Danguard
Original title: Wakusei robo Dangado A Characters: Arin, Captain Dan / Cosmos, Doctor Galax, Nova, Tony, Banta, Kudon, Katula, Kauban, Doppler Chancellor, Vice Chancellor, Sigma, Colonel Fritz Arkhen Authors: Leiji Matsumoto Production:
Toei Animation Regia: Tomoharu Katsumata, Nobutaka Nishizawa, Teruo Ishi, Kozo Takagaki, Masayuki Akehi
| Country: Japan Year: March 6 1977 Broadcast in Italy: 1978 Gender: Anime / Science fiction / Robot Episodes: 56 Duration: 28 minutes Recommended age: Children from 6 to 12 years old |
The Danguard cartoon series (original title Wakusei Robo Danguard Ace) was produced in 1977 by Toei Animation, based on the project by Leiji Matsumoto, (the same author of Capitan harlock,
Star Blazers e Galaxy Express). Consisting of 56 episodes each lasting 25 minutes, the anime was broadcast in Italy in 1978 by the various regional private broadcasters.
The story tells of a near future, when humanity is preparing to move to another planet, because the earth has now become devoid of any resources due to the exploitation of man. The tenth planet of the solar system, Prometheus, has been identified as the ideal place to be inhabited, therefore the greatest Japanese scientists, led by Professor Galax are preparing to send space probes, with super-trained pilots. Little Arin is thrilled by the departure of his father, Captain Cosmos to drive one of the spacecraft. However, the cynical Doctor Doppler is skeptical of the Prometheus Project, deeming it a failure. The rocket takes off from the Yasdam base and once in space, the spacecraft emerge from the tip. At a certain moment the aircraft piloted by Captain Cosmos fires at the other planes and disappears in the cosmic darkness, causing the mission to fail.
Ten years later we find the young Arin driving space planes, to test other exercises of the Prometheus Project. Arin wants to redeem his father's memory, as he has been defined by everyone as a traitor. He himself carries the stigma of infamy and his only ambition is to know how to fly a space plane well, to continue the mission. However, he is still very inexperienced and for this reason he often takes the reproaches from Professor Galax and the mechanical engineer Banta. Professor Galax shows the staff and pilots the progress of the Prometheus Project and in particular the study of a gigantic robot, equipped with the most advanced technological resources and weapons, whose name is Danguard. Now Arin's goal will be to pilot the Danguard space robot. One day, however, the figure of Doctor Doppler announcing his diabolical plan appears on the screens of the base on the island of Yasdam. The planet Prometheus will approach the earth within a few years, so he will ensure that only a select few emigrate, who will have to obey his orders. So he decides to attack the Yasdam base, with its mechanical robots and space planes. The anti-aircraft of the base is ineffective against the powerful robot, therefore Arin, contravening his superiors, takes the helm of his plane to counter the enemy.
Unexpectedly, a strange spaceship joins him, destroying Doctor Doppler's terrible robot within minutes. At the helm is a mysterious individual wearing a steel mask. However, Arin does not trust that man and in a subsequent mission, he orders him to stop his aircraft or he will be forced to shoot him. The man offers him a skill challenge, in piloting the plane in the strait of dangerous canyons. After passing the test, the two land at the space base. The man who calls himself Mister X confesses that he is looking for the Doppler base to take revenge against him and asks for help in finding it. The man cannot take off the steel mask as it was applied to him by Doppler, who after his kidnapping also deprived him of his memory. Thanks to a particular machine, the scientists of the space base analyze his memory and reconstruct his history, highlighting the truth and reconstructing his escape from the space base of Dr. Doppler, who had enslaved him like other men, which it controls with a particular antenna placed on the mask. Mister X takes charge of training pilots to cope with the threat of Doctor Doppler and is called Captain Dan. He identifies the most promising youngsters in Katula, Kauban and Arin.The man subjects the future pilots of the Danguard to very hard training, at the limit of human survival, such as that of suddenly braking the plane after having been launched at supersonic speed. For this reason it is not seen with a good degree by the mechanical engineer Banta and by the young Nova, the communications officer. Meanwhile, the perfidious Doppler assisted by the faithful Chancellor Sigma, never misses an opportunity to threaten the Yasdam space base, with its powerful Megasatan robots. During a hard battle, the pilot Kauban loses his life and Katula is forced to retire after suffering a bad blow to the back. Thus Arin becomes the only one able to pilot the Danguard, thanks to the precious guidance of Captain Dan.The weapons at the disposal of the Danguard robot will be the Balkan cannon, a powerful energy that comes out of the chest and cosmic fists. Danguard can also shoot lase rays from his eyes and form a spear by joining two plates in the shape of an arrow, placed on his knees. These weapons will serve to cope with the various cosmic creatures and space robots, which will threaten the success of the Prometheus Project
In the course of history it will be discovered that the mysterious Captain Dan is actually Arin's father, lost in space ten years earlier and considered a traitor for having fired at the pilots of his team. This is because it was under the telepathic control of Doctor Doppler, who used it for his shady plans. To remember the theme song by Mario Bondi and Gianfranco Tadini, sung by a very young Veronica Pivetti Danguard .... Danguard Four ... Three ... two ... one ... zero ... Light on! There's a button next to your finger soon press it don't hesitate your space radar is in action in the infinite sky you can now aim Get altitude and return to trim insert the radial screen you must beat the forces of evil at the space base we are all with you! <
Danguard and all names, images and registered trademarks are copyright Leiji Matsumoto, Toei Animation, and of the right holders and are used here for cognitive and informative purposes. |