The King of Braves GaoGaiGar
The King of Braves GaoGaiGar (勇者王ガオガイガー, Yūsha Ō Gaogaigā) is a Japanese anime television series animated by Sunrise's internal "Studio 7" division. It is the eighth and final installment in Takara's Yūsha franchise. It aired on Nagoya TV in Japan from February 1, 1997 to January 31, 1998.
| The King of Braves GaoGaiGar | |
 Cover art from the DVD release of the series | |
| 勇者王ガオガイガー (Yūsha Ō Gaogaigā) | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Adventure, mecha |
| Anime television series | |
| Directed by | Yoshitomo Yonetani |
| Produced by | Ryōsuke Takahashi |
| Written by | Fuyunori Gobu |
| Music by | Kohei Tanaka |
| Studio | Sunrise |
| Original network | Nagoya TV |
| Original run | February 1, 1997 – January 31, 1998 |
| Episodes | 49 (25 dubbed) |
| Original video animation | |
| |
Plot
It takes place in 2005 (initially referred to only as "the 21st Century"), two years following an incident where the first identified extraterrestrial intelligence—classified as "EI-01"—crash-landed on Earth and absorbed a large number of machines into itself before disappearing without a trace. Following this incident, the Japanese government created a secret organization to combat potential alien threats: the Gutsy Geoid Guard, or "GGG", based beneath G-Island City in Tokyo Bay. Parasitic alien life-forms known as "Zonderians" have begun to emerge; using the Zonder Metal of which they are made, they can assimilate various kinds of matter to form "Zonders." which use humanoid beings as their hosts.
GGG gains three key resources with which to combat this threat. There is Galeon, a sentient mechanical lion of alien design. There is the alien child Mamoru Amami, whom Galeon had left with human parents eight years earlier. The third asset is human cyborg Guy Shishiō, whose life was saved by Galeon two years earlier and is capable of fusing with him, forming the mechanoid GaiGar. When combined with the GGG-made GaoMachines, GaiGar becomes the Super Mechanoid GaoGaiGar: a mecha capable of defeating Zonders, recovering their cores for Mamoru to "purify" and saving the human host in doing so.
Media
GaoGaiGar is composed of 49 episodes, first aired on Nagoya TV from February 1, 1997 to January 31, 1998. It was followed by a number of works across multiple media (one serialized novel, two short stories, one PlayStation video game, at least two serialized manga and four audio dramas). Most of these works contained plot written by Studio 7 staff, and contributed to its canon long after its airing.
The show's popularity would soon warrant a new animated work. This resulted in the production of the eight–part sequel OVA The King of Braves GaoGaiGar Final, released from January 21, 2000 to March 21, 2003. Its story takes place one year following the events of the television series, and incorporates characters and continuity from non-television works. Examples include Renais Kerdif-Shishioh (main character of the aforementioned novel) and Rose Approval (secretary general of the United Nations as seen in the aforementioned PlayStation game).
Episodes
| No. | Title | Original air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "The King of Braves is Born!" "Yūsha-ō Tanjō!"勇者王誕生! | February 1, 1997 |
| 2 | "The Boy With Green hair" "Midori no Kami no Shōnen"緑の髪の少年 | February 8, 1997 |
| 3 | "The Holy Left Arm" "Seinaru Hidari Ude"聖なる左腕 | February 15, 1997 |
| 4 | "Escapee Zondar" "Tōbōsha Zondā"逃亡者ゾンダー | February 22, 1997 |
| 5 | "Blue and Red" "Ao to Aka"青と赤 | March 1, 1997 |
| 6 | "Its name is ChoRyuJin" "Sono Na wa ChōRyūJin"その名は超竜神 | March 8, 1997 |
| 7 | "Drive Away the Black 300" "Kuro no San-Byaku o Oe"黒の300を追え! | March 15, 1997 |
| 8 | "The Day The Sun Disappeared" "Taiyō ga Kieru Hi"太陽が消える日 | March 22, 1997 |
| 9 | "Element Z0" "Soryūshi Zetto Zero"素粒子ZO | March 29, 1997 |
| 10 | "The Lightless World" "Hikari Todokanu Sekai"光届かぬ世界 | April 5, 1997 |
| 11 | "Gate of Izolude" "Izorude no Mon"イゾルデの門 | April 12, 1997 |
| 12 | "Tomorrow" "Ashita"明日 | April 19, 1997 |
| 13 | "Legacy of Cain" "Kain no Isan"カインの遺産 | April 26, 1997 |
| 14 | "The Valley That Calls Forth the Mist" "Kiri ga Yobu Keikoku"霧が呼ぶ渓谷 | May 3, 1997 |
| 15 | "GGG Targeted" "Nerawareta GGG"狙われたGGG | May 12, 1997 |
| 16 | "Demon of Midday" "Shōgo no Akuma"正午の悪魔 | May 17, 1997 |
| 17 | "That Which Controls Space" "Kūkan o Seisuru Mono"空間を制する者 | May 24, 1997 |
| 18 | "A Promise is the Other's Light" "Yakusoku wa Hikari no Kanata"約束は光の彼方 | May 31, 1997 |
| 19 | "The Destructive Right Arm" "Horobubeki Migiude"亡ぶべき右腕 | June 7, 1997 |
| 20 | "Teacher Zondar" "Zondar Sensei"ゾンダー先生 | June 14, 1997 |
| 21 | "Gold-Colored God of Destruction" "Konjiki no Hakaishin"金色の破壊神 | June 21, 1997 |
| 22 | "Towards the Polluted Sky" "Kegasareshi Sora e"汚されし空へ | June 28, 1997 |
| 23 | "Mike 13" "Maiku 13"マイク13 | July 5, 1997 |
| 24 | "Disconnected "Protect"" "Hazusareta "Purotekuto""はずされた鍵(プロテクト) | July 12, 1997 |
| 25 | "Voice of Ruin" "Horobi no Koe"滅びの声 | July 19, 1997 |
| 26 | "Cross the Dimensions" "Jigen o Koete"次元を越えて | July 26, 1997 |
| 27 | "Great Tokyo Destruction" "Dai-Tōkyō Shōmetsu!"大東京消滅! | August 2, 1997 |
| 28 | "Crash! The Big Four of Destruction" "Gekitotsu! Kikai Shitennō"激突!機界四天王 | August 9, 1997 |
| 29 | "Phoenix" "Hi no Tori"火の鳥 | August 16, 1997 |
| 30 | "Braves, Death at Dawn!" "Yūsha, Akatsuki ni Shisu!"勇者、暁に死す! | August 23, 1997 |
| 31 | "Adieu, GGG" "Saraba GGG"さらばGGG | August 30, 1997 |
| 32 | "Counterattack! Machine World 31 Primevals" "Gyakushū! Kikai Sanjūichi Genshu"逆襲!機界31原種 | September 13, 1997 |
| 33 | "Departure to the Freezing Point" "Hyōtenka e no Tabidachi"氷点下への出航(たびだち) | September 20, 1997 |
| 34 | "Brave's Rebirth" "Yūsha Fukkatsu"勇者復活! | September 27, 1997 |
| 35 | "Wind and Lightning" "Kaze to Ikazuchi"風と雷 | October 4, 1997 |
| 36 | "Its Name is GekiRyuJin" "Sono Na wa Gekiryūjin"その名は撃龍神 | October 11, 1997 |
| 37 | "The Coming of Cain" "Kain Raigō"カイン来迎 | October 18, 1997 |
| 38 | "The Great Battle of Darkness" "Ankoku no Daikessen"暗黒の大決戦 | October 25, 1997 |
| 39 | "Machine World's Greatest 7 Primevals" "Kikai Saikyō Nana Genshu"機界最強7原種 | November 8, 1997 |
| 40 | "Children of the Stars" "Hoshi no Kodomotachi"星の子供たち | November 15, 1997 |
| 41 | "A Distant Victory Song" "Harukanaru Gaika"遥かなる凱歌 | November 22, 1997 |
| 42 | "Return From Ancient Times" "Taiko kara no Kikan"太古からの帰還 | November 29, 1997 |
| 43 | "GenRyuJin, GoRyuJin" "Genryūjin, Gōryūjin"幻竜神・強竜神 | December 6, 1997 |
| 44 | "Prelude to the Coming of Death" "Shūen Jokyoku"終焉序曲 | December 13, 1997 |
| 45 | "GGG, Towards Jupiter" "Surī-Jī, Mokusei e!"G.G.G.、木星へ! | December 20, 1997 |
| 46 | "That With Courage" "Yūki Aru Mono"勇気ある者 | December 27, 1997 |
| 47 | "Machine World Termination" "Kikai Shōka Shūketsu"機界昇華終結 | January 10, 1998 |
| 48 | "Life" "Inochi"命 | January 24, 1998 |
| 49 | "Someday, in the Sea of Stars" "Itsuka Hoshi no Umi de"いつか星の海で | January 31, 1998 |
Video games
The King of Braves GaoGaiGar Blockaded Numbers was released on April 8, 1999 for the PlayStation. GaoGaiGar also appeared in 2000's Brave Saga 2 for the PlayStation, 2001's Brave Saga New Astaria for the Game Boy Color and 2005's New Century Brave Wars for the PlayStation 2.
GaoGaiGar has appeared in the long running Super Robot Wars franchise, beginning with the 2nd Super Robot Wars Alpha. GaoGaiGar also shows up in the Sunrise Eiyuutan series.
Licensing in the United States
For many years it was believed, due to licensing disputes involving Sunrise, Takara and Bandai, that GaoGaiGar would not be licensed for an international release. On April 19, 2006, however, Media Blasters announced their licensing of the GaoGaiGar TV series for marketing in the United States. The first volume was released to stores on September 26, 2006. On April 23, 2007, it was reported that the US release of GaoGaiGar would go on hiatus due to the company's focus on a labor-intensive Voltron DVD release.[1] They followed with a statement that the subsequent volumes will be subtitled only, due to poor sales. Overall only 25 out of the 49 episodes were dubbed. The rest of the GaoGaiGar DVD series was released in a box set on August 19, 2008. The show was available as part of a digital subscription package from Daisuki until the service was terminated in 2017.[2].
Shared continuity with Betterman
In the interval between the respective productions of GaoGaiGar and GaoGaiGar FINAL, Studio 7 had also made the complex, horror-themed show Betterman, which first aired from April 1 to September 30, 1999 on TV Tokyo. This show is composed of 26 episodes and takes place in the same overall universe as GaoGaiGar. Director Yonetani has taken steps to link these two works on a number of occasions.
The first notable sign of a connection is Tsuguo Ushiyama, who appeared briefly in GaoGaiGar, though makes multiple appearances as a friend of Betterman's main protagonist Keita Aono. A line of continuity was also established when the character Papillon Noir (appearing in the novel "Queen of Leo <Leon Reine>" and FINAL) was introduced in a Betterman audio drama following the show's run. Furthermore, in both the third and final episodes of FINAL, Shigeru Akamatsu and his two assistants can be seen (with their backs to the camera), first watching the reports of GGG's "Coup d'état" in the main Akamatsu Industries' warehouse, and again after the end of the vicious storms in the last episode of FINAL (again facing away from the camera).
In the summer of 2005, a 12 episode re-edit of GaoGaiGar FINAL—The King of Braves GaoGaiGar FINAL -Grand Glorious Gathering-—aired on TV Tokyo. This show was dubbed a "reimagining" of FINAL, adding flashbacks from the original television series and minor elements from Betterman to further connect the two series, featuring new voiceovers to accompany reused animation and stills.
The "deluxe" version of the -Grand Glorious Gathering- DVD box set contains a special disc called "Disc Z." One of the features on this disk contains information about a new GaoGaiGar work entitled The King of Braves GaoGaiGar Project Z. This project brings GaoGaiGar in even closer relationship with Betterman by reintroducing the corporation Akamatsu Heavy Industries. They cooperate with GGG to build the "Neuromechanoid" Kakuseijin GaiGo, with GaoGaiGar characters Mamoru Amami and Ikumi Kaidou as its "Head Divers" (pilots). Betterman Lamia is also seen to make at least one appearance. No further information on Gaogaigar Project Z was revealed for about a decade, and only in 2016 did it resurface under the new title Hakaiou ~GaoGaiGar VS Betterman~. The renamed work was penned by series writer Yuuichirou Takeda and published in novel format online at Yatate Bunko.[3]
Characters
Historical context
In its production, Studio 7 further ensured that there were no actual betrayals in the show; any "betrayal" automatically resolves itself as a secret that had to be kept to the main characters' benefit. This was perhaps partly due to the fact that GaoGaiGar was made as a children's show, and partly as a commentary on the heavy air of distrust and conspiracy occurring in mecha anime.
In the first half of the television series, other, minor themes are introduced, nearly all of them ultimately discarded in favor of the main themes of courage and bravery. The first episode begins on a place called Garbage Island ("gomi no shima", an analogue to Japan's own "Dream Island" or yume no shima found in Tokyo Bay) and speaks about ecology and the environment. Outside of that one episode, this theme is only followed up on briefly, in one other moment of the entire series. Another discarded theme is that of self-betterment: in the first half of the series, the Zonderians mostly make Zonder Robos of stressed-out, discontent "average joe" types—a truck driver who hates traffic, for instance, or a morbidly obese man tired of being picked on. Once Mamoru purifies them, however, their attitudes toward life become less obsessed (and in the case of the obese man, the source of stress is removed), the stress having been exhausted from their system when in Zonder form.
It is also notable that GaoGaiGar's narrator and its next episode sequences—and the episode titles themselves, in some cases—rely on extreme hyperbole, even lying to the viewer if deemed necessary. This in itself is a Super Robot trend, dating back to Mazinger Z, the original Super Robot show (which itself used hyperbolic episode titles such as "Kouji Kabuto Dies in Lava").
Series influences and references
- Guy's transformation sequence may have been inspired by many famous Henshin (transforming) heroes like Kamen Rider and Science Ninja Team Gatchaman.
- GaoGaiGar's Broken Magnum and Broken Phantom attacks have the behavior of a "Rocket Punch", where the robot's arm up to the elbow is fired at the enemy in similar fashion to that of a missile. This sort of attack is a staple of many early Super Robot shows, dating back to the first one of its kind, Mazinger Z, where the name "Rocket Punch" originated.
- GaoGaiGar's Protect Shade and Protect Wall defenses are reminiscent of similar moves (albeit usually two-handed) by Ultraman and other Ultras.
- The title of the very first episode of the series ("Yuusha-Oh Tanjou!", or "The King of Braves is Born!") may possibly be a reference to the title of the first episode of Mazinger Z ("Kyoui no Robot Tanjou", or "Birth of the Robot of Wonder").
- A few themes of GaoGaiGar tie into the popular manga artist Masami Kurumada. The names of GaoGaiGar's Broken Magnum and Broken Phantom attacks are references to the "Galactica Magnum" and "Galactica Phantom" attacks used Kurumada's boxing manga Ring ni Kakero. Likewise, Cyborg Guy's Ultimate Armour and the ID Suits visually resemble Cloths from Saint Seiya, another Kurumada work.
- The character Ayame's PHS (cellular phone) has a shape similar to that of the Ultra Eye transformation item used in the Ultraman series Ultra Seven. When opening it, Ayame makes a similar pose as Dan Maboroshi did when using the Ultra Eye. (Some materials even refer to the phone as the "Ayame Eye.") As it is referred to as "Ayame's PHS" in the pre-commercial cut, it may be a custom design.
- Soldat J's character (hair, elongated nose, love of the sky) is partially based on that of Jet Link (Cyborg 002) from the manga Cyborg 009 (he is even referred to in an Episode 40 flashback as "number J-002"). Similar to Jet, J displays the ability to accelerate beyond what the eye can see, however briefly. The two characters also share the same ideas about the sky and flight. Soldato is Italian for soldier.
- Hana Matsuno reveals Mamoru's identity as an alien to their friends in the last episode in an almost identical manner as Annu revealing Dan Maboroshi's in the last episode of Ultra Seven.
- Cyborg Guy's Hyper Mode sequence bears some resemblance to Juushin Liger's transformation (specifically, his swinging his hair around).
Influences from previous Brave series
- GaoGaiGar's chest bears the shape of a lion's head (actually the head of Galeon); this part of its design is similar to the lion face on the chestplates of Exkaiser, King Exkaiser and Great Exkaiser in Brave Exkaiser. This particular design element dates back to 1979's Future Robo Daltanius, and is an interesting staple of old-school giant robots.
- The Vehicle Machine pairs (HyoRyu and EnRyu, FuRyu and RaiRyu) can perform Symmetrical Docking, combining to form a lengthwise half of a larger robot. This is similar in concept to Blue Raker and Green Raker's combination to form Ultra Raker in Brave Exkaiser.
- The relationship that Volfogg has with Mamoru Amami (closer to a parent than just a bodyguard) is similar to that between Exkaiser and Kouta in Brave Exkaiser.
- The dual main character dynamic (one "adult male" and one male child) was first seen in The Brave Fighter of Sun Fighbird (wherein an alien entity possessing an android was paired with a boy). In fact, at some point in pre-production, Cyborg Guy was apparently meant to be an android - drawings of this form exist.
- While performing Fusion with Galeon, Cyborg Guy does a roll in midair; in The Brave Fighter of Sun Fighbird, Katori Yuutarou does the same move while "interfacing" with Fire Jet.
- GaoGaiGar's shoulders and upper arms are formed from LinerGao, a shinkansen-type bullet train. Might Gaine's arms in The Brave Express Might Gaine were formed in a similar manner.
- Volfogg's basic concept ("police car ninja robot") is also seen in the Brave Police J-Decker robot Shadowmaru. (However, before the "ninja" part was decided on, his basic design was closer to Da-Garn from The Brave Fighter of Legend Da-Garn; this carried over to Big Volfogg as well, with a large star where Da-Garn's distinctive sirens would be.)
- The voice actor of the Green Planet alien Cain is GaoGaiGar Sound Director Kouichi Chiba, who has also been the Sound Director at Sunrise for every preceding entry in the Brave Series. Sources also state that Mikoto Utsugi's parents (as seen briefly in Episode 45) are modeled after Chiba and his wife.
GaoGaiGar in Japanese popular culture
- Transformers: Galaxy Force (Transformers: Cybertron in the US) contains many visual references to GaoGaiGar's stock "Final Fusion" and "Hammer Connect" sequences, most notably in the sequences where Liger Jack (Leo Breaker) and Sonic Bomber (Wing Saber) "Link Up" with Galaxy Convoy (Optimus Prime). Galaxy Convoy's chest and shoulders also bear physical resemblance to ChoRyuJin, as does Omega Supreme from Transformers: Super Link (Transformers: Energon in the US). In the US series Transformers Animated, Safeguard's combination sequence is in homage to the sequence of RyuJin combinations.
- The stock "Final Fusion" sequence is extremely iconic of the show, making it worthy of a great many fan parodies (though reaction to these parodies by other fans is greatly mixed). One recent fan-parody video (by the group MAD) intersperses soundtrack and footage of the Impulse Gundam combination sequence from Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny with that of GaoFighGar's Final Fusion sequence from GaoGaiGar FINAL. Most of these videos ironically do not use GaoGaiGar's sequence audio, but rather GaoFighGar's from Episode 4 of FINAL, as it is the only version where the sound effects synced with exactly one rendition of the music track.
- In Yu-Gi-Oh! GX, the character Sho Marufuji (Syrus Truesdale in the English version) plays a Fusion monster "Super Vehicroid Stealth Union", a monster that is a fusion of a drill rig, a bullet train, a stealth fighter and a semi truck, and is a clear tribute to GaoGaiGar. And in addition, a Duel Monster spirit Kaibaman bears resemblance and homage to Soldato J.
- The character Subaru Nakajima from the Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha StrikerS anime possesses a number of nods to GaoGaiGar, some of them incredibly blatant. Her transformation sequence in the show includes at least two direct visual references to GaoGaiGar in that she is surrounded by a tornado of green fog prior to transformation and that a jewel slides into place on her device Mach Caliber in exactly the same manner, and with exactly the same dimensions, as the crown G-Stone in GaoGaiGar's Final Fusion. If the video is switched around in some locations, the sequence matches the sound effects as well. (Original Final Fusion video here, brief clip of the henshin in question (with Final Fusion music mixed into the background as comparison) here. Warning, second link may not be work safe.) The character has exhibited at least two abilities that are strikingly similar to GaoGaiGar's Broken Magnum and Protect Shade respectively. Certain members of the fan community, namely the Otakuism blog, thus refer to Subaru as "GaoGaiGar-tan".
- Given the timing of the show's release and design of the "nose" and paintjob of LinerGao, it seems extremely likely that LinerGao is meant to specifically be a modified 500 Series Shinkansen, which was put into regular service roughly a month after the first episode of GaoGaiGar aired.
- The series also appear in Harobots, from being one of Sunrise's series. This series' units can act as 'wild' units or as the player's units.
- A parody of GaoGaiGar is featured in Hayate no Gotoku. A character named Cyborg Butler appears in the 38th episode, has the same hairstyle like Guy (though fans noted that his face looked more like Viral of Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann) as well as his voice actor Nobuyuki Hiyama (also voices Viral and Guy). He is also prone to yell dramatically or shout Gagagagagaga while running. His attacks are all parodies of Drill Knee, Broken Magnum, Hell And Heaven and Goldion Hammer (he even shouts Hikari ni Nare!!! like Guy while doing it). Before he uses the Goldion Hammer parody, his superior tells him that the move is approved (just like Taiga approving Goldion Hammer for use). In his last moments, he also makes a statement regarding of courage. The link between Guy's and Viral's visual styles as well as the over-the-top yelling and attacks that the voice actors are known for might indicate that it was more of a parody of Nobuyuki Hiyama himself rather than any one of his portrayed characters.
- In Super Robot Wars Original Generation Gaiden, Kai Kitamura's Gespenst Mk II M Custom's signature move is the Jet Phantom, an upgrade from the Jet Magnum.
- In Kimi ga Aruji de Shitsuji ga Ore de, in the episode 8, the character Kojūrō Takeda (voiced by Guy's voice actor, Nobuyuki Hiyama) beats up the main character Ren Uesugi (voiced by Tomokazu Seki from Mobile Fighter G Gundam), in the same vein of Guy beating up Palparepa in GaoGaiGar Final, all while preaching the virtue of love towards one's master (instead of courage). He later charges towards Ren by yelling "HIKARI NI NARE!!!" after Ren shouts Bakunetsu God Finger!!!.
- In the summer of 2011, SanThree (Sanyo Bussan) introduced a pachinko machine, Brave King GaoGaiGar CR, based upon the series.
- In Super Robot Wars Z, a mech called Gunleon can be considered a homage to GaoGaiGar. Gunleon is a lion-themed robot, that uses construction tools as weapons and is powered by a glowing green energy source. Two of Gunleon attacks involve it transforming into Magna Mode which heavily resembles Genesic GaoGaiGar.
- In the last episode of Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Come wa Machigatteiru, Zaimokuza (voiced by Nobuyuki Hiyama who voices Guy in GaoGaiGar) does a "Zaimokuza Crusher" shouting it out in a similar way to the "Goldion Crusher".
- In episode 19 of Gundam Build Fighters Try titled "Fateful Reunion", there is a Psyco Gundam MK-II colored after King J-Der that was coincidentally defeated by the Gundam Tryon 3, which, while based on the super robot genre, has a lion mecha forming the chest/body very similar to Galeon/GaiGar for GaoGaiGar.
- In Bomberman Generation, the fourth boss is a large robot called Constructor X that is a combination of two AI-based construction vehicles that sports green and yellow colors and addressed as brother units similar to GekiRyuJin.
References
- "Anime On DVD News Archive". AnimeOnDVD.com. Retrieved from the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine February 13, 2010.
- http://www.daisuki.net/us/en/anime/detail.KINGOFTHEBRAVESGAOGAIGAR.html
- "【予告】覇界王～ガオガイガー対ベターマン～". Yatate.net.
- "Brave Goukin GaoFighter" (November 2006). Newtype USA. p. 126.
External links
- Official GaoGaiGar Website (Japanese)
- GaoGaiGar: King of Braves (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
- The King of Braves GaoGaiGar (NBN)
- Brave King GaoGaiGar pachinko game (in Japanese)
| Preceded by Brave Command Dagwon |
Brave series 1997–1998 |
Succeeded by None |
