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Choujinki Metalder

Metalder_logo_transparent

For the series' title character, see Ryusei Tsurugi.

Chojinki Metalder (超人機メタルダー, Chōjinki Metarudā?, Superhuman-Machine Metalder) is the sixth and shortest entry of the Metal Hero Series, running from March 16, 1987, to January 17, 1988, for only 39 episodes. Toei went for a darker and more grim direction for Choujinki Metalder, and this turned off younger viewers. As a result, ratings started to slip in the second half, and the series ended after just 39 episodes, making it the shortest Metal Hero series.

Originally, the action footage of Metalder was going to be adapted for the unpiloted show, Cybertron, starring Jason David Frank from Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers but was then canceled. Later, they reused the same footage for the first season of VR Troopers.

For distribution purposes, Toei refers to this television series as Metalder. On February 21, 2007, Toei released the complete Metalder TV series and film on a seven-disc DVD set.

Story

In 1945, Dr. Ryuichiro 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 Carcass base and left for America to work for NASA. During the 42 years, Dr. Koga's former colleague Major Muraki became the evil God Neros, ruler of Neros Empire. God Neros sends out his massive armies to kill Dr. Koga, who learned of their organization and returned to Japan to activate Metalder. Koga desperately tries to activate his android creation, who he named Ryusei Tsurugi, but the android is unable to understand what to do. In order to give Ryusei a "purpose", Koga runs out of the Silver Carcass base, allowing Neros' troops to kill him. Suddenly seeing his creator die, Ryusei becomes shocked, and soon is beaten by Neros' troops. Ryusei 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), Ryusei goes onward, meeting future friend Mai Ogi.

Characters

Metalder and Top Gunder

Main

Metalder Ryusei Tsurugi
Topgunder Topgunder

Allies

Neros Empire

Yoroi Army

Battle Robot Army

Monster Army

Mechanical Army

Episodes

  1. Hurry! To the Hundred-Demon Spirit World (急げ! 百鬼魔界へ, Isoge! Hyakki Makai e?)
  2. I Have Become God Neroz (余は神・ネロスなり, Yo wa Kami・Nerosu Nari?)
  3. Hammer Man Ben K Cries to the Love for a Hare (野兎への愛にハンマー男ベンKが涙する, Nousagi e no Ai ni Hanmā Otoko Ben Kei ga Namidasuru?)
  4. Torpedo Agmis VS Navy Second Lieutenant Metalder (魚雷アグミス対海軍少尉メタルダー, Gyorai Agumisu Tai Kaigun Shōi Metarudā?)
  5. Hold on! Never-Missing Gunplay (耐える! 百発百中のガンプレイ, Taeru! Hyabbatsuhyakuchū Ganpurei?)
  6. Anger! Knockout the Heavyweight King Galdos (怒る! ヘビー級王者ガルドスをKOせよ, Ikaru! Hebī Kyūōja Garudosu wo Kei Ō seyo?)
  7. Decide the Goal! The Flaming Duel with the Tag Brothers (ゴールを決めろ! タグ兄弟との炎の決闘, Gōru wo Kimeru! Tagu Kyodai tono Honō Kettō?)
  8. Farewell, Barlock! The Secret of the Iron Mask (さらばバーロック! 鉄仮面の秘密, Saraba Bārokku! Tetsu Kamen no Himitsu?)
  9. Dreaming Monster! Lovers in a Crossfire (夢みるモンスター! 十字砲火の恋人たち, Yumemiru Monsutā! Jūjihōka no Koibito-tachi?)
  10. Excellent Technique! The Violin Attack of the Famous Music Robot (超絶技! 名曲ロボットのバイオリン攻撃, Chōzetsu Waza! Meikyoku Robotto no Baiorin Kōgeki?)
  11. Pursuit of the Brave! A Giant Rises in the Sky!! (勇者の追撃! 天空にそそりたつ巨人!!, Yūsha no Tsuigeki! Tenkū ni Sosoritatsu Kyojin!!?)
  12. Monster's Beloved・Sieging Ninjas (愛しのモンスター・包囲する忍者たち!, Aishi no Monsutā・Hōisuru Ninja-tachi!?)
  13. Critical Moment! Valley Umineko Restores the Love of Parent and Child (危機一髪! 親と子が愛をもどす海猫の村, Kiki Ippatsu! Oya to Ko ga Ai wo Modosu Umineko no Mura?)
  14. Little Sister is Alive! Sorrowful Lady Soldier Madonna (妹よ生きて! 哀しみの女戦士マドンナ, Imōto wa Ikite! Kanashimi no Joshi Madonna?)
  15. Soaring Monster・Son! Mother's Wish! (翔くモンスター・息子よ、母の願いを!, Tobuku Monsutā・Musuko yo, Haha no Negai wo!?)
  16. Love's Rival is a Cruching Biker Family (恋のライバルはバリバリ爆走族, Koi no Raibaru wa Baribari Bakusōzoku?)
  17. Mai at Risk! Run, One-Eyed Dragon Topgunder (危うし舞! 走る独眼竜トップガンダー, Ayaushi Mai! Hashiru Dokuganryū Toppu Gandā?)
  18. Mai's Secret Information・Poolside's Trap (舞の秘密情報・プールサイドの罠, Mai no Himitsu Jōhō・Pūrusaido no Wana?)
  19. Summer Vacation is a Adventure Tour to the Ghost Bank (夏休みはゴーストバンクへ冒険ツアー, Natsuyasumi wa Gōsutobanku e Bouken Tsuā?)
  20. The _target is Puppies? The Fire-Breathing Armament Army (ターゲットは仔犬? 火をふく機甲軍団, Tāgetto wa Koinu? Hi wo Fuku Kikō Gundan?)
  21. A Citywide Mystery・The Beautiful Girl Who Calls Fireflies (大都会ミステリー・ホタルを呼ぶ美少女, Daitokai Misuterī・Hotaru wo Yobu Bishōjo?)
  22. Sky-Soaring Rollers! Raid of the Red Dolphins (空飛ぶローラー! 赤いイルカの襲撃, Soratobi Rōrā! Akai Iruka no Shūgeki?)
  23. Who's Top?! The Best and Worst's Big Sports Day (トップは誰だ?! ピンからキリの大運動会, Toppu wa Dare da?! Pin kara Kin no Daiundōkai?)
  24. The Magical Battle of Princess Tenko VS Galador (プリンセス天功VSガラドーの魔術合戦, Purinsesu Tenko Tai Garadō no Majutsu Kassen?)
  25. Fly! JAC Blitzkrieg Cheering Party (とびだせ! ジャック電撃応援団, Tobidase! Jakku Dengeki ōendan?)
  26. Winners! Blazing JAC Guys (ぶっちぎり! 炎のジャック野郎, Bucchigiri! Honō no Jakku Yarō?)
  27. Help! The Beloved Gori-chan's Escape Journal (助けて! 愛しのゴリちゃん逃亡日記, Tasukete! Aishi no Gori-chan Tōbō Niki?)
  28. Lovely Thief・Shining Diamond Shines Upon a Virgin's Wish (可愛い盗賊・きらめくダイヤに乙女の願いを!, Kawaii Tōzoku・Kirameku Daiya ni Otome no Negai yo!?)
  29. The Sorrowful Story of the Stray Dog (ある哀しいのら犬の物語, Aru Kanashimi Norainu no Monogatari?)
  30. Protect! The Secret Base (守れ! 秘密基地, Mamore! Himitsu Kichi?)
  31. _target the Power Surge! The Girls Who Dreams Love (瞬転を狙え! 愛を夢みる少女, Shunten wo Nerae! Ai wo Yumemiru Shōjo?)
  32. Legend of the Century Beauty (百年美人伝説, Hyakunen Bijin Densetsu?)
  33. Big Siege Network, Escape of Heated Friendship (大包囲網 熱き友情の脱出, Daihōiami Atsuki Yūjo no Dasshutsu?)
  34. The Emperor With A Thousand Faces・Neroz (千の顔を持つ帝王・ネロス, Sen no Kao wo Motsu Teiō・Nerosu?)
  35. Emperor・Neroz's Identity is? (帝王・ネロスの正体は?, Teiō・Nerosu no Shōtai wa??)
  36. Big Counteroffense! The Robot Army's Showdown (大反撃! 戦闘ロボット軍団, Daihangeki! Sentō Robotto Gundan?)
  37. Great Collapse! Neroz Empire (大崩壊! ネロス帝国, Daihōkai! Nerosu Teikoku?)
  38. Great Counterattack! Wasteland of Love and Hatred (大逆襲! 愛と憎しみの荒野, Daigyakushū! Ai to Nikushimi no Kōya?)
  39. Great Decisive Battle! Metalder for Eternity (大決戦! メタルダーよ永遠に, Daikessen! Metarudā yo Eien ni?)

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 Dragon Ball: Sleeping Princess in Devil's Castle, Saint Seiya: The Movie and the film version of Hikari Sentai Maskman.

Cast

Guest actors

Suit actors

Tagalog Dub Cast

To be added

Songs

Opening theme
Ending theme
Others

International Broadcasts & Home Media

In its home country of Japan, Toei Video released the series on VHS from January 1991 to September 1992. 7 volumes were released as only up to 21 out of 39 were made available in this format. The reason why it was released half-finished and in the middle, had nothing to do with the popularity, but there was a change in Toei Video's policy at the time, as it was being released around the same time it was implemented. Space Sheriff Shaider (Hero) and MegaBeast Investigator Juspion were also stopped midway. Instead, they decided to start doing full releases of newer works, starting with Chōjin Sentai Jetman. Years later on February 21, 2007, all 39 episodes and the movie were released on home video for the first time on DVD in a seven-disc Boxset.

  • In Thailand, the series aired on Channel 3 with a Thai dub on Sunday Mornings from 1989-1990 as Superhuman Robot Metalder. (ยอดมนุษย์หุ่นยนต์ เมทัลเดอร์)
  • In the Philippines, it was given a Tagalog dub and aired on ABS-CBN from 1990 to 1991.
  • In France, the series aired as simply Metalder on TF1's Club Dorothee block on July 24, 1989. It was licensed by AB Groupe and Studio SOFI produced a French dub for the series to air, and all episodes were covered. It was also released on VHS in the 1990s by Dagobert Vidéo (AB Groupe's video brand).
  • In Brazil, it was given a Brazilian Portuguese dub and aired as Metalder, o Homem Máquina (meaning Metalder, the Machine Man) on Rede Bandeirantes from April 21 to December 21 of 1990.
  • In Hong Kong, the series was given a Cantonese Chinese dub and aired on TVB Jade as Silver Warrior (銀戰士 Yín Zhànshì), on November 22, 1994.

Trivia

  • This show was aired alongside Kamen Rider Black until Episode 15.
    • Both Metalder and Kamen Rider Black are heroes that don't have their own weapons in their disposal and rely only on physical attacks.
  • In the French dub of Choujinki Metalder, the entire music score by Seiji Yokoyama was replaced with musical pieces by Shuki Levy, who also worked with Saban Brands. However, Episode 17 and 18 kept the saxophone variant of the original Metalder theme song.

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