Choujinki Metalder Explained

Runtime:30 minutes (per episode)
Country:Japan
Network:TV Asahi
Num Episodes:39
Genre:Tokusatsu
Superhero fiction
Science fiction
Creator:Toei
Developer:Susumu Takaku
Director:Takeshi Ogasawara
Starring:Akira Senō
Hiroko Aota
Kazuoki Takahashi
Hiroshi Kawai
Toshi Fufuchu
Hana Arashi
Shinji Tōdō
Voices:Michirō Iida
Genpei Hayashiya
Takeshi Watabe
Composer:Seiji Yokoyama
Narrated:Issei Masamune

is the sixth and shortest entry of the Metal Hero Series franchise, running from March 16, 1987, to January 17, 1988, for only 39 episodes. Starting with episode 25, the show began airing on Sundays, while the first 24 originally aired on Mondays. Metalder bears many similarities to Shotaro Ishinomori's Android Kikaider and Kikaider 01, particularly in its themes, characters, and the hero's costume design. The action footage of Superhuman-Machine Metalder was used for Saban Entertainment's live-action TV series VR Troopers.

For distribution purposes, Toei refers to this television series as simply Metalder.[1]

Story

In 1945, Dr. Ryūichirō Koga designed Metalder as a top-secret weapon for the Japanese Imperial Army for use in the Pacific War, modeling it after his late son, Second Sub-lieutenant Tatsuo Koga. However, the pacifistic Dr. Koga put Metalder to sleep in the Silver Caucus base and left for the United States to work for NASA.

During the 42 years, Dr. Koga's former colleague Kunio Muraki became evil God Neros, the ruler of the Neros Empire which is notorious as a merchant of death. God Neros sends out his massive armies to kill Dr. Kōga, who learned of their organization and returned to Japan to activate Metalder. Koga desperately tries to activate his android creation, who he named Ryūsei Tsurugi, but the android is unable to understand what to do. In order to give Ryusei a "purpose", Koga runs out of the Silver Caucus base, allowing Neros' troops to kill him. Suddenly seeing his creator die, Ryūsei becomes shocked, and soon is beaten by Neros' troops. Ryūsei becomes fueled with rage, evoking the conversion to his true form, the android known as Metalder. After a brief battle with Coolgin (which he loses), Ryūsei goes onward, meeting future friend Mai Ougi.

Characters

Metalder

is a "Choujinki", a powerful war android built by Dr. Koga at the end of World War II originally as a countermeasure against the Americans. He was hidden in a secret base of the Japanese Imperial Army until Dr. Koga activated him years later to fight the Neros Empire. His human guise,, is directly modeled after that of Dr. Koga's son Tatsuo of whom he lost during the war. Whenever his energies reach a peak from rage, with the cry, he transforms into his metallic form. Like Tatsuo, he loves music and plays the saxophone from time to time. His Reflection Circuit gave him the same feelings as humans and a sense of right and wrong. Powered by 'super-gravitational energy', his killing techniques include "Laser Arm", "G-Kick", "Metal Tornado" spinning kick, "Head Crash" ram, "Plasma Punch", "Metal Bomber" punching attack from above, and "1000 Hand Punch". At the end of the series he defeats God Neros but in the process, his super-gravitational energy is severely damaged, as a result whenever he moves longer, he will explode and the world will be destroyed by its impact. With Kita's help, Metalder is spared from destruction but at the cost of his human form and his ability to fight as a Choujinki.

Allies

Neros Empire

The is the underbelly of the Corporation. Located at Shinjuku, it covertly controls all activities of the world's criminal organizations, including terrorists and finance. The Neros Empire's goal is world domination with economic and military might. The leaders meet at the Ghost Bank, a ring of gates containing key army officers surrounding God Neros' throne. The area enclosed by the gates and throne serves as both an arena and as a strategy room. Divided into four Units: Armored Army, Robotic Warrior Army, Monster Army, and Armament Army.

Four Armies of the Neros Empire

are God Neros' primary fighters. Each is led by a : Coolgin, Valsky, Geldring, and Dranger, with nine ranks beneath it. From highest to lowest:

Members that are ranked below from Keitōshi through Gekitōshi are named after the severity levels of earthquakes in Japanese (i.e. Gekitōshi is derived from, a severe earthquake).

Armored Army

The is a group consisting of cyborgs and humans wearing armor. Metalder was always careful not to deliver fatal blows to the human half of the Armored Army. In the final episode, the helmets of every member (except for Ben K) were revived to prevent Metalder from reaching God Neros. The heads crash into a wall and explode to damage Metalder.

Robotic Warrior Army

The consists of androids that make up the Neros Army. They were developed from the same technology used to create Metalder.

Monster Army

The is composed of genetically altered–engineered mutants. After being killed, they tend to melt into a puddle of green slime:

Armament Army

The consists of walking arsenal robots.

Others

Mechanics

Metalder's mechanics

is Metalder's secret base of operation, hidden within the Wind Caves of Fuji, underneath the ruins of the former Imperial Army's Headquarters. It is the place where Metalder has lain dormant for over 40 years until his activation at the start of the series. The Silver Caucus is usually kept underground until Metalder needs to dispatch a vehicle, when it rises to the surface. Springer remains there for standby in case Metalder needs him, particularly when Metalder needs repair. When the Neros Empire drew closer to locating the Silver Caucus, Metalder relocates a portion of the base at another cave with Springer.

is Metalder's motorcycle vehicle with a detachable side-car.

is a transforming, four-wheel flying car based on a sixth-generation Mazda Familia that Metalder drives.

Neros Empire's mechanics

is the secret lair of the Neros Empire where the Four Armies gather. It can move anywhere, but its usual location is underneath the headquarters building of the Kirihara Konzern. Each member of Neros Army has their own warp gate used to transport themselves to the Ghost Bank.

is a motorcycle with a sidecar used exclusively by the Armored Army.

is a motorcycle used exclusively by the Robotic Warrior Army.

is a motorcycle usually used exclusively by the Monster Army, except when ridden by Coolgin in the first episode.

is a combat jeep that has been produced for each of Neros Army. When one is deployed, it carries the flag of its division.

is a station wagon that has been produced for each of Neros Armies. It is mainly used to transport troops.

is an advanced military machine tested by the Armament Army during a demonstration to potential buyers. Equipped with a variety of weapons and heat sensors, by coincidence it is used against Metalder. When the Armament army realizes Metalder was in the area looking for abandoned puppies, these puppies were then used as bait and placed in a minefield guarded by the robot. Metalder deceives the machine using a heated stone which gives him an opening to disable it. It is finally destroyed when Metalder throws Darbarbo onto it, the impact presumably causing his shoulder-mounted artillery to detonate.

Episodes

On October 4, 1987 (The day that episode 25 aired) the show began airing on Sundays instead of Mondays.

  1. (Original Airdate: March 16, 1987): written by Susumu Takaku, directed by Takeshi Ogasawara
  2. (Original Airdate: March 23, 1987): written by Susumu Takaku, directed by Takeshi Ogasawara
  3. (Original Airdate: April 6, 1987): written by Susumu Takaku, directed by Yoshiharu Tomita
  4. (Original Airdate: April 13, 1987): written by Susumu Takaku, directed by Yoshiharu Tomita
  5. (Original Airdate: April 20, 1987): written by Susumu Takaku, directed by Itaru Orita and Takeshi Ogasawara
  6. (Original Airdate: April 27, 1987): written by Susumu Takaku, directed by Itaru Orita and Takeshi Ogasawara
  7. (Original Airdate: May 4, 1987): written by Haruya Yamazaki, directed by Yoshiharu Tomita
  8. (Original Airdate: May 11, 1987): written by Masahiro Kakefuda, directed by Yoshiharu Tomita
  9. (Original Airdate: May 18, 1987): written by Kunio Fujii, directed by Toshihiro Ito
  10. (Original Airdate: May 25, 1987): written by Shozo Uehara, directed by Toshihiro Ito
  11. (Original Airdate: June 1, 1987): written by Nobuo Ogizawa, directed by Michio Konishi
  12. (Original Airdate: June 8, 1987): written by Kunio Fujii, directed by Michio Konishi
  13. (Original Airdate: June 15, 1987): written by Susumu Takaku, directed by Yoshiharu Tomita
  14. (Original Airdate: June 22, 1987): written by Akira Nakahara, directed by Yoshiharu Tomita
  15. (Original Airdate: June 29, 1987): written by Kunio Fujii, directed by Kaneharu Mitsumura
  16. (Original Airdate: July 6, 1987): written by Susumu Takaku, directed by Kaneharu Mitsumura
  17. (Original Airdate: July 13, 1987): written by Susumu Takaku, directed by Toshihiro Ito
  18. (Original Airdate: July 20, 1987): written by Susumu Takaku, directed by Toshihiro Ito
  19. (Original Airdate: July 27, 1987): written by Susumu Takaku, directed by Takeshi Ogasawara
  20. (Original Airdate: August 17, 1987): written by Susumu Takaku, directed by Kaneharu Mitsumura
  21. (Original Airdate: August 24, 1987): written by Susumu Takaku, directed by Kaneharu Mitsumura
  22. (Original Airdate: August 31, 1987): written by Susumu Takaku, directed by Toshihiro Ito
  23. (Original Airdate: September 7, 1987): written by Akira Nakahara, directed by Toshihiro Ito
  24. (Original Airdate: September 14, 1987): written by Susumu Takaku, directed by Takeshi Ogasawara
  25. (Original Airdate: October 4, 1987): written by Susumu Takaku, directed by Kanaharu Mitsumura
  26. (Original Airdate: October 11, 1987): written by Susumu Takaku, directed by Kaneharu Mitsumura
  27. (Original Airdate: October 18, 1987): written by Nobuo Ogizawa, directed by Takeshi Ogasawara
  28. (Original Airdate: October 25, 1987): written by Kunio Fujii, directed by Toshihiro Ito
  29. (Original Airdate: November 1, 1987): written by Akira Nakahara, directed by Toshihiro Ito
  30. (Original Airdate: November 8, 1987): written by Susumu Takaku, directed by Takeshi Ogasawara
  31. (Original Airdate: November 15, 1987): written by Kunio Fujii, directed by Takeshi Ogasawara
  32. (Original Airdate: November 22, 1987): written by Shigeru Yanagawa, directed by Kaneharu Mitsumura
  33. (Original Airdate: November 29, 1987): written by Susumu Takaku, directed by Kaneharu Mitsumura
  34. (Original Airdate: December 6, 1987): written by Susumu Takaku, directed by Toshihiro Ito
  35. (Original Airdate: December 13, 1987): written by Susumu Takaku, directed by Toshihiro Ito
  36. (Original Airdate: December 20, 1987): written by Susumu Takaku, directed by Takeshi Ogasawara
  37. (Original Airdate: December 27, 1987): written by Susumu Takaku, directed by Takeshi Ogasawara
  38. (Original Airdate: January 10, 1988): written by Kunio Fujii, directed by Kaneharu Mitsumura
  39. (Original Airdate: January 17, 1988): written by Kunio Fujii, directed by Kaneharu Mitsumura

Movie

A film version of Choujinki Metalder, set between episodes 17 & 18 premiered on July 18, 1987 at the "Toei Manga Matsuri" film festival, where it was shown as part of a quadruple feature alongside , and the film version of Hikari Sentai Maskman.

Cast

Guest actors

International Broadcasts & Home Video

Songs

Opening theme
Ending theme

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Library – English Titles – TOEI TV Website. 2007-12-28. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090119211925/http://tvarc.toei.co.jp/tv/library/series-title.html. January 19, 2009. mdy-all.
  2. Web site: จักรกลยอดมนุษย์ เมทัลเดอร์ [เรื่องย่อ / ตัวละคร] ]. metalbridges . 2023-11-13.