Metal Armor Dragonar

Metal Armor Dragonar(Cơ giáp chiến nhớ ドラグナー,Kikō Senki Doragunā)is a 48-episodemechaanimeseries, created byNippon Sunrise(later renamed Sunrise during production) and aired from 1987 to 1988. Devised shortly after the release ofMobile Suit Gundam ZZ,Dragonarwas intended to be both a "starter" series to get new fans into mecha anime, and a potential successor to theGundamfranchise. In fact, its concept is to be the renewal of the firstGundam;and the mecha are designed byKunio Okawara,the mechanical designer for most of theGundamseries.

Metal Armor Dragonar
Cơ giáp chiến nhớ ドラグナー (Kikō Senki Doragunā)
Genre	Mecha
Created by	Hajime Yatate
Anime television series
Directed by	Takeyuki Kanda
Music by	Toshiyuki Watanabe Kentarō Haneda
Studio	Sunrise
Original network	Nagoya Broadcasting Network
Original run	7 February 1987–30 January 1988
Episodes	48

Though the series enjoyed good ratings and earned a loyal fan following, it failed to surpassGundamand ended up as a single series, probably due to its light,ZZ Gundam–like take on thereal robotmecha genre. Game developerBanprestohad Dragonar appear in two of its popular franchises,Super Robot WarsandAnother Century's Episode;fans responded positively, and Sunrise acknowledged them in 2005 by releasing a memorialDVDcollection of the series, a remastered version of the previous two-partlaserdiscbox set releases years before.

Story

Dragonar takes place in the year 2087 AD, when a military force called the United Lunar Empire Giganos has risen and captured theMoon.Their stated goal is the rebirth of mankind, but their primary intention by some of its members is the destruction of all those who dwell on Earth. To this end, the Empire uses humanoid battle machines calledMetal Armors,as well as a giganticmass drivercannon. Originally intended to send lunar material to Earth orbit for later retrieval, the Mass driver is reconfigured to launch small meteorites towards the home world. By the time the story takes place, many bombardments have already taken place.

The Earth Alliance became the Earth Federation military, unable to compete with the Giganos military might, manages to steal three prototype Metal Armors, called the Dragonars, with plans to reverse-engineer them with the help of exiled Giganos scientists. However, the ship carrying the Dragonars (posing as a refugee ship) is chased to a neutral colony by Giganos, and an attack is staged to retrieve them. Kaine, Tapp and Light, three teenaged friends and EFM trainees, are on the colony during the attack, and find a dying Giganos spy who gives them three disks. Chased by Giganos' weapons, the trio enters the colony's dock and finds the Dragonars.

Using the disks, they activate the machines and use them to protect the colony. However, since the Dragonars are keyed to only be operable by their initial user, the three friends find themselves forced to become the Earth Alliance military's first Metal Armor pilots, and it becomes the earth federation during the war faced against the advanced technology and veterans of the Giganos forces.

Characters

Kaine Wakaba & Linda Plato

Earth Federation Military (formerly Earth Alliance)

Kaine Wakaba(ケーン・ワカバ,Kēn Wakaba)- The pilot of Dragonar-1 and the main character of the story. A sixteen-year-old Earth Alliance trainee Now Earth Federation Military trainee who graduated inJapan,Kaine lives on Alucard with his mother, who helps manage the colony. His parents split up, and Kaine resents his father for putting his work before his family. When his mother is apparently killed in the attack on Alucard, he is more than willing to help fight Giganos. Voiced byMasami Kikuchi.

Tapp Oceano(タップ・オセアノ,Tappu Oseano)- One of Kaine's two best friends and the pilot of Dragonar-2. Tapp is a 16 year old African-AmericanNew Yorkerand graduated from an American training academy and was transferred to the astronaut academy on Alucard. Tapp tends to be cheerful and laid back, even in situations where Kaine and Light are stressing out. Even so, he can be serious when the need arises. His family lives in Alliance/Federation occupied New York. Voiced byHōchū Ōtsuka.

Light Newman(ライト・ニューマン,Raito Nyūman)- Another of Kaine's best friends and the pilot of Dragonar-3. A 17 year old native of the UK, Light's grandfather was in theParliamentand his father leads the Federation's European branch when the alliance became the federation during the war. However, he prefers to avoid positions of leadership, showing a natural aptitude for information-gathering and electronic warfare, which makes him the perfect pilot for Dragonar-3 (which he affectionately calls "D3-chan" ). Voiced byKenyuu Horiuchi.

Linda Plato(リンダ・プラート,Rinda Purāto)- Meio's younger sister, she becomes an enlisted member of the Alliance after the attack on the Alucard colony. Combined with her role as a communications officer/operator for the Earth Federation Military, she is very much an homage toSayla MassfromMobile Suit Gundam.Voiced byKayoko Fujii.

Rose Pattenton(ローズ・パテントン,Rōzu Patenton)- Rose was born on the Moon and became a refugee when Giganos declared independence. She escapes to Alucard and later boards the Idaho before the colony is destroyed. At 16 she is a warm and charming personality who assists in supervising the refugee children. Her character is possibly a nod atMobile Suit Gundam's Frau Bow. Voiced byAkiko Hiramatsu.

Ben Rooney(ベン・ルーニー,Ben Rūnī)- Kaine, Tapp and Light's direct superior, a gruff but caring soldier who takes the three trainees under his wing and instructs them in piloting. Often nicknamed 'Umiboozu' (sea monster) by Kaine because of his large size. Has a close relationship with Lt. Diane Lance, whom he marries at the end of the series. Voiced byYuu Shimaka.

Diane Lance(ダイアン・ランス,Daian Ransu)- Diane was thought to be a refugee but turns out to be a Lt for the Earth Federation Military. She works in the information branch and is active in the 1st and 2nd arc but is later reassigned and only returns in the ending, which shows her marrying Ben Rooney.

Kenny Duncan

Yama

Douglas

Lang Plato

Genil

Soul Jirsett

Jim Austin- Kaine's father who left his family behind for the Earth Alliance/Federation military but he remained on extremely good terms with his Wife and her family. He is an excellent pilot.

Aoi Wakaba- Kaine's mother, who administered the space colony Alucard and was initially presumed dead after a Giganos attack, but later found to be alive but captured by Giganos and used as a threat against Kaine Wakaba as part of their plan to bring down the Federation.

United Lunar Empire Giganos

Meio Plato- Giganos' top ace pilot, nicknamed the Blue Hawk(Thương き ưng,Aoki Taka).He gained fame piloting the Falguen and is fiercely loyal to Guiltorre. His father Lang Plato is the engineer who helped develop the Dragonars, and he has a younger sister, Linda, who opposes the war. Despite his calm nature and popularity with younger pilots, he is repeatedly looked down on by his superiors for failing to capture the Dragonars and begins to chaffe under Dorchenov's command, eventually being framed for the murder of Guiltorre by Dorchenov. In the end, he and Kaine set aside their differences and defeat Dorchenov by exploiting Dorchenov's machine's weakness and attacking with a volley of missiles and finished by a combination attack using theirbeam swords(which was recognised and implemented intoSuper Robot Wars). He is very much an homage toChar AznablefromGundam.Voiced byJūrōta Kosugi.

Dan Kruger Practice Squad member. Fiercely loyal to Meio Plato. Out of the Plato Squad Members, he is the only one to die, which happens while he protects Meio and the rest of the squadron from enemy fire as the rest escape to cover while their sensors were damaged earlier.

Welner Fritz Practice Squad member. Fiercely loyal to Meio Plato.

Karl Geiner Practice Squad member. Fiercely loyal to Meio Plato.

Marshal Guiltorre The supreme commander of Giganos. Though he declares war on the Earth Federation, he truly treasures the Earth for its beauty, eventually questioning himself whether declaring war was really the right option, moments before he was murdered by Dorchenov.

ChephovGiganos Lt. stationed on an abandoned satellite, who captured the three Dragonar but then began to train and befriend them. Shot by Meio Plato for refusing Guiltorre's orders that the Dragonar pilots be taken into his custody. Given a funeral ceremony by Kaine, Tapp, and Light.

Gon Jem Leader of the "Gon Jem Shittenoh" platoon and pilot of the YAMA-13 Geyzam, and later the YGMA-14 Gilgazamune. Ridiculed with the nickname of "Garbage of Giganos". Despite his infamy, he respects and values his subordinates Gold, Ganan, Zin and Min to the point of swearing revenge against the Dragonar Team for the death of the first three.

Lee Sue Min Gon Jem Shittenoh member, and pilot of the Stark Deins. Eventually joins Meio Plato's platoon when fighting against Dorchenov. Her machine is best known for the chainsaws attached to the arms, which makes her a deadly opponent when close-up.

Gol Gon Jem Shittenoh member, and pilot of the Stark Gewei. He is usually seen carrying a chaingun and is prone to fire it at random during fits of rage. Because of his savage nature, low level of intellect and size, he is nicknamed "Gorilla", something that he hates being called.

Ganan Gon Jem Shittenoh member, and pilot of the Stark Gan-Dolla. He is known for carrying a knife (or more) wherever he goes. His last words are a cry for help after Kaine slashes his unit in half with his laser sword, which destroys the robot unit and sends the motorcycle unit, with Ganan on board, crashing into a cliff, killing him instantly.

Zin Gon Jem Shittenoh member, and pilot of the Stark Dauzhen. The womanizer and somewhat more civilized one of the group. His weapon of choice is a pair of Sai. Zin's machine's unique attribute is the ability to generate holograms of itself to confuse the opponent, though it can be negated by D-3's jammers.

Mordel

Perkins

Dorchenov- Dorchenov is an ambitious officer of Giganos who, while not seen much early on, becomes the main villain of the series when he wages a coup d'état of the Empire and assassinates Guiltorre, and putting the blame on Giganos ace Meio Plato who also happens to be at the scene. Though mostly a political figure in Giganos, he is just as capable as a pilot in a Metal Armor.

Civilians

Martin

Jack

Danny

Betty

G UNIT

Theme songs

Opening themes

• "Dream-Colored Chaser"(Mộng sắc チェイサー,Yume-Iro Cheisā)(episodes #1–26)

  Performed byMami Ayukawa

  Music by Kyōhei Tsutsumi

  Lyrics by Machiko Ryū

  Arrangement byShirō Sagisu

• "Starlight Serenade"(スターライト・セレナーデ,Sutāraito Serenāde)(episodes #27–48)

  Performed byMami Yamase

  Music by Daisuke Inōe

  Lyrics byYukinojō Mori

  Arrangement by Kazuo Ōtani

Ending themes

• "Searching for an Illusion(イリュージョンをさがして,Iryūjon wo Sagashite)(episodes #1–26)

  Performed by Mami Ayukawa

  Music by Kōji Makaino

  Lyrics by Machiko Ryū

  Arrangement by Shirō Sagisu

• "Shiny Boy" (episodes #27–48)

  Performed by Mami Yamase

  Music by Daisuke Inōe

  Lyrics by Yukinojō Mori

  Arrangement by Kazuo Ōtani

Production

Much confusion had surrounded the early release of this series even before it went on the air. The Japanese anime magazine Animec for example, still hailed the title under the working name "Stillevar", not "Dragonar", despite the fact that the mecha and character designs were already approved.

Video games

Though it had no dedicated licensed games of its own,Dragonarhas appeared in several related games. Its earliest known game appearance is in thePlayStationgame developed by Banpresto titled"Real Robots Final Attack",which is a third-person VS shooter similar to Sega'sVirtual-Onseries, with the D-1 Custom representing the series. Later, the series appeared in the 2001 gameSuper Robot Wars A,in which Kaine and friends were (unwillingly) mentored first byGundam Wing'sLucrezia Noin,then later byGundam 0083'sSouth Burning.The series would later appear in the 2004 gameSuper Robot Wars MX,where Giganos took center stage as the primaryReal Robotantagonists, even usurping the Titans and Neo-Zeon from the so-called "Holy Trinity of Gundam" (Zeta,Double-Zeta,andChar's Counterattack).

A late 2004 release saw Dragonar inSuper Robot Wars GC/XO,using Giganos as an ally to Zeon, with the Dragonar storyline being closely tied in with the originalMobile Suit Gundam;upon being disabled (i.e. having their head and limbs destroyed and their body crippled), mass-produced Giganos units can be captured by the player's mothership, and then be sold for money, broken down for money and parts, or assigned to any pilot from the series. Dragonar's next video game appearance was in the 2005 gameAnother Century's Episode,a 3D action game produced by the team ofBanprestoandFromSoftware.The game allowed players to control the D-1, D-2, D-3 and, surprisingly, the Gilgazamune, but not the Falguen. The year 2006 brings aboutAnother Century's Episode 2,which features the Custom versions of the Dragonars, as well as the ability to use Meio's Falguen MAFFU and Min's Stark Dyne, as well as Gon Jem's Gilgazamune from the first game. They are still inAnother Century's Episode 3andAnother Century's Episode Portable.Although the original type of D-1, D-2, and D-3 are gone, Meio's Falguen Custom, which never appears in the anime, will be added into the game.

The series also appear in Harobots, because as Sunrise's series, this series' units can act as 'wild' units, or player's units.

External links

• Official website (archived)(in Japanese)
• Kiko Senki Dragonar(anime) atAnime News Network's encyclopedia