight, slicer spikes from the body, and a rocket speared drill formed from its amoeba-like body structure that emits energy.
• Octopus Guard
  This robotic monster appears in episode 21. Its powers include swimming, tentacles with spikes in suction cups, horn electric bolts, and can self destruct.
• Sazaras
  This robotic monster appears in episode 21. Its powers include swimming, pincer claw arms, a spiked hermit crab shell that has hidden missile launchers, and flight.
• Zemingo 1
  This robotic monster appears in episode 22. Its powers include a left arm extendable drill, a right arm chainsaw, back spike missiles, and can morph into its second form.
• Zemingo 2
  This robotic monster appears in episode 22. Its powers include light, a left arm sword, nose spike missiles, a horn drill hidden in the forehead that coils upon detaching from body and regenerates new one), and launchable stingers from the abdomen.
• Garus
  This robotic monster appears in episode 23. Its powers include speed, claws that emit electricity, reinforced fangs, flight, size changing, spiked collar missiles, extendable body spikes that emit heat, and a mouth flamethrower.It highly resembles a wolf.

Super Beast Fighters

Every beast fighter after episode 23 has nigh-indestructible Maxingal Alloy; these beast fighters are often referred to as super beast fighters.

• Okozenia
  This robotic monster appears in episode 24. Its powers include levitation, red eye lasers, launchable shuriken fish fins with extendable spear fingers, a forehead trident, and a back fish fin buzz saw.
• Deathraa
  This robotic monster appears in episode 25. Its powers include a submarine mode that moves up to 300 knots, twin pink horn bolts, bow and arrows, and a sword sheathed on the left hip.
• Daimon
  This robotic monster appears in episode 26. Its powers include swimming, a right hand shield that can easily block the Voltes Bazooka, a left hand claw, a pincer head claw, pink eye lasers, and flight.
• Saimon
  This robotic monster appears in episode 26. It has the same powers as Daimon although pink eye bolts are not used.
• Gagamikiri
  This robotic monster appears inn episode 27. Its powers include flight, a chest 6-tube missile launcher, and green ionizing bolts from the double head fin.
• Giron
  A naturally large Boazanian that appears in episode 29. Its powers include flight, a double bladed ax that acts like boomerang and a second one is stored in right shoulder, and a chained Net concealed in his mace.
• Dalda
  This robotic monster appears in episode 29. Its powers include flight, finger lasers, a head laser gatling gun, and cargo storage in the chest.
• Kamagurira
  This robotic monster appears in episode 30. Its powers include eye tractor beams, flight, mantis arms that are extendable by chains within the arms, mouth missiles, self duplication, and electric nets from the mouth.
• Daiand
  This robotic monster appears in episode 31. Its powers include a diamond form that can possess others by physical contact, flight, red mouth heat ray, teleportation, and crystal spears launched from the body.
• Zanion
  This robotic monster appears in episode 32. Its powers include swimming, lobster claw arms, a mouth 4-tube missile launcher, extendable whisker whips that can disperse electricity, and extraordinary jumping.
• Dorion
  This robotic monster appears in episode 33. Its powers include swimming, flight, launchable homing back spikes capable of burrowing, a drill from the mouth that releases Boazanian germs upon penetration, launchable fists, and regeneration.
• Aringa
  This robotic monster appears in episode 34. Its powers include flight, purple antennae bolts, green mouth acid, and burrowing
• Gorgo
  This robotic monster appears in episode 35. Its powers include remote controlled pincer claw arms, flight, hidden arm drills, a launchable tail drill, and green eye beams.
• Destroid
  This robotic monster appears in episode 36. Its powers include light while encased in a fire ball, laser gatling gun hands, tank treads, a back 4-tube missile launcher, head heat beams at the scalp, and three head lasers on the face.

Other Boazanian Forces

• Boazan Fighter Saucers
  They appear throughout the series. Its powers include levitation, pink energy bolts, three red energy bolts from the underside, buzz saw structure, projectile resistance, and an underside tractor beam.
• Skullrook
  They appear throughout the series until episode 37. Its powers include levitation, an orange forehead laser, twin forehead machine guns, eye bolts, an electric barrier, eye missiles, and alectric drill in the mouth.
• Zantal (translates as Mechanical Eagle)
  They appear in episodes 24, 25, 26, and 27. Its powers include mach 30 flight and anti maxingal bolts used to weaken out beast fighters with maxingal armor.
• Heinel's Fighter
  They appears in episode 30. Its powers include flight and can emit electric surges.
• False Voltes Machines
  They appear in episode 35. Its powers include flight presumably mach 20 and energy bullets.
• Boazanian Flagship
  They appear in episodes 38 and 39. Its powers include pink energy bolts, and yellow energy barrier.
• Zeltan
  They appeared in episodes 38 and 39 and it the capital ship of General Gurur. Its powers include a particle wave field that is space disturbance particles that cause explosions with their effects lost in atmospheres and volleys of missiles.
• Shugoshin Godor
  They appears in episode 40. Its powers include a statue disguise, a sword, and green mouth flames.

Cast

Original Japanese Cast

• Kazuyuki Sogabe as Ippei Mine
• Miyuki Ueda as Megumi Oka
• Noriko Ohara as Hiyoshi Gou
• Osamu Ichikawa as Prince Heinell
• Tesshō Genda as Daijiro Gou
• Yukinaga Shiraishi as Ken'ichi Gou
• Hiroshi Masuoka as Zuhl
• Kenji Utsumi as General Do Bergan
• Mikio Terashima as Emperor Zu Zanbajil
• Noriko Ohara as Katherine
• Ran Tokumaru as Zuul
• Ryusuke Shiomi as General Gurul
• Seizō Katō as Professor Hamaguchi
• Shōzō Iizuka as Jangal
• Tamio Ōki as Professor Sakunji
• Yū Mizushima as Kentaro Go / Ragooru
• Daisuke Maki as Narrator
• Hiroshi Masuoka as General Oka
• Tamio Ōki as Duke Zaki

Philippine Cast (1970s; In English, then in 1999; In Tagalog, Cebuano & Hiligaynon)

• Tony Nierras as Steve Armstrong, Doctor Ned Armstrong (Baron Hrothgar)
• Cris Vertido as Mark Gordon and Zuhl
• Noel Mallonga as Big Bert Armstrong and the narrator of the series. He's the voice director of the group.
• Celina Cristobal as Little John Armstrong (1st voice), Zandra (1st voice), Jamie Robinson, Mrs. Marianne Armstrong and Octo-1
• Chito Vicente as Draco and Commander Robinson
• Dodo Crisol as Prince Zardoz
• Joonee Gamboa as Doctor Smith and Doctor Hook.

Toys

During the series' run, Popy released a diecast metal toy of Voltes V. The toy was available either with the five Volt Machines sold separately or in a gift set known as the "Volt In Box". Aside from the Volt Machines combining to form Voltes V, the toy also transformed into Voltank mode (an alternate vehicle mode wherein the robot lied down face-first with the Volt Panzer and Volt Lander's wheels on the ground). Voltank mode never appeared in the series, but was a unique feature of the toy. The boxed set was re-released in 1982 before being repackaged as part of Bandai's Godaikin line for the international market in 1983.^[1]

Popy also released a Jumbo Machinder version of Voltes V. Standing at over 24 inches in height, the toy featured firing projectile fists and could transform into Voltank mode, which small children could ride on.

In 2006, Bandai released a newer, smaller Voltes V toy as part of their Soul of Chogokin line. This toy is more detailed and more poseable than its Popy diecast predecessor. In 2008, the toy was re-released as a special edition called "Respect for Volt In Box", which pays homage to the original toy in both color scheme and packaging. In addition, this version has been retooled to transform into Voltank mode.^[2]

International versions

Philippines

Since 1978, Voltes V was first aired on GMA-7 as the first anime to date, it is shown every Friday and lasted for a year until 1979. The anime was dubbed in English with a Filipino voice. The anime however was moved to MBS-4 in 1986.

In 1979, shortly before the series was going to end in the Philippines, then president Ferdinand Marcos issued a directive banning of Voltes V "because of excessive violence" and it included the encouragement of people to rebel due to its subversive message. The president also stated that cartoons such as this may affect children's education.^{[citation needed]} Voltes V and all other robot-based anime were taken off the air in the 1980s due to concerns about animated violence. However, the series has since been re-aired several times.

In 1986, the series was aired in RPN, then on ABS-CBN from 1987–1988 and IBC from 1989-1990. GMA revived the program, first in English dub, then in Filipino dub between Tagalog and Cebuano, in 1999. They have aired the program sporadically since, alongside Daimos.

In 2005, newly-launched cable channel Hero, owned by the ABS-CBN Corporation, released Voltes V as Voltes V Evolution. However, the voice cast was different from the GMA version. In an attempt to promote the show to a younger audience, the network had Jett Pangan, Sandara Park, Dennis Trillo and other Filipino celebrities re-dub the characters' voices. This decision alienated older, loyal fans^[who?] who claimed the new voice actors lack effort in portraying their characters, or altogether miscast: however, the redub did somehow manage to pull though its whole run and had gone though at least one rerun in the said channel.

United States

An American English dubbed version was released in North America in 1983 by 3B Productions as Voltus 5. It was a condensed version of the first three episodes of the series. The English dub used the character names of the Philippine English version and had the theme song replaced with a generic instrumental.^[3]

Media appearances

• In the Philippines, Voltes V was followed by a comic single, Camp Big V, in which Big Falcon was converted into a school for both humans and Boazanians.

• All three Robot Romance Trilogy Mecha appear in the following Super Robot Wars games: Super Robot Wars Advance, Super Robot Wars Alpha 2, and Super Robot Wars Alpha 3. Alpha 3 also allows all three robots to take part in a combination attack which did not feature in any of the shows. Voltes V also appears in many other games in the series, with and without the other two Romantics.

• Voltes V was parodied in the anime series Burn Up Excess.^[4]

References

1. ^ Collection DX - DX Voltes V
2. ^ Collection DX - Voltes V Respect for Volt In Box
3. ^ Answers.com - Voltus 5
4. ^ [1]

External links

• Ivan CHEN's Choudenji Machine Voltes V Shrine
• Salvador "Buddy" Paraiso's Voltes V Blog
• Chōdenji Machine Voltes V (anime) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
• Voltes V Homepage
• KICA Prize Winning Essay about Voltes V, Mazinger Z, Daimos and Star Rangers by Terence P. Talorete
• Voltes V At Geocities, the original webpage that sparked the clamor for the return to Philippine TV
• Voltes V Voice Dubbers (Hero TV & GMA)
• (Tagalog) ANIME KABAYAN: The Way "Eye" See It article on Voltes V Evolution (Hero TV's Filipino-dubbed version)
• [2]
• Voltus V Reviews at spcnet.tv
• Voltes V Theme TVJ version