Armored Fleet DaiRugger XV | |
(機甲 艦隊 ダイラガーXV) | |
Director | Kozo Morishita |
---|---|
Studio | Toei Animation |
Network | File:Flag of Japan.svg TV Tokyo |
First episode | 3 March 1982 |
Last | 23 March 1983 |
Episodes | 52 |
Armored Fleet DaiRugger XV (機甲 艦隊 ダイラガーXV Kikō Kantai DaiRagā Fifutīn/DaiRagā XV ) is an anime series aired in Japan from 1982. It is also referred to as "DaiRugger 15" (Based upon the roman numeral for 15), "DaiRugger XV", "Armored Armada DaiRugger XV", "Armored Squadron DaiRugger XV", or "Machine Platoon DaiRugger".
In the United States, it was heavily edited to become part of the Voltron series. [1]
Story[]
DaiRugger XV is an exploration robot, as well as an intended peacekeeping force. The Earth is in a time of prosperity. The president of the Terran League launches a mission to explore beyond the galaxy. After commencing its mission of exploration, the starship Rugger-Guard is attacked by a ship of the Galveston Empire. DaiRugger, the super robot, is deployed in order to defend the Earth. It is somewhat by fate that they must help the people of Galveston find a new planet before it explodes, and liberate it from its despotic Emperor.[2][3]
Concept[]
There are 3 assault team units of 5 members: Land, Air, and Sea. There are a total of 15 parts referred to as "Rugger", which can combine together to form the titular DaiRugger. The design of the 15 separate Rugger units came from the sport of rugby, since 15 players are required to form a rugby union team.[4] Furthermore, the name "DaiRugger" is also derived from the sport.
Production[]
- Planning
Susumu Yoshikawa
Yasuo Nobe
Yu Saito - Original Concept
Saburo Yatsude - Chief Direction
Kozo Morishita - Series Composition
Keisuke Fujikawa - Script
Keisuke Fujikawa - Character Design
Shigetaka Aoyama - Music
Seiji Yokoyama - Production
Toei
Toei Agency
Characters[]
DaiRugger Characters[]
The Air Team wore Blue and White uniforms, the Sea Team Black and Blue, and the Land Team Red and White.
Function | Pilot | Voice | Vehicle | DaiRugger Body | Voltron Counterpart |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rugger #1/Air-1 | Manabu Aki (安芸 マナブ Aki Manabu ) | Toshio Furukawa | A.C.E. (Aerial Command Exploration) Jet | head | Jeff |
Rugger #2/Air-2 | Shinobu Kai (甲斐 シノブ Kai Shinobu ) | Ryōma Yamamoto | Mobile Strato Weapons Module | upper torso | Rocky |
Rugger #3/Air-3 | Shota Kreuz (ショーター・クロイツ Shōtā Kuroitsu ) | Kōzō Shioya | A.R.C. (Advanced Reconnaissance Chopper) | right upper arm | Wolo |
Rugger #4/Air-4 | Yasuo Mutsu (陸奥 ヤスオ Mutsu Yasuo ) | Satomi Majima | A.R.C. (Advanced Reconnaissance Chopper) | left upper arm | Chip |
Rugger #5/Air-5 | Patty Ellington (パティ・エリントン Pati Erinton ) | Keiko Han | Falcon VT Star Fighter | chest plate | Ginger |
Rugger #6/Sea-1 | Miranda Keats (ミランダ・キーツ Miranda Kītsu ) | Hideyuki Hori | Mobile Aquatic Communications Module | torso midriff | Krik |
Rugger #7/Sea-2 | Haruka Kaga (加賀ハルカ Kaga Haruka ) | Harumi Iizuka | Aquatic Space Explorations Prober | right thigh | Lisa |
Rugger #8/Sea-3 | Saruta Katz (サルタ・カッツ Saruta Kattsu ) | Masaharu Satō | Aquatic Space Explorations Prober | left thigh | Tagor |
Rugger #9/Sea-4 | Tatsuo Izumo (出雲タツオ Izumo Tatsuo ) | Shō Hayami | Multi-Wheeled Exploration Unit | right lower leg | Shannon |
Rugger #10/Sea-5 | Baros Karateya (バーロス・カラテヤ Bārosu Karateya ) | Ken Yamaguchi | Multi-Wheeled Exploration Unit | left lower leg | Zandee |
Rugger #11/Land-1 | Walter Jack (ワルター・ジャック Warutā Jakku ) | Katsuji Mori | Mobile Jet Radar Station | hips | Cliff |
Rugger #12/Land-2 | Moya Kirigas (モーヤ・キリガッス Mōya Kirigassu ) | Nana Yamaguchi | Rotating Personnel Carrier | right forearm | Cinda |
Rugger #13/Land-3 | Mack Chakker (マック・チャッカー Makku Chakkā ) | Banjō Ginga | Armored Equipment Carrier | left forearm | Modoc |
Rugger #14/Land-4 | Tasuku Izu (伊豆 タスク Izu Tasuku ) | Shingo Hiromori | All-Terrain Space Exploration Cruiser | right foot | Marvin |
Rugger #15/Land-5 | Kazuto Nagato (長門 カズト Nagato Kazuto ) | Hiroshi Ōtake | All-Terrain Space Exploration Cruiser | left foot | Hutch |
Other Characters[]
Japanese Name | Voice | Voltron Counterpart |
---|---|---|
Shinji Ise (伊勢 シンジ Ise Shinji ) | Hideyuki Tanaka | Hawkins |
High Commander Wakasa | Masaharu Satō | Space Marshal Graham |
Dick Asimov | Kōji Yada | |
Doctor Search | Koji Totani | Professor Page |
Socrat Teles (テレス司令 ) | Kōji Totani | Commander Hazar |
Drake | Ryōma Yamamoto | Captain Mongo |
Internal Commissioner Socrat Tes | Kanie, Eiji | Mozak |
Sirk | Satomi Majima | Dorma |
Luciano | Masaharu Satō | Marshall Keezor |
Commander Caponello | Banjō Ginga | Viceroy Throk |
Emperor Corsair | Kazuhiko Kishino | Emperor Zeppo |
DaiRugger Specifications[]
Dairugger is made up of 15 vehicle parts and is 60 meters tall.
Weapons[]
- Laser Sword
- Spinning Laser Blades
- Electromagnetic Whip
- Electromagnetic Beam
- Laser Blasts
- Laser Lance
- Electromagnetic Cross
- DaiRugger Sword
Episode List[]
Merchandise[]
In the early 1980s, the original ST DaiRugger toys were released by Popy Pleasure under the toy release number of GB-72, as part of the Chogokin label, and constructed of high-quality die-cast materials. A GB-73 would follow, with a transforming DX DaiRugger, which could separate only into the three larger combined vehicles. A larger version of DaiRugger XV was also released, which did not contain die-cast materials, as the metal content was too heavy for the design and for the friction motors installed in many of the vehicles. The smallest non-transforming ST DaiRugger and the fully-transforming plastic DaiRugger XV would be resold in the US as part of the Voltron series by Matchbox, entirely under the Voltron name. However, the Popy version came with a sword, missiles, and stickers that the Matchbox version did not; the sword and missiles were omitted by default for Voltron's Matchbox line due to toy safety standards during that time.
Because DaiRugger had 15 pieces, and was a highly playable figure compared to many of the other fixed-state super robots of the early '80s, there were countless imitations and bootlegs of Dairugger. Some are cheap plastics, some do not assemble well, some have neon-glowing colors that are completely misaligned with the show. Even approved brands such as "Big Bear" were spawned to rejuvenate the toyline.[5] No version, however, is identical in quality, packaging, and comes with all the pieces like the Japanese original.
Home Video Releases[]
- The Armored Fleet DaiRugger XV Collection - The collection was released in 2010
Need to move the info below to the above link |
- Collection 2 was released on May 25.[8]
- Collection 3 was released on September 28.[9]
Adaptation[]
- DaiRugger XV and GoLion are not related in any way, in contrast to the U.S. version. (The coincidental similarities in design, most notably in the face, are due to having the same mechanical designer and a significant portion of the same animation staff.)
- The Galaxy Alliance in any form whatsoever only exists in Dairugger XV in the Japanese, since Earth in GoLion is destroyed in a thermonuclear war.[10]
- Many of the allied and enemy force members die in Dairugger, as opposed to disappearing without any explanation in the U.S. Voltron series. The finale of Dairugger XV s different in its Voltron form — the U.S. footage has no depiction of Emperor Zeppo's true fate, which leaves a lot of questions for U.S. viewers (although one shot of Zeppo dead on the throne remains intact). The scene of Emperor Zeppo's death is cut out due to violence, perishing in an assassination attempt by Hazar and the Drules, who want freedom for their people. His death is similar to the bloody nature of Emperor Zanbazir's in Voltes V.
- In the Japanese version, Telesu (Hazar) dies a martyr, and there is a sad scene where his body is left to die on Galveston at his request. He does not become the new leader of the new Drule people after all, but rather, his sister Dorma; the series ending where the Drules are finally at peace. This is highly referential to the ending in Daimos, where Erika, not Richter, becomes the new leader. The flames that engulf him are similar to Prince Heinel's redeemed death in Voltes V.
- Aki (Jeff) and Haruka (Lisa) have a serious relationship in the show. The lucky charm that Haruka gives to Aki dies with Telesu (Hazar).
- Asimov (Captain Newley) is Shinji Ise's (Commander Hawkins) superior officer in the original series. The dialogue is rewritten in Voltron to suggest that Hawkins s Newley's superior. There are inconsistencies, however that reveal the original ranks of the two officers.
Korean version[]
There is a South Korean knockoff anime of DaiRugger XV called Super Titan 15 (슈퍼타이탄15).[11] It also cribs characters and vehicles from Galaxy Express 999.
External links[]
References[]
- ↑ "Armored Fleet Dairugger Collection 1 DVD Review". Mania.com. http://www.mania.com/armored-fleet-dairugger-collection-1_article_118686.html. Retrieved 2010-06-12.
- ↑ "Armored Fleet Dairugger Collection 1 DVD Review". Mania.com. http://www.mania.com/armored-fleet-dairugger-collection-1_article_118686.html. Retrieved 2010-06-12.
- ↑ "Armored Fleet Dairugger Collection 2 DVD Review". Mania.com. http://www.mania.com/armored-fleet-dairugger-collection-2_article_120713.html. Retrieved 2010-06-12.
- ↑ Clements, Jonathan. McCarthy Helen. [2006] (2006). The Anime Encyclopedia: Revised & Expanded Edition. Berkeley, CA: Stone Bridge Press. ISBN 978-1-933330-10-5
- ↑ BigBear Dairugger. "BigBear Info." Dairugger Toy Re-release. Retrieved on 2006-11-06.
- ↑ mediablasters.com
- ↑ "Media Blasters & Kitty Media February Solicitations". Mania.com. 2009-11-04. http://www.mania.com/media-blasters-kitty-media-february-solicitations_article_118687.html. Retrieved 2009-11-20.
- ↑ mediablasters.com
- ↑ amazon.com
- ↑ "Voltron -Anime News Network". Anime News Network. 2002-03-14. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2002-03-14. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
- ↑ glwwf.egloos.com/656755
V • E Voltron Television Series | ||
---|---|---|
Television Series | ||
Original Japanese Series | Mirai Robo Daltanious (1979) • Beast King GoLion (1981) (episodes) • Armored Fleet DaiRugger XV (1982) (episodes) • Lightspeed Electroid Albegas (1983) | |
Voltron Series | Voltron: Defender of the Universe (1984) (episodes) • Fleet of Doom (1986) • Voltron: The Third Dimension (1998) (episodes) • Voltron Force (2011) (episodes) • Voltron: Legendary Defender (2016) (episodes) | |
Additional Voltron Content | Voltron Pilot (1983) • Voltron: Defender of the Unvierse (2007) • Voltron 84 (2017) | |
Related Articles | ||
Production Companies | DreamWorks Animation • Kickstart Productions • Studio Mir • Toei Animation • World Events Productions | |
Other articles | Content edits • List of edits • Exceptions to Editing Character Deaths |